Yarsi sank back to the ground, exhausted.
“But... I don't understand, I killed them. There in Reet... I know that their lives, the lives of werewolves, were cut short... forever.
“Congratulations, you have a gift, Yarsi, it’s funny,” Matzher carefully looked into his eyes. - And if only for this reason, I don't want your life to end soon.
Yarsi shook his head stubbornly.
So you need a gift? Do you mean a magical gift? Then I turn to the wizards.
Matter sighed.
- Not every sorcerer has the Force capable of killing a werewolf. Such a minority. But any sorcerer is able to shackle a werewolf with spells for a while, then put him on an enchanted chain and calmly conduct experiments on him. You will become a very rare and very valuable booty for them. You will never be released. In the hands of sorcerers, there was not yet a werewolf outside of Reeta. You will never be killed, and you will become their guinea pig for life. It will be a very long time, Yarsi! Therefore, I do not advise you to turn to sorcerers. They are just scratching their heads over how they could study at least one of the inhabitants of Reeta. So say closer.
Yarsi let out a sigh.
- So I'm drowning.
- You can't.
- Why?
“The essence of the werewolf won't allow it.
- Yes? Then you can throw yourself into the fire.
“You’ll only get burned, and even then not completely.” And how are you going to keep yourself in the flames?
- Yes, it's a problem. So I'm going to be a werewolf anyway? Yarsi looked longingly at the sky. “Okay, if you don’t want to help me, then, having finished my business, I will surrender to the sorcerers. I will serve the great purpose of studying the undead! After all, they still won’t find another test subject ... at least they will protect other people from me.
Matter grimaced.
“You will doom yourself to a life of captivity, forever.
- Reeta is also a prison, and at least I will be among the people among the sorcerers.
- You will be in constant pain, their experiments will be aimed at finding an effective way to kill you.
So I hope they find a way. Thank you for enlightening me about my immediate future, but I have to go,” Yarsi resolutely got to his feet and looked around. I don't see my horse.
- He is gone, he remained in Reet, he did not even reach the Border, the wounds were too serious. I took off his saddlebags,” Matzher nodded somewhere behind Yarsi.
He looked around and noticed familiar things in the grass. Rummaging through his bags, he pulled out clean clothes and began to change.
“Medallion,” Matzher said very coldly. - Take it off.
Yarsi shuddered, he had already tore off the remains of his shirt from his body, he had to operate with one hand, and now he was naked to the waist. The rays of the sun played merrily on the silver facets of the medallion hanging around his neck.
- What?
“Your locket is silver,” Matzher explained. “Soon you won’t be able to touch the silver, it will burn your skin. Take it off.
Yarsi clenched the medallion in his fist and yanked hard. The silver chain could not stand it and broke. His heart was beating unusually fast in his chest, and he opened the locket. The picture inside was very small and for some reason blurred, something interfered with viewing. Yarsi rubbed his eyes, surprised to feel the moisture on his skin. Tears? He hadn't cried since his mother's funeral, he'd forgotten what it was. So it was necessary.
The sight cleared up. Yarsi ran his finger over the image, wiped away a fallen tear. His family, father - a stern face and a detached cold look, brothers - Egor and Eromir, outwardly very similar to their father, fair-haired and gray-eyed, only in their views there was never the same coldness and lifelessness. And mom - a black-haired beauty with clear blue eyes, he alone looked like her, like mom. Yarsi closed the medallion slowly, his hand trembling, perhaps the last time he saw their faces.
He lowered the medallion into the pouch at his belt and with difficulty began to pull on a clean shirt, weakness began to spread through his body again. I had to pour blood out of my boots, all my legs were covered in blood, but there was nowhere to wash. Yarsi put on his pants with a sigh and pulled his boots back on.
Scraps of bloody clothes he threw into the fire. Matzher silently watched him. Yarsi slung his saddlebags over his healthy shoulder and looked around, it was necessary to choose the direction of the path. An unfamiliar place, an unfamiliar forest, but he clearly knew in which direction Ereald, the capital of Miros, was located. It was like someone put knowledge into his head. And the way he was now looking, turning towards the city, did not please him at all.
– Five days of travel directly? Without stops? he asked quietly.
“You yourself feel the distance,” Matzher replied calmly.
“I feel it,” Yarsi said dejectedly. Right in front of him was Reeta, Ereald was exactly behind the cursed forest. And to get around Reeta, it will take not five days, but all ten.
- And I feel that if I enter Reeta now, I won’t be able to get out of it.
Matter nodded.
Can you sell me your horse? Please, I have money, please,” Yarsi pleaded.
Matzher shook his head silently again, this time negatively.
- Farewell, - Yarsi turned sharply and quickly walked along the forest.
He wanted to go fast, he wanted to run, but in fact, the weakness was more and more fettering the body and gradually became more and more irresistible. Each step was given with great difficulty. He stubbornly walked forward. I wandered until my head began to spin, until my knees began to buckle. And when dark spots danced in his eyes, he sank to the ground and remained seated. The fire of rage, which had just raged because of his own impotence, slowly died out in his heart, and there was nothing left. Not even the ashes of hope, only emptiness and indifference.
After some time, Matzher caught up with him, he slowly approached and sat down next to him.
“You lost a lot of blood and the potion wore off.
- Yes? And what? What do you want from me? - Yarsi's voice was muffled, he unbearably wanted to lie down on the ground and never get up again. Never get up.
“Listen to me, Yarsi.
I don't have the strength to plug my ears.
“I don’t wish you harm and I see that you are very negative about the prospect of becoming a werewolf, but still let me tell you about them.
Who are you, Matzher? Where did you get this knowledge? And why should I trust you?
“Perhaps someday I will answer your questions, but for now, just accept me as some kind of force, a neutral force.
– Neutral force? And how great is your power? Who are you, Matter?
“Let’s just say I specialize in the undead. Nothing else matters. It is important that I know what awaits you.
- You've already said that. So you're a dark sorcerer, a necromancer?
“Not really, listen to me. Once upon a time there was a great kingdom on the site of this forest, it was also called Reeta. It was ruled by sorcerers, very strong sorcerers, they were the most powerful in this world. Their knowledge was collected for centuries, and one day they decided that they could open the Doors to other worlds. You know, they almost made it. They were able to cross the Edge of the reality of their own world. Only they made the wrong choice, in their desires there was more Darkness, not Light. They wanted to be omnipotent, they wanted power, they wanted to become masters of Forces that are not subject to people, - Matzher thoughtfully looked at the forest. – If only knowledge were their desire, everything would be different, but their choice opened the Doors to the world of demons – the Dark World. Two alien realities have come into contact, and now we can observe the consequences of this contact. Undead.
But a werewolf is a werewolf, he can become a man. And even Reeta, when there is no full moon, does not keep them beyond her Border. They walk your land, live among you, all the greatest warriors are werewolves. And not only warriors, they became rulers, led huge armies into battle and won. If you remember history, you will understand who they were and are now. Their hearts are burned with longing and pain, they will always remember the lost power and the inability to change anything. Magic is no longer available to them. And then there is Reeta, who summons them every full moon. But they are not insane and therefore remember everything.
“I know the history of Reeta,” Yarsi said softly. – But I hear about the fact that werewolves quietly walk among us for the first time.
“And you are an educated boy. Even about the very existence of the ancient kingdom, few people have heard, but you know the story. Your teacher was supposed to be a sorcerer.
“Doesn't matter.” Yarsi grimaced.
“Well, so be it,” Matzher smiled. – Do you know the name Alato?
“He was the last king of Reeta. It was under him that the kingdom, together with the inhabitants, disappeared - it was reborn into a cursed forest.
“Not just a king, he was the one who opened the Doors. In his hands were concentrated all the forces subject to the sorcerers of Reeta. He was reborn first, became the first werewolf of the new Reeta. And those forces that he possessed and used remained tied to him. They continue to exist in Reet, continue to nourish and restrain its inhabitants….
“Border,” Yarsi breathed.
– Yes, the Border is one of the manifestations of Alato's power. He is the king of Reeta and he rules over his subjects. That was the Treaty that allowed Reeta to exist many centuries ago - its closeness from the rest of the world. Now imagine that the one who controlled it suddenly disappeared. And the energy wall holding back the undead in the Forest of the Damned fell.
Why should I present it? Alato cannot disappear, judging by your words, he is omnipotent.
“Only in Reet, but he's a werewolf, a werewolf with his own quirks and habits. And when a victim suddenly appears in the forest, he gathers his subjects for a feast and always attacks first. And it doesn't kill right away. He likes the still living hot blood running into his mouth, and the victim's heart continues to beat while he bites into her flesh with his teeth ... Or rather, he liked it.
Yarsi shivered shiveringly.
“Are you saying that I was bitten by Alato himself?”
- Bitten, and you killed him. And by the law of Reeta, you became his heir. So congratulations, you are the new king of the cursed forest!
- No no no. Don't joke like that, - Yarsi groaned muffledly and did not notice how he fell to the ground. The forces finally left him.
The bitterness and the liquid that burned her throat confidently drove away the saving gloom. I really wanted to forget myself and never wake up again. But the thoughts were too clear, and the memories again and again gave the consciousness eerily vivid pictures of the experienced nightmare.
Yarsi coughed and opened his eyes, Matzher let go of his head and removed the flask of decoction.
The sun was high overhead, so it was far from morning, and most likely half a day had passed.
Why didn't you wake me up earlier?
- You needed to rest.
“For a werewolf, I pass out way too often.
You are not a werewolf yet. You will receive strength after conversion, but for now you have only survivability.
Yarsi sighed.
- This is all true? Am I permanently linked to Reeta now?
- Is it true.
“Tell me, Matzher, did you decide to save me before I killed Alato, or after?” Yarsi sat up and looked his savior in the eye. Maetjer held his gaze silently, mockery flickering in the depths of his green eyes.
- Do you really need an answer to this question?
“I heard that the Forest of the Damned has a Keeper,” Yarsi said slowly. “Not a human, not an undead, a soulless, indifferent creature, moving freely across Reeta, and able to calmly cross the Border. The Guardian has the power to intervene in everything that happens in this forest and next to it. Thousands of people prayed to him for salvation, but he never helped anyone, no one came back ... And you pulled me out only because I killed Alato and became his heir.
- The keeper? I? Matter shrugged. - Yes, I watch Reeta, but I'm not in it all the time. And the fact that I was there when the undead attacked you is just an accident.
"So you would have saved me if I hadn't killed Alato?" Yarsi asked insistently.
Matter smiled.
“That wouldn't make sense. Reeta does not let her victims go.
“You could have helped me before I was attacked!”
I don't interfere in anyone's fate.
“Understood,” Yarsi clenched his fists angrily. - Living people do not bother you, but you care about these creatures, they need to be fed!
Matzher rose to his feet and gave him a cold look.
“These seven days, Yarsi, until you pass the conversion,” he said in a lifeless voice. “The border will be unstable, think about it. And then only you will be responsible for the safety of people from Reeta. And you are not Alato, and becoming king, you can probably do much more for people than he can. If there is a desire. If you can overcome hunger. It's difficult, Yarsi, but you are stronger than Alato, and you have the Gift.Yarsi shook his head.- A gift? I do not need it. I just wanted… never mind.” He slowly stood up. - I agree to everything, just help me, Matzher. I need to get to Ereald before I become a werewolf.“You won’t make it in time, but you know you have a chance to preserve the essence of a person. The chance to remain yourself and turn into a beast only when you yourself wish it. Of course, if in these seven days we can find the sorcerer of the old blood, who will agree to give you this same blood.“Old blood? Who are you speaking about? About the First? They are n
From the inn, he went to the main street of Catrice, walked slowly and tried not to think about anything, peered into the faces of people. Some were funny, some focused. People were in a hurry somewhere or gathered in noisy companies. Katrice was the least like a place subject to the dark forces of Reeta. The darkness thickened only over him - with a prickly deadly cold it tore his heart, a dull tearing pain was given in a wounded shoulder."Soon," whispered the cool wind.“Soon,” the leaves of the trees repeated after him. “Soon you will no longer be human. Go away, your place is in Reet...Yarsi looked around in desperation, people did not pay attention to him, but the idea was already firmly entrenched in his mind that soon the only feeling for him would be human hatred. His essence was flooded with anger, he clenched his fists with fury, sniffed the air, pushing human sensations somewhere to the brink of perception. A heightened sense of smell singled out the smell of metal and le
Yarsi stopped, lowered his weapon, looked into Vik's eyes. Something elusive, like a shadow, flickered in the Vistolian's gaze. He nodded, took two quick steps forward, and suddenly waved his hand. In the twilight of the night, the steel of the dagger flashed. Yarsi felt the movement of the air being cut by the deadly blade rather than realize what had happened. The body moved separately from the mind, only then came the realization that if Vic had wanted to, he would not have missed. It's impossible to miss from that distance. The dagger thrown by a skillful hand only casually touched his stomach. And this was already after he took a step to the side, turned sideways, and all this with some unthinkable, inhuman speed that amazed Yarsi himself. The dagger cut through the fabric of his shirt, touched his skin with a terrible cold, and continued its flight, disappearing somewhere in the darkness of the alley.Vic stared at the prince in amazement, throwing the dagger should have ended t
Yarsi quickly noted that Vik was not among the dead and felt an involuntary relief.He stepped a little closer, peered at their wounds. Four bloody stripes crossed the chest of each - long and deep, torn to skin, bones and internal organs. The one who killed them dealt only one blow, one single blow with great inhuman strength.The sorcerers walked around the corpses in a circle, looked at each other, knelt down next to them, whispered something quietly."We're all going to die," a woman shrieked in the crowd. “Katrice is doomed…People began to murmur, frightened cries were heard.Why did the undead enter the city? – it was a question to sorcerers. Yarsi recognized the bald man's voice. - It turns out that we are now even in our homes are not safe?“You should have known that the undead would cross the Border!” Someone else backed him up. - That's why you are sorcerers, that's what we pay you for! ..- Where is the Head? Let him tell you what to do.We will all die...- Katrice has b
Yarsi showed his fist to the stallion and again grabbed the saddle, this time he managed to cope with the girth safely. He threw the saddlebags on the horse and jumped into the saddle. The stallion danced in place, striving to rear up.“Yes,” Elena's companion said discontentedly, and Yarsi felt his penetrating gaze on him.He was tall and thin, strands of completely gray hair fell on his shoulders, a painful expression froze on his weather-beaten, wrinkled face. He held two horses at the bridle and leaned heavily on a staff Yarsi knew. But the colorless eyes burned with a completely unnatural strength for his age.- Yaroslav. You have matured, but I recognize you, glad that my girl was not mistaken. I hope your years of wandering have taught you something, fugitive. And yet, Elena, - he turned to the girl. “It would be extremely unreasonable to continue the further journey, accompanied by two inept boys. They can't protect us!Matzher laughed softly again.Elena gave him a displeased
They made their next stop almost at night, when the sun had dipped behind the treetops. Wriston chose a spot on the side of the road, away from the trees. They dismounted, unsaddle their horses, but did not let them go to graze, the forest was too close.Riston cautiously looked around and, leaning heavily on his staff, walked in a circle, bypassing the place of their parking.Is he a sorcerer? Yarsi asked, lowering his voice.“Once upon a time,” Elena sighed heavily. They say old habits are hard to break."That's stupid," Matzher chuckled. – What is he doing? Trying to create a protective circle? Useless occupation.“It will make him feel better,” the girl said. She took supplies from her saddlebag and began preparing supper.Vic went for firewood and lit a fire. Matzher found himself a stump, sat down and began to watch Wriston. The old man now leaned toward the ground, then straightened up, drew unknown signs in the air with his staff, and muttered something quietly."At least he's
There was no fear, I wanted to grab the nearest delonha with my teeth, preferably by the throat, and crush the supple body with my hands so that the bones cracked. Crush, immobilize, trample into the ground. But they did not let him close to them, they fenced themselves off with a wall of sparkling blades, already realizing that something was wrong.Yarsi was tired of rushing between opponents, he again ducked and quickly slipped under the belly of the nearest horse. At the same time, he grabbed the rider's leg and pulled it with force, pulling him down. From surprise, the delonh flew out of the saddle and found himself on the ground. Yarsi fell on top, realizing that he was sorely lacking time, the rest of the opponents were too close.Delongh writhed under him, Yarsi with difficulty pulled his unnaturally strong arm with a weapon away from him, moving away from the luminous sword. The edge of the blade was so sharply sharpened that it was almost invisible to the eye and blurred into
There are a thousand roads leading awayThere are thousands of roads that sang the night.My path is oneAnd in it the moon again smiles without sleep,Now she is my ladyI am her slave, servant in the night ...The time was drawing near to dawn, but low black clouds hanging almost overhead made the twilight a real darkness. Heavy, joyless and impenetrable.The horses trotted along at a quiet trot, as tired as the riders from the furious ride that had lasted all night. Matzher led their small detachment, Yarsi rode at the rear. He saw that people could hardly sit in the saddles, they didn’t get a good rest, they didn’t manage to sleep and even have dinner, and now they were holding on with their last strength.People. He caught himself thinking that he no longer identified himself with people, himself and Matzher. Only three of them were human. Their smell tickled his nostrils, he heard their hearts beating, he felt how hot blood was running very close through their veins ... His mind