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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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Until evening, everything went on as usual. Gottfrey and his assistants descended into the hollow, busy with dismantling the mill. Marletta and Niama were busy in the garden, expanding the beds of medicinal herbs. The place where the inhabitants of the cave grew greens was a mountain terrace. From below it was covered with crowns of trees, on the side by a steep slope merging with the hill. Thanks to this hill and the dense forest at the foot of Teres, it was difficult to find a back door to the cave. Half a mile away lay the waters of Rat Lake, where the youngest members of the community fished for salmon. Edrig, Liada and Patrick took the tackle there in the late afternoon.Their first warrior and eternal guard, Tarkus, helped the guards to lift buckets of spring water upstairs. Having become a bivouac knight, the native of Rengolm was accustomed to a hard life and looked at any problems like a miner at a piece of stone. Kendrick understood this like no one else. The hunt fell to hi
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At the end of spring, two troubles happened at once on the lands of Baron Orwald. The first - trifling, according to Landlord himself, concerned the death of six peasants. The drunken plowmen could not drag their feet to Nomar's farm and decided to spend the night in the wheat; they drank diluted wine, enjoyed the light of the stars, after which they were cowardly eaten by earth-biters. Giant insects resembling beetles, in dry weather, multiplied on arable land like cockroaches. Six sucked skeletons, which the peasants found in the morning, immediately pointed to the perpetrators of the crime. Orvald himself met this news with no less cowardice, ordering a detachment of mercenaries to deal with the voracious monsters.The second trouble was connected with the good, but not with that which people do to each other, but with that which they earn. Orwald, like no one else, knew a lot about this. He took a place at the table in the master's office sixteen years ago, after his father, Baron
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He did the same, pulling the buckles apart one by one. The tall mercenary finished with his unpretentious ammunition much faster, and then helped the head of the domain guard to remove the cuirass.“ Good work,” the warrior said with satisfaction. “Now I’ll go to sleep all week with a clear conscience.“ I didn’t know you had it,” Grog breathed, laying the heavy shell on the ground.- Do you remember, yesterday the peasants worked at the logging site. We walked by. As soon as they noticed us, they immediately threw down their axes and began to bury their wallets. Do you remember?- I remember. So what?- I didn’t look for those wallets, but these ones would. Especially Baldur with his friend.- Yes, you are a real hero.We are all heroes! - picked up one of the mercenaries, who arrived in time for the end of the dialogue. “The Baron owes us a raise for this.The warriors gathered around them cheered, brandishing their weapons. Once in the center of the triumphal circle, Grog smiled in
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Even on the approach to the domain, he saw a figure running towards him. A bearded man in a green jerkin rushed between the fields along the road, leaving behind him a dusty train. Grog and Bod immediately recognized Orwald's right hand. Jagins was considered the most literate peasant in the valley. It was said that his father was an alchemist in the island of Kenovia and taught his son everything he knew, except for sacred formulas, because he was too careless and burned his own mother during experiments with fire. Grog didn't believe it. Jagins was too stupid to conduct any experiments, and the ability to read and write still did not make anyone wise.From the captains of the ships, he heard that in the jungles on the mainland there were strange birds that could imitate the human voice. The Almers and the Welyncrones called them "sulats". Jagins was no different from them. An ordinary performer, a pretender and just a pathetic little man who repeated word for word the orders of his
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A real lady, after such a compliment, would have slapped him in the face, but Elena in response only burst into ringing laughter. True, sometimes her mood changed faster than the weather in the mountains, and he could get a slap in the face for nothing at all.- What about your friends? asked Orvald's daughter unexpectedly. “But what about the one that the wolves ate?”Her gaze touched the rope on which the talisman hung.“ Friends are safe, and the wolves are full,” Grog said at length, and before she had time to answer, he darted around the corner of the barn.So that he would not be detained again, Grog made the rest of the way to the estate at a run, climbing up the removable wooden flooring at the entrance. The fortified door was open, and he entered unhindered.Finding himself in a hall dimly lit by oil lamps, Grog proceeded to the left wing. From the inside, Landlord's manor resembled a fortress. From the outside, it was an ordinary half-timbered house, only very large and with
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Skif and Brick were not thrilled with the idea. Distenza rightly pointed out that whores and the dead are incompatible. Both long denied, coming up with different excuses. Even the phrase "order of the baron" did not immediately affect them. After giving them time to get ready, Grog returned to "Leaky purse", which by that time was just right to be called the "Bubbling Cauldron". He noticed a third companion in the kitchen. They became a former inhabitant of the desert, a dark-skinned nomad named Renan. On the farms, he was considered a savage, as, indeed, all Almers. At six and a half feet tall, Renan despised bladed weapons. Swords and axes were too heavy for him, so the warrior got the hang of handling a long spear, which in his hands resembled a mast. In the morning, the lanky Almer managed to plant three earthbiters on such a pole at once. It was one of the baron's best warriors. Today, as usual, he received a double salary and was going to wave to the city. Grog gladly took him
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The night on the cliff passed quietly. Except for a young vulture, who came to the smell of meat in the morning, no one disturbed their sleep. The suspicious Scythian spent half the night at the clock with a bow in his hands, wearing his favorite helmet, which he never parted with. Wrapped in a cloak, pulling his hood up to his chin, he sat leaning against a pine tree until the morning, but he did not wait for the attack. Forest beasts like the Mirkwicht or the grimlak seldom ventured out into the open, while swift-footed snorlings were more common on the plains.After breakfast, the mercenaries broke camp and descended the cliff. The next day was clear and hot. The dampness of the night underfoot melted away with the twilight. Far ahead lay a dense forest, ending in a vast rocky slope with ribbed outgrowths. Behind a triangular steep, stretching for dozens of miles to the east, began the very places they were looking for. It was not far to go, and Grog began to involuntarily feel gro
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
