Elven heritage
Juriy Tashkinov
© Juriy Tashkinov, 2024
ISBN 978-5-0062-2881-8
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Part 1. Forgotten book
Chapter 1. Night in the slums
The moon hung like a sharp sword over Tivol, the capital of Suthering. The stench of horse urine, which evaporated when it landed on a stone hot under the scorching sun during the day, was hardly drowned out by the rose oil. Drunken swearing was heard from the tavern. The slums on the outskirts were strikingly different from the luxury to which Still was accustomed.
Well, have you seen enough? Satisfied? Lewis asked.
You are always dissatisfied, Lew! People live like this for years and dont complain,» Still said.
Those are people. They are accustomed to poverty. And you probably would have died a long time ago from inhaling horse urine.
You might think youre not used to luxury! But I want to know how ordinary people live. The time will come when I will replace my father. When I ascend the throne, I need to know the people well.
Lewis was silent for a while, thinking. How long has he been accustomed to luxury? Who loves the kings illegitimate children? The courtiers wrinkled their noses, disgustedly whispering the offensive nickname: «Bastard!» The common people called him «the king.» He had to spend the night in pigsties, and sometimes even on the road. His life changed on the day when Dinor rode with his army through the lands of Lorraine. The King of Suthering decided to pick up the exiled boy. Its always a good idea to have your opponents enemy on hand, especially when he has royal blood in him. Lewis grew up at Dinora Castle in Tivol.
Just dont tell your father that I brought you here! Lewis said.
What are you afraid of? asked Still. We will walk a little around Tivol at night, and return to the castle before dawn. Father wont notice anything, youll see.
Not the best place for walking!
Still put a finger to his lips.
Do you hear? he whispered.
What should I hear?
You were born with a wine cork in your ear! We need to take you to a healer. Dont you hear?
What are you talking about? Lewis asked.
Steps. Someone is coming for us!
Someone threw a bag over Stills head. The prince, without hesitation, hit his attacker with all his might on the bridge of his nose. When Still removed the bag from his head, he saw crossbow bolts pointed in his direction. The guys were surrounded by armed men.
Better not resist, boy! said one of the bandits. If you behave like good boys, not a single hair will fall from your heads.
What do you need? Lewis asked. We dont have any gold with us!
«Well search your pockets ourselves,» said the leader of the robbers, «the slave buyer will pay well for your carcasses.» Muscular, these are exactly what the quarry needs. His convoy is passing nearby, well offer you a couple of strong slaves.
The veins in Stills cheeks bulged with anger.
Slaves, you say! Ill show you the slaves now!
He took from the sheath that was hidden under the flaps of his cloak, a sword decorated with precious stones with a silver hilt.
Come on, boy! said the robber. Throw the sword on the ground immediately. Otherwise Ill shoot.
Try it!
Hey, Jim, you lied! one of the bandits shouted. You said that no one would look for them. But I recognized him. He rode next to the king at the Spring Festival. Look at his sword! This is the royal sword. Jim, what have you gotten us into? Hes a prince!
And what? said the leader. Do you think they dont give enough for princes? Do you know how much Silver will pay for his head?
Still looked at the enemy without blinking.
So Silver is involved in this?
Grab them! Jim shouted. But the bandits shook their heads in confusion.
Sorry, Jim, but we dont want to get involved in your games. Im leaving.
And me too.
And I.
A minute, and there are three people on the street. Jim switched the crossbow from Lewis to Still. He realized that the advantage was no longer on his side and began to run. Bandits are brave people when there are many of them. And alone they turn into cowards.
We must not let him escape! Still shouted. Follow him! We have to give it to dad! He knows something about my brother!
They raced through the slums. But Jim knew these places better. Lewis threw the knife and hit the bandit in the leg. He fell to the ground.
Please, just dont kill! Jim groaned. Although, you can kill. Im now a non-resident anyway. Silver has ears everywhere. If he finds out that I was caught, Im dead!
You will come with us! Still said.
Chapter 2. Royal Council
The lush hall smelled of incense and almonds. Dinor was reclining on the sofa. The young maids fanned him with fans so that the king, God forbid, would not suffer a stroke from the heat. One of the maids was hand-feeding grapes. The advisors stood in a semicircle, their eyes cast to the floor.
«Call Still,» Dinor said. He must be present too.
After some time, the door swung open and the prince entered the room, accompanied by an old servant.
Hello, son! Congratulations! You turned seventeen today. We will have a magnificent feast in your honor.
The councilors clapped their hands.
But this is not the most important thing. From today you will be present at all councils next to me. Take a seat, it is not right for a prince to stand on an equal footing with the nobles.
Dinor gestured to Still towards the throne next to the royal sofa. This throne has been empty since the last time Silver, the kings eldest son, sat on it. Anyone who had not seen Dinor for several years would not have recognized in the flabby, pot-bellied, constantly intoxicated old man the warrior he once was. But the betrayal of his eldest son and the death of his wife almost brought him to the grave. If it werent for the wine, he would have committed suicide long ago.
«Colonel Darsu, report,» Dinor ordered.
Your Grace, the prisoner has been interrogated. We received a confession from him.
Bring him here!
Your Grace, this is not the best idea.
Will you challenge the kings orders? Dinor asked, raising his eyebrows high.
Valin! Darsu shouted loudly. A few seconds later the door opened and a out of breath soldier in full uniform ran into the hall.
Take him, Valin! Darsu commanded.
This minute, Your Honor!
A few minutes later, the guards brought in a bruised man who could barely stand on his feet.
Do you even know who youre looking at? Darsu asked. Teach this guy some noble manners!
On knees! Valin shouted at the prisoner.
The man fell to the floor, almost bruising his forehead.
Your Majesty, this is the same Jim Throatcutter whom we have been looking for for five years now. If it werent for Prince Still, we would have been looking for several more years! said Darsu.
«Oh, that same Jim,» said Dinor. Ive heard a lot.
The king stood up from the sofa and patted Still on the shoulder.
Well done, son!
He walked up to Jim and gave him his hand.
Get up! What, did they treat you cruelly? Im sorry if somethings wrong. You understand, they are martinets, what can you take from them?
The advisors and guards didnt even turn their heads, pretending not to pay attention to Dinors actions. He is a king, he knows better how to behave with a criminal.
Tell me, who advised you to attack my only son?
Jim became bolder, even looked the king in the eyes.
«Not one of the advisers can afford such insolence!» Darsu thought.
«Ive already told the guards several times.» Your son paid me for this. Im talking about Silver.
Dinors expression changed, and a flash of anger flashed through him.
Silver is no longer my son! Dont you dare say another word about him! So why does he need my only son? All the same, I will not hand over the throne to him, even if there is no other heir left besides him.
Nevertheless, he has the right to your crown. And behind him is the huge army of Morelia. He is already approaching the borders of Suthering.
Take the scoundrel away! Dinor shouted. Darsu looked at Valin. The soldier understood the commander at a glance. He grabbed Jims hand.
«Lets go,» said Valin.
Execute him at dawn! Dinor said.
You promised! Jim groaned. «They promised me that if I told the truth, they wouldnt touch me.» I have a wife and three children!
«And I have one son,» Dinor said. And you made an attempt on his life. Take me away!
No sooner said than done. When the door closed behind the criminal, Dinor spoke:
Councilor Wind, report on the situation at the borders.
Ive been hearing disturbing rumors for a long time. Im not ready to give the king unverified information. But Morelia has long been preparing for an attack on the borders of Suthering. I underestimated the rumors I heard. After torturing Jim, I realized that we had been underestimating the enemy all this time.
You will answer later for hiding information from the king, Councilor. Colonel Darsu, report on the readiness of the army.
Darsu didnt have time to say a word when Advisor Anilix interrupted him:
Your Highness, Silver is a powerful sorcerer, and you know this very well. They say he hobnobs with evil spirits, he is a strong rival. His wife, Queen Regatta, is also a witch!
The Inquisition will also participate in this war! said Gvirtel, head of the Anti-Witchcraft League of Suthering. This was the first time this had happened for the court magician and the anti-magician to come to a common opinion. The king noticed this and was on his guard. Silver is a powerful magician, and he challenges the Anti-Witch League.
Dinor does not need to explain that Silver challenged not only the Inquisition, but also Gvirtel personally when he declared Morelia a country without anti-mages. And the head of the Anti-Witch League will not leave this just like that, without an answer.
What are your suggestions, advisors? asked the king.
Anilix was the first to speak:
I heard rumors
Rumors are reaching all of you! the king boiled. «They just reach me late.» Dont pull the horses bridle, advisor. You better not test my patience!
I know where the Elvish dictionary is! Anilix said, and absolute silence reigned in the hall for a while. Even Dinors jaw dropped. He patted the adviser on the shoulder:
Good news is reaching you. If we could get our hands on a book, what would be a significant trump card in the game with Morelia!
You cant, Your Majesty! Gvirtel shouted. Dont listen to Councilor Anilix. Better yet, throw him in prison! This is not why the Anti-Witch League fought against sorcerers for so many years, in order to bring back the original magic to our educated age! I appeal to your reason, Your Majesty!
«The Anti-Witch League lost a long time ago,» Dinor raised his voice. On the day when the Empire of Magicians collapsed. The inquisitors probably did not understand that they were anti-magicians as long as there were sorcerers. And now you are ridiculous and useless.
What about the period of the reign of Emperor Hellenius?
How did it end, Gvirtel, have you forgotten the story? Moreover, already at that time Beelzuvik did not have any power over Suthering. I will give the anti-mages a chance to restore their former greatness. I will return your antipode real magic!
Your Mightiness! Gvirtels eyes glowed. If this were a simple man in front of him, and not a king, the adviser would now glare at him.
You are forgetting yourself, Gvirtel. Dont test my patience. Jesters and minstrels sing obscene songs about my hot temper. But I forgive them they are jesters to distract people from real problems. And I will not forgive you, adviser. The meeting is over for today!
***
Still walked through the garden with his mentor Nermall. The old teacher taught the prince everything he knew. Nermall has seen the world; any warrior would envy his experience. He taught Still how to fight with fists and swords, how to navigate the terrain and find a source of power even in an impassable desert.
A strekquil, a huge dragonfly, flew from a bush, and Still turned his head in fear.
What worries you, student? asked Nermall.
Yes, nothing
Ive known you since you were a child. You know that you can trust me completely.
Still could trust the old man with his life. Nermall, the son of a Belzuvian nobleman, received a good education, even studied for several years at the University. But women broke the fates of many. So at twenty-four he found himself on a pirate ship. In four countries, he would have faced a death sentence if he had been caught, of course. In two more countries he would have spent the rest of his days in prison. That is why he spent most of his life in the ocean. But Dinors people managed to catch the old robber. Dinor was then suffering from terrible back pain, and Nermall was a doctor on a pirate ship. He just happened to have zaneeris lying around, a medicinal plant from the Unknown Lands. In gratitude for his health, the king gave the man life. Dinor made him a court physician, and then a teacher to his youngest son.
Dinor is generally a strange person. Usually hot-tempered, in moments of insight he did noble deeds. So, for example, he picked up a bastard boy during the attack on Lorraine, and in general more often he chose officials based on real talent, and not on noble origin.
So whats bothering you, student? asked Nermall.
Teacher, tell me about the elven dictionary!
I dont know much. Maybe its just a legend? Who knows!
Tell me everything you know!
Okay, listen!
Chapter 3. The Legend of the Elves.
They say that elves came down from heaven. They once had wings and roamed the clouds. Then there was a war between the high elves. It was led by Zaymond, a fallen elf. He declared himself equal to the Creator. Some joined him, others went against him. There were also those who realized in time the mistake of joining the army of the fallen. They stopped participating in battles. After the war, those who swore allegiance to Zeymond were overthrown. And the elves who remained on the sidelines were exiled to earth to serve their punishment until the end of the human race.
So they lived in the forest, which is now called Clearings. The ancestors called it the Magic Forest. Their village is hidden behind trees from prying eyes; no one disturbed their peace.
Until one day, a Morellian, General Dartel, wandered here. There is no end to the war between Morelia and Lorraine. It began in those immemorial times, and ended literally half a century ago. And that truce can be broken at any moment.
The elves picked up a thin man, in rags and scars. Dartel was hungry and dying of thirst. But you cant stop the enemies were on your heels. The elves had never met people before. They did not know about the cunning of the human race. Herberolden, the king of the elves, gave the man the juice of zaneeris and applied leaves of the medicinal plant to the wounds. Then he whispered magic words, and the wound instantly healed.
Dartel watched the elves for a long time. He tried to understand their language and customs. The words spoken by the elven priest immediately became the truth. The words of a rare person carry weight. You can promise anything, swear by your health, your father, brother, mother, and even the immortality of your soul, and then betray. We have lost the habit of believing words. But not the elves, they remembered the true power of words, so they did not waste the seeds of words to the wind. But when they say, the earth shook and new worlds arose. They gave birth to true magic; it has long been absent from our lands. All the greatest magicians of past eras are only a shadow of the elven priests, in terms of strength and greatness. In the elven language there are no such words as «pain», «death», only «love», «light», «joy» The dark side of elven magic was invented by people.