Ойкумена / Oikumena: Глава 7

Chapter 7

Camrad_RIP 21.08.24 в 15:54

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Camrad_RIP 21.08.24 в 15:54

“We, cronies, friends, servants of Artigo the Indomitable and Ottovio the Valiant, those who had ignited the War of Wrath, we hated each other, fiercely, overpoweringly. But, amazingly, that same hatred brought us closer together. To destroy the enemy, we had to know his strengths and weaknesses, to know him better than a moneylender, who lends gold and studies his future debtor. And knowledge leads to understanding. And, in the end, the sworn enemy became closer and more understandable than another comrade-in-arms.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.24 в 18:19

My friends and my enemies have long since rested in their graves... those fortunate enough to have found a grave or crypt for a skull with God-fearing engraving. But in my memory, they are all but silent shadows now. Shadows that wait patiently beyond the brink of death to finally welcome the last soldier of long-dead armies into their ranks”

Camrad_RIP 21.08.24 в 18:20

++Gaval Sentry-Poton-Batleau.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.24 в 18:20

\\“A ninth letter to my son, about our enemies and hatred.”
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Camrad_RIP 21.08.24 в 18:04

"Wine?" Curzio was rather performing the ritual than asking, but the sudden answer confused him a little.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.24 в 20:25

"Water,” Yulo, the head of the Council of Gold and Silver, said dryly and coldly, like a killer winter wind.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.24 в 20:25

"Please,” Curzio thanked himself for his foresight and moderation. He drank little wine, preferring southern beer and pure water, so a carafe of water from the deep well was always within reach.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.24 в 20:26

The islander's tableware was inferior to Wartensleben's, of course, but it was also worthy of dignitaries, so there was no shame in handing Yulo an exquisite silver-braided glass. The woman took a slow and shallow sip, staring at Curzio with a heavy and impenetrable gaze. It looked truly evil and creepy, considering the woman's right eye was wide open and the left one was covered by turtle eyelids, and also visibly squinted. Yulo changed her habits and instead of a huge wig, with no less huge ribbon, she cut her hair almost bald, leaving only a short hedgehog. In public, the defiant hairstyle was concealed by a dainty cap, but now, in the afternoon sunlight, the first gray of her head was silvery.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.24 в 20:27

Why doesn't she fix her face with magic, Curzio thought? Yes, it's not cheap, to put it bluntly, not more than ten mages in the entire Ecumene can do it. But someone of her level could afford it. And, obeying a certain naiveté, the islander decided to break the long-standing tradition, as well as the pre-checked plan of heavy conversation. Curzio smiled slightly and asked bluntly:

Camrad_RIP 28.08.24 в 20:30

"Do you speak now as the head of your Council, as the extraordinary envoy of Saltoluchard, or as an old friend of mine?"

Camrad_RIP 28.08.24 в 20:29

"Frankly,” Yulo said with the same dryness as before, blinking her heavy eyelids like a wise turtle of the open sea. "And blunt. Not like you."

Camrad_RIP 28.08.24 в 20:31

"Alas,” Curzio replied with the same smile. "Perhaps I've been on the mainland too long and have been in contact with the people of the Great Land."

Camrad_RIP 29.08.24 в 21:02

"Yes. It has spoiled your manners,” Yulo agreed, tapping the tip of her long fingernail against the giant pearls gathered in an elaborate necklace.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.24 в 20:32

Curzio suddenly remembered that such curiosities were only obtained in very deep crevices, where predatory octopuses lived, and there was even an unspoken knowledge that each silver ball was paid for with the lives of at least three divers. In other words, Yulo has worn at least three dozen dead men around her long, graceful neck. This echoes the continental aristocracy's custom of wearing clothes made from the yarn of man-eating spiders.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.24 в 20:33

"Count me in three roles at once,” she continued, folding her arms across her stomach, covering the gold buckle of her woven belt.

Camrad_RIP 29.08.24 в 21:03

"It would be necessary to specify which spiritual substance prevails,” Curzio remarked. "But that would probably be unnecessary."

Camrad_RIP 29.08.24 в 21:04

"Exactly. But since we've accepted the decline of your manners as fact, I think I'll allow myself the luxury of-” Yulo wiggled her fingers in the air, as if selecting the right word from the dust dancing in the yellow light. "Straightness."

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 14:35

She stood up, rustling the precious fabric of her continental-style dress tailored in a straight silhouette, with no fancy bows or wide skirts that looked like loose sails. She approached a tall floor-to-ceiling glass window that spanned the entire wall of the large room. Curzio stood a little behind; he already knew he could see Yulo.

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 14:42

The Emperor had five residences traditionally named after the colors of the rainbow, and it was believed that the Lord of the World alternated between them according to mood, season, and general hardships. From Red - for festivities and days of general prosperity - to Purple intended to govern the realm in times of great calamity and war. Only three - Yellow, Green, and Blue - were actually used, the rest having been given over to archives and other auxiliary services of the Court for many years. One had become the center of the postal service, and the other had not long ago burned to the ground, reducing to ashes the account books of the great fairs of Milvess and the registry of the Crown's forests.

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 14:44

The young Emperor had chosen the Blue Palace as his residence for the time being, formally for the winter and in fulfillment of the mourning for his predecessor who had died prematurely. In fact, it was more of a house arrest, so the boy would not interfere with serious business and would be somewhere out of the way, but at the same time close to Milvess, in easy reach of couriers with papers for the highest approval and lordship's signature. The Blue Palace was smaller than the rest and looked more like some primator's manor house in a dense park. It was considered a “mournful” place, but Curzio liked it - relatively sparse, quiet, and a real forest around, though not a forest. Among other things, there was a good training ground with a small arena and a crossbow range. All the body arts could be practiced here, from horse racing to wrestling. But right now, the excellent destrier was bored, digging the sand of the arena with his hoof. The guards froze, halberds pointed toward the sky. On a green rectangle planted with a special “everlasting” grass, two figures were converging and diverging in a foot sword fight. The thick yet transparent glass muffled the clang of metal, so the fight was silent. It was obvious, however, that the smaller figure was very poor with his weapons, but he was trying hard.

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 15:16

Yulo watched the contraction and said without turning around:

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 15:20

"So? I'm ready to hear you out. And mind you, I'm not waiting for your excuses, I'm inviting you to speak up. Appreciate that and don't abuse the last few drops of my trust."

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 15:21

Curzio took a step back, hands behind his back. At such moments, the deliberate pretentiousness and uncomfortableness of Saltoluchard's ceremonial dress were particularly acute. It looked silly, too, considering that the woman was dressed in continental fashion.

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 15:22

"You know... It's funny," the man said. Curzio knew he was running on waves that weren't even covered in ice, but he decided: in this case, he could take a risk like Prince Gayot. If they expect one thing from you, do another, but carefully, without overdoing it.

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 16:12

"What's so funny about this?" the woman asked without turning around.

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 16:12

"How many years have passed…" Curzio said thoughtfully. "Once upon a time, a boy and a girl, and then a young man and a young woman dreamed. Alone, unwanted, outcasts in their own families. And where did those dreams lead? To the capital of the world. I would say it is poetic."

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 16:12

Yulo turned a quarter turn and measured Curzio with a stern look, in which there was irony bordering on sarcasm.

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 16:13

My friend, you were the outcast. And I was just an ugly child, the result of five generations of cousin and second cousin blood. And it was you who dreamed, I only listened, because you were the only one who was kind to the long-necked, slant-eyed freak. On the other hand, the slant-eyed ugly woman was the only one who was friends with the young and beggarly Malt...."

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 16:35

She sighed, this time with a sincerity that God knows was feigned or genuine.

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 16:14

"Well, I'll take that as a successful bow on the nostalgia string. I will not be merciful, but I will listen to whatever you have to say. But don't waste my time."

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 16:45

Yulo sighed again and took a step towards her interlocutor.

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 16:52

"Curtz, why are you so stupid?" she asked, almost like a real person. "Everything was going so well... A couple more years and you would have become my assistant, the second man in the Council of Gold. And then... who knows... A woman could never be a Doge, but you could. And the two of us."

Camrad_RIP 05.09.24 в 10:29

She waved her hands eloquently. Curzio sadly repeated her gesture and said:

Camrad_RIP 05.09.24 в 10:30

"Because sometimes you should stick your principles where the toilet rags are. And sometimes you don't. I made a choice then, and maybe Two guided me."

Camrad_RIP 05.09.24 в 17:56

"I'm listening. What kind of pathetic conspiracy have you organized?"

Camrad_RIP 05.09.24 в 17:56

The woman's face turned into an inexpressive mask, her eyes frozen like painted balls of marble. It became clear that the string of sad nostalgia had frozen, and it was time to talk strictly business.

Camrad_RIP 05.09.24 в 17:57

"This is not a conspiracy,” Curzio said seriously and judiciously. "It is rather an association of intelligent and caring people who want to look into the future. To anticipate it, and if possible to sculpt it, like sculptors."

Camrad_RIP 05.09.24 в 10:37

"Pretentious. So far you have only angered a worthy teacher, whom, by the way, we sent from the far south, the best of the best. He's about to challenge the boorish earl to a duel of honor."

Camrad_RIP 08.09.24 в 16:36

Curzio snorted sincerely, not holding back a smile.

Camrad_RIP 05.09.24 в 17:57

"A false god to help him,” the man said cheerfully. "If you value this mentor, you'd better talk him out of it. Shotan will use his right to choose the weapon and kill the fool."

Camrad_RIP 08.09.24 в 16:36

"Yes?.." Yulo thought for a moment. "You seem to appreciate this upstart."

Camrad_RIP 08.09.24 в 16:37

"Ancestral precepts,” Curzio said meaningfully. "To know the usefulness of every tool, to consider it, and to use it for good. You may have noticed that our... miserable conspiracy has brought together a very interesting circle of people. But before I turn to it, I will allow myself to ask a question."

Camrad_RIP 08.09.24 в 16:38

"Ask."

Camrad_RIP 05.09.24 в 17:58

"How much money is in Saltoluchard's coffers? At the moment."

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 16:53

"Curtz, are you crazy?" Yulo asked in no uncertain terms. "I remind you that you are in disgrace and, given your recent behavior, you have a good chance of coming home with a scarf around your neck."

Camrad_RIP 05.09.24 в 17:59

"Formally, I am still a member of the Privy Council, albeit as a special counselor. No one has relieved me of my duties and rights. They have been enumerated quite clearly. I could ask such questions, at my own risk, with the expectation that their validity would be approved after the Council... or its representatives."

Camrad_RIP 04.09.24 в 16:54

"That's clever,” the woman agreed. With a barely audible rustle of her dress, she walked to the back of the room and gracefully lowered herself onto a banquette chair. In front of Yulo thus appeared a graceful table with a board for playing “Galleys”, a very popular accessory this year. Milvess was quick to adopt the habits of his new hosts, from clothing and viands to fashionable trinkets.

Camrad_RIP 08.09.24 в 16:39

"Well, ask,” the woman allowed. "With full understanding of the possible consequences."

Camrad_RIP 24.08.24 в 13:01