name of the queen! I order! – Absolute silence hung for a while, no one dared to move.
– I’m not ready to sacrifice my dear Dream for the whims of my husband!
A strong woman, Tram thought to himself. She became haggard and aged, but Leslie could not extinguish in her through years of tyranny what the Exile loved her for.
– The Order of the Seven receives as much power as it needs to fulfill its goal. We have lost the country, but we will not give up the capital to the enemy. Everyone else is now preparing for defense. And we will defend!
– Do your duty, Exile! – the king hissed in his death throes. «I hope you go to hell after this, you fucking asshole!»
These were the last words of the most cruel of the kings of Eldoras. Or maybe the last king, who knows how history will turn in a week?..
Chapter 4. The Fall of Eldoras
For the last two centuries, Eldoras had to defend its right to a place in the sun with blood and blades. A country rich in ore and fertile lands is always a tasty morsel for a greedy neighbor. Not a trace remained of the luxurious forests of Morelia after the reign of Chamon. Antimonik cut down forests and built mechanisms. The war of those times is long over, and instead of the legendary Magic Forest there is a scorched desert. The oak trees withered, the animals became extinct. And Eldoras, with its fertile black soils and access to the Sea of Erin and the appendage island of Ddraigh, became one of the richest countries in Seisilla.
Therefore, in this war, Morelia the envious woman again took the side of Evil. Two weeks ago, the guards saw signal lights to the north. A day later, the southern signal light was lit. Trouble was knocking at the gate. But the king didn’t care. He was too carried away by searching for traitors within the castle walls. When Queen Esteri came to power, it was too late to liberate the provinces. Dream went on the defensive. All efforts were devoted to this.
* * *
Tram walked through the streets of Dream. It was hard to believe that the city was under threat. Everyone is also running and fussing. The market is full of people. A drunk woman invites you to buy fresh fish, another offers silk. Fruits, vegetables, wines, furs, silks, jewelry. Everything is the same as always. Dream was drowning in luxury and did not look for a way to salvation.
A detachment of guards was leading some people shackled. A whole convoy. At first Tram thought they were being taken to a slave market. But then I looked closer and saw the familiar face of Liton.
– How are you here, captain?
– Looks like the old sailor has had enough of a swim. We are all mortals. Something seems to me that this time was the last voyage!
– So what happened? – Tram was wearing black clothes, so the guards did not notice how someone was talking to their prisoners.
– We were hanging out with the men. And out of drunkenness they decided to attack one ship. At first this was one thing, and then several more ships appeared. The royal bloodhounds decided to fish with live bait. And here we are, being led to trial.
Queen Esteri sat on the throne. The maids brought her dishes with fruits and sweets. It smelled of orchids and incense. The musicians played violins, a busty blonde sang soulfully.
The guards brought a tall, dark-haired man in a tattered suit into the room.
– Your Highness, we have finally caught Liton! – said the old guard.
Silence reigned in the hall. Everyone, including the queen, looked at the arrival with curiosity. The fame of the captain of the «Soul of the Corsair» spread to all directions of the world. The crew of the infamous schooner claimed the lives of hundreds of sailors.
– Well, Liton, now you’ve had your fill.
Tram ran into the throne room:
– Your Majesty, Please save the life of this man. He saved me from certain death. I want to thank him…
«He saved the life of one of the Seven, praise be to him for that.» But it took the lives of hundreds of other people. One good deed will not correct a thousand crimes.
– Your Mightiness! Soon Morelia’s troops will be at our gates. And then every man who knows how to carry a sword or other weapon will count.
– Yes, you’re right, Tram! Let’s save the lives of the pirates. We need people who will go in the front row.
«She has changed. Not at all the girl I loved!» – Tram noted to himself.
Life has made Queen Esteri cruel. When everyone left, the queen and the monk were left alone.
– Do you remember that spring? – said Tram. – The lilacs were blooming and the fallow deer were chirping. It smelled of myrtle and malt. We lay under the belly moon near Lake Sturel. We looked at the stars and dreamed about how good everything would be. That everything will be the same as before…
– Years will not erase this from my memory. They made me an old woman, but they will not take away my memory.
– You are not an old woman. But something has really changed in you. Where did that dreamy girl I once loved go?
– Leslie took her to the grave with him. I’m the only one left.
– Please, Esteri, Liton saved me. I have to repay him.
– I already pardoned him, what else do you need?
* * *
– Queen Esteri! Guests are coming to you! – the butler reported.
– Who?
– His Holiness, Head of the Inquisition, Lord Rendell!
– Bring him here! – the queen commanded.
A gray-haired old man entered the room.
– Your Majesty! – he said. – Glad to meet you. And I’m glad that an adequate person was on the throne.
– Thank you, Rendell! But let’s get down to business. Why did you come to Dream at this difficult time?
– I want to propose an alliance to Your Highness. The Anti-Witch League will march under your banners against the troops of the Ennians and Morellians.
– Your Grace, allow me to say! – Tram spoke. – The Inquisitor personally revived Shamon. He is the main culprit of all the troubles of Eldoras.
– Rendell, is this true? «What can you say in your defense?» asked the queen.
– I have evidence to the contrary! I believe that Tram is to blame for Shamon’s life. He was a guest in my domain, and performed a terrible ritual. Shamon is alive and thirsts for power, but it is not my fault that he is revived. I will give you irrefutable evidence, but only face to face, Your Majesty!
– Okay, let’s go to the next room.
The
