Его не звали, но он приперся / They never called, yet he is here: Глава 16

Chapter 16

Camrad_RIP 18.07.22 в 20:51

If some brazen face, with truly divine stealth skills, could sneak into the living room of a remote farmhouse that stood in the middle of nowhere near the always quiet town where nothing ever happens, it would be a pretty ordinary sight. Our company resembled friends gathered over an evening cup of tea, rather than a sinister band of world power-grabbers and the destruction of the current government. The presence of the cheerfully smiling Taria in our circle was a little out of place in the image of the stern mercenaries resting after their labors of unrighteousness, but not too much - although her present attire of leather armor and sheaths of twin daggers also suggested that this beauty was not sitting here for anything.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 07:13

In general, we looked very ordinary and non-threatening, or, rather, threatening, but within the norm for this world. You couldn't even tell that the topic of our conversation was not women, money, and funny stories, but the most effective ways to attack what is probably the most protected object in the kingdom of Melareth. If the Royal Palace had more protection, it certainly didn't have such an amazing security system that not even a mouse could slip in. The same grandfather of our Chosen One of the Sky could crawl through the secret passages that permeated the royal residence like raisins on a muffin, but only mice and cockroaches could crawl freely in the Stone. And not everywhere and not always.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 07:18

The conversation had been going on for hours, and it wasn't going to stop anytime soon. Even the smell of the wine spilled on my face was already gone, especially after I ducked into The Shadow and wiped the stains off, but the topic of conversation remained the same. I couldn't say it was an impossible task at all. But if before I could easily choose from a variety of options "how could I do it", now I had to search for it as hard as I could and improve it to perfection. My habit of always being able to stop holding back and strike at full force had already let me down during the trouble in the Kraj, so I wasn't about to let myself enjoy a sense of superiority. Especially if it was entirely false.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 07:26

"What about those fearsome things you've got a knack for summoning?" Hans, rolling a massive gold coin lazily in his hands, and not of local coinage. "You want me to make a breakthrough into that hellhole of yours, and then let them have their fun while you do your business quickly? Sounds like a good idea to me."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 07:30

"Though I find the creatures whose will you restrain by bringing them into our world an abomination, I must support Hans's opinion." Losius, after thinking for a moment, gives me a sour look. "I don't feel pity for the people hiding in this fortress, whatever that may be."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 07:45

Yes, Locius, as the owner of a light class, finds my witchcraft as pleasant as a chalkboard squeak. No, he's perfectly in control, but he feels the same way next to me as I do next to him, using the energy of the Sky. Only if I am blinded and angry, he is literally stabbed - the consequence of the difference in power between us.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 08:30

As for the problem of compassion for the enemy, I'm not surprised at all. And no, the reason he was indifferent to the deaths of the king's warriors was not that he had seen the scenes I had shown of casual hunters and gatherers wandering into the protected territory. They were neither his men nor his subjects, and they knew that they disappeared too often in the Woods, and thus were aware of the risks. It was his family's backstory, which the somewhat enraged aristocrat had told me a little earlier.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 08:32

If anything, Taria, too sharp-tongued, had asked me exactly why he, Melareth's pillar, had agreed to cut the other pillar off so easily. The girl received a slap from both me and Hans, who, miraculously, showed some sense of tact and did not pry into her partner's soul. The duelist responded after a little hesitation, though the subject was unpleasant for him.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 08:40

As I said before, a good portion of House Asterium, which has withered away in the last two generations, perished in the war with Sorz. Which was won by the Melareth largely at the expense of "knight's lances," i.e., the personal squads of the feudal nobility and the young aristocracy. His majesty Arial the Third proved to be a very clever and far-sighted man. His father, Arial the Second, and his grandfather, who wore the prefix First, pursued a policy aimed at colonizing the Frontier as quickly as possible. They generously distributed titles in exchange for loyal service and the protection of the frontier from ever-increasing monsters and beasts. Where towns like the Kraj and tax-exempt free settlements of "free farmers" were the blade that cut open the wilderness underbelly, the petty nobility was the blade's handguard.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 08:43

It was they who ensured the settlement and economic development of the newly cleared territories. They had to develop the infrastructure, and they also got a large share of the cream of the pie. In fact, that was how the conflict between the Frontier Nobility and the Crown had arisen - or rather escalated, for it was never going away. The boys who had been given titles were no longer as useful as they had been before, but they were not about to give up their preferences and liberties either, even gently and not so gently as to ask for more and more.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 08:47

On this side, Aryal's decision was reasonable and even prudent. Accustomed to wealth and a steady flow of money, the provincial barons, caught out of business, began simply to siphon off all the juice from their lands. Sometimes even outright robbery. And what could they do, if the Frontier had moved far ahead, and no one wanted to follow it, leaving their cozy nests behind? Sometimes even outright plundering. That's why it happened that the unorganized squads, not even able to determine the chain of command, were hit by the main fist of seasoned sorz warriors. And they were smushed in the bloody pulp.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 08:54

Though the aristocratic hodgepodge had been badly shaken, they had done their job. They gave time for the King's troops, as well as the much larger and better-trained cohorts of the old aristocracy (who had long had their teeth in the upstarts, back when the frontier lands had not gone to the "old men" themselves, who also wanted extra coins), to get into position and break into the Sorz' flank. The Crown's losses were acceptable. The Sozs were shamed and retreated. The power of the still relatively young Arial was strengthened, and the "frontiersmen" who think too much about themselves, who had already begun to engage in strange dialogues about Arial's eligibility for his position were reduced in number.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 09:03

It was the right decision from the ruler's point of view. The watchdog nurtured by his ancestors began to growl at his master and torment his cattle. Their actions were slowly tearing the country apart, threatening to weaken it enough that it would cease to be. And the neighbors wouldn't hesitate to sponsor any rebellion, just to drink Melareth's blood. The king didn't give a shit about his people, but he valued his power, his land, and his taxes more than his life, so he responded harshly and effectively.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 09:04

Who cared about the fate of a very successful house that had managed, through the political maneuvers of Aryal the Third's ancestors, to rise quite high, sincerely wishing to serve the Crown and the King? They did not engage in sabotage, diligently exploiting their struggling lands and boosting the local economy. They did not withhold taxes, rob merchant caravans of all kinds of extortion, or whisper in corners about possible rebellion - they served.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 09:21

It's easy to bet money that they would have understood Arial's actions, even if they knew in advance that their hodgepodge was heading into a trap with the rest of their title-mates. Surely these guys would have agreed to volunteer to be the bait to help Melareth pull off a crushing victory.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 10:53

But after the victory, they find no glory, no honors, and no new rewards. They were rescued from the trap in which they themselves had entered, not caring about intelligence and failing to choose their commander-in-chief. They were rescued after their blatant incompetence in not following orders. And never mind the fact that a few of the disappearing detachments were killed by some very different sort of Sorz warriors, and the most powerful and talkative of the new aristocracy died in a very strange way. This is only a coincidence. The lack of new honors and titles is payback for the defeat they have caused themselves. They forced the King to risk his own life by leading his troops into battle. The taking away of some (most) of the lands already developed is a consequence of the fact that the number of Asterium surname bearers has diminished too much, making it impossible for them to maintain order in those lands any longer.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 11:01

And the old nobility had plenty of heirs, as well as bastards... Especially if those lands were not poor villages with scary peasants, but rather well-to-do settlements. And they had contracts with several trading houses for their wares. The Asteriems, as I've already said, have tried to develop their lands beyond the trade in monster flesh, and so have only risen even higher when the stream of finances from this sector has completely dried up.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 11:04

Father Losius had only one estate left in his possession, along with the adjoining land. There used to be three, plus another small but well-built fortress at the other end of the ridge. Yes, the plots were indeed quite fragmented in space, since the development of these lands was taken first in those places that would be convenient to defend. There used to be enough Asteriums to keep a garrison at each of the aforementioned points.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 11:05

The family, sharply thinned down to four able-bodied people (Holan, his wife Viria, the young Nathan and Cadmius, and the very young Lossius, who had just begun to walk and was therefore not counted) tried to say something. They tried to dispute their rights and even wrote letters to the Royal Office - the remnants of the connections of their dead parents, who had their representation in the capital, had repercussions. Instead of a reply, there was a robbery attack on the caravan in which Viria was returning home. The attack seemed random, according to the tortured leader of the bandits... But the murky assistant of this bandit, who gave a tip on this caravan, disappeared somewhere, and even the hired a lot of money specialists of the secret guard could not seize him.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 11:09

In general, Losius did not like royal authority, nor did his kin.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 11:10

There was a reason for that, to be quite honest because no one wants to suddenly find themselves in the column "allowable losses" and then move to the next column "waste material", having received such a fantastic reward for faithful service.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 11:10

All these thoughts raced through my head as I struggled to figure out how to present my answer carefully. And for me, alas, it was obvious and not at all as rosy as Hans had suggested.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 11:11

"No, it doesn't work. It's not that I can't summon a creature, not at all. I'm sure it takes time to summon powerful Shadows, and it requires a lot of my reserves, but if I don't have to worry about controlling and binding those summoned, and if I let them gobble up enemy fighters without having to worry about keeping them real, then it's a viable plan. They don't attack me first as long as there's plenty of prey around... most of the time. And I can probably whip the most vicious ones, the ones that want my blood."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 11:22

"So what's the problem?" Taria interrupted. "You seem to deny it, but at the same time you confirm it!"

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 11:23

"In the fortress itself." I ignored the accusing finger poked at me, continuing with my explanation. "Any attempt at summoning would literally shake reality. Our Adept of the Sky can tell you how hard it is to close the resulting wound on the body of the world. Also, this sort of thing is pretty easy to spot. No, in theory, I can make a call unnoticed, significantly reducing the fluctuations of the background and, consequently, the reaction of the signal systems to my actions, but then the call will not be fast and economical. And the most important thing is that as soon as there is even a single flash and we will be hit from the main calibers of the Stone. I tell you, I don't fucking know what kind of combat artifacts are there, but if their effect is half as good as the barriers that close the fortress, then I and the Shadows who haven't had time to get a foothold in reality will simply be vaporized."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 11:32

"Is it that serious?" Losius wondered.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 11:32

"Uh-huh, even more seriously." I'm just going to go along with it. "I told you before, my sense of intuition is blocked in every possible spectrum. So imagine the level of danger if I can sense even through all that protection."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 15:33

"Okey. And what about..."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 15:34

We argue to the point of grief and utter exhaustion, though it cannot be called an argument. The whole conversation is built on a particular application of the "devil's advocate. My comrades come up with various ideas, and I argue to them all that such an idea will not work and explain why this is so. Often I don't even have to open my mouth at all since the counterarguments were found without my direct involvement.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 15:35

"No, girl, you're overdoing it." Hans doesn't even slap her anymore, his face in his hands as if he's desperate to get some intelligence into Taria besides the dope she' has. "It's not like you're supposed to brainwash the common peasants and the common soldiers. I'm not arguing that your... your... ability, in short, can spell even such a wolf as a Royal Ranger should by definition be. But you won't get to him! And most importantly, even if Fortune herself kisses your ass, if you show your face to one, two, or three more will notice you. Even if we were taught to always keep an eye on our comrades, they've got it in their bones. As soon as they realize you've bewitched their brother, they'll stick an arrow or two in you. In the back, so as not to look at your charms."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 15:38

"It's possible to approach stealthily!" Taria seems ready to stand her ground to the last, unwilling to admit to herself that her "main arguments" may not be as absolute as she previously thought. "Or wait for them to relax!"

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 15:39

"They ain't gonna fuckin' relax while they're out in the field, dumbass!" The tracker yelled back. "They're the fucking elite! And even if a miracle happens and some individual fool start dreaming, how the fuck are you going to get there? How much do you have in stealth and silent stepping skills there? Do you have the skills to trick sensory abilities? You'll fucking die for nothing!"

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 17:11

Losius and I don't even try to change the girl's mind, so we leave it up to Hans. He, too, is a hard-headed man, no less than Taria herself, so he'll get her point across. No, her plan was interesting but too impossible to carry out. Getting past the traps and alarms, catching at least a couple of fives on relaxation and letting them watch the hypno-tits, then using the area of the perimeter controlled by the converted fighters as a support base, while using the former guards as cannon fodder is a great idea. And if Taria were a level thirtysomething, I'd probably even take a chance on her health, reasonably believing that she might make it, especially if I pumped her full of alchemy.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 17:13

Alas, it's just not possible for her to do that now, even if she had smashed herself to pieces. And she realizes this, but she is almost physically unable to give up her idea. It's not that she wants to pick people's brains; that's not the main reason. It's just that she is well aware that, because of her relative weakness, she will be the most useless fighting unit among us all. That's why she's depressed about it.

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 04:50

Okey.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 15:39

Now Hans will finish her off, after which we'll move on to further discussion.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.22 в 15:40

"Wait a minute, Tin!" Suddenly interrupts his monologue about the possible use of the forest fire as a distraction, Losius. "And why are we all so fixated on the enemy fighters without even thinking about the servants? As secret as this fortress is, I doubt that the local maids would have as impressive classes and levels as the army squads assembled in the lacuna. If your dream control abilities work the better the lower the victim's level, then servants become ideal targets. Even though it's a very ungracious move, do we have to worry about following the rules?"

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 04:53

"Exactly! That's it!" Hans is fiercely encouraging him. He's tired of having to prove to an aristocrat the dangers of forest fires, especially when they haven't reached your enemies yet, but they're right beside you. "No, you can't make them kill the commandant and his deputies. There are incomparable levels. But even a simple diversion can be useful, especially at the right moment. It's a gold mine, Tin! Tin? Tin, what are you thinking?"

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 04:55

And I really thought about it, coming to conclusions I didn't like at all. That's right - it will be much easier to rewire the brains of simple servants than of experienced warriors. Especially since there are some of the most necessary servants in the fortress, despite the secrecy. Let the duty soldiers be in charge of cleaning and cooking those of them who have developed the right skills, but the economic part in the officers' sections of the fortress was in charge of the usual servants. Mostly pretty girls and relatively young guys in a lighter version of the uniform, with the appropriate non-combat classes.

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 04:59

Many of the soldiers saw them, and some even tried to flirt with them. Some of the officers or interrogators even managed to have an affair despite all the prohibitions, regulations, and the attention of the Secret Guards (who were not without sin either). But there was one detail in all these clerks that I had not previously noticed, but which, when I discovered it, alarmed me greatly and involuntarily made me feel very f*cking uncomfortable:

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 05:01

"Because they're not sleeping." I almost screamed, turning my palms into the clawed paws of old Freddy, as if preparing to fight off the sudden attack of the inky-black pole that was aiming straight for my heart. "No fucking sleep at all. Not once in all the time I've been around, not one, not one."

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 05:03

The guys, who had seen my tension, and who were a bit overtired because of the slight (I flattered myself here) expression of panic on my face, also quickly began to prepare for the fight. Hans gripped his never-removable dagger tightly and reached for the belt with the blade that lay just to the side, while Losius was already starting to glow an annoying celestial blue. Taria drew two daggers at once, handling them faster than Hans!

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 05:05

"Okay. Calm down." It calms me down more than it calms them, but it helps them, too. "I'm nervous, but there's a reason. A very good fucking reason."

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 05:08

"Yeah, I agree! We've all heard your story about the shit that's going on in the Kraj. I've seen it with my own eyes, too, and if they're all like those freaks with their mouths all over their bodies, I'm ready to panic, too." Taria was joking, of course, but there was some truth to what she was saying that made me calm down and start thinking with my head instead of my instinctive impulses.

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 05:10

"Still no. No. I saw the dreams of those soldiers who were in close contact with the unsleepers." Beginning to speak. "Too close, if you know what I mean. And there was not a single trace of them, and their dreams remained perfectly clear. The abomination I had laid to rest in the Kraj would surely have left traces on the bodies, minds, and souls of such ridiculously caught idiots. So it's not another legendary creature, at least I sincerely hope not."

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 05:12

"Stop." Losius raises his hand. "I think I've read or heard of something very similar, but I can't remember when. It's from when I was partying in the capital, before my unfortunate duel and my retirement as a private archaeologist under the auspices of the Crown. I was more drunk than sober then, so I can't really remember."

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 05:21

"Do you want a drug to improve your memory?" I responded sympathetically, trying not to show that I'd noticed how much Losius was cringing at the way she acted and lived back then. "Even your infancy comes to mind, not to mention your later years. But be warned - that potion is highly toxic, so it's better to remember naturally."

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 05:23

"Can you get it out through dreams?" He's not interested in drinking a harmful potion, especially if the consequences are serious. "It's a work with memories after all."

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 05:25

"I can do it." I nod and begin to use Soaring in Dream, gradually enveloping myself and Losius, who had already gotten rid of the excess of Sky in his body, with the shaky energy of dreams. "Relax."

Camrad_RIP 20.07.22 в 05:26