Isnt Rhianon a star you could set your net on?
Conrad did not understand that. For all his smarminess, he was clearly a stranger to poetry, but no stranger to the pains of love. If only his current state could be called infatuation rather than madness. Douglas was pleased to note that his cheeks looked sunken after long sleepless nights, and that a kind of feverish glint had settled in his tired eyes. A little more worry like that and he would no longer be so handsome.
Douglas tried not to remember the days of his own splendor and the loss of his blond hair. He didnt regret having to change his own appearance for the worse, nor did he regret opening his heart to blackness. You could even tell that he felt a sense of satisfaction. Beauty and brilliance was not the most important thing in his life. He realized that what mattered most was strength. It was a sorcery power, not physical power. With it, one could control warriors and even representatives of earthly power. That was exactly the trick he was going to do, first with Manfred and then with Conrad. He was already beginning to succeed. Rianon has been a wonderful gift. As long as he is the only one who can find her, the heir is in his power.
First you should have asked me, is she even alive?
What do you mean by that? Conrad drew his fist sharply toward him. Douglas easily intercepted his arm and held it, even though their physical strength was not equal. The well-developed and muscular Conrad might well have defeated him in a fair fight. Even now, after many nights without sleep and days of starvation, the boy was quite strong, while Douglas had traded his physical strength for witchcraft talent, but as soon as he looked into the princes eyes he managed to compel him that he could crush all his bones if only he wanted to.
Shes alive, dont worry, he released Conrads hand and he stepped back, rubbing his wrist nervously. Its not her health, welfare, or safety you should be worried about, though thats what lovers should be most worried about.
Yes, what do you know about love? Conrad twisted in disgust, revealing in an instant all his hitherto carefully concealed feelings for the wizard.
Well, Douglas was used to being treated that way. His powers are feared. It was the squeamishness of the weak. Thats what he called it. They would dream of acquiring what he alone possesses, but they do not have it and pretend to despise the others skill.
My love is a charm, not a womans slender body. Its more likely to grow old and youll never drag her down the aisle.
Dont talk about her like that, Conrad threatened.
Whats wrong with that? Douglass eyes sparkled slyly. Young maidens are like flowers, beautiful one day and withering the next. And one day, when you wake up in bed with an old witch, you wont know what you fought for.
One more word Conrad grabbed the hilt of his sword impetuously.
Are you trying to kill me with this toy? In a moment, the space where the wizard stood was empty. Conrad looked around until he saw his skinny body sitting on the rung of the ceiling, another moment and it had already moved into the opening of the arched window above the second floor of the tower. Douglas sat on the window sill, lazily looking down.
Chill out, or Ill have to pour a bucket of cold water over you, he remarked, leaving no room for doubt that both bucket and water were to be found in that tower, appearing directly from the void at his command. You hesitate, Douglas cocked his head slightly to the side as he watched the princes reaction, and every time you see Rhianon, dont you ever think that she might scorch you, on or before your wedding bed, with her flame?
You speak as if you envy me because she will be with me and not with you.
That is a moot point, Douglas, not at all frightened by the height that separated him from the floor, jumped down and stood before the bewildered prince. All I can say is that Ive never seen her before, and I have no idea if Ill like her.
I cant help liking her, Conrad protested confidently. He was stupid, like all lovers. Douglas gave a contemptuous chuckle.
She is not a book of witches. I only get passion from books.
You can have as many as you like if you help me.
There was so much the boy didnt understand. Besides, he was entirely in his hands. They must have looked strange, the overdressed but so tired prince and the ever-young sorcerer with the dyed-black hair. Two young men with different destinies and Douglas sensed someone else standing beside them, remaining invisible and impossible to drive him away because his name was Fate. The wizard could only hope that this fate was following the young prince and not himself. If they were bound together by a common cause, it did not mean that their fates would soon be intertwined so closely that the black menace that loomed over one would shadow the other. In addition, Douglas did not consider a small sorcerers favor to be a big deal. He often did petty favors, casting spells, casting spells, depriving people of their minds, making them sick, punishing those who did not please him, or fulfilling the orders of others. It was all nonsense. He could do so much more. Each service had its own price. What would he charge Conrad? Douglas smirked carnivorously as he pondered this.
Well, youve ruined her scarf, Conrad said as if hed just now noticed the bloodstains, and he looked discouraged. How could you.
Douglas exhaled sharply. The stars say this whole kingdom could soon go to hell, and this clumpy boy is bemoaning the fact that some rag is ruined.
You know, sometimes you have to make sacrifices to get what you want, he hinted cautiously.
But not like this
What do you want to have, the girl or a ribbon of her hair? If only the latter, I can get it for you now without difficulty.
Indeed you can? Conrad looked up at him with interest.
What a fool. Douglas almost cursed. Even the spirits circling the distant ceiling seemed to be laughing at his stupid client. Good thing they werent throwing scraps of books at him. They like to make fun of those whom they themselves have almost driven mad. With some experience in casting spells, Douglas had no doubt that something supernatural could be the cause of such love. He could have offered his help and slightly cooled the hot blood of the lover, but it would not have been to his advantage. Sick of his dream, Conrad was willing to do anything. If he were cured of it, he would be harder to control.
Yeah, I wouldnt want to meet this Rhianon, if shes capable of depriving others of their willpower, he muttered to himself. He wondered if she was a fairy. They were the only ones who could make mortal young men go mad, but he shrugged the thought off instantly. There was something even more dangerous here than an encounter with fairies. The stars revealed little to him, but everything. Yet even that was enough to make Douglas wary.
You wont want her ribbon or herself when you find out what shes done?
Oh, come on
I mean it, Douglas gave the prince a long look. The scarf youre clutching in your hands now has the blood of several birds and other creatures that had to be slaughtered to attack the trail. You know spells require a relationship. But thats not what I mean The price of those tiny lives is nothing compared to what your princess can bring to Loretta.
Conrad could barely restrain himself from speaking angrily.
Conrad could barely restrain himself from speaking angrily.
I told you I dont care what it costs, he grumbled.
I remember. I have a good memory. I dont forget anything thats happened in the past, but I can also tell the future.
Then predict that I will succeed. And if you cant predict it, then conjure it up.
I wish it were that easy.
Its complicated for you, Conrad said angrily. Have you even found out where she is? You still havent told me where she is.
It would have been better if you hadnt known, Douglas shrank back, and the stiff dark strands fell to his forehead and covered his eyes. And well, his interlocutor wouldnt see the golden spark that flashed through his pupils.
Where is she? Conrad darted forward, catching the wizard by the shoulder before he could even look away from the multicolored, magnetic eyes, one dark and the other blue.
Douglas grinned faintly at the corners of his lips.
Shes with someone else. Do you understand?
The news struck like a sword. Only Conrad recovered quickly. Passion gave way to rage. He squeezed the wizards shoulder as if the man were his rival. He could kill now.
I dont believe that.
You just dont want to believe it.
For a moment Conrad looked away. He tried to calm himself, and he couldnt. His fingers clutched frantically at the hilt of his sword trembled a few times.
Very well, the prince said, as he struggled to contain his outburst. Now I have two questions for you: where is she, and who is he?
Well, he has blond hair and blue eyes Douglas didnt know how to lay the whole truth beside him. It began here.
He led the prince to a map spread out on the table and pointed to the right place.
You see this path, highlighted in red. I underlined it for you. This is the path she took, even though your warriors didnt find anyone there, but she passed through here. At this point, right in the deep woods, she managed to find friends. I drew a campfire at the place where they first met, because they met at the campfire. And this dot, in the shape of a drop of blood, marks the spot where Rhianon met him.
And then the line breaks off, said Conrad judiciously. His eyes were suddenly unfamiliarly focused.
Yes, said Douglas. Thats because she did not go further. She has a friend and she has nothing to run away for. She relies on his protection, and rightly so. She doesnt even have to walk the earth anymore, because he carries her in his arms. You know, all lovers feel like they live in heaven.
I get it, Conrad stepped away from the map and headed for the door without even saying goodbye. Obviously, he thought they were unnecessary.
Where are you going? Douglas guessed, but decided it was not unreasonable to ask the question.
Where do you think? Conrad turned around, showing a frantic look. Now there was no doubt that he had a demon inside him.
Youre tired, Douglas reminded me condescendingly, youre hungry and insomniac. Youd be better off taking care of yourself than running around the woods after some couple. I could give you an elixir to restore vigor and sound sleep.
You think I cant kill in this condition? The prince grumbled so angrily that there was no doubt of his certainty.
Douglas immediately gave up and took a step back. This was not the time to dictate terms yet.
I think, Your Highness, that you can make that decision yourself without me, he said, bowing in a courteous bow. Only the departing Conrad did not see his eyes flash insidiously. All he heard was the click of the lock opening unassisted. But the whirr of an owl, more like a chuckle, did not reach his ears.
Immediately after the battle, Madael took her to his tower. He said he had urgent work to do here. It seemed strange to Rhianon, but she was no longer afraid of being alone in his tower with the ifrites and crawling creatures. Maybe she was just used to the strange surroundings. She settled down on a gilded chair, more like a throne, and waited. The fire in the great yawning fireplace danced in tongues of black and orange. She had never seen flames like that before. It seemed to form into bizarre shapes, frightening facial expressions and even grimaces. Inside the fireplace, as if some sort of spectacle was unfolding, depicting a tournament or a battle, she could see everything in the glimpses of the scenes: fights, quarrels, crossed swords, rage, anger, and oddly enough, even an embrace. Passion and strife, it was as if they were one inseparable unit.
First the embrace, then the battle, thats how love always ends.
Rhianon turned sharply away from the fire. She never understood who had said it, but she expected to see an evil charred creature crawling toward her on the marble slabs, but there was none.
She watched the flames again and listened to the echo of ghostly voices. With such interest she would not even look at the scene. The flames did not give clear visions or outlines, but the blurry scenes were suggestive of certain thoughts. The flames whispered and showed her something. And surprisingly, the heat from this fire did not awaken the flames in hers. Could it be that the fire here was unusual? In Madaels tower, anything could happen. She no longer felt in danger here. Even the flames only showed her fascinating pictures and whispered something in a multitude of voices, but did not arouse unpleasant feelings.
She listened to the chorus, so quiet not even a whisper, but she could hear the screams, the threats, the clang of swords and groans of pain, and the terrifying cries of those who were struck.
It is the echoes of war in the skies, someone said above her ear.
Rhianon looked up and saw an ifrit in the high wall archway. She nodded at him, not knowing why.
I see.
Yes? the monsters claws clawed at the archway, its leathery wings fluttering gently, fluttering against the flames of the candle in the nearest lamp.
I can see them, bodies pierced by swords but still alive, wriggling on stakes or spears, she frowned, the images fuzzy. They were beating in agony, and their wings were blackening. Even blacker skin, burning angelic curls, eyes blazing from within, like shards of heaven, from now on they will be black as coals, and full of such hatred. I even understand the source of their anger. To endure such pain is no joke. Anyone gets angry. You live and feel like youre burning alive.
Like you?
Yes, she thought and nodded. He was right. That was how she often felt because of the fire living inside.
What else do you see? The ifrit flew a little lower and sat on the carved decoration of the fireplace, like a bird on a perch. His sharp claws circled the carved panel above the mantelpiece. It was so huge, but it hung on the thin rung with ease.
Rhianon stared at him and didnt answer at once.
I see you as you were before, translucent and delicate and so vulnerable. One call from your master made you follow him. You didnt know you would lose your golden curls, blue eyes, and ethereal body. It was a loss of innocence. Innocence is what I call beauty, inner and outer, not something else, she hesitated. I look at ugly bodies, and I imagine you as you were before.
He looked at her skeptically.
What do you imagine me to be like?
She squinted as if she was looking at the sun and it might burn her eyes. She struggled to see his essence beneath the standing blackness and ash and burns.