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| Song of the five winds (chapter 1) |
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Night conversation
“The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself" – Delano Roosevelt.
Narrow spiral stair went deeper and deeper into the vault. Weak wind made candle`s light tremble. Clocks in the castle rhythmically ticked the time. Two people were walking on the stairs, together with clock`s rhythm. One was dressed in gray raincoat. Hood has hidden his face. Dim candle, which was handled in his hands, almost didn`t make any light. He was walking fast and apparently was anxious.
Another one was dressed in black tunic, ripped with silver. His face was hidden in darkness, he stood straight, though was annoyed. The man often looked at his companion and he constantly raised his hand, asking for silence.
Finally, stone stair stayed behind. Those, who were walking down on it, stepped on cold and nicked floor of the vault. A heavy iron door was in front of them. The man in a hood looked at his companion.
The tall man in a black tunic said annoyed:
-What`s going on, Atis? Why we are in hurry? Why can`t your dreams wait till the morning? Father will be unhappy because I do it without his permission. You know, what can happen.
Somebody, named Atis, dropped his hood. It was a pretty old man, with gray in his thick beard. Wrinkles covered his tired face, but old man`s eyes exuded restlessness.
-I know, Vegard. I know. But I can`t wait, until the king wakes up. You are one of the sons, prop of the throne. You already can make decisions by yourself. This is very important, Vegard. The destiny of the kingdom depends on what is hidden beyond this door.
The tall man smirked.
- Don`t lie to me, monk. Don`t pretend that you`ve never been here. You were close to my father in recent years. You perfectly know, what`s hidden beyond this door. So, what do you really want?
Atis looked at the burning candle.
- Vegard, we haven’t got enough time. I don`t lie to you. I`ve been there and now I`m praying to make everything like it was before. For the sake of that faith that your father give me… For everything, that you appreciate in this kingdom open this door up!
Vegard only distrustfully chuckled. But something in glance of the old monk, his movements and voice amazedhim. Not everybody can notice it, but prince, since his childhood, have liked watching people. He could watch the habits of the servants, his brothers and sisters, studying their behavior for hours. The most difficult thing was observing the father. Nobody remembered exactly how long he had been ruling, but even the oldest people saw him sitting on his throne. After all these years he learnt how to hide his senses, like nobody else could. Even when he laughed his soul was hidden by the curtain of smile. Neither eyes and gestures nor voice – nothing could show his true senses.
But Atis... Monk, who was a nowhere man three years ago, more and more often appears at the court. Prince Vegard always saw him next to his father. The old king and the monk could speak for hours about something in the North Tower and father always went out of there anxious. But Atis…He`s never been like today. His face exuded humility, calm soul. Why the old man is in dread today?
- The century of the Archons is long… Finally said thoughtful prince. People are used to fact that we`re only shadows of our father. They believe that the King Will will always protect them- But I swear, monk, onceall children of the First Archon will get power. And then we won`t forgive any treason. It doesn`t matter which goal you`re trying to achieve, let it be for the kingdom`s benefit. Otherwise you`ll learn the power of the ancient blood.
Atis bowed and said:
- Now you hear my oath, prince Vegard. – hear and remember. I`ll never support anybody who wants to bring evil into the kingdom.
Archon turned his back and went to the door. From the skin bag that was on his belt, he took something circular.
The prince touched a mark in the wall with a strange object. Something deep inside the room cracked and door opened.
Vegard put the thing in the bag, made a gesture with his hand in front of the opened way and whispered only one word.
Suddenly the way depthward was covered with blue gauze and spiral stair going up, started to disappear inside the wall gaps.
- I have always appreciated this protection. – Said the monk – Your father is very smart. Smarter than we all are, Vegard.I`ll tell him about this night`s insubordination. But only later. Now we`ve got another goal.
- YOU`VE GOT another goal, cruelly replied the prince. – Follow me.
It was dark beyond the door. Candle`s light could only show, that it was a pretty big room, but its true size was hidden by the darkness. Vegard closed the door. He raised his hand and said:
-Inferno.
Suddenly dozens of torches burnt and elucidated the room. The darkness retreated and things here amazed the monk, like in the first time.
The room was enormous. Its high cupola was adorned with a very nice fresco. It presented a big green circle. Three rays went from it.
A golden spiral was graved on the circle. The ray which going to the north was red, like a sunset. “Wisdom” was written with silver letters on it. The west ray was blue, like the sea. Silverfresco on it said: “Humility”. The third one went to the East, was the color of the Sun. Silver inscription was short: “Honor”.
The walls of the hall
were circular. The floor
was made with black
and white slabs, like a
checkerboard. But the
most amazing thing in
this room was placed at
the remote wall. These
were bards. Shining,
like the Moon, they
were standing and
amazed the imagination
of people who entered
by the job of the great
foreman-blacksmith
who created them.
Ancient runes of
protection were graved
on it. It seemed that
nobody but Gods
deserve to wear it.
-Bards of your father
have always been
beautiful. They can
stand any stab, even
the strongest one –
Said Atis thoughtfully –
Created with the skin of
the last troll they keep
their durability even
after hundreds of
years…
Vegard bent eyebrow
- If you came here to
contemplate my father`s
bards, you could wait till
the morning.- No, Vegard. I don`t
need them. I need the
thing which is hidden
beyond them.
-Beyond them? Don`t
you want to tell me
that…
The prince checked
himself. He started to
understand what the old
man wants to.
-But why? Father
forbids entering here
even for me!
Atis bent his hand.
-Oh, prince, trust me, it
is necessary. For all of
us.
After saying these
words, he ran his hand
across the bib and
said:
-Ruon.
The creak sounded in
silence. The legendary
armor turned, opening
way into another hall.
-But how did you know?
– shouted Vegard.
- Your father told me. I
know, now I look like a
criminal, but what I`m
doing… I have to…
Have to.
The old man went into
the passage. The prince
followed him. The hall
which was way smallerthan the previous one
burst upon their view. It
was a dark stone room
with four walls. But it
was not dark inside. At
the farthest wall a green
fire was twinkling and
flashing from gaps in
the wall. The fire lighted
the thing, which the
strange people came
here for.
Three white masks,
painted with scarlet dye,
were on the wall.
Empty eye pits of the
lifeless people were
looking at the people
who entered. There
were masks on the wall,
making a triangle. In the
very middle of it there
was the same spiral as
on the previous hall
cupola. Painted black
fibers were going from it
to each of these masks.
.
-Oh, The Great Light...
– breathed Atis. The
prince couldn`t speak.
He was only standing,
staring at the masks
unseeingly. It means
that it`s the truth.