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Eleventh day of the month of the First Thunders

Changeable Ka-Yi moves into the constellation Ma-Dane and receives two attachments at once: five and a third rumba with the Sun and rumba with a third with the Archer

Rule of the day: "If fate gives support, know that it first of all supports itself."

"Lotion of star rivers" recalls:

“This is the strongest day of the entire lunar journey. All desires and thoughts tend to come true, but the power of their pressure can be both good and destructive. It is not enough to be careful and attentive in business: it is more important to bring everything to completion and be prepared for unexpected twists of fate. The main task of the day is to tame your pride, obey the call of fate to deeds and people, accept everything as worthy of you and destined for you.

Five and a third of the rumba of Ka-Yi with the Sun is a very strong attachment, giving the victorious procession of duty and the will of man. The main thing is to go where you can do your duty.”

Lagro, Royal Prison,

start of the night watch

Throw off the camisole, pull out the shirt tucked into the pants, loosen the lacing of the corset. Fall into bed, blissfully relaxing tired muscles. Twitch, rising on his elbows towards the door, letting Vig into the cell, who managed to throw the upper part of the uniform over his shoulders.

“You have an unusually pleased face. Suspiciously pretty.

Is that all that surprises you?

Re-amiter sighed as he sat down next to me.

- Not. And I'm waiting for an explanation. detailed. Stated in writing, in three copies.

- Not now!

“Just don’t say that you’re running out of time and you’re already leaving,” Vig quipped and broke off, receiving my consonant nod in response:

- Exactly.

- What?

- I'm leaving.

- Oh no, that won't do! You will be released from here only upon receipt of an order signed personally by Her Majesty ...

Or thanks to the connivance of the guards. The second one suits me just fine.

Viger frowned, sternly.

- You're up to something, right? You know, I don't like your mood.

Guess what, me too!

I considered a five-minute rest enough, sat down and began to take off my boots. Ra-Ken watched me for several breaths, but when the turn of his pants came up, he decided to clarify:

- Are you going to sleep?

- Naked? In this dampness? I'm not that crazy.

“But then why…

I kindly looked into the gray eyes.

- I have, as you correctly noted, very little time. It may have already expired, but I will hope for the best before the worst knocks on the door.

As if to confirm what was said, the cell door opened again, and our society instantly increased one and a half times.

Alden unloaded a bulky bag on the floor and, seeing my abuse of his methods of treatment, angrily put his hands on his hips:

- Who let you, huh? I asked for at least one day to be patient!

— Do not tire, my joy! I'll give it back, just let me catch my breath ... Did you bring everything?

"That's it," muttered the red mage. “And don’t you dare go back on your words, as you always love to do!”

- I will not refuse, do not be afraid.

In this minute and several hundred next, I was ready to promise anything and anyone. Do some personal details matter when the safety of an entire city is thrown into the balance? My city.

Wiger silently watched me change into Ollie's change of clothes, a cross between a port worker and a sailor, that is, completely indefinable, braid it tightly, oil it, which instantly turns hair dark, and tie a faded scarf around my head. . Re-Amiter did not utter a word, even when a boarding sword was hidden under a wide cape, but as soon as I took a step towards the door, he blocked my path:

- Only through…

- Your corpse? I am disposed today to murder, do not hesitate!

“In a few words,” Vig corrected, ignoring the joke.

- What do you want to hear?

Why this masquerade? And what was the point of having a drunken brawl in the palace? Wanted to go to jail?

I have no time, so no time, that I can move mountains if they decide to interfere with me ... Mountains, yes. But there is not one single person. Ra-Ken deserves to be answered. Well, I'll spend a little time: Vig's resentment, especially since he has every right to be in the know, is worth half of my life tonight.

- Exactly. By the way, did I look drunk enough?

Gray eyes squint slyly:

“To be honest, I thought you really were the one… Now I see that it isn’t.” Played?

- A little bit. But if I convinced you, all the others must not have the slightest doubt.

- I agree. But what was your goal?

“I need freedom, Vig.

Uncomprehending look:

- Freedom?

— Yes, such a small thing!

“And in order to be free, you allowed yourself to be taken into custody?”

Now he is snarling. Oh, it's not the time, it's not the time!

What did Callas instruct you to do? Come on, remember!

The steel of the eyes clears from a sudden guess.

- Do you remember? That's it! Guardianship and protection binds me stronger than chains!

“But if you consider that you were left without two at once ...

“It doesn't matter now. And… The bodyguards won't help, Vig, trust me. I have acquired an enemy from whose weapons there is no defense.

- Crazy?

- And what else! A woman who can speak to water.

- How are you?

- Like me.

Viger bit his lip.

- Can I help you?

- Only one thing: do not interfere. Except that…

Attentive and expectant:

- Yes?

- Ollie, of course, agreed with the Hedgehog, whose dozen are now on duty, but it will be more reliable if you also contribute to the common cause.

- Take care of the silence?

I smile:

- What a quick-witted you are ... That's it, it's time!

The guard at the door let us out on demand. In fact, it seemed to me that the sash had begun to move even before Alden tapped his knuckles on the planks.

The prison corridor ended with a guard room, in which three people spent time at a cheerfully crackling hearth - a stocky, strong man, responding to the nickname Hedgehog (which he was awarded not only for his short-cropped hair sticking out like needles of a forest animal, but also for the ability to instantly “bristle” with steel), and two of his ten. I didn’t know these guys closely, but I met their commander when I helped the City Guard in investigations.

The hedgehog, without taking his eyes off the glass in which the soldier sitting opposite was rolling bones, grunted in my direction:

- Agreed until the end of the watch. Don't be late, dan.

- I won't be late. Ollie, pay up front.

But Raiden...

The magician was about to object that trusting money to the players before the end of the case is like death, but I firmly lowered my chin, and Viger, who was hidden from the guards by my back, added:

- Pay. I myself will see to it that each coin is mined.

The voice of Ra-Ken was familiar to the prison guards almost better than his own, and the Hedgehog hurried to his feet, stretching out like a string:

“Dan re-amitter, don’t worry, we…

“At ease,” Wig allowed in the casually indifferent tone that he usually used to communicate with his subordinates, and immediately winked: “Perhaps I’ll sit here with you for a while.” Will you accept the game?

“Only we don’t play in debt,” the Hedgehog grinned slyly.

“So do I,” Ra-Ken smiled no less slyly, looking at the pile of coins Alden poured onto the table.

“I see you all have something to do tonight?” Then allow me to bow. No, Ollie, you stay here too!

"Raiden, could this be..."

- Dangerous? Yes. So sit back and don't move. I'll be back at dawn. If you're lucky.

- What if…

I don't know which of the two, the magician or the re-amer, said it, because the words sounded too low and behind my back. But there was only one answer:

- I'll be back. Without any "if".

Antrea, Necklace, South Dead End,

second hour of the night watch

The step must be measured, the same as breathing, otherwise I will get tired before I get to the first of the intended goals. It was possible, of course, to jump around the city on "hare paths" [18] , but this would mean informing all the magicians in the area that someone was in a hurry somewhere, and just like time, secrecy is vital to me. Actually, it was because of her, damned, that she had to play a stupid performance in front of the courtiers. I hope the queen will not blow her beautiful lips on me for long ... But, by the way, let it blow: if I don’t manage before the start of the morning watch, it will be possible to take my time nowhere.

But what thoughts overcame and now overcome Nais, I would not refuse to know. To be ready. For what? To the collapse of hopes. She could not recognize my game: too much effort and effort had been put into leaving a loophole to the imagination, there was too great a risk of being discovered. I'm afraid, along with clouding Dagert's head, I "breathed" on my wife. Well, if so, then her outburst can be attributed to my attempt (successful, I must admit) to speak someone else's consciousness. Of course, there was a little conspiracy, the guy would have soared even without whipping from the outside, but it’s better to overdo it than not do it. Perhaps I overdid more than I expected. Ah, I'll think about it later! Now I need a mind free from extraneous thoughts ...

The porch of a one-story house under a tiled roof, gleaming dully in the reflections of "night lamps" [19] , which had been lit on the street for an hour already, although it did not look lopsided, in fact turned out to be utterly creaky: another way to protect yourself from an unexpected visit of uninvited guests. It is good that this part of the Necklace, the street that runs around the perimeter of the entire port, is not too densely populated, otherwise my efforts to remain unnoticed would go to waste. If I had known before, I would have knocked on the window, but now there is nothing left but to take up the knocker and indicate your presence not only with a treacherous creak, but also with a demanding knock.

- Anything? asked from home.

- Talk to daneke Thewlis. About the black seagull.

The code name of an urgent matter of national importance is known to all officers of the City, Sea, and Coast Guard, without exception, and, of course, the lady who looks after the customs warehouses could not remain in the dark about the birds and their color change depending on the severity of what is happening. The bolt rustled, and the door opened, but in the dark passage it was impossible to see a single thing, only to hear the breath.

“Raiden Ra-Gro won't hurt you, daneke, you can lower your weapon.

I hate talking about myself in the third person, but how else can you introduce yourself and ask a woman to calm down at the same time?

“Dan Ra-Gros himself visited the modest caretaker of forgotten things?” Well, if you please, go into the house: talking on the street is not good for either you or me.

I accepted the kind invitation and, to the characteristic wooden knock, interspersed with the sound of footsteps, followed the hostess into a room that apparently served as a guest room.

“Sit down while I warm up the meads.” You wouldn't refuse to drink a mug or two with a single woman, would you?

Of course I won't refuse. Because daneke Thewlis is actually lonely. Once she was a thunderstorm of sea robbers and boarded enemy ships on a par with men, but a streak of failures that ended in the loss of a leg dispelled all dreams of getting a high rank along with the morning fog, and the brilliant officer was now content with serving in the rear of the Coast Guard than, as You can tell she was extremely dissatisfied.

- Here, take it.

The clay sides warmed my fingers pleasantly, but I took a sip only out of politeness and immediately put the mug back on the table.

— What is it? Did not like? Little honey?

“Thank you for the treat, daneke, but I have a few questions for you that need to be answered as soon as possible. Forgive me if my impatience offends you, but...

Thewlis moved her pointed nose amusingly from side to side and grunted:

“Who can tell that Raiden Ra-Gro himself came to me in the middle of the night, and even apologized for impatience, because they will envy ... Deathly envy!

“Tell me,” I said. - Let them envy. And you can add whatever you want, I won't be offended. Just help!

- For such permission, I will lay down with bones! the customs officer promised, and immediately banished the smile from her face. “So what brings you?

I put a fan on the table:

- This.

Thewlis picked up the deadly toy, opened it, turned it over, clicked her tongue, and put it back down.

- Familiar?

“I know what these things are used for, dan. But it was this little thing ... No, it did not catch my eye.

- Didn't you go through the warehouse? In the lists of banned and seized goods?

The woman shook her head.

- Sure?

“Such a curiosity and to slip past me?” No, dan Ra-Gros, to that fool who would try to import it, I would have cut off my own ears!

- And why is that?

Thewlis leaned over the table, sweeping the poorly polished wood surface with long black strands straying from her sleep-tousled braid.

"Because it's a mean thing!" Because they kill with it on the sly, in the back, and not in a fair fight!

Do women use it?

- Whoever can lift it, he uses it, even a woman, even a child: the main thing is to cock, and you don’t need to shoot special forces.

Woman. Or a child. Or a woman-child... Pieces of the puzzle fit together.

Have you seen him in action?

"I haven't," the customs officer sighed. - The former warehouse keeper told me when he handed over the farm. I even drew how everything works. It was painful for me then, dan Ragro, so old Quentis tried to entertain me as best he could. He told a lot ... And, as I see now, everything was preserved in my memory.

“It's a wonderful quality, daneke, to remember what you hear. Do I dare to hope that you remember something else?

Dull blue eyes looked at me a little wary, but the anxiety hidden in them was not due to guesses about the content of the next question: Tewly was afraid to disappoint me with the absence of an answer - it was read in every bead of sweat above the woman's upper lip.

What am I supposed to remember?

“Some time ago… I can’t guess exactly how long, unfortunately — maybe a month, maybe more… Has anyone tried, say, to persuade the officers who look after the warehouse to break the rules?”

— Sell something from the warehouse?

- Maybe. Let's say someone knew for sure that the goods intended for him would be confiscated, and asked for help. It was so?

The woman thought as she crossed her arms over her chest.

— Now, when you asked… Perhaps it was. Previously, all sorts of rogues often promised bribes for help, but I had long weaned my guys from chasing profits, so, to be honest, I myself was surprised when Corey reported: so, they say, and so, he is pushing wedges at me alone, slippery like an eel, it's disgusting. And he found out about all the debts and about the sick mother ... He promised a lot of coins. And it was only necessary to return some trifle from the warehouse to the “rightful owner” when they were seized at customs.

And what about Corey?

— Nothing. Told me. And gave this eel a turn from the gate. At first I wanted to tell the “city” people, and then I thought: why bother people for nothing? Such a piece a month, no, no, yes, they will appear.

Still, I can't help but ask:

- And you all ... "turn from the gate" give?

Thewlis squints, studying my face carefully to figure out how to respond: laugh it off or be honest. Finally, he does the right thing and chooses the second one:

- Not everyone. There are times when I help.

I nod silently, trying to remain calm, although most of all I want to smile.

“Did you see the 'eel' yourself?”

— Yes, I did.

- What does he look like?

- No way. Bad human being. It can be seen that the first time he bowed, he got used to walking with a crooked back. Slippery such, eyes run. And he wipes his palms with a handkerchief all the time.

Fears are confirmed. That is, these are no longer fears, but an established threat. Supported by facts. You can go further, but before leaving ...

- Tell me, could the fan get into the city through the "free carters"? How is it now with a prohibited product, strictly looked after?

The woman shrugged.

— Could, of course. You already know: at least they will drag the khhaga past the customs if they pay for it in full-weight gold!

- Thanks for the help.

I got up and moved to the exit, and already at the very threshold I turned around:

“You can tell everyone that you were harassed by Raiden Ra-Gros. In the most obscene ways.

She laughed, jokingly shaking her finger.

- Oh, and you are a prankster, bright dan ... I'll tell you if you don't mind. That's just…

- Something else?

An alarming shadow ran across his face, swarthy from a stubborn tan:

“I feel like I forgot something. Something about this cursed fan, and important after all ... No, I don’t remember it.

- Not scary. You have helped me so much. Good night, danek!

- And good to you too ... Only, probably, you should not wish for the night, but hunting, right, dan?

Instead of answering, I winked and pushed open the door.