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THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 32
Toward evening, the dark blue was covered with clouds. Tall and dense, they rushed from north to south, casting huge gray shadows on the ground. The rising wind slightly swayed the tops of the huge fir trees and sorted through the pines with shaggy curls. It got noticeably cooler. Turning off the road, Liramel launched her horse across the grass. The emerald-colored carpet breathed as if alive, and it seemed as if they were not jumping, but slowly swimming against the current towards the billowing green wave of the forest. She frowned uneasily, choking on a premonition that clenched her heart. Everything around seemed to freeze and lose its color. Lyramel had already experienced something similar the day she first met Mark, but this time the strange feeling seemed even stronger and sharper. Involuntarily whipping the horse, she pulled it into a gallop, but immediately pulled the reins. It was impossible to succumb to fear… “Even if you are stronger than the enemy, fear will make
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 33
Paraman stood at the exit to the throne room. Leaning his back against the wall dimly lit by the torch, he waited for Yakir to come down, and only then handed him a rolled-up paper and quietly muttered:- Read.Unfolding the sheet, Yakir turned his back to the torch, glanced briefly over the small, dense lines, and, raising his eyes to Paraman, narrowed his eyes, hoping to hide his confusion and surprise:“Lyramel also asked me to leave. Why are these changes? The host decided to replay? Or is it something to do with the recent ceremony? “Too many questions,” the duke replied gloomily, pulling the paper out of his hands. - Do what you're told. We'll see in a couple of months. So the Order. I wonder what Aarmani and Aurok will say to this? Or did you and Carl decide everything behind their backs? Yes Paraman? The duke was so fast that Yakir did not even have time to raise his hand. Hitting his head against the wall, he tried to inhale, but couldn't: cold, hard fingers squeezed his
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 34
The maid Liramel had sent to fetch her brother an hour ago hadn't returned. It was already getting dark outside the window, and long bluish shadows lay on the white carpet, stretching all the way to the fireplace. June came into its own smoothly, but early spring has long fluffed the grass and covered the apple orchard with fragrant clover. Now the cats were almost invisible: during the day they dispersed in search of shade, and at night only a sharp-sighted owl could see them. It had been a month and a half since their return from Lausens, and exactly a month since Liramel had last seen Karl. He was dissatisfied with her decision to send Yakir to Varut and began defiantly avoiding any meetings and explanations. At first she also endured her temper, but then she became melancholy and even sank to the point that she sent Linnie to watch her brother, and for the last three days she herself climbed the secret staircase to his chambers and knocked until her hands went numb. But Karl
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 35
Frightening the guards, Liramel slammed the door and, almost running to the corridor, looked around. Only a few torches burned along the walls, the rest had already been extinguished, so there was little light. “Lock the chambers,” she said without turning around in response to the questions of the guards and turned to the left. In the semi-darkness, despite the presence of numerous guards, she was always uncomfortable: Liramel was afraid of twilight even more than pitch darkness. Christian's rooms were located at the far end of the White Corridor. The high gilded doors were slightly smaller than those that led into the royal chambers. Asking the officer who saluted her if her brother had been away, Liramel unlocked the heavy doors without knocking and, entering, immediately lowered the inner bolt behind her. It was against the rules, but they didn't bother her much now. Christian didn't sleep. In general, he rarely went to bed before midnight, and sometimes the light in his
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 36
Tarham felt that he was missing something important, but he could not catch the right thought, as if someone had thoroughly worked with his mind. However, none of the Initiates had such power. Nevertheless, as soon as it seemed that a little more - and Karl's actions would become clear, the built-up chain collapsed. The move with Liramel was quite predictable. As expected, Lirdan's son wanted to send his sister away and find out who was behind the assassination, and at the same time advance his plan with Lord Varuta. He acted consistently, but Tarham did not understand his interest in the northern borders. Why Karl needed to control the Secret Intelligence Service and what he was trying to do behind the back of the Order, also could not be figured out. Even the younger brother failed, missing one of the messengers: the son of Lirdan removed the witness before he could reach him, Groaning, he got up and sat heavily on the edge of the bed. My legs ached so much that I wanted to cut t
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 37
Smiling indulgently, the priest crossed the room with unexpected speed and ease and sat down. He looked pleased and solemn, like a cat that has taken a mouse by surprise. “I didn’t want to keep you long. There was a hidden grin in his thick tenor voice. “I just stopped by to wish you a good journey on behalf of myself and the other members of the Council. Elikar said to especially thank you for the fact that you decided to invite his wife as an escort: the duchess had long wanted to visit Rovmen. Sitting at the opposite end of the sofa, Liramel folded her hands in her lap and parted her lips into a smile. Apparently, Christian decided to show diligence, since the Council already knew about her plans.“I consider it an honor to hear words of parting from you,” she answered, carefully avoiding his gaze. The old man nodded approvingly.“I've already talked to the regents,” he added, as if reluctantly. – Karl assured that all security measures would be taken, but it is not desirab
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 38
The rains had painted the sky a dank gray and turned the roads into a mess. For the fourth day, a thunderstorm raged over Lausens.Throwing on a cloak, Ali-Nari pulled her hair under her hood and went out onto the balcony. The wind blew cold spray from the railing in her face, so she had to stop just outside the door. From everything it was clear that it would not be possible to continue the journey before next week: even empty trade wagons were stuck at the entrances to the fortress tightly. Only horsemen managed to get to the tract, and even then with difficulty.The mood that reigned in their small company was so bad that Ali already regretted that she had gone. Liramel did not want to see anyone and spent all the time in her room. Angry and irritable at the beginning of the journey, she soon plunged into a state of complete indifference. Not once in recent days did a smile appear on her face, although Aunt Falinor did her best to cheer up her niece.From Paraman, Ali heard in gene
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 39
Sending the guards away, Karl locked the secret door and lowered the tapestry with a sigh. It was getting light. Motes of dust danced lazily in the dim half-fan of light falling from the open window. Furrowing his brow in displeasure, Karl took a couple of steps and ran his finger along the windowsill. Dust outlined a gray rim on the pillow. While Lyramel was away and Linnie helped her mother in the kitchens, the servants neglected to clean thoroughly.Looking up at the overcast sky, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the damp morning air. The wind touched his hot forehead and blew the beads of sweat from his temples. The night was difficult, but the coming day promised a long-awaited peace. The mechanism began to move independently, and for the time being, nothing more depended on Karl. All that remained was to wait.The treasury was dark. Lighting the candle, he raised it above his head and looked around. He needed a weapon, and from what he had seen in the last year, ther