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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
The Verge Of An Empire 27
They appeared, osh-zan-kai wearing their unit's standard assault armor, helmets, breath masks, and long heavy rifles at the ready. They became a convex line, blocking the entrance, and everyone arrived, arrived, and then he appeared among them, slowly walking, surrounded by guards, jingling chains, a huge man in a black cloak, whose face I could not see. For a moment, my left hand was taken away, the cane almost fell out. Heart attack? Heart attack? No, not the time! Not now!- Osh-zan-kai, the ratio of lups and people is seven to one, armed with shortened assault carbines of the latest generation with underbarrel bayonet-knives for more convenient combat in confined spaces."What are you muttering, el'Moria?" Marcellus asked quietly.- They are trained for combat in urban conditions, they do not undergo drill training ...- Yes you…- Defensive formation!- What?!- Correction! Construction! Among them, only two lups! Mork, they're regulars and they're standing up like they're going
The Verge Of An Empire 28
The next morning I woke up quite refreshed and well rested. Anticipating all the troubles that await me in the coming day, I dressed, breakfasted with appetite and, saying goodbye to the household, which I usually do not, went to Scoalt Yard.Having overcome the cordon of journalists from the capital's newspapers at the entrance to the territory of the Tower, I crossed the courtyard and entered the hall. There was no free space on the walls, floor and ceiling from the piles and crossbeams along which the workers scurried. Marblers from all over the capital are herded into Scoalt Yard in order to give it a proper look as soon as possible.“Did you see this, Thane el'Moria?” - Marcellus Mork, pacing the hall with a bandaged hand, pointed to the front door.– Journalists or flowers?- Both. They do not understand that they are preventing us from working. Although it's all very touching, of course.There were indeed stacks of flowers against the outer walls, and some well-wisher had hung
The Verge Of An Empire 29
- Predatory forms and delightful chasing!– Yes, cathars are forged only by masters, and each such sword is individual. And on that stand over there you can see a plucked seven-string…I took her around the museum, showing her columns from the temple on Mount Adugashi, a figurine of a dancing cloak, ancient sets of weapons, samples of sacred religious texts, and collections of poems by poets of the Tolkwan era. We laughed together at the clothes of the noble class of the Malkabi people and marveled at how someone managed to transport the war chariot of King Kapotar to Starkrar. There was a period in the history of Maldiz when people from the Barnabarite people seized power in the country, and they had kings, not maharajas. The Barnabarites held out for two generations, after which they were all slaughtered, and the throne was taken by the Maharajas of the Simptor dynasty. The last exhibit we came to was the main trophy of General Stubbs. I deliberately circled the halls, examining the
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- The Verge Of An Empire
Epilogue
In the evening of the same day, when the carpenter's hammers continued to rattle throughout the capital, I sat opposite the Emperor and told him everything I knew about the past crisis. Although not all, of course. I left out some details, I didn't say a word about John Darksad, or Zolan el'Cha, or who and what helped me set up a forgery to start a riot, I didn't say how exactly I was connected with the first enemy of the empire, in my retelling, he was simply the Persistent, who broke into our world and wanted to crush the great Meskian Empire. If the Emperor knew I was lying, he never showed it. After all, during our conversation with Authurn di'Anshwar, he was near death and could not hear everything that we said to each other.“Thus, after all of the above, I tender my resignation and express my readiness to accept any punishment that Your Majesty deems appropriate.”I laid out a sheet of petition on the tabletop.Hmm, punishment? the Emperor drawled. “Hmm, what punishment should
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- Hurt.- Sorry…“It hurts to see what an ungrateful and stupid young man my son's son has grown up to be. Boy, I am a great black-tongued, I do not die from a wounded perishable blade, I forge perishable blades myself!With these words, he tore the sword out of his stomach, causing the purulent masses to flow out, and let out a loud roaring scream! His appearance changed dramatically and almost instantly, his clothes dissolved, his whole body acquired a matte black color, dozens of thin tentacles appeared instead of legs, forming something like a long skirt, huge black wings opened behind him, from which numerous eyes looked, his arms lengthened and received the second elbow, instead of fingers, terrible blades jingled on them, and a white bone mask without eyes and nose, but with a wide, toothy mouth, covered his face. A large wound on the stomach that was supposed to kill a person was quickly healed on this monster!“Look what you got me into. Are you satisfied now? I had to uncove
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“I was forced, Brian. Even my spell can be removed, and the puppets, although they are not able to act on their own, see and understand everything.“You destroyed him, and at the same time you tried to kill Tromgar el'Rumar to protect yourself from possible testimony from the grave.- It's like that.“I still don’t understand why you stole Yaro Wolfeld’s body from Volchie. Is it really just to abuse him for the last time and turn him into a vile running piece of carrion?- A burst of inspiration. A particle of chaos in an ordered stream of consciousness. Besides, I was hoping to set you on another false trail.“Using charmed Lups soldiers from the missing battalion?”- Exactly. They did not stand out on Volchie, and lups are by nature a close-knit people, they do not suspect their own.- I understand ... In principle, if the execution of a grandiose plan was perfect, you would have succeeded. You removed your creature from the statue before the statue reached the museum, and all this
- The Verge Of An Empire
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“You were right, cousin. As always.“See the skinny shadows walking in front of the front door?- The enemy was spotted in the amount of fifteen combat units.“These are Asmoderians, immortal creatures from the Darkness. They are very fast and strong, and they also have weapons that destroy any armor, stone, metal, wood.“My task is to attack and distract while you get inside.– There may be more, and even your car does not guarantee you victory.“I fight to fight, not to win, cousin.Chapadeau rushed across the square turned into a battlefield, took out the front gate with a kick and opened fire. The Asmoderians scattered like frightened water striders, but they weren't frightened!- Now!Sebastina made a dizzying leap and ran forward. The shooting stopped, a huge iron fist grabbed me and threw me forward like some kind of ball, and the maid caught me!- Run, cousin!The last thing I saw before I ran into the palace hall was the figure of a steel giant, plastered with skinny black bo
- The Verge Of An Empire
80
The tashshar's horseback ride turned out to be a surprisingly convenient and fast way to get around. Skinny looking and very hard to the touch, these furry monsters have long, strong legs. They rushed at great speed, made long jumps and easily maneuvered in the stream of evil spirits flowing through the streets. Smaller monsters did not stick to the tashshars, they had an order to get out and add new oil to the subdued fire of terror, and they breathed it, they breathed the will of their master! Every few seconds I looked up and peered into the darkness above our heads, expecting that the ceiling of the cave, invisible to me, would crack from a hail of artillery shells and multi-ton slabs would bury us under them! We broke out of the city and began to break through the tunnels filled with evil spirits, up into the predawn winter night, and hope even began to arise in me, that we will have time to get out when the whole world went crazy at once and a grandiose roar knocked us down! The
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It ended abruptly. The Tashshars simply crushed the Asmoderians in bulk, crushed them and deprived them of their heads. After that, the bodies of the invincible guardsmen literally evaporated. The armor was empty and scattered in many segments, swords fell to the floor. The crazy spree is over. It seems that one of the survivors addressed me. Some kind of lups with a crazy muzzle. Simon was saying something, but I didn't hear them. I was snapped out of my stupor by the sight of Arren el'Calyps writhing on the floor. Raising my saber as I ran, I struck with all my might at his arm, chopping it off at the elbow. Noble silver blood spattered, and the severed forearm literally in a few moments turned into a piece of fetid meat exuding poisonous pus.- Bandage him! Calculate the personnel, provide assistance to the wounded, if any! Don't touch the dead! Rest… I… Perform!Sebastina was already seated next to Incival.- Is he alive?- Yes, master. But it is very difficult for him, as far as
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He sighed heavily and sadly.“Listen, boy, I will go against my rules and extend my hand to you one more time. You have come a long way, you were able to find me and you were not afraid to come here, taking only a maid. This is worthy of encouragement. I extend my hand to you again and say, join me! The next morning will be the first morning of the new age! And this century will belong to me! On the ruins of old Mescia, I will build the palaces of a new empire, and, what the hell is not joking, you will sit on its throne!"Are you offering me the imperial crown?"“That little thing doesn't matter, my boy. I offer you the whole world!- Interesting.- You deserve it! Believe me, I know that in all this rotten aristocracy there will never be as much grandeur and dignity as there is in one of your fingers! Help me today, and tomorrow your path to the top of the world will begin! This is not the ravings of a madman and not a sweet lie, this is my promise to you! Get close and...- No.- W
- The Verge Of An Empire
77
We moved through the streets of the ancient city, expecting danger from every shadow. And there are many, many shadows! Tower, castle, palace or temple, whatever it was, the building seemed incredibly majestic and hung over us the closer we got. We soon approached the first crater.“The impact came at an angle of twenty-five degrees, demolished two houses, left a furrow, and went out right here.- What could hit like that? Spell? The stone is melted.The Emperor did it.- What?!- I saw something like that. Traces of destruction. Huge. And this sand under our feet - it is everywhere - not sand. It is the ashes of hundreds of thousands of living beings whose bodies have decayed over the past ages. This is Meskiah, thanes and gentlemen.“You mean the same city, el'Moria?”“The city that gave the name to our empire. The city that became the first letter in the new history. The Emperor came here and swept from south to north like a hurricane, demonstrating the power of his Voices. He dest
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Gantsaros remained himself, ruthless and purposeful, the one who steps over the corpses, grinding them into mincemeat, and opens fire on any moving target. I see his receding back and a plume of hot steam, white as milk in this cold and bitter night. And I have no doubt that the royalists have put an end to it. For some time, the new weapon will show its power, and the number of victims will exceed tens of thousands, total extermination. Then the time limit will be released, and the surviving prisoners will appear. Mesquia's new weapons will prove to all countries of the world that their armies are outdated. We will remind you again how powerful we are. And we will make them remember how ruthless we can be to our own people. What will we do with them if they dare to anger us?“Truly… The Emperor is prudent and ruthless as always… Now I understand why the threat of rebellion did not frighten him. Moon, have mercy on us.I looked at the creator of these new war machines and felt his del
