История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: 18. Неожиданная находка агента королевы эльфов

The unexpected discovery of the agent of the Elf Queen.

Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 19:55

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Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 19:55

When he heard a light knock at the door, Luaval opened his eyes and rose to his feet in one fluid motion from the bed on the floor where he had been meditating. He had not recovered fully in the intervening time but felt relatively well. He'd had much worse in his life. Much worse. Silently approaching the door, the dark elf stood to the side of it and stood at the ready. Moments later, distant footsteps were heard. The dark elf slipped his hooded mask on and waited until the branded house slave who knocked on the door took a few seconds to descend to the lower floors. Then, after waiting another minute and listening carefully to what was going on in the merchant's house, Luaval carefully opened the door and activated the cloaking amulets.

Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 19:56

Unnoticed by any of the merchant's household, who were in the middle of their workday, Luaval went down into the cellar. In one of the rooms, separated from the rest of the cellar by a solid wall and a solid door, sat the rescued prisoners. They looked somewhat better than they had the day before. Still, rest combined with decent food and drink had done the trick. When Luaval appeared, they immediately fell silent and turned to him with tense faces. The red-haired spellcaster, dressed in a clean islander's outfit that was a little small in her chest, rose abruptly from her chair and spoke demandingly, eyes blazing:

Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 19:59

"You've finally arrived! Maybe now you'll deign to explain to me what the hell..."

Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 19:59

Luaval interrupted her with a sharp gesture and pressed a finger to his lips. Then, under the even more tense stares of his rescuers, the dark elf closed the door and placed a small amulet on it, which was instantly attached. A moment later, a wave of light traveled from it across the walls, floor, and ceiling. Only then did Luaval speak in a calm voice, looking into the eyes of the spellcaster:

Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 20:00

"There is no need to raise your voice, honorable Ciara when the defenses are down. The inhabitants of this house need not know of our presence."

Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 20:01

The red-haired sorceress squinted her eyes:

Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 20:01

"I thought this was your safe place. Isn't that what you told me on the way here?"

Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 20:01

"It is," Luaval nodded. "And I want it to stay that way. So you'll have to be quiet. For your own good."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:25

Ciara looked at Luaval in silence for a few seconds, then nodded faintly:

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:25

"Of course. But I'm still waiting for a detailed explanation from you!"

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:39

"And not just you, honorable," said the eldest of the dwarves, who looked at Luaval more grimly than the others.

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:39

"Please, that's what I came down here for."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:40

Taking a vacant chair against the wall, Luaval sat down on it and spoke in a polite voice:

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:41

"So, as I told you back on the ship, I was asked to free you from the captivity of the islanders and bring you home. I did the first step, but that was the easy part. Going back is going to be much harder. Because we have to go through the Underworld."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:41

The latter caused surprised gasps from the rescued, and the slant-eyed shamaness, who was sitting in the corner on some chest with her legs, squeaked something in her native steppe language. The only one who wasn't surprised was the eldest of the dwarves. He frowned his eyebrows, put his hands to his sides, and asked balefully:

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:47

"And why exactly through the Underworld, may I ask?"

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:47

"If you have other options, honorable master, I'm ready to hear them. But I'll tell you two things at once. One. The ship is out. All the waters around the Islands are tightly controlled by their inhabitants. No ship can come here undetected, not even the ones we could theoretically use. And a ship we capture will be caught and stopped before we reach the mainland. Not to mention the fact I don't know how to fly a ship. I suspect you don't either."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:49

After giving the rescued a careful look and expectantly finding no experienced sailors among them, Luaval continued:

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:49

"We can't use the portals either. All the Islands, especially Kuordemar, have had a powerful defense over them since Imperial times, reinforced by Calisto's blessing, preventing outside forces from moving in. And the islanders cherish it, otherwise they would have been swept away by armies from the continent long ago. No one will let us use a stationary portal in the capital or other large islands. That leaves only the way through the Underworld."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:51

"Yeah. Where you'll turn us over to your buddies! You want us to trade one slavery for another, dark one?! I knew right away who you were!"

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:51

Rolling his eyes, Luaval pulled the hood off his head under the accusatory gesture of the older dwarf and the suspicious glances of the other rescued men. This caused another gasp and inarticulate squeak from the slanted daughter of the steppes. Before anyone could say anything, the dark elf raised his hands, palms forward, and spoke in a calm voice:

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:52

"I completely understand your distrust of my kin, honorable master. But I have no House, and I work for the Forest. It is the Forest that your loved ones have asked to be saved. And before you start arguing, just consider this. Practically beneath Kuordemar is Antak on Shar'Dan. It's one of the largest underground cities through which trade between the Underworld and the surface takes place. And through which the Islanders sell much of their loot, including captured slaves. In exchange, they receive resources and goods from the Underworld or what they couldn't loot on the continent. If I, or my House, which I don't have, were interested in you as slaves, you would simply be bought at the slave market. Right here, through sales representatives, or down below, it doesn't matter. It would be an order of magnitude cheaper and easier. And I wouldn't have to destroy an entire shipload of valuable goods, massacre the dock, and then run all over the city, leading the chase on a false trail at the risk of my life. And that's not to mention the political consequences of such a demarche in the event of my capture."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:54

When he had finished speaking, Luaval gave the rescued men a friendly glance. They didn't have much confidence on their faces, but they were thoughtful. The red-haired spellcaster was the first to speak:

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:55

"Let's say we believe you. You think it's possible?"

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:56

"It's not gonna be easy, that's for sure. But if you do everything I tell you to do and don't get completely stupid, we have a good chance of getting there. Especially since we don't have to walk very far. Again, Honorable Kiara, you are the experienced leader of the silver adventurer team, along with your two apprentices. I'm sure that with my support, you'll be able to do something like this."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:58

"Let's say. What do we do now?"

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:58

"That's a good question, honorable Ciara. First, let me clarify. Have either of you ever been to the Underworld before?"

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:59

Expectedly, everyone shook their heads except for the eldest of the dwarves.

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 17:59

"When I was young, I worked on the lower levels under Mont Ros Mountain for a couple of years. I even went to the Neutral Territories a few times. But I was there as an assistant master, under the protection of Clan warriors, not required to find a route or stand guard."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:01

"I once had the opportunity to fulfill an order in a rather spacious and deep cave. It was a hunt for a mountain troll. Successfully," Ciara said carefully.

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:02

In response, Luaval only shook his head:

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:02

"I see. Well, let's consider this a unique chance to gain rare and valuable experience. You may well be able to claim the gold rank after this, honorable Ciara. And equally honorable masters will be able to braid their beards in the warrior way and mark themselves accordingly."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:03

In response, both dwarves snorted grimly.

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:03

"Okay, all kidding aside. Here's the deal. I need to get another prisoner out. I'll try to make it through today. I should be back by morning. Then, when everyone's assembled, I'll begin a detailed briefing. Honorable Ciara, can you take over the recharging of the amulets in my absence?"

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:04

The redheaded spellcaster nodded affirmatively:

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:04

"I'm good. Ronan and Andrea will help me, and practice at the same time."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:04

"Very good. In that case, you may proceed."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:05

Opening his sack, Luaval laid out several dozen small and a couple of medium-sized storage crystals of the highest quality, the work of elven craftsmen. Ciara's eyes widened visibly at the sight of them, but they said nothing.

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:05

"I'll leave you to it for now. Once again, I ask you not to make any noise or leave the cellar. And I remind you," Luaval looked at the slanting shamaness, "not to try to summon your own spirits or even the spirits of this place. You'll get nothing, and you'll give away our sanctuary."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:06

"Hai. I remember your words," the girl nodded, still looking at Luaval warily.

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:08

"In that case, I'll see you later."

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:08

After saying goodbye to the rescued prisoners, the dark elf left the basement and went up, still unnoticed, to the second floor of the building. Reaching the desired door, Luaval gently knocked in the agreed manner. After a few moments, his keen elven hearing picked up the clatter of a chair being pushed back, quick footsteps, and the creak of a deadbolt. When the door opened, the well-fed owner of the house appeared behind it. With a glance around, he stepped aside and whispered:

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:09

"Come in quick!"

Camrad_RIP 27.03.24 в 18:10

Luaval stepped into the office in a blurry shadow, and the merchant hastily locked the door. At the same time, he reactivated the stationary artifact at the entrance, which made it difficult to hear the room. It was not a bad artifact, to his credit. Returning to the table, where a dish with sea chowder stood between neat stacks of paper and rolled scrolls, the merchant waited until the dark elf appeared on the chair in front of him. The merchant waited until the dark elf appeared in front of him:

Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 20:04

"I've prepared what you asked for today. But please be very careful! His Majesty was very saddened by what happened the day before. You and your companions are wanted all over the island. Especially the fire sorceress, whom everyone believes to be the main culprit. There are posters with her portrait and description everywhere."

Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 20:03

"How much are they offering?"

Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 20:03

"A lot, honorable. Ten thousand full pearls, or three thousand pieces of silver. One and a half times as much for a alive."

Camrad_RIP 26.03.24 в 20:02

"Pretty good. What about the rest?"

Camrad_RIP 30.03.24 в 18:04