Elegance of how 2-3 weeks, develop in two and a half months, truly enchanting. Be that as it may, I finally finished the continuation of this thing: Stopgame.ru/Blogs/Topic/82047, which in turn was a continuation of this: Stopgame.ru/Blogs/Topic/80451.
I wish you pleasant reading to everyone who may have been waiting for him, as well as those who accidentally wandered. And of course more constructive criticism.
(P.S. Many thanks to Comrade Dedpychto, who terminated me, spurring to finish quickly.)
(P.S.2 I, most likely, are still problems with commas.)
(P.S.3 The continuation will be either this year or in the next, there is no other.)
(P.S.4 features, how do I love the very concept of poststeks!)
Zusman, throwing a hood over his head, watched the tavern "Dragon Horus" from the opposite side of the street. Outside, everything looked calm and he did not see the reasons for fear. "Let’s hope for the best, I need this information too much".
Three days have passed since the moment they started hunting. On that day, Zusman, only by chance, without being in the office of the office and seeing the guard breaking through the door, he immediately rushed away from there, into one of his spare shelters. Everything was said by Karl, they climbed into troubles over the ears. And the flair prompted Zusman that the caravan also happened was amiss. “Oh, these ally, if they screwed up again and because of this they will rake us all, I will understand them in the cell with my own hands”.
But the last time he was too busy to reflect on the degree of guilt of his subordinates. The guards sniffed throughout Gushtelburg, looking for someone suspiciously reminiscent of Zusman, and for help he could turn to only a few people who he trusted unconditionally. That is why he was now forced to take risks making his way to the tavern for a meeting with Wolf, who promised to find out what happened to that caravan.
Hurrently crossing the street, Zusman slipped out the door of the tavern and quickly found the eyes of an old sailor sitting in the corner, hurried to him. He noticed him, but did not show him, continuing to drink his elk.
-I learned something? – threw Zusman sitting down to him so that the entrance to the tavern would be visible.
– Yeah. You are in a very big ass with your guys.
– I myself managed to notice this. More specifically.
– Easily. You saw what destruction the angry dragon leaves? Because what was done with the caravan, as I heard, is very similar to it. With only one difference, the whole forest in the district did not burn out, the fire went out by itself.
– And what does it mean, Wolf? Stop darken.
– Oh zusman, you have your own magician in the team. He did not explain to you that the fire created by magic will go out over time?
– You will see you cannot live without rhetorical questions.
“Okay, okay,” the one -eyed Wolf set aside the mug from the element and looked seriously at Zusman. – clearly not simple robbers attacked the caravan, and among them there was a very strong magician. That they searched is not clear, the usual load was not at all interested in them. Your corpses did not find there, although many bodies were unrecognizable, there were no orcs among them. The rest are also possible alive, but it is better for them to spread about it. Intelligence became interested in you and is drooping throughout the city.
Wolf was silent was waiting for Zusman’s reaction. He did not know what to say, his worst fears were confirmed. Now they have only two ways left: from the country or to the gallows.
– But I pulled them into this. – the dwarf sighed.
– Everyone makes mistakes my friend.
– But not all after these mistakes become enemies of the crown.
– Your truth, Zusman, your truth. Hey baby! – he shouted passing by the waitress. -Bring my friend a circle to my friend.
The waitress smiled and hurried towards the bar. Zusman took out a bag of coins and handed over Wolf.
– Here, as agreed. I’m not going to linger here.
– Me too, but on the last toast with an old acquaintance you should have enough time.
The waitress came up, putting a full mug on the table. Wolf, with a honey smile, handed her a coin and the girl gratefully taking her, hurried about her business.
– For the fact that the ghosts of the past do not return to the world of the living! – raised a mug of Wolf.
“You have strange toasts,” Zusman raised his.
Wolf grinned, but he had not a drop of fun in his eye. Draining the remnants of ale, he said.
– Good luck, an old greedy dwarf, and I have been scheduled for another important meeting.
– Good luck and you, old drunk sailor.
Wolf came out the first and a limp, but cheerful gait, headed towards the city slum. Zusman, after a little hesitant, jumped out into the street and quickly disappeared into the gateway. Walking through narrow, dirty passages between the houses, Zusman thought about how to find his subordinates and flee the city when he heard a shout behind him.
– Hey dwarf! Do not rush like that.
Zusman immediately switched to running, but it was too late, two more figures grew in front of him, blocking the road. People began to approach and the dwarf had already prepared to say goodbye to his freedom, as well as with life, when a rough female voice was heard behind him:
– Hands off him, geeks!
The voice was followed by the sound of bones breaking under the blow of the ax, so pleasant for Zusman, in the current situation.
– Brunhild! How did you end up here?
Leaving the question unanswered, she rushed to the remaining people. But I did not have time to join the battle, both figures fell after the back of the sword blows.
– All questions after, Zusman. We must run from the city. Behind me. – said to Ave, cleaning the sword in the scabbard.
The three of them ran along the lanes towards the central square.
– Why are we running to the center? – asked Zusman on the run.
“It’s easier to hide in the crowd,” Owe answered him. – And we need to pick up Liviu from the shelter.
– And where are everyone else? And where did your beard disappear? – Zusman did not let up.
– They said, not to questions! – shouted Brunhild, – run!
Having run a few more lanes, they finally slowed down and moved one step.
– Ah … damn … how long I haven’t run. – He took a breath, grabbed his side, Zusman.
– These, from the gateway, were not alone. They clung to you after you came out.
– Thank you. You have a plan how to leave the city?
– We will improvise.
Having thrown raincoats on their heads, they joined the human stream, flowing along the vast city square and already crossed it by half, when an inaudible noise from the east grew into distinct cries.
– What is happening there? – I tried to make out the crowd of Zusman
– It seems I hear the horse. – Ave admitted.
Under the cries of people scattering from under the hooves, Rufus flew to the square, riding on a silver unicorn.
– Rufus!? – exclaimed in amazement Trinity.
The magician, who had hardly held on the back of a dissatisfied and frightened creature, rode almost to the center of the square, after which he was finally mercilessly dropped. Having described the arc, he landed on the old woman, who was not quick enough to get away, but was quite frightened by a person who was landing on her to start fighting off with a screech. From all sides, the square surrounded the guard and began to squeeze the ring in the center of which our heroes were.
– Oh, friends and you are here! – exclaimed Rufus, unhooked from an elderly lady, and noticing the taken aback of his comrades.
Ryabu went over the center of the square and from the resulting dark spot, collapsed on the stones of the Square Hanzorig, covered with burns and with three arrows sticking out of it. And the tips Alabard Guardians stared in the direction of all these suspicious entities with the most obvious intentions.
“Oh, you fuck …” burst out with a terrible abuse of Brunhild.
Owe shook the tree with https://gamblingdata.net/casinos/las-vegas-usa-casino/ such force that whole herds of fireflies dangled before my eyes. There was a deafening ringing in the ears, their backs and ribs persistently protested against such handling them. Buried his face in moist foliage, the Dvorf tried to recover. When the ringing gradually began to subside, Owe hardly rose to his feet.
There is almost nothing left of the caravan. Burning boards and bodies lying around, illuminating the field of the past battle.
– Mmm. – Sounds were heard away from the.
Brunhild also tried to get to her feet, though with much less success. OV helped her to stand up to the tree.
– What it was? She asked clapping her eyes.
– Another successful task. Liviu! Rufus! Hanzorig! – the Dvorf shouted.
Rustling along the forest litter, Liviu crawled out of the darkness. Rufus had to look for everyone together. He, as it turned out, was lying unconscious and it could not be brought to his senses. Hanzorig, they failed to find, like other survivors. Inspection of the corpses of the attackers also did not give anything, they resembled simple robbers.
“Go to bed,” Ove said when, after finishing the search, everyone gathered in a small ravine. – I will quarrel, and in the morning we will check again.
– Owe, and if the Hansa was killed? – asked Liviu.
-He was killed? They did not find the body, then it is alive. – Brunhild muttered on her cloak.
Obviously not satisfied with such an answer, Liviu still went to bed. OVA had no sleep in any eye. Who were these people? What was the purpose of the raid? Is this related to their previous employer? But for any of these questions, OBA could not give an answer. And now they will have to get to Gestelburg in their two, through an unfamiliar forest, about the losses of people in which there were many rumors. And even if they get to the city, Zusman’s unrest was clearly not groundless, they could already wait for them there. But he just wanted to calmly live on the surface, buy his own ship or at worst a pretty boat.
The light from the blazing remains of the caravan began to go out and the forest gradually plunged into the darkness. I saw it perfectly even in almost complete darkness, like any courtesy living underground. Without shadows discarded by fire, under the moonlight, the Dvorf examined the surroundings. The traces of the attackers went into the forest and simply broke off, as if people disappeared into the air.
Returning to friends, OVA never managed to close his eye. Listening to the night under the rhythmic, loud snoring of Brunhilda, he thought that they could wait for them. One bad foreboding was replaced by another, and this round dance lasts until the most dawn rays. And his thoughts were not at all interrupted by fatigue.
In the predawn grayness, Ov was able to distinguish a barely noticeable silhouette flickering among the trees. Having fanning the snoring brunhild and holding her mouth to avoid a displeased scream, he said:
-Someone is approaching. And most likely these are enemies. Ay! – He pulled his hand.
– Next time I will bite. Where is my ax?
– We still do not know how many of them and what are their intentions. Stand up Liviu.
The elf opened the frightened eyes and shaking the whole way like a bath sheet sat down with his legs holding.
“Brunhilda you had a flask with …” Ove turned around with a gaze with a courtyard, who threw back his head and slightly hesitated, still made the last sip from a flask.
– I am enough for me alone to scatter with them! – Dvorphyka blurted out with bravado.
Looking out of the ravine, Owe looked again in that direction and noticed a few more approaching strangers. These were elves.
– Brunhild, try to wake up Rufus. If you do not wake up in the bushes and pour it with earth, foliage, with anything, if only it would not be caught in the eye. Then, along with Liviu, hit them in the back when I distract them.
– Stop command and explain normally what is happening!
– Yes, you are not so. There are elves, those that were accompanied by a caravan. And if I were cursed if they climbed here by chance.
– Well, we will pour them the muzzles and the end with the end.
– Darling, I would love to see how the arrows of a dozen elves squeeze you, but after that they will most likely kill us and all of us. Stop your manners and listen to what I’m saying. – he muttered through the teeth of a kind.
“Okay,” she muttered with her eyes like a guilty child.
Ove approached Liviu, who tried his best to squeeze into the ground, away from the views of all living creatures.
– Liviu, you are like? – Avu asked in a calm, caring voice. Behind him, after several slaps and invited swearing, Brunhild dragged the Mage’s lifeless body into the bushes.
-P-p-plane by the OV.
– Nothing Liviu, nothing. Everything will cost. But I need to ask for one service. You can handle it?
-I do not know.
– I believe in you Liviu, just get together for a while, good. I need you to shoot several people on the command of Brunhilds.
– I can’t! I’m scared! – began to panic Liviu.
– Are you the most well -aimed shooter of Gestelburg. Not alcohol makes you brave, that brave itself. Just a few minutes Liviu, and after I get it free so that you do not dry out for a month. – Trying to look as carefree as possible, and praying to himself to all the gods, I looked at the elf.
– I will try. – Liviu even managed to squeeze out the semblance of a smile.
“That’s glorious,” the elf patted the elf on the shoulder of the owe turned to Brunhild, who had already turned Rufus into a bunch of foliage. – I will distract them on myself. As soon as the opportunity to attack.
“Don’t die there,” the Dvorphyka muttered.
Leaving this replica unanswered for the last time looked out from behind the ravine. He counted ten elves who had already examined the remains of the caravan with bows for the manufacture. Under the cover of the bushes, trying not to lean out of the ravine, he began to go around the elves. By the time they finished the inspection of the Navy to be in parallel to shelter of the comrades. Finding the branch heavier, he launched it into the bushes. The elves were wary of hearing a noise.
– Check what is there! – Orel’s voice came to him.
Having lined up with a chain, seven of them moved to the source of noise. “I can kill one, maximum two until they notice me. What to do? Eh, be it a dark cave, not a forest, ”Waiting for Owe watched the elves move. “If everything can do everything quickly, even three”. The first of the opponents approached the bush and did not see anything strange gave a signal to the rest.
– It was just the beast of Orlya!
-Fine. Someone saw the corpse of a dwarf? Then we are looking for traces.
"Ah you are a lop -eared geeks". After waiting for all the elves, they go back to the caravan, stepping around the foliage to the beat of the elves, quickly reduced the distance to the extreme of them and despite the fact that he managed to hear it, managed to deliver an accurate blow to the heart. Pulling out the sword, he rushed to the second. This almost went out to dodge, the blow fell on the arm and had to spend time on another. The remaining opponents also noticed him and lifted the bows. Ruling the killed elf on his back like a shield, Ove, cursing everything in the world, ran from the elves under the whistle next to him.
– Threw weapons freaks! Or your leader is the end! – the voice of Brunhilda rang out behind him. In the resulting confusion, she and Liviu got up to the two remaining elves and killing one of them, grabbed Orel. He almost managed to release an arrow in Brunhild, but Liviu hit his shoulder and the shot fell out.
– Do not dare! Kill these Mogar! Orel shouted not paying any attention to the ax at his throat.
But the elves were clearly surprised, so unexpected captivity of his leader and were at a loss for a second. Taking advantage of this, Ave dropped his body and hiding behind sewing up to the nearest enemy. The first blow fell into his bow. Tearing a sword that had gone into a tree, Ovi finished it off and trying to cover himself with a shield, he ran to the next.
Stunning Orel, Brunhild also ran into battle. Miraculously dodging the first arrow, she still received the second, but did not stop. The arrow of Liviu whistled past the head aiming at the yardye elf. Reducing the remaining distance of Brunhild, she chopped the ax, but the elf missed, grabbing the sword, tried to hit in response. Under the onslaught of the elf, the Dvorphye barely managed to repel blows and dodging the particularly strong, was able to finish him off. She was about to start the next, but it turned out that the opponents were over.
The last elf fell into a muffled forest foliage. He stood over him, breathing heavily, AV with three arrows sticking out of it. One was in the thigh, the other two were visible from the body. Dvorf Doned to Earth frowns with pain.
– Owe! – Brunhild rushed to him.
– Orel is alive? – with her breaths, but asked a dwarf in a firm voice, with one hand, starting to check the corpse of an elf lying nearby. – Tie him. And find water.
Brunhild, ignoring the first half of his order, began to help to process the wounds. Without a special desire to argue with her, Ov only asked:
– Everything is in order with Liviu?
– Yes. He sits. What the hell did you rush into their forehead?
Liviu clenched into a lump under a tree, covering his head with his hands and trembled. After the Brunhild and OVA extracted arrows, figured out their wounds and checked the fortune of Livi, making sure that he was not injured, the courtyard gave the command:
– Go check how Rufus is there, but for now I interrogate this.
Splashing the elf of water in the face and hitting a couple of times, more for the ostrand, Ove asked:
– Who sent you?
Orlya instead of an answer spat with a bloody saliva in the face. A few more times, having hit the prisoner, Ove repeated the question.
– We ourselves came a yard. In order to kill you and your friends, so ending it quickly. You are not so hypocritical as to leave me alive?
– Who told you about the attack on the caravan.
– The bird whispered. Ah! – he cried out from the blade of a stuck in his shoulder.
– I’m not in the mood with you. Who sent you?
– You will not wait for the yard. You can’t break our pride.
– And a lot of it remains with such an exile as you?
“What do you know …” Orel shouted with a skewed face with anger, but the quick movement of the sword cut off this cry and the body of the elf fell to the ground.
Owe tiredly stretched out on the ground nearby, imagining what a swaying on a ship in the sea, when a cool breeze blows your face, the tree is pleasantly creaking to the beat of the waves of incredible beauty, beating on the body of the vessel ..
– Hey, Ave! Rufus disappeared somewhere! – invaded his dreams of a merciless reality, taking the form of brunhilda.
They could not find Rufus. He definitely got out of a pile of foliage, his traces around were visible, but then they simply disappeared, as if the magician had grown wings and flew away. They tried to call him, curse, threaten, but everything was unsuccessfully – Rufus evaporated.
The horses of the elves stood nearby. They were harnessed to a relatively whole, only slightly charred, wagon and went on it towards Gestelburg. The comrades decided to go without stopping and reached the city after a day and a half. On the way, they met an equestrian detachment jumping in the opposite direction. They were sent to take into custody the five subjects suspiciously reminiscent of their detachment. And only the miracle that Brunhild at that time was sleeping in a wagon, without preventing Owe, that they were nothing more than ordinary artisans, allowed them to drive past.
After that, they missed at all pores to the city, until the riders found the destroyed caravan. They managed to enter the city, but one of the guards began to doubt something and late tried to stop them. Depicting innocence and possibly deafness, they turned around the corner and throwing the wagon disappeared. Unfortunately, this gesture was interpreted correctly, and knowing that they were in the city, they began to look for them with double zeal.
Leaving Liviu with Brunhilda in an ownerless room found in the slums, OVA, reluctantly cutting off his beard, leaving only his mustache, and went to check what began with their office. The building was defeated and sinned, Zusman was nowhere to. Before the evening, without knowing where the dwarf is hidden, he returned to the shelter in fallen feelings. The wounds were sick, but he did not seem to be caught by any infection. With normal care, everything was supposed to live soon.
Brunhilda was also depressed, and not knowing what to do, she just made up the company Liviu in the absorption of alcohol.
The next day, OVA managed to find a clue about the whereabouts of the gnome. In high spirits, he returned to the shelter and pushing Brunhild took her with him. Liviu also wanted to go with them, but Ove ordered him to stay.
– Sorry, of course, but you are too noticeable. And we are only going to bring Zusman, do not fight. Stay here so far. – said Ave before leaving.
Liviu began to wait. Cutting off the inscriptions on the old table with the tip of the arrow, he tried to think that everything would work out soon, not forgetting to apply to the bottle of course.
About half an hour passed when Liviu suddenly heard some strange sounds coming from the entrance side. Taking the bow and putting the arrow on the bowstring, he lurked behind the cabinet and began to wait. Rustic verse with a click of an open castle. Opening the door, a pale bald old man looked into it and quickly looked around the room. After a quick stress on the steps, the old man appeared again, this time dragging some heavy bag behind him. Having dragged him to the middle of the room, he noticed Liviu.
– Who are you!? – exclaimed the elf aiming on him onions.
– And who are you!?- in turn, the old man exclaimed with a nasty nasal voice.
– I was the first to ask. And I am Liviu.
– Yes, I don’t care who you are! Vali from my shelter!
– Why is it yours? I was the first with friends here.
– And here I have already cut out about five corpses and neither you nor your friends have seen here!
– What does the section of five corpses mean? – Liviu was alert.
– That means. So if you don’t want to die from here.
– I keep you on the sight. So I must threaten.
-Vri-and-and! -the old man screeched and grabbed a curve from behind his belt, a rusty knife rushed at the elf.
Liviu lowered the bowstring and the arrow dug up the old man in the leg, but he did not pay attention to it. Screaming and waving a knife, he tried to get Liviu, but he bounced to the side, somehow holding his balance. Probably a couple of circles around the table standing in the middle of the room, Liviu jumped out into the street.
– Wait elven meat! You are mine! – the old man cried and jumped out for the elf.
In the poor area of Geshtelburg, funny scenes sometimes take place, but the elf leaving the fuff of fumes and the screeching old man, who was chasing after him with an arrow in his leg, surprised many. It is not known how this chase could end if it had not been for the patrol that Liviu flew into a grand scale, and which, after the detention of a suspicious madman and several strong kicks of a drunken elf, did not recognize one of the wanted ones in the latter.
Consciousness began to gradually return to Rufus. The head was sick, and it was as if it were littered with raw leaves. Opening his eyes, it turned out that it was true. Rufus straightened up, throwing the foliage pounded on him, spat out the ground from his mouth and stared at the bearded short -haired cake in green clothes, which, letting go of his pants, sat down nearby.
– And who are you? – asked Rufus, trying to recall the events preceding his current position.
The shorty jumped, pulling his pants in a jump, turned and jumped to Rufus cut into his jaw.
– Where did you come from here!? What the hell, you see me?
– And I shouldn’t? – grabbed the place of the blow Rufus.
– He still asks! Lepreeconov see only when they want to seem.
– Lepreeconov?
– What are you stupid? I have never heard of the petraces?
– Heard. But it’s kind of like fairy tales.
– You will tell me about fairy tales when I dust you with a knife! – Getting a little knife Lepreon put him in his nose Rufus. – You are a magician? Ordinary people cannot see lepreecons.
– Yes, yes magician. – Rufus raised his hands and tried to move away from the knife away.
“Well then, everything is clear,” Lepreon threw the knife from his hand to his hand. – Drive here all your gold.
– But I thought lepreecons give out gold.
– And where do you think it gets from them, wise guy! Or do I think a snot in gold. Well, quickly turn your pockets.
Rufus obediently took out those few brands that he had left and handed them to Lepreecon.
– And that’s all? – removing the knife in the belt was surprised by the leprekon – not densely. So you say that you are a magician?
Rufus nodded uncertainly. Somewhere behind him there was a cry of Brunhilda.
– There are my friends! We must help them! – Rufus tried to get to his feet
– You won’t go anywhere.
Leprekon threw his hat on the ground and she began to grow, forming a large hole. Grabbing Rufus, who unsuccessfully tried to fight back, the shorty, accompanying everything with blows, dragged his victim to the hole that had formed and threw it there, jumping after. And the hole disappeared as if it was not there.
For a second, Rufus surrounded darkness, and then he buried his face in the grass. Raising his eyes, he saw he saw a clearing full of juicy light. The statue of a beautiful and majestic woman, surrounded by flowering flowers, put in her center. Behind the clearing there were many beautiful houses, some of which seemed to be made of sweets. All this was surrounded to the horizon of the forest. Fei flocks flew in the meadow itself and several unicorns pinched grass.
– Where am I?
– In the forest kingdom. Get up, have to take you to the mistress.
– I don’t want to go to any lady! Return me back.
Part of the fairies noticed them and began to observe with interest. Leprekon, however, hit Rufus in the leg and grabbed his knife.
– I can lead you and.
The magician rose to his feet and glanced with a challenge at Lepren, trying to conjure the illusion, but received a poke with a knife in the leg. Screaming and grabbing the wounded limb, he also received a blow to a small fist in the nose, falling back to the ground. Fears were flooded with laughter.
The door of one of the houses, which was noticeably distinguished against the backdrop of the rest, opened and a high, fabulous beauty woman appeared from it, exactly like on statues. Her long black hair was braided into a thick braid, and the emerald dress shimmered in the sun. The views of all those present, full of delight, rushed to her. The woman noticing Rufus and Lepren, smiled broadly and hurried.
– Mortimer! Who did you bring to us? – her sonorous iridescent voice came.
“You are beautiful as always, my lady,” Mortimer bowed, removing his knife. – This is a certain magician who wandered into our forests.
The mistress approached, with a smile examined the rumpled Rufus, who was not even trying to hide it, stared at her.
– What is your name, dear?
-Ru-Rufus. – the magician.
-Something hurts you? Mortimer did not offend you? – casting a cheerful gaze towards the leprekon, she asked.
Rufus wanted to answer, but the lady grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
– Come, let’s go. We will cure all your wounds.
Having dragged the magician to the entrance to the house, she disappeared outside the door, ordering him to wait. Fairies began to circle around Rufus, laughing, scattering pollen that climbed into the eyes and nose. Attempts to dismiss these flying beasts were unsuccessful, but only cheered them even more. Only the return of the lady made fairies disappear and allowed Rufus to spit from pollen.
– Here, drink it. – she handed him a bottle of transparent liquid.
– What is this?
– Drink, don’t be afraid. She will heal all your wounds.
Rufus drank. The liquid burned his throat and spilled warmly through the body. The pain in the head disappeared, the places of the blows ceased to hurt, he felt like a re -born.
– Now come on, show me that you can conjure. She said with ordered notes.
Rufus created in the middle of the field of a larger leprekon, with small changes in the proportions of the face, eyes instead of ears, mouth on the forehead and other rather surreal features. The resulting leprekon took a few steps, swayed and fell dissolved.
– This is all? – asked the obviously disappointed lady.
– Well, I’m still playing well on the flute.
– Clear. Someone, show our guest the surroundings and his room. She said with a cold in her voice and disappeared behind the door of her house.
Rufus wanted to call the mistress and ask when he could leave them, but jumping up and grabbing him and grabbing him by the gate, he lowered it almost to the level of his face.
– Listen here a wise guy, another such joke and your remaining days will become hell here. From this moment on, do not dare to contact the mistress until she herself resolves you and do not even try to escape. You understand me? – asked Mortimer slowly pronouncing every letter.
Rufus nodded. Leprekon sent with him a flock of these vile firezers so that they show him the town, but these dragonflies-cuts, again showered Rufus with a layer of pollen, flew away. As a result, the magician went to go around this town on his own.
It turned out to be much more than Rufus seemed at first glance. Many armed gingerbread men were staggering through the streets, performing the function of law enforcement protection. Rufus tried to turn into the forest a couple of times, but these gingerbread dubolons stopped him. The evening came very soon and having fallen to the wall of the house, after the examination of the whole town, Rufus wondered where he was and what he should do.
– What are you sitting here, soon dinner?
Nearby stood a shorty reminiscent of a leprekona. Leprekon overgrown with unwashed shaggy, in torn swamp -colored clothes and fumes.
– You will try to slaughter me too? Rufus asked tiredly, mindful of his relationship with their people.
– Why should I try to slaughter you? I’m not there.
– That is, you are not the same as another leprekon?
– I’m not leprekon
– Not Leprekon?
“I am a Clound,” he said, and flopped down next to Rufus, taking a dirty bottle from where it is, “you are sipping?
Cormation was clearly not hostile, and Rufus was too tired to worry about any catch. The bottle was almost empty, alcohol splashed at the bottom, and having sipped a little he returned it to the owner.
– And who are the clubs?
“The same lepreecons, only without gold,” Cormancom applied to the bottle and began to swallow its contents like water, having drunk much more than there should have been – and with a slight craving for alcohol.
Rufus, who did not believe in the existence of lepreecons to this day, did not really want to represent the conditions under which they could sleep, so I tried to find out something useful.
– You can’t tell me where the way out?
Clound Gloom glanced at him
– Nobody leaves the forest lady.
– How is it no one? Where are we generally?
– In the subspace
The answers of Clound more and more confused Rufus and he decided to try a new tactic, staring at a cloar at Clound.
– You do not know what subspace is? – the magician shook his head. – Hmm, magicians are taught this. In a word, you will not be able to get out of here yourself, and get here without someone’s help.
– And you can help me?
– Not a guy, my life is dear to me. I came to us the only one recently, the war was called. I got the lady when I tried to escape and did not see him anymore. You better humble yourself. You want to drink?
The bottle, apparently, was bottomless and Rufus refused, rising from the ground and plunging into his thoughts, wandered where his eyes looked.
There was something frightening in all this place. Everything looked somehow unnatural: unicorns, bearded gnomes in caps, snooping under the feet, houses of sweets, irritating fairies, singing flowers on flower beds. And who is this forest lady generally? From his thoughts, a crowd of local residents rushed to a common dinner, held in the central square. The stream picked it up and Rufus was also planted at one of the long tables that appeared in the square. They were forced by all kinds of food and the magician ate to the dump.
After dinner, everyone hastily scattered around their homes. Gingerbread men accompanied Rufus into the building reminiscent of a small hotel, pushed into one of the rooms and slammed the door, accompanying this with a clearly distinguishable sound of the key turning in the castle. Looking at the locked door, Rufus once again regretted that he never learned to break the locks. Looking out the window, he saw only the area immersed in the night. There were bars on the window, and when trying to create even the simplest illusion, nothing came out.
Having stayed for three days in this strange place, Rufus prepared the escape plan. There really was no one to expect help from at least voluntary. The whole plan was built at two extremely risky enterprises. The first was to climb into the house of the forest mistress and steal her mirror from there. This accessory was a way to get out of here, at least Gretel told him, a cheerful and not too smart girl, careing for unicorns at the stable and concurrently considered a night watchman. For some reason she was afraid, but Rufus did not notice the reasons for this. Gretel really loved to chat and did not understand the hints at all, so to the question: “In what way, she went for a walk to the outside world?"She without a doubt told her new friend that the lady has a magic mirror and if she is very good to ask her, she would probably share them. Gretel, of course I have never heard of such an event.
Rufus will also have to escape from his room in the “hotel” and not get caught in the night with gingerbread men, but it did not look too difficult. In the heads of local guards, most likely there were dough, so even for the simplest illusions they bought perfectly.
The gingerbread guard rose with Rufus to the second floor, to his room, and nodded to him to go. The magician pretended to enter the room, but then something distracted his attention and pointing his finger behind the back of the gingerbread man, he shouted:
– Look! Three -headed monkey!
The guard grabbed the sword turned around and began to peer into the dark. Rufus, creating his own copy inside the room, himself pretended to be part of the wall. The guard who did not find the monkey never found a monkey, looked at the Ruhfus room stupidly smiling at him and threatening him with his fist, muttering something inaudibly, locked the door and hovered down. Rufus exhaled in relief, the first stage of the plans passed smoothly, now the most difficult part began.
Trying to go as quieter as possible, he got to the stairs and looked down. Usually two gingerbread was sitting there and this night was no exception. Sitting at the table, they played cards, periodically asking each other to recall the rules of the game. Palating a part of the wall again, Rufus began to gently go down. At one point, the step creak treacherously and froze in horror, the magician tried to squeeze even more to the wall. Gingerbread cast a quick look and not noticing anything, focused on the game again. Going down, Rufus moved closer to the door. The guards had to be distracted by something and trying to almost move, he conjured a three-headed monkey at the far end of the room. The monkey came out very surrealist and its two heads have grown together, but it took the proper effect.
– Shchot a three -headed monkey! – exclaimed one of the gingerbread.
The other incredulously turned around and making sure that he was not deceived, grabbed the weapon. They began to get caution to the crooked surreal monkey, while the more courageous of them, with a war cry, did not poke the sword into the illusion. The monkey disappeared and delighted by the victory, they again returned to their table, not noticing in the heat of the battle how someone slipped out into the street.
To the house of the mistress, Rufus get without problems. Going around him, he noticed a ajar window, and trying not to make noise got there. Inside the house no longer looked gingerbread. Having checked several rooms, some of which were locked, Rufus finally found the lady’s room. The owner of the room was sleeping carefree sleep, covered with an embroidered blanket. Cabinets were filled along the walls, filled with all kinds of old heavy books and flasks, the contents of which Rufus could not make out. On the nightstand next to the mistress, in gilded stands, stood a mirror decorated with precious stones and a bone crest. Approaching the sleeping one, which turned out to be not at all as beautiful as in the afternoon, he noticed that she had a chain with a key on her neck. “I wonder what this key can be from?"Thought Rufus.“I can be from the very door that will lead you out of here." – hearing his thoughts answered the key. “Well, don’t start! In addition, it is damn dangerous ". “But look how easy it is to unfasten this chain, and how conveniently I lie on the pillow. You probably will succeed ". But the key was right and the chain was very easy to unfasten. Holding his breath, Rufus extended his hand to the castle and threw it, trying not to move the chain itself. With a light movement, he took off the key from the chain and slowly took his breath. Gentlemen rolled over to the other side, almost causing a heart attack by Rufus, but still continued to sleep. Grabbing the mirror and a comb from the cabinet, he left the room and soothing his beating heart, headed for one of the locked doors. It was a small room like a closet, almost the entire space of which was occupied by the rack filled with bubbles, looking like the same that contained a healing potion. Under them, inscriptions were cut out, which were impossible to read in the dark. They could come in handy and Rufus grabbed a dozen.
With a feeling of deep satisfaction, he fell out of the window back into the night. Now only the last part of the plan remained, I will run directly. Turning the mirror in his hands Rufus did not notice anything unusual. An attempt to direct magic to him, also did not give any effect. “Maybe you need to get to the edge of this place?" – thought Rufus. And he headed towards the stables in which the light was still burning.
Having reached them and looking through the gap in the boards, Rufus saw that Gretel, cheerfully singing a song, was cleaning the old hay. “What the hell is she not sleeping yet?" – Rufus was already upset, but gathered and came up with how it can be used.
After making sure that there were no gingerbread men nearby, Rufus depicting a rush ran into the stables.
– Gretel! Urgently sadla there is that unicorn! The mistress had very important things that did not wait for the delay and she was preparing to leave!
Gretel jumped, dropping a rake and rushed to the stall with a unicorn, but reaching him stopped.
– but the lady always rides sugar. – she pointed in confusion with a finger at the silver unicorn, standing on the other side of the stall.
– Well, of course sugar! How could you think that the lady will go on another unicorn.
Turning away and covering, just in case, the gates of the stable Rufus heard Gretel slapped to the floor, probably stumbled on his rake, and sneezed loudly. “What a clumsy girl?"Rufus thought, locking the gates on the bolt.
– Hey, live slicing! What the hell did you forget in my stable? – a voice that was very similar to Gretel sounded behind Rufus, but sounding noticeably lower and with a clear, unusual threat.
The affected Rufus turned around and did not see anyone but Gretel. True, it was slightly different from the one that he remembered mainly an evil expression on his face skewed in Oschal, and a large sharp -sharpened butcher knife in his hand.
– Gretel? – Rufus squeezed out.
– What a fuck Gretel? I am a genesel, and now there will be less for one living person! – Genzel began to approach, playing with his tesak.
– Look, a three -headed monkey! – tried to use the proven Trick Rufus.
– I will see her after you.
Entering the blow of Genzel, the magician bounced to the side and began to back away, frantically thinking how to be. The owner of the stable, meanwhile, continued to advance.
– By … wait, let’s calm down and discuss everything.
– Bastard, your mother, well, come here! – Genzel rushed at him.
Rufus threw a bucket of water standing next to him and managed to turn the tesac of the attacker into the snake. The wet Genzel, taking a snake in his hand a little not like Rufus calculated, threw it into a magician. Having almost said goodbye to his ear, the magician fell to the floor, Genzel jumped on him and began to strangle. Frantically Shava on the floor, Rufus grabbed a handful of straw and threw it into the face of the attacker. Genzel slightly loosened his grip and sneezed. Hands on Rufus’s neck, to his surprise, immediately disappeared, and Gretel was already sitting on him.
– About what horror! What happened? – she struck her helping Rufus rise.
– Yes, nothing special. He croaked. – Better go to the sugar for the mistress.
– But you probably need help?
– No no! Everything is in order,-Rufus’s eyes were already looking for something more heavier than could be stunned. – And you did not ask anyone why you are disliked?
– No, never. – She had already put on a saddle on a unicorn who did not express the slightest interest in the events that had just occurred.
Finding a rather weighty horseshoe, Rufus went to the last belts on the saddle of Gretel.
-And you saw someday the magical mirror of the lady?
– Only once. Wait, why do you need to know this?
– This is it. – showed Rufus Mirror.
-Yes,-in the eyes of Gretel, a light of understanding flashed, but he quickly went out under the blow of a horseshoe.
“What a crazy place!? I hope it will not won now ". Opening the gate, Rufus led out of an indifferent unicorn from the stall and with difficulty climbing his back in his back, ordering to go forward. The unicorn did not give a damn. “Yes, you are kidding!" – Rufus began to go around the animal on the sides and pull the mane until he got on his hind legs. Rusting deafeningly, the animal broke off, almost dropping his rider. Having squeezed into the back of a hungry horse, Rufus turned around and saw how gingerbread men noticed him, hurrying to the stable. The light began to light up in the houses.
The unicorn rushes along the forest litter, bouncing trees, but the houses behind Rufus, as if they had not been separated by a meter. Having taken out the mirror, he looked into it, tried to shake, began to sort out all kinds of code words, but nothing helped. The silhouettes of gingerbread guards were already visible from behind, which climbed into unicorns.
– Yes, you already worked, the halls of the mirror! – cried Rufus.
A black furry shadow jumped out of the bushes with a roar, scaring a unicorn. He climbed his hind legs, and Rufus dropped the mirror with surprise, which, having made three turns in the air, crashed against a stone with a ringing.
The werewolf stunned at an empty place, where only a second ago there was a unicorn. Having scratched his shaggy chin, he sniffed the earth, still a clearly smelling of a horse and looked at the broken mirror.
– Well, what will we tell her her? – The second werewolf climbed out of the bushes.
– I would prefer to run away until she woke up. – the fellow answered him.
Something reminiscent of the cry of Banshee flashed over houses and forest. The stars in the sky sailed ripples, the night was replaced by the day, then also sharply sunset, and stopped somewhere in the area of noon.
– Late. – the werewolf growled.
All the inhabitants of the town raised from their houses, some in pajamas, some half -dressed. The Leprekon was faster than all, who was already in a hurry to the house of the lady, whose door flew out, torn off the hinges. A certain creature, vaguely reminiscent of a woman, crawled out of the doorway, stretching out her long hands with claws similar to blades. Her black hair wriggled snakes.
– Where is my crest! – it screamed a perisheum.
– Goshpozha, that magician stole it. – blurted out a gingerbread guard standing nearby, breaking up after his replica into several parts, under the blow of terrible claws.
The creature of all the gathered gaze indicated a claw at the stucco
– Gather everyone! Squat griffins! Find him! Kill!
Rufus did not understand what happened. In the blink of an eye, he found himself on the outskirts of the forest, seeing Gestelburg in front of him. Instead of the night, the sun was shining with might and main and he was already happy that finally was safe. Sugar unfortunately, I thought differently. Not paying any attention to the change of terrain and time of day, the unicorn let it go towards the city.
The guard at the entrance to the city, noticed an approaching white horse.
– Uh, Bob! Look at what horse rides here.
– Ordinary white horse. I suppose a messenger.
– Prequisites do not jump on such. This one is already glowing. Look! Look, he has a horn!
– Where did you see the horn there? Oh, you damn it, really!
– Living unicorn, bob!
– Stop yelling! We delay it.
The guards blocked the entrance to the city, many people also noticed an unusual animal and poked it with their fingers, with surprise they looked at him. The unicorn did not care. Sugar knocked down two guards enraged around the city, knocking down everyone who did not have time to get out of his path.
Ganzorig seemed to fly in the dark, filling everything around, until the stone floor was emerging from it, quickly rushing towards it. This was followed. Orc, in a fainting state, managed to distinguish the twilight of the dungeons of the surrounding him and dull crystals on the walls.
– In the camera! I’ll deal with him later. -sounded a voice from somewhere above.
Hands picked up Hanzorig and dragged. He tried to resist, but the forces, along with consciousness, left him.
When he finally woke up, he found himself in a dungeon. His hands were riveted high and his feet barely got the floor. Burns on the body were not so sick. Hanzorig tried the shackles for strength several times, but it did not take any effect.
– Hay, orc woke up! – a voice belonging to the head appeared in the lattice door window. – Call Bahadura.
A few minutes later, a clang of bolts rang out behind the door, and in the doorways lit by the torches, the figure of a sorcerer, dressed in an embroidered robe, appeared.
– Orc. Yesterday you had to die three times, but you are still alive. What kind of force is hidden in you? Where did you get it?
– I am the strongest sorcerer, here is my strength. – Hanzorig stated confidently the fact.
Bahadur laughed with a low, barking laugh, images on his head began to re -echoing him silently.
– You are not able to create the simplest spells, while you have enough impudence to call yourself a sorcerer! Truly, you are not smarter than an animal who is unable to learn from your mistakes. How is your name orc?
– Hanzorig.
“Gan-zo-rig,” Bahadur said. – Even if you don’t want to tell me where you got your strength, I still find out. Wait only a few days until all preparations are completed and then, I will find out your secret.
– Corner! Where are you the sun?! The boss calls you! – a mocking scream came.
Bahadur’s face distorted a contemptuous expression, but still having lost interest in Hanzorig, he left the camera.
– See so that not to die. – he finally threw the guards and disappeared behind the doorway.
– Come on, come on. Without your fuse, the thing is completely in place. – said the voice very close.
– Wait for the completion, starry. Then you will answer me for your jokes.
– I’m already shaking. And who is here? – In the doorway there was a head – wait for the guys, give me also to my guest.
A man of short stature went into the camera and stood up a step away from Hanzorig.
– And I already saw you orc. You and your friends. Do not be discouraged, I like to bring things to the end and sent someone to make sure that there was no one left after the coal. – extending his hand to pat the prisoner on the cheek, he barely managed to pull her away. Hanzorig clanged angrily with his teeth, almost biting his finger.
– It also bites! Hey, it’s better for me not to know that you are transferring human food to him. – threw a star -haired guards, leaving the camera.
“But sir than to feed him.
– Rats, waste, I do not care! Close the door!
The heavy oak door slammed slammed with the clang of the bolts and Hanzorig left alone with himself. Very soon he lost the account of the time spent in the dark, then falling into oblivion, then again regaining consciousness. Several times, the guards brought him a rotting mess, which the tongue did not turn to call food. Blurring the shackles in his arms, they waited for the prisoner to absorb at least part of the “food”, after which they, with a weapon for manufacturing, shackled him back. At such moments, Hanzorig simply overwhelmed anger, but he restrained and restoring his strength and waited for the right moment.
During the next meal, languidly hovering with a spoon in the contents of the bowl, he pushed her aside, showing that he had eaten. The guard with the keys approached and Hanzorig clumsily waved his hand in his direction, depicting a blow.
– Well, don’t twitch! – His comrade, exposing the sword, came close enough for a blow, hoping to restrain the violent orc.
The orc raised his hands, showing that he did not want to kill both of them at all and escape from here. The guards believed. The one that was with the keys brought them to the shackles when he felt the strong fingers dug into his larynx. Hanzorig grabbed his left hand by the sword blade rushing him over. The shocked guard, without letting out the weapon, lost his balance and grabbing his head orc imprinted it in a stone. A guard with a broken skull crawled to the stone floor. The other was choking and unsuccessfully tried to draw orch fingers. Turning his neck and picked up the falling keys, Ganzorig opened the shackles on his feet. Falling on the floor and trying to stretch the stiff limbs, he tore off the flap of the tissue from the corpse and bandaged it a bleeding brush.
Taking a sword, a former captive, still with an uncertain gait, approached the exit. The stone corridor on the left passed into the stairs leading up, the rows of doors stretched to the right. The cameras were empty behind them, Ganzorig turned out to be the only captive of this place.
Since there was only one path from the dungeon, and he drove up, the orc slowly climbing the steps and opened the door overlapping the exit. There was a very cluttered hall behind her. Dirty small windows, located under the very ceiling, almost did not let the light pass, masonry collapsed in a couple of places. The walls were forced by boxes, barrels, racks with weapons and all kinds of containers. The premises were clearly not built under the warehouse, however, the owners of this place disposed of this way.
– Stop sleeping! He will also fly to me for you, if they see, – came to the Hanzorig, from the other end of the hall, a poorly distinguishable, muffled voice.
– Why do we need to guard all this at all? – Bypassing the boxes Hanzorig approached the speakers. – None of ours will risk stealing neither armor nor all the magical garbage that Bahadur stores. We are here only for a look. Only the two who guard the prisoner are more useless.
– Why did you get the idea that no one will risk? You never know some wise guy will decide that the junk of Bahadura can be sold and stealing something. And tomorrow, he does not have enough this crap for the portal. And then to blame? He is the first who will begin to fry under his arm alive.
– That is, we are standing here to blame someone.
The conversation was in the locked door and it was not possible to open it. It was necessary to attract guards without arousing suspicions, so that they went to check whether everything is in order with the contents of the warehouse. But how? They will not decide, for no reason, to open this door.
-I’ll go, I will ask that the guys are thinking about it below.
– Everything is not worth it at the post, yes? Then to sleep, then walk, then we will not wipe the problems.
– Enough to be such a panicier. As if something could happen?
Opening the door, the guard was slightly surprised to see an orc in front of him. Surprise lasted until the sword was blowing, after which his comrade, who barely managed to grab the weapon, got into the jaw and ended up on the floor with a blade assigned to his throat.
– Where is the way out? – Hanzorig hissed.
– forward along the corridor. But he is guarded. – the expanded pupils of the guard desperately tried to get out of the eye sockets.
– There is another way out?
– No! There is nothing else!
– Where are these portals that you talked about?
– Don’t know!
– Speak! – Hanzorig began to strangle a man.
“To the right … along that corridor,” the guard croaked.
Stunning him and throwing his bodies out the door, Hanzorig headed along the corridor. Getting to the right turn and making sure that everything was calmly moved along it. Further along the corridor, a wide staircase went down was visible. Having passed only a couple of meters, Gansorig saw how one of the side doors opened and the soldier who came out instantly noticed him.
– Anxiety! – he shouted and grabbing the sword tried to stop the orc.
Having beat off his blow and pushed back the door, Hanzorig swept past, having managed to notice a lot of people behind such an unsuccessfully open door. They grabbed their weapons from their places at the tables. Having reached the stairs, Hanzorig rushed down, jumping through the steps and flew into the doorway in a round room lit by flickering crystals on the walls. In the same room, he ended up here for the first time. In parallel, a large arch towered the entrance, inside it was as if filled with current metal. There were smaller arches along the perimeter of the room, more reminiscent of mirrors in human growth, reflecting all kinds of landscapes. On one of them, Ganzorig saw the central square of Gestelburg. In the center of the room sat in an unusual pose of Bahadur. The magician literally glowed with energy and she flowed along the patterns on the floor towards the large arch. A man with a gray beard stood next to Bahadur. His left shoulder was covered by a battered cloak, in his right hand he held a sword that had seen species.
– Bahadur, wake up. – pushing his foot of the sitting magician in a calm hoarse voice, he said.
Hanzorig, clearly hearing the clatter on the stairs behind his back, ran to the portal. The old man did not try to stop him, he only watched his gaze. Bahadura’s eyes opened and the magician saw an orc almost reaching the portal. The Hansorig was no more than a step to the portal, when the scream of the magician came to his hearing and an unknown force constrained his body. Straining all the muscles, he tried to fight her, feeling the air around began to heat up with an inexorable speed. Something sharply sprinkled in the back, spoke with sharp flashes of pain. Hanzorig shouted from a mixture of rage with pain and feeling how the bonds restrained him weakened, fell into a saving portal.