История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: 20. Возвращение на родину агента королевы эльфов

Return (to the homeland)?? of the agent of the Elf Queen

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 11:40

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Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 11:40

"Please, honorable, everything you asked for is delivered and on time."

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 20:31

After examining the contents of the elongated chest of iron-clad wood with cloth upholstery inside, Luaval nodded in satisfaction:

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 20:32

"All right. Everything set for tonight?"

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 20:32

"Of course, the honorable one."

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 20:32

"Good."

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 20:32

Slipping his hand into his somewhat lightened shoulder bag, the dark elf pulled out a weighty wallet and held it out to the merchant, who stood behind his office desk, literally panting with impatience.

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:55

"Your reward."

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:55

The merchant took the pouch full of milky-white pearls, assessed its contents, and smiled contentedly. Following the purse, the imperturbable Luaval, dressed in his Dungeon Hunter costume and hooded mask, handed him a small box made of dark polished wood. Inside, in special recesses, were five sealed vials.

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:05

"Bonus. Use it all wisely."

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:06

"Of course, of course, honorable," nodded the happy-go-lucky peddler.

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 20:33

The dark elf's expression was not visible beneath the mask, nor had it changed in the slightest. But to himself, Luaval frowned. In his mind, he understood the usefulness and necessity of such agents. But it didn't make it any easier to deal with them. Taking the chest from the table, the dark elf activated the masking amulet and left the merchant's office, where he immediately drank two vials of rejuvenating alchemy of the highest quality, one after the other. Not everything and not everyone could be bought with money. But the Forest had more to offer than just them. The opportunity to bring one's lifespan a little closer to the Eternity granted by the firstborn was sometimes more effective than gold, silver, gems or pearls.

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:10

Cautiously, Luaval went down into the basement and entered the closed part of the cellar, where all his rescuers were. When the dark elf appeared, they stopped their quiet conversations and looked up at him. Not counting Tiantrelle, who sat motionless on a stool in the corner, staring at nothing with completely empty azure eyes. Laying the chest on the table in the center of the room, which was formed by four barrels and one large crate, Luaval opened its contents, removed the mask from his face, and spoke:

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:11

"Okay, now that everyone is all gathered and rested, it's time for the briefing. As you know, we're going to be traveling through the Underworld. And if you want to stay alive, you'll remember these rules."

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:12

"First and most importantly. Listen and do everything I say. Immediately, at once, and without the slightest argument. If I tell you to stand, you freeze at the same moment and stay there until I permit you to move. If I tell you to lie down, you lie down wherever you are at that moment. It doesn't matter if it's in the mud, a puddle, or a pile of sharp rocks. Your clothes will wash off, your bruises and abrasions will heal, but your life will never be restored. Understand?"

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:13

The dark elf responded with nods and silent affirmations. What pleased Luaval especially was that the rescued grandson of the head of House Faral, quickly realizing that he was not the only one being rescued, did not become indignant in any way. He took note, nodded, and now listened to the dark elf with a completely impassive face. Good.

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:35

"Two. No noise. No talking without my permission. Not at all. You can hold water in your mouth but don't make a single sound. Watch your step and try to move as quietly as possible. Many Underlanders have better hearing than sight. Understand?"

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:36

Luaval Gion, who was listening attentively, raised his hand in the air as if he were in an Academy class or a training class of one of the magic guilds:

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:37

"Yes?"

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:37

"Honorable First, shall we not use amulets to hide the noise we make?"

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:37

"Of course we will. Without them, there was no point in taking you through the Underworld. There are many more merciful ways to end your life. But some dwellers in the Underworld can hear through amulets' protection. I hope we don't run into them, but I can't guarantee it. So we try to keep the noise as low as possible. Any other questions?"

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:39

Everyone shook their heads negatively.

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:39

"Three. Follow me step by step. Or crawl. As I do, so do you. We don't turn around. We don't touch anything without my permission. No plants, no mushrooms, no glowing gems. We don't touch anything without my permission. Especially anything that glows! If you see anything glowing, and there are plenty of such things in the Underground, don't even think about touching it or getting close to it. In all likelihood, it's either a predator's bait or a predator in disguise, or it's trivially poisonous. There are exceptions, but they are few. Understand?"

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:41

"Once again he was answered with nods and quiet words of agreement. Good."

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:41

"Fourth. About water. The Underworld has plenty of streams, creeks, ponds, and lakes, especially in this part. As you've probably already guessed, you should stay away from them, and not go near them without my permission. Especially not to any large bodies of water. Don't go near them! You can only drink water that we take with us, or that I check and then filter, because otherwise you'll have a severe disorder at best, and at worst I'll have to dispose of your corpse. Do you understand?

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:52

This time Ciara listening to Luaval very attentively, raised her hand. If she had been holding a paper with an enchanted stylus, she would have been writing an essay.

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:54

"Yes?"

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:54

"I have heard, Honorable First, that the Underworld has many springs of purest water, infused with magic, which is quite drinkable and useful, especially for the gifted."

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:55

"And all these springs, honorable Ciara, belong to someone. Either the sentient beings who build fortresses around them, guarding them more than gold and gems. Or the monsters that wait there for their prey. The chance that we will find a spring with no owner is slightly higher than the chance a dragon that died of old age will fall from the sky in front of you while walking through the forest. Understand?"

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 12:56

The fire spellcaster nodded briefly.

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:54

"Okay. Speaking of magic. It concerns the three of you and Sinha in particular. There are many places in the Underworld where natural magic flows. There are many more than on the surface."

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:52

"An average of four and a half times," Ciara's redheaded relative answered as if in class.

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:53

"Up to nine in some places, two in others," Luaval nodded and continued.

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:53

"There are places, to give an analogy, where the flow of this magic flows along a narrow channel like a mountain stream. And there are places where they flow wide like a flood. We may well come across such a place. In this case, put the protective amulets in afterburner mode, and strain the outer shells of thin bodies to the limit to level out the effects. Do not even try to replenish your strength reserves with this energy. Without proper training and special filters-storage devices from "raw" magic, you will earn energy poisoning at best. At best. In the worst case, you will endanger all subtle bodies, starting from energy channels and ending with auras and shells. So, no unauthorized feedings from energy lines or sources of magic. Understood?"

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:52

Everyone nodded, but Andrea, Ciara's relative, raised her hand:

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:50

"Yes?"

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:29

"Tell me, Honorable First, what is energy poisoning? I haven't been told about it yet."

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:44

"It varies, depending on the degree of poisoning and the individual characteristics of each gifted person. The most common symptoms are as follows. Clouding of judgment, as with alcohol or drug intoxication. Or, on the contrary, hyperactivity and overexcitement, as from an overdose of stimulating alchemy. Hallucinations of various types. Inability to think adequately and make decisions. Spontaneous and uncontrolled use of magic with unpredictable effects and results. Loss of consciousness. Seizures. Abrupt mood swings, from complete apathy to animal rage or equally animal lust. Understand?"

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:50

"Yes."

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:29

"Good. Now about you, Sinha."

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:29

The daughter of the steppes, who was sitting apart from the others, was immediately alert. She was more wary of Luaval than any of the others. It was probably because her people didn't like anything that didn't live under the eternal blue sky.

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:28

"There are plenty of places in the Underworld where the boundary between our world and the spirit world is almost nonexistent. There are places where it's very weak. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Don't try to talk to them yourself. The spirits of the Underworld are not like the ones your mother taught you to communicate with. There are no free winds beneath the earth, no vast expanses of space, and no equally vast skies. It's a different world. And the spirits that inhabit it are also completely different. Don't try to talk to them. And try not to listen to them. If it gets really bad, tell me beforehand. Do you understand?"

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:02

"Hai. I remember your words, First-san."

Camrad_RIP 06.04.24 в 07:01

"All right. Now let's get to the gear."

Camrad_RIP 02.04.24 в 04:40

Opening a couple more chests that had been brought to the basement, Luaval began to arrange their contents on a makeshift table.

Camrad_RIP 02.04.24 в 11:34

"For starters, clothes."

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 20:35

On the table in front of the rescued men were laid several sets of garments, consisting of pants and shirts of thick, stained dark gray cloth, with stitched reinforced leather overlays at the elbows and knees. Beside each lay a pair of soft cloth wrappings, also dark gray in color. Also spread out on the table were wide waist belts and high leather boots with stiff soles. All the clothes had been selected by the diligent peddler to fit the rescued prisoners.

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 20:35

"You'll leave all your current ones here. You'll wear this one. But first, you're gonna put this on."

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 20:34

On the table lay a small pot of thick and greasy dark ointment, with an unaccustomed and strong earthy odor.

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 20:34