Natalie Yacobson "Dragon’s Empire – 4. Rose for dragon"

В«They,В» Harry glanced at the illuminated window. There was aВ workshop ofВ six spinners.

В«You are inВ aВ difficult situation, Harry. InВ general, like any minstrel. It seems not the servant, and not the courtier. So there is something between an artist and aВ temporary job seeker.

В«If IВ found Mr. like you, toВ whom IВ could serve constantly,В» Harry said deftly. He himself rushed toВ service, so why IВ did not inviteВ him.

«That’s just what are you suitable for? Do you have any special talent, which is not useless for the owner like I.»

В«For example?В»

IВ clicked my fingers, carving aВ spark ofВ fire, ofВ which there was aВ tiny silhouette ofВ aВ soaring bird inВ the air. The demonstration ofВ magic produced aВ strong impression on Harry.

В«For example, aВ magic talent,В» IВ explained.

В«Any bird,В» Harry pointed with his finger toВ the silhouette melting inВ the air, В«and any animal will not be able toВ resist the sounds ofВ my viola.В»

В«Do you charm only animals?В»

В«People, unfortunately, IВ can not. Otherwise, my current situation would not be so bad,В» he stated with sincere bitterness, obviously stuck on sympathy.

«Okay. Tomorrow closer to the night leave the castle and go towards the wasteland. You will get to the dissolution of the roads, try to get away from the cross and wait. Exactly at midnight I will send someone after you. You will immediately recognize my subjects. Don’t be afraid of anything, go for the conductor, even if it is a gnome or an elf, or a winged capricious lady. Their appearance should not confuse you, like their manner, otherwise you will not be able to take care of you among us.»

Harry’s eyes flashed with gratitude, but I made him a sign to keep silence.

«And it has been said too much, and here is someone else’s territory and other people’s spies.»

«Why don’t you want to take it all?» Harry was sincerely amazed.

В«Because there is nothing here that IВ could envy,В» IВ threw sharply before leaving Henry inВ the same loneliness. He had aВ hopeВ now.

I decided that Harry would rule the living creatures in the basements of my theater. For a person, such work, of course, was not at all sugar, but if the minstrel would be able to charm of his music the rats, then it would be no harm from it. I called the main theater in my empire «Theater of Shadows», in memory of that I saw in the valley. Rats were found in the basements, not because I could not destroy them, but because I designed such a terrible army in case of any war. The army of rats could destroy any of the rather attractive cities of Henri or Odil. Then they didn’t want to fight with me. But in my absence, the future military forces did not want to behave comfortably. In addition to me, they did not obey anyone, and no one had a desire to mess with them. But Harry with his music would be able to lure them back into the basements every time they want to look for food in the wardrobe or in the hall of the theater.

In the forest I noticed a group of loggers, who were responsible for providing fuel to royal castle. A pretty attractive young page who understood well in the forest’s life, discouraged them to cut young trees, and pointed out the dried trunks, just suitable for the castle. He himself took the hatchet to help them. The clever boy was so beautiful that I was jealous of him himself. I tried to find out what his name was, but in his quite tangled thoughts I could read only one female name. In addition, the very thoughts were almost inaccessible. It seemed rather strange that he had in his memory only name of princess. I wanted to lure him into the thicket, and finish with another victim. I tried mentally to call him to me, but nothing has been achieved. Only at the third attempt, I succeeded. The page turned, obviously noticed my silhouette among the trees and obediently followed me into the forest.

«Wait!» called a woman’s voice. The page took off his beret, and a wave of long curls fell on his back.

В«Rose!В» this time IВ was, however, stunned. OfВ course, IВ knew that she had made aВ habit ofВ walking around on the streets dressed as aВ page, but did not think that one day this masquerade will make such an impression even onВ me.

There was an owl behind me on the tree. The sound ofВ its voice seemed ominous. Rose saw something over my shoulder, and her pupils were dilated from terror.

В«IВ knew that this tree is cursed,В» she said, pointing ahead.

There was just the one spreading elm tree under which IВ left torn carcasses ofВ animals that have reported them toВ Odil, but now IВ did not feel the smell ofВ blood. All shed blood for aВ long time absorbed inВ the ground here, and toВ the terrible memories suddenly mingled another frightening sound, the creak ofВ dry branches and the friction ofВ the rope, as if something heavy swinging above the ground. Hanged! IВ knew it even before IВ turned around and aВ dead man reminded me aВ rag doll. It was she. It was aВ woman inВ aВ red dress with aВ bruised skin.

«This is Janet – my maid,» Rose said. «The one that did not have a bad habit to check what makes Ms. at night.»

The owl sat on that same branch, which was attached toВ the rope.

В«IВ hate that old elm,В» said Rose.

В«IВ hate it too,В» IВ remembered that inВ this place IВ had killed aВ gamekeeper who served Odil. It was cruel, but then it seemed toВ me that inВ this way IВ would be able toВ remind her that the predator was near and she had toВ beware.

Rose raised her ax high and wanted toВ throw it into aВ bird, brazenly stared at us with its unusual perch.

В«Why?В» IВ asked.

В«This owl has too aВ piercing look,В» Rose reluctantly lowered the ax, but still tightly kept for it. В«IВ never have seen owls with red eyes.В»

В«Have you seen bats?В»

В«The bats flew behind my carriage from Lara. They still accompany me there and everywhere, hide inВ the walls ofВ niches, on dusty attics. They are vile creatures, but intelligent.В»

«Don’t offend them,» I said. «They themselves are not looking pretty enough, but they appreciate beauty. Since they liked you so much, it means they will not give you offence.»

В«IВ want toВ believe inВ it,В» Rosa sighed heavily, moved away from me inВ aВ few steps and sat down on the stump. IВ knew that Odil was pretty cruel, but the fact that she executed the maid for such aВ small guilt, even for me turned out toВ be an unpleasant surprise.

В«Tomorrow IВ will be sent off from the castle. IВ overheard one conversation,В» Rose said. В«IВ don `t likeВ it.В»

She talked toВ me, as with an old acquaintance or simply took everything that was happening for aВ dream. IВ leaned back toВ the stem ofВ ash, crossed my hands on my chest and feverishly pondered. Could IВ invite her toВ my gloomy country. Then life there would probably become somewhat lighter.

The year IВ gave her on thought has not yet passed. For the year she could change her mind. IВ took out ofВ the frozen hands ofВ Rose an ax, went toВ an ominous oak, swung and made aВ small cut on aВ thick trunk.

В«InВ memory ofВ what we met here,В» IВ explained toВ Rose.

IВ tried toВ smile, went toВ Rose and took her hand toВ kiss, but inВ this moment, aВ fluffy gray lump was disturbed from somewhere. The sharp claws slammed me down the cheek, and the bat rushed away. Not that bat, whom IВ sent.

В«Everything is inВ order, you can go,В» IВ pressed my palm toВ the cheek, so that Rose did not see how the bleeding wound heals itself.

В«And you?В» Rose turned on theВ go.

В«IВ am aВ predator and IВ want toВ turn the head toВ this animal.В»

Having waited when she left, IВ began toВ listen. Somewhere here there was aВ staircase leading under the ground. My gnomes would not work here, it was someone else. As if inВ response toВ my thoughts, IВ saw Henri. He seemed materialized from the emptiness.

В«At least she could drop her scarf,В» he said with aВ light reproach. В«IВ never met such aВ cautious girl. Usually IВ can take from any at least an earring, but not from this.В»

В«What else did you start?В» IВ just remembered that IВ still kept an ax inВ my hand.

Henry had not aВ helmet, although the rest ofВ the body was covered with armor.

Do you like?В» he grinned. В«IВ decided that inВ this armor IВ would look more impressive.В»

В«Did you?В» InВ my opinion, at least inВ the armor, at least inВ the cloak, at least inВ the costume ofВ Harlequin Henri remained all the same restless fighter for his rights.

В«Did you use even aВ spy?В»

В«The intelligence never hurts,В» Henri nodded with the type ofВ philosopher. В«InВ addition, IВ decided toВ add toВ my own possessions an abandoned watchtower from the most borders and, imagine, no one tried toВ prevent me. The most endless members ofВ my order work under the ground make the tunnel, and everyone does not care for it. People are accustomed toВ live on earth, not under it, so my idea is unlikely toВ represent interests for someone.В»

В«What is the idea?В»

«The underground city,» informed Henri victoriously. «After the full moon in your empire, I began to feel much better and bright ideas appeared. Daylight is too destructive for creatures, as we, it would not be easier to have spare asylum in soil layers – a city with many tunnels and labyrinths. Personally, I like this idea.»

В«AВ stupid idea,В» instead ofВ the expected praise, IВ as usual honestly expressed what IВ think. В«If you prefer lifestyle, like aВ mole, then this is your personal matter. ByВ the way, were you hurt.В»

В«So, IВ was hurt about the root ofВ the tree,В» Henri tried toВ pretend that the wound is nothing.

В«Is there aВ progress on the battlefield?В» IВ asked him with aВ light irony.

«No, there isn’t,» Henri snapped. «You do not help us.»

He got angry again.

«Till the meeting,» he grunted angrily. «I’ll win without you.»

«As you like,» I noticed diplomatically and shouted to him. «Why do you need a princess’ thing?»

He did not want toВ answer, but not without the help ofВ my spell stumbled on the root and spread out on earth.

В«Here is rubbish,В» he cursed, rising and rushing aВ strong oak with his foot. Better from this did not become anyone, only Henri frowned from pain. He obviously forgot that he was inВ armor.

«It’s hard to move in this armor,» he complained. «You seem to ask about her thing? I want to try out one probing spell, which I bought from the old predictor of fate. You know, the most amazing thing that he managed to predict was the epidemic of the plague in Lara. He told about it before it began, but naturally only a few people believed. And now he says that a violinist will soon break free.»

«If you want to know your destiny, so come to Viniena. The provider returned, and he remembers you,» Henri mockingly laughed. «A young man with an angelic appearance, inside whom the beast sits, who was it besides you? And the creature who loved to play the violin? I don’t know anything about her.»

He quickly disappeared behind the thick trunk ofВ elm. Is it possible toВ understand the plans ofВ this fraudster?

InВ any case, he disappeared from the surface ofВ the earth, and IВ remembered my desire toВ turn the head ofВ aВ nasty animal. No bats would have decided toВ attack me if it would not affect other strong sorcerer. InВ order toВ find out what IВ needed toВ have only toВ turn the ring with the signet, return toВ Lara, and threatening Vincent thoroughly if he had not had time toВ escape from the house. Oddly enough, he was already waiting for me on the threshold and first thrown with reproaches.

В«You yourself said that none ofВ us should approach this girl?В» Vincent rarely lost control over himself toВ pour it out, it was necessary toВ hurt him for living.

В«Where did you get such an obedient bat?В» IВ asked.

В«On the bell tower left aВ dozen ofВ these nasty creatures. They do not look better, but they have sharp claws.В»

В«It seems you envy the fact that my skin is not dismissed with scars, like your throat.В»

В«Everything heals on you, like on aВ dog,В» Vincent snorted and looked guilty. With the time ofВ time and the acquisition ofВ more experience inВ the sorcery he himself changed. Chestnut hair has become silky. Even the smallest mimic wrinkles under the eyes and those unfolded, and the eyes themselves instead ofВ dark-brown acquired aВ warm walnut shade. If he looked at least sometimes inВ the mirror, he would not have envied anyone. There were scars on the neck, but they could always be covered with aВ scarf. InВ any case, the transformed Vincent, who stood inВ front ofВ me now, was very handsome.

Vincent did not try to fasten the opening camisole’s collar, he understood that I still knew about his largest failure.

В«Do you burn me with the house or do you use your claws?В» He asked tiredly.

«I would be happy, but I don’t want to make a mess in my own home,» the grim humor and this time did not let me down.

Vincent regarded it as aВ joke and smiled radiant.

«So I’m forgiven,» he concluded.

В«It was for the last time.В»

From the street came some kind ofВ noise and Vincent fearful looked back towards the window.

В«For some reason, IВ have such aВ feeling that someone flew here and he was ready toВ cut my throat,В» he admitted. В«Probably, there were aВ few days ofВ bad weather and the fact that the hunch-back inВ the mantle and crown wandered over the square. It seems toВ me that he is looking for you inВ the same way as the dog goes along the trail.В»

В«Is Camille with him?|

«Camille regularly visits „the Marionette“, but after Rose has gone from the stage, the play no longer uses such success. He wants to write something new and find a capable actress, but until he did not find one suitable.»

В«The theater is just aВ cover for his dirty plans,В» IВ wanted toВ burn the prince and his bloodhound. Camille was looking for me and, probably, he already regretted that he so easily gave away the picture. Perhaps over time, the portrait would acquire the same power as the amethyst. ByВ the way, as for the amethyst, IВ have not felt the fatal attraction for aВ rather long term.

«You would need to build plans for the future, and instead of it you run behind the girl, I myself do not know why,» Vincent’s voice sounded quiet, like a rustling of a hazel. For all the time staying in fenced spells of the house, I heard only this voice, sweet, driving, full of poison. Vincent would have to speak speeches in the Royal Council, and not to sit voluntarily locked up. If he did not lose weight from the malice, then he could convince the listeners in his rightness, just as convinced the peasants from my village that their owner was the dragon.

«Just do not tell me a long-sorting history that you want to get married,» Vincent said. «You didn’t love anyone and you can’t have anything. You seem to be made of stone.»

«Did I not love anyone? And what about my family…»

«If you experienced some kind of warm feelings to the so-called family, you’d long have already dealt with the prince.»

В«It is easier toВ say than toВ do. He is still strong. Do not forget that he taught me, and not IВ him. And who gave you the right toВ speak so disrespectful about my relatives.В»

В«Dead relatives,В» Vincent corrected sullenly. В«You looked among them clearly more than one-only elf inВ the castle ofВ full people. Your relatives were afraid ofВ you, because they knew about who you would.В»

В«And they hid it from me,В» IВ thought out loud.

В«But from the very beginning IВ admitted toВ you honestly,В» immediately said Vincent, forgetting toВ mention that it happened after two unsuccessful attempts toВ deprive me ofВ life.

«Yes, of course, it is the jackal’s method to pass over to the side of a stronger one,» he laughed, guessing my thoughts. «But, remember, even rats run from a sinking ship, and I stayed in Lara. This means that your chances of success are still more than by anyone else. If you win all your enemies, then for me it is a loss, but the princess will get to you.»

В«Is it aВ loss?В» IВ asked.

«Well, of course I don’t want her to contact you,» Vincent left a direct response. «You’re not even a man, you are a werewolf, an animal, but it seems she doesn’t care about it. Each makes his choice.»

Who am IВ for her? IВ am aВ shadow with candlelight, aВ voice inВ emptiness, an invisible and dangerous guest. It is well even if her duenna still did not call the priests toВ expel me. IВ had her ribbon only, but turning this pink slice ofВ satin inВ my hands, maybe IВ could find out what she thought about.

It was aВ failure, the ribbon was pretty, but IВ could not know anything. Vincent urged me toВ engage inВ politics, settle things with the father ofВ Henri, he did not leave the hope that the king would give me the throne.

The month high inВ the dark sky shone brighter, and it seemed toВ me that aВ red color was added toВ the silver shade ofВ halo.

I was drawn into the sky, closer to the month, because the ill-fated amethyst was on someone’s hand. I cursed the prince. As not on time. The skin burned, and the most important thing I guessed, who this time had a terrible lot. Vincent prudently picked off a couple of books and ran to hide in the attic. Upstairs clicked, closing, a junk, a candle flashed. The whole house was granted to me, like the whole city, but this time it would be not enough to burn Lara. I decided to experience the fate. The first victim was the wagon, lonely dragging around the country road. It immediately found itself in the dragon’s claws, the beer barrels rolled back from it in different directions. But the pair of mules and the driver could not replace the one that was chosen for me for this night. She became engaged to death. I have to fly through the whole world, but find her. However, it is not necessary to look for a long time, one purple thread was visible for me, it stretched straight, and the location of the ring as a magnet pulled to itself. I could always unmistakably determine the direction.

Instead ofВ aВ girl, IВ could sacrifice the carriage near the city gate, but already knew that it would be aВ vain sacrifice.

I would be free only when the prince himself became the victim. It’s time to get rid of him and find a weapon against him. Weapon, which, I did not doubt, was hidden in manuscripts. Magic is against magic. Evil is against evil. Deceit will determine the strongest.

IВ saw aВ girl inВ aВ room for meetings ofВ the council, or inВ aВ ballroom. There was no time toВ look. IВ was attracted byВ aВ golden color, aВ single bright spot inВ the dark space. IВ broke the glass with claws and not even feeling pain from sharp fragments, chained inВ aВ dragon skin, IВ penetrate inside. The overwhelming size ofВ the hall was quite spacious even forВ me.

The void in the stomach filled the annoying hunger. Following it, the feeling of malice to the whole living has increased. This feeling was not mine. The bright golden point attracted me. I myself did not understand how something trembled and fragile, similar to a small animal, was found in the claws. So it froze from fear in the claws of the predator a squirrel or a marten. And after all, I did not feel the fur in my claws. Brocade! From the first attempt I defined. It was the golden brocade. There was in my memory like a sharp glass shard, a name. Francesca! I didn’t want that with a beautiful creature in my claws was going to take place a misfortune as with Francesca. It was better to sacrifice someone else. It means I need to choose a dozen, hundreds of peasants. Fortunately, there was a smell of smoke, meat, firewood. There was a village. I rushed forward, without even thinking about what I was going to harm. The village, indeed, was there, and the fire did not pass it.