Alexandra Cherchen

Happy marriage dragon-like. Find yourself

© Cherchen A., 2017

© Design. LLC "Publishing house" E ", 2017

I stood on the balcony encircling the training hall and watched with interest the fight unfolding below.

Arvil and Kryona fought. Well, how they fought ... Art slid across the hall like a shadow, dodging the dragon's attacks, and from time to time he banged her with a wooden pole on some tender part of her body. Kree only squinted viciously and with renewed vigor rushed at the grinning heylar. When she was once again hit on a soft spot, her friend roared furiously:

- Stop dancing! Have the courage to fight like a man!

“Kriona, as a man, I only fight with men or enemies,” the Centurion laughed, retreating. - With women, and even more so with allies - exclusively on the horizontal plane. Well, or ... I'm doing dancing.

I snorted, looking with irony at the fiery boiling with anger.

But Arvil! Unhappy virgin!

True, Kriona does not know this. And heilar shamelessly teases the excitable dragon. I even feel sorry for her. She put so much effort into persuading the Centurion to fight, and in the end, Ar staged a show. Well at least there are no foremen. Considering that at least two of them the Kree had already cleaned both scaly and not so muzzles, they would undoubtedly be glad now for the leader's revenge.

Arvil was wrong: an unknown puppeteer woke up more than one Sheridan. The foremen did not sleep. Although I was sure that he was just made to make a mistake. Clouded the mind's eye. The Sleeper summoned the surviving foremen as soon as he realized that they were not in Anli-Gissar. The oath to the commander turned out to be more important than the bonds with which the unknown sorcerer bound them with the help of Sheridan. Ar did not manage to attract him, but did not lose hope, repeating attempts over and over again. I did not believe that my friend and blood brother had betrayed without good reason.

And the Sleeper really wanted to know which ones.

Almost a week and a half has passed since the awakening of Mr. Anli-Gissar. During this time, the city came to life, sparkled with light and colors, played with lights. His heart began to beat, breathing began. Unfortunately, the food was not particularly fun. There was only what the foremen from the big world brought. This meant that the resurrected city and its children were faced with an increasingly vivid problem: what to do next? Actually, this is why Arvil has not yet thrown a general call. We weren't ready for so many mouths and minds shifted to one side.

The latter, however, was exclusively Dasha's problem. I especially remember the scene of the first acquaintance of the healer with the Heilars. Hefty, gloomy tailed men - and a man dying from fear. Well, the joyful Arvil:

- Dasha, this is your material for work. The material is your Dasha and the doctor. Please do not offend. I beg you, everyone understands?

- Favorite lapdog of the sovereign? - asked an incomprehensible question one of the heylars.

“No,” Arvil replied seriously. - Just a healer of souls.

After this performance, the attitude towards the displaced person changed almost immediately, but Daria was still afraid. First of all, you can't cope. Although the others were not such a dark abyss as their commander, they still represented a bunch of psychological illnesses. Dasha joked gloomily that they could be used to defend several dissertations and become famous forever for studying original deviations. So for now, we were still sitting underground and were only preparing a springboard for further action.

And for some reason, the Sleeper avoided me in every possible way. We met only for food, and in most cases "meetings" boiled down to the fact that he went into the dining room, buried in another document or diagram, raked food onto a tray and left!

No, I understand everything! That the city is old, stood for a very long time without owners, many systems fail, including defensive ones, but ... Ar almost fell through the ground, it was worth noticing me! Can't it continue indefinitely? I don't want to lose my friend. So, you need to explain yourself and decide what to do next.

Out of male solidarity ... no, the dragon shook his head. - By the way, what doesn't suit your girlfriend? By the way, marriage is already being offered to her!

The role of the second wife in the drow harem, - I curled my lips. - Wonderful vacancy.

You yourself know that this is an honor. And given the family of Mr. del Meredith, the Podgornaya Queen simply will not let her nephew make a man his first wife.

Sharing your man is equally unpleasant for any woman, - I answered quietly. - Be it a man, an elf or a dragon. Especially if you are not used to the institution of marriage with such an entertaining system. So, my dear husband in solidarity with the polygamists, let's go to Daria!

Well, that's not what I mean, ”the red dragon muttered, smitten by my sarcastic tone. - I do ... Just last time you said that sitting at the same table with a faerie necromancer is still a pleasure.

I glanced at a lonely dark-haired boy on the other side of the hall, who was picking his plate with an extremely mournful face. She shivered. Yes, Ulinri is still ... a vegetable. Something I do not want to repeat. The last time he spoke with such enthusiasm at the table about the dismembered corpses ... just when they brought us the roast!

I just smiled and, shaking my hair, figured out the trajectory to the table for Dasha and the drow. The table just slowly flew over us. I kicked off the floor and soared into the air. I calculated everything correctly and, clinging to the back of the chair, quickly settled down on the seat. Rinvale landed nearby.

Hello, - my husband and I greeted almost in unison.

Dasha and Trinveer looked at us with a variety of feelings. The migrant sighed with great relief and, apparently, was mentally ready to kiss the new arrivals. The drow's gaze was weary and irritated.

How glad I am to see you! - Dasha exclaimed.

Oh, yes, - drawled the dark elf, but almost immediately corrected himself: - Good evening. S-s-happy to see such a wonderful and harmonious couple again.

Thank you, - I looked down, hiding surprise under the mask of embarrassment and slight coquetry.

Why did the drow decide to celebrate our harmonious family relationships? After a couple of minutes of conversation about nothing and everything became clear.

It is still wonderful when people go to meet each other, negotiate and forgive. They are trying to understand and accept, ”Trinveer said with pressure, expressively glancing at Daria.

Daria sat with a neutral expression on her face, and I even sympathized with her. I wonder how many times the migrant is listening to this? And how quickly will a proud dark elf get tired of it? And the most interesting thing is what will happen after this happens? Women are fickle and windy creatures. And often, if what we kind of considered almost ours suddenly disappears ... it is amazing. And the desire to return.

I ought to talk to the healer and find out why she is pushing back.

If she likes this man, then maybe it makes sense to delve into herself and understand if she wants him to really disappear from her life. For his return later may cost her more than the displaced person's consent to a relationship now.

Iryana, how are you? - asked the girl, former subject my thoughts. - And then we see so little in Lately... And we speak even less often.

In general, everything is wonderful, - I replied after a few seconds and shrugged. - Not without questions and confusion, of course, but when was it different?

Oh, yes, - Dasha shook her dark hair. - Riddles have recently become the norm. However, I can’t say that I don’t like it. I am grateful to heaven that you and I once collided.

Me too. ” “And I’m sure that I’m not alone.

Yes, - the migrant turned a little pink with pleasure, - I'm getting better and better!

I'm very happy for you!

If they didn’t want to change, nothing would have happened, ”the girl objected. - I am only suggesting the way. Then they themselves. Very strong-willed ... very strong. Well done!

In Daria's eyes there was a sincere admiration for the valiant tailed men.

And, judging by the gloomy face, Vir was unhappy with the fact that the delights of his chosen one were addressed to anyone but him. I believe that this situation was out of the ordinary for the duke of the foothills. If women refused him, then they were clearly not immigrants without a clan-tribe. And this one also could not be snatched away, persuaded to a relationship, and then it was already possible to sort it out. For their healer, the heylars will cut anyone into thin ribbons. Therefore, it was necessary to court the obstinate prey.

In the meantime, food was brought to us. In Anli-Gissar there was still no time for pickles, and therefore they had to eat what they gave. Well at least, our chefs cooked deliciously. By the way, Diar has recently almost completely removed himself from this and disappeared in the laboratory for days. Decided that a little bit is good? But, in any case, the fairies were feeding us now.

Oh, wherever you throw - there are fairies everywhere! So try not to be grateful to them after all this.

Two large trays slowly flew up to our table and glided down. I looked curiously at the plates.

Alexandra Cherchen

A happy dragon marriage. Find yourself

I stood on the balcony encircling the training hall and watched with interest the fight unfolding below.

Arvil and Kryona fought. Well, how they fought ... Art slid across the hall like a shadow, dodging the dragon's attacks, and from time to time he banged her with a wooden pole on some tender part of her body. Kree only squinted viciously and with renewed vigor rushed at the grinning heylar. When she was once again hit on a soft spot, her friend roared furiously:

- Stop dancing! Have the courage to fight like a man!

“Kriona, as a man, I only fight with men or enemies,” the Centurion laughed, retreating. - With women, and even more so with allies - exclusively on the horizontal plane. Well, or ... I'm doing dancing.

I snorted, looking with irony at the fiery boiling with anger.

But Arvil! Unhappy virgin!

True, Kriona does not know this. And heilar shamelessly teases the excitable dragon. I even feel sorry for her. She put so much effort into persuading the Centurion to fight, and in the end, Ar staged a show. Well at least there are no foremen. Considering that at least two of them the Kree had already cleaned both scaly and not so muzzles, they would undoubtedly be glad now for the leader's revenge.

Arvil was wrong: an unknown puppeteer woke up more than one Sheridan. The foremen did not sleep. Although I was sure that he was just made to make a mistake. Clouded the mind's eye. The Sleeper summoned the surviving foremen as soon as he realized that they were not in Anli-Gissar. The oath to the commander turned out to be more important than the bonds with which the unknown sorcerer bound them with the help of Sheridan. Ar did not manage to attract him, but did not lose hope, repeating attempts over and over again. I did not believe that my friend and blood brother had betrayed without good reason.

And the Sleeper really wanted to know which ones.

Almost a week and a half has passed since the awakening of Mr. Anli-Gissar. During this time, the city came to life, sparkled with light and colors, played with lights. His heart began to beat, breathing began. Unfortunately, the food was not particularly fun. There was only what the foremen from the big world brought. This meant that the resurrected city and its children were faced with an increasingly vivid problem: what to do next? Actually, this is why Arvil has not yet thrown a general call. We weren't ready for so many mouths and minds shifted to one side.

The latter, however, was exclusively Dasha's problem. I especially remember the scene of the first acquaintance of the healer with the Heilars. Hefty, gloomy tailed men - and a man dying from fear. Well, the joyful Arvil:

- Dasha, this is your material for work. The material is your Dasha and the doctor. Please do not offend. I beg you, everyone understands?

- Favorite lapdog of the sovereign? - asked an incomprehensible question one of the heylars.

“No,” Arvil replied seriously. - Just a healer of souls.

After this performance, the attitude towards the displaced person changed almost immediately, but Daria was still afraid. First of all, you can't cope. Although the others were not such a dark abyss as their commander, they still represented a bunch of psychological illnesses. Dasha joked gloomily that they could be used to defend several dissertations and become famous forever for studying original deviations. So for now, we were still sitting underground and were only preparing a springboard for further action.

And for some reason, the Sleeper avoided me in every possible way. We met only for food, and in most cases "meetings" boiled down to the fact that he went into the dining room, buried in another document or diagram, raked food onto a tray and left!

No, I understand everything! That the city is old, stood for a very long time without owners, many systems fail, including defensive ones, but ... Ar almost fell through the ground, it was worth noticing me! Can't it continue indefinitely? I don't want to lose my friend. So, you need to explain yourself and decide what to do next.

That is why today I decided to catch the tailed one and pin it to the wall. It’s so painfully bad to get out of the habit! It turns out that during the time that we were “near”, I became very attached to his presence, communication, irony and outlook on life. I missed him.

Yes, Arvil made sure that I did not get bored, he found a job. And even the one who controlled this "case". The centurion assigned one of the foremen to me to teach mental magic. But he slipped the teacher into a very original method! I get up in the morning and the first thing I see is the imperturbable foreman over the bed! Yes, I screamed out of fear and fell out of bed !!!

It turned out to be Alishin. This is the ideal soldier without doubts and hesitation.

I grinned at Dashka's diagnosis: "They are all here with selected selection cockroaches, which are not removed by any poison!" She giggled, remembering how the healer screamed at the entire office after a session with one of the foremen. In response to the question of what to do with a tired lady on a campaign, he gave her: "Finish off!" It seems that it was Alishin who distinguished himself. All the same, the heylars are indeed a bunch of psychological deviations. As the migrant said, Arvil in this regard is simply more adapted due to communication with me ... because he was adjusting.

In general, after a couple of meetings with the owner of the magical city at the "healer - patient" level, Dasha thoughtfully offered to drink ... juice. Grape. Decent endurance. And then she said that if she pulled out “this something,” she would hang the order on herself. On one's own.

Arville ... Arville.

I bit my lip and frowned when my thoughts again flew towards the Centurion. He promised to study with me! But in fact he did not keep his word, and informed about the change of decision not personally, but through the foreman! I understand that I behave like a child who was promised a toy and was not given. I understand his motives, but I cannot cope with the insult.

With such thoughts, I crept down the side stairs and froze in a niche near the doors of the training hall. A minute later, they swung open with a crash. The evil Kryona appeared on the threshold, almost immediately disappearing into one of the corridors flickering with the otherworldly light.

Hmmm ... she became quite nervous. Almost to psychos nervous. For any trifle it breaks down. Half of the foremen tried to fill their muzzles ... They were so surprised that they even allowed it. No, the Kree are a good fighter. Very good. But the hailars are a genetically modified hybrid of dragons and fairies. Incredibly fast, very strong, agile and agile. In both guises. Forgive me, friend, but a young fiery one, who has passed her second adulthood not so long ago, cannot withstand ideal soldiers.

Who simply did not know a peaceful life. Who were taught only to kill.

The fact that they were uncomfortable with her was noticeable. The Hailars are accustomed to killing, not fighting or training. I remember. I saw in the memories of the city how it happens.

While I was wandering in sad thoughts, one of the doors opened again, and a tailed traitor appeared on the threshold. Didn't notice me. Yet Alishin is an excellent teacher! The sleeper was immersed in himself, pondering something, therefore he did not see me standing three steps away, wrapped in spells! Oh yes I am!

Arvil closed the door carefully and walked down the corridor. I left the niche, and when he drew level with me, I touched his shoulder with my palm. Unpleasant surprises began immediately. They twisted my elbow, pressed it against the wall of the niche, and in my throat I felt the coldness of steel, pain and a hot stream crawling down my neck, behind the collar of my tunic.

- Irka !!! But why ... - Arvil swore floridly and cut himself off mid-sentence.

They pulled me out of the cubbyhole and examined the wound, never stopping to express an honest opinion about the blonde idiots. Blond idiots, in general, shared this opinion and therefore shyly kept silent. No, well, that's where the brains were ?! To WHOM am I, a fool, climbed ?!

“I could have killed you,” heylar said wearily. - Don't come up from behind, you silly one. Irka, if something odorless and imperceptible in the mental plane touches me, reflexes work! Guess which ones ?!

- Understood.

She looked away, nervously fingering the blonde strands tied in a low ponytail. A fool, how is a fool.

“Let's go,” the Sleeper put his arm around his shoulders, hugging him to him. - Need to talk. Has long been.

Here ... a man, huh ?! "Need to talk!" - he said, dragging along the girl who has been trying to catch the bastard for a week and a half! He even deprived of the pleasure of speaking!

Okay, I’ll make it in time. In the meantime ... for now, we have to tear ourselves away from the warmth of his body, which seems so unbearably dear that he doesn’t want to pull away at all and go where Ar deigns to take him.

It was easy to say this, especially mentally. But it is very difficult to do, especially since Mr. Anli-Gissara himself hesitated, still pressing me, lightly stroking my back and touching my hair with his cheek.

“You're the last bastard,” I said quietly.

“I know,” Arvil agreed sadly, starting to fiddle with my hair with his other hand. - But it depends on which side ...

“Now you’ll tell me,” I said gloomily, and with a sigh I freed myself from his hands, reminding myself that I hadn’t forgiven some yet. - You will set out theses and accompany them with a logical chain, along which you came to such wonderful conclusions.

He looked at me attentively with violet eyes and silently stretched out his hand, where I did not hesitate to put my hand. The further journey was short-lived. First along the main corridors, then - along secret passages.

- Why here? - asked, making her way through the narrow tunnel after the heylar.

“It's a long time on the main routes,” Arvil said without turning around. - And time is a material, though viscous, but extremely scarce.

At first I heard the sound of falling water, then I saw a light ahead. Sunlight. Not the sparkling otherworldly glow of Anli-Gissar's magic, but the real one! Soft, amber and unbearably attractive!

I missed the sun so much ...

More - only for her husband. Thoughts of Rinvale echoed with the usual dull ache in my heart, but with an effort of will I pushed them away. This is not the time. About Veila later. Now we need to understand the relationship with another close and dear man.

When we left, I first closed my eyes from the rays that cut into my eyes, accustomed to semi-darkness, and then froze ... Because the waterfall was rustling, scattering the smallest splashes on my face, because the scent of the sun, greenery and water hovered around ... because some hugged me again, quietly speaking in the ear:

- Carefully, the edge is very close here.

Arvil, Arvil ... How complicated everything is with you and me.

I really need and important you, I didn’t feel as good and calm with anyone as I did with you. You're like ... an extension of me. And without a particle, you are very bad. I don’t know where this effect came from, but now that Arvil was there again after so many days of alienation, I was in awe of happiness.

Gradually the eyes got used to it and, squinting, I examined the place where the heylar had led me. The gorge! So ... wild! Primitive, without traces of bricklayers' interference: even a crossing over a small, but very turbulent river is just a piece of granite, forever frozen by a slightly curved bridge. After the splendor of Anli-Gissar, this wilderness was very ... sweet to me. Yes, sweet to heart. Almost sweet pain. Not perfect, somewhat rude, but his own.

Arvil jumped down to the lower ledge, turned around, caught me and placed me neatly beside me. He took his hand, intertwining his fingers, and gently pulled on the granite bridge. There he took off his jacket, threw it on a stone, gesturing to sit down, then lowered himself beside me.

We were silent. I looked first at the Centurion, then at the stream rushing from under my feet into the darkness of the gorge. It was more interesting to look at Arvil ... and sadder. First, heilar seemed tired. Shadows lay under my eyes. He looked pale and somehow very ... mature. All that was left of the boy I met in my dream with Vale was bright amethyst eyes and disheveled black hair.

I felt ashamed that I was distracting him by such nonsense as wounded pride. He would not be dragged to talk, but to bed, to sleep off. And also ... it was painfully good with him. Sit like this, holding your hand and resting your head on your shoulder. Just good, just warm and calm.

“What a child you are,” Arvil said sadly, stroking my hair weightlessly. - Your husband and I are complete perverts!

- Uh-uh? - I was taken aback.

- I mean that you are such a small creature, and desires addressed to you are the most grown-ups, - the Sleeper chuckled.

- We have already discussed this. And it seems to have come to a consensus. I looked away, nervously tugging at the cuff of my shirt. - Ar, I do not want to lose you. But now ... you are moving away, I also have things to do and worries. And if we both do not try to maintain friendship, soon we will simply scatter to different corners. And ... that's all.

“Iryana,” Mr. Anli-Gissara grunted condescendingly. - Unfortunately, it cannot be solved so easily and simply. And there are reasons for everything.

- I know! - I jumped up, looking at the Heylar, who, with an intermittent sigh, ran his fingers through the unevenly cut hair and tugged slightly. I tried to collect scattered thoughts and explain: - Arvil, remember how many things happened. We went through the Primal Empire, and then through your deadly attraction named Anli-Gissar! I woke you up ... Is it really the end of this? Why are you avoiding me, I understand. But you could tell yourself why you want to limit communication so sharply? You know very well how difficult it is for me now ... without you! And you just cut off all the threads!

“I don’t know where to start,” Ar admitted unexpectedly, gently stroking my palm with his thumb.

- And still try.

- Yes, I run out of love. I try to stay as far away as possible because I think it's prudent. From day to day, your spouse will appear, and I must be ready for this, so as not to break loose, ”the Sleeper calmly admitted, screwing up his bright violet eyes. “And in this light, do you consider my act to be wrong?

“I consider him thoughtless,” she answered honestly, and shuddered at the barely noticeable change in the Heylar’s ​​face. “You made the decision for the two of us, without informing me. Therefore, I unwittingly ruin your plans.

- I was not ready for the conversation, - rubbed the temple of the Centurion, smiling tiredly. - Iryana, this is a bond. The bonds that emerged during our journey. Now they are torn, which is why we feel bad.

- And what to do? I threw up my hands helplessly. - You understand why you are drawn to me. Ar, this is elementary physiology plus affection.

“Why is the tenth thing,” Arvil waved him off. - There is a problem, and it is a fact.

The sleeper pulled me in again, touching his temples with his lips, then pulled back a little and laughed bitterly:

- I'm an idiot, eh? I myself know that the distance is the main thing now, but I can't resist.

“Not an idiot,” she rubbed her head against his shoulder, realizing that I was also committing a rare stupidity. “This is called affection, Arvil. I think if you loved me, you could not resist the temptation to see.

- Baby, what do you know about love? - Heylar laughed openly. - You know more than me exclusively in bed. Morally - the same as me. And you don't love your husband. For the reasons you mentioned above. You left him, my dear.

“My dear,” I replied in the same tone. “Your relationship with Veil is not your business. My feelings for him, their strength and nature are also none of your business! I'll figure it out myself.

“One more confirmation,” the Sleeper shrugged his shoulders, looking in front of him with pretended indifference. - Darling, does not it seem indicative to you that after only a week and a half of separation from me you are tormented, trying to talk and find out everything? Remind me how long have you seen your red dragon?

- Who's arguing? - I smiled, throwing my head back and exposing my face to the warmth of the sun's rays and a light drizzle of water suspension. - But, Ar, who would I be, jumping on men? That's why no. I chose Rinvale, I am not indifferent to him ... and love is too complex and multi-component feeling, in which the main thing is a mutual desire to preserve it. My husband and I have such a desire. - She looked at Arvil and nevertheless decided to express the idea to the end. So that there are no mistakes, resentments and omissions. - Yes, I feel bad without you. You are dear. And I believe ... I know that you will outgrow this disease. Quite frankly, you probably only have it before going out into the world. It is worth meeting other girls, and ... that's all. Get carried away by someone else.

“Your quivering belief in the best has always fascinated me,” the Sleeper answered a little mockingly.

- Do not be mischievous, - with a slight condemnation looked at the tailed beast. - By the way, remember: while we were "neighbors", I talked not only with my husband, but also with one persistent fair-haired dragon. - She giggled and winked at Heylar: - I didn't notice jealousy behind you. Therefore, you perceive me as a woman, but not as YOUR woman. This means that we will be able to peacefully coexist in the future, as soon as you find yourself a “horizontal friend”. - I spread my hands and happily finished: - It's simple!

- "Just"! How easy it is for you! - Evilly hit the stone of the Arville bridge with his palm. - Everything is crystal clear and clear! My wise and reasonable, the second coming of age has not passed! Yes, by human count, you are not even eighteen!

- And here it is, - I pouted. - Almost twenty, if for human years. - I thought a little and decided not to lie so obviously: - Well, maybe without a year old ...

- And yourself!

I smiled. Y-yes, some very childish squabble. Fortunately, she somewhat defused the atmosphere, which means we can return to our problem.

- You are still very one-sidedly developed, Ar. An ideal warrior, leader, possibly a politician. In any case, from what I have seen, you are not interested in resourcefulness. But in personal relationships - a complete and final zero. You know only paternal warmth for your subordinates and hatred for your enemies. That is why I am special for you. The first, who cannot be attributed to either category. So you got confused ... and fell in love a little. Dasha and Kriona are the same, but you have no connection.

He sighed and nervously clasped his long fingers. One involuntarily thought how many more beautiful things these hands of the architect could create. After all, Ar is a genius. He created Anli-Gissar. I pray that someday Thainmeer will be able to shift the burden of responsibility for the Hailars onto someone else and try to live for himself. It turns out or not - it's the tenth thing, but you must try.

“You explain very beautifully,” the Sleeper began slowly, “but what to do with the current situation, pouring Iryan?

“Talk,” I replied calmly. - We should have done this a long time ago. For the rest ... - I laughed softly and put my hand on his hand, reassuringly squeezing it through the fabric of his shirt. - Ar, don't you think that we have things to do - fifty years ahead? And this is with the condition of almost complete absence of sleep and time "to eat". You yourself will soon forget about everything! Now we are sitting, gaining strength and thinking where to move. Then ... the whirlpool of events will whirl, and there will be no time left. Everything is back to normal.

- Well, yes, - he smiled faintly and, screwing up his amethyst eyes, looked at the sun. - Soon we will have our first courtesy visit to the head of a neighboring state. And then many more interesting things. But first of all, you need to find the bastard who pulls the strings.

- Everything would be fine if heylars were not used as puppets, - I sighed, finishing his thought. - And if in the wrong hands your soldiers did not kindle the fire of interracial war. Who are you dating? And why? And will they accept us?

I somewhat confused him with an abundance of questions, but Ar smiled, pulled me closer and said:

- With Her Majesty Alexandra Vir Tolliman, Empress of the Primordial Empire. Only, baby ... Where will it "take us" from? With all due respect ... you will stay at Anli Gissar.

- Do you remember who my father is? - I raised an eyebrow, trying to subdue the outburst of indignation at such a response. You need to be collected, restrained and dignified. - Arvil, my father is a very high-flying diplomat. And more than once he took me to official receptions while traveling. Of course, I did not attend the meetings, but ... knowledge is not lost, and blood is not water.

“Iryana, you are a young dragon,” haylar patted my hair. - Not even an adult. Taking you to negotiations of this level is not the smartest move.

“Okay,” I smiled dazzlingly. - Dear, do you really think that the place WHERE I fled to is a secret? Or a fight at the Lake of Fire, when a trio of girls opened a portal into the unknown? The unknown now given its name and owner? Are you really counting on not being asked where the Princess of Fire Valley and me are right now? I am the wife of Tsai Tirlin and I am my father's daughter!

- Well? .. - asked the Sleeper gloomily.

- Will you just let us go and wave your handkerchief? - I snorted skeptically, looking at him with irony.

- Do you want to leave Anli-Gissar? - Ar raised a black eyebrow. - It seems to me that Kryona will give everything to stay here forever.

- Do not shy away from the answer. If we want to go home ... you won't let us go. Isn't that right, my dear?

He gazed at me, his dark purple eyes narrowing and his lips subtly curling.

- Speak, speak, Irie. It is interesting to listen to your speculations.

- Rather, the conclusions. I shrugged my shoulders, threw off his hand and pulled back to see his face. - We are hostages. You won't let us go until you get what you want. All three of us are very comfortable. Well, maybe besides me. I guess I'm just ... you don't really need me. But Dasha and Kri ...

- What you are at times quick-witted, - Mr. Anli-Gissara drawled with admiration and admiration.

“Kryona is a princess, the bride of the heir to Ice Reach and… the chosen one of the prince of the Undermountain Kingdom,” I continued.

"What makes you think that Sebastian has serious feelings?" I am sure that everything he wanted he got from her.

“Maybe so,” I nodded. - But he wants to return. Because she doesn't need HE. For the same reason, Dorian will turn the world around and make concessions to get the redhead back. She left him. Humiliated in the eyes of the light. With Daria, too, everything is simple ... applicants for her attention will do a lot and promise to get admission to your city, if she stays here.

- If you understood everything, why did you drag the girls into my insidious nets? - Arvil twitched the corner of his mouth in a semblance of a smile.

- Because your "networks" are better than their reality, - she laughed in response. - And because they wanted it. Kryona is ready to die so as not to return to the groom. Drow is nothing more than a hobby for her. Well, and a way to get what we needed. Combined business with pleasure. Daria… dreamed of treating. And now he is doing what he loves. You found something to buy girls.

- And you? - the Sleeper squinted.

“I also want to be useful,” I said, swinging my legs, and unexpectedly admitted: “I also want to learn. As soon as everything calms down a little, I will enter the Primordial Art Academy. One of the best.

“Why not in the Dragon Valleys? And why are you so convinced that your spouse will allow? It seems to me, dear Irie, you have already forgotten a little about its presence. As well as the fact that Rinvale has exclusive rights to you, including a ban. Are you sure that after all the adventures, your husband will bless you for further ones, and not put you under lock and key?

I froze, biting my lip. To be honest, I didn't even think about this option. Weill seemed to understand everything, which means we will try to come to a consensus and solve the problem. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen each other since that last dream. But before that ... he really understood! She looked at Arville, watching tensely and replied:

- I believe in him. And I love.

“I’d believe myself,” Ar advised. - You don’t. And you understand that very well.

- You know? - I jumped up and stared angrily at the tailed beast. - I'm sick of! I said a hundred times that I would stay with my husband. Love is work, precious! Tense. This is a search for compromises, concessions to each other ... and loyalty! Do you think if I stay with you it will be different? The same thing! At first, of course, no difficulties! And then you, like my husband, will push the "underage dragon" aside! You're already trying! - I threw up my hands and mimicked: - "There is no place for you", "You are little", "You do not know anything!"

Arvil rose in one smooth, fluid movement and stepped toward me, hugging me, stroking my head and whispering soothingly:

- Well, you went so far ... all is well.

- So, so. - I freed myself from his hands, because I really wanted to stay in them and hug him back. To distract myself from harmful desires, I decided to talk to one amusing topic. I thought of the list in my mind and began to enumerate: - You are still disgusting a politician, it should be noted. Look: the public knows that you have snatched us, and you have no right not to play these cards. You MUST benefit from this situation! Obliged, otherwise others will do it. You can't hide us. And also ... you need a diplomat. You are an excellent leader, but ... negotiation is not your path. Just like "games".

- I was made like that! - Heylar barked, eyes flashing. - Have you forgotten, or what ?! Yes, of course, I am primarily a warrior and commander!

- And the foremen? Is there someone suitable among them?

- Yes, - the Sleeper, a little calmed down, ruffled his hair. “But he’s dead, that’s the annoyance. Lizard.

I shivered as I remembered the ghostly heylar who nearly killed us during our trip to Anli Gissar.

“Will not work,” she shook her head. - He hates all living things, except for his people.

“His self-control is at the right level,” objected the owner of the city. - If resurrected, it will do. He's strong ... mentally as well.

- And what about the resurrection? - I was puzzled, because earlier I generally thought this was impossible.

“If everything succeeds, I’ll find someone who will bring the right specialist,” the Centurion explained, throwing his head back to the sky and absentmindedly running his fingers along the collar of his shirt. - Moreover, we have the necessary materials and installations. All that is required is a soul guide and a connoisseur of ancient technology.

Well, wow "just"!

“Okay, you know better,” she didn’t express her doubts aloud, especially since there were topics more important than personal showdowns. - How did you manage to negotiate an audience with Her Majesty? You can't get to her so easily. I don’t think that you, such beautiful-tailed ones, just showed up in the palace and demanded to appoint a time.

- Right, - Ar winced. - Tylin helped.

- Oba, - I was amazed. - Do you communicate with him ?!

The Sleeper did not have time to answer. They did it for him.

“And not only that,” came a beautiful, viscous voice.

At the same time, I felt subtle vibrations in space. She turned and greeted the golden-haired fairy with a curious look at the thin brunette behind him and trying to figure out where she had seen this newcomer before. Logically - nowhere, because he was also wonderful, and I have very few acquaintances of this race.

- Hello, by the way, - the Prince remembered about politeness and nodded at his companion: - I am not empty-handed, with a present. I just thought ... Who can legalize Hailars better than their creator? The centurion, you are aware, but to you, pouring Iryan, let me introduce Prince Lallin Black Gold.

I stared at him in shock, then at the second and ... I remembered. It was Lallin who took away half of the warriors then, in the memory of the city! They called him ...

- Kur-r-rator! Arvil snapped. A shudder went through his body, indicating that he was one step away from a turn.

“I told you it’s a bad idea,” the brunette drawled lazily. - Now they will try to kill me.

“Have you doubted, Prince Lallin? The tailed beast hissed, slowly covering itself with small black scales.

“I’m not…” the faerie drawled lazily, looking at the heylar with interest. Then he shook his head in the direction of Tylin: - But my brother harbored unfounded illusions in this regard. By the way, I will note that your manners have not changed over time, Arvil Thainmeer. At least some constancy. Although what am I talking about? After all, you have slept safely for the past several thousand years.

The sleeper growled dully, and the next moment his eyes flashed with a lilac-white flash. Lallin Blackgold howled and grabbed his temples.

“Over the millennia, strength has s-s-ability to grow,” Ar said in a hissing whisper. He watched with such visible pleasure as the faeries lean lower and lower to the ground that I was terrified. - In vain you came to gloat, curator, in vain ...

I looked around in panic, realizing that there was absolutely nothing I could do. And I don’t want to, to be honest. This faerie created them! He is to blame for all the troubles of the unfortunate people! And I saw… I saw him in Anli-Gissar's memories. Lallin would have excused only ignorance, but the faerie knew perfectly well that his creations turned out to be not only intelligent, but also feeling. There is no forgiveness for him! Therefore, I will not lift a finger now to bring down Arville's concentration and prevent the brain of Prince Black Gold from being burned out.

Deserved ...

However, both I and the owner of the city lost in centuries completely lost sight of another character. Arms folded across its chest, it watched the scene with disapproval in its amber gaze. Tylin Cast Gold peeled off the rock, stepped to the Sleeper and said:

- Let go.

“Your existence is in the balance, fairies,” heylar threw in without looking back. - Don't cut the thread of your life.

Despite what was said, he squinted at Tylin and lightly wiggled his fingers, erecting a cascade of shields between himself and the wondrous. From mental to physical. Afraid.

“Young fool,” Tylin shook his head and materialized a long whip in his palm. Deaf-black, like a flourish of primordial darkness, the weapon seemed unnatural in the hand of the light-skinned golden-haired wondrous. But, remembering the true appearance of this faerie, I realized: yes. Everything is correct. Everything is natural.

The scourge flew up and, without resistance, flying through the shields of the Heylar, lashed him obliquely, touching open skin, pulling the Centurion off the bridge into the arms of a mountain river. I gasped in alarm and on my knees darted to the other edge of the bridge, clutching the wet stone and peering intently into the foamy stream.

Ar emerged almost immediately.

- You're a dead man!

- You are an idiot! - did not remain in debt wondrous. - I would not be a nerd, I would understand that Lal does not resist! He doesn't even have shields! Fight your brother - in ten seconds I would smear it with an even layer on this pretty gorge!

Almost pinned to the ground by an alien mental force, Lallin coughed and wheezed.

“You overestimate me, Ty. Not less than twenty seconds! Yet this tailed deranged is my best creation.

It was no longer Ar that jumped out of the water onto the stone, but a huge scaly beast with a wavy black mane and a tassel on its tail.

“Rrr,” he said pointedly, scraping the granite with his claws.

I admired the carved sparks, then the deep grooves in the stone, and swallowed nervously.

- Chick-chick-chick, - the dark faerie laughed feverishly, slowly getting up. - How nervous you are.

- Stop it! - pulled the fair-haired Prince. - Lal, stop provoking, you know perfectly well the reasons for the Centurion's behavior. And you, Arvil Thainmeer, finally find your vaunted self-control and if you please take advantage of it!

- Still, psychological preparation had to be carried out, - I looked sideways at Tylin condemningly.

He looked at me with irritation and grimaced:

- I naively believed that these gentlemen at least a little correspond to their venerable age. - Then he looked at his brother, who was trying to catch his breath, and barked: - Or at least one of them was influenced by the past years!

“I slept for a long time, since I am not interested in the mouse fuss of the Courts, which you proudly call" intrigues, "Lallin said sarcastically, and, holding on to his temple, tried to rise. Then he looked at the slightly calmed scaly beast and said in a mentoring, albeit a little hoarse tone: “You weren’t told not to play with your prey?” If you are going to kill - kill! If you cannot resist the temptation to torment the victim, postpone revenge until a more opportune time, tailed beast.

I shook my head, being slightly shocked by the presentation of the "material." Marvelous quite calmly called himself a victim and practically explained to the enemy how to finish himself off better. Especially if you plan to take pleasure in suffering.

These fairies are crazy!

Hearing Arvil's answer, I was convinced that the Heilars were not far from the wondrous. Although what am I talking about ... they have faerie blood, and a lot!

- Curator, are you not worried about the thought that I will take such valuable advice into account and use it? - The sleeper leaned forward and smiled so joyfully, anticipatory that I felt uneasy. - You are on my territory!

- Well, you are exaggerating, - the dark faerie was finally able to rise. - Just nearby. And believe me, there is a difference.

“If I understand your intentions correctly, you are going to enter my city. Despite his ostentatious confidence and his arms crossed imperiously on his chest, Arville's tail was twitching nervously. Noticing this, he wrapped it around his leg and hid the tassel behind the boot shaft.

The faerie just laughed and narrowed his eyes, dark like the Abyss of Anli-Gissar.

“No matter what my older relative says, I'm not an idiot. And I will not enter the city ... right away. Only after the invitation.

“What a disappointment,” Ar answered quite sincerely and looked sideways at me. “But nevertheless, to speak ... no matter what language ... it is necessary in another place.

Well, yes ... the language is different. The language of magic and sometimes became more expressive than any other.

- Are you confused by the young dragon? Lal raised a resinous eyebrow and sent me a smile. - It's in vain. She is one of the pieces on our game board and, as the girl quite rightly said not so long ago ... it is a sin not to dispose of it. Especially if it is so conveniently located.

- I would prefer to discuss the framework for future actions without Iryana.

I held back my irritation, trying to prevent it from breaking through or even flickering in the depths of my eyes. She pursed her lips and lowered her gaze, realizing that I definitely did not control myself so well.

Men ... are the same! They are all the same!

That's right, I sent Arvil ... to look for another love! He's no different from Weil! But unlike her husband, who, if not re-educated, then at least learned something, Aru is not yet threatened with enlightenment.

“One of your mistakes,” the hitherto silent Tylin intervened, “is that you have too few people close to you. Monstrously few. This means that you need to develop and use everyone who is.

Flattering, of course ... I did not expect any mental comments, if only because I did not anticipate such a possibility. As it turned out, in vain. Feeling a light mental touch, she shuddered in surprise. Judging by the golden-amber tones in which the “challenge” is painted, this is Tylin. She carefully opened the upper layer of consciousness, not knowing what to expect from a sharp-eared person.

“Well, what can you do, this is the most convenient terminology, girl,” Tylin smiled faintly.

“I don’t mind. I am even grateful for the intervention and confirmation of my own words. "

Meanwhile, Lallin came closer and, not a bit caring about the safety of his dull black robe, sank down on the makeshift bridge over the river. Then he looked back at us and, giving another wide smile, threw up his hands invitingly:

- Sit down, gentlemen allies, at the peace negotiating table!

And this is a millennial faerie? And where is majesty, where is wisdom, where, in the end, is beauty ?!

Unlike his brother, Lal was not distinguished by the perfection of his face and figure. Thin, similar in his robes to a crumpled crow, with a few birdlike features, the impression of which was aggravated by the predatory cut of the eyes of black agate.

But in the memories of the city he was different ... Tall, thin and flexible like a whip, dressed in the colors of the night sky, which seemed to have been gathered right from the firmament to sew clothes. Of the jewelry - only pearls, and the skin glowed dull under the shine of Anli-Gissar chandeliers. Then he really was a magnificent wondrous lord, at the sight of whom those around him died in admiration. What happened to you, Lallin Black Gold? Why are you so obviously neglecting the most important thing for a faerie - yourself? Extremely interesting.

Thinking this way, I sat down near my current interest, on the other side of the bridge. On my side, but further, Arvil sank. Tylin took a seat not far from his brother. We are silent. We study each other. Rather, they are studying. I'm not interested. Is that Prince Black Gold often looks back at me, which makes me frankly uncomfortable.

A treacherous thought flashed through that if he saw a woman in me, I would feel calmer. This evil is already familiar and not so frightening. But they looked at me like a bargaining chip for the first time. Not to say that the feeling was pleasant.

- Why are you here? - I suddenly asked and even shuddered under the crosshairs of three glances at once. Deciding that if I don’t finish the thought now, then I don’t dare to voice it, she continued: - I’m even interested in the official version. Real, of course, it's stupid to wait.

In the eyes of the fairies read merry: "And not such a fool!" - but he answered, of course, completely different.

- What are you, dear girl, my intentions are direct and transparent.

Well, yes. In general, you are blond, and the white wings must have been hidden somewhere. It's just that we all have an optical illusion here. Of course, she did not speak out loud. I wanted to!

- Well, as you say. - I decided not to bother with a horn, especially since I will not be able to outplay this faerie. Never. Different weight categories. Different life experiences.

“Actually, it's pretty simple,” Lallin closed his eyes wearily. - We have one goal, gentlemen. Find the one who started the confusion in the Primordial. That bastard who stole the materials of my project and tried to start it again!

- Your project? - the Sleeper asked in a whispering whisper. - So you call us ... chicken-r-rator ?!

“I called you" heilars, "the dark faerie replied calmly, without flinching. - Which is well known to you. Pull yourself together, Centurion. You disappoint me.

- I wonder what you would do in my place? - Ar calmed down and now only watched the faeries.

Tylin and I were silent and did not interfere, realizing that they should talk. Even a little. It is necessary to clarify at least a bit. Let there be practically no time for this.

The prince of the Cast Gold clan looked tiredly from his brother to the Heylar, and his appearance expressed the extreme degree of the state of "zadolbali". Lallin looked thoughtful. He did not take his agate eyes from Ara. When the silence became almost ringing, thin, pale lips quivered in a smile, and he quietly said:

- I would cut off all those present and slowly, with pleasure, kill the one I hate. Enjoying every scream ... every groan ... every wheeze.

“Then appreciate my composure,” Arvil leaned forward. “All I want now is to gently squeeze your spine in my palms. Previously, the neck was pierced with the claws.

I shuddered and jumped up indignantly:

- Or maybe that's enough? And then you will play the toy "who is the cooler threatening" ?! - She took a breath and continued: - Gentlemen, perhaps due to the female mind I do not quite understand the purpose of our meeting ... but it seems that it is far from what you are doing now!

There was a silence during which Arville closed his eyes and, judging by the rhythm of his breathing, tried to calm down. Tylin stared with undisguised interest at the waters of the rivulet and the glare of the sun, lost in the crystal water. Lallin smiled at me faintly.

And I felt myself not the smartest person in a bunch of completely incomprehensible personalities. Either geniuses, whom I do not understand due to my own limitations, or complete idiots, whom I do not understand for the opposite reason. Since I could not classify the ancient faeries and heylar as fools, the conclusions were disappointing.

- Iryana, they are so mutual language They are trying to find, - Ty sighed, looking sideways with irony at me. - But at the wrong time, here you are right.

"Iri?" I heard it in my head again.

“Iri, it’s better not to interfere now. - He hesitated, as if choosing his words, and continued: - It's just that Lallin, that Arvil - both for the first time in such a situation and do not know how to behave. Lala is burdened that it was his project that was then chosen for the role of "the savior of the birth of Gold." And the project turned out to be ... with a spouse. The brother did not create dolls for protection, but an intelligent and sentient race. A doomed race. The centurion is trying not to succumb to emotions and not to kill the one whom he so infinitely hated all his life. Well ... make a discount on psychological age your tailed friend. "

Yes, I smiled inwardly. - In fact, a teenager. I just thought we didn't have much time and it was worth discussing plans. "

“Yes, they cannot,” the wondrous one responded with endless weariness. - They won't. Now they need to draw at least some conclusions. You need to have a desire to talk, and not immediately and with pleasure to cut each other into ribbons. "

Unable to find words, I shrugged and found that while we were talking with the elder faerie, Lallin and Heylar had come to a consensus.

“I think you understand that Anli-Gissar’s independence will not be preserved,” Lallin said, squinting his black eyes at his tailed creation.

“I understand perfectly,” Ar nodded his dark-haired head, and his tail trembled nervously, betraying the excitement of the owner. “They won't let us. It is too unusual for representatives of a new race to appear out of nowhere. Especially when you consider what is happening in the world.

- Yes, your handicraft copies, devouring whoever hit the Empire and the allied states, is an extremely annoying factor, - put his hand into blonde hair Tai. “That is why I agreed with Her Majesty the Empress and the Guardians to meet on neutral territory. Four escorts on each side, and you choose the place.

- Why a human empire? - I asked curiously. - No, I understand that you can't go to dragons, but the Kingdom of Podgorny is close by ...

“Drow are sedentary fairies, have you forgotten? - the golden-haired bard looked predatory, now not at all like a careless musician. - The owner of Anli-Gissar will not bow to them.

“That's not the point,” the Centurion shook his head. “It's just that the empire is stronger. And yet ... The drow is too close. Whatever agreements we have concluded, they will stubbornly climb into the city. I'm sure it will be easier with people.

“I wouldn't count,” I laughed softly, remembering how my father swore after another diplomatic reception. - Extremely toothy comrades also live there. And the “human” empire is called only because, according to statistics, there are about fifty percent of people there. For the rest - each creature in pairs. From settlers to drow with dragons. So that…

“No, Iri… exactly the empire. There are reasons, ”Arvil smiled and changed his position.

I sighed furtively. He's not so tense now. Not a second away from the throw. And he took his hand off his ankle. As far as I know, the Centurion stores the poisoned needles in that leather strip on the seam of his pants. This means that there will be no attack now, and you can not be ready, just in case, to leap far away, so as not to accidentally fall under the distribution.

Judging by the laughter that momentarily flashed in the violet eyes, Ar perfectly understood the reasons for my relief.

- Whom will you take with you? Lallin asked lazily. - To clarify: my brother and I are attached automatically. That is, there are two more on your side. Who?

“The ten's men,” the Sleeper answered slowly, and then looked sideways at me, as if thinking about something.

“Right,” the dark faerie followed his gaze. - It would be better for her. The girl is useful, and will be useful in the future. Judging by the data provided, she has very good genetics, which is important.

- Iryana will stay in the city.

I caught my friend's serious gaze and shook my head.

- You have too few resources not to use them.

“You are not a resource,” he snapped. - You are you.

“She is a dragon, daughter of the Flame Valley ambassador to the empire,” Lallin chuckled and continued harshly: “Arvil, the girl will have to be taken. We are few, but the task is great. How many are you in the city? A dozen and a half? Less?

Ar turned to Tylin and said in the affirmative:

“You told me not to shout out to the rank and file.

- Of course. And stop seeing us as enemies. Lallin wants to help, so hiding something is stupid.

- Tylin, I don't believe him. I do not believe the voiced motive. Your actions are accepted because my people owe you the illusion of freedom, and Anli-Gissar owes their existence.

Hmmm, we will definitely not agree at such a pace. And ... if I remember the basics of psychology correctly, in such a situation it only takes time for everything to settle down a little, to settle down.

“And I have a proposal,” she rubbed her temples, almost feeling her head swell from the abundance of information. From news as well as expected drastic changes... It is called, went to talk and sort things out with a friend ... - Before going to the Empress, you must meet again on neutral territory and once again discuss everything. Because right now you are too emotionally worked up.

- Irka is right, - the Sleeper got up.

Waiting for both faeries to follow his example, Ar bowed his head in respectful obeisances. The marvels looked at each other and responded in kind. I was ready to clap my hands and give everyone a gingerbread for exemplary behavior and soundness of mind.

- Okay, - Tylin nodded and looked at Arvil: - You have an amulet with which you can contact me. I am not in a hurry and do not set a time frame, but it seems to me that you yourself understand how limited we are in this resource.

“I understand,” the Sleeper narrowed his eyes, and a faint smile touched his lips. - Prince, I will not hesitate.

- That's great. Lallin grimaced and rubbed his temples, looking discontentedly at Heilar, and then at everyone else. - If the conversation is over, I retire. The centurion ... it is informative to see you again. Lieta Iryana, I will be glad new meeting... Brother ... you know where to find me.

He bowed and, stepping back, disappeared into a black and gold haze.

I thoughtfully looked at the melting energetic colored "snow", under which I was tempted to put my palm. It's not hard to guess how he will sting delicate skin... Energy ... bites. She chuckled, catching herself at the last thought.

But ... something very unusual awaits ahead. And deep inside I felt a thrill of realization: very soon I will have a job! No, not so ... BUSINESS. Big and important. Significant. Such a chance is extremely rare, so I have only one attempt. If I manage, I will prove to everyone, and first of all to myself, that I am worth something.

Probably, Dasha and Kriona have the same thoughts. We have a chance. One in a million. And ours - so generally from the field of fairy tales and dreams. Because the heylars and their master are the creation of one genius scientist. Lallin Black Gold. And I still wonder where that magnificent lord, whom I saw in my walk through the memories of Anli-Gissar, has gone.

While I was thinking about the little faerie, his brother ended his conversation with the Centurion. Approaching me, he bowed, took possession of his palm and imprinted a light kiss on the back.

- Iryana, I have a small request.

“I’m listening,” I answered carefully, not even thinking to follow the rules of etiquette and say “of course” or “everything in my power”. With fairies, you generally need to monitor the language. If only because, if you say this, you, "of course," will have to fulfill what you promised and at the same time "make every effort."

A knowing smile passed over the pinkish lips of the wondrous handsome man. Pulling back, he continued:

- I want you to give Daria a small gift.

I almost burst out laughing in his face.

This is arrogance!

- Tylin, with all due respect I have to refuse. - I shook my head and, noticing that he frowned, and bad sparks flashed in his yellow eyes, I considered it necessary to justify the decision. - Excuse me, but to transfer gifts from the wondrous lord to a mortal ... I treat Daria too well for such a frank set-up.

- This thing does not contain anything that can affect the will of Dasha, - the fairy smiled, but there was no warmth in his eyes.

- Okay, - she answered with the same smile and insinuatingly asked: - And what about feelings?

- Give the word? - the marvelous shuddered, haughtily looking at me.

“Wouldn't hurt,” I nodded calmly, shivering internally under the piercing amber gaze.

- Iryana ... - Tylin sighed and took out a velvet bag of light blue color from his pocket. He loosened the straps, and a strange decoration, like a crescent moon with a hook-and-loop at the end, fell into the fairies' palm. - It's just a "connected".

“Unusual,” I shook my head, not thinking of trusting the lord so quickly.

- Lyeta, do you really think that you know everything in the world ?! Maybe I'm just not aware that your specialization is the achievements of a wonderful people in the field of magic and technology?

“Of course not,” I replied calmly to this frank mockery. - But, as I said, the migrant is my friend. Anyway ... Tylin. If you were in my place, would you really meekly take a pretty tsatka and take it to a loved one, knowing that she, perhaps, can harm him ?!

“Got it,” Tai rubbed the bridge of his nose. - Options?

- As you yourself suggested - give me the floor.

“Fun,” the faerie laughed and shook his head. “This is the first time I swear on such nonsense. Usually this was demanded by more global questions.

- Well-oo-oo ... - I threw up my hands and fell silent, offering the wondrous one to think out on his own.

“Hor-r-rosho,” he growled shortly and ran his fingers irritably through his golden hair. - I, Tylin Cast Gold, swear that my gift to Daria does not bear any other hidden properties, except for those already voiced.

He gave the floor. No, not like that ... WORD.

“Okay,” I nodded and held out my hand without taking my eyes off my wondrous gaze.

Tylin finally slid a finger over the smooth blue-purple stone and put the amulet back in the bag he handed to me.

I squeezed the fabric and felt something crunch slightly in my palm.

“Paper,” the faeries answered my questioning glance. - Note. More precisely, the instruction.

“Okay,” she squeezed her fingers on the velvet and turned to Arvil.

- Iri, go to the wall, - the Sleeper nodded to the place where we came from.

I glared at him and the faeries, but saw fit to obey.

She turned around, skirted the men standing opposite to each other, resolutely jumped off the boulder, roughly hewn by nature, which replaced the bridge, and looked around the slope, mentally marking the "steps" along which one could pass.

Nevertheless, during the descent, Ar caught me, which greatly simplified the task. Now I could only count on myself. Nothing, I'm a dragon! The creature is agile and strong! So after half a minute I was sitting on the edge of a heated oblique sunbeams little rag and watched the still motionless men. From the impassive faces it was completely impossible to understand what they were talking about.

Arvil seemed relaxed. So, he leads in this conversation. If this were not the case, he would look different. I don’t know when I learned to read it, but I did. Or is it the remnants of a connection that is still not completely broken? Anything can be. Centurion, you tailed fool. If we do not have the chance to run away from each other in the near future, the problem should be tackled closely.

Of course, there is Kriona as an option. But Kree is a girl without complexes. And he knows that I'm from Veil - nowhere. If she liked the Centurion, she would have made it clear. So, since it does not show the location, then it disappears. The fiery ones, although relaxed in an intimate sense, are not to such an extent as to sleep with those who do not like them.

Having emerged from thinking about which direction it would be better to direct Ara's interest, I again focused on the people who were talking. Judging by the paralysis of the detached expression settled on the face of the faerie, he was listening to something not particularly pleasant for himself. Finally, the men finished the dialogue, and the marvelous vanished into the shimmering air. Arvil looked at me with a smile.

- Well ... let's go back?

“Come on,” I swung my legs with an answering smile, looking down at him. - What were you talking about?

“About the fact that some charming immigrants are not only under my protection, but also under the care of foremen,” Ar grunted, glaring mischievously from under his black bangs. - And if she is offended, some handsome men will have something torn off. And not even once.

“Poor Tylin,” I laughed. - What is he?

“He said that he had the most serious intentions, and also explained where I could go with my threats. - Arvil in a matter of seconds was on my ledge and sank beside me. Dangling his legs too.

And so we sat. Long minutes seemed like timelessness. And the sun fell over the ridge, taking away the orange-red rays that had recently warmed the rocks. The darkness thickened, draping first cracks in the rock, and then, as if emboldened, climbed out onto flat surfaces, until recently felt the caress of the heavenly body, and now belonged to its opposites. Gloom.

- A new stage is coming.

I winced at the low voice and turned to heylar. Leaning back on the still warm stone, he watched the flow of the river, which grew darker and darker. It was now impossible to see the bottom. Only rare silvery reflections on the already opaque water reminded of what a sparkling stream it rushed from the peaks quite recently.

- What are you talking about?

- Yes, about everything, probably, - Arvil answered after a moment, hesitating. - We really come out of the shadows, our familiar home. But ... we were only weapons in the wrong hands. And if we want to seize control now, we need to change tactics.

- Right, - nodded and frowned at the thought that came into her head, which was not slow to voice: - Ar, what can we offer the Primordial Empire? As I understand it, if you let them into the city, then with a minimum level of access. Yes, and giving your people under the arm of the Empress ... is fraught.

“We have a lot to offer,” the corners of his lips twitched into a smile. - And believe me, they now need it more than all the mythical and not so much wealth of Anli-Gissar.

- Okay, - I sighed when I realized that now he was not going to spread everything. He will tell you when he decides. - What are your immediate plans?

“Deal with the outer frontiers,” Arvil rubbed his temples with a sigh. “I’m almost done, but… I have to finish it off.”

- And I have classes with Alishin, and then get-togethers with the girls ...

“Warn Daria that the fairies never do anything just like that,” the Sleeper voiced the obvious.

“I’m afraid it won’t help,” I winced. - You understand that everything depends only on her.

- I understand, - the lord of the lost city grinned. - That is why I will partially open the way for Tylin's competitor.

"Will you let the drow into town ?!" I gasped, staring at the heylar in surprise. - Ar, what are you? Do you even know who Trinveer del Meredith is ?!

“I know,” the tailed beast laughed softly, looking at me cheerfully. He pulled it in and ruffled it through his hair. - Therefore, I probably won't let you into the city itself.

“Hmmm, I don’t know how you’ll get out,” I shrugged. - Tylin is still ... well, I don't believe that he is so smooth because of Daria or even guilt.

“That's right,” Arvil nodded calmly. - It seems to me that the answer is simple. Both of them are interested. You yourself know how disastrous boredom is for the wondrous. Therefore, they clung to this task. It is very difficult, almost unbearable ... but this is its beauty.

- Marvelous, - I said with some degree of disgust.

“Fairy,” said Ar in the same tone.

We looked at each other and laughed.

I felt the hand of the Centurion, squeezed it tightly and quietly admitted:

- So glad that everything was decided. And that's easy again.

He did not answer for almost a minute, during which a light and ringing state of cloudless happiness managed to leave me, until he finally said:

- I'm glad that you feel good.

I selfishly kept silent, allowing him to heroically make this sacrifice, and mock cheerfully offered:

- Let's go?

- Let's go to. - He stood up and with a strong jerk lifted me, almost immediately wrapping his tail around my waist. I twitched nervously, and the heylar, smiling sadly, kissed my forehead weightlessly. “I'm really glad, girl.

She looked away, realizing that ... somehow everything turns out very perversely.

Ollie courted me out of wounded pride and awakened desire. Veil was attracted by my age and liveliness, I relieved him of boredom. Arvil was not the luckiest one. He tied himself to me. And if you think about it - was there anything to stick to? To a girl who has not even passed her second adulthood? I feel sorry for the peasants even.

The sleeper let me go and put his glowing palms on the rock, along which an ornate arch-painting snaked in an instant. In its center, the stone trembled like a haze, flowed, changed color. She habitually closed her eyes and stepped through this miracle back to the enchanted city.

His master followed.

We did not walk hand in hand for long. Only to one of the main corridors, in which Ar quickly hugged me and, again kissing me on the forehead, said:

- Irish, I have things to do.

“Go, of course,” I sighed. I did not want to part with the Sleeper.

She looked after her sadly, realizing that the problems were far from resolved. I am selfish. Malicious. I myself would have to limit my communication with Arvil, knowing about his attitude. But I don’t do it ... On the contrary, I challenge him to talk.

The husband is sorely lacking. And me, and ... Arvil. It's one thing to know, in theory, that a girl is busy. And another thing is to see her with her legal spouse.

I need to talk to Arvil about my desire to leave Anli-Gissar and meet Veil. Maybe this time he will? There used to be one hundred and one reasons why not. And it is dangerous, and they can enter the city, and in general ... And here, in addition to the heavily armed Heilars, there are also defenseless us.

Of course, I am not a trump card, but I am not a six in our deck either. Trump cards - Kriona and Daria. The first is political, and the second can manage to get Ara's subordinates out of that psychological abyss where they have been wandering all their lives. True, how to do this if the tailed beasts consider such a state to be the norm? Great question. Hmmm, I don’t envy the healer. Moreover, Dasha's experience is almost zero, and she has no education yet. Acts exclusively on intuition.

The Joker is Lallin. No matter how the Centurion tried to deny it. Well, Tylin. True, this one is rather an ace. I smiled at the thoughts and the specifics of the alignment. Yes, something from the cycle of events began to go beyond your mind completely, Iryana.

Slowly she walked forward, mechanically noting the beauty of the patterned plates under her feet. Gray granite with a burnt pattern, weaving with an outlandish vine, strove further and further, capturing even lower part the walls, which were also about one third light. Towards the middle, they turned blue, and the vaulted ceilings generally seemed to be a midnight blue aventurine sky with softly flickering sparks from distant stars.

In Anli-Gissar, a lot is decorated with aventurine. different colors... Probably Arvil loves this stone. Or the explanation is even simpler: Anli-Gissar was built on the site of large deposits of aventurine. I always romanticize everything.

She laughed quietly and, succumbing to a childish impulse, continued to walk along the corridor already in zigzags, as she walked only along the black strip of the "vine".

My teacher, Alishin, said that this beautiful pattern is not simple. When the city is in defense mode, the innocent drawing turns into one of the defensive means. Becomes material and independent enough to kill.

He said that then ... when dragons and fairies with a curator came for the heilars, there were several hundred of them. Several dozen reached the main hall, the rest remained lying in the corridors of the city. The city that Arville built. How alike they are, the Centurion and Anli-Gissar!

Beautiful city, and I want to be here to the thrill in my chest. While I am here, the feeling of a miracle and the fact that everything will certainly be good and no less interesting does not leave me. A magical city and its completely magical master. And the same subordinates. We have fun!

Now I was walking towards the training room. Two hours of torment with Alishin lay ahead. It is in the halls that this reptile comes off so that I almost crawl out of there. But the practical lessons are simply delightful and, one might say, exclusive. Few people get this. But more on that later. And now…

- Good afternoon, mentor. “I greeted a Heylar approaching from the other end of the corridor.

He just nodded and we went to the training room.

- Today we have a levitation and a replay of the basics of healing, which you have already learned.

- Clear!

- Fine. Well ... - Alishin looked at me attentively and, closing his eyes, slowly soared above the floor. - Repeat.

I repeated it. I felt the sensation of weightlessness envelop my body and smiled happily, opening my eyes. I stumbled upon the skeptical glance of a fair-haired tailed beast, who calmly said:

- Three two one. Shmyak!

I widened my eyes in confusion, and then ... then there was a "shmyak".

- A-a-ah! She howled, clutching at the painful ankle.

“The loss of concentration at such a height has a negative effect on physical health,” Alishin stated calmly, smoothly sinking to the floor. Clasping his hands behind his back, the heylar walked around me in a circle. - In what and when did you make a mistake?

- I was delighted early, - I hissed, trying to get rid of the pain and turn off pain impulses in order to calmly heal my leg.

“That's right,” Alishin nodded calmly. - Iryana, you need to celebrate the victory, standing with both feet on the ground, and not hovering in the skies.

“I understand,” she nodded obediently and hissed, because instead of removing the pain, I intensified it. Two times.

- What's happened? - the teacher sighed wearily and squatted down next to him. - Do we remove the pain? That's right, that's right. But why are you acting on the wrong receptors? And why is it here? Baby, everything starts in the brain. Block there.

- I'm not that confident in myself. I will block something else ... Yes, you yourself said that this practice is appropriate only for your own healing. But if it is necessary to treat a stranger, the effect is local, on the affected area itself.

“There is a reason in your words,” the foreman was forced to admit and continued to calmly instruct: “Look, we are pinching this nerve, and now we are not allowing swelling and inflammation to develop. We accelerate regeneration and slightly weaken the blockade on pain receptors. Oops! Almost done. Now even no intervention is needed: everything will weaken and dissolve by itself.

I moved my leg and voiced the sensations:

- Does not hurt.

“And it won't,” Alishin pleased, and then took off to hover for a moment and ... fall down! My jaw also collapsed, apparently following my mentor's infectious example.

- Alishin, are you all right?

“Of course not,” the Heylar looked at me with distant surprise, twitching his tail nervously. Then he bent down and rolled up his trouser leg, revealing an ankle that was reddened and began to swell. He stirred, grimaced and looked at me demandingly: - Now repeat everything that I just did. You have a minute and a half for this!

- W-w-why one and a half ?! - I asked stammering, frantically trying to remember what and how he did with my leg.

- Because afterwards I will heal myself, - Alishin answered with some arrogance in his eyes. - And you have to fall again. It's unpleasant for me ...

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo And I once thought dragons and fairies were eccentric creatures? Intolerable creatures? Yes. She was right! But then I still did not know what a cross between dragons and fairies! Now I know. The final result never ceases to amaze.

- Iryana, I would really ask you to hurry up, - impeccably polite heylar pulled me out of my mental stupor. “Although… I was wrong.

- In what? I asked, somehow very doomed.

- You have at least four minutes! - said the blond freak happily. - It seems there is a crack in the bone!

- Chu-oo-oo-gum! - I was “happy” together with the victim. - Only you haven’t shown how to fusion bone tissue!

- Indeed, - he looked at me predatory and generously offered: - An arm or a leg?

- Your neck! - I barked, jumping back just in case. - Or a skull. Maybe it will somehow affect.

“It certainly will,” Al nodded gravely. - You know that damage of this nature ...

- Stop, - I raised my palms and sat down next to the injured part of the body of my original tailed trainer. - Is the principle almost the same as for the healing of muscle mass?

- A slightly different vector of strength, - the foreman stared at me with curiosity. - Would you dare to try?

- Yes, - I decided and focused on the magical effect.

- I ask you to remember about the dosage of energy, as with too much a large number bone growths may appear, which are removed only surgically. And of the doctors we only have Diar, and even that one is more likely to be amputated.

I couldn't find the words. Even obscene.

In the end, everything ended well. Alishin left on foot, saying that he was happy with me today. I left, holding on to the wall, with shaking knees and feeling a very great need for a sedative. However, everything was not so bad, and therefore I chose another antidepressant. Dream.

Creator, well, what are they ... You can't even call them cynical! These are their realities. Another life, other values. And I am a guest in their house. I should be silent if I am jarred. I have to adapt to the owners. Which is what I am doing.

I'm honestly trying to do it.

* * *

The next day, my schedule reads positively: “Meeting with friends. One joke". This was extremely pleasing, and even slightly ennobled the surrounding reality. So I went to Dasha right after another conversation between the fairies and Arvil, who discussed matters and problems, the essence of which I had not really grasped.

My head ached from overexertion, and I decided to walk in a roundabout way. As you know, "legs in motion - the brain at rest." And the beautiful Anli-Gissar acts soothingly, despite its otherworldly charm.

To get to Dashka’s study, I had to go down from the fourth, external level, where I was now, to the second. There were Anli-Gissar's private rooms and lounges. On the third - training rooms, reception rooms, armories, portrait galleries, and so on. In short, everything that was intended for general use. That’s very, very common.

True, I didn't want to remember about portraits, mosaics and other paintings. Too ... chilly with the memories of what was hidden behind the black and white images. From danger and hatred that did not leave the Heylars even after death.

Finally I went to one of the platforms and ran down the sparkling alabaster-agate staircase. The first steps and railings were so black that they seemed invisible in the surrounding twilight. I boldly took a step, feeling the support and fleetingly rejoicing in its presence. One, two, three ... then the snow-white steps began. Because of this architectural technique, one got the impression that a snow-white sparkling staircase without supports and railings was just hanging over an abyss.

I quickly passed this miracle, trying not to rummage in my memory about the role of the black and white beauty in the defense of the city. Tailed paranoid! They have everything here, absolutely everything is not just like that!

But here's the destination. The second level is not as frighteningly beautiful as the others. Just residential. I walked past a spacious corridor lined with the usual light peach marble. The road to the first level, in the heart of the lost city. I was not allowed there, as were my friends. Arvil explained that it was "completely, completely uninteresting." And in general, we have already been there. Hall of memories, energy sources that feed Anli-Gissar and the control center for defense systems. In short, the Sleeper was lying. Interesting there. But they are not allowed. However, so far there were enough objects for study in addition to the first level.

At the end of the corridor, the door to the abode of our regular soul healer appeared. Approaching, I poked my nose into the office. I saw a sad Dasha and Alishin sitting opposite. Apparently, they were still dealing with the lady in trouble situation.

“And yet I don’t understand the correctness of transporting a useless wounded man who has nothing to do with us. I don’t understand why the sex characteristic gives any advantages ...

Dasha ran her fingers through her fluffy hair and said gloomily:

- Alishin, you will drive me into the coffin.

- No, - the foreman calmly replied, and in response to the healer's questioning glance, he explained: - I want to note that in view of where we are, it is shortsighted to bury in wooden boxes. Very soon they will become unusable. Therefore, if in the near future you plan to retire to another world, I advise you to choose a sarcophagus. Moreover, we have reserves. Choose which one you like!

Judging by the look of Dasha, she really wanted either to hit something with her head, or to attach a heylar.

- You feel bad? - With genuine concern the tailed one asked the groaning healer.

“No,” she replied grimly, looking up at him again.

I broke down and giggled, which caused both of them to turn towards the door.

“Good afternoon,” she nodded and knocked demonstratively. - Can?

- It is necessary, - Dasha nodded happily, who, apparently, was just happy to see me.

- Hello, Lieta Iryana, - Alishin got up and barely noticeably bent down in a slight bow. - I hope you remember that we have classes in the evening?

- I remember, - she nodded and turned to the migrant: - Dash, did you interfere?

- No, what are you. She hastily closed her books and notebooks. - We're almost done.

- Really? - Heylar raised a light eyebrow and looked at his watch. - Usually you torment me ... treat me for about an hour and a half. Much less has passed now.

“I’m talking with you, not flying,” the healer frowned and straightened the fluffy hair that had fallen over her eyes.

- Of course, - the tailed one nodded and got up. - I can go?

“Thank you,” Alishin thanked without a smile and, clearly, in a military manner, turned around and left. Dasha allowed herself to drop her head on the table with a thud and moan sadly: - Irka, what are they ...

Apparently, she did not find any further censorship words to describe the situation.

- Irka, did you hear ?! Am I torturing them ?! This is who is torturing whom!

“You can understand them too,” I said soothingly, sinking into the chair vacated by Alishin. - They are so accustomed and do not know otherwise. For hailars, this behavior is normal. I will say more: not only for them.

“I understand that,” her friend waved her hands and finished a little hastily: “I don’t understand otherwise. Why did Arvil hang all this on me ?! Well, he cannot but know what is the use of his undertaking to zero! There would be no harm yet ... Irka, they are different! Yes, you are all different here! Dragons, heylars, fairies ... what can I, an ordinary person do ?!

“He knows better,” she shrugged. - Ar would not do what he is not sure of. So I'm sure of you.

- They have a different psyche, - Daria rubbed her temples and tapped one of the volumes on the table with her finger. - I here studied the psychology of fairies and dragons, after all, our tailed beauties were mainly concocted from them. So that's it. What I previously thought was a serious deviation is just a slight eccentricity for a fae! Easy!

- Don't panic to begin with.

- I'm trying.

“Well done,” I held out my hand and squeezed the cold fingers of my interlocutor. - Dash, look for the positive. If you thought the situation was completely bad, and in the light of new information it turns out that everything is not so disgusting, then it’s already good.

“Not really,” our unfortunate woman shook her head. - There are all different directions, phenomena ... But it's fun to work with foremen - there is nowhere else to go. And ... I feel so useless!

“Nonsense,” I shook my head resolutely. - Everything will be fine. Of course, I did not know the same Alishin for long, but, in my opinion, in the first days he was completely, completely frozen. Better now.

- That's not the point. Irka, how can mature beings be inculcated with the norms of morality, ethics and the laws of society? Especially when you consider that completely different was invested in the Heylars? The exact opposite! All I can do is help to learn the basics like the rules of survival in a new environment. They will stick to it. As long as they remember and as long as they consider it necessary.

“Already an achievement,” I said quietly.

She nodded, absentmindedly sliding her finger along the spine of the book.

- Shall we follow Kriona? - I suggested after a while. “We don’t have much time, and we haven’t been able to meet for a day.” Someone is always busy.

The migrant rose with a sigh, and we set off in search of our fiery one.

The redhead was training in the gym with a couple of foremen. Rather, I honestly tried to do it, since the men for the most part allowed themselves to be beaten. If it was dropped, it was very carefully, and if it hit anything, it was soft. Needless to say, the dragon was almost smoking with anger?

Finally Kryona stopped, and a couple of foremen immediately froze nearby, carefully watching her. The sorceress dropped the long pole and barked:

- What kind of ice ballet we have again ?! I want to fight! Hard!

- Lieta Kriona, - one of the Heilars cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses that had slipped slightly, - if we fight hard, then you will not face active rest for some time ...

Kree looked offended and clasped her hands nervously.

- Well, how can I at least learn something if you treat me like a crystal vase ?! And you don't want to train!

“Because there’s no time,” heilar said softly, and the next moment the amulets on the foremen’s chests lit up, and they bowed out of the hall. Calling the Centurion.

- Genetically modified reptiles! - After making sure that the doors were tightly closed and she would not be heard, the redhead began to swear. - Tailed bastards!

- Well, why do you need so hard? - Dasha chuckled, leaning on the wall.

- Because I am a warrior! - shook the fiery curls of Kree and, picking up the pole, carried it to the counter. - A warrior, not a muslin girl! Girls, have you ever seen how the Heylars fight among themselves?

Daria and I shook our heads in unison. Somehow it wasn’t necessary, and our interests were in a different plane.

- They are incredibly skillful! - Kryona's eyes lit up with delight. - Awesome! Even Dorian is no match! And I want, really want to get even a little closer to their level!

- In order to clean the face of the ice fiancé when we meet?

“And that too,” Kree nodded grimly and waved her off. - But the main thing is different! The main thing is self-improvement! And they ... do not allow ... - And again childishly offended: - Tailed bastards ...

“Okay,” I chuckled and put my arm around my friend’s shoulders. - Let's go rob the kitchen and get out onto one of the upper balconies, as planned.

The friends looked at each other, and Dasha voiced a general idea:

- Everything would be fine, but how do you plan to take away part of Diara's reserves?

- Just ask! - I winked.

Very soon we went down one of the distant ladders and found ourselves in front of the door, behind which we could hear the rumble of pots and non-musical singing. I knocked and, opening the door, stuck my head into the gap.

- Hello, Diar.

A short, red-haired boy with bright, crazy green eyes waved his tail in greeting and called:

- Hi, Iryana. Come on in. Standing at the door is the last thing.

“I’m not alone,” she walked into the kitchen and dragged the restraining girls after her.

“Good afternoon, lady.” He waved the red tassel again as our cook's hands were busy. The guy was crushing carrots with inspiration.

- Hello, - the girlfriends responded in a discordant chorus.

- Where is Ladushka? - I shook my head, because I knew that the "daughter" from the moment this guy appeared firmly attached to him. Heylar didn't mind, though.

I myself did not spot anyone, but Ladka came to the rescue: a cheerful chirping came from the ceiling:

- I'm here, Iryana.

She threw back her head and smiled at the chondria glinting at me with its faceted eyes. Then she stretched out her arms, and a plump carcass immediately fell on them.

- Wow, how Diar fed you, - I was pleasantly surprised, hugging the spider.

Dasha and Kriona were still standing aside, looking at us with restrained bewilderment.

They didn’t fear the good in Anli-Gissar, but they didn’t say that they were especially welcome. Is that Diar and Alishin talked with pleasure and even took them for walks.

Well, I tried to diversify our existence. True, lately the spider has slept a lot, and it was not possible to call her. Lilada herself vaguely explained the dream with mysterious "new stages and steps of development."

- Are you for the basket that you asked me to cook? - the incredibly young-looking foreman raised a copper eyebrow. Absurdly peaceful looking in the kitchen, in an apron and while cooking.

“Got it,” heylar muttered. Putting the knife aside, he rushed to another part of the kitchen with a swift, almost invisible movement, then back to us and held out a wicker basket: - Here. Everything is as agreed.

- Thank you! - I smiled happily, putting the chondria on the floor and taking the boy's load. - You are the best!

- I know, - he winked mischievously. green eye... - But it's still nice.

Then he returned to the table, throwing on the go:

- Don't be late for dinner! Daria, this is especially true for you.

- But the fact that? The curl laughed, tossing a curl of hair out of her eyes.

- Otherwise, like last time - I will find you and bring you personally. And as a little I will feed from a spoon, - Diar replied calmly and shook his head, discarding the long copper strands. - Let you be ashamed. But you will start thinking about health. At least take an example from your girlfriends! They have never been late!

He cooked amazingly, and therefore were not late.

Well, this is me for myself.

“Understood,” the migrant snorted and went out the door muttering: “Here is a red hen.

- I hear everything! - Diar did not remain silent.

Kree could not help smiling and went out after the little man, and I squatted down next to Lada and asked:

- You don’t want to join us?

“Nope,” she yawned. - I'll go to bed.

- Again?!

- So what? - the "daughter" flashed with displeasure with crimson eyes. - I would like to!

“Okay, okay,” I backed down and, leaning forward, gently stroked her silky back. - Then I ran away.

Saying goodbye to the ten's manager and chondria, I jumped out into the corridor to my friends.

- Well ... let's go?

And we moved to the stairs to the third level, subconsciously choosing the corridors for official use. I didn't want to see otherworldly beautiful halls now. They were incredible, but alien.

A few minutes later, the silence was broken by the Kree:

“Diar is so ... weird.

- Really? I frowned. I rarely contacted the green-eyed saffron milk cap, usually in charge of the kitchen, although he perceived me well. However, all the foremen were loyal to us, despite the fact that Kriona and I were pure-blooded dragons. - And he seemed to me just the most normal.

Here our healer of souls giggled nervously.

- Yes, if only, - Daria threw up her hands. - If! He's just very emotional, which is why you got that impression. But in fact, Diar is an extremely interesting young man.

- And what then? - Kryona snorted ironically.

In principle, I shared her doubts.

The red-haired boy looked like a teenager. But from agreeing with the opinion of the Kree, I was restrained by the realization that, firstly, he was a heilar, and secondly, a foreman.

“He’s a poisoner,” the migrant replied nonchalantly. - An almost brilliant alchemist who dearly loves all kinds of poisons. Especially their invention and testing. Recently I lamented that there are almost no living creatures in the city. Besides, there is no material in the laboratory. So out of boredom, I started cooking.

I don’t know about my friends, but for some reason my appetite suddenly disappeared!

- How is it - a poisoner? But why is he then ... is the boss in the kitchen?

- Says, the principle of work is similar, - Dasha shrugged her shoulders and burst out, looking at us: - Girls, you have such-a-a-ky faces!

- What news, such and such faces, - the red-haired dragon twitched nervously and carefully clarified: - Dash, and he is not too keen on experiments ...?

“Don't worry,” our curly-haired optimist patted her on the shoulder. - He first tests on the Lada, and then gives us!

- What-oh-oh-oh ?! - here I was already indignant. - He's poisoning Ladka ?!

“You’ll poison your spider,” the healer grunted and finished in a soothing tone: “Ira, it’s extremely problematic to kill chondria, and yours is also a hybrid unknown to science.

- By the way, about the unknown to science, - I was again wary. - And this brilliant redhead doesn’t dissect my "daughter" inadvertently?

“I talked to him on this topic,” Daria brushed aside. - He said that genetics and biology are not his profile. That is, it is interesting, of course, but it is more useful to him in a living form. Observe how it reacts to different substances, for example ...

- So what does he feed her?

- The same as us, do not worry so! She also eats what she catches on the outer levels. Alishin recently took her on a hunt, taught her to track down prey and throw herself.

I tried to imagine it. Fantasy passed.

- Irka, stop worrying, - Kryona ruffled my hair. - Nothing will happen to your misunderstanding.

- Okay - not a misunderstanding, - looked offendedly at her friend.

- I am generally surprised by your attitude towards her! So is the Heylar attitude.

I grinned sadly and, throwing the weighty basket into my other hand, said:

- Everything is clear here. Remember who our tailed beasts are. Also ... an artificial creation. So they have more in common with Lilada than it might seem at first glance.

By the way ... Considering that Lallin has reappeared on the horizon, you need to be careful and, if possible, not show my chondria to the wondrous. Unlike Diar, the fae are just a geneticist. An ingenious geneticist, the creator of heylars. And I really don't want him to be interested in my spider. If only because if he wants to get it, he will. Regrettable as it is to realize this.

I shook my head, realizing that indulging in decadent thoughts is the last thing. Moreover, there are no prerequisites for fears yet.

- Well, - she turned to the girls, - let's go to the upper boxes and balconies, right?

- Come on, - Dasha agreed and closed her eyes dreamily. - From there a stunning view of Anli-Gissar!

“Arvil used the features of the inner relief of mountains and emptiness,” I began with inspiration. “There are many things that fit perfectly into natural caves. And some, on the contrary, are of artificial origin. It is incredible that such a magnificent creation could be created in less than a hundred years, and even with such small forces!

- Irka, stop! The redhead raised her palms with a laugh. - We are tired of hearing the praises of your Centurion. He is, of course, a brilliant architect, but curb your ardor! - She winked and pinned: - Some actually have a husband!

- Well, you, - looked offendedly at the dragon. - It's just that, unlike some of the foremen who are fixated on weapons and combat skill, I primarily pay attention to the aesthetic beauty of this place!

- And his master!

- Kree ... - I squinted badly. - Yes, Arvil is an interesting man. And yes, he is dear to me. But, thank God, there is no physical cravings. And I am extremely happy about this, because otherwise everything would be very, very bad. I am so strongly attached to him, even without the bodily side of the relationship.

- I confessed.

- What to hide? - I shrugged my shoulders, ran my fingers through my hair, tugging slightly at the roots, and with feigned calmness asked: - But I don't need to say now for the tenth time that I don't like Veila, okay?

“And I didn’t plan,” muttered the fiery one, apparently at a loss from such an emotional response. - Ir, calm down.

I just nodded and quickened my pace, squeezing my hand on the wicker frame of the basket. And strength for a good cause, and I will not say anything. Benefit everywhere! What if everyone and everyone is poking their noses into Veil and I’s business ?! Who would I become if I changed men just because in a relationship with one suddenly difficulties arose?

As a result, we got to the upper platforms in almost oppressive silence. I somewhat regretted my excessive emotionality, but ... And really tired! This is my business, my family, my life!

When we finally got upstairs, I put the basket down and walked to the edge of the semicircular balcony without railings. I was not afraid to fall. Firstly, I am a dragon, and you can fall here for so long that I will have time to spread my wings. Hundreds of meters ... Secondly, nobody canceled the power barrier.

She reached out her hand and admired the iridescent glow that spread around her palm, touching something invisible. Beautiful ... Everything is beautiful. Space ahead, hundreds of meters to the next wall of natural stone... So gray and inconspicuous that you involuntarily begin to understand: he only sets off something. Butterflies and fireflies that circle the ceiling around large oval "suns", sparkling with different shades of yellow and orange. Colonies of greedy moths.

Extremely rewarding creatures that light up this huge flight arena. They feed on underground moss that grows just on their hives and absorbs the outer shell of the house. Such is the symbiosis in the outlandish underground world of my Sleeper.

The flashbacks led to the details of the encounter with the faeries. I reached into my pocket and fumbled for Tylin's pouch. She pulled it out and stepped over to her friends, who had spread the blanket on the stones and were already laying out the supplies that Diar had given out.

- Dasha, here they gave you a present.

- Yes? - the smiling healer jumped up. - Who?

“Tylin Cast Gold,” I said after a moment, and held out the fairy bag.

A smile escaped Dasha's face, but she took the bag. However, she was in no hurry to untie.

- And what's there?

- As I understood, some kind of amulet, - responded, sitting down on the edge of the bedspread and predatory looking at what the red-haired poisoner was generous with.

And he spoiled us! However, in the light of new facts about this "boy", I began to be somewhat wary of his gifts.

- Properties? - Dasha became unusually short and thoughtful. She seemed to understand as well as I did that a simple gift from the Prince of Fairies was something from the realm of fairy tales. In theory, yes, but in practice, it's funny.

- I do not know. I looked around our makeshift table and reached for the ham sandwiches.

- Don't you know how it is? - the migrant was puzzled.

- So this, - I answered a little indistinctly, putting my teeth into the chosen yummy. We, of course, are not on a starvation diet, but still the diet is somewhat limited. And now Diar is generous in earnest! And sandwiches, and a variety of them, and smoked chicken, and many, many fruits! In short, I changed my mind to torture the red-haired heylar. First we will interrogate, and then we will think about what to do!

In general ... the first time I saw him in the portrait gallery of foremen. And, I remember, she was surprised how Sheridan portrayed him: a herbalist and alchemist in search of new ingredients. But Diar really turned out to be just that. Even the service for an unknown villain, everything that Diar did on his orders, did not change the alchemist.

Although ... And what did he do that he didn’t have to do before? A picture from Ara's memories of the "upbringing" of the tailed beasts flashed before my inner gaze, and a nervous shiver went through me inevitably. Fuh ... I won't even think about it. It's incomprehensible. I do not understand them, too heavy a load on my shoulders. They are completely different. Not just for the healer - even for me.

How Dasha manages - I can’t put my mind to it. Although ... judging by her speeches, she can't cope. It turns out that you need to talk to Arville on this topic. But where did I get the idea that he would answer me if he left the healer with his nose, whom this directly touches?

- Irya-i-i-yan-ah ?!

- Oh, sorry, I thought, - smiled guiltily at her friends and reached for a bottle of water and a mug. The water was local, from underground mineral springs.

- I asked what you yourself can see in this tsatka? - Dasha repeated patiently, turning in her hands the decoration already taken out of the bag.

- I made fun, - I snorted, glancing condescendingly at my friend. - Dash, I'm like a magician - zero without a wand. Yes, and with Alishin, we have just begun to study. Whom to show is to him. If I were more savvy in magic, I would still not have understood anything, because on the pendant is the weaving of the Prince of the Fairies. A magician of the old school. He uses what was forgotten even before I was born.

Dasha sighed sadly and suddenly admitted:

“I don’t know why, but I don’t want to show Alishin.

- Yes? - raised a red eyebrow Kryon and unexpectedly seriously suggested: - And it seems to me, you know.

- I know, - the migrant easily agreed and, grimacing in annoyance, finished: - I myself understand the idiocy of motives, but ... there are fears.

- Can you explain it? - Princess of the Fiery Valley of Dragons is clearly tired of riddles.

“Alishin is a heylar,” our curly-haired woman told the obvious. - Moreover, the foreman ... And a strong magician. Can I remind you what Tylin Cast Gold did in the Heylar project? And what did he do with one of the last created children of this people?

- Are you leading to the fact that Alishin will try to get Ty through this amusing thing?

- Right. It seems to me that killing this faerie is extremely short-sighted now. - Daria pulled her knees up to her chest and put her chin on them.

I internally winced at such a cynical wording, but agreed with its reasonableness. Yes, and Dasha can be understood, considering what Tylin was going to do with her. The fate of the wondrous lord's toy is unenviable. If only because sooner or later he will get tired and leave ... And the little man will be unbearably painful to learn to live without him. Faeries fill life, occupy thoughts, leave no room even for yourself.

- What makes you think that Alishin will do it at all? - Kri's eyes widened in bewilderment. - He's not an idiot ...

“Not an idiot,” the healer repeated and finished in a half-whisper: “Kryona, imagine that in your hands is the opportunity to take revenge on the enemy. The one who tortured and tormented, the one whose brother created this cursed race, dooming the Heylars to the fact that they passed. The ten's manager, of course, understands everything, but he may well ... succumb to temptation. He hates wondrous people fiercely. As well as dragons. I heard the conversation between Arvil and the foremen immediately after he summoned them. So ... Alishin argued that now that the Centurion's plan had succeeded, they could kill the completely useless Iryana, and send the Fiery Princess home in parts if the dragons did not obey their terms. Diar was more humane. Irka was offered to painlessly poison and send her hubby in a crystal sarcophagus. He figured it would look more elegant.

I don't know about Kriona, but my jaw dropped. I hurriedly reached for a glass of water, wanting to wash down the terrific news of the true attitude of the owners of the enchanted city. She choked and coughed violently, and therefore Kryona slapped me on the back a couple of times. By the way, she looked surprisingly calm and calm.

- Expected. They could not immediately perceive us as they show. Another point in favor of the tailed beasts. They keep themselves perfectly in hand.

“Then Arvil remains,” I said, breaking off a chicken leg and looking at the meat suspiciously. After Dasha's story, I still wanted to taste the gift of the red-haired poisoner-culinary specialist, but it caused some fears.

- Arvil, of course, is an option. But I feel uncomfortable taking him out of business. The centurion hardly sleeps a couple of hours a day, which, I must admit, worries me, ”the blonde healer frowned. - He didn't look better. And he trains almost to the point of exhaustion.

I winced, realizing that Dasha knows more about the Heilars and their master than Kriona and I. Although ... she most of all communicates with them.

- So, girls! - Kree cut the apple decisively. - It seems to me that we are loaded again not on business. Or rather, not in our business. And it also seems that we went here to rest, relax and share GOOD news. But somehow everything is not going according to plan!

“I agree,” Dasha and I said in unison and, exchanging glances, laughed.

- Well, it's more fun, - the redhead nodded approvingly and, breaking a wing off the chicken, looked at him with the same suspicion that I had recently. - Well ... with God!

The brave warrior maiden took a bite and, after a moment, rolled her eyes with delight.

- Yummy!

Dasha and I decided to keep up and followed the contagious example of our fiery dragon.

A dozen minutes later, the situation was defused, and a sincere laughter sounded under the stone vaults. And after a dozen minutes we even regretted that our only drink was water and fruit drink. The first thought about the need for alcohol for a bachelorette party was expressed by Kryona.

“We’re something like little ones,” she said thoughtfully, tilting the jug and examining the juice remaining at the bottom. - Now would be some wine ...

I wasn’t an expert in drinking from the word “not at all”. I didn’t like its taste, except for some more or less tolerant varieties, I was in a state of light intoxication only once, and I don’t say that I really liked it. Later. It was very funny during that time!

Dasha scratched the tip of her nose and said:

- In general, the Kree are right.

- And what do you suggest? - I gave up. - If Diara does have alcohol, he will definitely not give it to us.

“He won't,” the redhead agreed sadly. - Even if I managed to give out: "I will not allow poisoning a young organism!" - what will tell you? And I'm the eldest, by the way!

- And even an adult, - I giggled and thought. - By the way, I will also have my second majority soon.

- In theory, this is a reason ...

- Well, yes, - we looked at each other.

The conversation about how we plan to celebrate the upcoming holiday broke off in a very peculiar way. There was a chuckle from the ceiling, and we looked around in surprise. A stone a few meters away from us began to ripple, and an interesting bend, which I previously took for architectural features, turned into a black heylara with purple eyes.

- Arvil, well, you and! .. - I could not resist the first. She spoke laconically, did not find any censorship expressions: - You are shameless, here.

- I actually slept here, - the beast waved a long scaly tail with a tassel.

- Here?! - Dasha exclaimed. - But why?

Heylar slid forward like a shadow. Barely audibly gritted the claws with which he clung to the irregularities of the arch. When I reached our balcony, gracefully stacked on the floor. Grace and economical elegance of movements made me envy fleetingly. Arvil, on the other hand, collapsed on the free side of the bedspread and put his muzzle on his folded paws.

- Because here is one of the energy sources. Strengths are restored faster.

Here I still could not stand it.

- Ar, if I'm not mistaken, there is a completely normal stone slab on the level above, on which you can lie down and not pretend to be a giant-scale bat.

Violet eyes narrowed slyly. Heilar spread his wings a little and inquired:

- And what am I bad for this role? Black, flying and I can hang from the ceiling.

- Muzzle without a patch, - muttered Dasha and reached for the apple. She sank her teeth into him, chewing what she had bitten off, demanded: - Mr. Sotnik, can we do it without evasions and noodles on our ears?

“You can,” the black beast agreed docilely. - But boring.

- Harm, - I smiled and crawled closer, running my hands into the silky mane. - Prehistoric miracle-yudo.

- What is.

A tail brush tickled my hand, and I giggled and grabbed it, wrapping it around my fingers. Then I threw a casual glance at my friends, and I felt uneasy. They very much ... looked understandingly. About the same as recently, when they talked about our relationship with Arvil.

Here I was simultaneously visited by two completely polar desires. The first is to move away and pretend that nothing happened and “it seemed to everyone”. Second ... Why should I give up who I am attached to ?! I have ANYONE closer! Simply no! Mother, father, brother ... no one remembered me during the months of marriage! Veil ... This is a separate conversation. And I am sure that everything will be fine with us.

Arvil is my friend and kindred creature. He knows me more than these girls, because the time we spent together was very productive. Yes, and a moral attachment ... And therefore, let everyone go ... to places not so distant.

I clasped my fingers tighter on the heylar's fur, looking defiantly at Daria and Kriona. The girlfriends, as if realizing why I behaved this way, only smiled, and Dasha returned to the conversation with feigned cheerfulness:

- So why did you sleep here?

- Combined business with pleasure. Heilar reached for the fruit basket and fished out an apple. Critically twisted the fruit in his paw and threw it into his mouth. - There is energy here, well, I trained at the same time. The first time the experiment ended in a fall. I rent ...

- What did you want? - I shrugged my shoulders and, succumbing to an infectious example, also rummaged in the basket, fishing out a pear.

- And I, like any maximalist, wanted the body not to change during sleep, but ideally - to become stronger, - Sotnik grunted. - By the way, I really became stronger. So, Irka ... if you want to increase your magical potential, go into hibernation for a couple of millennia! Checked!

“Ulcer,” she shook her head and took up the pear, which turned out to be very juicy and tasty. - By the way, what are our plans? And when will you meet with ... the faerie brothers?

- What kind of "brothers" ?! - Dashka and Kriona asked almost in unison.

- Tylene has younger brother Arvil replied calmly. - Scientist-geneticist. Who once created us.

- And what business can you have with him in this case? - the red-haired dragon has become interested.

“Exclusively political,” the winged lizard grunted sadly. - Unfortunately, Daria's fan is right. No one will be able to legalize a creation in the same way as its creator. And if it's also an ancient faerie ...

“Can't you get by with Ty alone?” - the migrant frowned. - And ... knowing your attitude to the marvelous, surprised.

"Attitude is attitude," Arvil nodded. - A necessity is a necessity.

“You know better,” the healer immediately retreated.

The tailed beast turned to me and muttered thoughtfully:

- But you really need to cook. Tylene insists that you be on the embassy.

- He sees potential in me!

- I can see it too. But this does not negate the fact that it is too early for you to meddle in the sphere of higher politics. And there is no need to cite papa as an example, Irka! I can remind you at what age he began his diplomatic career.

- But mom ...

- And your mother began to meddle in the affairs of her husband only after she gave birth to her first child and received a second education, - snapped Arvil and looked at me softer: - But, as I said, there is no particular choice. And in some ways, Tylin is right. Taking my inadequate is the last thing. Unfortunately, I am not sure of their self-control.

- So, I will be silent and not stick out, which cannot be said about the foremen, who are accustomed to freedom and equality while you were sleeping? - I inquired insinuatingly, trying not to smile too ironically.

Who should the fiery dragon Iryana choose: the black Centurion of the Heilars or the red dragon, evil because of the escape of her beloved wife? Or maybe to surrender to training, work and politics, leaving men to independently solve the problem of winning a lover? After all, the Heylar race needs allies, and all the knowledge of the diplomat's daughter must be applied to protect the ancient city and keep dragons, fairies and Sleepers from old hatred. Will Iryana manage to create a new union or an unknown puppeteer, sowing death with the hands of the Heylars, will break the hopes for peace and love?

A series: Witchcraft worlds

* * *

company liters.

We did not walk hand in hand for long. Only to one of the main corridors, in which Ar quickly hugged me and, again kissing me on the forehead, said:

- Irish, I have things to do.

“Go, of course,” I sighed. I did not want to part with the Sleeper.

She looked after her sadly, realizing that the problems were far from resolved. I am selfish. Malicious. I myself would have to limit my communication with Arvil, knowing about his attitude. But I don’t do it ... On the contrary, I challenge him to talk.

The husband is sorely lacking. And me, and ... Arvil. It's one thing to know, in theory, that a girl is busy. And another thing is to see her with her legal spouse.

I need to talk to Arvil about my desire to leave Anli-Gissar and meet Veil. Maybe this time he will? There used to be one hundred and one reasons why not. And it is dangerous, and they can enter the city, and in general ... And here, in addition to the heavily armed Heilars, there are also defenseless us.

Of course, I am not a trump card, but I am not a six in our deck either. Trump cards - Kriona and Daria. The first is political, and the second can manage to get Ara's subordinates out of that psychological abyss where they have been wandering all their lives. True, how to do this if the tailed beasts consider such a state to be the norm? Great question. Hmmm, I don’t envy the healer. Moreover, Dasha's experience is almost zero, and she has no education yet. Acts exclusively on intuition.

The Joker is Lallin. No matter how the Centurion tried to deny it. Well, Tylin. True, this one is rather an ace. I smiled at the thoughts and the specifics of the alignment. Yes, something from the cycle of events began to go beyond your mind completely, Iryana.

Slowly she walked forward, mechanically noting the beauty of the patterned plates under her feet. Gray granite with a burnt pattern, woven by an outlandish vine, strove farther and farther, capturing even the lower part of the walls, which were also about one third light. Towards the middle, they turned blue, and the vaulted ceilings generally seemed to be a midnight blue aventurine sky with softly flickering sparks from distant stars.

In Anli-Gissar, a lot is decorated with aventurine of different colors. Probably Arvil loves this stone. Or the explanation is even simpler: Anli-Gissar was built on the site of large deposits of aventurine. I always romanticize everything.

She laughed quietly and, succumbing to a childish impulse, continued to walk along the corridor already in zigzags, as she walked only along the black strip of the "vine".

My teacher, Alishin, said that this beautiful pattern is not simple. When the city is in defense mode, the innocent drawing turns into one of the defensive means. Becomes material and independent enough to kill.

He said that then ... when dragons and fairies with a curator came for the heilars, there were several hundred of them. Several dozen reached the main hall, the rest remained lying in the corridors of the city. The city that Arville built. How alike they are, the Centurion and Anli-Gissar!

A beautiful city, and I want to be here to the thrill in my chest. While I am here, the feeling of a miracle and the fact that everything will certainly be good and no less interesting does not leave me. A magical city and its completely magical master. And the same subordinates. We have fun!

Now I was walking towards the training room. Two hours of torment with Alishin lay ahead. It is in the halls that this reptile comes off so that I almost crawl out of there. But the practical lessons are simply delightful and, one might say, exclusive. Few people get this. But more on that later. And now…

- Good afternoon, mentor. “I greeted a Heylar approaching from the other end of the corridor.

He just nodded and we went to the training room.

- Today we have a levitation and a replay of the basics of healing, which you have already learned.

- Clear!

- Fine. Well ... - Alishin looked at me attentively and, closing his eyes, slowly soared above the floor. - Repeat.

I repeated it. I felt the sensation of weightlessness envelop my body and smiled happily, opening my eyes. I stumbled upon the skeptical glance of a fair-haired tailed beast, who calmly said:

- Three two one. Shmyak!

I widened my eyes in confusion, and then ... then there was a "shmyak".

- A-a-ah! She howled, clutching at the painful ankle.

“The loss of concentration at such a height has a negative effect on physical health,” Alishin stated calmly, smoothly sinking to the floor. Clasping his hands behind his back, the heylar walked around me in a circle. - In what and when did you make a mistake?

- I was delighted early, - I hissed, trying to get rid of the pain and turn off pain impulses in order to calmly heal my leg.

“That's right,” Alishin nodded calmly. - Iryana, you need to celebrate the victory, standing with both feet on the ground, and not hovering in the skies.

“I understand,” she nodded obediently and hissed, because instead of removing the pain, I intensified it. Two times.

- What's happened? - the teacher sighed wearily and squatted down next to him. - Do we remove the pain? That's right, that's right. But why are you acting on the wrong receptors? And why is it here? Baby, everything starts in the brain. Block there.

- I'm not that confident in myself. I will block something else ... Yes, you yourself said that this practice is appropriate only for your own healing. But if it is necessary to treat a stranger, the effect is local, on the affected area itself.

“There is a reason in your words,” the foreman was forced to admit and continued to calmly instruct: “Look, we are pinching this nerve, and now we are not allowing swelling and inflammation to develop. We accelerate regeneration and slightly weaken the blockade on pain receptors. Oops! Almost done. Now even no intervention is needed: everything will weaken and dissolve by itself.

I moved my leg and voiced the sensations:

- Does not hurt.

“And it won't,” Alishin pleased, and then took off to hover for a moment and ... fall down! My jaw also collapsed, apparently following my mentor's infectious example.

- Alishin, are you all right?

“Of course not,” the Heylar looked at me with distant surprise, twitching his tail nervously. Then he bent down and rolled up his trouser leg, revealing an ankle that was reddened and began to swell. He stirred, grimaced and looked at me demandingly: - Now repeat everything that I just did. You have a minute and a half for this!

- W-w-why one and a half ?! - I asked stammering, frantically trying to remember what and how he did with my leg.

- Because afterwards I will heal myself, - Alishin answered with some arrogance in his eyes. - And you have to fall again. It's unpleasant for me ...

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo And I once thought dragons and fairies were eccentric creatures? Intolerable creatures? Yes. She was right! But then I still did not know what a cross between dragons and fairies! Now I know. The final result never ceases to amaze.

- Iryana, I would really ask you to hurry up, - impeccably polite heylar pulled me out of my mental stupor. “Although… I was wrong.

- In what? I asked, somehow very doomed.

- You have at least four minutes! - said the blond freak happily. - It seems there is a crack in the bone!

- Chu-oo-oo-gum! - I was “happy” together with the victim. - Only you haven’t shown how to fusion bone tissue!

- Indeed, - he looked at me predatory and generously offered: - An arm or a leg?

- Your neck! - I barked, jumping back just in case. - Or a skull. Maybe it will somehow affect.

“It certainly will,” Al nodded gravely. - You know that damage of this nature ...

- Stop, - I raised my palms and sat down next to the injured part of the body of my original tailed trainer. - Is the principle almost the same as for the healing of muscle mass?

- A slightly different vector of strength, - the foreman stared at me with curiosity. - Would you dare to try?

- Yes, - I decided and focused on the magical effect.

- I ask you to remember about the dosage of energy, since too much bone growths may appear, which are removed only surgically. And of the doctors we only have Diar, and even that one is more likely to be amputated.

I couldn't find the words. Even obscene.

In the end, everything ended well. Alishin left on foot, saying that he was happy with me today. I left, holding on to the wall, with shaking knees and feeling a very great need for a sedative. However, everything was not so bad, and therefore I chose another antidepressant. Dream.

Creator, well, what are they ... You can't even call them cynical! These are their realities. Another life, other values. And I am a guest in their house. I should be silent if I am jarred. I have to adapt to the owners. Which is what I am doing.

I'm honestly trying to do it.

The next day, my schedule reads positively: “Meeting with friends. One joke". This was extremely pleasing, and even slightly ennobled the surrounding reality. So I went to Dasha right after another conversation between the fairies and Arvil, who discussed matters and problems, the essence of which I had not really grasped.

My head ached from overexertion, and I decided to walk in a roundabout way. As you know, "legs in motion - the brain at rest." And the beautiful Anli-Gissar acts soothingly, despite its otherworldly charm.

To get to Dashka’s study, I had to go down from the fourth, external level, where I was now, to the second. There were Anli-Gissar's private rooms and lounges. On the third - training rooms, reception rooms, armories, portrait galleries, and so on. In short, everything that was intended for general use. That’s very, very common.

True, I didn't want to remember about portraits, mosaics and other paintings. Too ... chilly with the memories of what was hidden behind the black and white images. From danger and hatred that did not leave the Heylars even after death.

Finally I went to one of the platforms and ran down the sparkling alabaster-agate staircase. The first steps and railings were so black that they seemed invisible in the surrounding twilight. I boldly took a step, feeling the support and fleetingly rejoicing in its presence. One, two, three ... then the snow-white steps began. Because of this architectural technique, one got the impression that a snow-white sparkling staircase without supports and railings was just hanging over an abyss.

I quickly passed this miracle, trying not to rummage in my memory about the role of the black and white beauty in the defense of the city. Tailed paranoid! They have everything here, absolutely everything is not just like that!

But here's the destination. The second level is not as frighteningly beautiful as the others. Just residential. I walked past a spacious corridor lined with the usual light peach marble. The road to the first level, in the heart of the lost city. I was not allowed there, as were my friends. Arvil explained that it was "completely, completely uninteresting." And in general, we have already been there. Hall of memories, energy sources that feed Anli-Gissar and the control center for defense systems. In short, the Sleeper was lying. Interesting there. But they are not allowed. However, so far there were enough objects for study in addition to the first level.

At the end of the corridor, the door to the abode of our regular soul healer appeared. Approaching, I poked my nose into the office. I saw a sad Dasha and Alishin sitting opposite. Apparently, they were still dealing with the lady in trouble situation.

“And yet I don’t understand the correctness of transporting a useless wounded man who has nothing to do with us. I don’t understand why the sex characteristic gives any advantages ...

Dasha ran her fingers through her fluffy hair and said gloomily:

- Alishin, you will drive me into the coffin.

- No, - the foreman calmly replied, and in response to the healer's questioning glance, he explained: - I want to note that in view of where we are, it is shortsighted to bury in wooden boxes. Very soon they will become unusable. Therefore, if in the near future you plan to retire to another world, I advise you to choose a sarcophagus. Moreover, we have reserves. Choose which one you like!

Judging by the look of Dasha, she really wanted either to hit something with her head, or to attach a heylar.

- You feel bad? - With genuine concern the tailed one asked the groaning healer.

“No,” she replied grimly, looking up at him again.

I broke down and giggled, which caused both of them to turn towards the door.

“Good afternoon,” she nodded and knocked demonstratively. - Can?

- It is necessary, - Dasha nodded happily, who, apparently, was just happy to see me.

- Hello, Lieta Iryana, - Alishin got up and barely noticeably bent down in a slight bow. - I hope you remember that we have classes in the evening?

- I remember, - she nodded and turned to the migrant: - Dash, did you interfere?

- No, what are you. She hastily closed her books and notebooks. - We're almost done.

- Really? - Heylar raised a light eyebrow and looked at his watch. - Usually you torment me ... treat me for about an hour and a half. Much less has passed now.

“I’m talking with you, not flying,” the healer frowned and straightened the fluffy hair that had fallen over her eyes.

- Of course, - the tailed one nodded and got up. - I can go?

“Thank you,” Alishin thanked without a smile and, clearly, in a military manner, turned around and left. Dasha allowed herself to drop her head on the table with a thud and moan sadly: - Irka, what are they ...

Apparently, she did not find any further censorship words to describe the situation.

- Irka, did you hear ?! Am I torturing them ?! This is who is torturing whom!

“You can understand them too,” I said soothingly, sinking into the chair vacated by Alishin. - They are so accustomed and do not know otherwise. For hailars, this behavior is normal. I will say more: not only for them.

“I understand that,” her friend waved her hands and finished a little hastily: “I don’t understand otherwise. Why did Arvil hang all this on me ?! Well, he cannot but know what is the use of his undertaking to zero! There would be no harm yet ... Irka, they are different! Yes, you are all different here! Dragons, heylars, fairies ... what can I, an ordinary person do ?!

“He knows better,” she shrugged. - Ar would not do what he is not sure of. So I'm sure of you.

- They have a different psyche, - Daria rubbed her temples and tapped one of the volumes on the table with her finger. - I here studied the psychology of fairies and dragons, after all, our tailed beauties were mainly concocted from them. So that's it. What I previously thought was a serious deviation is just a slight eccentricity for a fae! Easy!

- Don't panic to begin with.

- I'm trying.

“Well done,” I held out my hand and squeezed the cold fingers of my interlocutor. - Dash, look for the positive. If you thought the situation was completely bad, and in the light of new information it turns out that everything is not so disgusting, then it’s already good.

“Not really,” our unfortunate woman shook her head. - There are all different directions, phenomena ... But it's fun to work with foremen - there is nowhere else to go. And ... I feel so useless!

“Nonsense,” I shook my head resolutely. - Everything will be fine. Of course, I did not know the same Alishin for long, but, in my opinion, in the first days he was completely, completely frozen. Better now.

- That's not the point. Irka, how can mature beings be inculcated with the norms of morality, ethics and the laws of society? Especially when you consider that completely different was invested in the Heylars? The exact opposite! All I can do is help to learn the basics like the rules of survival in a new environment. They will stick to it. As long as they remember and as long as they consider it necessary.

“Already an achievement,” I said quietly.

She nodded, absentmindedly sliding her finger along the spine of the book.

- Shall we follow Kriona? - I suggested after a while. “We don’t have much time, and we haven’t been able to meet for a day.” Someone is always busy.

The migrant rose with a sigh, and we set off in search of our fiery one.

The redhead was training in the gym with a couple of foremen. Rather, I honestly tried to do it, since the men for the most part allowed themselves to be beaten. If it was dropped, it was very carefully, and if it hit anything, it was soft. Needless to say, the dragon was almost smoking with anger?

Finally Kryona stopped, and a couple of foremen immediately froze nearby, carefully watching her. The sorceress dropped the long pole and barked:

- What kind of ice ballet we have again ?! I want to fight! Hard!

- Lieta Kriona, - one of the Heilars cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses that had slipped slightly, - if we fight hard, then you will not face active rest for some time ...

Kree looked offended and clasped her hands nervously.

- Well, how can I at least learn something if you treat me like a crystal vase ?! And you don't want to train!

“Because there’s no time,” heilar said softly, and the next moment the amulets on the foremen’s chests lit up, and they bowed out of the hall. Calling the Centurion.

- Genetically modified reptiles! - After making sure that the doors were tightly closed and she would not be heard, the redhead began to swear. - Tailed bastards!

- Well, why do you need so hard? - Dasha chuckled, leaning on the wall.

- Because I am a warrior! - shook the fiery curls of Kree and, picking up the pole, carried it to the counter. - A warrior, not a muslin girl! Girls, have you ever seen how the Heylars fight among themselves?

Daria and I shook our heads in unison. Somehow it wasn’t necessary, and our interests were in a different plane.

- They are incredibly skillful! - Kryona's eyes lit up with delight. - Awesome! Even Dorian is no match! And I want, really want to get even a little closer to their level!

- In order to clean the face of the ice fiancé when we meet?

“And that too,” Kree nodded grimly and waved her off. - But the main thing is different! The main thing is self-improvement! And they ... do not allow ... - And again childishly offended: - Tailed bastards ...

“Okay,” I chuckled and put my arm around my friend’s shoulders. - Let's go rob the kitchen and get out onto one of the upper balconies, as planned.

The friends looked at each other, and Dasha voiced a general idea:

- Everything would be fine, but how do you plan to take away part of Diara's reserves?

- Just ask! - I winked.

Very soon we went down one of the distant ladders and found ourselves in front of the door, behind which we could hear the rumble of pots and non-musical singing. I knocked and, opening the door, stuck my head into the gap.

- Hello, Diar.

A short, red-haired boy with bright, crazy green eyes waved his tail in greeting and called:

- Hi, Iryana. Come on in. Standing at the door is the last thing.

“I’m not alone,” she walked into the kitchen and dragged the restraining girls after her.

“Good afternoon, lady.” He waved the red tassel again as our cook's hands were busy. The guy was crushing carrots with inspiration.

- Hello, - the girlfriends responded in a discordant chorus.

- Where is Ladushka? - I shook my head, because I knew that the "daughter" from the moment this guy appeared firmly attached to him. Heylar didn't mind, though.

I myself did not spot anyone, but Ladka came to the rescue: a cheerful chirping came from the ceiling:

- I'm here, Iryana.

She threw back her head and smiled at the chondria glinting at me with its faceted eyes. Then she stretched out her arms, and a plump carcass immediately fell on them.

- Wow, how Diar fed you, - I was pleasantly surprised, hugging the spider.

Dasha and Kriona were still standing aside, looking at us with restrained bewilderment.

They didn’t fear the good in Anli-Gissar, but they didn’t say that they were especially welcome. Is that Diar and Alishin talked with pleasure and even took them for walks.

Well, I tried to diversify our existence. True, lately the spider has slept a lot, and it was not possible to call her. Lilada herself vaguely explained the dream with mysterious "new stages and steps of development."

- Are you for the basket that you asked me to cook? - the incredibly young-looking foreman raised a copper eyebrow. Absurdly peaceful looking in the kitchen, in an apron and while cooking.

“Got it,” heylar muttered. Putting the knife aside, he rushed to another part of the kitchen with a swift, almost invisible movement, then back to us and held out a wicker basket: - Here. Everything is as agreed.

- Thank you! - I smiled happily, putting the chondria on the floor and taking the boy's load. - You are the best!

“I know,” he winked a mischievous green eye. - But it's still nice.

Then he returned to the table, throwing on the go:

- Don't be late for dinner! Daria, this is especially true for you.

- But the fact that? The curl laughed, tossing a curl of hair out of her eyes.

- Otherwise, like last time - I will find you and bring you personally. And as a little I will feed from a spoon, - Diar replied calmly and shook his head, discarding the long copper strands. - Let you be ashamed. But you will start thinking about health. At least take an example from your girlfriends! They have never been late!

He cooked amazingly, and therefore were not late.

Well, this is me for myself.

“Understood,” the migrant snorted and went out the door muttering: “Here is a red hen.

- I hear everything! - Diar did not remain silent.

Kree could not help smiling and went out after the little man, and I squatted down next to Lada and asked:

- You don’t want to join us?

“Nope,” she yawned. - I'll go to bed.

- Again?!

- So what? - the "daughter" flashed with displeasure with crimson eyes. - I would like to!

“Okay, okay,” I backed down and, leaning forward, gently stroked her silky back. - Then I ran away.

Saying goodbye to the ten's manager and chondria, I jumped out into the corridor to my friends.

- Well ... let's go?

And we moved to the stairs to the third level, subconsciously choosing the corridors for official use. I didn't want to see otherworldly beautiful halls now. They were incredible, but alien.

* * *

The given introductory fragment of the book A happy dragon marriage. Find yourself (Alexandra Cherchen, 2017) provided by our book partner -

You explain very beautifully, ”the Sleeper began slowly,“ but what to do with the current situation, Iryan's pouring?

Talk, I replied calmly. - We should have done this a long time ago. For the rest ... - I laughed softly and put my hand on his hand, reassuringly squeezing it through the fabric of his shirt. - Ar, don't you think that we have things to do - fifty years ahead? And this is with the condition of almost complete absence of sleep and time "to eat". You yourself will soon forget about everything! Now we are sitting, gaining strength and thinking where to move. Then ... the whirlpool of events will whirl, and there will be no time left. Everything is back to normal.

Well, yes, - he smiled barely perceptibly and, screwing up his amethyst eyes, looked at the sun. - Soon we will have our first courtesy visit to the head of a neighboring state. And then many more interesting things. But first of all, you need to find the bastard who pulls the strings.

Everything would be fine if heilars were not used as puppets, - I sighed, finishing his thought. - And if in the wrong hands your soldiers did not kindle the fire of interracial war. Who are you dating? And why? And will they accept us?

I somewhat confused him with an abundance of questions, but Ar smiled, pulled me closer and said:

With Her Majesty Alexandra Vir Tolliman, Empress of the Primordial Empire. Only, baby ... Where will it "take us" from? With all due respect ... you will stay at Anli Gissar.

Do you remember who my father is? - I raised an eyebrow, trying to subdue the outburst of indignation at such a response. You need to be collected, restrained and dignified. - Arvil, my father is a very high-flying diplomat. And more than once he took me to official receptions while traveling. Of course, I did not attend the meetings, but ... knowledge is not lost, and blood is not water.

Iryana, you are a young dragon, - haylar patted my hair. - Not even an adult. Taking you to negotiations of this level is not the smartest move.

Okay, - I smiled dazzlingly. - Dear, do you really think that the place WHERE I fled to is a secret? Or a fight at the Lake of Fire, when a trio of girls opened a portal into the unknown? The unknown now given its name and owner? Are you really counting on not being asked where the Princess of Fire Valley and me are right now? I am the wife of Tsai Tirlin and I am my father's daughter!

Well? .. - asked the Sleeper gloomily.

Will you just let us go and wave your handkerchief? - I snorted skeptically, looking at him with irony.

Do you want to leave Anli-Gissar? - Ar raised a black eyebrow. - It seems to me that Kryona will give everything to stay here forever.

Don't shy away from the answer. If we want to go home ... you won't let us go. Isn't that right, my dear?

He gazed at me, his dark purple eyes narrowing and his lips subtly curling.

Speak, speak, Irie. It is interesting to listen to your speculations.

Rather, the conclusions. I shrugged my shoulders, threw off his hand and pulled back to see his face. - We are hostages. You won't let us go until you get what you want. All three of us are very comfortable. Well, maybe besides me. I guess I'm just ... you don't really need me. But Dasha and Kri ...

How smart you are at times, ”said Mr. Anli-Gissara with admiration and admiration.

Kriona is a princess, the bride of the heir to Ice Reach and ... the chosen one of the prince of the Undermountain Kingdom, ”I continued.

What makes you think Sebastian has serious feelings? I am sure that everything he wanted he got from her.

Maybe so, ”I nodded. - But he wants to return. Because she doesn't need HE. For the same reason, Dorian will turn the world around and make concessions to get the redhead back. She left him. Humiliated in the eyes of the light. With Daria, too, everything is simple ... applicants for her attention will do a lot and promise to get admission to your city, if she stays here.

If you understood everything, why did you drag the girls into my insidious nets? - Arvil twitched the corner of his mouth in a semblance of a smile.

Because your "networks" are better than their reality, - she laughed in response. - And because they wanted it. Kryona is ready to die so as not to return to the groom. Drow is nothing more than a hobby for her. Well, and a way to get what we needed. Combined business with pleasure. Daria… dreamed of treating. And now he is doing what he loves. You found something to buy girls.

And you? - the Sleeper squinted.

I also want to be useful, - swinging my legs, I said and suddenly confessed: - And I also want to learn. As soon as everything calms down a little, I will enter the Primordial Art Academy. One of the best.

Why not in the Dragon Valleys? And why are you so convinced that your spouse will allow? It seems to me, dear Irie, you have already forgotten a little about its presence. As well as the fact that Rinvale has exclusive rights to you, including a ban. Are you sure that after all the adventures, your husband will bless you for further ones, and not put you under lock and key?

I froze, biting my lip. To be honest, I didn't even think about this option. Weill seemed to understand everything, which means we will try to come to a consensus and solve the problem. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen each other since that last dream. But before that ... he really understood! She looked at Arville, watching tensely and replied:

I believe in him. And I love.

I would have believed myself, - advised Ar. - You don’t. And you understand that very well.

You know? - I jumped up and stared angrily at the tailed beast. - I'm sick of! I said a hundred times that I would stay with my husband. Love is work, precious! Tense. This is a search for compromises, concessions to each other ... and loyalty! Do you think if I stay with you it will be different? The same thing! At first, of course, no difficulties! And then you, like my husband, will push the "underage dragon" aside! You're already trying! - I threw up my hands and mimicked: - "There is no place for you", "You are little", "You do not know anything!"

Arvil rose in one smooth, fluid movement and stepped toward me, hugging me, stroking my head and whispering soothingly:

Well, you broke up so ... all is well.

So so. - I freed myself from his hands, because I really wanted to stay in them and hug him back. To distract myself from harmful desires, I decided to talk to one amusing topic. I thought of the list in my mind and began to enumerate: - You are still disgusting a politician, it should be noted. Look: the public knows that you have snatched us, and you have no right not to play these cards. You MUST benefit from this situation! Obliged, otherwise others will do it. You can't hide us. And also ... you need a diplomat. You are an excellent leader, but ... negotiation is not your path. Just like "games".

They made me so! - Heylar barked, eyes flashing. - Have you forgotten, or what ?! Yes, of course, I am primarily a warrior and commander!

And the foremen? Is there someone suitable among them?

Yes, - ruffled his hair a little calmed Sleeper. “But he’s dead, that’s the annoyance. Lizard.

I shivered as I remembered the ghostly heylar who nearly killed us during our trip to Anli Gissar.

It won't do, ”she shook her head. - He hates all living things, except for his people.

Self-control is at the right level, - objected the owner of the city. - If resurrected, it will do. He's strong ... mentally as well.

But what about the resurrection? - I was puzzled, because earlier I generally thought this was impossible.

If everything succeeds, I will find someone who will bring the necessary specialist, - explained the Centurion, throwing his head back to the sky and absentmindedly running his fingers along the collar of his shirt. - Moreover, we have the necessary materials and installations. All that is required is a soul guide and a connoisseur of ancient technology.

Well, wow "just"!

Okay, you know better, - she did not express her doubts aloud, especially since there were topics more important than personal showdowns. - How did you manage to negotiate an audience with Her Majesty? You can't get to her so easily. I don’t think that you, such beautiful-tailed ones, just showed up in the palace and demanded to appoint a time.

That's right, - Ar winced. - Tylin helped.

Oba, - I was amazed. - Do you communicate with him ?!

The Sleeper did not have time to answer. They did it for him.