guests looked at each other in fear.
– Unknown Lands? Didn’t I hear it?
«It also seemed to me that the king said exactly that.»
– Your Highness! – Colonel Darsu expressed the general idea louder than others. – It’s suicide to go to the Unknown Lands! No one returned from there alive!
– So, there won’t be a single volunteer who will go to distant lands, perhaps to certain death, but for the sake of saving the Motherland? – Dinor looked around at those present.
«I’ll go get the book,» Still said quietly.
– What, son? – Dinor asked. – Do you want to say something?
– I will go to the Unknown Lands! – Still said, this time his voice echoed throughout the entire hall.
– No, son, what are you talking about! How can you go there! – Dinor laughed nervously. – It is unknown what awaits the traveler along the road! There will be others who will risk their lives. And you are the crown prince, your life must be protected.
– Will they respect me when I become king if I sit in the castle, sending others to their deaths? – Still looked carefully into his father’s eyes. – Did you ever sit out your time?
Didn’t sit back! People loved Dinor because he always walked ahead of the squad. Lately the king had almost gone mad, but people still respected him for his old exploits.
– I will go! Still insisted.
– You’re not going anywhere!
– Father!
– Are there anyone who wants it? Are there really no more candidates?
– Father, give me a birthday present!
– Your Majesty! – Anilix said. – All the kings of antiquity, before ascending to the throne, performed a feat. Give your son this chance too! How is he worse than his ancestors?
– Dad, please!
A single tear ran down the drunken king’s cheek.
– So be it. I prepared another birthday present for you – Councilor Wind personally chose the prostitute. I wanted you to become a man today, but I was too late. You are already a mature husband if you can make such decisions! I am the city with my son! So it’s destined – you will go on this dangerous journey. But I won’t send you away yourself. Who will go with my son?
– I will go! Lewis was the first to shout. «I can’t send my faithful friend on a dangerous journey myself!»
– And I’ll go! – said Nermall.
– You’re already old! – said Councilor Wind.
– Yes, but I will give most of the young people a head start. I taught Still a lot, but I didn’t pass on a lot of knowledge to him.
– I’ll go too!
– And I!
– And I want to go!
Many warriors’ hands reached up.
– We can’t send a large detachment! – Dinor laughed. «Even a blind sentry will notice such a detachment.» Colonel Darsu, choose the best.
– I myself wouldn’t mind going for the princes Still! – Colonel Darsu said.
– No, Colonel. You, together with Advisor Wind, will prepare our troops for war. No one can say for sure whether this book exists. We can’t bet all our cards on just the lost elven tome!
***
Still had a fair amount of wine. But the girl who was brought to his bed dispelled his intoxication for a while.
– What is your name? – the young man asked, stroking the blond, curly-haired beauty’s chin.
– Does it matter? Men never asked my name. And I don’t care what your name is. The main thing is that the money is paid!
She tore off the prince’s shirt. And then they loved each other.
***
Still’s head was pounding. He barely opened his eyes, wanting to take a leak. The blonde girl next to him was awake. She whispered words in an unknown language. Seeing that Still was awake, she attacked him. Tenacious fingers squeezed his neck. Touching the amulet Lewis gave her, she hissed.
– What kind of strange amulet is this? – she asked.
– Who sent you? – asked Still, instantly sobering up.
– The one who will take the throne when you die! – she again reached for the prince’s neck, but Still grabbed the sword that was lying nearby and brought it to the attacker’s neck.
– Guards! – Still shouted. Valin entered the room.
– Valin, take her to prison. She’s a witch!
The girl threw her cloak over her naked body. Valin glanced at her every now and then as he led the captive through the corridors.
– You won’t arrest me, will you? Really, handsome? I’m a poor defenseless girl. Do you know what atrocities Still did to me? And when he got tired of me, he threw me away like an old toy. Spoiled child!
She threw off her cloak with an imperceptible movement. Valin looked at the naked body of the prostitute, unable to utter a word. He is the only one from the guard who has not found a bride, so the blonde turned his head.
– Come on, be brave! – the prostitute put Valin’s palm on her chest. And with an imperceptible movement of her hand, she grabbed a dagger and plunged it into the soldier’s chest. She took a bunch of keys and opened one of the dungeons.
– Eleanor? – Jim was surprised.
– You betrayed Silver. «You won’t live to see the morning for this,» said the blonde. A dagger was stabbed into the bandit’s chest. Jim never lived to see his execution. And Eleanor ran away.
Chapter 5. Exile
The sun was rising, painting the gray sky with all the colors of the rainbow. The summer turned out to be cool. The nightingale sang, breaking the silence of the sleeping deciduous forest. It was as if he was trying to tell the aspens and oaks: «Stop sleeping! Sony! Look how beautiful the world around you is. Get up, have fun, enjoy life!» It smelled like grass.
All that was left of the once lush, endless forest was a small island covered with trees. These places are called Clearings.
Silver set a pack of trained dogs on the trail of a wild boar. His crossbow is ready. A shadow similar to an animal will flash, and he will immediately release a crossbow bolt. His arrows are special, they are enchanted with magic. Therefore, the Morelian king rarely missed his target. He sniffed, using the sense of smell of one of the dogs, and fired an arrow. The boar roared and rushed straight at him. Then Silver, with an equally furious cry, took out his sword and rushed at the maddened animal. One wave of his hand, and the boar’s head rolled on the ground, cut off by a sword covered with magical runes.
He dipped his fingers into the hot blood and licked the life-giving liquid. It contains all the power of the being. Without blood there is no life.
Silver felt the call. Concentrating, he created a sphere that fit in the palm of his hand. The image of a woman appeared in this ball.
– Hello, Lord! – she said.
– Hello, Eleanor! What’s going on?
– Master, I carried out your order. Jim is dead. Can I go back?
– For what? I need a man in Tivol.
– But they will look for me! The guards saw my face and now I’m not safe. I also