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NEW WORLD 51
In the dim glow of the candles, five men stood in front of the throne. Two old men and three young men. Armand sat in an armchair and drummed his fingers on the hilt of his rapier. On his orders, a burly young man in a stretched doublet got out of line and began to count loudly. This went on for quite some time.- ... Forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven, forty-seven, forty-seven, term ... - in the end, the thief began to repeat thoughtfully.“ Enough,” Cassia said, almost in a whisper.She sat on the throne, dressed in a black dress with a collar of crow feathers and, leaning back, looked away. On the armrest was a silver goblet of wine, the rim of which she stroked from time to time with her forefinger.Armand clapped his hands, and the young thief obediently returned to his seat.- Further.There was silence. The last candidate in the line did not move. Armand frowned, noticing that the young man was watching her intently and clapped his hands again.- Bastian! the golden-haired thie
NEW WORLD 52
They entered the space of the ancient seal at the same time. Thirteen people stood at the edges of the massive golden circle. Tant, Marletta, and Kirk stopped in the center. Not far away, Altvidus opened a sack and poured dozens of green-veined stones onto the floor. One of them was split by a strong young man with an axe. Both halves at the same time shone faintly with an acid green light.“ This is a grill,” Altvidus explained, tying both pieces with a rope. “The Equitanian miners wear them to explore the caves. The closer the fragments are to each other, the more powerful they glow.The young bandit was resourceful and quick, but on the campaign he was treated like a lunatic. Living in the Southern Hills, Tant noticed that fools always behave this way with those who are smarter than them. The remaining members of the detachment began to dismantle the stones, splitting them along the way. Tant warned that where they got stuffy, and the torches would burn worse.“ I never thought tha
NEW WORLD 53
We heard screams! Something happened downstairs, - the young bandit gave a voice, despite the excitement, remaining all the same dull.Kirk was the first to take off. Tanta ran after him. The outlandish temple turned out to be deeper than he expected. Judging by the two air tunnels, from which hot air was drawn, the tunnels could well have been laid below the seabed.“ There are two stairs,” Altvidus explained as soon as they were down. Bertrand and the guys went to another room. Borik and the others went down below. I fell behind, and then there was a blow and screams.Everyone hurried to the entrance to the tunnel, from where the bandits led by Bertrand began to emerge. The stocky thug held an ax in his hands, continuing to pitch the grape leaf with grass. From below came muffled calls for help.- Did you hear that too? Bertrand asked, pointing to the passage behind which the steps began. “Like something fell off.“ That’s not good,” Kord worried, looking at him. “Master Tant, we sh
NEW WORLD 54
If Grog had been told that he would spend the four days of his life chained to a post, on raw meat and water, he would have laughed and then broken the joker's nose. Unfortunately, it wasn't a joke, and he couldn't break his noses anymore because he didn't have fists. Thinking about this, Grog sat on a chain near the ill-fated pillar and gnawed on a bone. Of late, florid reasoning had become more and more difficult for him. It was hard to even think. Memory was akin to an earthenware jug with a split bottom, the contents of which left only drops of moisture on the walls. He'd spent a little over a week in the grimlak's shoes, but that was enough to simplify him to the extreme. Sometimes it even seemed to him that he was born an animal, but he dreamed of becoming a man so much that he began to invent a past for himself.A camp cook in a blood-stained apron walked past, waddling, like a duck. Pale as death, with a wrinkled face, a shaggy brute was dragging a stone cauldron polished with
NEW WORLD 55
They entered the space of the ancient seal at the same time. Thirteen people stood at the edges of the massive golden circle. Tant, Marletta, and Kirk stopped in the center. Not far away, Altvidus opened a sack and poured dozens of green-veined stones onto the floor. One of them was split by a strong young man with an axe. Both halves at the same time shone faintly with an acid green light.“ This is a grill,” Altvidus explained, tying both pieces with a rope. “The Equitanian miners wear them to explore the caves. The closer the fragments are to each other, the more powerful they glow.The young bandit was resourceful and quick, but on the campaign he was treated like a lunatic. Living in the Southern Hills, Tant noticed that fools always behave this way with those who are smarter than them. The remaining members of the detachment began to dismantle the stones, splitting them along the way. Grill was needed. It will be stuffy where they go, and the torches will not burn brightly.“ I
NEW WORLD 56
The courteous and sweet-voiced Osbald liked his wife. This prophet she outfitted in Riverfall differently from Novos. Marletta would have known where the Lady's anointed was actually going." Master Tant! " - I heard a scream from below. "Master Tant, over here!"Kord shouted. His assistant was still in the hall. Tant ran to the loophole and looked down. The man thrashed about below, waving his arms. A magical firefly hovered over his head. Altvidus and Kuno stood nearby.We heard screams! Something happened downstairs, - the young bandit gave a voice, despite the excitement, remaining all the same dull.Kirk was the first to take off. Tanta ran after him. The outlandish temple turned out to be deeper than he expected. Judging by the two air tunnels, from which hot air was drawn, the tunnels could well have been laid below the seabed.“ There are two stairs,” Altvidus explained as soon as they were down. Bertrand and the guys went to another room. Borik and the others went down below.
NEW WORLD 57
The new morning on the farms was no different from the previous one. Shortly before dawn, rows of peasants stretched along the roads between the fields. The shepherds drove their herds along the edge of the forest, greeting familiar hunters. In the forest, axes spoke, piercing the timber trees. With the victory of light over darkness, the yard of the master's domain was filled with the screech of saws, the noise of voices and the hammer on the anvil. At the behest of Nismass, the world outside the city walls came to life and stirred, but here, in the stone bowl of mountains, it belonged to one person - His Majesty of arable land and forests - the Landlord.The morning really seemed ordinary, and no one would have noticed the difference if there hadn't been a fussy peasant named Jagins in the domain. Walking around the estate until sunrise, he accidentally went into the left wing, where the landowner's office was located, and stumbled upon the baron there. The shutters were closed. The
NEW WORLD 58
Miranda climbed into a chair with legs and wrapped herself up to her chin in a light cotton cloak. I sat for a long time. From the darkness came the rustle of grass and the rustle of trees. The birds sang and fell silent. From time to time, somewhere at the entrance to the cave, stones fell from the cliffs. Then through the gloom came the soft voice of the mother:“ A long time ago, there was a cult of nature on Mirkhold. The adherents of this cult were called druids. They lived as hermits in stone towers surrounded by wild forests. The ruins of their fortresses still stand in the Ore Mountains. Druids did not know the magic of the bol, but could turn into animals using charmed stones, which are called "spherals". Like the first Nismantes, they drew strength from a divine source.Miranda grimaced as she touched the hemp bandage on her shoulder. Soaked in ointments, she continued to draw out the poison, carried by the dead man's thorns. Turning her head, she felt slightly dizzy and dec
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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
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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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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
