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NEW WORLD 15
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
NEW WORLD 16
It was late evening when Niklas came back. In the camp by that time life was in full swing. There were more and more hunters under the rock. There is less and less peace and quiet. The free people kindled fires, roasted meat and sang songs. As he was driving down the hill onto a small road, a whole crowd passed by his wagon towards the "Black Locker". In a nearby grove, a group of archers practiced their marksmanship by shooting arrows at an apple fastened to the head of a drunken comrade. Two drunken idiots were jumping over the fire.Niklas was not touched by the usual fun. Stopping the cart not far from his hut, he jumped into the grass, and was about to take care of the load, but Kirk came out to meet him. As always, in a bad mood.Noticing the gray-haired headman, Niklas nodded and threw back the side of the cart. Kirk stood beside him, giving him an incredulous look.- Where is your saber? The old man finally spoke, putting his hands on his hips.Taking off the black bandage fro
NEW WORLD 17
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
NEW WORLD 18
Cassia rose from the table with dignity and, folding her hands in front of her, looked around the hall with a cold gaze. From the outside it might have looked like she was doing a favor, but Grimbald knew she was itching to pick up the instrument. A friend loved music and she played the mandolin beautifully, devoting all her free time to lessons. Thieves at any holiday asked her to speak, only they begged someone else to sing. The girl still said nothing, but when she sang, she bassed like a drunken docker.- Song! Song about Reman! – supported by other thieves.- Yes, about this always second bastard! someone from the opposite end of the table agreed. - So that a snake crawled up his ass!This time, however, not a single thief got up to accompany, and the mistress had to do everything herself. Cassia took the ornate orange-painted mandolin from Brago and left the table. There was silence. Running her thin fingers along the strings, the mistress of the thieves sang a song that looked
NEW WORLD 18
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
NEW WORLD 19
Every year the river of time speeds up. It seems that only yesterday you were fifteen, you ran fast and believed that you were able to conquer the world, and now you wake up in the morning, creak your bones and you cannot recognize your own face in a barrel of water. Lying on the bed, Tant looked at the ceiling of the cave and listened to his wife's voice. Time really passed through him without mercy. In early spring he was forty-nine years old.As summer approached, Tant always remembered the day he left Kenovia and set off north in the footsteps of Rainier's expedition. Twenty years have passed since then. He became a servant of the eyeless goddess, founded a new faith temple, and tried to save the world. The whole island spoke about the fact that he was a bandit, a madman and a heretic. Nobody knew about his true motives.Having heard enough of the feigned solemnity with which Marletta saw off the next "sentry", Tant got up. Throwing a cotton cloak around his thin shoulders, he lef
NEW WORLD 19
Every year the river of time speeds up. It seems that only yesterday you were fifteen, you ran fast and believed that you were able to conquer the world, and now you wake up in the morning, creak your bones and you cannot recognize your own face in a barrel of water. Lying on the bed, Tant looked at the ceiling of the cave and listened to his wife's voice. Time really passed through him without mercy. In early spring he was forty-nine years old.As summer approached, Tant always remembered the day he left Kenovia and set off north in the footsteps of Rainier's expedition. Twenty years have passed since then. He became a servant of the eyeless goddess, founded a new faith temple, and tried to save the world. The whole island spoke about the fact that he was a bandit, a madman and a heretic. Nobody knew about his true motives.Having heard enough of the feigned solemnity with which Marletta saw off the next "sentry", Tant got up. Throwing a cotton cloak around his thin shoulders, he lef
NEW WORLD 18
Everyone looked at him. The mill in the dell next door did draw attention, but Tant said nothing. The everyday problems of the community did not concern him. Marletta knew this and immediately seized the initiative, obliging Limburg to start buying hand mills.– When did Gerd promise to return? Kord asked, putting more porridge on the plate. - How long was he gone?- A week.“ Forgive me, Lady Eternal, but I don’t think he will come back one day,” Gotfrey lamented. - Painfully brazenly this worm behaves. Previously, he traded in fake relics, but now he almost breaks into houses.- You yourself are a worm! He gave us a dozen followers,” Marletta reminded, shaking her head. “This bloodhound is more useful than you and your windmill!”The woman threw her hair behind her back and made a face at him. Tanta looked at his wife with a smile. Marletta was right. Trickster Gerd had really helped since they found him battered a year ago on the Old Road. In the community he was called "The Bloodh
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- NEW WORLD
Bonus Chapter 3
There was not a soul in the common grotto. Thunder rumbled. In the distance beyond Rat Lake, dirty clouds swirled over the mountains. For the first time since autumn, Mirkhold was hit by a hurricane. Tantus was sitting in a pine armchair by the brick parapet and, wrapped in a loden, looked through the wall of rain. The rustle of leaves and the rumble of stones on the slopes of Teres brought him back to reality from time to time.He spent the morning of trida in thought, overcoming pain and guilt for what he had done. Climbing to the top of the red-hot pipe in the underground sanctuary cost him dearly, and the loss of his brothers unsettled him for a long time. Burnt palms were wrapped in bandages with healing ointments, the skin on the face burned like after a sunburn, and a fire raged in the heart. There was a lot to plan for, and unnecessary thoughts could only hurt, but the memories of Korda continued to obsessively crawl into my head. They first met at the city docks. The boy was
- NEW WORLD
Bonus Chapter 2
At the same moment, an unknown force grabbed him and lifted him into the air. A tiny hole opened up on the wall of the cave, completely black and impenetrable, like liquid resin. The space around her began to move. Grog watched in fascination as the sarcophagus, and then the whole cave, flowed into it like water. When there was nothing left but darkness around, a blow to the back followed. An invisible stream picked him up and carried him into the void at the speed of a cannonball. Nobody's magic was terrible. She withered her skin and innards like the midday sun. The world around has hardened, turning into a piece of stone. It became hard to breathe. His hands went numb, his throat was tormented by a cough, and he kept rushing through the void, feeling only the cold of the blade on his chest and the growing pain under his heart.It seemed like an eternity before an orange dot flashed ahead. Through this point, the distorted outlines of the cave began to crawl into the darkness. First
- NEW WORLD
Bonus Chapter 1
It seemed to him no more than an hour before something heavy touched the surface of the table. Grog opened his eyes and lay on his back, noticing a man in the house. The wasteland and garden beyond the doorway were bathed in silver light. There was a lit candle on the table. The stranger did not move. A capacious hood fell over his face, hiding his features in deep shadow. A light linen cloak hung over his broad shoulders.- Get up! said a familiar voice dryly.- Bangladore?For the first time calling the necromancer by name, Grog for some reason was frightened. It really was his teacher. The sorcerer threw off his hood, allowing him to see the soot-stained face, which in the yellowish light resembled fermented pus. The sharp beard was slightly scorched. Brown eyes are wide open. Both sparkled like two pieces of dark amber. He was angry or scared, or both at the same time.- What's wrong with you? Grog asked cautiously, touching the talisman.- Get up and get dressed!With these words
- NEW WORLD
Epilogue
At the command of the teacher, he found a stone in the water and, stretching out his hand, pointed his fingers at the running stream. As pressure began to build up under his palm, Grog clenched his fingers. The stone was caught the size of a camping barrel and did not immediately succumb. The water sparkled for a long time around his smooth sides before he lifted a smooth piece of basalt over the stream.Looking up at the glittering boulder above, Bangladore nodded in satisfaction.“ Do me a favor,” Grog asked, opening his fingers.The stone flopped into the water, showering the shore in a myriad of sparkling drops. Banglador wiped his wet face and looked at him with displeasure.I need personal time.– Why?- It's personal.The sorcerer smiled, appreciating the pun.- Good. You can do whatever you want in the afternoon when the heat takes over.With these words, the necromancer handed him the fourth beaker with a white slurry that looked like milk. Grog drank the stimulant and strain
- NEW WORLD
69
Coolness reigned in the drift. Grog sat on a carpet of damp sand and stared into space. For the past two days, he saw only her in front of him, and he also heard a voice. Through the ocean of darkness, someone who did not want to introduce himself spoke to him. The flask was empty. Slugs crawled around him, dragging long lamellar shells behind them, climbed to his feet, and when he fell asleep, even under his clothes, rubbing his skin with slimy suckers.Time dragged on endlessly, but now the voice sounded for the last time:- He's coming. Earlier than promised. We have little time. I hope you remember everything. Do exactly as agreed and you will be free.– I understand.“ The necromancer will test you. Remember everything you have to do, but don't think about what you are doing. It's hard, Grog. One false step and he will suspect. Think - and he can guess. Guess - and our plan will be revealed.- Yes, I understand!Grog realized a long time ago that all sorcerers are the same. Whoev
- NEW WORLD
68
Then a wave of light overtook the spider. Jumping up off the floor, the golem turned around and rushed towards him. Tant only had time to notice how a massive body on six legs ran up to the pipe. The golem knew exactly where to look for him and did not stop pursuing him, even when he moved to the next staircase and disappeared behind the furnace.Going down, Tant stumbled and slid to the base of the pipe, severely skinning his back. There he was overtaken by a spider. Leaping after him, the creature sank its hooked limbs beside him, then turned and hurried back. Tant lay motionless for some time, watching the monster.“He didn't touch me. This is the second time,” he thought through his head.Rising to his feet, Tant picked up the torch and ran after the spider. A terrible mechanism by that time had already managed to hide in the tunnel.- Marlette! he yelled, rushing headlong towards the archway.His greatest fear was finding her body, but there was no one inside except for the spide
- NEW WORLD
67
He circled the flooded hall with his blade. There was only one way out of it - through an arched tunnel through which a spider could pass. The rest took their places. Kirk positioned himself on the steps, his sword sheathed first. Tant was silent all this time, looking at the sentry's body. Marletta stood over him for a long time, glaring accusingly, but then sat down beside him.“ I didn’t think it would end like this,” he whispered, looking at the water. “I wanted to make it to the cadence. I thought Kirk's people would help us.- Help with what? What should happen after the cadence? Speak already!Tant moved closer, whispering in her ear:“ After the death of Ang Walpa, his supporters stole the body, but were captured and executed. Only one priest survived. He gathered the first sentinels and performed a special ritual, taking the sacred entrails of Ang Hualpa. We must find the descendants of those sentinels.“ Did the Pale One tell you this? ”He nodded.“ Tant, this is some kind
- NEW WORLD
66
A massive clot of flame illuminated the hall with sunlight. There were blood stains on the floor. For the first time since ancient times, work was in full swing under the arch of the smelter. After the mechanical spider jumped down, turning Linus into a mess, the bandits began to work together on a rescue plan. It consisted in a one-time escape in all conceivable directions, which was only in the hands of the creature. Tant slid along the wall, watching the massacre in fear. The state was such as if he was rising from the depths. A buzz grew in my head, and people continued to rush around.Having crushed the one-eyed Linus, the monster chose a new target and attacked Bertrand, slamming the vomit-weed lover into the floor. Kendrick miraculously dodged the swing of a steel limb and ran to the nearest hole in the wall, where he jumped safely. The despondent Kuno ran away until he broke his knee and, realizing that he could not leave, met death with a sad face.Some bandits gave a tear up
- NEW WORLD
65
Rick didn't listen as he aimed his crossbow at him. Rumbold pointed his sword at the bearded mercenary, who was holding an ax with both hands. Distenza stepped forward, shielding his comrades. As befits an honest leader, he plunged his sword into the ground and showed his empty hands as a sign of good intentions.Your name is Fergus, right? the mercenary inquired, curling his thin lips in a grin. “Grog was your friend. I see you have similar amulets. He often spoke of you as if you were a half-witted fellow ...The warriors behind him burst into laughter. Fergus didn't hear half of what he said." Explain how he died," he demanded, his eyes fixed on the warrior's shell, which featured a seven-pointed star with a crown in the center.“ Two weeks ago he went north to carry out his master's assignment and disappeared without a trace.- What are you saying then?" Of course he's dead," Distenza laughed. What do you think he was doing there all this time? Enough chatting! You're not here f
