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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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NEW WORLD 25
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
NEW WORLD 26
The basement was dark. The only source of light was a flame that flickered at the end of a thick candle. Orvald stood in the center of a vast room, lined from top to bottom with goods. The surrounding walls were made of massive granite blocks, so powerful that it was impossible to break through them from the outside. The floor was covered with cracked patterned tiles. There were chests with padlocks everywhere. On top of the lids lay bags and boxes. Each of them held something of value. In addition, there were six special chests that Orwald treasured above all others.These chests stood in a semicircle at the far end of the basement, on a special stone pedestal. There was also a bench carved from a single piece of marble with an elegant back, where he could sit. On the right hand rose a round rosewood table on one leg, on which he could place a candle or food. Everything was thought out to the smallest detail and subordinated to a single goal.Orwald stood motionless, delaying pleasur
NEW WORLD 27
Cassia greeted sunrise in the glow of candles overlooking the stone wall. Met as usual. The rays of the sun did not penetrate into the sewer. Strictly speaking, no one could enter here without her knowledge, except for water and parasites. Sitting up in bed, she straightened her thin shoulders and froze, remembering the events of the previous night. Blood, sand, the sound of the sea and the light of the stars - that's all she saw in a dream. Many people died because of her, and, worse, Grimbald almost died, but now it was all in the past. Now the dead were taken care of by Nismass, the young hunter slept peacefully in the chambers next door, and the treasures were safe.Her eyes swept across the room and settled on a plate armor with an open helmet mounted on a rack against the opposite wall. The last time she wore it was when she left town with a large force to raid a bandit lair near the Golden Expanse. A year ago. His eyes moved to the right, touching the exquisite sword in a scarl
NEW WORLD 28
Grimbald returned to camp by noon. The sun at that time had already turned into a merciless monster, incinerating the island with fiery rays. The heat got stronger. A heavy smell of burnt needles hung in the hollow. It was a little cooler in the spruce grove under the overhanging rock. Most of the hunters dispersed into the forests. The rest lay in huts or sat in Griffin's tavern. In the camp, he met only one free shooter. Luckily, it turned out to be old Niklas.Noticing the guy, the elderly hunter straightened his shoulders and smiled. Of the clothes on him was only a linen shirt, reminiscent of penitential rags. The gunslinger carried a sharpening stone and a knife. Grimbald was not in a good mood, and he did not intend to talk with the old man for a long time.Approaching the hunter, he without a word handed him a cutlass. Niklas gasped in astonishment as he clung to his favorite weapon.- Holy Hilger! I can't believe my eyes! There is still justice in the world. They were found,
NEW WORLD 29
A well-groomed fair-haired warrior in silver armor came out of the house. His face radiated confidence. A haughty smile froze on the thin lips of the mercenary. Grimbald saw him often on the farm and, thanks to Grog's complaints, knew what he was capable of. Distenza was a military deserter and, apparently, not smart enough, because he was not afraid to parade in public in the armor of the royal guard.“ Tell Halibut if he wants more, the grass should be clean,” the mercenary said slowly and with intonation, tossing a bag of coins to Bartok. We don't want to smoke thyme and mint.“ You sell vomit grass?” Grimbald breathed as he watched the hunter count the money.- I trade...- You followed this with me? I can't believe my eyes! Your father doesn't sleep at night to eradicate this infection from the city, and you...“ And I need money for drinks,” Bartok said. “Grimbald, you are a real saint. Go to the altar and pray.Brick cackled loudly into his beard. One-eyed echoed him. Distenza
NEW WORLD 30
Sliding with a gelatinous edge over the tops of the mountains, the solar disk slowly descended beyond the rocky limit. The last hot rays warmed the gentle slope, overgrown with grass and dry fir trees. To the side, between the hills, a brook ran like a thin snake, gradually growing and turning into a full-flowing river. A lone wanderer among this splendor walked slowly, leaning on a smooth walnut staff. In the fire of the dying luminary, his scarlet half-robe shone with a crimson light.The path of practice, to which he introduced himself, led him and his brothers away from Kenovia, where they were henchmen. In their wanderings, the masters forbade them to carry blades, except for a curved herb knife; they forbade taking a map, limiting it to parchment with lengthy instructions. Their only weapon was faith, therefore many ended their ordeals in the claws of a predator or under the knife of a bandit.The young man played these thoughts over and over again in his head, climbing the rock
NEW WORLD 31
He was new to the monastery. A month ago, a year had passed since he had been brought here. Like many other innovations, the boy lived with anxiety. Settling in a stone labyrinth, Werf also experienced awe at first. In order to somehow calm himself, he began to visit the scriptorium, where henchmen were allowed to read books. They told him that four hundred years ago, during the reign of Rebar III, a military garrison was located here. Five hundred soldiers, knights and squires lived in the fortress. Since 241, after the Magorians destroyed the Niktvi and Almer fleet in the Gulf of Akabar, the outpost lost its strategic importance and quickly fell into disrepair. Two years later, dozens of Nismantes lived in it under the wing of a certain master Loredan, and this number grew until the Reiman Reformation, which broke out at the end of the last century.There were only sixty-seven permanent residents in kenovia now. The Nismanths from Stargrad and Arkford moved here a long time ago and
NEW WORLD 32
After the doors of the basilica were closed, a sleepy Martin entered. Bashfully lowering his eyes, the bald porter slipped into the nave, holding a lighted lamp in his hand. Stopping near each brother, he raised the lamp, waiting for him to light the candle. The apprentices and masters were in no hurry, whispering their prayers. According to custom, the last one who overslept or was late as a punishment had to bypass the ranks of the brothers, with the first rays of the sun granting them a sacred fire. In the absence of such, this was done by the brother-alarm clock or assistant cellarer.The severity and logic of Kenovian customs always struck Werf. Not once in five years has the sequence of ritual actions been violated under him. Everything was calculated and thought out to the smallest detail, including heavenly light. For the inhabitants of the sacred place, every morning symbolized a new victory for Nismass over the god of darkness, and with it the purification of the entire livi
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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
