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THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 61
By the evening of the second day, having climbed a stone embankment to a gentle slope, Darita raised a curved bugle to her lips and blew three times. The sound trembled in the air, clung to the rocks, and died away, leaving a strange, dreary aftertaste in the ensuing silence. Vallor, who had been silent almost all the way, stopped his tarpan and narrowed his gray eyes slightly.– Mirrors? he asked, literally moments before the overhanging rock cracked in two, revealing a paved white road and houses lit by the setting sun. Curling her lips in annoyance, Darita slightly touched the reins and slowly sent her horse forward. “A very wise decision and rather sophisticated technology,” the stranger praised, looking back at the high narrow gates. How long have you been using this method? Having greeted the unfamiliar guards cordially, Darita reluctantly turned around and shrugged her shoulders:“Shanfar is our capital. The first city reborn from the ashes after the great Blight. The g
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 62
The world closed behind them, leaving only bare rocks and a blue sky. Shanfar saw them off with quiet trumpeting and an even quieter parting whisper of the old princess. Although, according to the laws of the Allotars, Darita's marriage has not yet entered into force, both her people and she herself were forced to pacify their hostility. Now Karl was considered one of them. Ignoring the angry glances that the princess threw at him, he looked thoughtfully at the steppe spread below. The temporary respite, which the prince gave him in the fortress, made it possible to restore his strength a little. Apparently, Miel decided that this rest was enough, and now he followed him with a vengeance, passing almost every thought and feeling through his mind. Sometimes it seemed to Karl that he was beginning to lose his mind, and then the prince again briefly retreated. Miel knew about the deceit perpetrated by Darima for a long time. At first, the woman managed to trick him by replacing one twi
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 63
The dawn spread over the steppe with the trills of a lark and the bitter smell of wormwood. The sky, clear and high, was full of all shades of blue and scarlet. Waking up before the rest, Karl watered the horses and, stirring up the coals, took out the tubers of the ringflower that had been baked during the night [1] .- What are you doing? – sitting down, Darita looked sleepily at him, and then turned to the sleeping warriors. - What's happening? - Hush, - handing her a still warm tuber, Karl squatted down and said quietly: - They will sleep until noon. By now, if we hurry, we'll be far away. - Seeing the bewilderment that flashed in her eyes, he smiled: - The prince does not bother me yet. We still have time, Deru... Do you mind putting on a little show? Looking at him with a mixture of disbelief, sudden anger and timid hope, Darita nodded impulsively. Karl was sure that she would support his idea. "Then it's better not to delay," he said, rising. - Eat and go. Obediently c
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 64
Nobody knows when his hour will come. Leaning down, he took a cup from the floor and, raising his sister's head, made her drink the bitter, thick liquid. “I said that everyone would have to make a choice, Breeze. Once you have chosen, go the way you are going. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and suddenly rested her cheek against his palm.– I remembered you. I always remembered you... Why didn't you come earlier? She fell for so long... so long... There were so many of them... He said the prophecy must be fulfilled...- Who said, Veterok? Touching her forehead again, Carl concentrated. The images flashed by so fast that he could barely see them. - Who, honey? Prince? The face of the man she was talking about was frozen for a moment in a dense swirl of unfamiliar memories. “Ah, that’s how it is…” Karl drawled and, carefully getting up, covered Liramel with a blanket. Her breathing became more and more even. “Well, then, I was right after all. After making sure that h
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 65
For the first time in a long time, Lyramel felt herself waking up rested and well-rested. The first ray of light came through the narrow barred window. My heart was surprisingly calm. Something has changed around - something imperceptible, but important. She got up, washed and changed. The white tunic, more like a dress, looked unusual: the Allotars did not bleach the fabrics and preferred calm yellow-brown colors, only occasionally using red. Walking to the window, Liramel reached through the bars and flung open the sashes. A warm wind blew in my face: golden autumn came to the steppe. The hawk circled again in the cloudless high sky. - Good morning, friend! Waving at him, she tried to smile, but her chapped lips barely twitched. Liramel didn't remember when or how she got into the room, she didn't even remember how she got into the fortress itself. Sometimes it seemed to her that she had always lived here, and sometimes doubts came. Memories of the past looked strange and di
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 66
Miel climbed the rock in the late afternoon, accompanied by a tall red-haired woman whom Liramel had seen among the army of allotars and at the black throne on the day she first entered the fortress. Carl was also with them, but kept a little distance and looked gloomy and tired.Without saying anything, the prince took off his baldric and threw a caftan lined with dark fur onto the stone floor. In a long white tunic, intercepted by a wide leather belt, Mielle looked unusual and even more intimidating than usual. Fastening his scabbard, he approached and, leaning slightly over the stove, smiled.“Decided to become a martyr? Liramel's already familiar voice sounded in her head, and she closed her eyes for a moment so as not to see the hated eyes. “In vain, daughter of Lirdan. In vain. You look like my sister... See that you do not suffer the same fate.Realizing that he would not wait for an answer, Miel clicked irritably and, turning around, solemnly said: I call you to witness. – L
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 67
Waking shortly before dawn, Lyramel asked the two warriors guarding the tent to fetch several buckets of water. After washing thoroughly, she washed her blood-stained dress herself and kindled a fire to dry it faster, then, putting on a clean shirt and trousers Christian had brought, she went outside. The sun had barely risen above the horizon, and the stuffiness around was already incredible. There will be a storm, Liramel thought, looking up at the clear blue sky for a moment. As she walked, greeting the bowing officers and warriors, most of whom she had never seen in her life, she reached Movron's tent and hesitated. She suddenly became afraid. Fragmentary visions woven by the prince flashed before my eyes, and the threat that her refusal would be a death sentence for the brothers was remembered.“Your Majesty,” the officer on guard called cautiously. Glancing at him, Liramel narrowed her eyes in disbelief. The man's face was somehow familiar, but she couldn't immediately
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION 68
When Tarham got close enough to see the expression in his eyes, Liramel felt something burning her skin under her shirt, in the area of her solar plexus. Lowering her eyes and seeing a speck of light breaking through the fabric, she frowned in surprise and hurriedly covered it with her palm. In the meantime, enough curious people had already gathered around, and Lyramel calmed down a bit, feeling more confident. - Greetings, gentlemen advisers! Deciding to act proactively, she took three small steps towards the priests. “And you, dear cousin!” Glad to see everyone in good health. After giving her an appraising look, Paraman nodded dryly and looked inquiringly at Lafast:“I heard, General, that your people found Hyde during the night. Is this true or another encouraging rumor?“Not encouraging, Your Highness,” the general replied. “Your cousin passed away half an hour ago. My condolences.“And mine,” echoed Tarham. “A heavy loss for Rod.“Undoubtedly,” Lyramel replied seriousl