Dragon’s Empire – 1. Curse of the younger Prince
Natalie Yacobson
The youngest of three princes is beautiful, bold, loved by the people and, alas, cursed. The king’s advisers are afraid of prince Edwin, but magic creatures, on the contrary, take him for their own lord. Edwin has almost fallen in love with the beautiful fairy that follows him. But the gloomy sorcerer attacks the kingdom with flocks of dragons. He needs Edwin to come to power in magic empire.
Dragon’s Empire – 1
Curse of the younger Prince
Natalie Yacobson
Translator Natalia Lilienthal
© Natalie Yacobson, 2021
© Natalia Lilienthal, translation, 2021
ISBNВ 978-5-0055-4049-2 (С‚. 1)
ISBNВ 978-5-0055-4050-8
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Prologue
As soon as the road rolled toВ the cliff, the horses were frightened. Countess Francesca hurriedly jumped out ofВ the sleigh. InВ aВ road dress, with disheveled blond hair, she resembled an angry nymph.
В«How did you dare toВ leave the castle not toВ say goodbye? She shouted, but the young man who stood on the edge ofВ the cliff did not even turn around. It seemed that he was not worried or anger, nor the favor ofВ famous persons.
For the first time, Francesca regretted that she was sheltered in her castle this stray painter. When he late at night came to the gates of the fortress and showed her samples of his works, she was fascinated and did not even notice that the grave’s cold was blowing from these pictures. She wanted to hire a talented artist to work, but as soon as he crossed the threshold of her dwelling, the castle was filled with invisible guests. Objects moved by themselves, the wind broke the windows, and at night there was a mysterious melody, as if someone played on the harp. The servants began to happen about the mischievous elves. But after all, Francesca did not believe in the elves. She did not believe and then when at night went down into the ballroom and saw there six ghostly, pale ladies.
The countess drew attention toВ the fact that all animals, especially horses, feared the painter. So now the horses were afraid toВ approach him. And inВ the meantime he dropped the bag toВ earth, inВ which he kept his miniatures and brushes, and began toВ push some object toВ the edge ofВ the cliff. InВ the outline ofВ sharp corners, Francesca guessed that it was aВ picture wrapped inВ aВ scarlet velvet. But why the artist will discharge one ofВ his paintings into the abyss, because he could sell it and thus earn for aВ living. Judging byВ clothes, he was very poor.
В«What are you doing, Camille?В» The countess approached the young man. He did not even pay attention toВ her. The red hairs under the green beret, really gave him similarity with the mischievousВ elf.
The anger ofВ Francesca began toВ give way toВ curiosity. She decided toВ buy this picture, at least for the sake ofВ pleasure toВ see what is drawn on it? Once the artist himself wants toВ get rid ofВ his work, it means that the price will not be high.
«Camille, how much do you want for this… thing?» Francesca’s elegant hand pointed to the picture in the velvet. «Do you really think that its place is in the abyss?»
However, the mysterious and, obviously, poorly educated young man didn’t want to start a secular conversation. Only on the moment he broke away from his occupation to look at the countess. Francesca seemed that pain flashed in his eyes.
В«You do not understand. IВ have toВ destroy the proof,В» he whispered so quietly, that she barely heard the words.
В«And if IВ give you the fastest horse and inВ addition, the wallet with silver,В» without thinking, offered Francesca.
InВ response, Camille only sadly grinned.
«To travel, I don’t need a horse, Milady,» he said. The simplest phrase in his lips sounded like a mystery.
«Although on the other hand…» Camille became thoughtful. There was a deep fold between his eyebrows. «If I sell you this picture, you promise not to put it in the sun?»
В«IВ promise,В» Francesca nodded, although this requirement seemed toВ her strange. She stretched out the wallet with money, and he reluctantly accepted them.
В«IВ hope that you will not get aВ mischief toВ your head, my reckless mistress,В» Camille whispered. He raised his bag from the ground, he threw it over his shoulder and went away, not even saying goodbye. When he passed by, the horses frightened and beat about the ground with hooves, but Camille did not even pay attention toВ them, as if used toВ such reaction ofВ animal toВ his appearance.
As soon as he disappeared from sight, Francesca wanted to take away the velvet from the painting, but immediately remembered the warning. The snowfall recently stopped, and now in the sky shone a cold, winter sun. And it is impossible to exhibit the picture on the sun’s rays. She had to ask the coachman to bring the picture to the sleigh and turn back to the castle.
There was an extensive forest around her castle. Her family lived here already aВ lot ofВ centuries. Nearby are several prosperous villages. As aВ child, Francesca often played inВ the forest with rustic children and never was afraid toВ meet the night on the forest road. So why does it seem toВ her now that aВ dangerous observer can hide inВ this forest?
The way toВ the castle seemed toВ her long and tedious.
В«How did you pale, mistress!В» Exclaimed the maid, waiting for her mistress at the gate. The countess looked into the manual mirror. Yes, indeed, she was too pale and felt aВ strange dizziness, just like the heroine ofВ aВ fairy tale, bewitched byВ elves.
Francesca told toВ bring the picture inВ the tower and put on the easel. When the servants left, Francesca drew the curtains on the windows, lit the candles and only then removed the cover from the painting.
InВ the first moment, she lost the gift ofВ speech from amazement. InВ her head aВ thought was still flashed, and suddenly Camille stole somewhere this picture. InВ any case, such work is not typical for him, and no one court master could create something similar. At first, Francesca thought that an angel was depicted on the canvas, but already inВ the next moment rejected this guess. Each item was identified very clearly, and at the same time, aВ mysteriousness forced all the colors, except for black and gold. InВ the background there was aВ lattice ofВ the dungeon and chains attached toВ the raw walls, aВ wonderful, blonde young man was sitting at the oak table. He leaned over the revealed book. The glare from the candle lays down on his face. The large, pensive eyes shone. The bright curls like halo surrounded the smooth forehead. What an exalted image, Francesca thought, and only aВ moment later, noticed that behind the young man stands the black winged creature. Long claws stretch toВ the shoulders ofВ aВ diligent student who does not even want toВ tear his eye from the book toВ see the demon for his back.
The countess inspected the angles ofВ the picture inВ the hope toВ find the name ofВ an artist or at least the name ofВ the picture, but did not find any or another. Looking on the picture, she asked herself the same question: who is this young man, did he die many years ago or is still alive, and maybe this perfect face is just aВ fantasy ofВ the painter?
В«Who are you?В» Francesca asked out loud, touching with her fingers the canvas, as if she was hoping that the drawing could answer her. She wanted toВ say something else, but here they knocked at the door. AВ frightened servant was on the threshold.
В«Milady, there is aВ fire inВ the village,В» he began without warnings.
В«So send people who will help toВ put out the fire,В» Francesca ordered.
В«No one wants toВ go toВ the village,В» said the frightened servant, not knowing whether he should tell her the whole truth. В«There is no accident at home. The peasants swear that they saw aВ dragon.В»
В«AВ dragon,В» Francesca repeated as echo, В«but this is incredible!В»
The servant left and she rushed toВ the window. She opened the window. Now on the place where the village had even recently stood, the flame was raging. The black smoke rose toВ heaven, and aВ flexible, golden creature was circled over aВ huge burial fire. Francesca did not have time, as it should, look at, the winged destroyer disappeared, and the fire continued toВ be raging.
Francesca closed the window and pressed her back toВ the wall. She had toВ close the eyelids. All candles except one, at once went out. Shadows drank on the walls. Some voices sounded inВ silence.
Francesca opened her eyes and almost screamed from surprise. Before her stood the same blonde young man. He was as beautiful as inВ the picture. Only this time his head was decorated byВ the crown.
AВ warning
The light of the moon makes its way into the window. Sharpened feathers lie next to the inkwell. I have to start my story. The magic clock count the time allotted to me until dawn. And in the morning I will have to be present at the coronation and no longer be able to work at night, bending over the book of spells. Now I’m just a newly magician who wants to write down the history of his life on the pure pages of the witchcraft’s folio. Maybe some novice of the magic school will visit the corner tower and will find my memoirs. I want that at least someone will recognize my secret, and read about who I was before becoming a warlock. To do this, I have to forget about the elves waiting for me at the entrance of the fortress, and look far back into the past.
Eternity toВ that yearВ ago
I stood before the arched window and looked at the city spread down at the bottom. Is there a richest and prosperous land in the world than the kingdom of my father? I could not know this, because no of the princes was allowed to travel beyond the country. I had no right to go on a journey even under someone else’s name, such a law was established by the Royal Council.
At the bottom, the lights of the sleeping city were sparkled, the motley flags were flushed on the fair tents, pigeons nests were nesting at lower roofs. Houses of the capital even at night did not plunge into darkness. On the streets lit the lanterns, as if their light could protect the peaceful citizens from attacking robbers or evil spirits. What a majestic look opened to me from the windows of the tower, the whole city was lying, as on the palm. There was a blue cold sea to the left from city’s gate. Brightly burned the light on the lighthouse. In the royal port flies off shopping ships from around the world. Many of them stood in a quiet harbor. From the foreign merchants I listened many stories about distant countries and exotic islands, but I didn’t long keep the hope of going to the maritime journey. How much I did not ask about it my father, the answer was always alone and the constant warning that outside the native country a danger is waiting for me.
Although why suddenly such concern about the younger son. After all, I could not inherit the throne and was not educated enough to give any advice in state affairs. But every day, from dawn to sunset, I spent on the school stadium or archers’ contest. Even old, experienced knights recognized me with one of the best, and the native brothers looked at me as if I could not withstand even the first test of fate. I used to hide from the inhabitants of the castle that at night, when nobody could notice me, I went out in the city to fight with my sword the first robber I met. But today I was in no hurry to descend down the fortress wall. I, as enchanted, looked at the starry sky, spread over the castle towers and on a bright flag attached to a high spire.
I wanted to move away from the window, but suddenly some strange sounds came to me.. Who can demand to open the castle’s gate in such a late hour? To my surprise, the guards immediately hurried to the winch, plundered chains and squeezed lattices. The lifting bridge was immediately lowered, and a black carriage came into the courtyard of the castle. The coachman opened the carriage door. It seemed to me that the whole eternity was held before from the crew’s darkness came out a high, state-owned gentleman in the long, dark clothes decorated with sables. In his right hand sparkled the gilded staff. His uncovered proud headt seemed to be intended to wear a crown. The appearance and manners of the stranger made an indelible impression on me. He moved with an extraordinary, predatory grace and led himself with such dignity, as if he was headed above all the terrestrial rules.
My older brother Florian ran into the courtyard ofВ the castle. Despite the late hour, he was dressed inВ his festive camisole, briefly marked hair inВ the light ofВ torches were cast gold. He ran up toВ aВ stranger and respectfully bowed toВ him. Who is this gentleman? What did he deserve the bow ofВ the heir toВ the throne? After all, everyone knows that the heir toВ the throne is not putting anyone except the king.
IВ disassembled curiosity. IВ had toВ find out what aВ night guest inВ our area needs. Probably he came from afar, from some country that IВ never heard. After all, IВ was able toВ paint the world map only byВ stories ofВ seamen. Now IВ was interested inВ questioning aВ stranger about his lands. His clothes, although it was rich, but did not correspond toВ the last fashion installed inВ our country. But apparently, this guest was waitingВ for.
IВ left the tower, descended down the screw staircase and stopped inВ front ofВ the front halls. This usually brought all visitors, but this time it was deserted around. No magnificent reception. Only guard stood before the closed doors.
IВ turned into aВ dark gallery. It was quiet and deserted here, only knightly armoires stood inВ the walls ofВ niches and the mirrors flicker coldly. Steps heard ahead. IВ hastily slipped behind the tapestry and from my shelter could observe how the king was accompanied byВ an alien. Slightly behind them, sadly lowering the blond heads, my brothers Florian and Claude walked. Since childhood, these two all the time kept together. It seems that they were not embarrassed at all that the crown would get only toВ the eldest son, and the average will be able toВ take only second place inВ the country.
Carefully choosing from my shelter, IВ followed the strange procession. The king, aВ mysterious stranger and both ofВ my brothers entered the throne hall. The key turned inВ the castle, and all the subsided. IВ went toВ the closed doors and listened.
«Believe me, if I want, he rushes at my call and even the whole army will not be able to keep him», someone’s domineering, triumphant voice came to me. From these sounds in the head clouded. In front of the eyes there was darkness, and one single word was in my head. It seems that it was someone’s name «Rothbert». Strange, I have never heard this name before, why did it come to my mind, as if one of those magical words, with which you can get open any locks.
The door of the throne’s room suddenly swung open. Someone grabbed me by the shoulders and dragged to the side.
В«Edwin, what happened toВ you?В» The concerned voice ofВ Claude brought me out ofВ stupor. В«Previously, you did not have any habits toВ sleep on the go. Maybe you are unhealthy?В»
В«No, everything is fine with me,В» IВ lied and leaned back toВ the wall so as not toВ fall. В«Tell me, what is the name ofВ that gentleman, who just arrived inВ the castle?В»
InВ just aВ moment on the face ofВ my brother, the gamma ofВ feelings from the complete despair toВ the cold indifference was replaced.
В«You were mistaken,В» Claude finally squeezed out. В«Today inВ the castle they did not allow any messengers or guests. Such is the royal decree.В»
В«But IВ saw aВ black carriage inВ the courtyard ofВ the castle.В»
В«It seemed toВ you,В» Claude said with aВ impermeable expression. В«Go back toВ your chambers. Tomorrow IВ will send toВ you aВ doctor.В»
Claude himself took me toВ the door ofВ the bedroom.
В«Close the door and do not come out ofВ your chambers before dawn,В» he advised. It is necessary toВ say that his advice seemed toВ me strange. IВ have never been afraid toВ look inВ the face ofВ danger, on the contrary, wandered on the dark banks ofВ the capital, looking for opportunities toВ expose the sword. So what do IВ fear inВ the walls, where IВ was born and grew up. Is only the fact that the court doctor poison me with one ofВ his potions.
Why would you suddenly begin to deny the existence of a night visitor? For the first time in life, I felt offended of my father for the fact that he did not devote me to state’s secrets.
At the bottom I was heard the crash of the wheels of the departing crew. I threw the first raincoat on my shoulders, grabbed the sword and rushed down to the stables. Claude’s warning did not have values for me. If something is hidden from me, then it is no reason. Well, I have enough courage to learn everything myself.
IВ quickly saddled the horse and slipped along the lowered bridge. Thin grooves from wheels and traces ofВ horse hoofs were noticeable on aВ wet dirt road. The chain ofВ traces rushed toВ the forest. Who would have been this strange traveler, but he chose an unsuccessful route. The dark forest road led toВ the ruins ofВ the old city. People were afraid toВ walk there even during the day. It is unlikely that there would be aВ brave one inВ the entire capital, which at night would go toВ the ruins. But I, without thinking, sent my horse after the mysterious crew.
IВ spurred aВ horse, hoping toВ catch up with aВ carriage before it deepened into the forest, but, toВ my surprise, IВ discovered that despite the rush, the distance between me and the black carriage is not reduced. Well, not even better, IВ can follow aВ person who caused my curiosity, and at the same time remain unnoticed. After all, if IВ just catch it up and ask him directly, what did he need from my father, will he give me an honest answer? There was no rear window inВ the carriage, there were no grooms on the footboard. And the coachman could not see the pursuer.
When I accepted the fact that I would have to comply with a respectful distance, the horses neighed wildly. The carriage lurched slightly, there was a crack. I looked closer and saw that one of the rear wheels landed in the ditch. It must be now the driver will jump from the box to inspect the damage, and I will try to provide all possible assistance and, of course, the conversation will begin. But a careless driver and didn’t leave his seat. There was a whistling whip exploded in the night air a few glittering sparks, so bright that I closed my eyes and when I opened them, I could not help but startled a cry. The road was empty, no horses, no coach, just next to the ditch left deep furrows – the latest evidence that there has recently been stuck wheel of carriage.
IВ was so surprised that IВ forgot about my own difficulty. When IВ looked around, IВ realized that IВ could move off very far from the edge ofВ the forest. The darkness deepened over the road. InВ this forest, even during the day it lacked light, and after the midnight thick gloom became impenetrable. IВ had toВ make the return journey inВ the possible shortest time and closely monitored so that my horse did not hit aВ hoof into some pit. The trees surrounded the trail as the fabulous giants. The thorny branches clung toВ my clothes and aВ long mane ofВ aВ horse. Maybe IВ too succumbed toВ the play ofВ the imagination, but it seemed toВ me that the road is rapidly shrinking, and it will be impossible toВ go through it soon.
Somewhere flashed a light in a thicket. I dismounted, tied my horse to the trunk of a spruce and rushed to the light. I did not believe the stories of wandering flames and was not afraid that the devil will knock me off track. The farther I went, the brighter was the light. A few more steps and I could see that the flame is burning in a window. Is someone still lives in the hunters’ house. I thought it was already abandoned for a long time, and the royal manager would still not have time to send here a huntsman.
IВ approached the hollow and looked into the window. There was aВ candle on the table. AВ bright radiance was spread from the candle inВ the room ofВ the hut. And next toВ the table two girls were sitting. Judging byВ their luxurious outfits, IВ would count them toВ the number ofВ noble ladies. Although what could ladies do at night inВ the forest wilderness? They did not notice me, and IВ stood at the window and could not take aВ look from two red-haired beauties. One ofВ them kept inВ the hands ofВ the golden yarn, and the other cleverly wove the threads inВ the ball. They spoke about something, perhaps they joked. One girl laughed, swung inВ the tact ofВ the movement ofВ head fiery curls. Her silver laughter echoed from the walls ofВ theВ hut.
В«And the youngest prince is beautiful as an angel,В» the girl said suddenly. She copied with accuracy toВ the compliment, which IВ so often heard from the court ladies. ByВ the tone ofВ her voice, it was impossible toВ understand whether she was saying this with admiration or simply messengers someone.
«Yes, he is very good,» the second lady agreed more reserved. «I’m sorry for him. Unhappy, handsome boy! He is not created for such fate.»
В«This beautiful young man does not even know what is waiting for him. Even the king will not be able toВ protect him from the wrath ofВ sorcerers,В» the girl carefully chose the words as if she was afraid toВ pronounce the prohibited names. В«He is too noble toВ agree toВ the terms ofВ the prince.В»
В«From those who like toВ play inВ honor and valor inВ childhood, are obtained the most revealed villains,В» her girlfriend objected completely calmly.
