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!
Chapter 9. Prisoners
Lush mansions in the middle of the desert. Unbearable heat and dry air. The prisoners, with their hands tied, their mouths gagged and bags on their heads, were brought into the king’s chamber.
– Your Majesty, here they are! – said Jack. – Probably spies. We caught them while walking around the lands.
Derr, King of Lorraine, ate grapes, spitting out the seeds and skins on a saucer. Two maids fanned him. For some time he showed no sign that he had heard what was said. And then he said:
– Into their pit. To the tigers.
Councilor Ezigurd approached Derr and whispered something in his ear. The king smiled:
– Oh yes, how could I not have thought of this myself! Esigurd speaks his mind. Still, I get better with age. Prisoners, I grant you forgiveness. Moreover, you have the honor of taking part in the competition for my son’s engagement!
The prisoners muttered.
– No need to thank me! Derr said. «I know, I’ve been overly kind lately.» Jack, take them in a kama… to the chambers of other applicants!
The bags were taken off them and the damned gags were taken out. The heat is unbearable, there is nothing to breathe. They even untied their hands. Only the prisoners were left without weapons – everything was taken away. Duncan immediately tried to rush at Jack, but the bars slammed in front of him. Then the man spat and hit the soldier right in the face. He wiped away the spit.
«We’ll meet again,» he said.
They looked around. There were mattresses on the floors, but there were clearly not enough places for everyone. There were about fifty people here, no less. Other prisoners looked disapprovingly at the new arrivals.
Everyone curses the villains, forgetting how much good they brought in between their vile deeds. Before the First Antimonian Empire, each settlement had its own language. But Antimonik burned out words other than the Common Speech. Old dialects remained in some places, but even commoners knew the Common Language, at least in general terms. Unless the inhabitants of the Unknown Continent and the newly developed Ddraigha may not understand you.
As the sun fell below the horizon, the guard brought food. This is unsalted porridge, a piece of stale bread and a glass of stagnant water for each prisoner. One of the prisoners approached Nermall:
– Old man, you still don’t have long to live. Give me your portion, and I won’t touch you! I need a lot of strength for tomorrow’s fight!
Duncan clenched his fists, but Nermall stopped him with a gesture. The old pirate was used to this kind of place, so he was not at a loss. He silently stood up, walked up to the bully and punched him in the gut. He twisted himself into a ram’s horn and fell.
– Will there be any other contenders for my portion? – Nermall looked around at those present. Everyone pretended to eat, not paying attention to what was happening. – Well, fine! Bon Appetit everyone!
The porridge is disgusting, to put it in decent words. But after a hungry day, even Still, accustomed to luxurious dinners, ate it like a heavenly dish.
When it got dark, we decided to talk about this and that. But one of the prisoners said:
– Guys, have a conscience! There’s