Читать книгу Elinor. The Deserted Valley. Book 1 - Mikhail Shelkov - Страница 18

They had breakfast in a large circle; the udoğan, soldiers, and apprentices – all together. E’Do appreciated the unity.

They ate vegetable stew, wheat scones, and boiled eggs. E’Do did not refuse the plentiful breakfast offered by the udoğan Goro. The awaiting path wasn’t as difficult, but it was still a tiring pass through the foggy hills. And from now until the Valley, the main food of the Itoshins would be the yauls’ jerky. Not the most pleasant prospect. You can endure anything, but a hearty meal both strengthens the spirit and gives new strength in battle.

The attendant of the inn was taking the yauls out from the stock stand as E’Do gave the command to load them with baggage.

When they were walking out of the gate, Do’Ayve cordially bid farewell to Mitsu and wished his fortress a long peace.

From Lauhan to the south lay a straight path, passing between the gray rocks. The danger of falling into the abyss was no longer there. The mighty mountains of the north gradually grew lower and lower until they turned into gently sloping stone elevations. On such roads, it was possible to walk unaccompanied by an illa. Of course, demons could attack. More precisely, within a couple of weeks they would attack at least once. But each Itoshin had to always be ready to repel a sudden attack.

They walked in silence.

According to the Code, any soldier on the crossing was obliged to remain silent, and speak only when the situation required it. If the enemy was near, if it was an unknown creature, a beast or a man, or maybe you hurt your foot on a sharp stone – speak then. And if you don’t like that the fog is damp, that it’s cool around, that you want to eat – keep quiet!

Do’Ayve would prefer to wade through dangerous mountain trails, as they had done over the previous seven days. As throughout all those days, he had been thinking about how to make the right step, how not to fall into the abyss, and how to catch up with the illa.

On an even path, the only thing left was to remember Shohan. Remember Moon Lake… remember Reyve!

Do’Ayve thought about her, and it frightened him. And what if the demons? And he suddenly wavered!

At last, the young man decided to discuss it with E’Do at the next night’s stop, to not postpone such an essential conversation for a long time.

I wonder what’s going on in the heads of my comrades-in-arms now? We move forward, measuring steps through this dense fog. There is nothing to think about, therefore I remember the past, so I’m floundering between my temptations. What’s E’Do thinking about, I wonder? What do the focused Todo and Ğan-Iolai think about? The hot-tempered Joe and Lado? Could it be that I’m the first warrior who was subjected to such tests? Most likely not! There were others. But they had overcome their passions! For the Code still exists, and we live by the Code!