Читать книгу Raven's Soul. Volume 2 - Анна Морион - Страница 3

POV Sylvia

– You can let me go," I reminded myself quietly, still pressed against the young mage's body.

– I apologize, it was an involuntary measure," Evans said in an apologetic tone, releasing me from the embrace.

"He has strong arms, he must be practicing in his spare time. I never would have thought those hands were familiar with weapons. But the fact that he knows how to handle weapons besides magic and potions is useful… After all, he mentioned that he has a claw… I guess he's obviously not lacking in female attention," my mind raced, but I hurried to chase those bad thoughts away.

– Next time, please warn me… I can hit you. – I gave the healer a disapproving glance, which made him smile.

– Oh, Sylvia, if only you'd known that anger was good for you! – Evans muttered under his breath, but I heard his words without even listening, and my cheeks flushed.

"Evans isn't as simple as he seems! Turns out our court healer is a heartbreaker! Fortunately, my heart is still in Sturfjell with Derek, and Evans' charms won't work on me," I thought with a faint chuckle.

– But back to our assignment. We don't have much time left… We have to be back before sunset," I reminded myself. – Where does the mysterious person from whom we can buy the axe live?

– A couple houses down from here. Don't worry, we'll be heading back to the valley soon enough. We'll pay quickly, get our weapons, and then we can head back. – Evans looked around cautiously, made sure there were no royal guards nearby, and we slowly, so as not to draw attention to ourselves with our hurried walking, continued to float in the huge multicolored stream of market guests.

– But what of Astrid? We should find her," I said quietly, leaning my head toward the mage.

– We don't have to. She'll find us… She's like the sun on a cloudy day, disappearing and reappearing," Evans said, and somehow it seemed to me that there was more than friendship between him and Astrid.

Maybe they'd been lovers once, or just a couple in love?

As we approached one of the ivy-covered houses, Evans opened the door and peered inside, while I stayed behind him and peered curiously at the seemingly unremarkable old wooden house. The next thing I knew, we were in the middle of a huge, ornate room, and I gasped in surprise: I bet the house looked much smaller from the outside, and I had never imagined that I would find the vast riches I was looking at. The paintings alone were worth a fortune, and what to speak of the rest! On the other hand, I knew that this mage possessed a rare item that was probably worth far more than all of these things combined, so my amazement passed as quickly as it had come.

– Hello, Alviss! – The healer's greeting sounded loud enough, but to whom it was addressed was still unclear to me.

– Oh!" An old, hoarse voice came from the next room, followed by rumbling, cursing, and then hurried footsteps.

A few minutes later a little old man appeared before us, stamping his feet amusedly. I was immediately struck by the huge, graying beard growing over the shopkeeper's wrinkled face and reaching down to his knees. Being tall enough, I had to look down at Alviss from above, which made me uncomfortable, but the gray-haired old man seemed to feel confident even in that position.

– Evans! How many moons has it been since I last saw you? – The old man exclaimed enthusiastically and spread his thin, trembling hands apart.

My companion went down on one knee, and the men embraced, patting each other on the back. Evans had a wide, happy smile on his face, and it was clear without words that the two men had known each other for a long time and were good friends. Who else could hug like that? Unless it's someone close by blood.

– It's good to see you too, old friend! – The healer said with feeling.

I wasn't mistaken. Evans had confirmed all my hunches with that phrase.

– How did you get here? There are royal guards everywhere! They're doing their rounds more often than they used to! You could have been imprisoned! All you had to do was send a pigeon and we would have met at the border with Kaldwind! – The old man rattled on, unclasping his arms as if he hadn't noticed my presence at all.

– It's a long story, I'll tell it another time. I have something urgent and important to do with you. Don't be in a hurry to refuse, and I'll pay you handsomely. – A strange smile appeared on Evans's face, and Alviss's eyes sparkled with interest.

If gold coins could be placed in his eye sockets, they would shine like that. The old man must have a taste for money, and at the mention of gold, he would glow with happiness, imagining where he could spend it.

I looked at this person: it was curious to see who lived in such a luxurious house, though at first glance it looked like an old hovel.

As I have already said, the owner of the house was a gray-haired, wrinkled old man with a long, thick beard, of short stature. He was dressed modestly. His yellow eyes gave him away as a magician. Now the old man didn't seem like a gimmick to me, and his house didn't overwhelm me: everything around him was imbued with magic, which I could feel with every fiber of my being.

I waited patiently to be noticed. Alviss and Evans couldn't be oblivious to my presence! Luckily, Evans seemed to read my thoughts and, rising to his feet, turned to me. He looked happier than I'd ever seen him. And, I must admit, there was something special in his beautiful wide smile, something childish, kind, and completely sincere. That's very rare nowadays. I smiled back at him.

– Alviss, I completely forgot to introduce you to my companion.... – The healer held out his palm in my direction and had time to say only this before he was suddenly interrupted by his friend, the old mage.

– Life! A life companion, I hope! – Alviss winked at Evans with his yellow eye.

Those words made my cheeks blush like poppies. I wanted to explain to the old man that he was wrong, but Evans had time to do it before I opened my mouth in indignation.

– Oh, no! Not at all! – Evans said hurriedly, as if noticing my confusion. – Just my battle buddy.

– I don't believe it! – The old man said the last syllable, then crossed his arms over his chest and stomped his little foot in his low leather boot.

I was both amused and annoyed at the same time; I was tempted to throw my hood over my head and leave the old matchmaker's company when Evans grabbed my arm and pulled me into the next room, past the pouting Alviss.

– Hey, hey!" I heard behind me, and in a few seconds the gray-haired man was following us. – Wait, my place isn't cleaned!

– Oh, come on! – The healer said cheerfully over his shoulder and stopped suddenly. – Better pour some tea, we're going to be a while.

– Oh, boy, you haven't changed at all! I remember the last time you said that, I had to take you on as an apprentice! – the old man reminded him, snapping his fingers.

In the small room there was a small, neat, carved table, under which four small, even miniature chairs were hidden. Against the wall stood a small glass cabinet, from which flew out painted mugs and saucers: they all landed on the table with the utmost care. When everything was in place, a teapot and a tray of cake appeared out of nowhere and took up all the remaining space on the table.

I watched it all with admiration, for I had been served tea by my maid before, and the use of light magic in such a domestic scene was something I had never seen before.

– People are always surprised. – Clinging to the table, the old man struggled to climb into one of the chairs and began to study me intently.

"But I'm not human," I thought sadly, taking a seat at the table.

Evans followed suit.

If I had been one of the court ladies of the royal palace of Kaldwind, my life would have turned out differently. I would probably do my best to be seen by the king, marry him, bear him an heir, and live my life well. But I'm the heiress of Flammehav, a demoness, a red-eyed girl, the king's war trophy.... How did I forget my status? Why did I so quickly forget the humiliation I'd suffered, the way Derek had treated me, and give in to temptation so easily? Why was I now trying to save the husband I had recently hated with all my heart? If he died, I could be free of my marriage to him and return to my native Flammehav. Love? Could it have come so suddenly?

– The thing is, this girl isn't ordinary," Evans said quietly, coughing into his fist.

– What's so unusual about her? – The old man squinted his eyes at me, making me feel a little creepy.

– The thing is…" I decided to stop in mid-sentence so I wouldn't say too much, and I looked at my companion with concern in my eyes.

– The thing is, she's the Queen of Culdwynd," Evans added with absolute calm.

– Evans! – That statement took my breath away. He'd given away my secret!

– Don't worry, he's trustworthy," Evans smiled at me.

– That's how it is…" The old man leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment. – As far as I know, King Merkswerd married Princess of Flammehav. Which means she's a demoness. Your battlemate doesn't look like a member of that race. – Alviss looked at his young friend carefully, as if waiting for a new explanation.

– It was true. She took the same potion that I do. If anyone recognizes her…

– That demoness will be captured and taken to the palace, and you will be executed! – The old mage bounced on the table with his palms on his hands, and his face was so angry that I flinched as if I'd been slapped in the face.

– Don't worry, we won't get caught," the healer continued, ignoring the raging old man. – We won't be here long.

– That will be enough time to kill you. I didn't help you so that you would act so thoughtlessly now!

– I'm sorry, it's my fault. I was the one who asked Evans for help," I interjected, as I couldn't keep quiet any longer.

– Of course you did, who else would have? – The old mage said sarcastically.

– Alviss, that's enough. – Evans stood up sharply, his palms on the table.

It was the first time I'd ever seen him like that: I'd always thought he couldn't get angry, but at the moment his eyes were shooting lightning bolts.

– Did she really seduce you? Demonesses, they say, are good at it! – The old man shook his head disapprovingly, as if he was not a grown-up mage, but a green boy barely acquainted with the beauty of women.

– Seduction is our talent, and you're right about that, Alviss," I said calmly, realizing that the old mage had his own accounts with my race. – But not all of us resort to it. You must have heard about the relationship I have with my husband, Derek Merkswerd.

– Let me guess: you hate him so much that you ran off with that fool? – Alviss rolled his eyes.

That phrase made both Evans and me laugh: no, he didn't!

– Evans, of course, is a man, but I assure you that my heart belongs to my husband, strangely enough. Sometimes hate turns to passion, and pain and bad memories are washed away by mutual love," I said quietly. The words came easily, but I thought again that my love for Derek had swept over me too quickly, but I didn't have time to search my mind for the hows and whys of it. I knew: I cared for Derek… It must be the distance and the separation that gave birth to these black doubts in me.

– Then why aren't you with him? Why did you run away? – The old man squinted his eyes. Apparently, he still didn't trust me.

– Unfortunately, our separation is forced: Derek is poisoned, and Evans and I have volunteered to find the herbs needed for the antidote. If you've heard of nysta decoction, you understand the threat to my husband. – I stopped talking and gave the old wizard a cold, piercing stare.

– Poisoned? By whom?" Alviss didn't look so surprised, but he frowned even more.

– It's a long story," I said evasively, not about to tell a stranger, though a good friend of Evans', about the misfortunes Derek and I had caused by my suddenly resurrected witch grandmother, Hund. – But that's why we need your help.

– You should never have come back, boy… The King hates you and will do everything in his power to wipe even the memory of you from the face of Emmerlend. You crossed him, and he will never forgive you," Alviss said in a quiet, trembling voice, looking at Evans.

– I know that! I'm not going to show up at the royal palace and drink wine with Jakub! – The healer shrugged with a short laugh. – We need the Dead Man's Axe. You will sell it to us, and we will return to Kaldwind immediately. Without this weapon, our quest will only end in our deaths.

– The Dead Man's Axe! The power of this weapon is legendary, but no one has ever been called upon to test its power… Not even our king, and he is a powerful mage, the most powerful of us all," Alviss said quietly under his breath.

– Excellent! We'll take our chances and test it, and then we'll give the Axe back to you if you want it," Evans said with a sigh of relief, as if glad that we were finally getting to the point, and leaned back in his chair.

– Give it back to me? Who said you'd get it? – Alviss left the table and left the room, as if he'd forgotten about us and the tea and cake.

Evans and I looked at each other and hurried after the old wizard.

– I know you have it," Evans said in an affirmative tone as he followed.

– I don't have it! No!" Alviss shook his head stubbornly.

– We'll pay you well! Very well! – I raised my voice, hoping to seduce the old man with the sound of gold coins, because it had worked so well before.

– Offer me even a mountain of diamonds! I don't have it!

– We need him! Without him we have no chance-" Evans began.

– Are you deaf? I told you, I don't have the Dead Man's Axe! And I have no idea what it looks like! – Alviss shouted angrily.

We went back to the shop. Alviss hid from us behind a low counter, opened a thick book, written from cover to cover in sharp, sprawling handwriting, and pretended to read one of the pages carefully.

– Then you won't help us? – I asked bluntly.

– I wouldn't think of it. Even if I had that weapon, I wouldn't sell it to a demoness for all the gold in the world! Who knows what kind of evil intent you would use it for? Ha!" the old mage snarled at me, not looking up from the book.

– But my husband's life depends on it… King Kaldwind's life! Don't you have any pity for him? – I exclaimed in despair.

– Why should I pity any man? Let him die! Maybe it's for the best! Hedda Juris will sit on the throne that is hers by law, and you will be sent back to your parents! It's a win-win for everyone!

– Alviss, you know me, you raised me! – Evans said quietly, but there was pain and disappointment in his voice.

But the stubborn old man didn't even look at him.

– Don't grovel to him, my friend… He's already made up his mind. – I was so sad that I didn't want to look at the old man or hear his voice anymore. I turned my back on him and walked over to the tall glass cabinet, where the shelves held artifacts and weapons I had never seen before. As I got close to the cabinet, I felt a grave chill go through my body and my insides shrink, causing me physical discomfort, but at the same time I was filled with a strange fierce energy.

Something in that closet had attracted my demonic essence. Something dark, ancient, demanding blood.

A hunch flashed through my mind, and putting my palm to the keyhole, I opened the door easily: my strength increased. The dark energy emanating from one of the objects in the closet brought them back to me.

Opening the door silently, praying that the old mage wouldn't stop reading his book, I intuitively touched the long, narrow sword, seemingly simple and even boring, but as soon as my skin touched the cold steel, I sighed noisily, fighting the lust for murder and blood that gripped my entire being.

– It's here…" my lips whispered soundlessly.