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The Verge Of An Empire 19
To my slight surprise, Anois chose not pearls or diamonds, but sparkling red-black opals. Instead of a dazzling white dress with silver embroidery, she donned an evening dress, black as an oriental night, of a more strict closed style. Seeing the fiery-haired tani in this garb, it was as if I breathed in the spicy smell of the Tartsar spice bazaar. The smell of an alien world, precious oil incense and hot sand. It was as if a breath of wind from a strange world that I once visited and which, to be honest, I miss, gently touched my face.- And again fascinated.“My thane, you are too kind.- If you repeat this to those gentlemen whom I put in prison, I will be very grateful. For some reason they think I'm a real demon.A hired carriage took us to the Imperial Gardens on Hyacinth Street. I was always touched by how the huge spaces reserved for park areas surrounding the mansions of the powerful of this world manage to delimit with some abstract streets!First we entered the park, crosse
The Verge Of An Empire 20
I've disliked Arren el'Calyps for years. To put it mildly. He answers me the same. To put it mildly. El'Kalipsa has always been what I never was and never could be - a desired and respected thane, who is expected everywhere, and not endured through force. I, in turn, embodied everything that he despised and shunned - a dirty upstart who somehow climbed to a high and influential post. The genus el'Kalipsa was considered the second in antiquity and purity of blood in Mescia, only the imperial dynasty was more noble. The Tencris said that when the ancestor of the Emperors first emerged from the shadows to Silana, the ancestor of el'Kalips followed him and became the second. The Repentant saw my origin as so vile and unnatural that it could be equated with a crime.Arren el'Kalipsa, like me, holds an important government position, running the Scoalt Yard's Department of Magical Crimes, and although the name of this department does not impress, people in the know understand the power and b
The Verge Of An Empire 21
Yes, I declared in public that I did not repent and did not regret what and how I had to do, fulfilling my duty to the country. And I lied. We all lie, for we, tenkris, are perfect creatures who have raised our perfection to the absolute. Perfect beings don't make mistakes, which means they don't apologize. The most powerful country in the world, constantly expanding and growing rich on the backs of the defeated peoples, does not apologize. This is ridiculous! And war ... War is as much a part of our nature as a sense of superiority. Tenkris always fought, and we did it better than anyone else. We are born leaders, religious and political leaders, charismatic commanders. It is in our power to kindle the fire of passion in the hearts of the lower species, to share with them our will and our aspirations. But war... At a certain point, you either start to hate yourself for what you are doing and put a bullet in your head, or you turn into an animal without fear or conscience and continue
The Verge Of An Empire 22
“The young man decided to challenge me to a duel,” I smiled.“El'Zornaza, take back the summons immediately.- This is impossible!“It is impossible to foolishly shed precious blood in such irresponsible undertakings.Of course, he's not worried about my precious blood.“Thane el'Moria has insulted me, and I will not rest until that insult is properly atoned for!”"El'Moria, would you perhaps be sensible for a change?"“Perhaps,” I smiled. “If Thane el'Zornaza slaps himself across the face with that stupid gauntlet.” A very unpleasant feeling, you know! And if he properly apologizes to me. Then, so be it, I will refuse to participate in this cute farce ...- It's unthinkable! the youth exclaimed.“But you will live,” I shrugged.By this point, the result of young el'Zornaz's foolishness had become the center of everyone's attention. It seems that the upper world has sensed the main entertainment of the evening and is now eager to absorb every moment of what is happening. A small crowd
The Verge Of An Empire 23
“Sebastine,” I said when we were far enough away, “keep an eye on no one's ears. So, Darksad, lay out who ordered you to follow the chief inspector and for what? I hope you don't play around and waste my time.- Oh, no way! But the truth will not suit you, tan el'Moria. I did not follow the late Wolfeld. What's more, I didn't even know it was him. Do you believe me?I see that you are not lying.“Oh yes, that creepy thing of yours to see other people's thoughts.I can't see, read, or hear anyone's thoughts, but I didn't correct him.- Tell me in order.- OK. Does the name Emil Hockenheim mean anything to you?- Industrialist, entrepreneur, respectable citizen. He is not noticed in anything, is not interested in politics, earns money and lives happily ever after. Why is he here?“Yesterday I did a job for him. Not in profile. Hockenheim hired me as a bodyguard and guide along the bottom.Was he in the Day yesterday? What did he forget here?Darksad smiled and pointed south, into the di
The Verge Of An Empire 24
Wolfeld was only the first casualty in a string of brutal murders that rocked Starkrar over the next five days. Three corpses in the End, one in the Bird Market, another one in Koposhilka, right next to the railway tracks. So the passengers of the passing locus had the pleasure of contemplating a terrible sight - a skinned human carcass. And that… in one damn night! Like a hurricane-butcher swept over the city. No witnesses, no evidence. All of Starkrar learned about the series of brutal murders. The next night there was a double murder on the border of Cherny and Gary, and an entire family was slaughtered in the Lowlands. Everywhere the same handwriting - severe beatings and pieces of skin cut from different parts of the bodies. A family from the Lowlands were the Dahorachs. The killer broke into their house in the middle of the night, when they are most vulnerable, and was able to deal with two adults, strong and determined, protecting their family. Newspapers clung to this news lik
The Verge Of An Empire 25
When I was already at the door, I heard the mocking voice of the Emperor:“And don't worry too much about civil wars and the collapse of the empire, el'Moria boy, I have one trick up my sleeve that will beat this ridiculous combination. Go, and don't forget that there will be a place left for you in my grandstand when the parade begins.Victor's return parade... very soon. And I forgot about him! When I went to the reception, the secretary handed me two papers, which I did not expect. The first was a document allowing the Night Watch to take into custody two subjects who had just been stripped of diplomatic immunity, and the second was an invitation to Wolf Island. Today."Did everything go well, master?"“Even better than it could be. Find us a carriage, we're going to Wolf Island, but before that, to Lamblet, to the Tower.After crossing the Estra, then driving through the wide and very busy streets of Eddington, we got to Lamblet, to the palace of Scoalt Yard. There, rising to my r
The Verge Of An Empire 26
“It’s… it’s… it’s a sick old turkey, not the great Kulburo Feris!”The creature, lying on the floor under the wall, squirmed as my maid lightly kicked it with the sharp toe of her boot. What we saw was an old sick creature, flabby, with tarnished disheveled plumage and cracked cere. It was once a glittering Arani with bright red plumage, a huge curved beak and a wide wingspan, and now ...“It hurts to look at you, old man.“Then shut up and turn your back,” he croaked, finally waking up and sitting up with difficulty. Feris pulled a long-necked wooden flask from the pocket of his stinking cloak, nuzzled it with his beak, coughed nastily, and put it back. - Who are they? I don't know you... Go...“Kulburo Feris, is that your name?”- It was mine.- What is your name now?- A? Now? Ha! Now more and more often they call me Hey You and the Old Drunkard, and these are only those names that I am not ashamed to recall ... reproduce ... call in the presence of a lady!“Hmm, the day is full of