Селеста / Сelesta: Глава 9

Chapter 9

Camrad_RIP 20.08.22 в 17:47

Celesta felt a strong sense of gratitude toward her first "spider" mentors. She was no fool, and she was well aware that to the instructors she was nothing more than a job - yes, a very specific one since they had never trained risen before, but just a job. But she was also aware that there were many ways to teach. To give the bare minimum and nothing more, or to put your heart and soul into teaching, forcing the student to overcome himself step by step, forcing him to become stronger, more sophisticated, and more observant with each lesson.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 08:48

Her teachers belonged to the second category. They did their work well.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 08:49

When Baron Carde, who was in charge of Taleya's guards at the time, voluntarily and involuntarily recruited her, Medea, and Hastin into his organization, one of the conditions of entry were training in everything necessary for the new duty station. Initially, it was supposed to be purely military skills, but later the list included psychology, etiquette, ancient languages, rhetoric, literature, and much, much more. Celesta's information-hungry mind absorbed knowledge at a breakneck speed, impressing instructors with the pace of her studies; she mastered in months what others took years to master. Perhaps she had made the mistake of frightening people with her demonstrated abilities and thus causing them to tighten their invisible leash. Or maybe she was just jealous? In any case, her relations with her colleagues did not work out; they tried to hurt the miniature ghoul at every opportunity, trying to set her up in front of her superiors. Carde figured the situation out quickly, but didn't interfere - he wondered if she could handle it.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 09:00

She succeeded, albeit not immediately. She figured out the undercurrents of the service, learned how to maneuver between the factions, and conducted several successful operations. She earned a reputation as a clever, vindictive, useful creature. She was not going to be friends with anyone after all, and she couldn't be. It was only later she realized that the Baron had covered for her, after all, by reprimanding the most zealous persecutors.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 09:04

Cardé showed neither fear nor squeamishness in front of her. He was a very unorthodox man, almost a genius, who disdainfully disregarded conventional stereotypes. He enjoyed his conversations with Celestф; she impressed him with her lack of deference to authority and her unorthodox judgment. Her conversations with the baron gave her much, and they gradually gave her an understanding of the inner processes of power, hidden from the outside observer.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 09:07

Celesta took a lot from him. If it weren't for those ego-beating reprimands in private, who knows if she would have become the current Night Mistress or not?

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 09:07

Hastin has passed a completely different school. He was immediately taken under the wing of the great mage Tyran, a person of power, tough, influential. He was initially sympathetic to the boy and, after seeing the young vampire's abilities, accepted him as an apprentice. The mage's authority allowed him to ignore the opinions of others from a high bell tower. Because of his age and high intelligence he had his own criteria for judging people, and the fact that the new apprentice sleeps in the basement during the day and feeds on human blood was of little importance in his eyes.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 16:03

Different fates, different life experiences, and different perspectives on events. Not surprisingly, their assessments of the possible consequences of one or another action were far from always the same.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 16:04

"...you don't seem to understand what you've done," Celesta reprimanded the warlock, who was scowling in his chair. "It's not just a violation of the four points of the second part of the Penal Code, which forbids all manipulation of a ruler or their kin, including the deceased! You murdered the guardian of the afterlife! If people find out about this, everyone will turn against us, that is, everyone at all, even our allies. First and foremost, our allies! The aristocrats have the same or very similar sarcophagi in their family tombs. They will try the situation on themselves in no time. And believe me, they won't like it."

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 16:06

"What else were we supposed to do?" Hustin snapped back. "He attacked us! I have no idea why he woke up."

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 16:06

"He woke up because you amateurs woke him up," she did not deny herself the pleasure of stomping on someone else's ego. "Badly prepared did not calculate something, and here is the result. You were in a hurry before I arrived, weren't you?"

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 16:12

The warlock sat stony-faced, but averted his eyes to the side.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 16:13

"Seven hundred years, no brains," Celesta summed up. "So here's what we'll do. We'll seal the burial chamber. Seal it up, I said! Seal off the corridors and tell the architects to make detours from my name. By the end of next week, every dog should know about the Mistress' order to stay out of the necropolis. In six months, we'll continue the research quietly. Am I correct in assuming that you found a way around the protection?"

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 16:25

"We have not bypassed," Hustin grimaced. "We blocked it temporarily."

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 17:42

"That's not the point. I'm more interested in whether your method works against the blessings of the human gods. You know how the light energy of temple and monastery lands affects vampires."

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 17:43

"Well..." the maître folded his fingers, "I'll have to think about it."

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 17:43

"Think," the mistress nodded. "Just don't test it in practice without me. The students should be involved, too, so they don't get involved in anything. Remember, they must not know that the ban on research in the necropolis is temporary."

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 17:44

"I'll have to tell Vador, we'll put a stopper together."

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 17:45

"Except for him."

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 17:46

Celesta looked at the warlock and concluded that the reprimand was over. Hastin is Hustin, she can't fix him. He is not a fool, on the contrary, one of the smartest in her circle, just in matters of his favorite art Hastin gets a little crazy. Fortunately, there is Vador, in difficult cases, directs the initiatives of the mentor in the right direction.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 17:47

She did not doubt that Hustin would do exactly what he said. Despite his passion, the warlock was well aware of when to argue and when not to. Especially since in matters of aristocratic traditions he knew even better than her. And now, after her words, probably had time to calculate what they threaten the public disclosure of the fact of the destruction of the guard. She can be sure that the instructions from him the students will be correct and will be silent as a fish.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 17:48

"Have you seen the report from Grahor? What do you think?"

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:21

"I'm still convinced that the problem isn't magic," Hustin accepted the change of subject with ease. "It's just that Grahor has nothing to do with previous attempts to gain a foothold in Deep Harbor."

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:21

"Or you underestimate the Collegium."

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:22

"Or I underestimate the Collegium," the mage agreed quietly. "But I don't think so. I've seen their artifacts, spoken to their renegades, and studied intelligence reports. They are not on the same level as us. Look for humans."

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:23

"We'll see," Celesta answered vaguely. They've been testing the leak, but they haven't had any results yet. "There's always a chance of a genius coming up with something new."

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:23

"I'd love to talk to him."

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:33

"Me, too. Have you thought about having a Child?"

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:34

"I haven't recovered from raising the last one yet. Why do you ask?"

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:34

"I met Homie in Lascaris, and he's not as frisky as he used to be," Mistress smiled sadly. "I don't think he'd be good enough for me; maybe you should."

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:35

"It won't work, I checked," Hustin shook his head. "That's a pity."

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:35

"Yeah, that's too bad," and after a moment of silence, Celesta shook her sad thoughts out of her head and rose from her chair. "I have to get to my meeting with Tar. I'll come to see you when I'm done with my business, and we can talk more about it then."

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:37

"I'll be waiting, Mistress."

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:38

There were nearly a dozen so-called reception halls, in fact, ordinary meeting rooms, only richly furnished, in the dungeons. They were scattered all over the Capital and served purely utilitarian purposes, to meet with people with whom any of the top risens wanted to talk in their territory. Or in cases where the conversation required urgency. In the case of the Tar barons, it was more a sign of trust and goodwill, because Celesta received them in the main hall, which was used to communicate with her people - the heads of cults, the leaders of the Dark Guild, and other mortals who were privy to the inner workings of society.

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 09:44

She was reminded that the architects had a real Throne Room in the planned underground palace. The Mistress refused to understand why it was necessary, but she was so amicably persuaded to leave everything as it was, that she agreed.

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 09:44

The risens' cooperation with the Tars began when the rich and noble clan lost almost all their lands and influence. The barons had no allies left, nothing to lose, and out of desperation, they agreed to the proposal of the vampires who had turned to them. The deal turned out to be advantageous to both sides. A series of mutual favors followed, culminating in a full-fledged partnership that neither partner had any intention of breaking at the moment.

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 09:46

"Peace and goodness blessed Vercassar! I hope you have not waited long?"

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 09:46

"Dark night, Messena" the baron stood up from the table at Celesta's appearance. "Not at all, your servants brought me literally just now."

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 09:47

Even if he had been sitting in the hall for several hours, etiquette required him to answer exactly that.

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 09:48

"I'm sorry for the delay," Celesta sat back in her chair, motioning for the man to take the seat opposite, near the roaster. "So much has happened lately! In our community, in the circle of the Son of the Sea, and the not-so-high spheres."

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 11:04

"Yes, I heard about the recent operation of the spiders," the Baron nodded. "Allow me to offer my condolences on the loss of your subjects, Messena."

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 11:04

Rumors of Zervan's betrayal, of course, reached the general public; it was impossible to hide it. However, the story was presented in different ways. One of the most common versions blamed the success of the Royal Security Service, and to some extent, it was true - because it was the spiders who made the arrests and liquidations. The information was simply presented to them on a tray.

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 11:06

"Those who live in the Darkness always remember that they are no more than guests in this world. Sooner or later, the Lord will call everyone to his throne," Celesta replied. She had already come to terms with her losses, the remainder of them no longer plunged her into a state of icy rage. "Who knows if the souls of my servants, cleansed of sin, will one day meet again in my path? Though the parting is painful, the knowledge that death is not the end brings new hope."

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 11:06

"I bow before the wisdom of the blessed Mistress of the Night."

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 11:08

Tar actually stood up and bowed, folding his arms in a special gesture. Among the old aristocracy, Celeste was considered a spiritual authority, and her words were listened to carefully. It wasn't a fanaticism - the elite seldom trusted anyone unconditionally - but the vampire mistress's opinion on theological, and not just theological, matters were always taken into account.

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 11:09

"Sit down, Baron. I have let go of those who have gone, and now I am moving on. Tell me, how are you? Is the venerable Lady Issilia well? I have heard disturbing rumors about her health."

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 11:10

The next fifteen minutes were spent on the obligatory small talk, not as pointless as it might seem. The upper class is permeated by family ties, knowing how many times the eighth Aunty sneezed at the last party sometimes turned into an inheritance. So Tar talked about his family, Celesta showed interest by memorizing key facts and waited for the Baron to indicate the purpose of his visit.

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 09:06

Finally, he got to the point:

Camrad_RIP 21.08.22 в 09:05

"Perhaps the Messena has heard of the little lawsuit I had with the Saints of the Fire? We are suing over a village a day's journey from Nemmist."

Camrad_RIP 23.08.22 в 11:10