Читать книгу Elven heritage - - Страница 8

In the morning, without waking up the innkeeper, the friends set off on the road.

***

It seems that there is no end or end to the sands in these parts. Then a small series of stones and low rocks, and again sand. The sun is high. I want to hide behind the mighty crown of some tree. But will cactus spines provide much shade? Even the smells faded away in the desert, except for the dry smell of sand. Still kept reaching for the flask. The other travelers also quickly became exhausted on this seemingly endless journey. Lewis and Nermall were more confident than the others. Lewis grew up in Lorraine and is no stranger to these terrains. And Nermall is generally difficult to surprise or scare with anything. Goosebumps appeared before my eyes every now and then. Therefore, it often seemed that there was a small grove in the distance.

– I would give half my life for five minutes in the shadows! – said Duncan.

«And a mug of cold water,» Still added.

«Or kvass,» said Kurt.

«You are weak,» Lewis smiled.

«I now understand why the Lorraineers constantly strive to attack us!» – Kurt said. – Is Lorraine’s entire land a huge desert? Will the sands run out soon?

«Then there will be less sand,» Lewis said. – Then the stones will come.

Kurt lit the cigarette.

– Aren’t you hot, friend? – said Duncan. – Why are you also warming yourself up from the inside?

The wind was blowing tumbleweeds. The horizon turned black. Nermall looked worriedly at the clouds that were approaching faster and faster. And then there was unexpected silence, as if someone had turned off the wind.

«Get off your horses,» said Nermall.

– What?

– No need for unnecessary questions. Now the storm is coming. Cover your head.

That is why trees did not coexist here. A sharp gust of wind seemed to be able to break even a centuries-old oak tree. The sand covered my head. A minute ago the bright sun was blinding, but now it’s dark, like a moonless night. Sand is everywhere. Open your eyes and you may remain blind until your death.

***

The regatta hung over the palantir. She whispered the words of an ancient spell and moved her hand through the air. But then she met someone’s magical resistance.

– Anilix! You! I’ll still kill them! – she said in an empty room. But the sorcerer heard her words in another part of the world. Silver entered the room.

– What are you doing, dear?

– Anilix! This damned sorcerer! He’s always on my way!

– Oh, you’re talking about this old man! «Silver barely touched the palantir, and the magical resistance instantly disappeared. Regatta began to cast the spell again, but Silver stopped her with a kiss.

– No need to touch them. Let them go.

– They are coming for weapons that can stop you. Silver, let’s kill them! Ask! I can’t stand it if they kill you. Let’s stop them before it’s too late!

– Among them is my brother.

– That’s it! Still! Who knows what he is capable of as a sorcerer? You are stronger than any living magician. But the same blood flows in him as in you. Maybe he will be your equal! – Regatta looked at her husband with hope in her eyes. But he shook his head:

– I don’t want them to die. To be honest, I don’t want deaths at all. But I will go to Tivol. I want to look my father in the eyes. And say how wrong he is. If he had not expelled me, I would not have had to resort to extreme measures for this.

Silver began to peer at the image inside the crystal ball. But it suddenly dissipated. He is the strongest of the sorcerers. But there is one spell that is not available to him. How many times has he looked into the witchcraft sphere! Any point in the world is accessible to him. But Silver was never able to see the faces of Still and Dinor. He forgot what his relatives looked like, and some unprecedented magic prevented him from remembering old faces. Silver cursed and threw the crystal ball to the floor.

***

It seems the storm has passed. Still dug himself out of the sand. Then he offered his hand to Lewis. Together they dug up Nermall. A few minutes later all the travelers were saved.

– Glory to the Creator! We weathered this storm,» Duncan said.

«I wouldn’t be so sure,» Lewis said.

– What are you talking about? – Kurt asked.

«It’s better for you not to know,» said Nermall. – After a storm they often come!

Kurt wanted to ask something else, but he was stopped by Murray’s heart-rending scream. Kurt looked back in the direction the writer indicated. A huge scorpion was walking towards them. The friends took out their swords.

«Don’t move,» Lewis said. – He may not notice us.

Scorpio stopped, looking for something. And then he trotted off in a different direction. But then Murray sneezed loudly. Scorpio turned around sharply and rushed towards the travelers.

Still barely dodged the huge sting. Each leg of the huge animal is as thick as the body of the skinny Nermall!

– Aim for the belly. Or to the place on the back where the monster’s tail begins! Lewis shouted. Still tried several times to mount the scorpion, but it shook the hunter off to the ground.

Scorpio suddenly fell. A huge spear protruded from his back. The travelers looked around. Behind stood the leader of the bandits who were attacking a village on the border with Lorraine.

– So you got caught! – he rubbed his hands.

– Don’t be in such a hurry, Jack! – said another bandit… or soldier, how do you distinguish between them? «They will be useful to the king for entertainment.» Let’s take them prisoner.

The friends resisted the attackers. But the travelers were exhausted after a long journey, so they could not give a worthy rebuff.

– Well, are you going to resist? If so, I will order my men to finish you off. Better put down your weapon voluntarily. From today you come into the favor of the King of Lorraine!