Текст книги "Reflection of the night"

Автор книги: Albina Sevenkova

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– Greetings, Your Majesty, and to you, Your Excellency.

– Likewise, my lord, without further ado. Get straight to the point, – Robin said.

The tent flap opened the Minister of War entered the tent and he heard the conversation.

– Your Majesty, – Lord Murd continued, casting a surly glance at the newcomer. – I have every reason to believe that the alliance of the three provinces has betrayed the crown and is on the side of our enemies.

– That's a blatant lie! – The Duke of Lanber shouted.

– Your Grace, control yourself, – Raven said softly. – I hope your words are confirmed by the facts?

– Here, – The lord handed the papers to the king. – This is evidence that the army of the County of the Rhine has been put on alert and is about to march under the command of the Duke of Rathmir of Oden. Intelligence has reported that the Countess of the Rhine plans to put her nephew on the throne of Adenia. Now is the right moment. She is about to form a marriage alliance with the king of Arenia.

– Then why does she put her hopes in her nephew? If she becomes queen? Will Adenia be divided between the two powers? – Robin asked even more quietly.

– Not all of Adenia. Our army, though weak, can still fight back even against two states. Both monarchs understand this. Therefore, they claim only a part of the northern lands, wanting to expand their borders. The rest will go to Ratmir of Oden.

– It seems so, – whispered the pale Falcon.

– And this is a new map of the three future states, Your Majesty, – Lord Murd continued. – I have a suggestion on how to stop the traitors.

The young king's face took on an earthy hue.

– Tell me.

– This area needs to be hit with a magic strike. They don't have a shield-maker, so they won't be able to deflect it. The desert will be a desert again, as it should be. Ratmir of Oden will have nothing to offer the allies, they will refuse him and we will have one less enemy.

– Your Majesty, you promised to give me your word, – the Minister of War's voice rang with tension.

– Yes, – The king looked dead tired.

– All these statements of Mr. Murd are not supported by a single fact. These are just words, and the words are false!

– Your statements are also just words, – Raven's voice was still on the same note.

The Duke of Lanberg suddenly clutched at his heart. The Falcon quickly ran up to him, laying him down on the floor of the tent and giving him magical energy. The healer made sure that the life of the still unconscious man was not in danger, nodded to the soldiers, and they carried him away. Murd, still half-bowing, waited for an answer.

Robin stood up, looked at the map again for some reason, and said:

– Adenia will not strike at its own provinces. You are dismissed, my lord.

– You're making a mistake, Your Majesty, – Murd said, barely able to contain his anger. – Let me tell you that you are still too young and do not realize the situation…

– Get out.

Murd tried to say something else, but he met the gaze of the Bear Clan chief, the evil gleam in his eyes didn't bode well. So he had to quickly retreat.

– Did you believe him? – The Falcon asked the king.

– It doesn't matter. If the army has already moved out, then only women and children are left there. Will you order me to wipe them off the face of the earth?

– Yes, and the game will be even more fun than I thought, – said Arthur.

– The lord of Arenia has become Lady Raine's chosen one, – Raven said bitterly.

The young men looked away.

Three days later, the division stationed in the valley was put on alert. The enemy was operating strictly according to the plan that Robin knew, thanks to the Adenian magical intelligence. The troops of the neighboring countries had to break through the defense in this most convenient place for them – in the Cold Valley. And all of Adenia was waiting for the magical blow that the shield-maker was supposed to protect them from.

Raven watched the approaching enemy cavalry.

– We're going according to plan, – Arthur said to someone behind him. – The flank attack should only be launched on my orders.

The distance between the soldiers was closing.

– The slaughter is about to begin, – the Falcon said heavily.

Robin took hold of the hilt of his sword to give the command to attack. But Arthur suddenly stopped him. The king saw horror and despair on the faces of the young men. On the hills of the valley, numerous cavalry appeared on both sides.

– These are the warriors of Oden, – the Falcon said in a strangled voice.

– Sound the all-round defense! – Raven shouted sharply.

Realizing that they were surrounded on all sides, and there was nowhere to retreat, the Adenian soldiers rushed around. There were shouts of panic in the crowd, which even the officers could not stop. Arthur and the Falcon were already preparing to use magic to calm the soldiers. Suddenly, the Duke of Lanberg gave an exclamation of delight from behind:

– Look, they're flying the Aden flags!!! The Union has come to our aid!

The Aden army broke into a chorus of "Hurrah!" followed immediately by a loud, high-pitched, long-drawn-out shout from above. Robin looked back in surprise.

– They're dragons! – Edward shouted enthusiastically.

The beautiful creatures flew low over the ground, proudly spreading their wings. Several dozen dragons flew over the heads of the Aden, showering them with a strong current of air. The advancing enemy cavalry had not even covered half the intended distance when they were stopped by a wall of fire spewed by the winged individuals. Panic and confusion gripped the ranks of the attackers, and almost all the riders turned back. Robin heard a bugle call from the hills and knew that the allies were waiting for his orders. He turned to look at Arthur, who understood him with a half-glance.

– Chase the enemies to the border. Take the commanders prisoner.

His order was already being repeated by the buglers. Robin remembered Anna's last words, "everything will be fine," and the look in her warm eyes. After just an hour and a half, the victory was for the Adenians. The uninvited guests were driven out of the country, and the king of Arenia and the warlord of Piran were taken prisoner. The ministers had already drawn up a treaty of surrender, which was to be signed on terms favorable to Adenia. After a while, the captive mighty mage and monarch of Arenia smiled angrily at the young king and his entourage. The tall, dark-haired man looked like a seasoned wolf caught in a trap. He smelled of danger and barely contained anger. Such sentiments were understandable to the Raven, but he did not feel fear when facing more powerful enemies, so he easily withstood these heavy looks.

– Are you ready to sign our agreement? Or would you prefer to go to the best prison in Aden, Your Majesty? – he asked.

The rebellious monarch looked up from his study of the papers and grinned angrily.

– I sign this contract, sealed with a magical seal in the name of my monarch, – the general of the Piran army said, and signed the paper that was issued, which was immediately taken from him.

The Arenian, without uttering a word, waved his pen on the paper and stamped it with his ring. The clerk hurriedly picked up the document and put it in the box, which immediately announced with a blue light that there was no turning back, and those who violated the agreement would die. A guard entered the tent and announced the arrival of the guests.

– Duke Ratmir of Oden, Count Luchezar of Rhone, and Count Buslay of Rhone request an audience.

– Let them come in, – Robin ordered immediately.

The curtain lifted and revealed the young men, whose appearance attracted the eyes of all those present. The three of them placed their right hands on their chests and bowed to Robin the First, who returned their greeting with alacrity. Arthur and Edward, as well as their king, were looking at the guests carefully and appraisingly. In front of them was a platinum-blond man with gray-green eyes that now gleamed like steel, and a little further away were young men with long golden hair and blue eyes. The faces of all three had a downright girlish freshness, but this impression was deceptive. Carefully examining the figures of those who entered, Arthur realized that they all had remarkable physical strength, and this was especially true of the first young man, who was Ratmir of Oden.

«The same power comes from a breeding young bull that grew up in the wild», – the Bear thought for some reason.

Rathmir had not yet used the chair offered to him when he heard the King of Arenia's hoarse laughter and voice.

– A baby Piranha rose. And you've grown up, little wolf.

The outwardly imperturbable Odensky and the Counts of Rhone shuddered, but did not say a word. Their reaction was not lost on the defeated monarch.

– It's hard to call them women. Only vicious she-wolves can protect their pups like Black Lightning and Piranha Rose. Filthy witches with pretty faces. Robin felt a red haze over his eyes, and suddenly he heard Rathmir's deep, distant voice.

– It's your mouth and your guts that are rotten.

– How rude, why are you so, and I could have been your dad.

– I wonder how? Your candidacy was not considered even under torture, death threats and blackmail. Are you sure you could have done something? People like you can't do anything, and women look at you with either fear or pity.

– I'll kill you, little snake! – the Arenian autocrat lost his temper, demonstrating that the blow hit exactly on target.

Ratmir easily deflected the deadly lightning shot at him and, almost without swinging, hit the attacker in the jaw, from which he flew three meters into the corner of the tent. Watching this scene, Arthur and Edward exchanged amused glances almost as much as the Rhone brothers. The fallen king, who miraculously remained conscious, was not helped.

He grinned, wiping the blood from his split lips, and said in a low voice:

– Well, you'll answer for that very soon.

Bustling clerks quickly brought the necessary papers to the Duke of Auden and the Counts of Rhone, who slowly studied and signed them.

– Knights, I'll be glad to have you at my table, – Raven said. – And I hasten to thank you for your help in this fight, without which such a quick and easy victory would have been impossible for us.

Ratmir looked him in the eye, as if testing the sincerity of what he had just said, and when he was sure that there was no mockery in what he had said, he bowed.

– We accept Your invitation, Your Majesty, and we will be happy to share your dinner.

After that, the young men bowed once more and left the tent.

As soon as the courtiers dispersed, leaving the king in the company of Edward and Arthur, the latter gave a cry of delight:

– Did you see how the guy put the punch?! And magic?! Arenian – a powerful sorcerer, to playfully repel the attack of such! Yes, this is what kind of stock you need to have?!

Robin rubbed his forehead tiredly and slumped his shoulders, as if the strain of the last few months had weighed heavily on him.

– And the dragons, the dragons, the men! Have you seen the dragons?! – Arthur demanded.

– Oh, come on, – Edward said. – Only you saw them. Because your eyesight is special. Yes, and the last dragon died fifty years ago.

– Uh – huh, – Robin muttered under his breath.

– Oh, how boring you are, – the Bear finished regretfully. – Maybe you can have some fun at dinner.

– Closer to night, the teleport opens. The King of Arenia is being sent back, – the Falcon said.

– I'd like to take him to the cemetery, – Arthur added grimly.

– Unfortunately, that's not possible yet, – Raven said.

As he dressed for dinner, the king looked at himself in the mirror. His black trousers and white doublet fitted him perfectly, but there was something wrong with his face. He frowned, a heavy sense of foreboding tightening his chest. Something was going wrong, but what?

"In any case, it will soon be clear," – he thought.

Robin stepped away from the mirror and felt an unexpected female embrace on his back. He recognized his former mistress by the strong smell of sweet perfume.

– Greetings to the victorious king, – the black-haired Elenia cooed. – I've come a long way to see you.

– Who gave you permission to come? – Abruptly, the young man released her hands and turned around.

– Aren't you glad to see me? – The beauty pouted resentfully.

– No, especially since I didn't invite you here, my lady.

– Yes, and who did you expect? Is it really the conqueror of the hearts of a past era – the Countess Anna Rein?

Raven quickly approached the girl, grabbed her by the chin and pulled her so quickly that she screamed.

– Perhaps the king needs to report to you? I hasten to remind you that you would not even be my mistress if you did not make a love spell.

Hearing this, Elenia turned pale.

– That alone, madame, is enough to put you in a convent for ever.

He pushed her roughly onto the couch and leaned over her.

– Forget that name, madame. Forget me, too, or the way to your cell will be open to you. Now, go home immediately. Guards!

A few seconds later, the soldiers were in the tent.

– Take my lady away quickly and send her back to where she came from.

Tired, Robin didn't even bother to find out how Elenia had gotten to him. It was probably bribery and female guile, and he would punish those responsible later. He also suspected that this lady might be supported by an entire clan pursuing their own selfish goals.

A Falcon and a Bear were waiting for him in the tent that had been prepared for the feast. Edward walked slowly along the food table, checking it for poison and other unpleasant things. Raven looked around the room, but Ratmir Odensky and his friends weren't there yet, and he didn't like it. It was time to sit down at the table. Finally, the canopy opened, and the allies deigned to enter. The women who had been invited to dinner, and who were in the minority, held their breath as they looked at the young men. All three of them were simply dressed and did not attract attention with their outfits. An unbreakable strength and youthful energy radiated from them in waves, and it couldn't help but be felt. Raven was the first to approach them.

– I'll be happy to share your dinner, – he said, extending his hand to Ratmir.

A young man with eyes like steel looked at the king searchingly from under his short platinum locks. For a moment, Robin thought he could see into his soul. Finally, the Duke of Oden shook his hand.

– I'm sorry, Your Majesty, for not coming sooner. We needed to place the dragons in a suitable place to take off.

– Not so long ago, your aunt, Lady Raine, graced our court with her presence, – Robin said suddenly. – How's she doing?

Rathmir glared at him again, but he didn't read anything in the impenetrable face.

– Thank you, Anna is in a good mood, despite what is happening.

Raven realized that the young duke did not know anything about what had happened in the palace.

– She told me that your province is no longer a desert.

– Yes, it is. And you can see it for yourself, Your Majesty. The King of Adenia will be welcome in the County of Rhein.

The young man's eyes were open, and there was sincerity in his voice. But there was a wariness in his whole appearance, and Robin knew that Odensky did not trust him. At dinner, Ratmir, Luchezar, and Buslay ate little and drank no wine at all. The courtiers made toasts, but the guests preferred to salute with clean water. A footman came up to the king and handed him a note. After barely glancing at it, Robin quietly got up from the table and headed for the exit. Edward and Arthur quickly followed him out.

– What happened? – Bear asked, breathing in the frosty evening air.

– Trouble with the Arenian wires, – Raven muttered.

– Maybe we should take the guards with us, – Falcon suggested.

– Everyone's drunk. And what can three wizards do with their magic securely locked? We only open the portal in one direction, – said Arthur.

Three Arenians and six Adenian mages were standing on a slope covered with snow that sparkled in the torchlight. When the king saw the Raven, he grinned ominously.

– Your Majesty, – the wizard said to Robin. The teleport didn't open at the scheduled time. We're looking into the reasons.

– What, you decided to stay with us? Raven asked the monarch.

– Yes, there are unfinished business, – the sinister Arenian replied in the same tone. – It's a pity, pup, that you refused to make a magical strike on the Rhineland. He could have been twice as strong. The young man of the word was struck with a whip. Yes, the king continued. Soon this desert of the Rhine will cease to be blooming. The Piranha Rose knew that they were in danger of a magical strike. Yet she chose to protect Adenia rather than her own land. So I didn't manage to kill two birds with one stone. But that's for now. I wish I could kill you personally, you know, the contract. But that's okay, but I'll enjoy watching you die. Robin saw Murd approaching, and a smile touched his lips. The teleport opened, releasing fifty Aden mages who had betrayed their king. The six escorts were blown away by the flow of magic. Arthur and Edward shielded the Raven, releasing a powerful stream of energy that killed ten mages. But they were followed by others, even stronger, and it was clear that the young men were doomed.

– Robin, go away! – Bear shouted at the top of his voice. – We can hold them off!

Raven's mind flashed with images from his childhood and adolescence. He remembered how Arthur and Edward had protected him, and how he had protected them. They managed to survive only thanks to each other's support and trust. Only a few seconds had passed. Robin's friends were already on their knees, fighting the pain. Raven concentrated and gathered all his magic, which swept away twenty opponents at once. Surprise flickered in the Arenians ' eyes. They had not imagined that the young head of the Raven clan had such power. Robin stepped in front of his friends, who were already unconscious, and concentrated again, gritting his teeth. Twenty mages had parried his blow and were now advancing, trying to break through the shield. The king smiled, knowing that it was all over for him, and whirled the energy into a vortex, knocking the fifteen mages away, falling to the ground with a groan. Already immobilized, the young man saw the Arenian approach him, accompanied by traitors.

– It was a tough attempt to survive. Even I'm impressed. Finish with him.

One of the wizards created a ball. Raven continued to smile as he looked at the sparkling, deadly stream. And suddenly, instead of the warriors looming over him, he saw a starry sky. There was the sound of a teleport opening quickly, and someone yelling. After a few minutes, everything went quiet. Rathmir was leaning over Robin, looking anxiously into his eyes.

– A magical blow to your land, – the young king whispered. – Save Anna…

Anna sat on the floor of her little house and wept bitterly. The more she tried to control herself, the more her sobs seemed to grow. In her bedroom, the unconscious Raven that Rathmir had brought to the desert a week ago still lay. The Adenian healers were able to heal his body, but were unable to recover his soul. In an unequal battle, the young man spent all his life force. Realizing this, Anna tried every means she knew to save Robin, but it was all in vain. Out of danger were the lives of Arthur and Edward, who were at that time in the castle of the County of the Rhine. The young men were still weak, but they had regained consciousness and were recovering. Ratmir and his friends, the brothers of the Rhone, left immediately for the capital to calm the unrest associated with the illness of the king and his closest subjects. Anna was choking on tears when she heard a sharp shout.

– Stop your tantrum right now!

Through the salt water, she saw her friend Rogneda. Her brown eyes glowed with anger, and her long dark hair was tousled. The girl let out a long moan and stopped crying.

– What? – Rogda asked.

– There's less hope every hour, – Anna said in a dejected voice. – I contacted all the healers and tried everything I knew.

– There's still something to try, – she said.

– I've learned that our old friend, the all-powerful King Piran, has a thing that can bring back magic.

– Where is he keeping her?

– In his cave, which is familiar to us.

– Can I open a teleport there? – Countess Raine asked, gathering herself.

– What do you think I've been doing these days?

– When can I go there?

– Stop joking, do you think I'll let you go alone?

– I'm not kidding, it's dangerous. I think that our old friends are well aware of the current situation and will be waiting for us there.

– There's no doubt about that, so we'll go there together.

Anna wiped her face with her hands, got up from the floor, and went into the bedroom. Rogneda followed her. The Raven King was lying in a snow-white bed near the open window. The curtain fluttered in a gust of wind, opened, and a few delicate apple petals flew into the room. Lady Raine went to Robin, straightened the blanket, and stroked his bare arm.

– Yes, – Rogneda said, blowing an unruly curl from her forehead. – The boy had a chance to drink shit on the way to power.

Anna looked at her friend absently.

– And how much more to come, oooh, – said Ronskaya.

Augustus burst into the bedroom and stood by the bed, panting. The fair-haired, rosy-cheeked boy with the glowing eyes was now hardly recognizable as the former puny child. He bowed slightly to Rogneda, who nodded back.

– August, – Anna said to the child. – I'm going out of the house and I'm asking for your help.

The boy was all ears.

– I want you to look after His Majesty.

– I get it. I've already thought about it, – Augustus said seriously. – Our friends and neighbors volunteered to help. We can keep a steady watch here. Our estate is protected by magic.