Natalie Yacobson "Dragon’s Empire – 3. Countess and Dragon"

Selvin, ofВ course, was surprised that he did not hear my steps, but from politeness did not openly show his amazement.

В«Come in!В» IВ invited, and the door, which before that did not succumb toВ aВ persistent knock, nor aВ strong push suddenly opened itself. We entered the hall. It was no less cold here than inВ the open sky and Selvin, forgetting about the manners, began toВ blow on the frozen palms. He looked around the staircase and the floor, littered with dry leaves and garbage and inВ his glance flashed disgust.

В«The house, ofВ course, is good, but would you not like toВ put it inВ order,В» he said, as soon as we went upstairs, leaving his servants near the cold fireplace at the bottom.

В«Why?В» IВ responded carelessly.

В«It is impossible toВ live inВ ruins,В» he began toВ chat, only inВ order not toВ remain inВ the grave, frightening silence, with the hidden strength ofВ which he already knew.

В«And where did you get that IВ live here?В»

«Well, you bought the estate, and I decided…»

В«How did you know that IВ bought it exactly, you do not know who IВ am or why did IВ come toВ your country?В»

«Well, such news is spread quickly,» he began to speak, as if justifying the excessive interest in my personal affairs. «In addition to the fact that His Majesty became interested in you… You have an unusual appearance, only this helped the king to find your trail. Those who meet you admire and… a little scared.»

В«You said that the house needs toВ be put inВ order,В» IВ interrupted his coming speech. В«Are you trying toВ teach me how toВ live?В»

В«InВ no way,В» Selvin immediately passed inВ front ofВ my strictness and tried hastily toВ justify himself. В«IВ just fulfill the royal order.В»

В«Yes, this is the duty ofВ the courtiers, toВ serve the king and fulfill all his orders.В»

If Selvin was embarrassed such straightforwardness, he did not manifestВ it.

В«The messenger with the letter, was sent here and did not find you at home, so IВ came myself, took on such courage,В» after the pause he spoke again. В«IВ generally thought that it was useless toВ send messengers. But his majesty is worried about you.В»

В«He takes almost parental care and it is flattering,В» IВ nodded condescendingly.

Selvin shuddered at the mention ofВ parental concerns.

В«You see, aВ rumor reached the king that you are experiencing some financial problems,В» he admitted.

«That’s how? And I did not know?» And I thought about myself that it was a complete hypocrisy – to have the treasury full with gold and jewels and at the same time acquire a reputation of the beggar. The favorable king decided that the poor, pretty, rural nobleman needs his help. It was ridiculous, but, restraining laughter, I got a fire in the fireplace. Selvin watched the movement of my hands, but it was not possible to notice from where I took the stream of fire, when I didn’t have a steel, nor trunk, nor even candles. There were cold spilled ashes and fragments of dry branches in the old fireplace, but it began to reproduce the saving heat and the visitor did not have to rub his reddish palms. He sighed lightweight, feeling a stream of heat from the fire, and even wanted to sit down in a chair, but it turned out to be too dusty and the nobleman had to continue the conversation on the feet.

«It is a pity that you were not when the letter came, otherwise the reception would be arranged in the palace… the first one for many years. You probably already know that His Majesty has long been in the mourning, and with him, of course, the whole court. The royal will is law for everyone. If the monarch fell into melancholy, then it is imposed on the other in a natural order. So, at least, it was up to that hunt when we met with you and, honestly, I really wanted to see you again.

Selvin cut his monologue and waited with hope for an answer, but IВ kept silence. The fire quietly cracked, absorbing the remains ofВ the twigs, but only flared up stronger, although food capable ofВ supporting the burning was almost over.

«After all, I didn’t come with empty hands,» Selvin took out some scroll and handed me, as if trying to prove it that his visit was not so useless. There are documents on the village to the north of your possessions. It and several farms that can be rented will give a good income.»

And whose were these lands before me?» I didn’t even unfold a scroll, although I already realized that such document is a great mercy from the side of the monarch, only here he provided the service not to the one who was in need of it, but to a stranger.

В«These lands belonged toВ the crown,В» Selvin replied. В«They are pretty fertile, such an area will not give aВ bad income toВ the host, and the repair ofВ the estate, too, if you do not mind, write down at the expense ofВ the treasury.В»

В«What aВ care is it,В» IВ admired, but Selvin did not notice sarcasm inВ my voice.

«The king is waiting for your appearance every day and… every night,» he said, clearly remembering our collision in a hunting house. «It is inconvenient to me to talk, but he is fascinated by you, and the court is jealous, so you must be careful when you appear among them. From jealousy, they are capable of everything, even of crimes. Many have never seen you, but they already dismiss unpleasant and terrible rumors. I am also your debtor and will be alert to provide you with safety at the court.»

В«Selvin!В» IВ turned toВ him byВ name, without titles and other rules ofВ courtesy. В«You must understand that IВ am not going toВ come toВ the court, nor today, neither tomorrow, no inВ aВ month.В»

«But the king…»

В«Listen!В» IВ took him byВ my arms and led closer toВ the fireplace, so that inВ the reflections ofВ the fire he could well consider my traits. He did not take away his hot live hands, although he felt the ice cold ofВ my skin and, probably, he realized that this was aВ handshake ofВ death.

«You are far from stupid and quite capable of understanding that I am not a common man,» I continued quietly. «Take care of your suzerain. Say to him that the most terrible danger, which only can be is coming from me. Communication with me has the worst consequences. It is dangerous. You are afraid that they can kill me but how? I will not be harmed with a spear, a knife, a sword, or even with a poisoned arrow. But if I wish or in the whims of fate, I can destroy many. Your king sees the deceased son in me. So let him send his father’s guard to someone from living, and not on whose fate are darkness and loneliness. If I need your service, I myself am not ashamed to come, but it is necessary to fear in advance that someone like me is going to let me your doors.»

«You say that you are… Cursed? «Selvin could not find a word for a long time and the phrase itself flew away from his tongue. «But this is not the case?» He immediately asked me with a hope.

В«Who knows,В» IВ replied indefinitely, and immediately turned away toВ send my energy toВ fire, which had almost no food left, at the expense ofВ which it could burn.

The awkward pause was delayed. Selvin, having exhausted the stock of his eloquence, urgently tried to reveal the reason to extend his visit. He looked around a poor living room, heavy, dusty curtains, soft furniture set with faded upholstery, vases with dried bouquets. Dry flowers with the lightest touch could crumble in small curvy. Selvin’s gaze ran through a darkened portrait and pictures, which got me together with the house, and lingered on a small old tapestry with a hunting scene.

«Still, you have shown yourself as a hero that day,» Selvin remembered the predators who arranged the hunters the trap and an unexpected salvation. «Those who you saved, now and call you – the lord of the wolves. The rest, who heard the story, gave you this nickname in absentia, without requiring any confirmation of such power.»

Selvin spoke simply and with admiration. No tricks about why wolves scared me or how I managed to keep their fierce attack with the whole pair of words. He was not going to get out someone else’s secret and took the uniqueness of his savior as proper.

Young Viscount learned toВ perceive my secrecy, as an integral. Therefore, he was still alive, healthy and not scared, but only aВ little confused. Already inВ his behavior, it was possible toВ understand that received as aВ present possessions and other grace is just one way toВ lure me toВ the court. Does the king lack his own concerns? Why does he call inВ aВ fragile maze ofВ urban mansions the fire-breathing snake?

В«IВ see, it is useless toВ warn,В» IВ stated with aВ sad smile. В«Well, perhaps, one day IВ will appear before your jealous courtiers, and God forbid that IВ come toВ them inВ such aВ kind, as now, and not inВ another.

В«What do you have inВ mind?В» Selvin was amazed.

The holy simplicity, IВ grinned about myself, how he is it far from the suspicious Francesca.

В«Very often, the evil fate pursues those toВ whom IВ feel sympathy,В» IВ remembered with the sadness the gnomes, especially Dominic, even more painful there was aВ reminder ofВ the prudent Claude and the naive, but uniquely charming Florian. All ofВ them were destroyed because ofВ me.

В«Do you want toВ extend our acquaintance?В» IВ asked the confused Selvin. В«Well, IВ do not mind.В»

В«Excellent, you will not regret,В» he was delighted. В«Today we will have toВ bring bricklayers, painters, carpenters. We must bring the house toВ the appropriate look.В»

He wanted toВ add that if IВ would be aВ little bit more agreeable, and IВ would be waiting for the future ofВ the royal heir. IВ did not fit toВ be the landowner inВ debts. He got used toВ the court luxury and was confident that anyone who was forced toВ live inВ the house with the flowing roof, without servants, undoubtedly is aВ debtor. If only he did not stand inВ advance with the royal treasurer pay for these non-existent debts.

Selvin has already escaped to give orders to his escort, and I choking a deaf hysterical laughter. Yes, I could enrich any of the rulers of nearby countries. From the very tiny, not even faceted stone from my treasury would not be abandoned any of the richest and powerful kings. Selwin’s ignorance excused his naivety.

IВ considered Selvin unobtrusive only until the work was boiled inВ the estate. The workers imported aВ new, fashionable furnishings. The walls were re-crossed byВ expensive wood. The dressmakers filmed the measurements for the curtains. IВ was tired ofВ the incessant crash ofВ driving around, the knocking ofВ hammers and disputes about what will be more beautiful toВ stand, IВ moved toВ the mill. It was warm and nice there.

Left alone, IВ thought about Vincent. Where is this poor fellow now? Probably, he is inВ some wretched hut, because his house is sold, and the debts are not paid. Only inВ the evening he can get out ofВ his shelter toВ go toВ visit those who have enough stupidity toВ invite him. AВ poor Vincent! He would dance from happiness, if any childless king suddenly thought toВ adopt him. Again it outdated so that all the honors got toВ the one who did not appreciate them at all, and not the one who was dreaming about them.

Not that IВ am very sorry for Vincent. He brought himself all the time inВ trouble and did it quite skillfully without any assistance. Clear fraud is not aВ mean with which you can succeed. Now IВ remembered Vincent, because IВ felt his presence nearby. IВ just could not understand what he was doing inВ the village.

From the roof ofВ the mill, an excellent panorama opened, but someone removed aВ ladder. Unlike people, IВ did not need aВ ladder toВ climb the attic. Probably, the miller noticed it. My hearing was very sensitive, IВ heard the hammer strikes inВ the forge, snoring the horses, crying baby inВ the cradle and warlike screams. Everything that happens inВ the village was almost tangible toВ me. IВ strained and listened. What happens there? Someone takes out aВ weapon from the forge. The village is preparing the uprising. The rumors and suspicions have done their job. What is the honor toВ kill the dragon while he is inВ human guise. Whether IВ am aВ man, IВ would be offended. After all, this village belongs toВ me according toВ papers from the king, IВ am aВ friend ofВ the king himself, and these stupid people want toВ kill me with pitchforks and knives. Well, if they wish toВ see the dragon, they will see it, although IВ swore not toВ turn without special need.

From above, it was possible toВ observe the crowd, which moved toВ the mill.

Only pride prevented me toВ return toВ the gloomy, immense world, where IВ will be taken as equal. Pride and suddenly broken rage. How can these people be so arrogant and believe that they will overcome the stronger magic creature. Threatening toВ me, they just repeated the mistake ofВ past generations.

Vincent, obviously, has managed toВ be returned before the crowd moved toВ the mill. Undoubtedly, he already learned about the fact that the king favors me, and got angry toВ such an extent that he rushed headlong into another dangerous enterprise. The result ofВ it IВ could now watch with aВ better place.

The crowd was poorly armed and poorly organized. When they approached the pond, IВ was sitting on the roof inВ the same unchanged position, as an idol frozen inВ front ofВ the pagan altar and an empty not expressing look at the armed crowd. Let them know that it is easier toВ move aВ whole fortress from the spot than toВ make me move at least aВ finger. It was worth toВ whisper only one word, and the arrow turned back. AВ sharp steel tip unmistakably found the heart ofВ aВ unlucky shot.

A similar witchcraft maneuver even more exited the crowd. If earlier they had nothing but their own conclusions, now they have received proof that the sorcerer next to them really exists, and is not a fruit of someone well-developed imagination. I myself provided them with this testimony of my secret power and was not long waiting for their reaction. Hostile cries have become even louder. Vincent was worth only to throw a spark near the powder cord, and it wakes himself. The main thing against me was that for the sake of such an event you can throw all the work for a couple of days and plunder the rich possession of the feudal. In addition, in the opinion of many, the murder would be easy, because it does not manage to see the dragon every day, to catch him at the moment of weakness. As soon as they set fire to the mill, I’ll fly, leaving them alone with a conscience and a wall of fire.

InВ aВ moment, IВ saw everything on miles around, knew how many knives were hidden under rude capes. IВ wonder what amazement will distort their features when the real, golden dragon appears?

IВ slightly covered eyelids and the face distorted byВ rage merged into aВ solid range ofВ white spots, but suddenly inВ the thick ofВ the crowd flashed aВ family face ofВ Francesca. So after all, the countess came toВ look at the massacre, because they were rarely far from the city, or opposite she tried toВ stop them. Even if she tried, it is unlikely that they will stop, not often the fate itself is found the pretext toВ kill the owner ofВ the village, besides, if he also turns out toВ be aВ real dragon.

The door ofВ the mill could not even knock out with the help ofВ aВ rudely homemade battering ram, because IВ ran aВ protective spell on it. The spell toВ stop the fire flew out ofВ the head, and the walls ofВ the mill were flamed too quickly. IВ darted with one throw from the roof, the raincoat was shot at my back, like aВ sail and inВ just aВ moment IВ managed toВ take the kind that would manage toВ scare anyone. The first moment brought an amazement. The peasants did not assume that they would see someday something similar. As it could happen, because ofВ the moment back, they saw just aВ favorite ofВ the king, aВ silent aristocrat, who is unlikely toВ be able toВ confront toВ many alone, and suddenly he disappeared, and inВ front ofВ them over aВ burning mill, aВ sparkling dragon was flying. Francesca also raised her eyes toВ the sky, no doubt, she learned me alone. She could not be misleading the dragon, who got down the fire on the crowd.

Already flying out, IВ knocked Francesca down with the edge ofВ my wing. Golden steel scratched her easily vulnerable human flesh and broke clothes. She lied on the ground for aВ long time inВ aВ torn dress with disheveled gold curls and repeated something inВ aВ whisper, just one word as if it was aВ spell.

It was worth listening toВ distinguish her incessant whisper, more like aВ desperateВ cry.

В«Edwin! Edwin!В» came toВ me before all the sounds were dissolved inВ the heavenly melody.

В«How could they?В» Selvin was already inВ renovated living room and never ceased toВ be outraged byВ such betrayal. В«If IВ just knew before? IВ would manage toВ support discipline, set guards.

He stopped near the fireplace and helplessly lowered firmly compressed fists.

В«Forgive me, Edwin. If IВ knew that the village was full ofВ madmen, IВ would have done everything toВ erect the barrier between them and you.В»

В«IВ warned you that the misfortunes pursue me,В» IВ quite reasonably noticed. В«Not so long ago, aВ former servant was trying toВ arrange aВ plot against me, before that there were other unpleasant cases. It is better toВ stay away from such aВ friend asВ I.

«Yes, it looks like a conspiracy,» Selvin’s eyebrows met on the nose, he thought about something feverishly, and then he smiled lightweight and happily. «I know a great solution. Do not think that I am superstitious, but in Viniena there is a beautiful cathedral. It is worth only to go there and nothing will remain from the evil eye or evil conspiracy.»

В«No,В» IВ objected so hastily, which scared him. В«InВ no case. Now IВ can not go toВ the capital, IВ risk toВ face there with old enemies,В» IВ began toВ compose on the move, so that the lies cover the cruel truth. IВ could not push him that with one sound ofВ church bells, IВ will have bleeding ears. AВ rumor enjoying the music ofВ fairies is too susceptible toВ the monotonous ringing ofВ the metal and the chorus ofВ chants.

В«What are you afraid if His Majesty will send his people with you? В«Selvin decided toВ encourage me and if IВ need toВ settle all problems for me. How toВ refuseВ him?

«I’m not afraid of anything,» I tried to object, as mildly as possible. «I just don’t want to put in an awkward position myself and others. Let’s go back to the question of the village. You said that those of her inhabitants who wanted to attack me for some reason decided that I was on the mill while I had already managed to leave there.»

It is necessary toВ hide so much and not blush. Selvin, taking such an explanation for aВ clean coin, nodded.

В«They were convinced that they saw you on the roof, so the mill was set on fire, but their own clothes were burned too. Many burned alive, others got strong burns.В»

«And with them there was a woman? The countess from the neighboring estate, I do not remember exactly what her name is? – I started carefully to interrogate.

В«Yes,В» Selvin answered. В«It seems that she tried toВ stop them and but suffered herself.

В«You will learn about everything so quickly.В»

«I used to get acquainted with all the news, but these will try to save in secret. We don’t need a noise around your estate.»

IВ barely kept myself from telling him В«Thank youВ» for the foresight. IВ allowed him toВ be located like at home, inВ the mansion, which was returned aВ luxurious look inВ so aВ short time, and IВ myself headed toВ bring the next night visit my charming neighbor.

As usual IВ did not knock at the gate. The habit ofВ sneaking inВ the window and secretly observed the events was for me unchanged. Easy toВ calculate, inВ which hall there is aВ countess, IВ discovered there and one guest. It was Vincent. Despite the cold evening, he refused aВ hot tea, but willingly drank aВ glass ofВ wine and began toВ spread about the latest news.

В«This event is aВ real event,В» he almost joyfully said, pretending that he did not notice the fatigue ofВ the countess. В«For the first time, IВ managed toВ learn something intriguing. The rebels accused the rich feudal inВ witchcraft, they drove him toВ the roof ofВ the mill and threatened with fire, and suddenly he turned into aВ dragon. So the accusations are not so unfounded.

Vincent finished his monologue in the tone of the investigator and did not even notice that his only listener was silent and didn’t even nod to him.

В«This story is worthy ofВ getting toВ the pages ofВ one ofВ your books,В» Vincent nodded towards the bookcases.

В«No, you can hardly convey all the horror that eyewitnesses experienced,В» she objected. Today you caught me scared and depressed, but this fright will not last long. Tomorrow you will return here, preferably inВ the late afternoon and take your cards with you. IВ need toВ ask you many things.В»

«How do you order, Milady,» Vincent agreed. He drank, looking at the dark corners, where the candelabra’s light fell. It seemed to him that someone watches him, but he could not understand: the truth was it or an unpleasant feeling.

В«See you tomorrow, dear countess,В» he said softly and with aВ grin, crossing the threshold, but Francesca no longer heardВ him.

IВ did not want toВ show me at servants and maids, which, noticing such an invasion, could raise aВ cry. Penetrating into the bedroom, IВ began toВ wait until the countess remain alone. Soon, holding aВ candlestick inВ her hand, she crossed the threshold, closed the door. The peaceful radiance ofВ one candle was illuminated the room. Francesca pulled the latch, turned around and noticing me was frozen without movements like an ice statue. How she was pale! It seemed that the scarlet dress with the waves ofВ black lace, was on the mannequin, and not on aВ living woman.

IВ also sat down inВ aВ deep chair and stared inВ her eyes. Must be, Francesca thought that IВ was aВ ghost hauntingВ her.

She backed up, but the back came across the door, which he just locked. AВ painful meeting with aВ wooden barrier led her toВ feelings.

«You didn’t have the right to appear here,» she finally spoke quickly and desperately. «You could not cross the threshold without invitation! You are an evil spirit!»

В«So read the prayer toВ expel me!В» IВ proposed indifferently, but the steel was ranked inВ the voice. It means that she herself invited me once, believed that no evil spirit had the right toВ enter the house without an invitation ofВ the owner. An old one, having nothing with the reality ofВ superstition, but the blonde countess believed everything that she read inВ the books. She knew the words ofВ prayers and began toВ pronounce them, quickly, uncertain, expecting that IВ was about toВ disappear, but IВ did not turn into aВ smoke, did not fly out as aВ black cloud through the window and Francesca was silent. She did not want toВ show her cowardice, she approached me. IВ stand up toВ meet her, the etiquette did not allow toВ sit inВ the presence ofВ the lady. AВ hand with aВ candle rose toВ my face. AВ tiny light almost rushed my cheeks, giving Francesca an opportunity toВ consider and remember every line.

As if observing some kind ofВ gloomy ritual, the countess touched with her fingertips first toВ my cold skin, and then toВ the velvet binding ofВ the book lying on the table. Feeling the ice fatal touch, she breathed quietly:

«Not alive!» Francesca dropped the candle and repeated again. «You’re not like all the living people, you had to die many years ago, but something happened and thanks to this you live, moving, breathing, charming naive people.

В«You are far from naive!В» IВ pointed toВ the book, where she had read about me me. The book, lying on the table, revealed the lines ofВ the ancient, forgotten language. В«Do you know some letters or the whole alphabet and can you readВ it?В»

Francesca did not answer, but only pressed the palm toВ the neck, then toВ the heart. It beat often and strongly, like aВ bird inВ aВ cage.

В«You are still alive,В» she said. В«When IВ read about you for the first time, you wandered somewhere nearby. But it is impossible, such simply can notВ be.В»

She was amazed ofВ acquired knowledge.

«Yes, I live, you yourself touched me to make sure that my heart, Francesca, it doesn’t beat, the first flight turned it into a stone.»

IВ waved the cloak. The wind rose from the light wave pulled out the pages from the book and they rushed toВ the floor with the rustle.

В«From the very beginning IВ understood that you exposedВ me.В»

– This predictor of fate, asking for a visit, is for sure your spy, otherwise you could…

IВ immediately understood who she had inВ mind, and hastily objected:

В«Vincent is not my hound. He is an enemy and he is very dangerous, remember it. If it were not for his dexterity, he would also have been an ash for aВ long time.

В«And who would you be now, if the sorcerer did not pull you out ofВ the burning castle toВ make his student?В»

В«An ash!В» IВ calmly and honestly replied, and from this answer she frown. В«InВ the same rush, what sooner or later you will become, my beautiful countess, while inВ front ofВ me is an eternity.В»