THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION

11

Standing in front of a high silver mirror, Falinor leisurely combed her black hair, barely covered with gray. Straight heavy strands fell below the waist and scattered over the snow-white dress embroidered with pearls. 

  - Well, what did you think? Looking at his reflection, the duchess raised a thin, arched eyebrow. 

  - I'll bet on Ali. - Turning away, Paraman went to a table comfortably perched by the window and poured cooled herbal tea from a jug. It was unpleasant for him to talk to his aunt.

  “The girl is useless to Rod,” she answered calmly. “You know her flaws as well as I do. If you agree to marry Yakir, I will be forced to inform the Host and veto it. 

  – First, talk to Aarmani. – Having taken a couple of sips, Paraman put the cup on the saucer and grinned almost imperceptibly: – Uncle will calm you down. 

  - Armani? Falinor's voice was filled with curiosity. – Well… In that case, we will return to this issue later.

  Is that all you wanted to talk about?

  “For now, yes,” she said forcefully. “I already know about the rest from my husband. Elikar assured me you're holding your own, so I'm not worried.

  “Well, thanks for that,” Paraman answered after a moment. - Give my regards to your spouse: he supported me at the Council. Like young Sar. 

  Are the Missara trying to regain their former influence? the duchess perked up, running her fingers over the jewels laid out on the dressing table. “Or did you decide to pit them against the Kaels?”

  "Perhaps," he said casually. “But as long as Remaka is in their way, nothing will come of it. Tarem acts cunningly: he pitted his rivals and from time to time supports their game. Kaels will not give way to their familiar place. 

  “Then we should support the shadow ones. - Throwing her hair behind her back, Falinor put on a silver circlet and released a specially curled short curl over it. “Pay more attention to the families of Quist and Albor: they are our mainstay in Pata. If we leave them to their fate, we will lose the city: the Kaels have been weaving nets there for a long time. One young Firsar is worth something!

  “He sleeps and sees when his aunt’s eyes close,” Paraman nodded. - Okay, I heard you. I have no objections, I already know all this ... After all, aunt, I have been at the helm for a long time, unless I change my status.

  Going up to him, Falinor looked inquisitively into his eyes and, smiling, lightly touched his cheek. 

  “I know, Paraman. I know. Her voice sounded unexpectedly soft. - It's a pity that you had to wait so long ... And it's a pity that everything is so.

  - Be careful. Catching her hand, he squeezed her cold fingers lightly. It's better not to say out loud what you shouldn't say. As Lafast said, the past must be left in the past. We all knew that this would be the case in the end. We need to move on.

  - You are right. Withdrawing her hand, she hurriedly stepped towards the window. – The storm is almost over… The sun is finally peeping through!

  Turning his head, Paraman cast an indifferent glance at the glass dripping with drying droplets. In the northeast, a thin golden fan really shone through the dark purple clouds. The morning, having captured the night storm, promised to be calm.

  - I'll go for a walk. – Opening the valve, Falinor threw open the doors and let in a stream of damp, piercingly fresh air, still smelling of a thunderstorm and almost imperceptible notes of apple blossom. - Would you like to join?

  Thanks, but no. Combing his hair with his fingers, Paraman glanced briefly in the mirror. – Just do not go to the tombs: there are now preparations for the Call. I don't think you'll be happy with Tarham's company.

  Without turning around, she nodded.

  - I remember ... - in her sigh, fatigue and some kind of heaviness were heard. - Get up. And don't forget about Ali. Be frank with her. She will forgive you everything and will not refuse anything.

  - It can wait. - Approaching the door, Paraman lifted the inner bolt and, after a pause, added: - Do not tell her about our conversation yet: I need to think more. 

  Having descended to the second level, Paraman turned into a small art gallery and quickened his pace. Early morning had not yet filled the castle with bustle and voices - except for the servants and guards, most of those who arrived at night and the day before were asleep. The permanent inhabitants of the castle were also in no hurry to leave the chambers. The balance of power was not yet clear to many, so they were afraid to make a choice. 

  Having reached a small corridor, Paraman turned and signaled to the guards to open the doors. Despite belonging to the Leading line, he preferred to stay in the Green Chambers - in the territory of those Vallors that carried the blood of the Kael family. Paraman did not want to explain his choice to anyone, just like his father once did, and after the coronation he was not going to move to the White Corridor: he had too bad dreams there.

  The green door covered with half-worn gilding opened silently and smoothly, casting a thick shadow on the white marble. 

  "Don't disturb me until the evening." Paraman looked at the young officer carefully. His face seemed familiar, but he could not remember his name: apparently, he was one of the newcomers.

  “Your Highness,” the claw-man turned rather boldly, “Lord Firsar asked to receive him… He waited quite a long time. 

  “Do not disturb until evening,” Paraman repeated coldly. “If he comes back, tell me I'll take it later.

  

  The floor, paved with malachite marble, reflected the flames of candles shining white in a brass candlestick on the edge of a wide desk. Clouds were still hanging from the western side, on which the windows looked out, so it was gloomy in the office in the evening. 

  Having unfolded a wide voluminous scroll, Paraman bent over the Generic Tree drawn on yellowish paper. The fragment covering the last three hundred years looked both impressive and sad at the same time: the dense crown gradually turned into lonely scattered branches, most of which were cut off - fell out of the Leading line and connected with one of the Ten genera. Aarmani was not mistaken: there were very few direct descendants of Thar left, and there were no those who could claim the throne at all, although this was diligently kept silent. The last, in whom the succession of blood and power was not interrupted, was the late daughter of Lirdan. Ali-Nari and Paraman himself were considered the next in blood purity. The fact that Kyle, his father, had a strong admixture of Kaels, no one knew, since the Council removed the witnesses. 

  - Smart, very smart. - The released edge of the scroll immediately twisted into a tube. “Only three generations and we are almost helpless.

  Blowing out the candles in annoyance, Paraman went to the window and flung open the shutters. Life again forced me to play with fire, and there was no other way out but to accept the conditions of this game. The days when he could afford to go with the flow, adjusting to circumstances in such a way as to obtain personal gain and not trample on the entrusted debt, were coming to an end. 

*   * *

The temperature must have dropped even lower - Leah was trembling violently, and her legs were so cold that they began to go numb. Rubbing her eyes, she looked around anxiously. The stars were already almost extinguished, and the sky began to brighten. The sun was rising. The dark, formless clouds that had floated far below were rapidly approaching. The transcendent music of the wind gradually subsided, and soon the golden dawn cloud, enveloping in a wet fog, for a moment deprived of sight and hearing. 

Trying to suppress the rising panic, Leah desperately tried to remember the words of her brother - and could not. She suddenly felt unwell: her head was unpleasantly spinning, her ears were blocked. Dropping to one knee, she took a deep breath and tried to concentrate, because she had absolutely no idea where up and down.

The fog cleared suddenly, and Leah almost lost her balance in surprise. The field, the forest, the dark clouds - all this rushed at her at breakneck speed. Before she could jump, she suddenly felt a strong jerk and screamed loudly. The world turned upside down several times, and, suffocating from the blow, Leah immediately tried to get up, but fell again. 

  - Do not move! - shouted Karl, rising to his feet and again coming close to the Path. Tense and pale, he was breathing heavily, peering into the thick dense fog.

Leah froze. The trail licked the ground with a deafening rustle two meters from her hand and only fifty paces from the edge of the forest. It was a very small distance to have time to jump. If not for her brother, she could have stepped over the forest.

Fortunately, Christian did not need help. Emerging from the air near the trees, the brother managed to group and immediately got to his feet. He looked shocked and confused. Turning around, he waved his hand at them and, just in case, moved away from the foggy wall away. 

  - Quicker! Leaning down, Carl helped Leah up. “We can be followed. 

  After catching up with Christian, they left the buffer zone and plunged into the forest. Walking was hard. The wind shook the trees, crackling and creaking were heard from time to time. The rain has almost stopped. High crowns retained moisture, but the earth was already soaked so that it was necessary to knead the dirt. 

  - Let's stop here. Stepping back far enough to hide the edge of the undergrowth, Karl dropped his cloak under a stocky tall oak and motioned for Leah to sit down. - I have to get my bearings. Give me five minutes.

  Nodding absently, she obediently sat down and, clasping her knees, took a deep breath of the viscous air filled with the aromas of herbs and earth. She had never seen such a forest for the first time - dense, ancient, free ... It breathed and pulsated with life, and Leah felt it with every nerve, as if she herself were a part of it. It was a strange, sharp and slightly heady feeling of joy and some kind of quivering fear.

  Closing her eyes, she leaned against the rough trunk. The wind rustled between the trees and ruffled the branches, filling everything around with a mysterious many-voiced whisper.

  “The path is leaving,” his brother’s voice sounded unnaturally loud. - Lyramel? Get up, we need to hurry ... - Reluctantly raising her head, she narrowed her eyes. Carl looked calm, but Leah knew him too well not to notice his carefully concealed excitement. 

  Silently standing up, she lifted her cloak and clicked annoyedly: dark brown mud dripped on black fur in uneven patterns.

  “It’s okay, it will dry out,” my brother said quietly and, turning around, walked confidently into the depths of the forest.

The sky cleared quickly, and soon a fresh breeze, blowing from the south instead of a violent western squall, awakened the hidden birds. Everything around was buzzing with spring singing and chirping. The sun burst through the foliage, and the green colors sparkled with lime-yellow splashes. 

  - Where are we going? Christian asked gloomily, catching up with his brother in a few steps. – Can you really explain or will you have to draw out the word, as then, with Paul?

  Carl shrugged vaguely and drew his black eyebrows together slightly.

  - You do not trust? His tone, cold and slightly haughty, made Leah wary. She was not used to her brother answering Christian's aggression with a direct rebuff: he was always very reserved.

  “Let's just say I doubt it,” he replied evasively, looking away.

  “Understood,” Carl nodded. “And I thought you would understand. At least considering that for all these years you have so stubbornly pretended that nothing was happening and could not happen. Would you like to enjoy your life? Well, he lived.

  Startled as if from a slap, Christian pursed his lips and stopped. 

  “Carly…” Stepping forward, Leah hugged her brother tightly and nuzzled her forehead against his warm shoulder. - Stop doing that. We are all tired, scared, and besides, I also want to know where you are taking us.

  Grabbing her by the shoulders, Carl waved his hand vaguely. 

  The castle is surrounded by gentle hills, so it is not visible. According to the map, we're only a couple of miles away. True, you will have to wander through the forests: it is too dangerous to go out onto the road. 

  - You are sure? - Christian asked more calmly, although it was clear that he was holding back with difficulty. “It seems to me that we should stay away from the Council and all those associated with it for the time being. It is hardly a good idea - not knowing the situation, go straight into their hands. 

  Carl reluctantly pushed Leah aside and looked hard at the twin.

  - You always think something. If there are objections, express them now, otherwise death really awaits us.

  Christian frowned and looked away.

  “I already said that I would follow you anywhere. I just don't want to go blind. How can you be so self-confident? Or is there still something we don't know?

  “Do you think I should spend half a day retelling everything that has been thought over in fifteen years?” There was a steely note in his brother's voice. “If you want to figure it out, please wait for the hour when we have the right amount of time. In the meantime, it's enough that I need you. And not only to me.

  There was a tense silence. After waiting a couple of seconds, Carl turned and quickly walked away. Biting her lip, Leah grabbed her cloak and hurried after her.

After about twenty minutes, the ground began to slope upwards, and it became even more difficult to move. Soon the lindens and oaks were left behind, and shaggy spiky firs filled everything around. Again it was damp and cold. Fortunately, the new boots did not let moisture through, and the raincoat reliably protected from drops showered from the branches and annoying mosquitoes. The only thing that darkened the path was a windbreak, through which every now and then we had to climb over. 

  "You said it wouldn't take long!" Leah complained when Carl once again helped her jump off the fallen trunk. The damp bark, covered with greenish-brown moss, smelled of rot.

  “If we didn’t waste time on questions and disputes, it wouldn’t be long,” the brother replied with a smile and, waving his hand sharply, tore the lace web blocking the path.

Leah fell silent in resentment and, picking up her pace, immediately stumbled over a large slippery snag.

  “Be careful,” Christian muttered, helping her to her feet. - Watch your feet.

  Leah nodded silently. His knee hurt from the impact, and Karl didn't even stop to wait for them. He walked right through, not noticing either the branches that now and then clung to his hair, or the needles sticking around his boots. 

An hour and a half later, the spruces began to thin out and gave way to pines and lindens, and the undergrowth gave way to short grass. Ahead, between the golden trunks, the slope of a gentle hill appeared. Covered in a variegated carpet of red-pink clover, it flowed smoothly down and filled the air with such a distinct honey aroma that it made one's head spin.

After walking a few more steps, Leah stopped. Chills ran through my body, my breath stopped for a moment. 

Below, as if in the palm of your hand, lay the White Castle - the ancient cradle of the royal Family. A quarter of the high walls were buried in a pink-green cloud of an endless apple orchard, countless turrets and towers pierced the high blue sky with silver spiers. A flag fluttered over the widest black patch. For several minutes, Leah stood silently, unable to look away and say anything. 

  - Let's go. Touching her shoulder, Carl sighed heavily and slowly walked downstairs.

Frowning his brows in surprise, Christian looked around in bewilderment. Feeling that her brother hesitated, she silently pushed him forward. With a shrug of his shoulder, he slowly followed the twin. With a mixed feeling of fear and impatience, Leah began to descend after her, and soon, having overtaken her brothers, she stopped at a low wall made of gray-white, moss-powdered stones.

Standing next to him, Karl carefully examined the cobblestones. His gaze became heavy, and his features sharpened. 

  “Look,” he said quietly, slightly pushing Leah aside. - At the level of the outstretched arm, there should be an indentation the size of a palm. If you find it, call me, don't touch anything yourself. Faster!

  Yielding to his excitement, Leah reached out at random and touched the cold, velvety surface. The moss was all wet.

  “Carly…” surprise was so clear in her voice that both brothers were immediately next to each other.

  - Did you find it? - Carefully removing her hand, Karl carefully examined the stone and nodded with satisfaction: - Good ... Very good. Now move away.

He had to lean against the wall with his whole body before the invisible door moved and cracked forty centimeters to the side, opening an uneven passage. Hesitating for a couple of moments, as if listening to something, Karl decisively drew his sword and squeezed inside.

  "Stay still and don't move," his muffled voice was immediately heard.

Obediently frozen, Leah held her breath. She madly wanted to follow, but she did not dare to disobey her brother.

  - En satim let corvette! En satim let corvette Tar! [1] - Karl said hoarsely, and fear was heard in his voice.

With a warning shush, Christian instantly grabbed Leah, who was swaying forward, by the shoulder and jerked towards him with force. With a cry of protest, she turned to shrug off his hand, but at that moment a huge black shadow flew silently over the wall, knocking them both off their feet. Leah fell on Christian and immediately rolled to the side, but did not have time to get up. 

Time disappeared, the world around seemed to be shrouded in fog: two huge yellow eyes looked with such blood-chilling hatred that thoughts stopped.

  - En satim, let corvette! Carl's voice roared authoritatively from somewhere above, and this time there was neither fright nor excitement in it.

The huge panther snarled and sniffed Leah incredulously, touching her forehead with its warm nose. Her heart was beating so hard that it drowned out all other sounds. Painfully I wanted to breathe, but huge paws pressed on my chest, and it seemed that a little more - and the ribs would crack. Suddenly the cat drooped and jumped aside. 

Leaning down, Carl immediately helped Leah up and hugged her tightly. Shaking her whole body, she sobbed softly and burst into tears.

  "I'm sorry," he whispered, wiping her tears with his cold hands. - It was impossible otherwise. Now they will let us through.

  - They? Christian swallowed hard and stepped closer. Unlike the twin, he was unarmed.

Carl smiled mockingly and nodded at the wall.

  “There are dozens of cats outside the White Castle, but one would be enough if we weren’t our father’s children. He even managed to take care of that, Christian... Then, saying goodbye, if, of course, you still remember.

  - My shirt? he asked, grimacing as if in pain.

  “So you remember…” Carl’s voice warmed noticeably. “Think about it at your leisure. Perhaps you yourself will find the answers to your questions. And now you need to hurry: there is almost no time left. Our visit will soon be known, and I would like to get into the castle without too much attention.

Leah, who had already calmed down a little, hung on her brother's arm and allowed herself to be led to the other side of the fence. Christian carefully closed the secret door behind them: from the inside it closed without much effort.

All around, as far as the eye could see, tall ancient apple trees bloomed. Below, between the thick black trunks, short grass was green, interspersed with clover and some small lilac flowers.

  As they walked, several panthers sprawled out in the shade and watched them lazily, occasionally wagging their tails to ward off annoying insects. None of them growled or tried to come closer.

Silver spiers of towers and high stone walls could be seen through the pink and white curtain. The castle was about a mile from the wall, and it took time to get to it. It was really huge, much bigger than it seemed to Leah from the hill, and the apple orchard now generally looked endless.

Noticing a woman hiding in the shade of the branches, Leah touched her brother's hand and stopped. Following her gaze, Karl turned pale and, putting his finger to his lips, froze.

  “Wait here until I call,” he whispered without turning his head, and slowly walked forward. 

*   * *

A tall woman stood motionless in the shade of a blossoming apple tree. Her blue-black hair, loose over her shoulders, was caught at the forehead with a wide ducal headband and powdered with ragged wet petals. Nervously fiddling with the silver-embroidered belt of her long white dress, she looked towards the castle as if she was waiting for someone. Carl realized who was in front of him almost immediately. The aunt was like his father, as he remembered him from childhood impressions: the same manner of slightly raising her head and biting her lower lip slightly in thought. Her features, softer and more graceful than his, seemed from a distance to be sculpted from porcelain. 

  “Your Highness…” Stopping a little further away, Karl waited for Falinor to look at him and bowed deeply.

Fear and surprise flickered in her brown eyes for a moment. The reaction was predictable: native blood testified without words. 

Quickly recovering herself, the Duchess nodded reservedly.

  “Again, sorry to bother you,” Karl said politely, walking cautiously up a few steps. – And let me express our admiration: it is a great honor to meet you.

Shamelessly looking him up and down, Falinor arched an eyebrow.

  “Rod's traits are very noticeable in you, officer. Her voice vibrated almost imperceptibly, betraying excitement. What branch do you belong to?