In the distance, a fountain of snow rising to the sky appeared, appeared and began to quickly approach. It was like a shark's dorsal fin sticking out of the water as it swims for prey. Only this "shark" was of enormous size and swam in the snow. With a guttural roar, the monster burst to the surface and continued on its way in long leaps. Tobius stood motionless, closely watching the approaching creature. Large, almost as huge as an adult oromu; the structure of the body is humanoid, with long powerful limbs, white matted fur is everywhere, a pair of crooked horns sticks out of the flat head, and the ugly muzzle is split by a crack in a wide mouth full of sharp teeth. Here it is, the horror that has made Oru tremble over the past years.Thirty paces from the wizard, the monster soared into the sky, making a dizzying leap, and would have fallen directly on him, if not for two Shield spells and the subsequent volley of Magma Spear after hitting them. Tobius learned this spell quite rece
- So?“He killed the beast,” the sorceress grumbled.- He? Is it true? May be…- It is he. All the rest suffocated.“Perhaps there is someone left?” The full lips of the warrior maiden twisted capriciously. — Orza, look how thin he is!“Smart and sloppy, yes, but he’s not with Stiggi and not with Erige. And also a mage. It will scare the others away.Tobius felt that something very wrong, dangerous, something that concerned him, but without his knowledge or permission, was happening. He decided that he needed to intervene immediately.“My Lady, may I remark that—”You weren't allowed to speak!- I'm sorry."Get up when I'm talking to you!"- Maybe a curtsy for you to portray?- What you said?- I have a brother who is barely alive in my arms, I'm wildly tired, I'm still cold, I'm hungry, and I don't understand why I should stand! I am a master! Why should I stand in front of the mistress of some God-forgotten piece of land, frozen, half-empty, hostile to everything human?! Tame your a
Sometimes he spent hours repeating the name of Kerubales, hoping that his newfound companion could help him. But the giant ogebo did not appear, and the walls of the ice prison did not collapse. But the Whisperer was always there. No, he no longer appeared to Tobius in a dream, did not manifest himself in other ways, but the wizard knew that this destructive force lurked somewhere nearby and was waiting, quietly rejoicing at his, Tobius', suffering. True, at times the magician had clarifications of the mind, then he realized that he was captured by paranoia and his own fears captivated him no worse than the ice walls of the dungeon.For hours the wizard stared at his hands, at the luminous lines and knots enveloping his forearms like a fine mesh or the finest chatrade lace. A collar of the same lace sat firmly around his neck. He did not see this collar, but he knew for sure that it was there, because he saw the ephemeral thread connecting the bracers, and saw two other threads that s
- What a fool...“But as soon as you try to get back at me, we will end this conversation exactly as we were supposed to.Thobius looked around and was inwardly horrified at the destruction he and Orza had wrought as they tried to destroy each other. Almost nothing remained of Cardenwig's buildings, the deer pens were on fire, fortunately some warrior was brave enough to sneak past the fighting and release the deer. The hall of the konani was badly damaged, many black marks and streaks of molten stone were visible on its stone walls. Having seen enough of his handiwork, the magician remembered that he was standing naked in the midst of the emerging bad weather. The masses of hot air that he had created by turning into a fire giant grappled with the cold air of Ora, and as a result of the pressure difference, a storm was about to break out.- I know you're here! Come out! The old lady needs help!Despite their fear, the Orians still rose from their hiding places.“Take her to the chamb
- I came in peace, I delivered you from the monster, I did not want any rewards, but only wanted to return home. But you grabbed me and threw me into an icy purgatory, starving and cold. The feeling of unbearable injustice choked me all this time. Why did you do this to me? What did I do to you?It was hard for her, eyes clouded with a haze of pain, with difficulty found Tobius' face.- I refused many, but no one ... I have never been so offended ... ashamed ...He trembled, and the fire flickered in his eyes.- And it's all? Is this... is this what I've been agonizing for? Bruised pride? What kind of creature are you...“I didn’t… I didn’t order you to be starved… I just wanted… you to stay!” Her hand burned his cheekbone with warmth. Blood was bubbling on Yofrid's lips, but she was smiling. “I didn’t know how to do it otherwise… so strong, so beautiful. When I thought that you would sail away forever... I almost died.Trembling with inner horror, the wizard straightened up and raise
- If you drop the furs into the water, Milk, dive after, and I swear by the keel, you better not come back up! I myself will stand with a hook, but I won’t let you get out, dog!- Cap, where to roll the barrels?- To the very end! In the most! Do you hear, Anderzoon? And then I know you, dogs, until we swim, half an ale, if not ...“It often jibes in this part of the world, Captain?”Umraz Calabongot shrunk all over and even seemed to have become shorter.“Cursed seed… cursed seed… cursed…”“Soon the wind will blow from the north. Cold and strong. If you load provisions and goods before dinner, you will have an excellent gybe.“I thought you were dead, char.I don't like disappointing good people, but sometimes I have to.“Do you want to go back to Westerreich?”- Yes. Missed home.“Maybe you can find yourself another ship?”“Do you see other ships here that can cross the Gray Sea?”- I…"Captain, I'm not a criminal. If you don't want me on board, I won't dare break your word. In addi
The fight had ceased—when there was a flash of light, almost everyone was blinded and now crawled across the blood-soaked deck among the corpses. The sorcerer was about to cast a Paralysis Charm on the invaders to trap them, but froze as he noticed a streak of smeared black goo that led to the opposite side. He staggered from the onset of weakness, rushed to the bulwark, dropping the scrolls in the blood, but his good hand managed to grab only a piece of straw cloak. The sorcerer was able to escape even with a split heart. He fell into the dark waters of the night sea, bleeding and probably dying to the delight of the sharks, but he left a parting gift ... pain throbbed in the blackened veins of his right hand, and the master could hardly believe that the one who left her died safely.Tobius, realizing that delay would doom him to death, took a deep breath, prepared for what was to come - and dug into his flesh with his teeth. He tore out a piece of meat and skin at the bite site, spa
"Small raids, hunting for supply units and dirty tricks in the fields - that's what their pinches were called!" I'm telling you about the real invasion! Second-no-no! Tens of thousands of these monsters rushed to the east, sweeping away everything in their path! They burned castles and cities, they took away and now they take people into slavery ... and often just eat them. The scouts saw long skewers with the remains of women and children. Their meat is softer, I think... They spread out in all directions, swallowing up the lands of Karebekland. The barons begged for help, and Duke Galli gave it to them. He summoned the banners, gathered the soldiers, and set out with them from Tephrask...and almost lost everything. Half of the army fell on the Red Hill and under the walls of the fortress of Dubram. The enemy did not hold battle formations, he outnumbered, was stronger and faster. Riven soldiers were surrounded and beaten from all sides. And there were no magicians nearby,- Master.
After Tobius Moth entered the Academy grounds in front of hundreds of wizards, everything went awry. After some time, many heard through the Astral the appeal of Tobius, in which he denounced the archmage Shivarius the Polyhedron, calling him a renegade, guilty of the war with the Zulans and sabotage of the Academy. After that, hours passed before the barrier that kept the magicians out of the campus began to lose stability, and they began to diligently hit it with all available spells, despite the constant interference in the form of the air element. In the end, the barrier was broken through, and, having risen to the top of the main tower, the magicians found the rulers of the Academy there in full force, alive and unharmed.The guilt of Shivarius the Polyhedron was confirmed by the words of the stewards, and the wizards of the Academy were ordered to immediately begin the search for the missing traitor. But neither Archmage Shivarius nor Magister Tobius could be found. They weren't
As the Polyhedron and the Free Gyenjoylin battled, Tobius chose the moment tensely. It was not easy, because, unlike himself, Shivarius effortlessly parried and counterattacked the magical creature. He was fast, deadly, masterfully interspersed with sword and staff strikes with magical attacks, pushing the gyanjoilin and lashing him with energy chains that appeared here and there from the air. Shivarius knew plenty of ways to inflict pain and injury on a creature that could disintegrate in smoke and reunite. The moment came, and Thobius did not miss it, dishonorably hitting the archmage in the back with the Ice Drill. The impaled renegade fell to the ground, and the Gyenjoylin immediately struck his chest with his blade. But instead of dying, Shivarius turned into a flock of asps that flew up to the ceiling, merged together, recreating the unharmed body of the wizard, and he collapsed on the back of the gyenjoilin's neck, plunging his sword into his unsteady flesh. Crying terribly, th
And Chaos."I'll tell you what, boy, let me out!" Let me out and I'll kill Shivarius! I swear I'll finish off this nasty bastard, I'll pop him like a stinky pimple and then lick the contents! Don't hesitate, I will! Of course, I'll kill you too, but at least your death will be quick... maybe... I don't know, I haven't decided yet! But you can believe me, I will make Shivarius suffer for a long time!“I came here for nothing.- No, wait, wait, let me out ... no, just loosen the fetters a little! Even a nobody like you can do it, come on, give me a little chance, buddy! Let's!- Never!— Like this, right? And you have no other choice! You can’t do it yourself, boy, the task is not up to you!I was hoping for advice!- What advice?! Do you hear yourself?! What advice were you hoping to hear, slug?! Do you think there is some workaround? Do you think there is a way for a nonentity like you to bring down a colossus like Shivarius?! You live in the real world, motherfucker! In real - not in
— Eishubeihwan.“Master wishes to give me a new name?” the gyenjoylin asked in a leaden voice.- The owner wants to give you this polyhedron. Take it somewhere where no one will see it, throw it as many times as you like - and put the fallen signs into your new name. By doing this, you will become your own master.The tiny wooden craft was in a wide palm, and the gyenjoylin stared at this priceless gift in disbelief.- Can't be…“I am an honest wizard and I keep my word.“Oaths given in the name of the Mage of Mages do not have to be kept before those whom he commanded to rule.“I have always fulfilled my oaths, to whom I gave them, to the king or the goldsmith,” replied the gray master.Gyenjoylin hid the ball in his belt and, materializing the sheath, hid the blade in it.“Shivarius will kill you if he catches you. Hide somewhere else... I don't know how you could beat him."Even with your help?" Tobius slid along the edge of the abyss. - I do not intend to change my decision, altho
The danger was warned by a sharp gust of wind, which was nowhere to be expected in a room devoid of windows or a second exit. Tobius jumped back just in time to avoid being hit by lightning. Directly under the ceiling, on huge bright wings, a giant butterfly soared, fanned by a halo of iridescent glow. This beautiful creature would become an appropriate guest in innocent children's dreams, if fireballs, lightning and deadly ice arrows did not rain down from its delightful wings, from which the wizard had to leave insane zigzags.He blocked part of the attacks, diligently answered, attacked, maneuvered, defended himself, attacked again, but the butterfly flew quickly, beat accurately and accurately and did not know fatigue. It was Bambaleska, one of Pongemonius' beasts, summoned to Valemar by Shivarius the Polyhedron. Saturated with her master's magic like nectar, she set up an ambush near the ipspiroch and patiently waited for the stupid young wizard to reach for the artifact. Fightin
Tobius tossed all three blueprints forward, energized them, and trapped the spirit in a triangular trap. Boards with luminous lines revolved around the pascantes, held together only occasionally by discharges of magical power running between them. Thobius cast a banishing spell, using the sharp knob of his staff to draw a polysyllabic drawing in the air with a septagram at its base. Pascantes pounded with his fists on the barrier that stopped him; He tore through the Gray Wall fairly quickly, but the second trick really gave him trouble. The revolving blueprints contracted as Thobius cast the spell, and the gray magister had only to “squeeze” a little to throw the pascantes somewhere in the area of the Arimead archipelago, when the spirit nevertheless split one of the typesetting wooden plates and freed itself.The magic system could not exist with less than three reference coordinates. The next blow knocked the spirit out of Tobius, he flew off into the open interior of the cabinet
— Open it, there is a lot of interesting things in this book, but the most important thing for you is now on the flyleaf. Come on, open it up and try to read it.Thobius obeyed, opening a sheet of the thinnest parchment, which had yellowed with time, and saw on it an even line drawn in blue, barely distinguishable ink. On a hunch, he touched the badges, pouring a drop of his magic into them, and they shone as if filled with blue flames.Jassar... Ansafarus? Something quivered in Tobius's soul and exploded.“I remember what it was like to hold for the first time something that Jassar himself once held before me. And not just holding on. He created this book, created the matter of which it is composed, inscribed everything in it, from the first to the last character. It's Jassar's book, Tobius. I went through the arms of death and great torment to get to it, entered the Wild Land with a dozen faithful, experienced, proven associates, friends whom I loved like brothers and sisters ... an
"What does that mean, charm?!" - the officer shouted, trying to block the screams of the indignant crowd.“It’s just that sometimes people need a little help to be human.But no one heard him. The guard held back the indignant, flying from everywhere, but rotten vegetables and insulting words did not reach; the irritated city fathers hurriedly retreated, accompanied by guards - they, too, could have been punished for a disrupted performance, although they were not to blame for anything. Tobius, on the other hand, looked around carefully and thought - people deliberately save rotten meat until better times, so that later they can throw it at someone, or some quick-witted hawkers go through the crowd and sell spoiled food for everyone, before some drunkard is wrapped in pads and it will be possible to use the sufferer's face as a target?The magician struck the ground with his staff, and his voice sounded like thunder, reaching the ears of all those gathered:It was my prisoner! I fough
He walked around the building, as he had done on his first visit. The walls of the inn were protected by prayers that warded off not only evil, but magic itself as it is. It was impossible to get inside, but Tobius was not used to looking at the world from the height of a chicken perch, he looked wide and far, like a soaring eagle. Mainly because he had a flexible, inquisitive mind, but the ability to fly also helped.Soaring on the Wings of an Eagle, the wizard climbed to the very top of the tower, to where Marin had an office. Having looked into the windows that had not been washed for a long time and making sure that the holy grace does not protect them, the gray master broke several glasses and got inside.Despite the fragments that scattered on the floor, the former office did not begin to seem any more dirty; a mess, mixed with desolation, already reigned inside. There was no doubt that someone, most likely experienced "sniffers" of Investments, climbed the premises far and wide