Селеста / Сelesta: Глава 20

Chapter 20

Camrad_RIP 28.10.22 в 19:26

Gardoman's shortcomings stemmed directly from his virtues. The old man was always stubborn, rigid, inflexible, did not like innovations, and considered only one opinion correct - his own. At the same time, he never made decisions without considering the situation from all sides, and his intelligence, coupled with natural caution, allowed him to choose the best of all possible options.

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 06:52

Only a few could break the banker's established beliefs.

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 06:52

"We have no guarantee that the project of the way to the East really exists," Celesta explained to the "mountain elder" over the mirror link. "All the evidence is purely circumstantial. At the same time, there is a lot of it. If we are not mistaken and we manage to be among the main figures from the very beginning, we will get not just money - we will get influence. Not to mention access to states in far-flung regions."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 13:56

"I'd rather focus on Birat."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 13:57

"We can't expand into the Principality without establishing ourselves in the middle ground," the Mistress repeated the point they both knew. "There's been some progress lately, Kalderan is personally working on it. But we have a long way to go. However, until the course of events in Taleya is determined, we will do nothing."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 13:58

"I don't believe in the friendliness of the Son of the Sea," the old man grumbled. "Kings have often betrayed us, and I'm not just talking about Taleya."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 13:58

"This one looks smarter than his predecessors. Besides, he's got a lot of other things on his mind right now."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 13:59

"Which doesn't stop him from siphoning money out of us."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 13:59

"Exchanging money for serenity suits me fine. However, the withdrawal of funds to Lanaka will continue. I've already told Latham not to hurry back and to make connections with the local nobility - we'll need the goodwill of the top brass, and a short action against the monsters isn't enough to form a stable opinion."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 14:01

"Mistress, I fully agree and have long said that Lanaka must be taken!" Gardoman burst out with emotion. "Only in this country, it seems that in order to achieve stability, we have to take power and rule ourselves. Every couple of generations they have some kind of war over some silly issue and then we have to restore our lost ground from scratch! How many did we lose twenty years ago? The communities are three, the dead servants of men cannot be counted. Not to mention the confiscated lands and businesses."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 14:03

When the elder was done speaking, he was silent. He wasn't very good at talking through mirrors, and he wasn't very good at any sorcery-related techniques at all. You could tell that Gardoman wasn't interested in developing as a vampire and was focused on making money if weren't for one exception. The old man created unique artifacts when he was in the mood. His products had nothing in common with the creations of magicians, functioned according to some rules of their own, but amazed by their unorthodox capabilities. They were certainly not superior to the things made by master artifactors - just a different school, with different advantages and disadvantages.

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 16:00

"So far, there are no signs of another of their national pastimes. Then... we'll see. If we can weaken the lightest cults, our position in Taleya and the Land of Blueness will be strengthened. There will be more room to maneuver."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 16:55

"Damn "if," she could have sworn she heard a grunt. "Mistress, I understand you're hoping to prove to the king that it's more profitable to be friends with us. But men are irrational! He may simply not want to."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 18:03

"I'm not going to argue. But we don't have much of a choice, do we?" Celesta asked rhetorically. Without waiting for an answer, she continued. "Let's discuss the specifics. Rimnar handles Quail's sales, do you have any special instructions for him?"

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 18:03

"He and I have already discussed everything."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 18:04

"Great. What do the bankers say about the campaign in the Seven Rivers?"

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 18:08

"They are cautious, although in general, they like the idea. The main issues revolve around duty discounts in Lascaris. Mistress, if the Duke gives good discounts, we'd be better off inviting no one from outside and financing the project ourselves. Have you heard from him at least something?"

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 18:17

"Tomorrow Lash will have an audience with the Son of the Sea, I think, just about my proposal. The king won't give him a definite answer, but at least we'll know his first reaction."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 18:18

"Nothing changes and we're still waiting, I see," Gardoman grumbled again. "Then let's move on to the Archipelago. The smugglers there are making good money, and your Grakhor is doing well. Will anything change there? We won't have to change schemes because of Kalderan or something?"

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 18:19

"Not anytime soon. He will contact you himself."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 18:19

"All right, I'll wait. Then there's this..."

Camrad_RIP 29.10.22 в 18:20

Having finished his conversation with Celesta, the old risen sat motionless in the chair for ten minutes, coming to his senses. The pain in his head was gradually subsiding. Hustin advised him to exercise more, and he was right - before the consequences of communication through the mirror lasted longer. Today Gardoman, one could say, got off easy. It is convenient to talk with Celesta or wizards through the mirror, they both keep in touch and send clear images. He does not give him mentalism, and it's a pity, a pity.

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 13:16

Slowly, shuffling a little, the elder left the office. He followed a long corridor to the last door, which looked like it led to a back room. Behind the door was another corridor, shorter, ending in an exit in the next building. After taking another dozen steps, Gardoman entered the study without saying hello, walked to the armchairs by the fireplace, and sat down in one of them.

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 13:19

"They're rushing around again."

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:17

"Until the new Son of the Sea is established on the throne, it will be so," said the master of the cabinet, who was also seated there.

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:18

"It's been two years since the coronation, it's about time."

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:18

"So be it. Better that than with his grandfather."

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:20

The two most influential risens of Bardi and the rest of the Highland Duchy grumbled equally. The relationship between them was very uneasy; at first, when Gardoman had just moved from Talea and began to sweep up the local communities, it almost came to a fight. Mistress couldn't leave her town and sent Latham. The aristocrat did not kill anyone, nor did he use force at all. Nevertheless, no one wanted a repeat of his visit, and the two leaders had to coexist in a shared den.

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:22

Over time they shared responsibilities and major conflicts came to naught. Slowly mutual respect sprouted; they began to talk more often, not exclusively on business, but simply for fun. Neither of them would call the other a friend; nevertheless, the habit of gathering once a week by the fireplace and looking at the fire, discussing the latest news, came from somewhere.

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:24

"The campaign will take place."

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:25

"Does the king agree?"

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:25

"He's still thinking. It's going to happen anyway."

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:25

"Will he be persuaded?"

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:26

"Yes."

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:26

They sat in complete silence for another ten minutes, thinking about their things. Then Hatsu asked lazily, more as a conversation starter than for an answer:

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:30

"When they come back, they'll try to take on us. With new experience."

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:31

"Will many of them come back? The Son of the Sea doesn't need them here," the two old risens chuckled dryly after Gardoman's words. "If he doesn't want them, the Mistress will care. It's one thing to catch a savage in the woods, untrained in anything. It's another thing to look for one of our own in the city. With magic-covered lairs, trained, with the support of mortals, with connections among officials and priests. Only fools get caught. No pity for them."

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:33

* * *

Shifting half a step to the side, Celeste smoothly raised her sword, intercepting Ranilkar's attack with the tip of her blade. Locking the other man's blade, she gave him acceleration, preventing him from attacking herself, then with a sharp brushstroke, she struck for herself. Right into a conveniently placed throat. Three - zero.

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:35

It is obvious that of the two fighters, the one who devotes more time to training, preferably under the guidance of an experienced mentor, is the most skilled. There are individual geniuses who only need to see a move once and master it in a couple of days, but they are few and far between. There are legends about them. The guardsmen were all excellent warriors, who gave much time to their development, they did not consider it shameful to take experience from mortals and were skeptical about the concept of a "fair fight". Nevertheless, they routinely lost fights to Celesta, both group fights and duels.

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:37

The reason was banal - Mistress was faster.

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:38

The connection to the seal on the Curse provided her with a steady stream of body-changing energy. The body of any vampire changes from a material form to an energetic one as it ages. It is possible that after thousands of years of existence, a vampire will turn into something like a tangible spirit. The speed of the transformation depends on the quality and quantity of the power received, which Celesta has never lacked (except in the first days after rebirth). In addition, all mentalists at some point mastered the so-called "accelerated perception", the manipulation of personal time, a technique that allows them to process information dozens of times faster.

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:41

In the art of working with her mind, Mistress was deservedly considered the best. And not only with her mind. Therefore, she managed to figure out other people's attacks, feints, and tricks before the opponent had a chance to realize them, not to mention their use in battle.

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:46

With a sign to Ranilkar that the training was over, Celesta put the training sword in a stance and headed for the exit. She'll take her bath in her chambers. Vampires don't sweat, but there are some secretions from their skin, and dirt settles in.

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:48

"What's the matter with you personally coming to the war room that you don't like so much?" She asked Hustin, who rose from the bench as she approached.

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:49

"Not so disliked," the magician shrugged. "I work here, too."

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:50

"Once a month, when the mood strikes."

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:52

"More often it is not necessary. What's the point of swinging a sword when simple telekinesis will ensure victory faster and more reliably?"

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:53

"Not so," Celesta argued. "Magic doesn't prepare you for real combat. It's the psychology of the newcomers that lets them down, they get lost, and they forget what they're supposed to do. And they get killed. Fighting with weapons can, to a certain extent, prepare you for a real fight."

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:54

"Let's not argue," Hustin grimaced. "We can't convince each other anyway."

Camrad_RIP 30.10.22 в 16:55