Селеста / Сelesta: Глава 15

Chapter 15

Camrad_RIP 29.03.22 в 17:13

The reality was little like a fairy tale.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.22 в 16:00

The village tales or the priests' sermons portrayed the undead very differently. Some believed that the risen lived in deep, filthy caves, in dark cellars, with rats and spiders, in cemeteries, in the ancestral crypts of the rich, among the dust and ashes of cracked urns. They would go out at night to the streets of the cities to catch the late-night travelers and suck their blood. Other stories, not encouraged by adults, spoke of powerful demons, all-seeing and all-powerful, doing their secret work from the depths of underground palaces. Tricky and beautiful, they laughed at attempts to harm or deceive them, but they could also help if a mortal impressed them with their courage, honesty, or intelligence.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.22 в 16:02

The truth was that Vador spent most of his time underground. He slept, did his mentor's lessons, and occasionally went to the surface on minor errands. The rest turned out to be not so much a lie - just that the legends didn't even mention that he would have to learn so much. Immediately after Egard recognized him as having mastered the alphabet, they began to drum the basics of theology, geography, biology, mathematics, and other sciences into the illiterate country boy showed him the basics of weaponry and began to prepare the ground for mastering the mystical disciplines. At the same time, all classes were firmly tied to practice. About the gods and the will of the Dark One an old minister of the Morvan cult spoke to him, explaining by example the reasons for the return of some people from the realm of death.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.22 в 16:08

A close associate of the mistress herself told him a great deal about the place of vampires in mortal society and about the second chance given to the undead. Geography was taught by a merchant cultist, who knew a good deal about the history and provided information about the flow of goods, their prices, and the places where something of value remained from earlier times. The doctor taught how to give people first aid, and talked about diseases, poisons, and antidotes. The master swordsman made them memorize the vulnerabilities of the most common small demons and humans.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.22 в 16:11

All of the newbies were pushed very hard. Not out of a desire to mock, no. It was just that for the first ten years, as long as the body remained somewhat alive and the mind remained elastic, it was necessary to use it to the maximum. Then it became harder to learn, and it was impossible to perceive new knowledge and concepts at the same speed. So the teachers tried to impart as much as possible to the young risen one.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.22 в 16:13

As a result, there was no free time left. Egard did not seem to let him out of his sight for a single moment. The mentor was deciding what and how to teach the young risen while introducing him to the night world of the Capital. Not only occult but also criminal. The methods of action of the guards and their perennial opponents - bandits, the channels of smuggling, the names of atamans and their predilections, pirate captains, bribed judges, the structure of Morvanite sects, and the theological differences between them. Temples and just the most influential priests, holy magic, and the training of temple guard fighters. Prices of drugs and alchemical ingredients, stalls selling forbidden goods. Acquaintances, introductions, polite smiles, faces, faces, faces...

Camrad_RIP 05.04.22 в 15:23

"You have to be able to communicate with humans," Egard said the first night. "Talk to them in their language. Understand what they want, and how they think. Guide their thoughts in the right direction."

Camrad_RIP 05.04.22 в 16:00

So far, it was not going well. A teenager from a poor family who had no idea about etiquette was timid in the presence of strangers.

Camrad_RIP 09.04.22 в 19:07

But he clearly caught the moment when the tension of the class had decreased. At first, he couldn't believe his luck (he thought it was another test from his mentor), but Vador looked around and was surprised to find that the teachers didn't have time for him.

Camrad_RIP 09.04.22 в 19:08

"Isn't Mr. Firam coming today, Master?"

Camrad_RIP 09.04.22 в 19:09

"He left the city." The older vampire didn't take his eyes off the documents, scribbling and making notes on the papers as he spoke. "His trading house is moving to Lascaris."

Camrad_RIP 09.04.22 в 19:10

"Master," the teenager said uncertainly. "I've noticed that many servants and helpers are leaving Talea..."

Camrad_RIP 09.04.22 в 19:14

Egard shook his bowed head:

Camrad_RIP 09.04.22 в 19:25

"You must have heard about the captured strangers, right? We are waiting for their master. And the authorities are unwilling to take our warnings seriously and at least step up patrols."

Camrad_RIP 09.04.22 в 19:28

"I thought that's not why merchants were sent away."

Camrad_RIP 09.04.22 в 19:32

The master took his eyes off the papers:

Camrad_RIP 09.04.22 в 19:32

"And why is that?"

Camrad_RIP 09.04.22 в 19:32

Vador swallowed the "well," with which he used to begin almost every sentence, and from which he was barely outwitted, and began to share his views.

Camrad_RIP 11.04.22 в 17:20

"They said it had become harder to work. There is less order, officials demand bigger bribes, bandits began to appear on the roads - sometimes peasants, but more often noble ones. Now in those principalities where the lords have strong armies, it is more peaceful than in the capital!"

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 16:47

"Go on," Egard nodded encouragingly.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 16:52

"And again, the timing is not optimal. I have listened to people - it turns out that our servants began to leave even before they knew about this Carlon. Only little by little, not like now."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 16:53

"It's slanted, but it's basically right," the mentor said. "Did you come up with it yourself or did someone tell you?"

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 16:55

"I figured it out on my own."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 16:55

"Well done, then. It's really getting unsafe at Taleya. The confrontation between the palace parties has entered an acute phase. And we wouldn't want to get hit. More precisely, we are trying to reduce the possible losses and so we transfer our servants to the outskirts or even to other states. The news of Carlon's arrival has only spurred the process. You, by the way, get ready-soon the last of the younger ones will be leaving the capital, and then their duties will fall to you. All right, go study."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 16:57

The older vampire, standing slightly below the inner circle of the Mistress in the unspoken hierarchy of the risen, looked at the next apprentice. A promising boy. Limited, of course, and not able to work on himself, but not stupid and not lazy. The main thing was his inner guts, and we would teach him the rest. I should have sent him out of town with the rest of the youngsters, but it's too early for him to leave his homeland. The energy is not yet fully established...

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 16:59

The decision to get out of the control of the secret services was not announced to the younger ones. The elders, their closest assistants, and especially loyal mortals from the Mistress' personal retinue knew, and that was it. The rest, who did not believe in the supposedly caused by the appearance of an ancient vampire, were fed the version about the coming confrontation of the court cliques. Given that such a confrontation had indeed taken place and that all parties concerned were seriously considering an armed clash, even if the information reached the "spiders," it would not surprise them. The undead are leaving the kingdom? So be it! The leaders remain in the capital, and we'll finish the rest later. Had the Secret Service known the true extent of the risen' activities, Tulak would not have been so complacent.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 17:02

Unfortunately for them, control over the most secretive and bloody part of the subjects of the throne was long lost by the secret service.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 17:02

This time Medea awaited her sister's return, not near the mysterious wizard's house, but in a cozy room deep beneath the earth. Not that she didn't want to keep Celesta company, but she did! But she decided that the danger was minimal and that she did not want to irritate Garresh with a show of mistrust. Should it turn out that some unknown authority had ordered the old servant of the Light to finish off the overknowing risen woman, there would be a dozen Morvanites waiting in the familiar courtyard for that occasion. Ordinary people are more difficult to notice, and it is easier to present as an ordinary escort, due to their status.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 17:12

"How was it?!" The beauty rose from her chair as soon as she heard the familiar footsteps in the corridor. "Did they agree?"

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 17:58

"How?" Celesta stepped through the just-opened door, and tossed her weapon belt on the table. "Not good enough, I'd say. We've been denied support, but..."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 17:59

The older risen sat down in a chair and nodded at her friend, inviting her to sit beside her. She smiled dryly.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 17:59

"In another situation, I would have said we were lucky. Garresh offered to give a couple of lessons, which he said would give insight into Carlon's capabilities and even out our chances in a direct confrontation."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 18:17

"Is he willing to share his knowledge?" Medea wondered.

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 18:18

"As far as I'm aware, they're not very valuable. By his standards."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 18:22

"Wait, wait," the completely confused singer waved her hands in front of her face. "I don't understand anything. Let's start from the beginning."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 18:36

"From the beginning... Well, look. As far as I understand Garresh's explanation, from his Order's point of view, Carlon is innocent. Or his misdeeds are not serious enough to interfere with current events because of them. But since the "big brother's" actions affect Garresh's interests and interfere with his work, the wizard agrees to help as much as he can, though he will not interfere directly."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 18:37

"Another thing to keep in mind is that Carlon and Garresh belong to different factions. What exactly the relationship between the temples of True Light and True Darkness is, was not explained but there is no ardent love between them. The secrets of the Dark Ones - those of which he is privy - Garresh is willing to reveal without hesitation."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 18:37

"It would have been better if he had killed the priest himself."

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 18:39

"Alas, events don't always go according to our plans," Celeste shrugged. "And I can't say I'm not happy. The opportunity to learn something about the oldest and most secretive organization in the world is expensive, not to mention the training methods. Can you imagine Hastin jumping when he hears about this?"

Camrad_RIP 12.04.22 в 18:40

Slightly emboldened and relieved, Medea also smiled at the reaction of the fanatic of magic. Already without the hysterical notes in her voice, she began to pry details from Celesta, trying to understand the logic of strange creatures lurking under the human masks of priests Morvan and Illiar. Why didn't they consider organizing deadly epidemics a crime? Why do they almost never interfere in human affairs? What are their goals? What does the phrase "our possibilities are almost limitless within extremely narrow bounds" mean? There are no answers, not even convincing guesses.

Camrad_RIP 13.04.22 в 15:47

The argument was interrupted by a familiar knock on the door.

Camrad_RIP 13.04.22 в 15:48

"Come in, Latham."

Camrad_RIP 13.04.22 в 15:48

"Messena, messena Medea," the aristocrat bowed respectfully to the ladies. "I apologize for disturbing you, but we have just finished interrogating the prisoners. I thought you might be interested to hear that pair were the only ones sent to Taleya. More accurately, three were sent in pursuit of the renegade, but one returned to the main group for fear of entering the city."

Camrad_RIP 13.04.22 в 19:44

"And for sure this third one has already reached the master."

Camrad_RIP 13.04.22 в 19:48

"Yes. Messena."

Camrad_RIP 13.04.22 в 19:49

"How many of them are there?"

Camrad_RIP 13.04.22 в 19:49

"There were five left, whose level I roughly estimate as equal to my fighters, and a dozen somewhat weaker."

Camrad_RIP 13.04.22 в 19:50

"Plus Carlon himself. If I were him, I'd try to reach Taleya as soon as possible," Celesta remarked. "He knows we're getting ready for him. What else?"

Camrad_RIP 13.04.22 в 19:53

"The information received from the prisoners generally confirms Calderan's words. The differences lie in ideology and..." Latam hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words, "...assessment of what is happening. They don't seem to doubt the words of their leader and are ready to follow him to the end."

Camrad_RIP 13.04.22 в 19:54