whispered words in an unknown language, and the queen froze.
«Ochre…» the queen croaked, but the words were very difficult for her.
– Sorry, Your Grace, but this is necessary. I had to deceive you.
– What are you planning? – the queen whispered, because she didn’t have enough strength for more. – If you kill me, you will be executed!
– Why should I kill you? I need you alive. Tram didn’t lie – I brought Shamon back to life. But I didn’t have a reviving stone. I don’t know if the same recipe that the Necromancer came up with remains somewhere. Therefore, I only revived the spirit of the old dark magician. But he needs someone else’s flesh to live. At the moment I am Shamon! – The old man grinned ominously.
– You! – the queen looked with horror into the villain’s face.
«I didn’t even expect that I would be able to capture the entirety of Eldoras so easily.» As soon as I whispered to Leslie the idea, he would withdraw his troops closer to the capital, and now almost all of your lands are under my control, now it will not be so easy to return them back. But here live those who can still harm me. Seven. I don’t remember how they killed me last time. Death erases part of the memory. But I know for sure – they must die. And then this world will fall before my feet. Your Grace, please open your mouth!
The queen complied. The Inquisitor opened his mouth and black smoke poured out, which Esteri inhaled. Then Rendell sat down in a chair, exhausted. And the queen laughed:
– Well, Rendell, you’ve served me well. Now Esteri will be my container!
Tram, standing in the common room, shuddered in horror and whispered in the ear of Linder, the head of the Order of the Seven:
– Something irreparable has happened. We’re in trouble. Mortal danger awaits us. I can feel it. We must run.
– What are you talking about? Tram?
– I put the queen under surveillance before she left the hall. I think, teacher, there is no point in hiding my feelings for the queen from you. They’re not the same as before, but I haven’t cooled off at all. So, somehow Shamon took possession of Esteri through Rendell!
The Queen opened the door.
– Grab the Seven! – Esteri commanded.
The guards hesitated for a split second. This was enough for Tram:
– Let’s run! Immediately! Brothers, come with me!
And they ran. A crossbow bolt flew near his ear, but hit the wall. They ran along the corridors of the castle, barely stopping to take turns, but the guards overtook them. Tram gestured to one of the rooms, and the fugitives ran there.
– From here there is a passage to the dungeons. We must free Liton and his people. We need good security now more than ever.
– So what happened, can you explain in human terms? – asked Linder.
– Shamon has just captured Dream in his hands. Now Eldoras entirely belongs only to him!
– But how is this possible? He won’t be able to overcome our defenses!
– I already could. Now Queen Esteri is Shamon!
– But this is impossible! This can’t be true!
– This is true. Master, take a look at her. My observer spell hangs on her pendant.
Linder closed his eyes and stood silently for a while. And then he opened his eyes, filled with horror.
– This is true. Esteri is no longer with us. Dream fell today.
They went down to the dungeons. The security guard was hit on the head with a flower vase. They took the keys and unlocked Liton.
– I was not mistaken when I saved you, Tram! – said the pirate. And he hugged me like an old friend. Others from the crew of the «Soul of the Corsair» followed.
– Let’s run! – said Tram.
Chapter 5. Seven
The sun caressed the sky with its last rays. It smelled pleasantly damp, as always after rain. But not a single cloud obscured the skies anymore, so it was difficult to say that it had rained just recently. There was a crowd in the street. Three people were walking up the stairs to the royal castle. Viceroy Ddraigha Dust was short in stature with bright, lively eyes for his age. He carried a white flag in his hand. Walking next to him was the tall, painfully thin King of Morelia, Sintellus. On the right hand of Sintell walked the ruler of the free Ennian lands, Lord Bant. He was young, one might even say young, for a ruler.
Queen Esteri stood at the top of the stairs, in front of the entrance. She was expecting guests.
– Wow, what kind of people! I’m glad you came!
The warriors next to the queen clenched their fists, someone grabbed the sword, but did not pull it out of its sheath. The King of Morelia has long been the most terrible enemy of Eldoras.
As the guests passed by the entrance, the guard patted them down. He pulled a dagger from Sintell’s pocket.
– You can’t carry weapons. Leave all the weapons to me.
The guests followed Esteri. Rendell was in the common room. He has aged in recent days. There was not a trace left of that active head of the Inquisition who came here a few days ago. Shamon drank his spiritual strength and moved into another body. He regretted what he had done, but the past could not be returned.
The guests sat down at the table, and the servants brought wine and fruit.
– I guess we have nothing more to share. It is so? – asked Esteri. – Although if I were you, my lords, I would return the selected lands back to Dream’s possession. Dust glanced sideways at Rendell, but he didn’t say a word, just looked at his feet.
«Your Highness,» Sintell noted. -You realize that all of Eldoras is now in our hands. Except for Dream, but we brought all our united troops to the Capital!
– We also brought all our troops to Dream. But we shouldn’t fight at all! If we join forces, the whole world will fall at our feet. I hope you realize, dear guests, that your lives are in my hands? You are unarmed in my castle, where there are many people loyal to me! All I have to do is snap my fingers and you’re done!
Sintell clenched his fists. He was ready to rush at the queen. But then he looked around – there were, indeed, only enemies around.
– Everyone come out! – the queen commanded. – I have to talk to the guests face to face.
When the servants and guards left the hall, Esteri struck Sintell in the groin. He bent in half.
– What a bitch! – he screamed almost in falsetto. – I’ll strangle you. And then let your soldiers do whatever they want with me. We will crush Dream, not a grain of sand will remain!
