In the deepening twilight, a patch of sky over the mountains rapidly turned black. A secluded valley, surrounded on three sides by rocks, turned into a seething cauldron. The south winds bent trees and threw stones from the ledges, trying to touch Bangladore. The sorcerer stood at the top of the hill and cast a spell. The hem of his frilly robe curled like a flag. The wide blade was directed with its tip into the boiling firmament.Air currents gathered around the hill, forming a powerful whirlpool. Cobblestones, small animals, dry branches and clouds of sand flew into the gigantic funnel. Banglador shouted orders, imploring Nirgal to bless the mighty steel, which he pledged to hand over to his chosen servant.Einhart, Buster and Ansell hid in a cave with painted visors covering their faces. Soon the appeals were heard. Before their eyes, the blade burst into azure flames. There was a low rumble. Silvery lightning flashed through the old man from head to toe. The sorcerer screamed and

- And you imagine that Bartok now decides to prove to everyone that he can hunt no worse than you and go to Mirquicht. We'll be lucky if we find his remains to give to his father.- It won't happen again. I swear! - He said loudly and in syllables, thereby making it clear that he had finished the conversation. “Let me take care of the carcass, otherwise I won’t be in time for Niklas’s departure.” I need to go to the city... I need to visit my friends. I'll probably die if I don't see them.He uttered the last words in a rush and was very embarrassed, catching his father's wary look.“ You visited Cassia and Fergus the day before yesterday.– Yes?“ Something is happening to you. You can't live a day without them. – In the old man's voice, notes of concern sounded again. - It looks like a lunatic. You should go to Morella and draw blood.- To the witch? Never!“ Then to Kenovia to Master Tamadan.” Maybe he will finally make you understand that it is not good for a young man to be frien

Grimbald slid his hand over her head, but she did not move. Her friend's short brown hair was combed carefully. In this form, she walked for the last six years, not embarrassed by the sidelong glances of the townspeople and relevant proposals to retire. It just so happened in Gamelan that short hair was not worn by those women who could be called "ladies". In the north, they were warriors and hunters. The strongest of them so equated themselves with men, according to the law of the clan, they received the right to engage in noble crafts. In Magoria, as a rule, whores and victims of violence were cut short. Cassia herself was often ironic about this, arguing that in her case one can be a whore and a warrior at the same time.Looking at his friend, Grimbald smiled. Cassia settled better than all of them, but she also paid a considerable price for it, having made a dangerous enemy. Once in the courtyard, she walked on the edge of a knife for two years, serving a monster named Hodd. Thirt

Grimbald spent the rest of the evening in Cassia's quarters, and this time he had time to look at her collection of artefacts. A friend, like many girls, was not indifferent to expensive things, and in six years managed to accumulate a lot of valuable items, most of which he could not find use in the wilderness.According to Cassia, many of them had magical powers, but to Grimbald, scatterings of pebbles and old dishes seemed just trinkets. Of course, the collection included precious stones, black pearls, curved Suran daggers and magical bolas with intricate engravings, but most of it was trash.Having seen enough of the trinkets, Grimbald turned his gaze to the walls and ceiling. A silver disc with numbers and serifs hung beside the bed. Cassia also kept this little thing for beauty. Polished to a shine, the calendar, with two rings around the edges and six columns of figures reduced to the center, shone like the moon. Touching his finger to the widest inner ring divided into six par

Maneuvering between the reefs, the rowers brought the boats to the shore, in the last effort taking care that the keel rested on the rocky bottom. This part of the island was a solid rock, littered with fragments of stones. There was no vegetation or living creatures here, only tiny islands of sand and clumps of seaweed.Terek stepped down onto the sand and looked around. It's been a while since they last saw Cassia. There was an unusual silence on the other side of the island now. Nothing could be heard except the steady lapping of the waves.“ Too quiet for a fight,” the treasurer said uncertainly, holding a loaded crossbow in his hands. – Maybe someone should climb the rocks and check?“ Know your place, accountant. The mistress expressed herself clearly, - the thief who followed behind answered.A broad-shouldered man in an open leather jacket stepped forward and, turning to the old man, threatened him with his fist.“ Do you think that if you are an old drone, then you will not b