Phirin sent me home. Since the court doctor says that to give a childbirth at home is better. You will cope with the role of a midwife, won’t you? It’s not your first time. – Mom smiled.
– Do you have any doubts? – Alice joked. – Isn’t Phirin coming?
Mom got nervous. Her heart accelerated the rhythm.
She sat down on a bench and, leaning against the wall with a rug made of colored ropes, rubbed her forehead.
– This year Ruby has tripled the energy tribute. Pontiar was outraged and he refused to pay. They got angry and declared war.
When mom said this word her voice quivered. No, she’s not coward, she’s a war magician. And my mom wasn’t afraid of death, death was just a door to a new life. She knew that war brings destruction, pain, tears and losses. How many fathers and mothers won’t return to their children, how many people the war will leave homeless, how much fear is caused only by the thought of losing the loved ones. A shiver ran down my spine like an icy avalanche. Varya and Alice covered their lips with their hand, drowning out exclamations of horror. Grandpa Marash sat down on a stool by the door. Only I stood in front of my upset mother, not knowing what to say in such cases. My father was a general in the royal guard of magicians. He will be the first to enter the battle. But I also knew that he was a strong water magician, like my mom. It’s not easy to defeat him. Almost every inhabitant of Pyramid knew dad’s heroic deeds in repelling enemy attacks. His achievements paved my way to the glory. But alas, I won’t follow his footsteps. I have my own way of the hero.
– Mom, everything will be fine! – I cheered her up. – I think Pontiar made this decision for some reason. He is the ruler and knows what we don’t know.
She nodded. Only now I noticed the circles under her eyes. Probably mom cried, and my father sent her away from the capital because of the child. Mom hugged me, and now I stroked her hair. It was such an unearthly, pleasant feeling of care. What a birthday present I’ve got! Only the news of the war spoiled the moment of happiness.
– I love you! I won’t let anything happen to you! – I assured.
In the history of our world, I’ve heard about only one war. The leader of Phaeton’s army was a magician who, like my father, had the gift of controlling the element of water. Alice said that then the whole sky was illuminated by lightning strikes that reached the ground. Many settlements were burned down, and even the Ellenian and Weirian elf forests were harmed.
Now I’ve decided that I can protect our house, and grandpa Marash will help me, because without magic it will be difficult. As the saying goes, together we are stronger.
Mom expected hostilities to unfold from day to day. Now I had the tools and I knew what to do. Grandpa Marash and I pulled half-meter steel rods from the old hangar. A year ago, I traded them for a rare typewriter that was aging in a bunch of scrap metal in a closet under the stairs. Alice said that it wouldn’t be useful to us even in working order, but for the merchant Paco it’s just right.
From the rods, I made an umbrella-like structure, covering the tip with liquid silver. I proceeded with the rest. Of course, I didn’t have any rope, and even more of this length. And I was thinking how to replace it.
– Master, will the liana fit? – a skein of green vegetation hung on the old man’s shoulder.
I clapped my hands happily.
– It will perfectly fit! And where did you get it?
– I grew it, – Marash smiled. – Only a little. Is it enough?
– Well, not enough… Maybe we can stretch it out with magic? I asked uncertainly.
– Magic? I think we can! – Marash agreed.
It’s been two days already. Mom watched as Marash and I fiddled and tried. The spiers were installed, the liana conductors soaked in saline were hung and grounded. I threw the ends into the lake. We are ready. We will only need to raise the spiers, by means of magic, just above the highest point of the roof during hostilities. And then the lightnings won’t scare us.
I looked at an oak tree in the very center of the backyard garden. It is too dear to me. I also put a spire next to it and connected everything with one liana.
In the evenings my mom and I had tea. But not in the living room, but in the kitchen, with the servant. Mom missed the simplicity of life. According to her, the arrogant urban society was annoying. She wanted coziness and warmth.
We spent time together like before. We walked and laughed. We baked cinnamon rolls. We were happy, I was… I enjoyed. We often came to our oak tree. And now I was lying, closing my eyes with pleasure, under the tree crown. I wondered. An oak tree in a coniferous forest. It is also a tree. All magicians – are people, even if I am not a magician, but I am a person! And I’m not afraid to be an outcast.
The whistle and heavy boom shook.
– It’s started! – my mom exclaimed, jumping up sharply, and grabbed her belly.
Water ran down her legs.
– Mom? – I looked wondering at the wet sand.
– Waters have broken. Nicholas, your little sister decided to be born at the wrong time… Help me!
Mom screamed and bent down as if someone had hit her in the belly.
– Mom! – I ducked under her arm and let her lean on myself.
From the house a governess and a young maid were rushing towards us.
– Alice, waters have broken. Reemay is asking to get into the world… – Mom smiled bitterly.
The sky was covered with thunderclouds. It darkened abruptly around. Marash raced from the stable at full speed.
– Hostess, go inside, quick! Niko, tell me what to do!
– You know. Raise the spiers just above the roof and secure them. How long can you hold on? – while I was talking to the gardener, Alice took mom into the house.
– I will hold on as long as necessary! Don’t worry, master, I only look old, but the magical powers don’t age, and I have a soul…
I smiled. I love grandpa Marash! He was always on my side. And he believes in me, unlike my father.
Whistle. Pink-purple flashes above the clouds. A net of lightning lit up the entire sky. The discharges began to fall on the ground here and there.
– It’s time, Marash! Come on! – I shouted.
A scream was heard in the house. It was mom. I rushed into the house. Dinah grabbed me just in front of my mom’s bedroom door.
– Let me go! – I snapped.
– Where are you going? Aphelia is giving a birth. You can’t go there! – a friend scolded.
Another puffy scream. The door flew open. I saw a large
