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THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 47
The crystal chandelier burned with iridescent sparks and floated overhead like a huge airship: back and forth, back and forth ... Burying her nose in her brother's flannelette shirt, Leah sobbed from time to time, making it clear that she was still not sleeping. She did not want Karl to leave: she was scared and cold alone.When the blackness behind the curtains became so gray that the outlines of the window became visible, the brother turned off the light and, putting her to bed, lay down next to her with a sigh. "I'm not leaving," he said quietly. "Sleep already." Just in case, she hugged his hand and obediently closed her eyes. - I don't want you to leave. “Christian and Aunt Lis will be with you, and I'll be back in a couple of days. I promise.“I don’t want to stay with them, I want to be with you!” Take me with you!– I can’t, Veterok, maybe next time…You already said that the year before! Carl sighed again."I thought you'd forget," he admitted. - Well, I'm sorry ... I
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 48
The sun was getting hotter and hotter by noon. The trading wagons, which by this time were usually already in Pata, continued to crawl dejectedly along the highway, interfering with single travelers and raising clouds of white dust. In the end, Carl, accompanied by Simmer, turned into the nearest roadside village: it was necessary to change horses and replenish the supply of water and food. To their dismay, the stable was almost empty. After a short haggling, Karl got a nondescript piebald mare, and his companion a gray stallion with old scars on thin sides. However, according to the assurance of the owner, the horse was frisky and even somewhat obstinate.“I sent a messenger,” the stopman said, handing Carl the money left over from renting horses and buying supplies. - I hope the person is reliable? - Impatiently breaking the still warm loaf into two parts, Karl handed the larger half to the officer.- Quite, - he nodded and, taking the bread, asked tensely: - There are two ways to
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 49
It was only a couple of days' journey to the mountains, darkening with sharp peaks in the north. There, on the eastern slopes, hidden from prying eyes, native Shanfar shone white under the sun - the city where Darita herself was born a quarter of a century ago and where her mother and father remained. So many years have passed since she last saw them that the faces dear to her heart were almost erased from her memory. Long painful years of slavery, from morning to night filled with blood, sweat and horror, drove even thoughts of disobedience out of Darita's soul. In the Black Fortress, fear was everywhere: it seemed to ooze from the walls, flow down the floor, envelop and suffocate. Darita had known his taste and smell since childhood, from the day a tall blond man with eyes as black as night came and took her sister, her beloved Dera, by the hand. He killed her on the same new moon, how he killed before that all the firstborn of their people - over and over again ... for so long that
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 50
"You're making a mistake, Lee," the duke replied dully. - Karl knows our capabilities, and he can easily calculate all the maneuvers. It's not for me to tell you about this ... Think about it! The entire outcome of the war may now depend on the life of a single person. “I know it,” Lyramel said, trying not to show her excitement. “As you knew, too, when you chose the life of your sister as the ransom of your own conscience. Seeing how angry his eyes blazed, she paused and added calmly: And let it be done without noise: no one should know about it.- Lyramel! - Yakir said with pressure, trying to attract her attention.- Shut up! She pursed her lips, throwing him an angry look. “You won’t have long to endure my insane orders. Your time will come too. Have the decency to wait. Turning her horse around, Lyramel slowly steered it towards the footman who was waiting for them. Her heart became dark and quiet, as if someone had turned off the light. She knew that she was worthy of contemp
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 51
Pat and surroundingsWaking up, Karl looked up for a long time. The light from the torches snatched out of the darkness only part of the wall. Above was impenetrable darkness - thick, heavy and stifling. For the first time in many months, the prince did not follow his thoughts and feelings: in the Black Fortress, Miel controlled everything and everyone without mental tentacles. It seemed that even the stones served him, obediently absorbing excess anger and hatred. I didn't want to get up. A few stab wounds from a brief skirmish with Simmer were still bothersome, although the stitches healed quickly and the temperature after taking the antibiotic subsided and did not rise again. Passing his hand over his shirt, Karl smiled mirthlessly: in the days of his youth, it was not in vain that an officer was considered the best footman in Bartiot. He tried to stop him as soon as he realized that he had been deceived. Fortunately, the sleeping pill worked in time. Now the son of the Hermas
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 52
Chaos reigned in the square: children and women screamed, blades sparkled in red reflections. The crowd churned like a monstrous sea. Without knowing why, Lyramel fell on her stomach on the window sill, pulled the window handle with force and flung open the shutters. A warm, damp wind blew into my face... “God, what was that?” she whispered in fright, peering into the darkness. From the sky, as before, the stars shone indifferently and coldly, the dog whined plaintively under the house ... Taking a few deep breaths to ease her heartbeat, Lyramel closed the shutters and pressed her fingers to her temples, the pain throbbing, making it difficult to concentrate."Is everything all right, Your Majesty?" came a quiet voice from behind.Turning around abruptly, Liramel froze in horror. Tall and thin, with pale red hair, Firsar looked at her with slightly squinted shining eyes. His long face was twisted into a wry smile, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead."Lord Firsar?" What you
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 53
A wide white road wound through the green-yellow hills. Slightly touched by the gilding of the dawn, the high walls of the ancient fortress cast long blue shadows on the misty ground.Liramel had never seen Bartayota, but she knew her story well, and her first impression was right. Unlike Gorgoth, famous for its architecture, it was a real military stronghold - ascetic and severe. The jagged thick walls that surrounded the city in an even ring reached almost twenty meters in height and more than eight in width. Bartayota was not just called the "stronghold of the North": for the second time she was to be in the center of the war between the two peoples of the Small World. Impregnable and majestic, it has traditionally been home to the most numerous garrison of the Kingdom. About nine thousand soldiers guarded the inner city, where the Academy and the general's residence were located. As Yakir once said, in Bartayota any woman or child could defend the walls and fight on an equal footi
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 54
The cousin, who had apparently already been informed of her visit, was waiting at the only narrow window. Turning at the sound of the door opening, he ordered that no one be allowed in and with a glance asked Liramel to lock the inner bolt.Have you spoken to the Council? Paraman asked gloomily, lowering the thick curtain, although it was rather dark in the small room anyway.Glancing back at him briefly, Lyramel sat down in the only chair and took a deep breath before exhaling:- She spoke.- AND? There was a threat in the cousin's voice.- I announced my decision to you back in Pata, Paraman ... The Council allowed me to lead the first strike along with Hyde. It will be better this way.Approaching, he put his hand on the leather back and, clenching his fingers so that a creaking sound was heard, hissed through his teeth:- Did you think...Lifting her eyes, Liramel gave a forced smile.- About the people?“Yes,” he nodded. And about Christian too. Or do you think that if I take pow