Top Game

26

If a person, for some reason, is not able to defend himself on his own, he attracts others to perform this task. Rational decision? Oh yeah! You just need to be sure that the hired guards will truly protect their master, that is, more faithfully and more faithfully than their own body. And here the question arises, can money or other benefits provide devotion? Any rich person will answer without hesitation: in no case. Because there will always be someone who will pay more, and then any agreements are worthless. Sadly? Alas. Of course, among the bodyguards there are honest people who fulfill their obligations to the employer from the first to the last breath, but honestly I will say: there are not so many of them, and those that are, as a rule, are not free from service for a long time, because there is too much demand for them. In addition, everything related to weapons and their use for good or harm is very severely limited by age. They won’t take a boy as a guard because of his little experience and still a bad head, but the old man doesn’t have the same strength, and skill melts faster than spring snow. So, all that a bodyguard can count on is twenty years of earnings, and then ... Then you have to retire and live out your life in abundance. If the employers were generous.

In my case, generosity can not even be mentioned: the royal service, it is the royal service. Salaries are paid on time, and in such amounts that a service person is not offended. But under the doors of the shelter, those who want to become my guards do not crowd, and I understand them perfectly. I myself would have thought a hundred times before deciding, because ... There is something to regret.

No matter how rich the treasury was, no one would increase the pay indefinitely, and the first decades after the founding of Antreya were a dashing time for the Guardian, who was simply forbidden to think about his safety. Of course, there was a need for those people who would think for him. And people showed up pretty quickly. But less than a year later, one of the bodyguards, being bribed by one of the ill-wishers, made an attempt to kill his ward. The attempt failed, but it upset my distant ancestor very much, and Ra-Gro was in frustrated feelings ... Better than hundreds of madmen roaming freely on the streets. And those in power at that time were seriously concerned: no matter what strings to tie the guards, so that those driven by a thirst for profit (not to mention other reasons leading to betrayal) would not even think of harming their master. The threads have been found. As many as three - according to the number of defenders needed.

Combining the properties of river water, the altered blood of Ra-Gro and remarkable talent, the head of the Antreya Mages Guild (at that time consisting of only seven, and even then mostly weathermen), created a tool endowed with the ability to subjugate. Anyone, but with a small caveat: someone else's will obeyed only one person in Antrey. The one whose blood formed the basis of sorcery. But, although this condition is not very suitable for explaining unsightly actions, I can state with all responsibility: there is no need for another.

Yes, penetrating into the body of a person who becomes my bodyguard, the “snake” allows me to become his manager, but tell me, do I need it? Full control implies full responsibility for the life of someone who cannot make decisions on his own. It is also very important for the guard to act on the basis of his own experience, and not orders "from above". Especially when the owner - that is, I - in some cases does not pay attention to the impending danger at all. Therefore, everyone minds his own business, and only when it is severely necessary ... It was like that. Once, but I remember it firmly.

Actually, the need was for me to learn all the subtleties of my connection with the bodyguards. On the example of Ballig, by the way, since he was then the first and only toy provided at my full disposal. And I had just celebrated coming of age, and my father decided that it was time to introduce his son to all aspects of the future life. Introduced. And I was unpleasantly surprised by how much I liked to own someone else's will. But this displeasure became known later, when he slapped me on the cheek with a glove. Silently, without saying a word and not allowing to object. The father had the right to punish more painfully, but he never resorted to excessive violence. Unlike my mother, who, having learned the details of my “entry into power”, did not hesitate to remove the sling and ... She left with such a feeling that I could not even mumble for a week. And all this week Ballig nursed me, causing much more pain with his presence and sincere care than the one that already tormented my body. The worst thing was to read in his eyes the answer to an unasked question: "I don't blame you for anything."

Cruel? Very. But without making excuses or begging for regret, I will say: this is mutual cruelty. Yes, my bodyguards know that with any breath they can lose control of their bodies and thoughts. But they also clearly know something else: THIS will happen only if there is no other way out. In order to effectively command others, you yourself need to be able to both give and follow orders, otherwise in unquestioning obedience to sense - a little. And the duties of the guards are spelled out in the most detailed way, so there is no need for me to interfere. No. Did not have.

Hhag, what happened in the courtyard of the guest house? I didn't feel the disconnect for a moment, but help came belatedly. With a very long delay. If Ballig had appeared a little earlier, if he had just shown himself to the killer, she would most likely have postponed the realization of her intention: she had never seen anyone climb on the rampage, unless ... If everything was in order with her head. But she was...

A thousand hhags under my ribs! She smelled of madness, and so strong that it infected everyone around!

Stop.

"Water madness" is not transmitted from person to person. Only predisposition is transmitted, and only within the same blood line, while there have been cases when the marriages of the offspring of two “conditionally insane” genera gave offspring completely resistant to the disease. What happens?

A creature appeared in Antreya capable of… No, not to infect others: in the same Ballig there was no trace of the disease. Or ... Temporarily plunge into insanity? Is it possible? If so, it is understandable why the bodyguards did not immediately answer my call. They were subjected to the same influence as the guards at the gate. But, apparently, the "snakes" and invisible threads of communication between us helped all three to keep their minds clear. After a struggle, short but risky. I'll have to ask Kirian and Honk. Necessarily. And also check those who fell into the perimeter of the "infection". Oh how I don't like this...

I looked at the dead body of Ballig, filled with that special peace that people find when they reach their goal.

Sleep well, friend. I'm sorry I couldn't call you that before. Didn't have the right. Before yourself. But everything came back, and we again became strangers to each other. Forever and ever. There, beyond the Threshold, will you remember me? How many years will I remember your soft look? Not as long as we would like. The laws require that I have a new bodyguard, and I will do what is prescribed. He will be my age, which means that we will not soon be able to find a common language: even you, although you were much older, rarely managed to accept me for who I am. But in memory of you, I will not be too strict. And of course I will not give a descent!

Goodbye. I can't even say "see you" because after my death I will stay here on the banks of Lavuola. Until the end of time…

Lint Quarter, Royal Asylum for the Infirm,

day watch

Raiden are you sleeping?

The thin veil with which I covered myself from head to toe did not allow to see the physiognomy of Alden, who peered through the doorway, but perfectly let through all the sounds. All I had to do was take a deep breath and say:

- Not anymore.

“They came to you,” the mage said with exaggerated joy in his voice, from which it could be concluded that the person who paid me a visit was not included in the wish list.

I don't receive guests.

"You'll explain it yourself, okay?"

- I am sick.

"Let's say half of Antreya knows about it, and the other half is sure of it," objected Alden. - The only thing that causes a dispute is the place you are sick of. Most think it's your head, but some...

- Shut up.

I pulled back the covers and stared up at the ceiling. The magician, who considered my body movements a prelude to getting out of bed, waited a minute, but, making sure that no further actions were planned, he frowned:

- Are you going to get up?

- In the morning, someone insisted that I spend as much time as possible in a lying position. And he even assured me that a certain dan ordered me to be kept in bed by order, and now ...

- This "certain dan" came to you.

— Aaa.

Another minute of silence followed, after which Alden sat down next to me and made a pleading face. I counted the freckles on my broken nose, multiplied the result by seventeen, divided by nine, multiplied again ... until I started to go astray in the calculations even at the stage of wanting to count something.

- Will you get up?

- Yes.

Raiden, he will be angry.

- As always.

“You know, I don’t want to quarrel with him.

- Of course.

The longer you stall, the more problems there will be.

— Of course.

Ryzhik took a deep breath and gave me the usual revelation:

“You are a soulless man, Raiden Ra-Gro!”

- I know.

Alden's fuse, colliding with my calmness, faded: the magician looked away and sullenly scowled.

"And there's nothing to pout about." I also found a mouse.

Silence. Doesn't want to talk to me? Ha! It will be enough for me to extract a few words from a person even in death. Both mine and his.

- If you thought a little better, you would not be in a hurry to report to Ra-Dien about my true state, but on the contrary, you would describe how deplorable everything is: you look, you would beg for an extra dozen coins. For better patient care. By the way, I would play along with you. With great pleasure. And not only have you already informed the person concerned about your recovery, but you are also offended. For no reason.

- So for no reason! Alden muttered, still grim but with a hint of guilt.

You might think that someone will scold you. All the bumps will fall on one head. mine. A minute more I will delay, a minute less, believe me - there will not be much difference.

After my heartfelt speech, there was a short pause, during which Alden sniffed so repentantly that, in general, I did not expect any other manifestation of an admission that he was wrong on his part. Wrong. The magician nodded slightly and said quietly but firmly:

— Sorry.

- Mra-ah-ah-ah-ah! I concluded, parting with the embrace of the bedspread and crawling out of bed in search of clothes.

Ryzhik followed me to the closet with a puzzled look, and on the way back he asked:

- What's wrong again?

- All wrong! How many years have we known each other, huh?

Hazel eyes clouded with a haze of memories.

“Er… Well… It must have been over ten already.”

"That's long enough, don't you think?"

- For what?

Caution, infection. And rightly so, but today I do not intend to joke.

To be able to sift the wheat from the chaff.

Now they look at me with obvious reproach: they say, express your thoughts more clearly, there is nothing to pretend to be smart.

Have I hurt you all this time? Just think carefully, I mean real grievances, and not something like a quarrel over a missing supply of Alfiola.

Alden narrowed his eyes recklessly and leaned forward a little.

"So you stole it?" Still you?

I shrug as I button my shirt. Well, he stole it, so what? It's old, young, stupid.

“Because of this, I couldn’t pass the exam on time, and Master Detrius made me dig in the ground in his garden all summer long!”

- Think it's a disaster! As far as I remember, Detrius's pretty little daughter was fifteen years old at that time, and her father hid her from the whole world. And some could see this beauty from morning to evening, and even ...

A deep blush on the mage's cheeks made me stop.

- So you ... Her ... Wow!

Raiden, don't...

- "Not" - what?

Don't tell anyone, okay?

A touching pleading look that penetrates the very heart. You can't say no if they look at you like that.

- I will not say. Yes, and no one is interested anymore, after a prescription of years ... And you're done!

- Well it…

The sins of youth that resurfaced completely robbed Alden's speech of coherence, and this helped me immensely. In what? In the simple matter of dressing, which can become completely impossible if you are distracted by stupid questions.

I entered my own office, as befits a full-fledged ruler: slowly, with dignity and detachment in my eyes. Ra-Dien, who during the waiting time had managed to settle into the largest (after mine, of course) chair, muttered through his teeth:

— Keep yourself waiting, dan Overseer.

“Ah, I’m so sorry, dan Counsellor, that a fraction of your precious time has been wasted through the fault of an unfortunate man who has not yet fully recovered from his mortal wounds…”

Kallas listened to my tirade, grimaced mockingly and remarked:

“We don’t recover from mortal wounds.

- M-yes? I scratched my chin with my nails as I walked around the table. It is necessary to do something with the bristles ... - I'll keep it in mind for the future. So what brings you, dearest dan, under these sad vaults? What urgent need forced you to cross the threshold of the monastery, which serves as the last refuge for the suffering, and as a reminder to everyone else?

"Stop flickering and sit down!"

Steel cut through Ra-Dien's voice. A whole Vieros billhook.

— All in fulfillment of your desires, my dearest dan!

I took my usual place and continued the old song:

“Really, it’s so embarrassing for me to meet at an inopportune time and in such an inappropriate place a person to whom I and my unfortunate wards are obliged ...

— Raiden!

I never thought Callie was capable of such a roar. I even wanted to cover my ears. I would have done so, but the continuation of the rebuke sounded quite different - soft and affectionate:

- One more phrase in the same spirit, and I will finally be sure that you are healthy. Completely.

Wink:

- Did you have any doubts?

“There were,” Ra-Dien answered shortly and a little reluctantly.

From the time of youth, we rarely trusted each other with the secrets of our souls - for lack of time and suitable occasions, but to this day, just such, involuntary and almost imperceptible confessions are enough for me to feel: I still need someone. As an easy-to-use tool? Let. Sometimes such recognition is a gift of fate.

“Then you can discard them: I’m fine.”

“According to Alden's report, yes.

“Is there anything else to worry about besides my bodily health?”

Kallas passed between his fingers the silky fabric of the mantle, which he put on instead of the camisole and which was quite enough to protect against the possible evening coolness, admired the pearl tints, compared their shade with the silver of the ring on his right hand.

You lost one of your bodyguards.

- That's my concern. Besides... I don't see you taking care of your body either! Showed up unguarded? In vain: after the assassination attempt, I do not feel safe even here.

- What attempt?

- Well, how! Yesterday at the guest house I would have been stabbed through if not for Ballig.

“Ah, that’s what you mean…” Ra-Dien nodded wearily. No, you are not in any danger.

- That is?

I leaned back in my chair, dumbfounded.

“They didn’t attack you at all.

- And to whom?

- Were you alone there?

“You don’t want to say that this fat merchant’s wife…”

In fact, settling accounts between merchants is not uncommon. But Amira always seemed to me a woman smart enough to deal with her enemies in advance, even before they become such.

She is the Navigator.

- WHAT?!

I jumped up, resting my palms on the table.

"And you're only talking about this now?!"

"Ray, what's pissing you off so much?" Kallas grimaced at my outburst.

- Angry?! Yes, you understand ... No, you can’t even think of it! Navigator... I should have known this, I should have known from the very beginning, isn't it clear?!

"So who bothered you to find out?"

- Who interfered? Yes, you, you interfered with me!

— In what way?

- How? How?! What did you tell me, you bastard? That she is your precious accomplice and close friend, that her safety is very important to you, and that is why ...

Ra-Dien raised his eyebrows dispassionately.

"And what did I lie about?"

- You…

“No one forbade you to use your abilities and learn everything that you consider necessary.

Callie's words washed over me like cold water from a bucket. Oh, you fool... You should have gotten caught like that... In fact, no one forbade it. Moreover, I had to do it, do it right away, without hesitation and doubt - not only because I can. Because it's right. Because it's useful. Because… Cretin. I just signed my own stupidity. Even worse: in complete inconsistency with the service that I carry.

I collapsed back into my chair, avoiding meeting Ra-Dien's eyes. Dan The adviser graciously paused, but then nevertheless delivered an injection:

- It's good that you nevertheless informed me about the miscalculations made. In the future, I will try to more accurately outline the scope of your duties.

Shame on my head. And on the rest of the body, by choice. Arguing with the Navigator... If only I knew!