my Lord – said Ikru, and left.
– What are you thinking about, Bronton?
– That fact the guardian and the key have returned to our world is certainly good. But I wouldn't want to waste my time with a hope, which can fade as quickly as appeared. The girl, even she granddaughter of the previous guardian, does not know how to use her power. And now she's an easy target. If she won`t be protected in time, the key might be in the hands of the swamp trolls. And then will fall into the hands of black magicians… and everything we have fought for, for so many years will turn to dust! And our world will be plunged into the darkness forever.
– Don't think so negative, Bronton. So far, only three people know about it – you, me, and Ikru. Perhaps I needn't worry, and Oks actually met the guardian so quickly. Then he will bring her to Afleeakwein, because only here we will be able to teach her the magic of a keeper.
Chapter 5
Alice woke up because of terrible cold piercing her bones. When she opened her eyes, she expected to see herself at the table and a nice old man somewhere nearby, but the reality was completely different. She was sitting alone, on a wet rotten stump, her hands was on the small tree trunk, which was broken at the base. It was deep at the night. The wonderful warm weather suddenly changed to terrible cold of the deep night with a bone-chilling north wind. It was look like no house and old man had ever been in this place. Strange noises came from all directions. Crackles, groans, howls. Alice was afraid. And even before the thought had come to mind, her hands were already convulsively searching her pockets. “The box! Oh, my God, where is it?” After searching herself from head to toe, she realized the box was missing. Then she fell to her knees and started look for it on the ground, trying to find the box in the darkness of a cold night. But soon, after replaying all the recent events in her head and realizing what had happened, Alice sat down under the tree hugged her knees with her hands and began to cry bitterly.
– Oh, what a bastard you are… damn little thief… d-d-drugged me and robbed me… Oh, my God! – She sobbed – Grandmother, forgive me for being a fool… I failed you… If you can hear me, I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry…
Perhaps Alice would have sit here all night, grieving and blaming herself for everything, but after a while she began to hear more and more clearly the crunching of dry branches and someone's unkind growl. Whatever it was, or whoever it was, she didn't want to meet him. Alice looked out from the tree. A few pairs of small points of light were a little way away from her. “Wolves!” – The first thought flashed – Are they going to eat me? No way, bastards! Ok, so catch me up first. I'll run until I die! And if I`ll live, I'll find that damned grandfather and strangle him with my own hands! – whispered Alice, and ran as fast as she could. She could barely to see the trunks of the trees in the pitch-blackness, and almost at the last moment she was run around them. She knew if she face into something, tripped and fell down, it will be her last race. The chase was right behind her. Alice knew that she would not be able to run indefinitely in this pace and shortly will run out of breath. The thought flashed in her mind, “What if I climb up some tree, climb higher”, but almost immediately she dismissed it, because in such darkness it would take a lot of time to find a tree like that, and she didn`t have even five seconds.
Just as Alice began to choke, she heard someone else was running on her left side. In the beginning she couldn't figure out who it was by the sound. But the sound very quickly approached and intensified. “Oh my God! It's a horse! Maybe a rider? Can I get some help?” When the rider was almost at the same level with Alice, she heard:
– Kalan tol ana anim!!
A bright white light flashed in the rider's right hand and Alice could see that the rider was a graceful young elf with long golden hair and bright blue eyes. With a quick movement, the elf placed a bright glowing ball in a transparent flask, which was woven into the mane of his horse, then held out his hand to Alice and shouted:
– Give me your hand! Quickly!
As soon as the girl reached her hand, the elf threw her into the saddle in front of him with a slight tug, as if she weighed nothing at all. Then he tore off the flask with the shining light in it, whispered something into its base, turned around and sharply threw it back. A loud bang, and then a bright flash light up the dark forest. The chase fell behind.
***
They rode in silence for a while. Alice turned back from time to time, to make sure that there was no pursuit. But in reality, she just looked into the elf`s face who had saved her life. He had proper facial features, deep blue eyes and golden hair falling to his shoulders… For the first time in her life, Alice saw a live elf in front of her. She had never thought that a person could be so beautiful. Those guys she'd met in her life were nothing to compare with this Elven beauty. His flamboyant appearance, his knowledge of magic, and the fact that he saved her life played a key role – she liked him madly.
– Don't worry, they haven't been following us for a long time.
Alice just took a deep breath in response.
– Are you okay?"
– Well… – the girl said slowly – I scratched my face by some shrubs while I was running and tore my jacket. The rest… yeah, I`m okay. Thank you so much for saving me from them! I'm not going to be anyone's dinner tonight.
– Hmm. That's for sure. What's your name?
– Alice. And you?
– Enilice. And how did you appear in Izemburn? Where are you from?
– Izemburn? – Alice re-asked.
– Yes. Izemburn is the name of this forest.
Without directly answering the question, Alice asked:
– If we're no longer being chased by those beasts, can you make a stop for a while? I'm not comfortable to talk while we are gallop and I'd like to inspect my face, I think I'm bleeding from my cheek.
Enilice stopped his horse and dismounted.
– Actually, we shouldn't stop. Night in Izemburn is not a good time to rest. We need to leave it as soon as possible and go out into the Plains.
Without saying anything in response, Alice took out a small makeup bag from the inside pocket of her jacket. She wiped her cheek with a napkin and taped it up with a band-aid, keep looking to the Enilice from time to time, who was standing in front of her. As she put her makeup bag back in her inside pocket, she threw her view at the old pepper spray in it and thought: “Maybe I'll need it again”, and said:
– You know Enilice, it doesn't really matter how I got here. What's more important now is to find that sneaky old scoundrel and take back the thing he stole from me!
Slightly straightening up and pushing his chest forward the elf asked in surprise:
– Who are you talking about? Did you meet someone here?
– Yes, damn it, I did! – She answered angrily – He drugged me with sleeping drink and robbed me. And then he left me alone in the middle of the night, in this dark forest!
– Hmm… Interesting… What is the old man? Can you describe it to me?
– Well… Quite small in stature… At my five-foot-six, he was about chest-high. He had a long gray beard which is almost reached his knees. Big hat. He also smoked a long
