Читать книгу Rescue of Araklia - Игорь Владимирович Княгницкий - Страница 8

– Enilice, how long do we have to ride? I'm tired of the horse. Can we make a stop?

– Sorry, not right now.

The elf understood it was hard for her. And like that will be for a very long time. But he was following the magical track of the doppelganger, and he couldn't stop now. And there was no appropriate place. They rode across the Plains – there was an open space all around. However, they needed a break. They both hadn`t a rest since they left Izemburn and horse needed a rest as well. Enilice kept moving to the North-west. His hunch was correct – Doppelganger moved straight to Pleepmorr. It was a full day journey to that place. With a sensible assessment of the physical capabilities of his small squad he turned to the North-east. Alice of course noticed this immediately.

– Did you lose the track? Or have our plans changed? – She turned and looked at him straight in his eye in surprise.

– Neither. There's an abandoned village about half an hour from here. We'll make a stop there. As I expected, our thief moves straight to Pleepmorr. It`s still full day journey to that place. Alone, I would have been able to cover that distance and catch him up somewhere in the area of the city. But you need to rest. And the horse, too. I really didn't want. But it looks like we'll have to continue our chase of the key in Pleepmorr.

– What's so bad about this city?

– This is the city of the dregs of our world. Once upon a time, it was one of the trading cities. Very beautiful and rich. But after the capture of Eraqel and wars which was followed later, city was half-ruined and completely looted. Later on, bandits, assassins, thieves, illegal traders and “stooge” of dark magicians settled there. Those who renounced their native roots in the hope of unlimited power, which Dark Magicians promised them. But when the wars ends and Dark Mages went to find the key in other worlds, they just threw them away like garbage.

– I see. So the trade is still there?

– Yes, but this is not the same trade that was before. Now there are a lot of prohibited goods there.

– Like what?

– For example, forbidden alchemic ingredients, poisons, artifacts. In general, everything which is came to Araklia with arrival of the Naabs and remained after the wars with the dark magicians. We're almost got it. Alice, take a look – Enilice said, raising a hand to point ahead.

Half a mile away, buildings began to appear behind a small hill. They dismounted at the central gate, which had been destroyed long time ago. Alice was immediately struck by what she saw. The massive log gate was turned inward, though it opened and closed outward.

– How is that possible? – She asked her companion, pointing at the gate – You don't have any tanks or rocket launchers, do you?

Enilice looked at her in surprise.

– Honestly, I do not understand what you are talking about, but answering your question, I can say most likely it was one of the spells of the dark magicians. Okay, let's go find more or less good house to stay.

Alice said nothing, but followed the elf tiredly. They went into a small paved square which has three small streets in the left, right and straight direction. On the square, for the very first time in her life, she saw human skeletons felt terrible. Skeletons, bones, skulls, long-rusted swords, shields, spears. Involuntarily, she snuggled up to Enilice and took his hand.

– Don't be afraid. There's been no one here for a long time. The view is certainly gloomy, but there is nothing we can do about it.

The path along the main street was blocked by the stones of the destroyed tower, where once was a signal bell.

– Let's go to the right. That street looks better.

It was a medium-sized street with alternating one-and two-story buildings. Some of them were made of logs, rough-hewn round wood, dilapidated or burned almost to the ground, but most were of stone. They mostly survived. And even though Enilice said "better," Alice didn't think so at all. Also, there were parts of skeletons, rusty weapons, some torn rags, kitchen utensils, and a lot of other rubbish. Passing by another dilapidated wooden house with an open door, Alice noticed by the corner of her eye something shiny inside. She decided to satisfy her curiosity and see what that was.

– Alice, let's move on. This is not the best one – voice came from the street as the girl went inside.

Directly opposite the entrance, something was covered with an old baggy cloth which protruded a silver-handled spear. Alice took the edge of the cloth and threw it aside. It was a long-dried-up skeleton in a ragged jacket and a ragged dress. Apparently, a woman who was killed with a spear from the back. She was sitting on her knees, as if covering something with her body. Alice took the skeleton by the shoulder and pulled it towards her. The rotten spear broke at its base and the skeleton toppled over on its side. A large skeleton clutching another one, quite small in a half-rotted shirt and dress. In the hand was a toy of a homemade teddy bear. The spear broke where the baby`s stomach had been. Alice covered her face with her hands and didn`t cry, but sobbed wildly, slowly stepping back. She was crying so loud and so shrill, as if it was her own grief. After a couple of steps, she bumped into Enilice, who was standing silently behind her. She turned, looked at him with eyes were streaming with tears, and still sobbing, she fell on his chest. He put his arm around her. For at least the next five minutes, Alice sobbed and couldn't stop. But soon the warm embrace of the elf bore fruit and Alice was able to squeeze out from herself:

– W..w..what kind of m..m..m..monster would d..d..do such a thing?

Enilice didn`t answer. He perfectly knew that this wasn't the worst thing she could see. He didn't know what her grandmother Lisa was like. He was born after Lisa has been sent to the OTHER world. But seeing how hard Alice was crying, it brought a thought to his mind that maybe she would not be able to cope with the mission assigned to her.

– Okay Alice, let's go – Enilice took her hand and pulled her back to the door.

– Wait – Alice took a couple of steps and bent down to the girl. She took the teddy bear toy out of baby`s little hand and said softly: “Baby, I promise I'll avenge for you!”

The rest of the way Alice was going just sobbing and from time to time repeating “bastards, I hate you” Enilice kept holding her hand because he didn't want her to go anywhere else. In his other hand, he held the horse's reins. They couldn`t waste time. They needed to rest and continue to go by the track of the key again.

Soon they came to a more or less saved two-story house made of white stone, probably once owned by a local nobleman. The windows were boarded up, and the door was locked from the inside.

– I think we should check it out. Wait for me here. I'll get through the roof and open it from the inside.

Enilice leaped lightly and grabbed a jutting block of stone above the front door. Then he was hanging by the second-floor window sill, and a second later he was on the roof. Soon, Alice heard his footsteps outside the door.

– Come in, we'll stay here, – said elf opening the door – I don`t think we`ll find something better.

Sunlight came into the spacious hall and Alice was able to look around. A couple of chairs were in decent condition, also there was an old sofa with swords putted on it. There were several large chests and barrels around the perimeter of the hall. Against the wall to the right of the entrance was an old fireplace covered with spider web.

– Alice, please check if there's anything useful in those chests and barrels. I'll light the fire for now.

The barrels were empty. Once it was water inside. In the chests were old clothes, weapons and some rolled-up scrolls. From one of them Alice took out more or less clean clothes and makes them on the old sofa, which Enilice already had emptied of weapons. In this house was a mess like everywhere else, which was no longer surprising. But there were no human bones and skulls but a lot of weapons and armor.

– It looks like this house was used as a defensive point. On the second floor near the windows I saw bows and quivers with arrows – said elf moving away from the fireplace, where fire was already burning.

– Looks like – Alice drawled, sitting down on the sofa – Why there are no any skeletons?

– I don't know. Maybe the defenders were able to escape. Or maybe it was magic.

Enilice sat down in the chair opposite Alice and took out a small bowler hat from his backpack. Then he filled water in it from a small flask and put it on the fire.

– We'll warm up the water and make some tea. You know, when I left our Outpost, I didn't think I'd have a companion on this journey so I only have one mug.

– It's okay, we'll drink from one. I'm not squeamish.

– I'm glad. I also have some elven bread and dried deer meat. Not much, but we'll have enough for now.

When Enilice had made the tea and passed the mug to Alice she said:

– Drink it first.

Enilice had expected this reaction and took a few sips.

– Don't worry, this is real elven tea. I'm not a Doppelganger. After all, I saved you from the hungry Wargs.

– I'm sorry.

– It`s okay. If I were you, I'd be afraid, too.

Alice found the Elven tea, bread, and dried deer meat surprisingly delicious. But for the most part because the fact she was really hungry. After eating, she stretched out on the couch, and Enilice leaned back in his chair.

– How much time do we have?

– We'll rest for two or three hours, and by the evening we`ll go. To the night we`ll get to Pleepmorr. It is quite hot in the Plains during the day. – said Enilice, standing up and heading to the exit.

– Where are you going?

– There must be well in the village, and not even one. If they didn`t dry thoroughly. I'll go look for it. We need some water for our horse. I'll be back soon, and you rest – the elf answered. Alice closed her eyes and fell asleep in a minute.

***

Alice saw herself standing in a large circular meadow with a large glass jar in its center, where fire was burning. The whole meadow was covered with snow, but around the glass jar was summer. The young green grass was there. Barefoot, wearing only a nightgown, as if she had just been dragged out of bed, she walked through the snow with a desire to take a look more closely that amazing space inside of glass jar.

– Why are you here? – The voice asked out of nowhere.

– I have to release Eraqel.

– Are you sure you can handle it?

– I just have to! – Alice answered, stepped on a fluffy carpet of young grass and touched the glass jar.

In one moment, everything was gone, as if nothing had ever been there. In front of herself Alice saw the image of a human figure with outstretched arms. And somewhere in her subconscious mind, she heard in Elvish: “Naur”.

A swift flight somewhere into the abyss captured Alice. She was falling with a furious speed and thought that she was about to crash on the ground. But the reality changed around her again. She saw herself walking through a snowy desert with the winds and blizzard howling around her. The plaintive meow of a lonely kitten was clearly heard somewhere ahead.

– Where are you going? – The voice asked out of nowhere.

– Someone is calling for help.

– This is a trap and you will die!

– Even so, my conscience will be clear.

After walking some distance, she saw a frostbitten, half-dead kitten on the snow, who “asked” for help. Alice picked him up from the snow and hide under her nightgown, gently holding to her chest. She breathed the warm air out of her lungs several times, trying to warm him as quickly as possible, and in the next moment everything was gone, as if nothing had ever been there. Alice saw in front of her an image of a human figure with a hands straightened at the chest, perpendicular to the body. And somewhere in her subconscious mind, she heard in Elvish: “Cuil”.