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The Verge Of An Empire 40
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
The Verge Of An Empire 41
— 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 Verge Of An Empire 42
“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
The Verge Of An Empire 43
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
The Verge Of An Empire 44
"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
The Verge Of An Empire 45
– Is it possible in practice?- It's hard to say for sure. The newest documents, which contain evidence of successful experience in this area, date back to the twelfth century BC. Try to check the veracity of what was said! But one thing unites them all: they all say that the homunculus did not last long. The process of disintegration of this creature took from several hours to several days, but this creature always died, having exhausted a certain life resource. I think it happened because of the original mistake. By growing a homunculus from scratch, you can create a long semblance of life, but reviving it in the form of an adult, you get a flawed craft."Attempts to raise a large homunculus instantly?"- Right! Wrong! Artificial life is also life, but what is life, tan el'Moria?I clearly watched as Mosenheim, carried away, got more and more pleasure from our conversation, which concerned his favorite topic - alchemy. Not wanting to wait for my reaction, he answered himself.- Life
The Verge Of An Empire 46
- First, I am ready to listen to the proposals of the audience. After all, they didn’t just come to listen to me, perhaps they have worthwhile ideas.There were not so many worthwhile ideas, most of those present preferred to remain silent, and Thane el'Vanshar was frankly bored in general. He was whispering quietly to his colleagues, el'Balog and el'Farhash, the same sharks of the eastern financial world. If Mork were around, he could see real cold-blooded predators. Echoes of rumors reach the mother country about exactly how the company operates, gutting the Maldese markets for spices and fabrics, but as long as money and goods flow in an unceasing stream, the rulers of Mescia do not care. If we face the truth, we are no better than Malodius, the same parasites who live at the expense of others. But the Malodius are weak and vulnerable, and we are a huge and strong bloodsucker that cannot be stopped. This is if you look at the truth. But we can't look."If I may be allowed, I will m
The Verge Of An Empire 47
“And I saw him wring the neck of a Maldis mage. He poured it with a continuous stream of fire, from the temperature of which the stone would have flowed, but Gantz continued to shove forward, only getting hot, but when he got to the enemy, crunch! In my opinion, his strength is also increasing.“You are not very happy about your cousin's arrival, Brian. Although he was kind to you. I heard that the family did not love you, sorry if I allow myself to touch ...- Not at all. Over the years, moaning that I was not loved by my relatives became a kind of bad habit. Or a romantic part of a dark halo. In any case, it is stupid and humiliating and should be got rid of. To put it bluntly, my whole family would love to come to a luxurious funeral they paid for, just to see me in a coffin. The exceptions are my uncle Kryptus and his eldest son Gantsaros. The first one despises me, but as long as I stay away from my family, I don't bother him. The second is surprisingly friendly, the reasons for