IВ noticed that the door was with aВ variety ofВ heavy chains. The chains were firmly fortified inВ cast-iron rings inserted into the wall. Why such aВ precaution? Is there really aВ monster behind this door, which the ancestors ofВ the baron have been held inВ sharpening for centuries. IВ wanted toВ express my guess, but IВ was afraid toВ be ridiculous.
В«It must be aВ gate toВ hell,В» IВ grinned. Just think, even at such aВ moment IВ did not leave aВ sense ofВ humor. Although it is unlikely toВ be aВ hereditary feature. My brothers have always been restrained and serious as young philosophers.
В«Evil is hidden there,В» the baron raised his hand and his unnaturally long index finger almost touched one ofВ the numerous hanging locks.
В«Do you keep the dragon inВ imprisonment?В» IВ asked with the same smile.
В«With such aВ light-mindedness, you will not be able toВ keep even aВ titmouse, my prince for aВ long time,В» the baron was clearly offended byВ my untimely jokes. В«Dragons are too powerful creatures, you will not hold them with chains. At this door there is aВ hatch, also with chains, and under it aВ stone staircase, which descends deeply into the womb ofВ the earth. There, many generations ofВ my family hid their scary treasure. If you open these doors, then aВ black hurricane will break out ofВ them and knock you down. And if we go aВ little further, we will be threatened with inhuman voices. They will also ask toВ open the hatch, but sorrow toВ someone who believes their sweet speeches and will release evil toВ the will. Sometimes the hatch cover shudders so that the chains are ringing and the walls are shaken, as with an earthquake. Even it seems toВ me that some monster sits underground and is trying toВ free themselves from its century old shackles.
В«And what is under this hatch?В» IВ already asked more seriously.
В«If you go down, then you will find yourself inВ aВ small room,В» my enlightener clearly slowed down with the answer, as if he was weighed, what could be said, but what is not and is it worth talking with aВ skeptical guest.
В«There is an organ inВ the corner. Sometimes you heard how someone plays on it, although there is not aВ single living soul inВ the dungeon and nevertheless the organ makes heartbreaking sounds. And the manuscripts with the witchcraft symbols are stored near.В»
«Are you saying that there is a witchcraft? Then why don’t you invite any scientist to decipher all the records?»
В«It is excluded,В» shook his head the baron. В«No one can even touch these ancient scrolls. If you just knew what force they hide inВ themselves and the curse falls on the one who keeps them inВ their home. AВ few years ago, my son tried toВ descend under the ground and died. Since then, these doors are always closed and sealed byВ aВ variety ofВ locks.В»
В«But there must be some kind ofВ dare-devil!В» IВ protested. В«If the witch mysteries hide behind this set ofВ locks and seals, someone who wants toВ decipher the manuscripts will come.В»
В«IВ have no more heir, but maybe someday you will return here toВ take care ofВ my ominous heritage. Are you bold enough toВ take on such aВ cargo? If so, IВ will show you aВ place where the keys are hidden.В»
«Yes, someday I’ll be back here,» I not think that I promised. It seemed to me that in this moment the triumphant laughter came across the door, from which the chains were shouted and ran.
Although IВ was and uncomfortable, but on the way back IВ asked exactly how the son ofВ the baron died. Are there any wounds on the body?
В«No,В» he shook his head calmly. В«Only his shirt was broken, and three scratches and aВ red handprint remained on the throat.В»
В«Maybe it was not aВ palm, but aВ paw ofВ some kind ofВ creature?В» IВ expressed my assumption.
«No, it was a track from a very elegant female hand. I can’t say anything else. My help was late,» he showed me a cache, where he hid the keys from the locks. I tried to remember the simple cipher. Although if the story of the Baron is truthful, then these keys had to be destroyed long ago, and the door to leave the locked forever. I looked at the door covered by the web of a heavy chain, and her species made a depressing impression on me. In my heart, cold and fear were sought. It seemed that from under the ground, despite the cast-iron barrier, I heard a joyful, victorious laughter and someone’s voice, at the same time, and a terrible and attractive, whispering to my ear:
В«You finally come back! We waited for you so long!В»
Deceiver
On the way home, I tried to observe the silence, so as not to tell the brother about my night adventure. The baron showed us on the map the shortest path and explained how we can drive around dried forests. In the capital, I was hoping to relax, persuade Claude to walk along with me past shops selling flowers and baubles. Alas, the city met us with sullen silence. Stone streets were empty, shutters on the windows are closed. And today there was not a soul around. Even closely pressed to each other, stone houses seemed uninhabited. The city looked abandoned, as after rat’s invasion.
We turned toВ the main street, but here it was also quiet and deserted. Only inВ one alley IВ saw aВ girl. She dressed inВ aВ wool shawl and pressed aВ bracket with aВ silk goods toВ the chest. IВ called her, but she ran past, without even paying attention toВ us.
It seems she is in a hurry to the square of two swords. Let’s go there,» suggested Claude.
I sighed quietly, but obeyed. The square of two swords, named so in the emblem of one duke’s family always caused me dislike, because there were executions. The heat of fire and the whistle of the ax at the frontal place every time spoiled me a mood, although numerous yawns flocked there from all over the capital. For the first time in life, I found myself in such oppressive loneliness, in the center of the empty city.
Claude leaned and raised aВ colorful poster from one counter.
«Oh, that’s what some robbers execute today,» he will notify me. «There must be all the townspeople gathered to see.»
He sent a horse to the sinister square. I followed him, although I didn’t want to look at the execution at all. On the wall of the gray house in front of the square hung a shield, and two crossed sword were drawn on its smooth surface.
Claude was right. It seemed that today all residents ofВ the city were glanced at the place ofВ execution and only the most god-fearing remained sitting inВ their tightly locked houses. From the saddle, IВ could only see the heads ofВ citizens.
Some boy volunteered toВ hold our horses, while we go through the square. We rushed into the thick ofВ the crowd toВ listen toВ people talking about. Claude joined the sides enthusiastically. IВ also considered people from the crowd until IВ saw aВ strange lord dressed inВ all black. He, as if, wore mourning on the occasion ofВ execution. He looked completely supernatural. Mysterious and bold eyes have long been followed after me. Somewhere IВ saw this man, but only where and why he seems toВ me so elusive and ghostly against the background ofВ aВ noisy crowd. He stood, leaning her back toВ the wall ofВ some house, and looked atВ me.
IВ wanted toВ get lost inВ the crowd and even pushed Claude forward, but, turning around, IВ noticed with surprise that the stranger still does not take eyes from me. This time, inВ his glance flashed something unkind.
В«Claude,В» IВ grabbed my brother for the sleeve. В«Why does he look at me, that man inВ black?В»
Claude looked at the side where IВ pointed toВ him and seems toВ be confused.
«I think because you are extremely beautiful,» he immediately found with the answer and pulled me, as far as possible from the subject of my observations. «Let’s go better from here. How do we know what kind of people will break off at the place of execution.»
IВ wanted toВ remind Claude that he himself decided toВ look at the execution, but did not do this. We just took our horses and continued the path inВ complete silence. For the first time inВ aВ long time IВ felt aВ strange fatigue. It seemed that the black wings ofВ some birds slammed over my head. And above the castle flashed the rays ofВ aВ bloody sunset, similar toВ the bright all-consuming fire. For aВ minute IВ even came out that the main tower is glowing, and the red flames ofВ the flame break out from the windows ofВ my apartments. Only with difficulty IВ managed toВ shook the obsession.
Claude and IВ slipped past the guard and omnipresent royal secretaries. On the go, IВ managed toВ shout at one ofВ them, that we will tell you everything as soon as we rest. Judging byВ the surprised expressions ofВ persons, IВ realized that the castle had already begun toВ happen toВ whether it was not worth ordering aВ requiem. Only Florian did not leave hope toВ see us alive. After stormy greetings, he began toВ talk quietly about how he worried, as he watched his dear from his balcony or even surrounded byВ aВ suite went toВ the forest toВ meetВ us.
В«Did you believed that one wild boar can cope with both ofВ us?В» laughed Claude.
«I’m not only talking about the wild boar,» said Florian excitedly and looked at the sides. Only, making sure that there is no one near us, he continued. «Did you not hear that death wanders around the city. And if they returned at night, they could quite be the following victims. Several citizens died and even travel merchants. In the royal port is also restless. Sailors are afraid of something, one of them swear, he saw how a strange woman in a dark cape wanders at the pier. They even say that she does not look like a living person, that it is white and cold, as a revived statue. According to their expression, a marble hand can strangle anyone. Others come to the head of the guard and explain that they saw in the streets a man in black, and then at the place where he stood, accidents occurred. So that the folk excitement calmed down, had to condemn several robbers on the execution.
В«And what do you think about all this?В» IВ asked.
В«IВ prefer not toВ go toВ the city after the coming ofВ darkness and advise you the same thing,В» Florian brushed aside. В«You personally, Edwin,В» he turned toВ me, В«IВ advise you toВ close the window ofВ your bedroom before bedtime, and IВ will lock the shutters every night.В»
This time IВ could not hold back aВ laughter.
В«Who, inВ your opinion, will be able toВ get toВ my window, on aВ smooth fortress wall, while bypassing the sentries and not be wounding about sharp spikes?В» IВ asked. В«For this you need toВ have wings.В»
«There are also winged creatures in the world, «Florian shrugged vaguely, clearly he didn’t tell everything.
В«Well, IВ will not mind if at night toВ me inВ the window will fly aВ nightingale or aВ crimson. IВ love birds and specially open my window for them.
В«IВ would not advise you toВ do this,В» Florian objected completely seriously. He never allowed himself toВ smile and only read the instruction. Probably, he considered me an incorrigible joker, but IВ could not resist jokes when IВ looked at the gloomy expression ofВ his face, tightly compressed lips. InВ the beautiful years ofВ his youth, he tried toВ seem thoughtful and wise.
В«Well, well, IВ will do how you want, even if you order me toВ lock all the windows inВ this castle overnight,В» IВ agreed. В«IВ can right now nail up windows inВ my apartments.В»
В«No, no need toВ do this,В» this time he smiled after all. В«ByВ the way, IВ invited aВ merchant toВ the castle, which brought the amulets for the welfare ofВ its owner.
IВ wanted toВ refuse the amulet proposed toВ me, but could not. AВ merchant with the chests ofВ his goods was waiting for us inВ the courtyard. He caused my curiosity. IВ managed toВ talk with him just aВ few minutes, but, obviously, IВ made an impression ofВ an educated person on him, because IВ received aВ big book inВ the binding ofВ morocco as aВ gift.
«It’s an expensive thing, I can’t take it just like that,» I protested and reached for the wallet.
«No,» the merchant hurriedly stopped me. «Perhaps once this book was really expensive, but now it’s just a parchment with the text of spells written in a language that no one understands.»
В«So why do you think that IВ can read them and understand?В»
В«It is unlikely that among my buyers will meet another such enlightened person as you,В» my interlocutor replied.
IВ wanted toВ say that all my enlightenment takes the origins ofВ conversations with random counterparts, but changed my mind. Meanwhile, the merchant said softly on some dialect, on which sailors spoke inВ the port, and which IВ learned toВ understand.
«You are so young, but in your eyes the ancient mind glows,» he fell silent, but for some reason it seemed to me that he wanted to add «and ancient evil.» I have already heard this phrase as a child when our old teacher read us out loud some book. Why, when a person grows, so many fragments of happy childhood eclipses from his memory. I adopted a book with gratitude, although I didn’t even know what to do with her. Put on the shelf for decoration? But why do I need a book that I can’t read?
When IВ stayed alone, IВ revealed the gold-plated latches, opened the book and started flipping the pages, as if trying toВ determine what was written on them. All letters were neatly bred on the handful parchment with black and aluminum paints. Scarlet letters, as if burned against the background ofВ dark symbols.
There was a persistent knock at the door. I broke away from the book and let the valet, who courteously reminded that it was time to change to the evening reception. On the way to one of the halls, I looked into the mirror and saw some fabulous, mysterious stranger there. Is it really my reflection? It appeared to me very dazzling and someone else’s, as if the gold-haired ghost looks at me from a dark mirror.
In the spacious hall under the sounds of the flutes were spinning in dance only two – three pairs. I decided to play chess with one of the nobles, and we took a table at the window. Time was nearing night. I won several parties in a row and already looking for a reason to retire when I heard the heralds’ tubes. The king appeared in support of his suite. I looked for a long time as the stone sparkle in his crown, how the folds of his mantle fluttered when he is walking. Probably Claude has already managed to tell him about the battle with the wild boar. For the first time my crowned father looked at me with gratitude and even with respect.
В«Edwin!В» Claude took me under the elbow and took toВ the side. В«The father told me toВ present you one lady. She just returned from the journey and can tell you aВ lot. Let me introduce you toВ Lady Silvia.В»
A slim lady turned to meet us. Curls of reddish hair covered her back and shoulders, even lay down on a smooth forehead. For some reason it seemed to me that she had never come out on the sun in her life. Only this could explain the painful pallor of her face. The white openwork dress only emphasized the marble white skin. Black eyelashes beautifully bent over expressive eyes. In a deceptive light from the walls, it seemed to me that the girl’s face was just a smooth gypsum mask framed by rag curls of the hair.
IВ approached her, more and more convincing that she was just aВ doll, which was forced toВ speak and move with help ofВ some kind ofВ cunning mechanism which was inserted inВ her head. Maybe inВ front ofВ me really was the creation ofВ aВ puppet master.
Lady Silvia stood motionless. Just noticing me, she cried softly and would fall, if Claude did not support her on time.
В«You must have not got used toВ noisy reception, Milady,В» he said, helping her toВ get toВ the nearest sofa.
В«No, just not toВ the fire,В» she dismissed when Claude tried toВ sit down near the fireplace. She settled inВ the chair, which stood rather far from the fire. Maybe she was afraid that the flame even inВ aВ distance could burn her white, gentle skin or spark, accidentally escaped because ofВ the low fireplace, it would fall on her dress. Never have aВ single lady fainted from the presence ofВ aВ prince. Claude also did not understand anything, but, nevertheless, he tried toВ bring Silvia toВ feelings. IВ could only retire. Several ladies standing at the exit from the hall, seeing me, sat down inВ low courtesy. IВ answered them with aВ nod ofВ head. Other courtiers, found inВ the galleries, also bowed toВ me, someone made aВ compliment, and only this strange Sylvia for some reason was frightened ofВ me or ofВ someone who was invisible attended behind my back. IВ turned around, thinking that IВ would see the ugly shadow behind my back, but IВ saw only how the black smoke was swept away, taking the shape ofВ the winged being. Just aВ shadow curve from some kind ofВ subject, but it seemed toВ me frightening and mysterious.
There was a candle on my table. I could not fall asleep for a long time, listening to silence. It seemed that sometimes a quiet, silk rustle hears outside the window. So rustled the dress of the late queen – my mother, when she went in support of her maids of honour along the narrow corridor in her bedroom. From her kingdom, she led several astrologers in the royal castle, which to this day gave some valuable advice to the king.
Again I heard some sounds. Only now I remembered that, contrary to the promise, I forgot to close the window. I wanted to rise from the bed. The candle was almost burned down and dropped only weak reflections on the morocco’s cover of the book. From the side of the window there was a quiet flap of wings. Did some kind of bird decide to take off so high? Maybe it decided to make the nest on the windowsill? I turned to the window, and what I saw seemed incredible to me. In the arched opening of window, was a graceful female silhouette. I looked at the white marble shoulders, hands, prayer-crossed on the chest, the pile of dark curls and two transparent, sparkling wings behind her. The face of the night guest was also strikingly beautiful. She did not look at me, her lips barely moved, as if in prayer. And I was afraid to twitch her and feared that, bypassing the window opening, she would fly straight into the room, put off the candle with her wing and would speak about the ancient secrets. I carefully rose from the bed and, trying to stick in the shade, approached the window. Suddenly the winged guest raised her eyes.
Under the dark eyelashes flashed aВ cruel fire. There was no one before the window. My guest disappeared as suddenly, as it appeared.
IВ remembered the instructions ofВ Florian. InВ this midnight hour IВ was ready toВ give the tribute toВ his mind. How could he foresee it? He also warned me not toВ go toВ the city after the coming ofВ darkness, but IВ could not obey this instruction. If some murderer roams around the city at night, then IВ have toВ fight against him, as IВ fought against many before him. IВ took the sword, left the bedroom and on the long-mastered route got out ofВ the castle. Soon IВ had already walked around the dark streets. Sometimes IВ went out onto wide, well-lit roads. But the robber is unlikely toВ be painted inВ such places. Too much light. Snowflakes are circling near the lanterns like silver dust. InВ several windows, the light was still burning. InВ one ofВ them IВ saw the silhouette ofВ the seamstress with the needlework. IВ wrapped inВ aВ raincoat and continued my way. InВ addition toВ echo ofВ my steps, IВ have not heard any sound for aВ long time. Then IВ heard the noise ofВ carriage on the deserted street. The crew, almost came up with me. IВ wanted toВ leave the road and stand aside, because on this narrow street it was impossible for us toВ pass on this part ofВ the road, but suddenly aВ graceful head looked out ofВ the window.
В«IВ am glad toВ see you, Monseigneur!В» sang aВ familiar voice. This very voice called me from the sleigh, passing byВ the deserted glade.
В«IВ am surprised how you are not afraid toВ ride at night on these sinister streets,В» said I, standing near the crew.
«I’m trying to imitate your courage,» she answered in all the same playful tone. «And, moreover, you must help me. Have you not noticed that we have just broken the axis in the wheel, so I had to stop. And not because I am looking for meetings with our beautiful lord.»
IВ looked at the wheel. The axis was broken. We needed aВ master toВ replace it. Meanwhile, my random acquaintance was impatiently tangled with the tips ofВ the fingers along the door.
В«Unfortunately, IВ can not fix it just like that. Does your coachman have any tools with him?В» IВ really wanted toВ help her, without even thinking about the fact that IВ am aВ prince, not aВ coach-builder. Florian would be horrified byВ one such thought.
«I don’t understand why you need tools,» the lady was displeased. «With your abilities, you continue to think like a simple person. And it surprises me. So you help me?»
«Sorry, but I really can’t,» I looked at the hopeless breakdown.
«No, you can,» the lady said a imperious tone. Her eyes burned in the light of the lantern. – Call for help your secret force and everything will work out. After all, I have no relation to your brothers, you should not hide your talents from me.»
Her words hit me something. IВ looked at the broken axis and strained thoughts, presenting how slow the tree would grow together how the wheel rises. And indeed, inВ just aВ few moments, breakdowns did not happen. The axis moved toВ the previous place. The wheel looked like aВ new one, although IВ did not even touch it. IВ was amazed. However, the lady took all this, as granted.
В«Thank you, Monseigneur,В» she nodded, quickly retired the curtain on the window, and the crew smoothly rolled on the street.
IВ did not even have time toВ ask her. What does all this mean? Did the wizard stood behind my back, who did it all. IВ looked at the lantern hanging on the hook and presented how the glass crawls from aВ strong impact. Only IВ managed toВ think about it, like aВ glass cap scattered on aВ plurality ofВ sparkling fragments, and aВ tiny light ground. Only aВ small iron frame swayed on aВ hook.
В«Excellent, you really know how toВ do something,В» said aВ voice behind my back. IВ turned around. For aВ moment it seemed toВ me that IВ saw aВ tall, gloomy stranger.
He immediately disappeared. There was no sound ofВ steps, and even echo did not respond toВ his words. The labyrinth ofВ urban streets ran ahead, IВ wanted toВ wander around them all night and think that these places were enchanted and uninhabited, but, unlike travelers, who first found themselves inВ the capital, IВ knew that at night at every corner aВ villain with the dagger could wait for the travelers. InВ one ofВ the poor quarters, IВ once crossed the swords with aВ young robber. Among the robbers, he was famous as the best fencer, the first blade ofВ the robbery world. He was so sincerely surprised when IВ won him that he swore toВ do an honest craft and that most importantly kept his promise. IВ helped him get aВ job inВ one ofВ those bakers that they supply bread toВ the royal table. He was so grateful toВ me for keeping his life and was ready toВ fulfill any order. IВ easily found that the building, where his room was located on the ground floor, and IВ knocked him three times into aВ low window. Immediately the candle broke out, the bolt clicked and the door opened. On the threshold, sleepily rubbing his eyes, stood my repentant rival. InВ the night cap, he rather reminded aВ silly schoolboy, although he could manifest himself as the most dexterous spy and aВ good comrade inВ arms.
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