Читать книгу Elinor. The Deserted Valley. Book 1 - Mikhail Shelkov - Страница 19

They sat by the fire. The image of Reyve did not leave Do’Ayve’s head.

Why did she attract me so much? What is so special about her?

Do’Ayve looked closely at the faces of the twin sisters Leerie and Nainuk; both apprentices were still very young. He decided they were beautiful. Both were pretty, with light-golden hair. It was only possible to distinguish them by the hair: Leerie had short hair, and Nainuk had hair below the shoulders. But the sisters didn’t awaken such emotions in Do’Ayve. He simply treated them as his sisters-in-arms, his comrades-in-arms.

Why Reyve?

Now Do’Ayve had a look at Biu, a field chronicler. She sat and wrote something down on a sheet of parchment. She noticed Do’Ayve was watching her and looked up.

“Did something happen? Is everything fine?”

“Yes!” Do’Ayve came to his senses. “What are you writing about?”

“About today’s pass.” Biu was a little surprised at the question.

“But nothing happened today, did it?”

“We left Lauhan, walked along the path for a long time, fixed a camp… all these are also events. They are important. The history of the people is written just like that.”

Do’Ayve realized that now he might look stupid and decided to walk around the camping area for a bit.

Joe whacked his blunt sword across the huge stone. He chopped zealously and frantically.

Those like Joe cannot live without battles.

The a’jo’ğan are distinct Itoshinian warriors. The most violent are brought to the battles with demons on chains or in steel cages, and then released. Then a’jo’ğans take out all their wrath, their fury, their anger.

In Joe, a violent disposition had been noticed since birth. That’s why they had given him such a name. He was destined to be an a’jo’ğan. He could often control himself, but not always. Should one make him angry – he became demonic. Who knew what would happen in six years? Perhaps Joe would also need a cage.

Well, Lado, too, had a complicated temper, but he was unlikely to become an a’jo’ğan. Lado knew how to restrain himself. Joe did not.

On the other side, sparks flew from the fire. Todo, appointed to be duty officer, was sharpening swords for himself and the novices.

All the soldiers sharpened their own swords. Those who didn’t undergo initiation were not allowed to do so on the way. The Code said that competent sharpening was just as important as the strength and speed of a stroke. Those who didn’t know how to sharpen the sword weren’t taken to be soldiers. And if one received the title of a warrior, he was required to take care of his own sword!

E’Do, for example, never did it in public: either he walked away from the camping place, or waited for everyone to fall asleep, and then would take up the duty. And, it seems, that the time of this covenant rite was now approaching.

“Curfew!” E’Do commanded. “I’ll go on watch first; once the brume ends, Lado; at dawn, Todo!

The camp came to life. If E’Do gave an order, it had to be carried out. Five minutes later, everyone was lying on the ground, covered with yauls’ skins.

E’Do tossed the thorns into the fire and only then noticed Do’Ayve nearby.

“What about you?” The udoğan was surprised. “I gave the order!”

“I do not want to,” Do’Ayve replied, crouched by the fire.

“What do you mean ‘I do not want to’? Today you must sleep! You’ll be on duty tomorrow!”

“I won’t fall asleep,” Do’Ayve insisted, choosing his words carefully, “I wanted to ask you… to ask for help… advice. I’m distraught in my soul, and I cannot overcome it.”

“Well, well, well,” E’Do changed his tone. “Distraught is no good! Distraught is death for a warrior, for the warrior who is distraught ceases being a warrior. This feeling overrides the essence of the warrior!” The udoğan quoted lines from the Code, but then turned to his assistant. “Tell me!”

“I do not know… how should I start? Tell me, what is the most beautiful thing you’ve seen in your life?”

“Battle, Do’Ayve, battle – this is the most beautiful thing for a warrior!” The answer was rather careless, but seemed sincere.

“That’s true… but I mean something other than battles. The Imperial Palace? Is it beautiful?”

Only udoğans were allowed to visit the palace of the ruler of the Empire. Yes, all the guards and caretakers also held a title. Women were treated in the same way, except for the venerable widows who had lost their husbands in battles. They were disposed to cook, clean, and carry out other household chores in the Imperial Palace.

“It is majestic,” said E’Do, giving his assessment.

“And the Emperor’s famous gardens? The hall of valor? And… the daughter of the Emperor? Tsvetsho? You are the only man who has seen her, aren’t you?

E’Do was silent. Do’Ayve even assumed that he wasn’t listening. Or maybe he is thinking? Remembering? But then he saw E’Do’s face turn pale, and a vein twitched in his cheekbone. Suddenly, the udoğan unfastened Hanvet from the belt, removed it from its sheath, picked up a flat stone from the ground and began to sharpen his sword.

For the first time, E’Do was sharpening his sword in front of him, in front of Do’Ayve!

The grinding stone slid gently along the sparkling blade, striking golden sparks. It looked fascinating.

“This is wonderful!” the udoğan finally uttered, nodding at the sword.

Do’Ayve thought that the commander had not understood him.

“I’m talking about a different thing. You see, in Shohan, shortly before we set off on our trip, I met the young and beautiful Reyve… and since then only she is in my heart,” explained Do’Ayve, who got carried away spilling out everything that was boiling up inside him.

“I can’t think about battles! I can’t hold a sword in my hands! I want to be with her, and not to go to war, yet I’m a warrior and I want to be one! But somehow, I’m drawn away. Why? This is feeling, right?” he looked at E’Do.

“Yes,” E’Do replied.

“And you… was it ever like this for you?”

“Like that, never!” E’Do’s responses became exceptionally dry.

“Is the feeling a bad thing?” the young man continued. “For if it’s interfering with battle, then, I’d think, yes. Am I right?”

“Right.”

“You know, it seems to me I was incredibly excited about our journey when I realized that I could escape from my feelings! But it turns out that that is not how it is! I’m running from Reyve, but not from my feelings for her. The feelings take over again and again! Perhaps you don’t understand me. You said it yourself that you have never felt anything like that.”

“Go to sleep!” E’Do suddenly grabbed his sword and plunged it into the ground to the very hilt. “You’re on duty tomorrow! Therefore, you have to sleep! That’s an order!”

All thoughts left Do’Ayve’s head at once. That’s what was good about the Itoshin philosophy. At the exact moment that you are unable to act by the Code, you will be put in place by an order!

Do’Ayve received this order from E’Do, and then gave himself the order to fall asleep. This time, the power of the udoğan’s word overcame his own emotional sufferings. He had to obey.