Sebastina helped me sit up and piled plates around me, interspersed with documents. I ate something without looking, sorting through the results of examinations, the conclusions of the coroner, the reports of alchemists and forensic magicians. Perhaps the most interesting was the description of the black substance found in Incival's house. Neither magicians nor alchemists had any idea what it was. More precisely, the alchemists knew what they had found, but they did not understand how it got there and what it was used for. The guys from Kalkstein University even sent us a list of the elements that make up that mass: water, carbon, ammonia, lime, phosphorus, salt, saltpeter, and so on, some other number of substances that could say something to Inchival, and not for me.- Some kind of nonsense. They say that this mixture is not particularly flammable, therefore, it is not a fuel, it cannot be consumed, which means that it is not a medicine. Not vegetable, not organic. Not acid, not… An
– I was looking for meetings with the so-called free zheshzuls, a community that does not obey our laws, shuns our society and retains its original ethnic features. I hoped that they would have information that could help me in the investigation. After all, who knows more about the devouring of souls than zheshzul?Fear, distrust, in the air.“Unfortunately, wandering among the shadows, I did not meet a single zheshzul. But then I found a warehouse full of weapons and ammunition, and then I met a man who is now better known as the Leatherworker. Meeting him almost cost me my life, and then I had to flee from armed netankris who tried to kill us.“Are you saying, Thane el'Moria, that when you visited the forbidden territory, you discovered a murderous maniac, a cache of weapons and living beings?”- I don't want to say anything, Mr. Chancellor, I'm speaking in plain text. This mentally brings me back to the reports of my predecessors, but more on that later. Now I continue. Although I
“And this is you, the thane who rushes between the bar and the dubious admirer.- How rough! He grimaced arrogantly.– Do you know each other, thanes? the Emperor asked, watching us with interest.“We are not represented, Your Majesty,” my interlocutor bowed low. “Although I have heard a lot about Tanya el'Moria during my communication with my capital friends. Miscellaneous.“Then I will do you the honor of introducing you personally. Thane Brian el'Moria, High Interrogator of the Night Watch. Tan Ruton el'Vanshar, representative of our economic interests in the eastern sector.“In other words, I am the reverse representative of the Orst-Malda Trading Company, which works in close cooperation with the tenkris families of the Eastern powers,” boasted a lover of dark glasses. At the same time, a stuffy cloud of swaggering complacency spread around him. “And I have arrived with extremely good news for His Majesty!”- Is it true? The monarch chuckled.- Still would! Our income has skyrock
Nearby loomed the figure of Mork. Avian tried desperately to issue instructions, forcing the terrified netankris out of their stupor and giving way to fire brigades and rescue teams.“This is a real nightmare, Sebastina."Would you like to leave, master?"- For what? Is there any way I can help them? Or will I just get in the way of Mork? Sebastina, again I don't know what to do.The tower was on fire, as my maid rightly compared, with a gigantic torch illuminating the entire capital. My floors, my office, everything was engulfed in a roaring blue fire, the heat from which rose up with clouds of greasy black smoke and mingled there with the icy winter night. Pieces of the building broke off and rushed down, developing breathtaking speed ... Miraculously, the employees who survived the explosion jumped out of the windows, choosing a quick death.How long can I take all of this before my heart breaks as the waves of pain, fear, and despair wash over me?“Only the Thane himself knows wha
— Tan el'Moria.Mr Mork! Hello!Sebastina helped me get rid of my outer clothes, and I extended my hand to the Master of the Tower.“Until recently, I thought you were dead.“I am only a cripple, but not yet a corpse!”I patted the arm of my chair. Walking was still bad for me, the sensitivity returned to my legs slowly, and I decided to pretend to be legless for some more time until I completed a home recovery course. Perhaps this vulnerability will make my enemies less cautious.“I drove past Scoalt Yard today, glad I got it out.Everything that could burn has already burned.“If you don’t mind, I would like to receive the lists of my employees who died in the fire and are missing as soon as possible.“Absolutely, but right now you and I have much more pressing problems.“El'Zornaza has assembled an emergency commission of competent experts and authorized persons who have been sorting through the night the fruits of my labors, haven't they?And my business too.- Yours? You are the
“The noble house of the el'Dremor.At this point, I can only frown in annoyance.- Not traitors. Fools. They sincerely believed that they were worthy to take the throne, that they had the right of blood. The emperor sharply persuaded them.And now the members of House el'Dremor while away their lives in the cozy chambers of the Skull-on-the-Bone or gouge the rock in the most terrible penal servitude in Mescia in the body of the Caharon Range. And the only free carrier of this surname is forced to maintain a brothel. Is there a fate more shameful for a tanya born to command?“By the way, did you understand that I lied to his highness and to the accuser?”Everything the owner says is true. Even if he is lying.I heard the stubbornness in my maid's voice. She cares a lot about my prestige in society and things like ceremonial. Of course, she will always serve me, no matter who I am, a lord or a beggar, but serving the lord is still better. She will never admit that personal prestige is i
Lights, muffled music, a mixture of expensive perfumes, laughter, voices. On the ground floor there are entertainment rooms, poker and bridge tables, cozy nooks for those who want to drink and talk in private. And also girls. Mostly human, but according to my predecessor, lovers of strong and furry women from the Lups tribe were among the top of our society. I don’t know who you have to be to be seduced by such fanged treasures ... Although no, I know everyone by name.“Thane el'Moria?! Inresh squeaked. "Put on your mask, hurry up!"“Come on, little one, less than me, these thanes and gentlemen respect only ratlings. Fear doesn't count. I see you have nothing unusual here?“It’s the same as always, my thane. They look at you.- Let be. Don't follow us.We went to a remote part of the palazzo, away from the "work zone". Despite the fact that, when I reached the Rosebud, I did not find any destruction or their victims, the vise of anxiety did not loosen. It was dark in Incival's room, a
"Thane el'Moria!" What a joy! Glad to see you!“Thane el'Cha…surprised by the meeting. What are you doing here?“I’m waiting for Master Mosenheim to be free. This mossy stump is always busy with something, and out of the kindness of my soul I prefer not to make a fuss.- Hm. If I may, what business do you have with Mr. Rector?“Strictly businesslike,” el'Cha smiled like a fox. “Would you like to sit next to me and wait too?”- Alas, I must hurry. I'll have to bypass you in line.- Yes you! Drop it! Queues are so vulgar! he chuckled.“Go ahead, Sebastina.How to understand that the future of imperial alchemical science is in good hands? Inspect the office of the chief alchemist Mescia. Not just an office littered with awards, certificates and expensive furniture, but an office-laboratory, stuffy, dark, saturated with pungent odors, with alchemical utensils on the tables. A solid part of the space is occupied by a gurgling monster atanor, on which there are no identifying marks, except