Селеста / Сelesta: Глава 7

Chapter 7

Camrad_RIP 09.08.22 в 15:02

Sattar hadn't changed his place of residence since Celesta's last visit to the city, that is, almost four hundred years. The mansion, on paper belonging to a family of large merchants, had been rebuilt three times. They had managed to buy some land next door, expanding the lot, but nothing had changed in principle in the intervening years. There was no real reason to do so. The authorities did not try to destroy the head of the local community, so he saw no point in hiding.

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 07:23

Mistress caught herself again thinking that, in terms of flexibility of thought, age is not always a blessing. A long period of living by established rules leads to habits that one does not want to change at all. Risens' mind "becomes ossified", loses the ability to react quickly to the changing situation, and cannot cope with the challenges thrown up by hasty mortals. The result is a second death, this time final.

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 08:06

The recipe for the cure has long been known and consists of a total change of scenery, in that notorious exit from the comfort zone, which psychologists in her former world liked to talk about. Or psychiatrists? Doesn't matter. If need be, she will reach into the depths of her memory and remember. The main thing is that it is not clear how to use the mentioned method, because it is impossible to just take the same Sattar and send him to serve as a guardsman. No one would understand such a trick. So it'll take a long time to explain, do research, collect statistics, to find ways that don't look like punishment or humiliation... The undead has their conventions, too, and they must always be taken into account. You can't hurt servants without a reason, especially ones who can get their revenge after five hundred years.

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 08:10

In addition, good managers are always scarce. Before sending the head of the tiniest community for "re-training," one should think hard about who to put in his position. It usually turns out that there is no one.

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 08:11

Well, okay. They're waiting for her. She'll consult with Medea later, as long as she doesn't forget.

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 08:11

"The prisoner is ready, Mistress," Sattar told Celeste after a final check of the body tied to the massive stone table.

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 08:25

They were in a large, long basement beneath the mansion, with more than fifteen meters between the Mistress and her vassal. A man would have been forced either to shout or to move closer to make his words heard. Sattar made do with simply turning his body toward his interlocutor and bowing lightly since vampire etiquette allowed such liberties.

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 08:25

"I wanted to ask you, Sattar," the lady approached the table. "That vampire you sent to Taleya, Gurban-ogun. How did he appear? Why was he not executed at once?"

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 09:18

"Clever, cunning," the risen replied without hesitation. "Not too strong, the sun burned him. Not bad at primitive magic, close to the Path of Art, got past the border forts without disturbing the sensors. The Guild spotted him only here, informed us at once. They did not execute him because he had done nothing wrong. Then a request came from Kalderan for a guide, preferably versed in the realities of Seven Rivers. I thought about it and decided to send him - it is still unclear what to do with him."

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 09:19

"Kalderan didn't know you had a prisoner?"

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 09:20

"We didn't tell him. I don't think he knew - there were literally days between the capture and the request."

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 09:20

That, of course, means nothing, but it removes some of the suspicions from the elder. Mistress was uncomfortable with the fact that Kalderan was the only beneficiary of Zervan's betrayal - his department had taken over the control of some of the gangs. In addition, he and the deceased were not friends, because of Zervan's hordes disrupted important operations, which the spy took close to his heart. And his heart is dead but very sensitive.

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 15:36

The question was whether he could have devised such a cunning plan to eliminate the enemy. Celesta admitted honestly to herself that she would have eliminated the nuisance if she had had to. With someone else's hands, making it look like she wasn't involved.

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 15:39

"I see. What do you think of this one?" She nodded at the crucified, gawking body.

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 15:39

"A common risen from the Seven Rivers, Mistress. He was in the retinue of the Master of the Night, grew up to be a senior, and decided to become the Master himself. He lost, but by some miracle, he survived. He heard about the rich life in the East, so he decided to come here. He has no strength or intelligence, otherwise, he would not have behaved as he did in his homeland and we would not have caught him so quickly," Sattar sighed. "Mistress, they're disgustingly identical.."

Camrad_RIP 11.08.22 в 15:42

"Doesn't your natural Salvian snobbery speak to you?"

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:01

"Alas, Messena, my opinion is supported by sad personal experience. Exceptions are rare."

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:01

Considering that Sattar's rule over the nocturnal Lascaris came after his predecessor was killed by the same outsiders and that he was the only undead of the city at the time (three more came later), it was worth trusting his conclusions. He knew his way around the subject.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:03

There were now a total of five risens in the cellar - the prisoner, Celesta, Sattar, and two guardsmen. Latham went to pay his visits, taking a promise from the petite mistress not to get involved in anything. Normally, though he regarded his duties as chief of security zealously, he worried less. It was just that it had been a long time since Mistress Taleyaa had last left her personal domain, and her number of enemies had increased. And, frankly, the guardsmen had become somewhat unaccustomed to guarding her outside her familiar territory, so they were now afraid of making a mistake.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:05

From the outside, the "gutting" of the stranger looked uncomplicated and easy. Mistress hovered over the interrogator, wrapping her arms comfortably around his head and looking intently into his eyes, with three assistants standing nearby, not so much for backup as for reassurance. Breaking the will of an untrained risen, moreover, prepared beforehand by torture and thirst, is not the same as having a mental duel with an elder. Celesta simply swept away resistance, locked the prisoner's personality in a far corner of his mind, and began to quietly study the memory.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:09

It took her half an hour to find the answers.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:09

The picture of life in the Seven Rivers looked unattractive. Up to a certain point, the local mortal - tribes of hunters, gatherers and plowmen, descendants of a degraded civilization - and the undead coexisted relatively peacefully. Each tribe was under the influence of one faction of the risens, the strongest of whom was called the Master of the Night. Given that the risens were formerly of the same tribe and hadn't forgotten their kinship, they didn't slaughter the humans too much. Mortal, in turn, did not bother looking for the undead, reasonably believing that the wolves would be replaced by outsiders and it would get worse.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:12

The equilibrium lasted a long time until several events coincided simultaneously. First, a large number of Elders appeared among the risens, an order of magnitude more powerful, who had moved on to the next stage in their development. Second, an epidemic came, the foraging base was greatly reduced, and some tribes died out completely. Cities disappeared, and primitive civilizations collapsed. War broke out between the Masters of the Night, which resulted in the extermination of some of the risens who were determined to coexist with humans, and the winners began to rule directly.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:13

The captive did not know the details of the conflict - the events took place before he was born. Celesta, however, was only interested in them to a certain extent. She was much more interested in finding out the realities of the Seven Rivers' society, their weak points, and whether she could count on peaceful interaction. She still had hope of avoiding conflict, though her intuition stubbornly told her that two bears couldn't live in one den.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:16

"You were right about sameness," she remarked, pulling away from the cup she'd been served. "At least in terms of moral criteria."

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:21

Sattar managed to mimic, with one polite smile, a smug "I told you so"! The long interaction with the aristocrats had affected him greatly, teaching the former craftsman a great deal.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:22

"Did Messena see something unpleasant?"

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:22

"Exactly. Unfortunately, they have their own culture. A savage, bloody, inhuman, but full-fledged culture. We will have to destroy all of its bearers, because they will not want to assimilate, and we will not be able to live next to them."

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:25

Celesta was well aware that if vampires ever stopped balancing between human power groups, they would be crushed. The undead is allowed to exist as long as the benefits they bring outweigh the harm they cause. As long as they do not try to break the rules. Otherwise...

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:26

One day, Mistress tried to calculate the consequences of a conflict with the Order of Fire Saints, one of Taleya's three largest religious associations, just for the sake of interest. The result was unpleasant. Given the neutrality of the rest of the human structures, the risens would destroy the Order, but they would also suffer significant losses themselves. In fact, the unified community would disappear and be fragmented into many small fragments, with most of the survivors being located abroad.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:27

Now the rulers of humans are convinced that vampires can be talked to and negotiated. Yes, monsters, but monsters that are reasonable, sane, and comfortable. A close acquaintance with the Seven Rivers can break the established opinion, and give an extra trump card in the hands of irreconcilable opponents of the reasonable undead. Such a scenario should not be allowed.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:28

"Finish up here," she ordered, heading for the exit. "I don't need him anymore."

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:29

All in all, Mistress spent a week in Lascaris.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:29

Some decisions can only be made by the supreme ruler, they are too global. Sattar, for example, had constant disputes with Gardoman, the two influential risens complaining about each other, making intrigues, sometimes it came to the clash of subordinate structures. Money is money, it will quarrel with anyone. Celesta had to intervene and manually divorce the disputants. This could not go on like this, it was necessary to clearly delineate areas of responsibility and for that, she had to personally come to town and deal with it on the spot. Neither reports nor long negotiations through the mirror gave an absolute guarantee of the correctness of the picture.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:32

Until recently, Celeste had been limited in her movements. Now, apparently, she'll have to make up for lost time and go around the countryside. Sooner or later information will leak out, people will know that Mistress of Taleya has been allowed to leave her city. Where this will lead is unclear. So far, the vampires have managed to keep the secret, but no one can say how long the shroud of neglected rumors will last.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:50

Latham successfully drew attention to himself. His position as the right hand and the Mistress's chastening sword were well known, his actions closely watched, and the commotion among the vampires of the city attributed to his arrival. All the more so because the Elder did not sit idly by. He visited noble families, negotiated with leaders of large trading houses, and conferred at length with ducal "bringers of answers". It sounds strange, but his appearance was usually welcomed.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:52

The vampires did not change their tradition and continued to hunt monsters. Whichever way you look at it, it's a useful occupation. The carcasses were dismantled into ingredients and sold in pieces, bringing a good income even without taking into account the reward from the customer. In addition to the money, a positive reputation was gained, and people began to see the undead as possible defenders from a more terrible danger. Finally, a job well done was not only a job but also a service that could be bragged about in a small circle and that could be counted on in the future. Connections useful to the community emerged.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:53

The Guard took the most difficult orders. Mortals refused them, failed in their attempts, or demanded so much that it was easier to suffer regular losses in the form of devoured peasants. The vampires were doing fine, and they didn't charge that much. So Latham's visit was associated with solving problems, which was valuable in itself and paid dividends in the most unexpected ways.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:53

Mindful of recent events, the captain saw fit to bring up the subject of outsiders. At one time Celesta spent several evenings talking about the manipulation of public opinion and the preparation of serious changes in the life of society, explaining the reasons for some of her actions. How she got her knowledge of very specific areas of science and why the terminology used had never occurred to him before, Latham did not ask, but he remembered the lecture carefully. So he began to prepare a "positive background" for a possible discussion about the Holy Crusade well in advance.

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 11:57

"You need not worry about my imminent departure. We will fulfill our obligations in full, High Noble Varrhid. Moreover, I may have to transfer a unit of my subordinates to Lascaris on a permanent basis."

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 19:21

His interlocutor, one of the senior security officers of the ruler of the city, raised his eyebrows in surprise. By virtue of his position, Mr. Varrhid was aware of the capabilities of the Five Guardsmen and did not see the tasks worthy of the presence of these seasoned fighters. What are they being reassigned for, then?

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 19:23

"May I know the reasons that led the Blessed One to do this?"

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 19:24

"A decision has not yet been made. Mr. Sattar is managing with his forces, but if the trend continues, he will need reinforcements," the aristocrat clarified. "What do you know about the situation in the Seven Rivers?"

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 19:24

"Only that your kinsmen live there, which causes serious difficulties for the wagons passing by."

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 19:25

"Don't put me next to those animals," Latham cut off in an icy tone. "To compare us would be like calling you the likeness of some steppe bandit, banished from his clan!"

Camrad_RIP 12.08.22 в 19:26

"Excuse me," the spy bowed quickly. "In no way did I intend to offend the Blessed One."

Camrad_RIP 13.08.22 в 09:26

With a faint nod, the captain accepted the apology.

Camrad_RIP 13.08.22 в 09:26

"Lately, savages have come from there, disgusted by their actions and way of thinking. They deserve to be cut into pieces and eaten by dogs, their deeds such that rebirth is impossible. They looked for trouble and found it. They have no offspring, and their ancestors groan when they look at them."

Camrad_RIP 13.08.22 в 09:27

Considering the nuances of the higher vernacular, Messen Latham's speech was comparable to the worst swearing of the dockworkers. For a third of what was said, blood vengeance was declared on the whole clan. Varrhid, who came from a lower class, sat round-eyed - he knew that he was in fact witnessing a declaration of war.

Camrad_RIP 13.08.22 в 09:28