История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: 43. Финал

Final
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Camrad_RIP 09.09.24 в 18:57

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Camrad_RIP 09.09.24 в 20:55

Folding her arms across her chest, Sivila said gloomily:

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 12:44

"Do you think he was involved?"

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 12:45

Third, who, like the queen, had already taken his third dose of alchemical stimulants, nodded affirmatively:

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 12:45

"Either himself or someone in his inner circle. I don't rule out that Lord Ferran was “proceed”, but based on what we've seen in the First Temple of Iyastar, we can assume that he, like Dormian, acted voluntarily. Or he was controlled without “processing” by more standard methods. But I find that unlikely, after all, Westmark's city councilors are regularly cross-checked for mind influence. They've all been burned more than once, and mental security is something that self-respecting people take very seriously."

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 05:15

Leaning back, the Head of the Secret Guard shrugged:

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 12:46

"In any case, now it is impossible to know for sure. Our dear Master has cleaned up this mess quite well."

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 13:17

"I see. What about the inhabitants of the estate where he was hiding?"

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 13:17

"All were killed in the first seconds of the assault as soon as the alarm went up. Their bodies were found all over the manor, all of them killed by a single magical strike. The fire did a lot of damage not only to their bodies but also to their subtle shells. Our masters will try to get something out of them, but it's unlikely to yield anything. So far, the main theory is that all the inhabitants of the manor were bound by a single weave that allowed them to die on command."

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 05:16

Sighing heavily, Sivila grumbled in a tired voice:

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 13:26

"I have no doubt. What about the rulers of Westmark?"

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 13:27

"Predictably, the city council threw a real tantrum and set the entire Confederacy on edge. They demanded explanations from us and immediate military aid as part of the Free Cities' Alliance obligations. But after our emissaries talked to them, things were mostly settled. Now, however, they are demanding compensation for the damage they have caused, but with considerably less insistence."

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 05:17

“Also quite expected,” nodded Sivila.

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:41

"But with our dear, in every sense, northern neighbors, everything was much more complicated..."

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:42

Grimacing as if from a sharp toothache, the queen grumbled:

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:42

"I can imagine..."

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:43

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Camrad_RIP 09.09.24 в 20:55

An urgent call on her personal communication amulet had caught Sivila just as the assault on the manor where Master's laboratory was located was almost complete. A call of maximum urgency, requiring an immediate response. Without taking her eyes off the images of the artifact mirrors that projected what was happening in the laboratory, the queen clenched the amulet and mentally said:

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 05:18

//I'm listening.

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:43

The image of the Supreme Emissary appeared in Sivila's mind. He, throwing aside all propriety and etiquette, immediately came to the point in an undiplomatically straightforward manner:

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:51

//“ Sivila. What the fuck are you guys up to? The Confederation and the Theocracy are howling in unison about acts of aggression, and the latter have taken our mission under siege and threatened us with holy war if they don't get an immediate explanation. And I don't even have anything to say to them. Because I don't know a damn thing about what you've done and why you've done it”

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 05:20

By the standards of the always professionally restrained chief elven diplomat, these words could be considered practically the equivalent of street swearing. Without twitching an eyebrow or an ear, the queen calmly replied:

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:52

//“I perfectly understand your irritation. You, and not only you, will get all the details of our operation at the next urgent extended meeting of the Supreme Council. Which we have already announced. In the meantime, you may report the following to the sun worshippers and confederates.”

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 05:21

With an effort of will, the Queen sent the Supreme Emissary a message-explanation prepared for him in advance. Upon receiving it, the head of the Forest's diplomats spent about a minute familiarizing himself with them. After which, he uttered a single word:

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 05:22

//"Seriously?"

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:52

//"Absolutely"

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:53

The Supreme Emissary was silent for a few seconds, then said thoughtfully:

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:53

//"I will pass on your messages. And I will eagerly await ALL the details of your operation."

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:54

//"I have no doubt"

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:55

Having said goodbye to the chief diplomat, Sivila returned to monitoring the progress of the operation.

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:55

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Camrad_RIP 09.09.24 в 20:56

The temporary Senior Emissary of the Forest in Iyastar kept his face as calm as he could. Hundreds of years of diplomatic service and professional experience have contributed to that. As well as a complex of the best protective amulets, designed to conceal the thoughts and emotions of the owner, which the Emissary Corps of the Forest could afford. Therefore, from the outside, it might seem that the elf standing in one of the rooms of the Pervohram, wearing the impeccable white and blue robes of a diplomat, was absolutely calm. In reality, however, he was not. And few people could keep their composure, standing before several of the Sun-Face's High Hierarchs at once in the very heart of his power on earth. Very angry High Hierarchs, through whose glowing eyes their equally angry overlord was now looking at him.

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 05:34

Having managed to cleanse himself and bring himself into the required form, the King-Priest Arnuil the First said in an icy voice:

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:56

"We await your explanation, Firstborn. What have your kinsmen done to my city?!"

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:57

The Priest-King spoke the last phrase in a voice that was not his own. In each word, the sheer power of a very disgruntled celestial could be heard. The Senior Emissary kept his face, but mentally prepared for the worst. Nevertheless, without wavering his voice, with the standard elven diplomatic politeness, he said:

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 05:52

"While investigating the kidnappings of their kin, Forest came across an unknown gifted individual who was very knowledgeable in several schools of magic, working with the minds of his victims. A prodigy of whom Forest had no prior knowledge. His trail led Forest agents to Iyastar. Here they were able to determine that Dormian de Faler, head of the House of the same name, was in cahoots with this unknown prodigy. He was just about to arrive in the city with his ransomed captives. The agents assumed that he and this gifted one were planning to commit some sort of atrocity against one of the High Hierarchs."

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 05:57

As the Elven diplomat spoke, the already angry faces of the High Hierarchs grew even more gloomy. But for now, everyone remained silent.

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:57

"However, none of our agents or analysts involved in the search for this gifted man could even guess at the scale of what he had planned. Had it been otherwise, we would have informed the High Hierarchs. Preempting your question as to why we didn't do it sooner. First, to avoid scaring off this gifted man, about whom we knew nothing but that he posed a great danger. The second is that we couldn't be sure that there were no puppets already recruited by him among you. Because even among the firstborn there were some, despite all the checks. The culmination of all this was the incident at the First Temple today. During which, - here the elf deliberately added hardness to his voice and gave his face a classic elven haughty expression, - it was our agents who saved your Holy Maiden from being fucked right on the main altar of the First Temple. And in doing so, saved you all from possibly losing your anal virginity."

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 05:59

Turning his head slightly towards the Commander of the Bright Paladins, the diplomat added casually:

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:58

"At least those of you who still have it."

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 14:59

The green-skinned giant, seated in full plate armor that shone with golden embossed patterns, jerked sharply, but the will of his master held him in place.

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 15:00

"And that's all I can tell you for now," the standard-bearing, imperturbable elven diplomat finished speaking.

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 15:01

In confirmation of his words, the Senior Emissary showed the small altar of Damocar, a small white stone ball he was holding in his hand as he spoke. It glowed brightly and evenly as he spoke. Demonstrably slowly, the diplomat placed it on the edge of the table in front of the High Hierarchs, and with a slight movement directed the orb toward the Priest-King. As if it were not made of stone, it rolled easily toward Arnuil, stopping exactly in front of him. For a few seconds, the Priest-King stared at the elf with glowing eyes, then slowly squeezed the orb in his hand. It flared even more, changing from a snow-white light to a yellowish-solar light. Then, with a stony expression on his face, Arnuil said in a voice that was not his own:

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 06:00

"Your words have been heard, Firstborn. You may go. For now."

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 15:02

With a perfect bow, the interim Senior Emissary turned and left the Priest-King's office, where the most difficult negotiations of his not-so-short life had just taken place. As soon as the doors closed behind him, Arnuil the First's eyes flashed with fire, and he slammed his fist down with all his might on the tabletop. All the High Hierarchs seated at the table shuddered and slumped their heads into their shoulders:

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 06:09

"How did you let this happen?! Where were you looking?! What were you doing?!"

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 15:03

Aurora and Mayer sitting next to each other shrank back even more, but they did not attempt to justify themselves. Arnuil, or rather the Sun-Face that now spoke through his mouth, turning the Priest-King almost into his own Avtar, continued:

Camrad_RIP 11.09.24 в 06:10

"In the First Temple, in the very heart of the Bright City, they did not notice the enemies! I entrusted you with my greatest treasure, and you almost lost her! Do you even understand what could have happened?!"

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 15:05

The enraged celestial screamed the last phrase so loudly that his subordinates almost went deaf.

Camrad_RIP 10.09.24 в 15:04