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Time Of Traitors 47
She felt the heat already on the approach, when the lake was still hidden by snow-covered trees. The freaks met her at the moment when the water surface shone among the trunks.“Is this a lake, krrralya?”“Yes,” Vikta nodded, carefully peering into the clouds of steam rising above the lake. She never could have thought that the mountains could hide such a wonderful whim of nature - a hot lake hidden by snow. At first glance - the very embodiment of tranquility. Until you look on the other side of the canvas.Here she is again. And she will have to go down those steps again and do what seemed to her vile and impossible.All for you, my brother.- Well, let's go! - said the freak and threatened with a long claw. “Just don’t bother and don’t even think about running away."I'm fast," was all Nitsiri could stammer. Something, but she was definitely not going to linger there. Or rather, I hoped so.“The meat is juicy, isn’t it?” Young and juicy, huh?Vita didn't answer. After all, she didn
Time Of Traitors 48
And then something hit her from behind. She made a few more jerks back and pressed her ass against something - a door! There is no doubt that her torment is over, she did it! Hands ached and demanded to let go of the body, not to suffer anymore, because everything is behind. But she was afraid to open her fingers. Suddenly, he, like that time, slips off and goes down? ..So she stood, shaking with the effort, wondering how to position her body precisely so that all her work would not be in vain. So that she can freely open this door thrice cursed by all the wives of Senches!Nitsiri tried to kick her, but for some reason she didn't budge.Heavy thoughts drilled into her and did not allow her to unbend her aching back. Why won't the door open? What kind of jokes?!There was no choice - she had to lay the body on the steps so that it definitely did not run away from her, putting an end to her efforts and going all the way a second time. She played it safe and tugged at him to make sure
Time Of Traitors 49
Just before the last push, it suddenly seemed to her that something was blocking the light from outside. She turned around, already expecting the worst. But no, the inflamed imagination again decided to play with her - the stars and the moon continued to flood the mountains with their pale radiance, and there was not a soul around.With the last effort, she still managed to pull the corpse to the surface - her relief knew no bounds, she even almost rushed to kiss the pale, pointed face with sunken cheeks. Instead, the nitsiri scurried to the door and slammed shut the entrance to that damned cave. Her ears could hear the echo repeating and repeating the same word, but her mind was far away.The door closed and the screaming stopped.Finally, Vikta could completely surrender to her fatigue - she leaned against the door and slid down, hitting her ass painfully. She hadn't been this tired in a long time. Or rather, never.I didn't want to go anywhere. She wanted to just sit, grow her whol
Time Of Traitors 50
Nitsiri thought she dropped the knife somewhere on the threshold of the hut as she ran as fast as she could. But now there was nothing near the door. In addition, the door was closed. Did she slam the door behind her, or did she leave it open? The wind might well have covered her, so she shouldn't worry, or...?Chills seized her again. No, he definitely couldn’t get out, and he couldn’t survive either. The fact that that terrible night was just a game of her sick imagination and shattered nerves.Get a grip, fool! Why don't you feel the cadaverous smell that carries a mile away?She felt nothing but fear.Even if the old man survived and it was he who yelled at her, did she really think that the alchemist could untie himself, and then bandage his terrible wounds? She milked a couple of liters of blood out of him, and he barely moved his tongue, where there ...In her hands, Victa again clutched the cobblestone. Haven't found anything suitable yet.Why this stone, fool? You can burn an
Time Of Traitors 51
- Boots? Where are you going, honey?Cres was pulling on his good old, washed-out jacket, from which he had managed to wean himself during his stay in this house. It was carefully darned in those places where Ada had first pierced it, then the bosorka tried with its claws.The jacket was a bit big.I'm going to find my woman. I may not be back,” Kres replied, tightening the strap two holes further than usual. - Sorry, grandfather. I lost my boots, but I can’t pay: the money is in the same place as the boots - in a hole with khamers.Grandfather lay with his head bandaged for the second day, only this morning he woke up and, as if nothing had happened, began to give instructions. He looked doubtfully with his only eye at Kres, who just yesterday was not even able to lift a spoon.“I don’t care, fool, go where you like,” he waved his hand. “One more mouth out for me.” And I won’t give you boots - I save myself in windings. Boots are an expensive thing, necessary for winter. So far, you'
Time Of Traitors 52
He almost immediately appeared nearby and in a couple of heartbeats laid the captive on his back and squeezed his chest with his knee. The unfortunate man did not even have time to squeak.Khalsa put his boot on the driver's hand and drew his knife. Shava squealed terribly, for which he received a boot in the face and choked on a scream.“Shava, speak with your lying tongue,” Khalsa barked, “what is this man guilty of?”“He killed the white,” the captive replied in a barely audible voice.- Louder, you damned one!“He killed the white!”Khalsa bent over the prisoner, covering him with his broad back. A sharp movement, a blunt blow, and he yelled again.“One,” Khalsa said. - Shava, what did this man do?“I told ze uze,” the driver squealed, panting. - This carrion killed ... - Khalsa again drove his boot into his face.“If you say again that you shouldn’t, I’ll kill you,” Khalsa threatened, bringing the blade of the knife closer to his eye. – What did this man do?- He ... - the captiv
Time Of Traitors 53
Do you need a vampire hunter? You are late with this, father. All vampire hunters were rooted out by the vampires themselves long before your great-grandfather was born, may the ashes of the d'ahi be preserved forever and ever."It's not the vampire that needs to be killed," Khalsa said. “A witch who lives in the swamps. Can you?- A witch? Swamp or what?Khalsa nodded.- Have you heard?“I heard some talk, but I didn’t think she bothered you, d’ahger.“Witches always get in the way. They cause damage and confuse the souls of those of little faith. Did you know witches who help people?- It's different...- Are you kidding me?- A little. It's all wine. Let me ask you, why haven't you yourself killed that witch who bothers you so much?“There are too many links between us and her for me not to fall into a trap on the outskirts of her dwelling. Believe me, not only the weak in spirit dance to her tune, but many forest creatures obey her orders. So going to her as part of an armed detac
Time Of Traitors 54
If only she knew where this "sunset" is!The weather was disgusting, it already seemed to Nitsiri that she had seen the sun in a past life. The loose layer of snow that covered the forest did not make her task any easier - under the heavy branches of the reefs, even on a sunny day, twilight reigned, and now a haze of gray clouds lay in the sky. She walked almost blindly, constantly risking falling somewhere, stumbling and chipping her hands with thorns. How much time had passed since the moment when she talked with her "guide", she did not know - for some reason it seemed that Nitsiri was wandering around this wind-blown forest for almost an eternity, and would still wander until the end of her days. When darkness nevertheless descended on the branches of the trees, Vikta could not really distinguish ahead even her palm, which she brought directly to her face. Before eyes loomed some kind of pale spot.“Freaks,” she hissed under her breath, once again clinging to another prickly root
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- Time Of Traitors
Epilogue
Cres rose with an effort. All of his muscles were curled into one tight knot and were reluctantly relaxing now. The wind roared in the head and in the corners of the hut. He raised his head and only then saw the second dog-head dying on the floor in a foul-smelling puddle. And above him, Leshy's eyes burn with primal malice, illuminated from within by some kind of silvery sheen. In the dim light, the herbalist looked less and less human.- What are you standing for? Grab your grandma and tick!He said, turned on his heels and, as if nothing had happened, went to the door, wiping his bloody palms on his trousers.Cres threw off his stupor, felt for the half-dead Ada and climbed out the window. Vassa followed him.“I’m already tired of sharpening laces with you, wanderer! shouted outside. - If you don't want it to be good, we'll be bad!Footsteps thundered. Closer and closer.“Wait, what if he still has my shava?” - whispered somewhere very close. Cres recognized that voice: it was Golg
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- Are you serious?! The messenger is already over a hundred, and I have nine winters and one summer! - Vassa could not stand it and shook all over. - A good defender - he could not even kill that bastard who killed his father in front of everyone. You protected your mother, now you are responsible for her!“Shut up,” said Kres, unwinding the whip in front of Vassa. - You do not understand anything.– I understand everything! Father is gone now, and there is no one to protect mother. You are a coward who only cares about himself!- And this is what the one who climbed into the house with a knife, where the defenseless girl is sleeping, is telling me?“She is not defenseless,” Vassa gritted his teeth in an attempt to hold back tears. - That's all she is. She is to blame! Because of her, Yuvasa died, because of her, rats attack us. She bewitched everyone - Khalsa, father, mother, Messenger, and especially you! You talk about her all the time.- How are you concerned about this? I am sitt
- Time Of Traitors
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Khalsa and Musa were burned after sunset, right on top of the Sacred Tree. Kisha herself brought the torch to the feet of both, loudly and distinctly uttered all the necessary praises and appeals to the d'ahs, and did not leave the raging flame until the bones of the warriors turned to ashes. Her children were surrounded by monotonously howling former Khalsa dog-heads - they crowded in a circle, wiping their tears and shifting from foot to foot, because they had nowhere else to go. Vassa soon disappeared somewhere, and Cres did not see the wolf cub all night, which seemed to him too long.Keisha collected the ashes left from both fallen warriors, without anyone's help she climbed onto a branch of the Sacred Ref and scattered the ashes in the wind.Cres wanted so badly to drop everything and run to the Skin House, where he left Ada in the care of an eccentric he barely knew. What's wrong with her now? Did this Leshy offend her? He sent Ieassa and Shuna to them - to find out what and ho
- Time Of Traitors
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Vassa screamed terribly, as he had never screamed in his life. But his cry was quickly drowned out by the outburst of indignation that exploded in the audience. The circle of d'ahs has not seen such a disgrace in many winters and years. To the cries of indignation, he, not remembering himself, rushed across the sand to his already dead father.- Fool, come back! - belatedly exclaimed, but it was too late.A blade flashed in Vassa's hand. Baring his teeth, Asa raised his hand with the sword, covered in the blood of his father.It rumbled as if a huge leather string had been torn. The knife fell out of the fingers of the wolf cub, buried in the sand. Vassa ripped open the bloody mass of sand with his face. The crowd sighed in one breath, exhaled, choked on their own cry, when Vassa was abruptly dragged back, away from the blade, which only missed his head by a finger.Going through all the curses with which Senches filled his brain over the past twenty-eight winters, Cres quickly pulled
- Time Of Traitors
91
The people still rejoiced, but somehow out of tune. Certainly not such a reception was expected by the newly-minted d'aher.“Before you name him d'ahger,” a small old man in a flowery robe kept shouting from the crowd. – Is there anyone among you who dares to challenge the right of Asa?!"The D'ahs have spoken," Asa declared, not looking at anyone. Then he dropped his shield and suddenly met the eyes of the Messenger, who was trying to put his foot on the sacred sand. It felt like a fire was going to ignite between them. The old man finally twitched his cheek, looked away and took a deep breath.- Of course have! - sounded over Vassa's ear. Too close, and the wolf cub turned its head in disbelief, not believing its ears. The crowd seemed to rush to the side. She darted in one impulse, trying to find out who dared to challenge the one who had just killed Khalsa himself.Musa stepped out of the crowd and froze with his arms outstretched.- Here I am, Musa, the son of Barik, I want to ch
- Time Of Traitors
90
The sun was looming in the pre-morning haze and slightly outlined the black refs, slightly powdered with snow, and people were already flocking to the top of the Heart-House, heading straight for the temple, where preparations for the sacred duel were already in full swing. The people lined up along the edges of the sand circle, right under the wooden faces of the d'ahs, carefully watching each villager. When Vassa and his family climbed to the upper platform and stood directly under a huge statue with a bear's head, snowflakes were flying in the air, it was fresh and quiet. The cub shuddered and began to rub his palms. The day promised clear and frosty.My father closed his eyes and whispered something silently. Prayed, I guess. Noticing the attentive look of his son, Musa smiled and tousled his hair. The mother whispered something to the father, and the smile instantly faded from his face.“I told him not to twist the tail,” muttered Musa. “But he never leaves the d'hanka.It only m
- Time Of Traitors
89
The pebble rolled across her palm like an apple on a saucer. His eye beckoned and frightened at the same time. A light yellowish glow emanated from it, and if it becomes even brighter, then you can naturally fall into it and get stuck there forever.Give him blood to drink and urgently! If they don't hurry, then Sareth's torment in Barandarud will go down the drain.“Mine was better,” Vikta said, handing it back to her brother. She grimaced and said it more out of spite. Her ears were stuffed and for a moment the light faded in her eyes, as soon as the little thing fell into her hands. It was just breathtaking. Brother's Philosopher's Stone was strong. Very strong.Sareth didn't answer, didn't even raise his head, didn't make a single move to take his jewel."He's yours," he replied, poking his wand at the fire.Victa thought she had misheard.“Take it,” she said, handing him the stone.Is he yours, deaf or what? he muttered.- Like this? she couldn't believe her ears. - I already loo
- Time Of Traitors
88
“I remember the darkness,” Sareth was saying. “And some prickly creatures. I remember how they purred contentedly and pinched me painfully, as if I were a calf that they go to slaughter. Abomination - I do not want to remember! I know you might think I'm crazy..."No, I don't think so," she cut him off. - This is true. The Khamer saved you."Saved" and "Khamers" in one sentence. She couldn't help but smile bitterly.- The ones that Ryzhek spoke about ? Looks like Les is really a wonderful place.“I'm already fed up with these miracles of his,” Vikta turned away. “We were supposed to spend a week here at the most and return home, and everything stretched out almost ... Senches knows how long! And the end of all this promises to be not at all happy, as in your stupid fairy tales. Well, that's why, it happened to you? Where did you go, fool? What have you achieved?“I don’t know,” Sareth grimaced, as if from a headache. - I haven't checked yet.– Yes, what are you talking about? Vikta ex
- Time Of Traitors
87
Akai left them almost at the exit. Victa hooted as the weight of a heavy body rested on her frail shoulders. She clenched her teeth and tried to take a step, and flopped to the ground.“What a clumsy you are, Vikta. - Complained her escort. “Better drag him by the armpits.” It's too heavy for you to carry in your arms.Vikta, puffing from the effort, did as the underground inhabitant advised. In the same way, she once dragged the dead Apol out of the cave in order to give the Khamer for the profit. There was still nothing to be seen around, but she felt that gradually her eyes began to pick out separate outlines from the environment. Akai was here too, although she couldn't see anything clear beyond a vague black spot. And only once in the emerging light two menacing eyes seemed to flash."Don't get distracted and don't look at me," he advised her. Vikta immediately lowered her eyes to the ground, and continued to drag the man to the surface. Akai didn't say another word, didn't even
