She would have crouched in front of him in a joking curtsy, if she did not feel the cold that fades the whole body. Soon she herself turn into an ice, if he won’t let her hand.
В«And the case, here are dragons?В»
В«How without them.В»
В«And you are not afraid that their fire will melt your ice?В»
В«Not all dragons breathe fire,В» he mysteriously responded.
Amaranta decided not toВ judge him. She did not know anything about the dragons at all, however, as about ice creatures. The first meeting with such left an unpleasant precipitate from the lies about the future and frostbite on the whole skin.
«And you can’t read on my palm, will they fix the carriage soon?» was her next joke. Suddenly he will not be offended again.
The ice interlocutor answered nothing. Apparently, such aВ easily subject toВ check inВ the near future the topic is not discussed as the subject ofВ divination. It is easy toВ lie only about what happens very soon, and therefore, it is impossible toВ catch aВ deceiver immediately. While you check that he lied, the years will be held.
«By the way, let’s meet in a year and check if your prediction came true,» which devil pulled her to offer him a bet. " «If a rival with the dragons and the second spouse appear in my life, I will give you everything you want. And if not, you will do everything I want, even frozen the entire district, if I don’t like it here.»
В«IВ agree with you!В» His whiten eyes lit up with aВ loose light. He even released the hand ofВ Amaranta and rather loose palm. В«IВ love deals with mortals and promise you that wherever you are, inВ aВ year IВ will come toВ you.В»
Amaranta was very doubted that he could find her inВ some cozy castle tower, but still politely nodded.
В«IВ will warn servants toВ exactly inВ aВ year they let you toВ me, as an extremely honorable visitor,В» she promised, although, ofВ course, such aВ stupid promise was not going toВ do. But it is necessary toВ console him at least before the eternal separation.
«It’s not worth it,» he almost joyfully responded. «Bypass the posts of guards is my favorite business. And I will give you a deposit.»
В«What is the deposit?В» Amaranta was alerted.
В«Magic, so that you will believe inВ the predictions.В»
He waved slightly with the ice fingers, and the carriage suddenly repaired itself. The grooms only shouted В«OhВ». They have already lowered their hands and began toВ argue who will go toВ the castle toВ have aВ help, and then suddenly the broken axis itself corrected and got into place.
В«Like this?В» Amaranta turned toВ the creature, but it was already crawled back from the bridge, deftly like aВ spider.
В«Yes, remember your arrival inВ these edges marks the beginning ofВ the war. And the war will not end until you make aВ choice between the magic and the earth,В» the ice creature laughed, leaving the web ofВ frost patterns. В«Choose between the earth and the unearthly ruler it is difficult, Amaranta! But you better not toВ pester our king. Otherwise, my ice claws grab hold ofВ your adorable throat. And it will be aВ year later on the night ofВ our new meeting.В»
He giggled for aВ long time. During their conversation, white creatures from the abyss seem toВ get almost close toВ the bridge.
Amaranta scolded toВ herself the winter and all ice creatures. Well, aВ joker! Why did you just need toВ come into conversation with this insane being? But she always pulled on the adventure.
The ice creature carried aВ complete nonsense. Like any predictor! It is necessary at least something toВ poison the brains for aВ good fee. ByВ the way, he just did not take the fees.
But the merchant, too, waged on the bridge, offered some junk for money exclusively. Her companions, as discharged, became interested inВ his commodity and began toВ choose something. Amaranta was more interested inВ the axis, which was fixed byВ itself. She sat down and looked at the wheel. The axis on it turned out toВ be made ofВ ice. And she did not melting. Where is the broken axis? And why did she suddenly replace the ice plant? Indeed, magic.
В«The beautiful lady does not need aВ friend?В»
Who said that? Amaranth looked around. Who can, seeing her escort, so brazenly impose.
В«AВ girlfriend, which can predict the future, this is what you need,В» the voice seemed toВ have come from heaven, for which the filament clouds crossed with aВ red sunset strip.
В«No, thanks, predictions for me were enough,В» she stopped, noticing that the merchant turned out toВ be aВ real wizard. He showed the tricks, and the girls applauded. The clothes on it was like on the eastern worship: aВ turban with aВ feather, aВ silk bathrobe, beaded jewelry and suspension. And she accepted him for an ordinary merchant! An instant and he won aВ white garden lily from emptiness toВ give it toВ Amaranta. The audience was applauded, and the lily revealed inВ her hands, and from the core ofВ the flower was swept away toВ the upstream insect, suspiciously resembling aВ tiny fairy.
В«Wonders! В«Amaranth saw already at the court inВ Aluar the various magicians, but they were not capable ofВ that.
В«Who you are?В»
He hid face behind aВ translucent cloth that did not close only his eyes. OfВ course, he did not answer her. But the luxurious white bird, sitting on his shoulder, shook:
В«IВ want toВ her! IВ want toВ predict her fate!В»
Well and miracles! It seems that this bird is aВ hostess ofВ the merchant, and not he is her master.
В«What is her name? And how much does it cost? В«Amaranta stretched out her hand toВ aВ white fluffy bird. It was very royal she looked. And aВ major amber, as it turned out, grew right inВ her forehead, first seemed toВ be intricate decoration. Instead ofВ sticking, the bird happily flew into the hand ofВ Amaranta.
What is it lovely! She has aВ luxurious tail than Peacock. Feathers fluffy and gentle toВ the touch. Is there still paradise birds, white, like clouds? Or this is so unique.
В«She is aВ great predictor ofВ fate,В» said the merchant.
В«Yes, ofВ course, IВ believe you,В» Amaranta already pretended toВ the brain, as far as the poultry price will increase from this unrealistic praise. If the money taken on the road is not enough, you can pay for it with jewels. She has already prepared toВ part with the ring or with the earrings.
В«This is aВ gift!В» answered the owner ofВ the bird.
Amaranta did not even bother him toВ believe. How can he give toВ someone such aВ miracle, and even gratis.
The mrchant meanwhile kissed her hand as aВ nobleman.
«You are beautiful as a fairy, lost far from her native magical kingdom,» he whispered so that the surrounding did not hear. «I’m so, believe me, I know how they look like. And the bird knows, so it will obey you. There are almost impossible to tame such birds, except for fairies. She still had no owners, so consider she as your girlfriend.»
В«What is it called?В»
В«This bird is aВ fortuneteller. The magic bird. It is so called no reason, but because it gives predictions.В»
And the bird really spoke almost the human language alternate with nightingale trills. Pure Magic! Amaranta smiled, and the merchant disappeared.
Or was it pulled under the bridge ofВ ice creatures? Well, even though the bird remained.
«Let’s go, a white girlfriend with an amber in your forehead,» Amaranta wanted to bring her on her hand, but the bird was fought and flew over her.
She may spit on the prediction! Amaranta was going to leave the Ice Bridge and move to warm herself in a meadow from piercing cold. Let ice creatures scream in the abyss under the bridge. One of them warned her not to ride. Well, let! She made her choice. It’s time to go to the wedding! Amaranta turned around to look back to the bridge, whether all the same ice creature, threatening for goodbye. But there was only some beautiful blonde cavalier in clothes similar to the Eastern Bathrobe of the merchant and shook off the snowflakes from his hat suspiciously similar to the Turban.
The merchant was old, the cavalier on the bridge is young and handsome. AВ stranger smiled at Amaranta and waved for goodbye, as if she knew her well. Is it not strange that he suddenly found himself on the bridge inВ aВ deaf terrain without aВ crew and without aВ horse?
Amaranta dismissed from him some thunder from heaven. There is aВ thunderstorm or aВ dragon flies? Slightly leaning out ofВ the window, the girl noticed the flying creature, something like aВ white dragon with aВ tiny silhouette ofВ aВ rider. Did it stretched over the sky aВ sharp strip ofВ fire or sunset? Probably, it was not aВ dragon, but simply the cloud-adopted cloud shape. Amaranta was distracted byВ observations, because the bird spoke toВ her again. And her tongue was human. It is good that companions are inВ aВ carriage sleep. You can talk with the great predictor ofВ fate inВ bird plumage.
В«Well, are we friends with you? В«Amaranta tried toВ warm up the fingers, touching her fluffy bird.
«We are not be friends if you are so naive as today,» a luxurious bird said brazenly. «But since you yourself are very stupid, I’m going to become your adviser in everything.»
В«Well, thanks,В» Amaranta was offended. There would not be such aВ beautiful bird, she would immediately drive her for rudeness. Coach rolled forward, and the new girlfriend began toВ absorb residues ofВ fruits from the basket without demand. She so highly appreciated her advice, which did not even notice sarcasm inВ the voice ofВ aВ new mistress. Although no, as the merchant said there. The hostess ofВ this bird cannot be, you can only become her friend.
Wedding Casus
В«You want toВ invite the king ofВ elves toВ your wedding,В» Theobald did not understand. В«This is no joke! What will people say? What will the priests think? ToВ marry you will arrive aВ bishop ofВ the Roshen itself. Everyone will see the king ofВ elves with aВ retinue ofВ magical creatures on your wedding.
В«And good! Now we are allies! Let everyone know about it! No war! We need toВ rejoice, Theobald. Who did not take another disgusting taste ofВ helplessness inВ the fight against supernatural creatures? But how good they are when you are asking them toВ helpВ you.
Angus himself watched the ugly Horde ofВ Finodirries, who deftly dragged huge blocks for the construction ofВ aВ grand cathedral. Such blocks could not raise the whole group ofВ skillful builders. And these terrible freaks, wool and claws, everything was very cleverly went out. Cancelled masters!
В«Do you remember that inВ no case they can not be thanked for work?В» asked the Count.
В«Even if, despite all my bias against them, their work will make an unprecedented impression on me?В» Theobald crushed incredulously. В«IВ do not like the active Finodirries, IВ really did not like them. Such boys can conquer the whole world, and they suddenly are here and build something. This is not good! InВ all this lies some trick.В»
«They can not be thanked if they were pleased you with their work!» said Count Angus. «You don’t remember, I told you about them.»
«Yes, something about the fact that their ancestor married a simple girl, and from this union were born such freaks endowed with a random power and immortality. And then an unusual couple ignored some solemn reception in the country of fairies, and for it all the descendants punished with a curse – they are doomed to be slaves of someone else’s will of all eternity. To work and build for anyone who will like or lubricate them with cunning, but any words of gratitude will burn them like a whip. They will conquer from pain at the sight of a gift or having heard the word „Thank you“ and disappear. So can thank them right now. Hey you!»
В«Do not even think about it!В» objected the count. AВ flock ofВ Finodirries has already wrapped the shaggy heads inВ anticipation ofВ the next commands.
«Go on!«Angus told them, and Theobald was dressed down. «You don’t remember that Dagda himself sent them here. Insult him and the Union will end. Again, you will have to lead a senseless war in which we will lose in any case. Reconcile yourself to the fact that the magic people are stronger than us. It is better to be friends with them, not to be enimies.
В«The fairies and elves will never be friends ofВ people,В» Theobald again felt the pain from his long-standing injury obtained inВ aВ duel with evil spirits. В«Believe me, IВ know.В»
В«No matter how hard it is, we must try,В» Angus was adamant. He did not tear off the eye from the construction, which grown out ofВ nothing on the empty plain inВ one day. Finodirries were famous that they were able toВ dry the swamp and build aВ luxurious palace complex on it inВ just one night. It will be necessary toВ ask them toВ build aВ chic palace for Amaranta, barely finish with the construction ofВ aВ grandiose wedding cathedral.
Dagda decided toВ make aВ great gift and told the magic builders toВ create aВ cathedral for the wedding, which will be remembered byВ aВ lot ofВ generations, because it was at this wedding that the Union was announced, which was concluded byВ mortals and fairies. And it became that this wedding will become significant.
В«What will the priests say, when will learn that the most luxurious cathedral is rebuilt with evil spirits?В» said Theobald. Having received aВ dangerous wound from the fairies, he was biased inВ everything that was inВ connection toВ the people ofВ fairies, but he could not take his eyes from the next magnificent building. В«Fabulous thing! But what if these monolithic walls get crouched into the dust, barely the visitors come into the cathedral? Do you not know how the elves and the fairies areВ sly!
В«You are too suspicious!В» Angus inВ aВ friendly way slapped Theobald on the shoulder, and scared when the friend turned pale and almost fell. It seems that the count hurt his old wound.
One ofВ the Finodiries immediately jumped toВ them and raised the bottle with aВ sparkling greenish elixir.
«Your friend becomes better… for a while,» said he.
В«This is aВ poison!В» suspected Theobald, but the Finodirry has already flew back toВ working friends. They circled over an unfinished cathedral like aВ dance ofВ black jinns. From afar it seemed that they did not work, but dancing, fluttering inВ height. The monstrous and something beautiful spectacle! While Theobald looked at them, the count made him drink aВ gulp ofВ elixir. And aВ small miracle happened. Instead ofВ poisoning, Theobald felt relief.
«The fairies’ jokes,» muttered still, he wanted to spit, but the grass under his feet sparkled from some kind of magic pollen, and he was sorry for her to dump.
«I heard about the ancient King of Moran, who crushed over the swamp, which was fruitless,» told the count an old legend. «It was impossible to dry the swamp, a different creature was jumped out of it, hungry, and terrible voices were heard. Somehow that the king managed to call on a Finodirry. Just one, and not a whole company. That Finodirry per night drained the swamp and built a fortress on it. The graceful king decided for this to build a magic builder to the noble rank, to make his approximate and left him a gift from the dried swamp – an exquisite court outfit with all regalia, a hat, boots. Nearby was waiting for a skilled tailor with a large mirror to help the monster to have a sophisticated clothing and if you have to, urgently fit into size. And a little bit, the royal retinue was hiding, wishing to see how Finodirry was getting on an expensive outfit and will be quietly looked at himself in the mirror in full growth. Especially for him found a mobile mirror of a huge size, because the Finodirry is much higher than the people. Yes, and the fabrics for the outfit chose the best. Buckles, buttons, laces – everything was the highest quality and expensive. Seeing this luxury, Finodirry howled. He did not appreciate the gratitude of the king, only was offended and began to smash something that his paws, claws and horns were not a place where there is a similar luxury that he was driving, and he should leave. With that, notice, no one drove him. On the contrary, he was offered an enviable post at the court. The king could not lose such an employee. But offended by the gift Finodirry destroyed some church in the thickets and disappeared.
В«And what conclusion should IВ do from this story?В»
В«The Magic creatures are not bribes, not seekers ofВ rich patrons, not cunning. It is useful toВ make friends with them.В»
В«Yes? And this is not that Finodirirry who seduced the wife ofВ the king and aВ terrible freak was born from their connection instead ofВ the laid heir. ByВ the way, the queen and Finodirirry met inВ that destroyed church.В»
Well, maybe it was another Finodirirry. Look, you do not distinguish them from each other.В»
They jumped so vigorously, as if flew. One dusted Finodirere chopped the stone block, but fortunately managed toВ catch him raid before he smashed his head toВ aВ whole team ofВ the count.
В«You are not afraid that one day they will become dangerous.В»
В«Dagda will hold them away,В» the count has objected confidently, В«while we are inВ friendship.В» He is their ruler. No wonder they need aВ strong king.В»
В«And if something happens at the wedding.В»
В«Only Dagda himself and his chosen retinue are invited toВ the wedding. Monsters there will not be, only fairies and elves. They can behave decently.В»
В«But they can also be dangerous. Their pretty appearance is deceptive.В»
В«And they also have aВ court etiquette. They know how toВ behave inВ order not toВ provoke aВ new enmity.В»
– And what if Dagda himself is dangerous? What if he just pretended, that does it want to make friends with you?»
В«IВ do not think! No wonder he has rumored about him that he is the most noble ofВ all the rulers ofВ the elves, which were before him.В»
В«It is true, others did not agree toВ go toВ the world. But it does not mean at all that it is necessary toВ believe him unconditionally.В»
В«IВ do not believe! IВ check it! Therefore, he was invited toВ the wedding. Let me get him acquainted with my bride. He must promise that he will not hurt her, only then we will become real friends and allies.
«It’s all because of Amaranta, yes?» It seemed to Theobald for a moment that he looked into the heart of his friend. «In order to provide her security, you are ready for everything.»
В«Well, besides her, IВ am obliged toВ patronize all the inhabitants ofВ the county, my vassals, servants. IВ am entrusted concern for many.
В«You yourself would fought toВ the last drop ofВ blood. You did not forget that the elves were the invaders, they murdered your parents. They damaged us byВ centuries while we did not do anything bad. You see, all these lands, on which we live, were their property even before the first person arose. They considered us only as parasites inВ their private territories.В»
В«Stop doing that! Everything is not so bad!В» The count takes aВ spyglass toВ consider the works ofВ the Finodirries better. Still aВ little bit and they will finish. And the sun is not even beginning toВ tear up toВ the sunset.
В«Great workers!В»
В«Just do not invite them toВ work inВ our county. They are very dangerous.В»
Although the cathedral was built on aВ deserted plain, where it was not necessary toВ build anything before, and where, because ofВ bad rumors, no one tried not toВ enter, gossip about the shaggy workers had already separated throughout the county. Somewhere there remained the imprint ofВ their clawed foot size. Somewhere heard their laughter, from which global walls ofВ rural houses were shook. Somewhere broke the roof, on which they jumped inВ passing.
В«Do you really believe that banshees lived inВ this plain?В» interrupted his reflection the count.
В«The rustic girls accurately heard them. These spirits are howling, foreshadowing aВ tragedy. And even if they were driven byВ Finodirries, the place toВ build aВ wedding cathedral here is very unsuccessful.
Where banshees are howling, it is always better to build a chapel for funeral and prepare the graveyard for the funeral, but Theobald didn’t say about it. Why once again alarm the friend. In addition, the elixir of Finodirry gave temporary relief from the wound. And thank him.
Only thanks toВ say it is impossible not toВ provoke hysteria and discord. Theobald stopped himself inВ time.
Society ofВ gold masks
