История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: 32. Неожиданные союзники агентов королевы эльфов

Unexpected allies of the agents of the Elf Queen

Camrad_RIP 23.06.24 в 06:30

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Camrad_RIP 23.06.24 в 06:30

Iyastar, the Temple City, the Light City, the City of Light, the Survivor City, the Last City. It was called different names in different places, and in general, each of these names was well deserved, at least in part. The capital of the Northern Theocracy of the Sun-Face was strikingly different from the cities of the Confederation or the Southern Caliphate, not to mention the jungle cities of the Lizardmen, or the even more distant lands to the East. The first thing that caught the eye of a newcomer, aside from the Small Sun that shone perpetually over the city, was the crispness and regularity of the buildings and streets. Unlike most Free Cities, which were often built chaotically and without a single system, Iyastar was built from the very beginning according to a single strict and clear plan. It would be more accurate to say that it was rebuilt almost from scratch. Originally, Iyastar, which had a different name at the time, was located a little further northwest of its current location. In the valley on the shore of the lake was another not very large town, which lived mainly by fishing and river trade. It had been destroyed and looted to the ground during the last Great War with the Orcs.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 12:26

In its place, the surviving defenders and inhabitants of Iyastar, which had survived the war, began to rebuild, leaving the former half-destroyed place of residence. Now everyone called it simply: Old Town, and almost no one remembered its former name. Moreover, by now there were only a few ruins and piles of stones left of it. Over the past centuries, the sun worshippers dismantled everything that could be found there and used it for the construction of a new city. Which they called (how humanly original!) New City. Later, when the construction of the first temple of the Sun-face was completed and the Lesser Sun shone above it, it became Iyastar. But the first name took hold, and now the New City was called by the common people the part of the capital of the Theocracy inside the ring of the fortress wall. The center and heart of the city was, as it is not difficult to guess, a huge temple of the Sun, towering above all the other buildings of the city and the entire surrounding area. It was round at its base and surrounded on all sides by a spacious paved square. It was also round. The square itself was surrounded by a single ring of buildings, in which there were at regular intervals high arches-passageways. Some of them were residential, some administrative, some had workshops and refectories, and a couple of buildings were occupied by soldiers of the Light Order.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 12:29

From them, through arches and passageways, there were eight wide and spacious streets, which divided the city into sectors. In the middle of the street that ran towards the lake was a deep and wide canal that fed the entire city with water. The space between the streets was occupied by tall, mostly four-story buildings. They were mostly residential buildings, but there were plenty of commercial, warehouse, or craftsman buildings. Although they may have differed in purpose, they were similar in appearance, height, and architectural style. All the buildings in New Town were exclusively light-colored, mostly white, and had tile roofs. Some were built of light-colored stones, and some were simply covered with whitewash or plaster, but whatever the case, there was not a single dark building in New Town. Even the streets were paved with light-colored stone, bringing it from faraway lands if necessary. Given the ever-shining Lesser Sun, the amount of whiteness and light would have blinded one, but the people of the city found a way out. Each street was planted at regular intervals with sprawling fruit trees imported from the southern shores of the Middle Sea. Carefully nurtured and fertilized, they provided some shade and coolness under the constant sunlight. And at the same time three crops of fruit a year.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 12:32

Because of this similarity of buildings and streets, visitors could easily confuse one street with another and get lost. The only exception was one sector of the city, where the buildings of the various guilds and the representative courts of other countries or cities were located. Here, the houses and buildings were of all kinds. Though, for the most part, they were also light colored, so as not to irritate the local fanatical inhabitants too much. The most notable exception was the building that housed the representative office of the Undermountin. Built of huge monolithic blocks of dark stone, it looked more like a small fortified fortress in the classic dwarven style than a trade and diplomatic office. Dwarves were dwarves everywhere, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. However, given the bearded men's skill in construction and craftsmanship, even the sun-worshippers were willing to turn a blind eye.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 15:40

Between the sectors, alleys were laid at regular intervals, forming circular lines running through the entire city. They were narrower, but, like the main streets (or as they were called locally "rays"), they were clear and even. The work of skillful master city planners was evident. The New City ended with a powerful and high fortress wall with galleries, fortified towers, and a deep moat fed with water from the lake. The wall approached almost closely to its banks. Behind it, surrounding it in a wide semicircle, were mostly two- and one-story wooden houses, inhabited by peasant families working in the fields around Iyastar. There were also barns, pens, stalls for livestock, and various workshops whose work was either excessively noisy or stinky. There was no such uniformity and order inside the walls, and the houses were not all solidly light-colored, built mostly of wood, but the distinctness of the radial and circular streets was preserved. They called this part of the city, (again human originality) the Outer City. In those parts of the city adjoined the lake were numerous wharves, ship workshops, fishermen's artels, and trading warehouses. River trade along the Lendra was much busier than land trade.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 15:44

It was not hard to guess, looking at Iyastar from above, that such construction made the city look like a symbolic sun with rays coming from it. In fact, this was the intention of the builders. All for the glory of the Sun Face, probably to make it more pleasant for him to look from above at his fiefdom in which he invested so much of his efforts. Of all the current celestials, he was most attached to his flock, concentrated, in fact, in one relatively small place. The same Gaia was prayed to almost everywhere, even in the Underworld. Because almost everywhere they also wanted to eat and continue the lineage. The Life-Giver did not have a main temple or a high priestess, but that was more than compensated for by the scope of her flock. The Lady of the Seas may have openly patronized the Kingdom of the Isles, but in one way or another, all those whose lives were connected to the sea were praying to her. The possible destruction of the Islands would be a terrible blow to her, but not fatal. But for the Sun-Face, Iyastar and the Theocracy that had formed around it was, in fact, everything. The fall of this city would very likely lead to the fall of the celestial himself. In the terrible times of the Great War, he put literally everything on one card, as people would say. That's why he spared no effort to protect his child and his flock. And this attitude has more than paid off so far.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 15:49

Since the fall of the Kingdoms of the North, its Theocracy had grown and strengthened, standing firmly on its own feet and fiercely snapping at any attempts by outsiders to encroach on its lands. Moreover, it was itself engaged in systematic expansion. Ideally, the highest clergy of the Sun-face dreamed of reviving the North again in time, but under the rule of a single god. So far, the realization of these plans was like a crawl from the Sunset Coast to the Sunrise Coast, but the Sun-worshippers were in no hurry, wresting from the Wild Lands inch by inch with fanatical persistence. The eternal summer in and around Iyastar provided a reliable rear, allowing them to feed the temple guards and the paladins of the Order of Light. And not just them.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 15:51

The second thing that caught the eye of those who came to the capital of the Theocracy was the complete absence of beggars, vagrants, homeless, or street kids. Nor any equivalent of the poor slums found in even the wealthiest cities of the Confederation or the Caliphate. The Sun-Face did not tolerate idlers of any kind in his land. Any vagrant or waif, if he appeared on the streets of Iyastar or any other city of the Theocracy, would be immediately taken by vigilant temple guards. Then they would have taken him to the nearest temple or monastery, where he would have been washed, shaved if necessary, fed, given simple but good clothes, read a sermon, and put to work for the benefit of the Sun. Most likely, at the nearest monastery or temple. For there was plenty of work in the Theocracy. And in the case of a child, they would also ask him where he came from, who his parents were, and how he ended up on the streets. Lesser Sun, the embodied divine miracle, cost the Sun-Face a lot of effort and, therefore, from all those living in eternal warmth, he demanded hard work. Ideally also regular prayers in his favor.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 15:56

If a captured vagrant refused to start working for the benefit of the Sun, he was summarily sent away from the lands of the Theocracy with the first caravan. And forbidden to return on pain of severe punishment. Unless he would change his mind and undergo the rite of repentance. Though such refusals were rare, even when vagrants and beggars were still found in the lands of the sun-worshippers. The life of a laborer at the temples or monasteries of the Sun-worshipper was full of hard work and care, as well as regular prayers. But in this respect, it did not differ from the life of most poor peasants. But unlike those same poor peasants, each of them was guaranteed a dry and warm shelter over their heads, and a hot meal at the communal table three times a day. Every day. This the priests and monks of the Sun-face watched very strictly. There were cases that for insufficient diligence in caring for the flock, the guilty received a slap on the wrist from the highest authority. Because such a violation of promises undermined the faith of the flock in him. And given its relatively small number, it caused an extremely painful and nervous reaction of the celestial, all forces striving to increase it. Not to mention a well-known truth: where the heavens stopped hearing people's prayers, voices from below began to sound more and more clearly. And no, not from the Underworld.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 16:01

It must be admitted that the promise of a guaranteed shelter and a simple but good and regular meal was one of the main and very effective methods of the sun-worshippers to attract new flocks from other lands. For many of the poor and beggars in the same Free Cities or surrounding villages, this was a very tempting offer. And the followers of the Sunface regularly sent their missions to neighboring lands. Not everywhere such preachers were welcome. And it was not only those in power or priests of other gods who looked askew at them but also representatives of crime, who after such visits were deprived of a considerable part of potential recruits. In truth, few places dared to antagonize them openly. In some places, on the contrary, such preachers were welcomed, seeing in them an opportunity to get rid of unnecessary and superfluous mouths.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 16:40

The third thing that caught the eye of a first-time visitor to Iyastar was cleanliness. In Morgrave, the Pearl of the Middle Sea, the streets of the Upper City were cleaned to a reasonable standard. A whole artel of workers were busy just keeping the streets clean, cleaning up, and hauling away the garbage outside the city walls. In the Middle City, however, things were different, and it was impossible to walk down some streets without getting covered in slop or piles of manure. The Lower Town was not worth mentioning. In Iyastar, on the other hand, cleanliness was observed with a truly fanatical zeal. Each sector of the city had its cleaning crew. The cobblestone streets were swept thoroughly, and piles of manure dropped by horses were immediately collected on special carts to be taken to the surrounding fields. Other garbage was also dealt with. Some were burned outside the city, and some were subjected to accelerated rotting, through the efforts of a small, specially hired circle of druids. It must be admitted that all of this together made a great impression on the visiting people. Often indelible. But not the elves. Twilight's squad did not care about the beauty of the capital of the sun-worshippers. They had a long and hard work ahead of them, which began right at the city gates.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 16:42

At the entrance to the city, the squad of adventurers was met by the temple guards, led by one of the junior paladins and a couple of clerics. They checked the documents issued at the border monastery and the guild tokens. They inspected all the cargo again. Having found nothing compromising and ensuring that the tokens were genuine, the servants of the Sun-faced One let the group inside the city without any unnecessary delays. They only politely and unobtrusively reminded about fines and punishments for disturbances in the city. They also asked if the guests knew where the Adventurer's Guild building was and how to get there. Having received an affirmative answer, the guards wished an ever-shining sun over their heads and busied themselves with the next arrivals. As the squad passed through the gates of the city, a wave of light traveled through each of them, and... nothing happened. The disguise of the Secret Guard agents had stood the test. To be fair, she wasn't the most meticulous, and the relics installed in the gate towers, designed to highlight the hidden, only worked at quarter strength. If the sun-worshippers had been seriously testing them, bringing the defenses up to full power, surely they would have at least noticed something amiss. But no one would have the strength to screen everyone and anyone arriving in the largest city in the north in a heightened mode.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 16:49

Once inside, the adventurers, tired after their long journey, headed toward their guild building. There were few people on the streets of Iyastar, for it was a deep night. But one could only realize it by the absence of the second, real sun in the sky. And also by the ringing of a special bell that notified the citizens of the city about the beginning and end of a new day. What to say, the absence of night as such had its disadvantages. But the eternal warmth and the opportunity to harvest three crops a year outweighed them. So the inhabitants of Iyastar and its environs did not even think of grumbling but found salvation from the constant light in extremely thick shutters or in equally thick blindfolds made of dark cloth.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 16:53

At the local branch of the Adventurer's Guild, which was much more modest than in Morgrave or Neirat. Twilight's squad was met by the night shift on duty. Here they checked their badges again, asked about the purpose of their visit, and, with particular attention, about their journey along the Northern Path. Having learned that the party wished to spend the winter in the warmth having successfully closed another contract they were recommended a couple of decent inns, just for such winterers. They could stay there for relatively little money and, they noted, they wouldn't be bored too much by sermons. At the same time, a couple of representatives of trade guilds were hinted that they could buy their goods for a fair price. They also told them that there was hardly any work for them in the city itself, but that there would always be a contract or two in the borderlands of the Theocracy. Just in case the squad got tired of being idle or needed extra money.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 16:56

Twilight-Darendil, disguised as a squad leader, listened and memorized all this, thanking them for the advice and not being lazy to ask about everything in detail. The role of squad leader had to be carefully maintained. After saying goodbye to their "colleagues", the adventurers went to one of the inns they had been invited to. A good three-story building was located in the neighboring sector and even had stables. The owner, a well-fed middle-aged man, had no trouble arranging accommodation for the entire squad for two months. Just for starters. And at the same time about the places in the stalls and feeding for the mules. Having negotiated all the details and handed over the deposit to the satisfied owner, the road-weary adventurers proceeded to the dining room on the first floor. There they were fed by a couple of young and a little sleepy maids, who received a portion of interested looks from the men. And even more disgruntled looks from the female members of the squad, who looked at them like natural wolves. After the meal, they were taken to the four adjoining rooms they had been given. The decorations were modest in the monastic way, but everywhere was exemplary cleanliness.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 19:53

After sending away a few disappointed maids, the adventurers began to settle into their new place, looking forward to their future vacation. There was nothing unusual or suspicious, just the typical talk of soldiers of fortune who had caught their luck. Of course, it was all just a screen. In reality, the Secret Guard agents first discreetly checked the rooms and ensured there were no surprises. Then they began to carefully and carefully weave their own protective and camouflage network, designed to hide what was going on in the rooms of the agents from others. Or rather, not conceal, but distort. Since a trivial defense against surveillance at the inn would be a demasking factor. It was necessary to make it so that if someone tried to watch or overhear what was going on inside, they would see and hear the life of ordinary mercenaries on vacation. This was an order of magnitude more difficult than simply protecting oneself from the outside world. It took several hours of meticulous work to erect the defenses. Finally, two dozen amulets and four small artifacts connected into one network and worked, cutting off the occupied rooms from the rest of the world. It was only then that the Secret Guard agents allowed themselves to exhale. They immediately began their work, which they had a lot of work to do.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 19:54

The sacks of belongings, after being turned outwards empty, found themselves filled again with already very different things. Which would have raised big questions for the sun worshippers. Several unremarkable camping chests were opened with a special set of keys. And they, too, turned out to be filled with something other than what had been shown during the inspections. A few more hours of preparations and four neighboring rooms turned into one large operational headquarters. One room was set aside as a resting place, a second for storage, a third for magical work, and a fourth for operations. The defenses were further strengthened, and Twilight began setting tasks:

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:19

"All right, first group, you're on yard workers. Start with the servants. Follow the third pattern of the second type. Minimal footprints."

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:20

"Got it."

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 06:07

"Second group, you are responsible for maintaining cover for the headquarters and organizing escape routes. Proceed with extreme caution and do not draw attention to yourself."

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:20

"Got it."

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 06:07

"Group three, you're in charge of dealing with agents and contacts with the Forest representation. Also, extreme caution, especially when dealing with diplomats. They may have been checked, but until we find out exactly how Senior Emissary Arendal and his aides were compromised, we can't be completely sure of them."

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:21

"Got it."

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 06:07

"Group four, let's start working on the one operating under the guise of Tiantrelle. To begin with..."

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:22

At that moment, Darendil's communication amulet emitted a low squeak. Clutching it in his palm, the Secret Guard agent said mentally:

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:22

//I'm listening.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 16:43

//"I met with Scheff, Twilight."

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:23

//"Already? Good. What's the latest from our tailed friend?"

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:23

//"Very interesting. Turns out we severely underestimated Tiantrel's success."

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:23

//I'm listening.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 16:43

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Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 06:08

Even before the agents arrived in the capital of the Theocracy, Luaval separated from the group and moved on alone. The dark elf was heading towards the Old City, which he remembered as the prosperous capital of one of the Fallen Kingdoms of the North. Now only piles of broken stones, vague outlines of roads and streets, and some ruins remained from the former grandeur. Almost everything that could be dismantled had been dismantled by the sun worshipers over the years. On the surface. But most of the rather extensive dungeons under the Old City survived. These were both former sewer tunnels and underground rooms of various buildings and palaces. And of course all sorts of secret underground passages. And most of these dungeons were in very good condition. Moreover, in some places, the network of underground tunnels was expanded.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:25

The Rat folks, or, as they called themselves, Skaven, were to thank for that. These dwellers of the Underworld and the dungeons were very different from the rest of the beastfolk. While the latter were mostly human, with animal traits, the Skaven were beasts with human traits. Like their lesser kin, Skaven could be found in almost any major city. Or rather, UNDER any major city. Or near it, if it was the Underworld. And as with regular rats, Scavens were not well-liked. Not at all. Not at all.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:26

And there were reasons for almost universal, if not hatred, then strong dislike of the rat folks. Most of the rumors, stories, and tales about them were pure fiction, but the part that was true justified this attitude more than enough. Theft, murder, kidnapping, and dark practices - the Skaven were not averse to anything for the sake of their survival. And the more powerful a clan was, the more daring they became. Some of the most powerful clans were a serious force to be reckoned with by other rulers. This regularly resulted in violent and bloody skirmishes, sometimes escalating into actual wars. A couple of times they even came to the surface.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:27

The reason the Skaven were not exterminated everywhere was simple. Benefit. Skaven could, and were, extremely useful to those who could force them to fulfill the terms of a treaty or were beneficial to them. Like their smaller kin, they were adept at infiltrating just about anywhere, given time. Any basement, sewer, dungeon - with the proper motivation, rat folks could get into anything. In the Underground, they had their separate system of paths and tunnels which were called Rat Tunnels. They could use them to move very quickly through the Neutral and even Wild Territories of the Underground. Rumor had it that there were entire halls where no one but Skaven could go. Luaval personally doubted that. At least those rumors must have been exaggerated. They also had an excellent sense of smell. Not all of them did, but some could smell magic, not to mention traces that had long since cooled down and that not all dogs could pick up. Such masters were rare, very valuable, and therefore well paid.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:30

Because of all this, the rat folks were tolerated. Gritting the teeth, writhing, and spitting, but tolerated. Because the possible benefits of an alliance with them outweighed the possible problems. As a rule. Of course, the Night Guilds, Assassins' Guilds, and all sorts of Secret Guards were the main partners of the Skaven. But they weren't the only ones who did business with the rat folks. Even Luaval's kin, though they had a squeamish aversion to them, nevertheless used their services. Though they were careful not to publicize such contacts. In some places, the most contractual clans of rat folks even had quite legal status. However, there were only a few of them. And the clan that lived in the vicinity of Iyastar was not one of them. The Sun-worshippers were loyal to all races, but they didn't like the inhabitants of the Underworld, where there was no sunlight. The Sun-worshippers tolerated the Skaven in the dungeons of the Old City, clearly marking their boundaries. What they could do. Where they could do it, and where they shouldn't go if they didn't want their tails burned off. The exception was a few who sincerely agreed to join the ranks of the flock of the Sun-worshipers, leaving their kin and life underground.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 20:33

And this dislike was quite mutual, which was foolish not to take advantage of. It was good that Forest had contact with the local rats. However, the rat-folks did not realize with whom they were doing business. Therefore, after reaching the Old City without being seen, Luaval chose a secluded place and spent almost an hour preparing his disguise as a human. He had received the necessary image and instructions in advance and had memorized them carefully. When everything was ready, a figure dressed in the dark gray robes of a silent man, with a hood and a mask halfway down his face, entered through a cleverly concealed manhole in the middle of the ruins that led to the surviving part of the dungeons. Quite a human face.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 12:07

Once inside the darkness of the ancient sewer, Luaval breathed a sigh of relief, despite the rather stale air. How irritating this Small Sun was to him. The constant light made him physically uncomfortable, as he was used to operating in the dark. Not to mention the fact that under the rays of the divine miracle, the camouflage amulets worked worse and discharged faster. This added to the feeling of being half-naked, which was even more annoying. When he was in the almost total darkness of the underground tunnels, he immediately felt better. Looking around, the dark elf could easily make out the travel signs scratched on the wall, hiding among the cracks and mold stains. He knew where he was going without them, though. The cartographic department of the Secret Guard did not eat their bread in vain.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 12:08

Invisible and inaudible, Luaval moved forward through an ancient tunnel that intersected with others of the same kind. The Dungeon Hunter's experienced eye had no trouble discerning the rat-folks' signs of travel, as well as their traps and beacons. They were very meticulous and responsible in their defense of their territory. However, otherwise, it was impossible to survive in the Underground. Among its inhabitants were enough of those for whom skaven were a tasty prey. Some of them were even intelligent. Not to mention the fact that most of the intelligent bipedal inhabitants of the domain of Mistress's in the Darkness considered it a good idea to kill the encountered scavengers or a group of them. If possible. So some of the rat-folks were always alert, ready to raise the alarm at any moment, and there were always several escape routes from their settlements. As a rule, at least three.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 12:10

But Luaval was not going to the local clan settlement, which was much lower in the real Underworld, but to a meeting place with an informant of the Secret Guard. They had long ago realized that information was a valuable commodity, and had mastered the trade in it. They were excellent spies, and they had good hearing. They could and liked to eavesdrop on all kinds of gossip, private conversations, and other secrets. That, on the one hand, only increased the dislike of them but also increased their potential usefulness. The particular ratfolk Luaval was going to meet was the leader of one of the packs in his clan, a pack that was in the business of gathering information. Or, to put it in the terms of a ratfolks - the Elder Tail. He had more than a dozen young kin under his command. He cooperated with the Forest for a long time and very fruitfully.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 12:15

Even on the approach to the place of the future meeting, the dark elf noticed a couple of young rats, lurking in hidden rookeries and carefully watching the tunnel with red eyes, ready to raise the alarm in case of the slightest threat. The clever rats were skillfully camouflaged. He might not have noticed them before the First Initiation. Having safely passed the two ratfolks, Luaval moved on, deftly avoiding the next set of traps. The dark elf took a couple of minutes to neutralize the signal web and found himself in the next passage. There, in a small side cubbyhole, three ratfolks were sitting by a dim magical lamp, talking quietly among themselves in their squeaky language. They glanced around with red eyes, sniffed, and twitched their ears. Gently approaching without anyone noticing, Luaval said in a hoarse, rough voice with a West Midland accent:

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 12:18

"You're losing your edge, Scheff."

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 12:19

The whole trio of ratfolk jumped up with a loud squeak. They stared into the darkness with red eyes and long knives, their sharp teeth bared. The eldest of the trio, the larger of the three, with dark gray hair and wearing a nice vest with many pockets, saw a figure standing against the opposite wall. Even though she hadn't been there just now. Rat folk hissed angrily glaring with red eyes, but put his knife back in its scabbard.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 12:23

"Damn you, Cyrus, you're gonna screw up someday with your jokes."

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 12:24

Scheff spoke human language with surprising clarity, almost without accent. It was an important talent among ratfolk, too. His aides stood to the sides of their leader, keeping their eyes on Luaval with tense and suspicious eyes. They did not put away their weapons, still glancing in all directions, sniffing, twitching their tattered ears and bald tails.

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 19:46

"Someday, but not today, Scheff. How else would you have known it was me? If your Tails had spotted me, you'd have run away immediately, thinking it was a trap and someone else was coming."

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 19:47

Twitching his long mustache with displeasure, the eldest of the rat-folks grumbled displeasedly:

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 05:36

"That's true. But you didn't have to sneak up on me!"

Camrad_RIP 27.06.24 в 19:48