For ten minutes a heavy silence hung in the tent. Holding his hand on the elderly warrior's neck, Paraman mentally counted the beats of his heart and furtively watched his cousin. Next to death, anger and hatred were out of place. Karl knew this very well and skillfully introduced it into the game without making a single move. As always. Even now, having lost all his trump cards and standing on the very edge, the son of Lirdan behaved so confidently and calmly that Paraman involuntarily doubted that he really did not know about the networks that were woven around while he was building a path to power through Miel. “Yakir sent a messenger…” Paraman finally said softly, breaking the protracted silence. “I want to know how things really are. I need time too. Taking the needle, Karl exhaled slowly and made the first stitch.“Lyramel lives and will live,” he replied. “But he won’t come to his senses soon. - The reason?- Many reasons. The Order is one of them. You know very well what

– This medallion, after the creation of the Council, was transferred only to the High Priest from the Kael family. I admit that over time they got too used to it to understand and think about it. I will not retell everything that led me to these thoughts, but I guessed almost immediately. Then it was only necessary to collect confirmations, and believe me, there were enough of them. From the very beginning it was a one-player game. What he achieves by trying to exterminate the Host, and why he has such power, I don’t know yet. The answer should be sought somewhere at the very beginning. And if fate gives me a chance, I will find it. Loud footsteps, heard from somewhere to the left, seemed to break the silence around them into small pieces. Cautiously looking around, Karl froze, and then leaned towards her and quickly whispered:“Close your eyes just in case. Until you get on your feet, outsiders should not know about your awakening. Obediently closing her eyes, Liramel took a deep

Lyramel spoke quickly and without much emotion. Thanking the audience for their attention and patience, she congratulated everyone on the victory and awarded the generals and several stopmen. Then she presented certificates to the families of the dead officers. The Ruby Order of the Hyde was taken by Elikar. When Lyramel called his name, Falinor shuddered, silently turned away and defiantly moved away from Paraman standing next to her. Ignoring what was happening, the duke was quietly talking about something with Lord Astin, and, judging by the expression on his face, the conversation was clearly unpleasant for him. - Go ahead. - Ali imperceptibly pushed Yakir in the side, causing him to blink in surprise. Thinking, he lost track of time and did not notice when the official part ended. The musicians on the balconies began to play again, and the people began to part, freeing the center of the hall. Reluctantly stepping forward, Yakir greeted Karl, who was helping Liramel down fro

Lafast greeted me coldly. Despite the early hour, he was dressed for travel and, judging by the plates set aside on the edge of a wide desk, he had already had breakfast. - Are you leaving somewhere? Karl asked calmly, looking around the luxuriously furnished office in a businesslike way. Looking away, the general nodded. “And I would be grateful if you would not detain me,” he answered in tone. “Yes, and I would advise you not to linger. - Why is that? - Smiling deliberately carefree, Karl looked at him inquiringly, but not having received an answer, he said more seriously: - Do not bother explaining, I already understood everything myself. I do not blame for the choice, for the advice - I thank you. It’s a pity, I can’t follow him - I’m not looking for an easy death. Scowling at him, Lafast shook his head and, turning to the table, poured a full glass of wine from a tall carafe. - Want to? - I will not refuse. Carl took a glass from his hands and drank it in one gulp

Paraman kept to the right of his father. Lord Wancel rode in front with a sword drawn, and behind him were about two hundred Sapphorus warriors dressed in blue and white Gorgoth uniforms. General Lafast himself preferred a closed carriage. He left a few hours early in order to get his people out of the White Castle: Kyle gave him this opportunity in exchange for neutrality. Having learned about the scale of the impending coup, Erinma chose not to interfere. As for the Duke of Auroc, he supported Kyle even before Lirdan's coronation, so he helped unconditionally. In Eliste, judging by his father’s reservation, the situation was more complicated, but several dozen executions decided the case in his favor in exactly the same way as in Gorgota: in the morning alone, more than three hundred people from the people and nobility were killed there, and about twenty military officers who tried to raise the garrison and the townspeople to revolt. Most of them belonged to Rod. However, these exec