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28

Yes, it's hard to understand! Treasure beyond measure! I would have thrown everything away to a hysterical mother, would have left for the estate, locked myself up from the world and ...

- What were they talking about?

Alden's curiosity knows no bounds. Unlike my patience.

“My dear friend, let me ask you a little favor…”

The innocent tone made the red-haired mage frown suspiciously.

— About what?

“Next time, put in a little effort and eavesdrop for yourself, and don’t make me retell the same thing!”

Brown eyes sparkled with joy, but slightly uncertainly:

- Do you allow it?

- I allow it.

- Truth?

- Truth.

- Won't you change your mind?

That's what Ollie is all about: detailing details to the point where they make him sick.

- Not.

"And you won't fight?"

- My freckled joy, stop pestering me over trifles! Eavesdrop as much as you like, just...

The cheeky face instantly took on a dull look:

- Only?

“If you are in the course of my affairs, be kind enough to take a lively part in them.

- Participation? More like a sob than a question.

- Exactly! Stop doing all sorts of pointless nonsense, it's time to start earning a salary!

“Uh… But I haven’t eavesdropped yet, have I?”

- How do I know?

"I swear on my mother's health!"

“Your mother is long dead in the world.

- Well ... I just give you my word: I didn’t eavesdrop!

- So what?

Alden rubbed his palms contently.

“And since I haven’t heard or heard anything yet, I can’t participate ... more precisely, I can not participate in your affairs. Correctly? Well, I'm off!

I caught him by the scruff of the neck, pulled him up to me and affectionately promised:

Don't worry, there's a way to make you work. In the meantime… Call Kyrian.

- Where can I find it? Alden pulled the robe from my fingers and shook himself like a wet dog.

- In the park. Probably, all the trees near the porch have already been wiped.

- What if she's not there?

- There is! Move your feet!

The magician rolled out the door, muttering indignantly at my address and expressing doubt that he would quickly find the indicated person. Stupid... Kiri has always been around Ballig, so she's still hanging around somewhere, even though my bodyguards don't need to protect my life in the orphanage. More precisely, there was no need. Until recently, and now I don’t even know when, where and what I should be afraid of.

— You wished to see me, dan?

She appeared on the threshold of the study silently: if I had tried to hear the steps, I would have failed. I don’t know if this is magic, a gift of nature or something else, but not everyone can move quickly and quietly. I tried to learn, but I just wasted my time. But Kyrian, at an early age, mastered the art of sneaking up on a victim unnoticed. Perhaps that is why she became a skilled thief. And then she herself was robbed, stealing her heart ...

In just a day, the beauty of the dark-skinned girl faded, turning into a shadow of the former luxury: neither her eyes shine, nor her braid, although the oil usually burning in the lamp only added charm to the “right claw”. The death of Ballig was not in vain, hit in the most vulnerable place. Made it crack? Broke? You don’t know what’s worse here: you can still collect the fragments scattered to the sides and try to glue them together, but you can’t overgrow the crack with anything - it can remain unchanged for many years, or it can break the heart at the most unexpected moment.

- How do you feel?

A look as black as tightly braided hair shuddered.

“I should have asked you about it, not the other way around.

- Right. But you know how wrong I am ... Will you answer?

“I am ready to do my duty.

- That's good to hear. Moreover, I need something from you ... But first, let's go to a place where we will not be disturbed.

I went first, involuntarily listening to the sounds behind me, but Kyrian gave no sign of her presence. Even with a heartbeat. But when they entered the pantry, a wave of invisible, but clearly readable pain almost knocked me off my feet. However, while I closed the door, the woman did not make the slightest movement towards the body lying on the table, although more than anything else she wanted to hug him. Last time.

This is good, this is very good… Although there is nothing good in it. Let's get started!

“Tell me about the events of last night, giiry.

"Don't you know everything yourself?"

If I had known, I wouldn't have asked. So?

“When you and the lady from the South entered the confines of the guest house, we took up positions in due order and began to observe.

- On the way to the house or during the arrangement, did you have a change of sensations? Whether insignificant or imperceptible, I need to know whether it was or not.

Kyrian pondered, recalling the shadows of moments from twenty-four hours ago.

“I can’t speak for everyone, but I didn’t feel anything. Not the slightest danger.

- You could not feel this danger ... Further!

- You were in the room for about a quarter of the shift, then went out to the gallery inside the courtyard.

Has anything been going on all this time?

“No movement on the inner perimeter. We did not follow the outside, because ...

- You don't have to explain. Continue!

“A little while later, you signaled.

- Which?

She twitched her eyebrows.

- "Attention".

- Is it?

A wrinkle crossed his swarthy forehead.

- Yes.

- Do you remember exactly?

- Of course! You…

Unexpected confusion prompted me to increase the pressure:

What gesture did you see?

- I…

- Remember!

Children's resentment in half with wounded pride:

- I said: "Attention"! It was clearly visible! Only Ballig for some reason ...

Kyrian fell silent, struck by the sudden realization.

What is Ballig?

“He…” The petals of her full lips turned pale. “He… asked me again…

So. Digging in the right direction.

“Ballig asked you about the sign because…?”

- He dreamed of "Open Claw".

I whistled triumphantly. Kyrian took my encouragement in her own way: she lowered her eyes in shame.

Oh, what an interesting mosaic is being formed! The stranger not only inspired those around her with complete obedience to her will, but also went further, replacing visual images with illusory ones. But how could she know the difference between gestures? Apart from me and my bodyguards, no one is privy to sign language, lest the advantage of surprise be lost. Nevertheless, Ballig saw one thing, Kyrian another, and Honk could see something else altogether. At the same time, the "shell" still doubted what he saw, and this means: the picture turned out to be fuzzy. It was as if the killer herself could not clearly see or imagine my movement and therefore inaccurately conveyed her imagination to her victims. Consciousness of their victims, because the eyes continued to see what is ... Oh-hoo. What if…

I brought the rhythm of my own heartbeat in line with what my sensations conveyed to me from Kyrian, pressed my hand to the woman's neck, praying to all the gods at once that my hand would sweat more, and ordered:

“Look at Ballig. Focus on his wounds as carefully as you can... Do you see them? See?

- Yes.

The answer came without delay, because the "snake" living in Kiri's body sensed me and eagerly began its dirty work. Of course, it was possible to do without direct contact, but a quick and accurate result was required, and not a waste of time on unity with the one that shied away from me like fire.

- Look without looking away.

I myself peered into the dark brown gaps of the wounds. A torn belly without a whole piece of skin. And now I’ll imagine that the area of ​​damage does not begin under the ribs, but higher, crawls onto them, so white chipped bones must certainly be seen in the muscle mess ... large crumble ...

— Tell me, giiry, what do you see?

- Blood.

— What else?

- Broken fibers.

- Yet?

- Bits of bones.

There is! I removed my hand, breaking the connection. Kyrian staggered, throwing off the numbness of the foreign power.

“What… what was that?”

- Little experience.

“You… you… you subjugated me?”

The black eyes of the woman who turned to face me flashed with hatred. But only for a moment, because Kiri couldn't help realizing that each of us is within our rights.

Do you remember everything that happened to you?

- Yes. Seems…

“Then tell me, what did I order you to do?”

“You told me to look and… to say what I see.

“And what exactly did you see?”

“Blood, damaged muscles, bone fragments…

— Aha! Well, look again: is there at least one chip in the wounds?

Kyrian leaned over the dead body, and I could swear she was no warmer at that moment than Ballig lay on the table.

“N-no…” a low whisper.

“Now do you understand what happened?”

The momentary silence was broken by an angry:

- Yes, I understand. You are free to make us see and do what you want!

Correct conclusion, but not belated. Oh, beauty, a little more brains, and you wouldn’t have a price at all.

— Volen. But last night you did not obey me.

Kyrian straightened up, as tense as a stretched bowstring.

— How can this be?

- Now I know. Get undressed!

- But…

“Remember, I can act differently, so it will be better for you to follow a simple order.

The dark-skinned girl stiffened her face and hesitantly touched the clasps of her jacket.

"Hurry, giiry, I'm not going to be here all night!"

The buckles, the laces, the thongs of the slings hidden under the clothes… What a lot of things you need to take off this woman to get to her! A short jacket with leather inserts, tight-fitting trousers made of a slant-weave fabric that sits on any figure, a shirt whose spaciousness suggests a possible use as a dressing rather than a garment, a corset with pockets for throwing knives, hidden very deep - one can see, in extreme cases, high boots with steel overlays on heels and socks, gloves with sewn on chain mail rings. I'd rather die than get used to being so equipped every day. It's good not to worry about your own safety!

A pile of clothes on the floor hid Kyrian's legs almost to mid-calf. But everything else turned out to be in plain sight, and I involuntarily paid attention to the inspection of my property.

A beautiful girl, do not say anything. And muscular just right, not too much - Ballig knew what he was doing, emphasizing the development of mobility and flexibility, not strength. Muscles are long, smooth outlines - one feast for the eyes. Well, I can say I'm lucky, at least I'll be aware that I'm working with perfect material, and not as usual...

Seeing that I, in turn, began to take off my shirt, Kyrian trembled slightly.

- What do you want to do?

- Who cares? You will not understand anyway.

I'm exaggerating, of course. She could understand, especially after simple but succinct explanations, but what I need right now is something else. Excitement. Disorder of feelings. Fear. Everything that makes moisture appear on the skin and roll down in streams, between the shoulder blades, between the hemispheres of full breasts, into a hollow at the base of the spine, to a small hole in the middle of the abdomen, along the elastic hips of tense legs ...

Got carried away. No, all fantasies later. After. First you need to get down to business.

I untied the strap and loosened the braid, letting my hair fall freely over my shoulders and back. Not the most pleasant occupation I have, but I will not complain. No one and no reason: all the same, deliverance is not expected.

The fact that the pants were still on me puzzled Kyrian a little, but she didn't have time to draw any reasonable conclusions, because my palms had already started their way over the swarthy body. Carefully, with the lightest touches, then accelerating the movement, then stopping ...

I know how I look from the outside. Like a perverted rapist. A rapist, because no one will voluntarily surrender into my hands, but a pervert, because, driving a woman into a frenzy, I expect from her not a burning passion, but only memories that will come out with droplets of sweat, dissolve in the air and again become part of body, but no longer its former owner, but a new one. Come on, baby, remember!

It wasn't like the images in front of my eyes, but rather I entered the realm of feelings and experienced those of them that Kyrian possessed. Yesterday. Evening. Warm, heavy spring evening, languishing in anticipation of rain ...

The world of a woman was divided in two, exactly in half, and tenderness for the fair-haired giant reigned in one half, and the second ... Oh, the second was completely given to me! Malice, mixed with the need to obey, powdered with the first snow of a sense of duty and repeatedly permeated with gratitude for the fact that slavery, along with bitterness, gave real happiness - to find love. How bizarre the feelings of people! At one moment in time, we are able to experience so many opposite emotions that it is strange how they do not devour themselves, leaving a dull indifference. So in the minds of Kyrian splashed an incredible potion, a combination of incongruous, chaos, subject to incomprehensible, but invincible logic.

The sensations flowed strongly and evenly, like a river, from century to century not leaving the same channel. On the rifts - in all likelihood, in those moments when the bodyguard was forced to pay attention to me - the breakers boiled up with disgusted resignation to fate. When the focus shifted to Ballig, there were still backwaters as deep as love itself. And back to duty again. A wave, another… Jumping from side to side too often. I never thought that Kiri would spend so much of her own energy on me. Rather, she should have been suspected of neglecting her duties, but no: she did not forget about her duty. And of course, she did not forget about her beloved.

Ride the waves, up, down. Up down. Up down. Up ... Or is it me, or this time the return was delayed? Well, I thought… The gap between the ridges fit into two breaths and exhalation, and then suddenly it turned out to exhale more. What's next? Look, the rhythm is off! And the "pits" became deeper, as if someone took a shovel and dug into them ... And what about the shades? Hmm... Exactly what I was afraid of.

The Kyrian fluctuations proved to be excellent breeding grounds for foreign influence. The killer could hardly understand what exactly helped her to trap the consciousness of my bodyguards, probably, and did not count on such a result. Precisely, I did not count, otherwise I would not have failed to deepen my presence in other people's sensations, and did not leave it as it is, setting my will on a course parallel to mine. Or maybe she just didn't understand how to act? What if she uses her gift unconsciously, at the level of instincts, and not reason? But then…

I exhaled and, unable to resist, kissed Kirian on the lips, and she, shocked to the core by my strange actions (what kind of a man? You can say, I groped all over, but didn’t even get to the secret), didn’t even bother to snap back, let alone slap a slap.

- That's it, you can be free!

“Did you… do whatever you wanted?”

“Not so much wanted as I had to.

I reached out to the table for a shirt and, pensively looking over the roundness of the woman, who was perplexedly frozen on her discarded clothes, noted aloud:

“And yet, six months ago, your breasts looked significantly smaller in size. Share your secret, huh?

“Wh-what secret?”

How to enlarge breasts. I will not say that the charms of my wife do not suit me, but I would not refuse ...

Clap! It's ringing in my ears. He asked for a slap on his head. Something everyone offends me today. Maybe the stars are bad.

- What do you allow yourself?

— No, what are you allowing yourself to do?!

Oh, how I love women in anger! It’s nice to look at: the chest is forward, the fists are resting on the sides, the lips begin to swell, a blush spreads over the skin ... Incredible charm!

- Explain immediately.

- Yes, as soon as ... yes, after all ... you also scoff ... They say the truth, you are a demon in human form! Worst of demons!

Hot and informative, but completely irrelevant to the topic of conversation. I'll take the trouble to clarify:

“What was it about what I said that offended you so much?”

How could you ask if you already knew everything yourself?

Just the embodiment of righteous anger. Maybe take her to the court sculptor? A wonderful model will turn out - both the form is in place, and the content is more than enough.

— What did I find out?

I try to ask calmly and affectionately, although I know well from personal experience: the softer you behave, the more you brighten up the interlocutor. And the interlocutor even begins to puff fire from the nostrils.

- About the child!

- What else ...

Um… Blockhead. Stone. Round. Stupid. Hopeless. Finished.

- Are you expecting a baby?

“But you don’t know!”

From Ballig?

- Well, it's out of the way!

She would have climbed on me with her fists, if she had not remembered that she was worth what her mother gave birth to, and did not prefer to throw all the attacking forces into bringing herself into proper form. And I, having received a respite, was able to finally add one and one, getting a predictable, but completely unrelated result of arithmetic.