young people, for distracting you,» said Otraud. – Viscount Leivead, the Duke wants to see you.
***
Rigerd was sitting at the table. There were documents in front of him. He dipped his pen into the inkwell and wrote a sweeping signature. When the nephew came in, he immediately put aside his work. He took his pipe out of the drawer and lit it, blowing out thick clouds of smoke.
– Uncle, you should quit smoking. No matter how I approach your room, I constantly hear a cough. This will not bring you any good!
– It seems that you communicated too closely with Aunt Annette, may her ashes not fade away! She also grumbled constantly. However, I survived it!
The Duke stared at one point. There was an awkward silence for a moment.
– I called you on business, Leivead. I need your sorcerer’s gift.
Rigerd briefly described everything he knew about the events in the south.
– Gather a squad. Travel to the borders of Ennian Forest. Find out what kind of misfortune is going on there. Just don’t risk yourself or the soldiers. Every sword counts for me. I smell a battle coming soon. Okay, gather the people, we’ll meet for a communal dinner in the evening. Because I have a lot of work now.
Leivead sighed. Rigerd looked at him studyingly.
– Have you met the princess again?
Leivead was silent.
– You are no match for her. The Emperor will never accept your candidacy. Mark my words. I have known Gartaur for several years. He is stubborn as a sheep. He would rather marry her to one of the Sutheringians. But not with the Morellian!
– Can origin somehow influence matters of the heart?
– Politicians don’t care what people feel. They are only interested in profit. It’s better to renounce her now, before you become inextricably tied to her.
– Looks like you’re late, uncle.
Leivead had already turned towards the door when Rigerd whispered:
– We are on the brink of war with Velzuvik. It looks like the days of the United Kingdom will soon be numbered. Complete your duty in the south and return. And forget the princess. Then it will be hard. Trust me.
– Okay, uncle!
– Take care of yourself!
– Certainly!
Chapter 3. Ghost
Viscount Leivead’s detachment was approaching a small village called Odebrun, which is on the border of the Ennian forest.
Silence. It seems that no one except travelers dared to disturb it, not even birds were heard. Gray clouds have been swarming in the skies for several days in a row.
«It feels like no one has been here for thirty years!» – said Ermekar, one of the soldiers. Battle-hardened, graying, but retaining the sparkle in his eyes, like a young man’s. – Fields where unharvested wheat rots. Yards overgrown with grass.
«My uncle said that the attack happened no more than six months ago, and the last residents left their homes a month ago,» said Leivead.
– Oh, I don’t like all this. Not good, my heart feels.
– Hey people, is anyone there? – shouted Leivead. – People, respond!
Silence. The Viscount pushed the wooden door, and it opened with an unfriendly creak. It smelled of dampness and musty air. There were abandoned remains of food on the table. Midges swarmed. Fresh footprints were visible on the thick layer of dust. The Viscount followed them. There was a man lying in the corner. Leivead grabbed the unfortunate man’s shoulder to turn him around and looked into his face. Open eyes looked at one point.
– Looks like he’s dead. «It needs to be burned,» Ermekar whispered. Suddenly the man opened his eyes and grabbed Leivead’s hand. The warriors immediately took up their swords.
– Messenger of Darkness, you are not welcome here! Leave our lands! Otherwise there will be retribution!
After these words, the man seemed to lose all interest in the guests. He lay down in his original place. Did your eyes remain open? He looked blankly at the ceiling.
– What does it mean? Why did you say that?
The owner of the house continued to lie silently.
– Answer! – Leyvead trotted him by the shoulder.
– Leave. I don’t want guests.
– Strange place. «You can’t say anything,» Ermekar said. «I hope we won’t stay here overnight?»
«We will stay here until we find out the reasons for what happened, ” said Leivead.
– Leivead, have you seen his eyes? Look! They radiate a power I don’t understand. They…
– Someone has enchanted these lands. And this is by no means a weak sorcerer.
They entered every house, and everywhere it was the same: desolation. Where such colorless people lived, and where it was completely empty. We decided to spend the night in one of these abandoned houses.
We chopped wood and lit the stove.
– I hope the owner won’t be angry? Why do we behave as if we are not guests at all? – Ermekar asked.
– A kind host would not allow his guests to die of hunger and cold.
We roasted the chickens that were scurrying around the yard.
The night lay a heavy black and gray blanket. An owl hooted. The gray wolf howled, the fierce, lonely wanderer. Hungry, or simply hating the whole world. Or maybe he just started singing? It’s getting colder. The glass was frozen with a strange pattern. A storm howled outside the windows. Leivead woke up with a bad feeling. Others did not sleep either. Creaking footsteps were heard outside the door.
They walked outside without saying a word. The door creaked treacherously.
When you exhale, light steam flows.
– Stop! Who goes! – Ermekar shouted into the darkness. He saw better than others at night. Leyvead looked closely and saw a shadow in the distance moving towards them. – We’ll shoot. Come on! – the uninvited night traveler did not pay attention to the words, he kept moving towards the soldiers. – Once! Two! Fire! – arrows flew towards the uninvited guest. But he, not paying attention to the arrows that seemed to pass right through, walked leisurely towards them. Or maybe they were just poorly oriented in the dark, so they missed? This is unlikely! The best Eldoran marksmen rarely missed their target. Meanwhile, the mysterious night owl was approaching. You can hear his chilling breath. He is tall, three heads taller than the tallest of the warriors, Krystell.
– Who are you? – Leivead asked. There was no answer. The stranger extended
