Селеста / Сelesta: Глава 16

Chapter 16

Camrad_RIP 16.05.22 в 17:57

It turns out that twenty-six hours in a day is monstrously few. Four six hours, blessed by the higher elemental gods, and two separate hours, noon and midnight, dedicated to Illiar and his grim brother Morvan, are woefully inadequate. She must keep an eye on the exodus, sending out wagons to other cities and even countries every night. She has to listen to the many spies and snitches, now focused primarily on keeping tabs on one's home office. She must meet with Medea, who lately has been bringing back information from palaces and salons that is as important as it is contradictory. She must go to Garresh.

Camrad_RIP 17.05.22 в 18:24

She must.

Camrad_RIP 17.05.22 в 18:24

She must.

Camrad_RIP 17.05.22 в 18:24

She must.

Camrad_RIP 17.05.22 в 18:24

The time was catastrophically short. Celesta did not hibernate during the day, like young vampires, but she needed at least a short nap during the day. So she disliked the sudden rushes that deprived her of rest and drove her into a state of silent frenzy.

Camrad_RIP 17.05.22 в 18:25

"What else do you want, Hustin?"

Camrad_RIP 17.05.22 в 18:25

The warlock knew perfectly well that it was dangerous to approach a sleeping vampire (for creatures with warm blood, deadly), but he underestimated his mistress' abilities. As a result, he was now lying on the floor, his nose tucked into the expensive carpet and listening anxiously to the crackling of the tendons in his arm behind his back. The sorcerer had some experiments with students scheduled for tomorrow, and he didn't want to come into the classroom with broken limbs.

Camrad_RIP 18.05.22 в 19:21

His situation was aggravated by the fact that since last night Celeste had remained somewhat in a bad mood. The Zervan boys had spoiled her mood. In addition to their core activities of smuggling and controlling the Taleya criminal community, the undead thugs were covering up some establishments deemed beneficial to the community. A couple of high-end restaurants, for example, or smokehouses. They weren't really interested in the profits, Gardoman was in charge of the profits, and they kept the restaurants and stuff for information. And blackmail, of course.

Camrad_RIP 19.05.22 в 20:55

Although it was expressly forbidden for the risen to work against the nobility, maintaining brothels for perverts was deemed advisable. Here, of course, a nobleman had every right to amuse himself as they pleased, nothing could be forbidden but still, public opinion took a sharply negative view of certain peculiarities. Zoophilia was not encouraged, nor was the necrophilia. But with people, the nobility could do as they pleased, both with their own subjects and with the king's free conditional slaves. The penalty for killing a free citizen was a hundred dinars, and if the murderer could prove he had been insulted, the fee was reduced fivefold. The word of a noble was accepted by the court as proof.

Camrad_RIP 19.05.22 в 20:57

In special brothels, unknown to the general public, truly horrible things were practiced. Rape of children to death, torture to order. The corpses of the "workers" were often so disfigured that they were not taken to temples for ritual burning but burned themselves. Celesta did not like this very much, but she could not change the situation. First of all, perverts and sadists were, are, and will be; there was no escaping it. It was not humanly possible to destroy or cure them all, so she could only hope that they, the scum, could be kept under some kind of control. But, secondly, now and here all this mold remains out of reach. Most of the visitors to the "special" brothels were very rich people, belonging to the upper or middle stratum of the nobility. They had long ago become satiated with ordinary entertainment, and in search of sharper pleasures, they practiced things that made even the habitual risens shudder.

Camrad_RIP 19.05.22 в 20:59

True, not everyone shuddered. Some didn't care. They were the ones who looked after the brothels, using the staff's services from time to time. From time to time Mistress was tempted to get rid of too unsightly a part of her little empire, but on reflection, she stopped every time. At least under her watch, the contagion would not spread.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:16

The closest candidate for imminent death - Celesta was careful to get rid of her fellows with a certain type of morality, and he took advantage of his position, figuratively speaking, to have so much fun with three girls that only one was left alive, and that was the disfigured one. The scoundrel asserted that he could not restrain his inner demon, who had sensed the scent of blood. Whether he was telling the truth or not was of no concern to the Mistress. She did not tear the offender on the spot only because she wanted to arrange something showy, to teach a lesson that would long be remembered by others. So they would know that her orders were always obeyed.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:18

"Neville is dead," Hastin said, turning his head cautiously to the side. "She killed herself."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:19

"Did she do it herself or was she helped?"

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:19

"I don't know. Master is sorting it out right now."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:20

With a heavy sigh, the vampiress climbed down from her subordinate's back.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:20

"Tell."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:20

"There's nothing to tell..." The dark mage cautiously kneaded the injured limb. "They found her in the lab a few hours ago. It looks like she was trying to perform some kind of experiment, but she made a mistake. That's not the reason I'm her - it's a chance to steal all the dead woman's research. Give me five of our porters."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:25

"How do you see it?" The girl in the robe asked with skepticism in her voice. "The investigators will probably seal everything they can get their hands on. And, as I remember, in the case of death the teacher's property goes to the Academy, except for money and family valuables."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:28

"Neville, when she showed me the results of her work, gave me the keys to some of her security spells," said Hustin rather contentedly. "I'll hack the rest. Master will notice, of course, but he won't interfere, I've made a deal with him."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:32

"Why would he give us practically his possessions?" Celesta wondered.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:38

"Well, he doesn't believe there's anything valuable in there. Neville has no exclusives in the library, the results on the main topic of research are astonishing, and he's probably already scoured the lab. The rest is of interest only to the temple searchers, whom the master would be happy to flick on the nose."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:44

The Mistress was satisfied with the explanation, but she was not going to take her busy subjects away from their work. They had enough to do. When Hustin proves that he really has removed the protection and that the deceased really has something to expropriate, then it will be the turn of the undead to work as porters. Until then, excuse me.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:45

"I'll take it off right now," the sorcerer was indignant at the lack of confidence in his professional skills. "Let me show you!"

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:46

Celesta cursed mentally, remembering how easy it was to dare her a comrade-in-arms. It was enough to question his abilities out loud. Why not take a walk, though? She hadn't spoken to Tyran in a long time; the old man must have something to tell her, and she, too, would like to share the news and get some counseling at the same time. It wasn't her fate to rest today.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:51

"Let's go," the girl agreed. "Let's see what you woke me up for."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 16:52

Hustin had the conscience to look embarrassed.

Camrad_RIP 19.05.22 в 13:19

As she exited the dungeon, Latham appeared silently on her left shoulder. Mistress glanced at the bodyguard but said nothing, it was useless. Though it would be interesting to know how he knew of her sudden departure this time. He wouldn't say.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:01

Despite the generally tense situation in the Capital, the risens did not fear an attack. Those who like to take others' goods, usually by instinct, understand who can offer resistance and who can't. And they don't touch the first ones, preferring to look for easier prey. And there was an omen in Taleya saying that to attack a teenage girl at night would mean trouble. So despite the occasional group of armed men on the way, they walked without incident, whispering to discuss common themes. Fortunately, there were enough of them.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:07

The families of the mortal servants and mere employees of the trade network were for the most part taken either north to the mountains or to Lascaris. With the recent political reshuffle, a third powerful community was about to be established, in Zonna, if Carlon's appearance didn't interfere. Pity, the plans had to be adjusted. However, Hustin decided not to go off the beaten path and quietly transported his living relatives to the islands, to Deep Harbor. Generally speaking, such affection for kin was surprising. The other undead drifted away from the living over time, becoming less and less interested in their affairs as they grew older, while the sorcerer took an active part in the clan's affairs - participating in festivities, educating the young, helping with jobs and positions. No, the others did, too, but... without enthusiasm.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:09

Hustin himself had no intention of going anywhere. He had a well-equipped dungeon in the catacombs that not many risens, let alone humans, would have been able to get into. There was a vast library, an archive, a laboratory, and a repository for all sorts of nastiness. Upstairs was the Academy, his colleagues, the perfect environment for research. He reasonably thought he would be perfectly safe. And he'd sent any family that might be affected to a pirate's nest, having secured the promise of several influential captains to take care of the migrants. So the wizard, in the worst-case scenario, was going to sit for a decade underground, doing research, and looked down on the bustle of the commoners. He didn't refuse help, but he didn't offer it either.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:13

The calm and somewhat pleasant walk was interrupted by Celesta, who stopped. Among the abilities given to adepts of the mental sciences, not the least of them is sensitivity to various kinds of emotions. Although the word "emotion" is not quite right, finding enchanted objects or cursed places also becomes easier. Rather, we are talking about various radiations of natural or human origin. The downside to this ability is sensory overload and the newcomers' desire to stay away from crowded places, and they don't go away until they've mastered ways to ward off mental noise. Mistress had long ago stopped paying attention to the fear, the pain, the anger of fighting, the bitterness and despair of dying in the streets, the joy of survivors, the lust, the rare love, and other feelings common to the night city. But now she felt something new-some subtle trickle, a light whiff that brought a fragrance of half-familiar sensations.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:15

Intuition sounded the alarm, forcing a change of plans. Quietly, with just the lips:

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:22

"Follow me."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:22

Obediently, acting on instinct rather than consciously, Celesta slipped outwardly slowly from shadow to shadow. In fact, falling into a trance, she was now defenseless, and in the event of an attack, the first moments could only rely on her companions. Both the bodyguard and Hustin were well aware of this. Exchanging worried glances, they stood at the sides of the mistress, hoping to cover her in case of an attack. Latham stepped forward with his blade drawn; the shifting warlock disregarded the consequences and drew a sheaf of amulets from his pocket. He did not activate them yet, for fear of interfering with his mistress, but made ready.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:24

The farther it went, the more confident it became. The attractive and at the same time repulsive smell was getting thicker, leading more precisely to its source, soon enough Hustin also felt it, though he did not dare to follow the trail. Only twisted his head more actively, looking for a possible ambush. Risens, even non-militants, in the process of training necessarily participated in the hunt for the wild undead and well know their role in the squad. There is a sensor to determine where the threat is coming from, the task of the rest is to cover it.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:26

"Here," Celesta stopped abruptly.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:26

Her face didn't look like a demon mask anymore, at least the fangs weren't protruding from under her lips as they had during the trance. But no one would have confused her with a human. Rather, she now resembled the legendary punishment hounds sent to the damned as punishment for their sins. She was the same short, wary, listening with all her senses to what was going on in the house. Nothing? Not a sound, apart from the creaking of the shutters. It was as if the little yard were dead, and not even the usual snarls of horses or the whimpers of dogs sensing the undead nearby.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:27

"There's a cloaking curtain over the house," Hustin remarked. "Primitive, but powerful."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:30

"I see."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:30

The vampiress quickly considered the situation and concluded that she couldn't wait. I'd have to get inside before the traces melted away. There wasn't likely to be anyone alive in the house - or not alive, she could smell a kindred, too-and even if there was, the three of them could handle any threat. Three older vampires, at the ready, in their own territory! All the more reason to check what they're up against. It's not temple magic, not human sorcery - it feels completely different.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:31

"Go on."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:31

"A trap?" Not so much asked as warned Latham.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:32

"It doesn't look like it."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:32

Hustin did not remove the curtain. There was nothing to prevent someone else's sorcery from passing through the gate, and the risens avoided demonstrating their presence. There was no need to attract the attention of the temple's watcher prophets. So the vampires entered the courtyard one by one, looking around carefully and preparing inwardly for any mischief.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:33

The unpleasant premonitions were confirmed almost at once. In the near corner lay the corpse of a dog, which, judging by the strained chain and blood-soaked paws, had tried to escape from something horrible till the last moment. A glance into the small pen showed Latham that the small animals, often kept in the city's less prosperous farms, were in the same condition. They were dead, with no external wounds, their mouths lined with foam, and wide-open eyes filled with horror.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:38

Latham was the first to enter the open door of the house, gloomily examining the cracked signs of protection against the Darkness on the walls. The mortals had painted them in the hope of avoiding unpleasant nighttime visits. They could do little to hinder the res, unlike the work of true warlocks or priests, but they could keep nightmares or other trivial matters at bay. Stepping softly across the floorboards, the knight carefully avoided the scattering of small objects. Experience told him they wouldn't find anyone here. Whoever had done what here had carried out their intentions and left, leaving only corpses behind them. Three adults, and five children.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:49

Mistress silently drew a small circle in the air, ordering her companions to finish their inspection of the house, and she sat down at the entrance to the central room. The mortals seemed to have been used as a source of blood and power for some kind of ritual. Nothing unusual - almost all wizards practiced this method of replenishing energy in some way or another. Except they use runes in a different way.

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:50

"Not our school," said Hustin, who had returned. He could find no one, and in good conscience he trusted Latham to finish the survey, believing he could do as well alone. "The basics are the same, but we work differently with runes."

Camrad_RIP 20.05.22 в 17:51