Dragon’s Empire – 1. Curse of the younger Prince

Without keeping even my senses, he raised one curtain and pushed me into a huge half-walled room. There were no candles in the room. The dull rays of the light made their way through a large glass dome in the center of the ceiling. Thin marble columns lined up near the walls of the round hall. Several elegantly dressed ladies and cavaliers passed by me. They were in completely identical blue half masks. Of these, all I managed to dress a black mask. But I found it quite by chance. I was sure that I was confused with someone, so it is so kindly adopted on this strange collection of graceful, almost essential beings. And someone else’s mask, which I decided to try, allowed me to maintain incognito. This hall under the dome reminded me of an illustration from some novel. Its overwhelming sizes made an unpleasant impression on me. And it was worth only to look at the dome, as a noise in the ears began. A dizzying height can only be safe for those who have reliable wings and strength for flight.

I looked at the page more attentively. Undoubtedly, he was nice, but these sharp ears tips were an unpleasant addition to charming face. If I heard his music, he knew how to play well on mandolin. As if he felt that I was looking at him, he hurriedly moved away from me and stopped next to the lady, sitting on the sofa in the shade of the column.

«You don’t seem that we have a stranger here,» she turned directly to him. «I feel the presence of a person.»

«Strange, I didn’t feel anything,» the page responded. «Believe me, the person’s foot has not yet stepped into this place. People would pass by, without even noticing the steps leading to the gorge.»

I hurriedly stepped into the shadow. If I go now, then it will be a cowardly act. My hand did not want to release the handle of my sword for a moment.

Quiet, musical blows were heard under the dome, but the clock itself could not be seen. People in the hall became noticeably more. Some of them were talking among themselves in some unfamiliar to me language. I have already begun to get used to quiet, rustling voices, how suddenly all the conversations stopped, as if someone mighty and invisible came in. The curtain at the entrance raised itself, as from the gust of the wind, passing into the hall a man, the face and proud posture of which seemed to me vaguely familiar. I have already seen him somewhere. But, no matter how much I stared at him, I still could not remember where we met with him before and under what circumstances. This man had some secret power over every one at whom he looked.

I wanted to look at his face, but instead I stared at a gilded staff in his hand. In one moment, all the surrounding seemed to me to be a ghostly, unnatural, fog and remained only the stately figure, dressed in black fur.

«There is a stranger here,» the accusatory speech has come to me from a magical emptiness, topped with a transparent glass of the dome. «Someone broke the ban and allowed a stranger to go through the sanctuary.»

I have already thought that I have to get ready for defense, but suddenly the same domineering voice announced.

«It seems I was mistaken. The stranger has the full right to be present here.»

A man dressed in fur several times stuck up on the floor. Sharp sounds brought me out of a stupor. I pinned myself to make sure that all this is not a dream.. Several suspicious eyes turned to me from the slots of masks.

«Leave!» whispered in my ear someone. Even without looking at the speaking, I obediently backed up to the exit. Passing by the statue, I noticed that the position of the marble statue changed a little. Probably, the mirrors have played a joke with me again. After all, the sculpture can not move. The shuttle still swung on the water next to the staircase. I jumped into it, without even thinking about the need to find a paddle. But it was and no need. The shuttle itself moved across the flow. I could only observe how the arches and stony shores slip.

Despite the fact that it had to go against the current, the shuttle gained speed. Fearing that it would not take me too far, I jumped up and went to a high arch. It, as a gloomy guard, was bent around the lower stage. I did not want to go through arched opening, but I decided to bypass the arch and step immediately to the second step. I stepped into a staircase cut down in a mountainous stone, but stumbled upon an invisible barrier, as if a glass barrier appeared on my way in the blink of an eye. I went around the arch on the other hand, but groped there the same smooth glass wall. To get out of the gorge, I had to go under the arch again. Stages crumbled under my feet, small pebbles rolled down. A superstitious peasant would call all my adventure an evil joke of elves. I myself could not find a logical explanation to everything that I have seen. When I came out from the gorge, I hurried to the place where I promised to wait for Claude.

My brother, at the same time, arrived at the glade. He brought a beautiful white stallion for me.

«The gift of the baron’s people,» he explained.

«His people are very generous,» I stroked a silky mane and jumped into the saddle. “ The baron already knows that the wild boar is killed.»

«No,» Claude dismissed. «He does not go anywhere from his castle. It will take some time before he is reported about us. But here nearby is a small village where we can spend the night.»

«Then we go to a local tavern, if, of course, such a place is in a small village,» I decided to joked a little over Claude. He, as always, instead of smile nodded quickly and drove ahead, pointing the road.

Soon we sat at the table at the window in the cozy room of the tavern. In front of me in the tin mug smoked some hot drink. The aromatic fluid taste turned out to be tart and astringent. As long as the hostess prepared lunch for us, I decided to tell Claude about my adventure. Of course, I risked to get in response to my revelation alone ridicules, but I had a proof – a carnival mask, which I put in a wide pocket of my camisole. In proof, I took it out and showed it to Claude.

«Well, what will you say now?»

«Edwin, this is an ordinary leaf of fern. Perhaps the sprout made its way under the snow,» on the face of Claude was written a complete bewilderment. «I am afraid that the superstition of the messenger was contagious.»

I looked at my palm and I was surprised to find that I keep not a mask, but a leaf of fern. Strange, I just had a mask in my pocket. With an annoyance, I threw a fern on the windowsill. As soon as the sheet spikes with glass, several color sparks exploded in the air. Claude flinched and moved away from the window.

I plunged into meditation and woke up only when the hostess put two plates with hot meat before us. I was hungry, but I was waiting until Claude begins to eat the first. However, he didn’t touch the food.

«How do we explain the disappearance of the knights and the messenger?» He suddenly asked.

«So let’s say that they threw us,» I replied, although I have long been tormented by doubts about this.

«They didn’t think to throw us in the dense forest,» said Claude. «They were the most loyal knights of the father. They would never have broken his order.»

«In this case, I can not explain their disappearance of anything else, except…»

«The intervention of witchcraft,» finished Claude for me.

«That’s it, but everyone knows that witchcraft is limited to those focus, which are shown on holidays in the cities.

«As you know,» Claude blurted out in response.

The tavern’s door opened. The gust of the cold wind swept over the tables and threw the snowflakes to me in the face. There were several armed warriors on the threshold. I noticed on the shield of one of them the same coat of arms of the baron as on a messenger’s clothes. I looked at the coat of arms attentively, there were intertwined branches of the thorns, roses and other plants, the baron crown at the top, and under it several scrolls. However, I could not admire the coat of arms for a long time, the guard moved to us and after ordinary polite bows, reported about the desire of the baron to thank us personally. We had to say goodbye to a cozy tavern. The fortress, the black silhouette of which has fallen over the distant hill, was the place of our overnight.

Treasure of Baron Raoul

The castle was dark and deserted. Daily light barely pierced through narrow windows – loopholes and brightly colored stained glass windows. The servant held us through the spacious hall and guests’ rooms. In the rectangular hall there were tables for a feast, but there were no guests on this feast. All places at the tables were empty, except the chair with a high carved back, set in dangerous intimacy from the melted fireplace.

From the chair, the old man rose to meet us. White curled strands relate to the collar. Wrinkling hand reached my face. I thought the baron is relatively young, and he turned out to be a memorable elder. He hugged me welcome as a son.

«Welcome, winner of the wild boar!» He whispered in my ear.

I was confused, pre-thought-out words of greetings were frozen in my tongue. I did not think that someone from the feudal will take me in his castle as an old friend. The only thing that the winner could count is, so it is an ordinary dinner arranged from the need. And the court etiquette did not allow the manifestations of any feelings at all.

The baron suggested us to take places at the main table. All other chairs remained empty. There was no guest on the feast, except for us. Only servants poured wine in glasses and immediately retired.

«Baron… Your lordship,» I looked into his bright, radiant eyes and I forgot how to turn to the baron. But his face was glowing such a serene wisdom that I was unable to take my eyes away from him, and was silent.

«Call me just Raoul, Your Highness,» he pretended to not notice my mistake, and I was grateful for it. At the court, such a behavior of the prince would immediately cause condemnation and gossip. In the royal castle, not only noblemen, but even the servants constantly looking for the topic of gossip. After all, that may be more interesting than learn the latest news about the sons of your monarch, and about him himself.

At the empty table, Claude clearly felt uncomfortable and wary looked around, hoping that my unfortunate behavior did not attract a special attention. The position of the prince is very difficult. I did not have the right to make friends, could not hide in the shadows, as the peasants hid from the wild boar in their huts. The baron’s eyes spoke about that he understands me and admires me.

«You showed an amazing valor,» said he with courtesy. «None of my people for any reward would have decided to approach the wild boar. And you defeated it alone.»

«No, my brother was with me,» I hurriedly objected.

Claude looked at me with displeasure.

«As you know, in our dynasty, the younger sons were always shy, milord,» he explained with cold courtesy. «I managed to get to the place of the battle, just that moment when Edwin beheaded the wild boar.

Such a lie from a calm and balanced Claude struck me. I almost dropped a glass of wine from the hands. To keep his impeccable reputation, he decided on a lie. The baron nodded restrained, thereby showing that he unconditionally believed him, and turned to me again.

«You are doubly bold, my prince. After all, my messenger must have explained to you which superstitions are common among the locals. You must be surprised that I sent for help to the court, but, as you can see, I myself am too old for such fun, like a winter hunting. In addition, at the courtyard there are fearless knights, you are a proof of that, and my people are afraid of everything that goes beyond their understanding. Perhaps most peasants are too afraid of this because of their illiteracy. Even the books in my library seem to them the work of magicians.»

«Do you have a library?» I asked. Talking about local superstitions began to scare me, because I remembered those creatures in the gorge and the statue.

«Oh, the rarest books are collected in my library. I have manuscripts written in the ancient languages, the works of philosophers and scientists,» wrinkled, but still very strong baron’s hand reached for a bundle of keys left on the table. «Do you enjoy reading books, your highness?»

«Honestly, I don’t know how to read very well,» after hesitation, I admitted and felt a thick paint poured my cheeks. I could not say such a wise and a steady senior that almost didn’t know the alphabet’s letters, but I practice a shooting and fencing every day. However, baron Raoul without words understood the reason for my embarrassment.

«Oh yes, the ability to fight with sword is valued above the diplomas,» he agreed. «In young years it was difficult for me to find time for enlightenment. I dare to notice, in military sciences you have surpassed your predecessors.»