История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: Глава шестнадцатая. Долгая ночь Героя Королевы Эльфов

Chapter Sixteen. The Long Night of the Hero of the Elf Queen

Camrad_RIP 04.05.25 в 18:11

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Camrad_RIP 18.04.25 в 20:00

Service in the city guard of White Harbor, the only city open to representatives of the lesser races of elves, had its peculiarities and distinctions that distinguished it from service in the city guard of almost any other city. And the main difference was that the White Harbor city guard was primarily engaged in what most people expect from the city guard, but do not always get. Keeping order on the city streets. Because the elves, who kept the city guard, recruited mostly representatives of the lesser races, liked order very much. And they didn't like it very much when someone broke it. That's why the well-equipped and equally well-motivated city guards of White Harbor strictly monitored this very order, trying to stop any mischief or not to allow it at all.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:28

To be fair, there were practically no outrages in the only elven city open to outsiders, and if we compare it to other Free Cities, we can safely say that there were none at all. The strict accounting of all arriving guests and the absence of slums or simply poor neighborhoods in principle contributed to that. Of course, nothing is perfect, and sometimes trouble happens in White Harbor. But it was very rare; the elves' well-oiled mechanism of controlling city life rarely failed.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:30

And as in any county, the White Harbor City Guard had its own tricks and professional secrets. One of these secrets, which Marjana, the daughter of Farbin of White Harbor, was told by her mentors during her training, was an unspoken rule: “Before the end of your shift, never do anything that does NOT require your direct intervention. At other times, being vigilant is not just necessary, it is a must. But not just before the end of your shift. Don't stop to check on obviously drunk guests on city streets who are yelling or laughing too loudly, but otherwise doing nothing wrong. Don't ask if documents and permits are in order for honorable merchants who carry their goods in too securely sealed chests on too well-protected carts to the city portal.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:31

Because if you do it just before the end of your shift, then by some unwritten, but immaculately executed law of Destiny itself, you are much more likely to get into some shit. And the kind of shit that will come back to bite you in the ass.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:32

An over-alcoholized guest from the Rising Empire, who had all the documents and permits in order, would calmly reach his office, but instead of these documents, he would grab a battle wand and start pouring battle magic on everyone and everything around him, thinking that he was going to be kidnapped or robbed. Which means he'll have to be restrained by force without any regard for his origins. And then your superiors will have to make a long and unpleasant explanation and prove through the mediation of the Oath Keeper's Priests that Forest and his guards had no ill intentions towards the honorable nephew of the Emperor of the Rising's Envoy. Who really hadn't broken any rules or laws of the city that would justify stopping and inspecting him. And then there was the matter of dealing with the victims of battle magic, and things were not going well.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:33

At the honorable merchants in one of the chests, in addition to absolutely legitimate goods, just requiring by virtue of its specificity of reliable isolation and protection, will be found bound hand and foot firstborn maiden, kidnapped by friends of these merchants, although all her entourage is sure that she just decided to rest and relax in White Harbor. And you're supposed to be rewarded and thanked for your vigilance. And you'll get both in full for your vigilance. Except that separately, you will also get a HUGE thanks from the Grays, for your vigilance disrupted a long and carefully prepared operation to introduce the agentess of these same Grays in the guise of a slave.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:34

Of course, both of these legendary incidents in the life of the White Harbor City Guard, which Marjana had been told by her venerable instructor-mentor, were just the most famous exceptions, not the norm. Exceptions in terms of the magnitude of the problems, not the rule itself, “no excessive vigilance before the end of your shift.” Normally, the problems for guards in the event of its violation were far more modest. But they were, and so consistently so that among Marjana's colleagues, there were rumors of a really existing law of Fate itself.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:35

When she'd been a young girl who'd just been selected and had begun her training as a guardian, she'd been skeptical. She had been young and naïve enough not to follow in the footsteps of her parents, who had spent their lives in the merchant navy of the Forest. Usually, girls were reluctant to join the city guard, but she was made an exception because of her gift for magic, which had sprung up in her teens. Her parents were over the moon when it was discovered during a routine inspection of the younger races in the Forest. And so was Maryana herself.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:36

But alas, her gift for magic was not very strong, and her childish and naive dream of becoming a great sorceress like Alinarel the Magnificent was extinguished almost immediately. As the elf-mages who examined her told Marjana, her gift was a little below average, and at best, she could expect to reach the level of a strong adept after years of hard training and study.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:36

The same gifted elves offered her several options of where in the Forest she could be trained in magical craft and what specialty. The elves valued gifted young people and invested quite generously in their training. Out of all the options offered to her, Maryana chose to enroll in the Forest Guard training corps, which prepared, among other things, junior and middle-level commanders from the representatives of the younger races that had the right to live in the Forest. If she successfully completed her studies, this, in addition to a good enough allowance during her studies and subsequent service, also guaranteed her a junior officer's patent. And if you performed well in the service, you could also be a middle-ranking officer, which was great. And also, after the end of the obligatory agreed term of service, it would be possible, if desired, to go into private magical practice, having received the corresponding patent.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:38

Marjana was a diligent and clever student. She carefully memorized everything she was taught, and at practical lessons she worked hard, learning the intricacies of creating magic weaves and serving in the ranks of the city guard. She passed the final exams and was officially enrolled in the city guard as an assistant commander of one of the patrol companies, having also received a patent of adept of the first stage. Of course, the actual service was not quite what she had envisioned it to be, even during her studies. None of the adventures she'd enjoyed hearing about in the training corps, but instead just a lot of routine. Boring, monotonous routine.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:39

Patrols and duty, duty and patrols. No romance, but Marjana did her duty faithfully and without complaint, and in her free time, which was not much, she tried her best to hone and develop her magical gift. Her superiors welcomed it. Standard consumables, training materials, and access to common laboratories for magical practice were provided to her. However, it was just that, standard, that is, the simplest. She had to pay out of her own pocket for everything not included in this list, and although her salary was quite decent, the development of her own gift ate up a considerable part of it. But Marjana did not complain. Because gradually, magic weaves were given to her more easily, their complexity increased, as well as their possible number. All this led to the fact that after only three years of service, she was promoted to patrol platoon commander, as well as confirmed the right to a second-stage adept's patent. Which, for such a young girl, was not bad at all!

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:40

By the end of the agreed term of service, she would have a third-stage adept's patent, which would allow her to go into private practice or offer herself for consideration as an apprentice assistant to one of the real masters of magic. In theory, it was even possible to get in with one of the firstborn. But that bright future had yet to be realized.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:46

And in order to live up to it, Marjana strictly followed all the rules and instructions, especially the unspoken and unwritten rule that her mentors had explained to her so thoroughly. Perhaps it was because of this that she was able to avoid getting into any trouble, which was rare but still happened in White Harbor. The most serious trouble she had personally encountered was when she had been involved in pacifying a public conflict between the Southern blacks and the Lizards. Relations between the inhabitants of the Southern Continent were not easy. Plundering raids were replaced by trading expeditions, alliances were made and broken. Nothing unusual.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:47

But that particular time, the representatives of the King on the River had been angered by the fact that the Lizards had offered for sale in their representative office in White Harbor a batch of expensive but familiar goods for the Southern Continent. Only some of them bore the hidden markings of the Khotta trading expedition, which had been plundered and perished on the rivers of the Great Jungle. The plenipotentiary representative of the King on the River could not solve the issue quietly and behind closed doors, or rather did not want to, but instead organized a great show that took place right in the Central Trade Square.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:48

Marjana's entire role then was to stand with her subordinates in a hastily organized cordon while the representatives of the two nations accused each other of all kinds of sins, fraud, and various forms of bestiality in the Central Square. Selective swearing with a characteristic southern accent was replaced by equally characteristic hissing and whistling, while the hastily arrived representatives of the Forest, mediated by the priests of Damokar, tried to understand the essence of the conflict and prevent it from escalating into a full-fledged battle. And there were chances, for the representative of the King on the River was a relative, and not too distant, of the chief of the lost trading expedition of the Khotta people. And he had bitten his teeth, demanding not only compensation for the stolen goods, but also blood money for his nephew or grandson.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:50

Marjana didn't know how the elven diplomats had managed to persuade the lizards and the black-skinned southerners not to bring the matter to the point of murder and to talk normally behind closed doors instead of arranging something incomprehensible in the middle of the day. And she didn't really want to. The less you know, the better you sleep. At that moment she was more concerned about the fact that the set of protective amulets, which consisted of both the service amulets and a couple of self-made ones made of enchanted blanks bought with her own money, was getting hotter and hotter as the swearing of the Lizards and the Southerners became more and more selective and insulting. And when the elves led them away, she was genuinely relieved. And until today's unfortunate day, it had been the worst thing Marjana had encountered in her service.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:52

It was still a long way from the end of her shift when the alarm came through the service communication amulet, informing her of an incident in the Zoo, as the people of White Harbor called the marketplace where all sorts of animals were sold. Marjana and her ten had rushed to the scene of the accident, and the other two ten under her command had been on the lookout. But almost immediately, it became clear that their help would not be needed, and the incident was resolved quickly and surprisingly peacefully. Though Marjana, when she checked the documents of the blond-haired, handsome half-elf, she was at first quite tense. No, his documents, certified with all the necessary seals, were in good order, as were his servants. Except that there was something missing. One small detail.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 18:54

A family name. That said a lot to Marjana, who had seen some things and heard even more from her older colleagues. Like expensive clothes, made according to the latest fashions. And also very expensive and very high-quality amulets. Just one battle wand of a gifted half-elf cost, according to Marjana's estimates, as much as half of her annual salary. Maybe two-thirds. And besides the wand, he had a whole set of other amulets of the same quality as the wand. And let's not forget the healing alchemy he had, with which the half-elf had literally saved the life of a crooked boy from the Caliphate. It was worth as much as a year's allowance for a young guard, because the other one could not have healed the eyes of the little idiot burned by the acid of Dilafurelia in a few minutes.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:04

The cherry on the cake was that the handsome half-elf was also gifted, and, as Marjana realized, he was noticeably stronger than her, a very strong adept, already close to the rank of master of magic. Adding it all up, one did not need to be a sage to realize that she was looking at the illegitimate son of one of the firstborn sorceresses. And obviously not one of the last ones, since she could afford to spend such money on the upkeep of a half-blood child. Realizing all this, Marjana already had a premonition of difficult proceedings and the imminent intervention of either the Greens or, much worse, the Greys. But to her amazement and relief, the honorable Cirial did not call for help from his mother's relatives or his mother herself. Well, or daddy, that could also be possible, though unlikely. Firstborn men are far less likely to have children with women of lesser races than vice versa. Cirial did not demand any compensation from the relatives of the rescued fool, but only wished to go away. Marjana was very glad of that, because all her experience of service in the city guard claimed that it was better to stay away from the Greens, if possible.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:09

Therefore, having made sure that there were no claims from both sides and having received a new pair of excellent boots of expensive and well-made leather in addition to the fine for violation of public order, she left the Zoo with peace of mind, leaving the captain of the Caliphate ship to flatter the blond handsome half elf on her own. The rest of the shift went smoothly, and Marjana was almost convinced everything was all right. She safely handed over to her colleagues from the night shift and reached the barracks without any accidents with her men. Marjana was already standing at the entrance to the weapons room, where she was supposed to hand in the amulets and battle wands to be issued for the shift, when a literal HELL started.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:10

The silence of the barracks was broken by the deafening roar of the alarm amulets, which the young guard had never heard before. At the same time, her service communication amulet came to life. And she wasn't the only one. Each of the commanders of the city guard, starting with the tens, had received the same message:

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:10

//"GENERAL ALERT! CODE BLACK!"

Camrad_RIP 04.05.25 в 20:26

For the first few seconds, Marjana couldn't even realize what was happening. Code Black is very serious. It's a city-wide threat! When it was last announced, hardly anyone but the oldest members of the city guard could remember. Of the lesser races. But the firstborn commanders did. And they remembered what to do in such a case. The elf officer on duty on the first floor of the barracks reacted to the alarm almost instantly. Marjana had no idea there were so many interesting words in classical Elvish, while she and her men were hastily given reinforced battle wands, protective amulets, and vials of stimulating alchemy from the arsenal, which were immediately taken by everyone.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:13

Then there was a desperate run with her platoon through the streets of the Residential Part toward the Trade Part, to the sound of the alarm bells and the light of dozens of glowing orbs that soared into the night sky, making it brighter than daylight. Marjana saw the first dead almost as soon as she crossed the gate separating the Trade and Residential parts of White Harbor. Right in the middle of the street, nearly a dozen bodies of guests and residents lay in pools of blood. Some had been killed in a single, measured blow. Others had almost been hacked to pieces with some enchanted blade or magic. And on the white wall of the house nearest to the massacre, a schematic palm was painted with the blood of the slain, under which was a short inscription in a very distinctive script of the elven alphabet: “We know”.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:14

Mariana did not linger at the scene of the massacre, which could not be called a battle, since the dead had clearly been taken by surprise. The Green soldiers, who had also been alerted, were dealing with the dead and a few of the wounded who had miraculously survived. Their commander gave Mariana a short shout, ordering her to hurry up and take control of the section of the city assigned to them. She hurriedly did so, rushing forward with her men. It was surprisingly easy and even pleasant to run after the alchemy. It would be bad later, and she'd have to drink detoxicants, but that would be later. And we have to live until then!

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:15

On the way to their destination, they encountered signs of carnage twice more in the almost completely deserted streets of the city. The picture was the same everywhere. A dozen or half slaughtered guests or residents of the city. A bloody hand on the white walls of the houses. And the inscription beneath it: “We know.” True, at the site of the third massacre, in addition to the victims, the perpetrator was discovered. Dead, too, with his chest burned through with a heavy battle rod. And a face that didn't make sense. At a cursory glance, it looked as if the killer's face had been smeared into mush. Beside his body stood a large man with a clear admixture of orc blood, dressed in a once immaculate black and white servant's suit, now stained with blood, with a pair of battle amulets in the form of bracelets on his wrists. He explained himself in fairly good Elvish to the Gray agent while several Green fighters tended to the dead and wounded. At the same time, an obviously panicked and close to hysterics lady in a gorgeous navy blue, also thickly splattered with blood, was clinging to him from behind. And she was literally sparkling with a good set of protective amulets on full power.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:18

As in the first time, Marjana did not linger, running past, only giving a brief salute to her elven superiors. Keeping her battle wand at the ready and with activated protective amulets, Marjane and her platoon soon reached the desired intersection in the Trade Part of the city, where they were supposed to take the defense in case of alarm. Briefly reporting to the Nest through the communication amulet that her platoon had reached its destination, she and her men immediately began to take up the defenses. Who would have thought that all those unscheduled drills the Greens had organized for the city guard after the Island King's raid on Morgrave would come in handy so soon? In less than ten minutes, the intersection was securely overlapped with magical shield-barriers powered by mobile storage crystals. Heavy battle wands, like full-fledged staffs, were placed on special tripods in key places.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:19

After double-checking and then double-checking that each of her subordinates was at his post and ready to do what was required of him according to instructions and regulations, Marjana reported once again to the Nest through the communication amulet. She received a short reply from the on-duty officers, who were even more tense: “Copy that. Hold your position. Wait for instructions.”

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:21

Waiting for these very instructions lasted until almost morning and was quite nerve-wracking. Even though no battle had taken place. Several times, squads of fellow vacationers, who had been raised on alert, ran through the intersection occupied by Marjana's fighters. Once, a reinforced squad of Greens with a few Greys raced through. All the elves were in full sets of battle armor and carrying heavy magical wands. The faces of the firstborn were covered with dull enchanted helmets, they did not explain what was going on in the city, just rushed past the guards who were on the defensive. A couple of times, Marjana and her men heard the rumble of battle magic, but each time it was cut off almost immediately. In the morning, when the sun was almost above the sea surface of the Elven Bay, Marjana finally received a message from the Nest:

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:22

//“Nest to Seventeenth! The Sixth Green is on its way to you. You are at the disposal of their commander. I want your full cooperation. Copy that.

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:23

/“Seventeenth to Nest! Copy!”

Camrad_RIP 09.05.25 в 19:23

The sixth squad of Forest Guards did indeed arrive, along with a few Greys. All the elves wore full sets of battle armor, just short of glowing from the full power of their protective weaves. The firstborn held mostly magical wands in their hands, though some had enchanted bows with equally enchanted arrows. The faces of those who could see them were extremely serious and grim. After passing the obligatory check with amulets and passwords, they were allowed inside the protective perimeter. Marjana briefly reported to their commander about the lack of incidents in her section. He listened to her with a cold look in his green eyes, then ordered loudly:

Camrad_RIP 11.05.25 в 21:23

"Attention! We will now be conducting an identity check! I order everyone to stay where they are! Battle wands and amulets to be extinguished and holstered! Defense amulets to full power! When the inspectors approach, don't move, don't say anything, stand still! Execute!"

Camrad_RIP 11.05.25 в 21:23

Inside the protective perimeter, the already tense atmosphere immediately became even more tense. The city guards began to cast wary and incomprehensive glances at each other, at Marjana, and at the arriving elves. And those in return glanced at them not once kindly, but also very tense looks. And Maryana never understood at what moment the firstborns managed to stand in such a way that they could keep each group of fighters in the crosshairs of their battle wands. Fortunately, the discipline ingrained in her head from her training and service had taken its toll. Straightening up, she shouted loudly:

Camrad_RIP 11.05.25 в 21:24

"You heard the order! Carry out!"

Camrad_RIP 05.05.25 в 06:07

And with a smooth movement, she put her battle wand away in her belt holster, putting the weaves in it to sleep. She put her amulets on full power. Her fighters, one by one, followed suit. The elf commander cast a brief grateful glance at Marjana, and then a couple of his fighters, along with the Gray agent, began walking from one city guard to another. While the other elves continued to keep everyone in their sights.

Camrad_RIP 11.05.25 в 21:26

The tension hanging in the air at that moment could literally be felt with her hands, but luckily the checks were very quick. When the last of Marjana's subordinates was checked by the elves and the verdict “Clear” was pronounced, she felt a natural physical relief, as if a mountain had fallen from her shoulders, even though the check took very little time. And, judging by the faces of her colleagues, she wasn't the only one who felt that way. The elf commander, when the inspection was over, with unchanged face and the same cold voice loudly announced:

Camrad_RIP 11.05.25 в 21:26

"Inspection is over! Take out your weapons, put them on full alert, continue to hold the defense, wait for further orders! Any attempts to move residents or visitors to the city immediately suppress, use weapons without warning! Execute!"

Camrad_RIP 11.05.25 в 21:26

" May I have permission to speak?"

Camrad_RIP 11.05.25 в 21:28

Turning to Maryana, the elf commander glanced at her briefly and nodded:

Camrad_RIP 05.05.25 в 06:07

"Granted."

Camrad_RIP 11.05.25 в 21:28

"What happened in the city? What is the situation?"

Camrad_RIP 04.05.25 в 20:27

The face of the firstborn became even colder and gloomier, and in a dry voice, he said:

Camrad_RIP 05.05.25 в 06:08

"The Dark Brotherhood has carried out multiple attacks across the city. Many have died."

Camrad_RIP 04.05.25 в 20:27

Muffled, choice curses were heard among Maryana's fighters.

Camrad_RIP 06.05.25 в 19:16

"The attackers, apparently, had been hiding in the city for a long time under the guise of other people or representatives of other races. Now, all attacks have been repelled, but the surviving fanatics are trying to hide by changing their guises. Therefore, the city is closed, and a total check of all residents and guests is underway."

Camrad_RIP 05.05.25 в 18:22

At this point, the explanations from the elves ended, and the Green fighters, together with the agents of Grays, rushed off further, towards the Central Trade Square. Maryana, when they had run far enough, quietly formulated the general opinion:

Camrad_RIP 05.05.25 в 18:23