Chapter 23

  The captain's cabin of the "Fearless" could not accommodate all those invited to the dinner, so the table was set in the middle of the battery deck. The commander of the galleon provided delicacies and wine from his personal stock, and among the sailors there were a couple of musicians, so that the feast began with the sound of flute and strings. Armando had a premonition that he would be a stranger, an outsider, and his mood was somewhat dampened. It was the “Bright Heads” who had returned home, and Don de Gorazzo had come to a foreign land. An exile, in fact. But it wasn't all bad. Firstly, the former bailiff was not in danger of loneliness - besides him at the table sat aliens from another world, Erdos dragon rider and officers of the "Elena", who were also here as guests. Secondly, the charm of the little Lady Emilia crushed any walls that arose between the participants of the feast. The brown-eyed girl in a blue uniform paid attention to all the feasters, gave everyone a warm smile and a few pleasant words. She deftly tied the knots of conversation and discussion, not allowing any guest to sullenly pour wine in languour and silence. De Gorazzo himself did not notice how he had had enough to eat, talk, and practically fall in love. Lady Emilia seemed a complete antipode of the tall, pale and awkward in communication Maria, but in her felt the same bribing naive sincerity. Besides, there was no doubting that she, like her sister, was capable of taking down five thugs in a fight, despite her frail appearance.

  At first there were no serious questions - Emilia and the mercenaries had already discussed the most important topics before the feast began. But little by little the conversation turned to the situation on the continent and the company's future plans.

  - The situation is very tense, - the brown-haired lady said, playing with a silver wine goblet. Like Maria, she didn't drink alcohol, but she raised her cup during the toasts. - In recent weeks, Coalition troops have been converging on the borders of the Dead Lands. They occupy border fortresses and set up camps. Auguste has brought the armies of the kingdom, Iolia, and several of the great duchies that supported him after the defeat of the rebels. Troops from Auguste's own domain, the Veronni, stand garrisoned in the major cities of Daert and block the rebel remnants in the mountains. Many dragon knights are seen in the king's army, but virtually no elves. Joint squadrons are being formed in the ports of Iolia, and some ships have been recalled from Erdo.

  - What about ours? - Valria asked. The elf did not limit herself, and her cheeks flushed with the colour of the wine she had drunk.

  - The duchess held a review of the regular army. - Emilia put the goblet on the table. - Imperial troops are arriving at the old camps along the border. A dragon barge with an escort stands in the Elvartian harbour. The War Cabinet has received large sums of money to recruit free units. This is war. Either this autumn or next spring.

  - Auguste is about to get the news that the Iolians missed Anya with the laptop, - Alex remarked. - Maybe that would curb his ambitions.

  - Or vice versa, - Master Carlon said grimly, sipping from his cup. The mage approached the extermination of booze with the cold calm of a professional who had seen many empty kegs in his lifetime. - Their Majesty might decide it was now or never to attack. Given his ambitions, there was little doubt which option Auguste would choose.

  - It's not up to us, - Valria said, waving her hand at him. - Let's talk about the good things. Soon I'll see my house in Elvart, then we'll hand over the cargo to Imperial Intelligence, and then we'll be free again! Assignments that last longer than a couple of weeks are not my type.

  - We're going back to the Coalition, - Sergeant Dallan, who had been silent for most of the meal, said suddenly. She was concentrating on peeling an apple with a knife, not looking at her neighbours.

  - Yes, to rescue a certain red-haired sorceress, - the elf nodded, wiggling her ears. - Dallan promised something to our new guy. Anyway, the company has plans. We just need to get to land.

  - That won't be the issue, - Skipper Dorlt reassured her. The bearded elf was clearly enjoying sitting between the two girl guardsmen and alternately complimented one and the other. - "Elena's” fine. My cabin's a mess, but the rudder's intact. We'll get you to Elvart before you know it. Ha!

  - Behind the vanguard comes an auxiliary squadron of nine caravels and two naus, - Emilia added. - I'll have lady Akira give them the order by air, and three ships will escort the “Elena” to port.

  - Are you not coming back with us? - Lady Maria frowned. She even moved forward so she could see her sister.

  - No, - the little girl shook her head with a guilty smile. - I have some letters from the Duchess to High King of Zeerige. I should have just handed them over, but now that I have the chance, I will visit him and a couple of the Jarls in person. The squadron will remain here to add... weight to my words. In light of a possible war, Elvarth needs some assurances from the North. I will endeavour to provide them. Christine has authorised me to speak for her if necessary.

  She winked at Maria:

  - Don't worry, we'll meet again at the palace, in your favourite library. I'll even let you read something aloud to me. I promise not to run away after the first three pages.

  They parted in the morning - the "Elena" spent the night at the roadstead, repairing hasty battle damage, and rise the anchor in the rays of dawn. Emilia was last seen by Don Armando on the quarterdeck of the "Fearless." The little lady had climbed the rail and was standing with one hand on the battlements. She simply looked after the departing caravel, and the sea wind fluttered her cloak and curly ringlets of brown hair. The former bailiff had an unpleasant feeling of emptiness in his chest, as if he had known the guardswoman for a long time, and now he was saying goodbye forever.

  The remaining days of the voyage were not particularly memorable. The ship sailed through calm waters under a reliable escort. The “Elena” entered Elvart harbour on a clear day, when the sun hung over the mainmast, almost without shadows.

  - That's it, ladies and gentlemen, - said Skipper Dorlt after the passengers had gathered on deck. The sailors were taking the horses out of the hold and throwing the wide gangways onto the stone pier. - Our adventure was over. Ha-ha! You can take it from here.

  - It wasn't the easiest voyage, but it was a profitable one, - the navigator supported him. - In the end, everything turned out better than I expected.

  - Where are you going now? - Armando asked.

  - We need to get the little girl home. - The caravel's master nodded at Akira, who was scratching the dragon's nose. The commotion throughout the ship was of little concern to the young rider. - Hah! She couldn't get there on her own. Lord Irutawa had promised to pay in gold.

  - Akira! - Captain Valria turned to her. - Are you still interested in joining our company? I promise you the rank of corporal and Amagi will be fed at our expense.

  - I'm sorry, Lady Valria. - The rider bowed gently to the elfess. - I am part of the clan.

  - You could keep spying on us for taiko, eh? - the elf squinted. - And keep a record of our history, too.

  The rider only bowed once more, this time silently. So the group left behind a few more humans and elves they could call friends.

  Don de Gorazzo did not get a chance to see Elvart, a jewel among the imperial vassals. The company had taken rooms at the harbour inn, though not the full complement. Lady Maria went to spend the night at the palace, where she was to report to Duchess Christina. Valria, on the other hand, announced:

  - I have a choice. Invite you all to my lovely cosy garden cottage for a visit, or spend a delightful night alone with Dallan. I'm sorry, I chose the latter. And I'll buy you meat pies in the morning on the company treasury.

  The next day Maria was the first to return. The Lady Guardswoman had replaced her familiar black costume with the same uniform her sister wore: a blue jacket embroidered with white thread, the same trousers, brown boots above mid-thigh, and a blue cloak with gold clasps. Instead of a simple cuirass, the girl wore a silver armour, complete with round shoulder pads and gauntlets with elbow-length cuffs. The lady's straight white hair was covered by a blue beret with a luxuriant snow-white feather. Now she really looked like a bodyguard of a noblewoman.

  - Her Highness is pleased to see us and will help us in any way she can, - Maria told her comrades. - I'm still with the company, and we'll go to the Empire together. We will be given horses, money, provisions and escort.

  It wasn't until a couple of hours later that Valria and Dallan joined the group, flushed, sleep-deprived, but terribly satisfied. The golden-haired elven woman placed a huge basket full of steaming hot pies on the table. The group ate breakfast with them, and then immediately set off on their way. The streets of Elvarth flashed by, blurring into a blurred background. Armando could only note that the city had preserved the old imperial style of buildings over the centuries, just like the centre of Daert. But just as the white-stone Daert flowed smoothly into the unkempt suburbs, Elvart's buildings of the past Empire, away from the waterfront, were slowly replaced by grey or boarded-up buildings of later eras. Beyond the city, the deciduous forests began to grow. Autumn was coming into its own, and among the green crowns of the trees flashed specks of gold, like grey in the hair of an aging lady.

  With two horses per man, accompanied by a detachment of cavalry, the mercenaries crossed the duchy in a matter of days. Their speed was limited only by Anya, who was not keeping well in the saddle. Valria had done her best to make the journey easier for the visitor from the other world, even making a soft saddle and covering the usual one with several blankets.

  Beyond Elvart lay Captain Valria's home principality of Kornath, where four elven riders were added to the escort - they led the party along mountain paths, bypassing the main passes, thus shortening the journey by three or four days. Then the way went through the plains of the Second Daertian Empire. Here the pace had to be slowed down even more, as Anya was exhausted. In her own words, the only thing that prevented her from passing out from fatigue was the unbearable pain in her lower back and thighs. Obviously feeling embarrassed because she had caused delays, the girl at one of the breaks suddenly offered her companions to listen to her first "pen test". It turned out that all this time she had been mentally translating passages of poems from her native world to distract herself. Sitting by the fire, Anya softly read out a few verses about a ship's sail whitening in the sea fog, about a soldier asking his beloved to wait for him from the war, and other things. To Armando's taste, it sounded quite good, which the don immediately reported. The other mercenaries also supported the guest from the other world with cheers and requests to repeat it.

  Summer had been over for a week when the cavalcade entered Garlond, the Second Daert, the heart of the Eastern Empire. De Gorazzo, who had seen the First Daert, could not have called the imperial capital its twin. Garlond had been built not so long ago, using the dark stone of the local mountains, and its style differed from both Daert and Elvarth. The temples of the One Creator were not rebuilt from pagan temples, but were built on a new site. Instead of semicircular domes, sharp four-sided spires crowned with the Symbol stretched to the sky. This made the city seem unfriendly, especially on a rainy autumn day, when the weather only accentuated its grey walls and jagged silhouette.

  The former royal bailiff thought that here, as in Erdo, they would first be dragged through the authorities and then presented to some high dignitary. Reality surpassed all his expectations. "Bright Heads" was met at a suburban outpost by a detachment of Imperial Guards in luxurious gilt armour and scarlet cloaks. Having released the ducal escort, the guardsmen took the group in a ring and led them to the three hills on which the emperor's capital residence was spread out. Without any further questions, the exhausted mercenaries were taken to the guest house, where the servants lined up were waiting for them.

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  - Clean yourself up, ladies and sirs, - said the commander of the Guards. - His Majesty the Emperor wishes to see you in two hours.

  - All of tus? - Armando clarified.

  - He will decide for himself, - the officer said. - Get ready, all of you.

  The preparation consisted of a visit to the bathhouse adjoining the lodge and a change of clothes. The servants had brought in armfuls of ready-made dresses, but none of the “Bright Heads” used them. The men changed their linen and shirts, Valria put on a new waistcoat and skirt, and Lady Maria pulled from her bales the spare uniform she had carried in a dustproof bundle all the way from Elvarth.

  - The rush is unbelievable, - the guardswoman said as she left the room in clean clothes. - Violation of all etiquette, court protocols, and security measures. It was not the first time the Emperor had disregarded them, but it seemed that things were not going well on the border.

  What happened next was not what anyone called an audience. A dozen guards simply entered the house and led Armando, Valria, Carlon, and Maria out. The others were ordered not to go out of the door until specially authorised. The Don and his companions were not taken to the main palace complex, but to the south wing of the residence, which was reserved for various services. Nevertheless, when they were disarmed and searched and almost pushed into the office on the third floor, there was waiting for them in a soft armchair a man whose face the former bailiff had hitherto seen only on imperial gold coins. His Majesty the Emperor himself. He was younger than de Gorazzo had imagined, a sturdy, stocky, middle-aged man who would have looked like a peasant if not for the brocade robes and the russet beard, too well-groomed for a commoner.

  Lady Maria was the first to fall on one knee and bow her head. Although she was not a true noblewoman, her status as a personal guard gave her a number of privileges. In particular, the right not to prostrate herself even before the emperor. The mercenaries did not have time to follow her example. The ruler of Eastern Daert waved his hand as if he was swatting away a fly:

  - Drop the ceremonies. We're not in the throne room. We don't have much time, and I have a lot of questions. I've received your written reports and my intelligence reports, but I want to hear from those directly involved.

  “I'm in the habit of talking to royal persons in informal settings, - de Gorazzo thought ironically, trying to hold back an involuntary chuckle. - Queen Octavia, Augustus the Strong, Chancellor Irutava, now the Emperor... Too bad I missed Christina of Elvart”. Captain Valria began the report - and Armando noted, that the elfess had a sense of self-preservation after all. Talking to the emperor, she put away her wit and spoke seriously, dryly, briefly. The Emperor listened without interrupting. When the girl grew tired and took a pause to catch her breath, His Majesty asked a question or two of the others. Most often Armando. After listening to the report to the end, the Emperor leaned back in his chair. He remained silent, thinking about something. Nodded, seemingly to himself. He said, looking at Valria:

  - Your plan to intimidate King Auguste appears to have won us a few weeks of peace. My commanders say his troops were ready to march a month ago, and there is no point in the Coalition waiting - winter is coming, which is bad for the attacking side.

  - But it is only a temporary measure, Your Majesty, - remarked the girl, without averting her eyes.

  - Yes, - agreed the ruler of the East. - Fortunately, I have a means to ensure a more sustainable peace.

  He pinched his beard as if he wanted to tear out a hair. Unlike master Carlon, the Emperor did not succeed. Suddenly the ruler smiled, a wicked, wolfish grin:

  - Aliens aren't the only ones who know how to burn down cities.

  - I beg your pardon, Your Majesty? - Carlon frowned.

  - Since the end of the last war, the Empire and the Coalition had been searching for a magical weapon that would win the next battle, - the Emperor said, glancing around the room. - But while the west was opening portals and trying to control demons, the mages of the Imperial University were simply improving what was already working. They had originally wanted to improve fire-based combat spells. But it turned out that any mage had a limit to the amount of power they could put into a spell. So, in order to break that limit, the Academy's mages concentrated on creating battle amulets that could draw power from multiple mages. The result of their efforts was a new amulet. "Creator's Flame." That was its name. Two months ago, mass production began in the strictest secrecy. A week ago, the amulet began to be distributed to the air corps of the Empire's armies.

  - And... what does this amulet do, Your Majesty? - The mage asked cautiously.

  - What I said. - The emperor spread his hands. - It burns cities. Six mages of the first or second stage pump the thing with energy, which is released in the form of a burst of flame in a fraction of an instant. Two or three are enough to incinerate the capital of a kingdom. True, unlike the outsider bomb, the Creator's Flame can be stopped by fortress amulets. But the amulets would have to be incredibly powerful. There are hardly any cities smaller than Daert and Garlond that have such amulets. The amulet is huge, but a dragon can easily lift it, and anyone with magical talent can activate it. It's very simple. Even primitive, you might say. The problem was to keep so much pure energy inside the amulet, which was solved recently. However, it's still dangerous to keep them charged, so the army sent one charged amulet and five empty amulets. They will be recharged on the spot if necessary. Alas, the need has already arisen.

  - Were you... planning to use the “Flame” against the Coalition? - Valria asked in a hushed voice. "Your Majesty," she forgot to add. Or didn't want to.

  - Of course. - The emperor met the girl's eyes again. - Not against cities, against armies. As a tool on the battlefield. I want to rule the West and the entire continent, Captain. But you cannot rule with ashes. However, if Auguste uses his atomic bombs against the Empire, I will strike his people with everything I have. Scorch the Coalition lands into glass. And I think that's what could save the world.

  - How? - The golden-haired elf turned deathly pale, but she didn't look away, just like last time.

  - Auguste doesn't want to rule the ashes either, I suppose. - The Emperor leaned forward, his fingers gripping the carved armrests. - We need to get the message across to him - war will lead to mutual doom. Because we both have swords but no shields. We stand naked against each other with our blades at each other's necks. One move and we're both dead. That's the way I see it, captain.

  - But is that how Auguste sees it? - The girl asked in a stronger voice.

  - I don't know. - The Emperor tapped his fingernail on the armrest. - And I want to convey to him... my view. You, since you're involved in this story, will help me. I've already sent diplomats to the king with a warning. They will inform him of the “Creator's Flame” and the arrival in the Empire of the laptop containing the codes to its bombs. However, words are not enough. I want to give Auguste food for thought. You will go to the West immediately and take my orders to the Sixth Army. The Sixth Air Corps will use one “Flame” on the ruins of the fort in the centre of the Dead Lands. It won't hurt anyone, but it will show the Coalition what we're capable of.

  - Why not send a messenger on a dragon, Your Majesty? - Lady Maria asked in a businesslike tone. She, unlike the elf, was not shaken by the news of the new weapon. Or she was just better at hiding her emotions. Armando would have bet on the latter.

  - The air is not safe, and there are already clashes between patrolling packs in the border areas, - the Emperor explained. - And this order must be delivered not only quickly, but also reliably.

  - And you would entrust him to mercenaries rather than a personal messenger? - Valria arched an eyebrow sceptically.

  - I will entrust it to the most faithful servant of my loyal vassal. - The ruler of the Second Empire turned his gaze to the Lady Maria. - She will take the order to the border. And you will be rewarded for escorting her. After that, you can decide what to do.

  A new short silence was broken by master Carlon.

  - Your Majesty, may I make a small request? - The black-bearded mage said quietly.

  - Yeah?

  - We want to keep one of our companions in the capital, - continued the mage. - I believe she would be a true jewel for the Academy of Fine Arts, but she needs a high patronage....

  *      *       *

  Anya kissed master Carlon on the cheek with a guilty smile. She didn't even look at Alex. The Emperor temporarily accommodated the guest from behind the portal at court, promising to look after her in the future.

  No longer burdened by the frail girl and the slow escort, the party began a furious gallop westward. The horses were given almost no rest, and when necessary they were changed to mounts, and it was only when darkness fell that the company was compelled to halt and make camp. It was during the night that this happened.

  Armando, exhausted beyond belief, was sitting by the fire, staring dumbly at a pot of boiling porridge, when a white flame flashed in the sky. It was only a distant glow that lit up the sky above the western edge of the horizon, but the mercenaries were stunned. Don de Gorazzo held his breath. Another white flash, to the right of the first - and just as distant. Another, as if closer. And another - but no longer white, but crimson-scarlet, not extinguished immediately, similar to the reflections of a giant fire. It shone in the north, illuminating the jagged peaks of the low Kornath mountains.

  - No-no-no... No! - Alex exhaled, dropping the spoon. Captain Valria, without a word, in two movements rolled up the blanket spread on the ground, threw it across Snowflake's croup, climbed into the saddle. She gave the mare a shankel. Not knowing what they were doing, the others followed the elven woman's example. Half a minute - and the whole company rushed towards new and new flashes, lighting up the night. White, red, white, red... "Border towns, forts, armies in camps..." the former bailiff's mind flashed. – “On both sides of No Man's Land. And to the north, imperial ports. Elvarth..." They didn't ride for long - the captain came to her senses almost immediately and tightened the reins. The companions huddled around the girl in a frightened bunch. The horses, sensing the excitement of the riders, wheezed and danced, shaking their manes.

  De Gorazzo did not know how long they stood like that, frozen in their saddles, staring at the blazing horizon. A strange sound brought Armando back to reality, made his whole body shudder. It was a dreary, rasping howl that seemed to come from every direction, echoing across the night plain.

  - Dragons, - Valria said, throwing back her head. De Gorazzo looked up, too. Nine black dots were creeping across the sky, lost in a scattering of stars. Farther to the south, another wedge was visible, followed by a third, smaller one of only five beasts... The battle dragons of the Empire roared aloft, moving westward, bringing death to entire cities, wedge by wedge, pack by pack. There, in the west, and far to the north, the scarlet glow continued to blaze, to widen. Separate purple centres merged together, into one continuous glow, consuming the horizon, illuminating rare clouds, erasing the stars. It seemed that beyond the invisible line the earth itself was burning, every inch of it. The former royal bailiff was silent, unable to believe the magnitude of what was happening before his eyes.

  A gust of cold wind nearly tore off the don's hat, yanked his cloak, rustled dry leaves. Valria threw forward her hand and caught one leaf. Holding it between her fingers, without looking at her companions, she said aloofly:

  - It looks like this autumn is the last one for our world. After it comes winter, and after winter – another world, a completely new one…

  - What... what do we do now? - Lady Maria asked, confused and lost.

  - Well, the company's contract with the emperor seems to be over. - The elf let go of the sheet, letting the wind pick it up again. - You can throw away the paper he gave you.

  She was silent for a moment, stroking Snowflake's mane. Than spoke slowly:

  - I wish I could give an order to the company, specify a new target. But I think it's time for everyone to decide for themselves what they really want. I'm disbanding “Bright Heads” Company.

  - What? - said master Carlon in disbelief.

  - Don Armando, do you still wish to find your beloved? - turned to de Gorazzo, the elven woman asked.

  - Yes... God, yes. - The former bailiff swallowed. The thought of Vittoria was the straw he grasped in utter despair. The red-haired donna is with the rebels now, rebels driven into the mountains. Ironic, but they should be safer there than King Auguste in the capital.

  - Dallan? - looked at Sergeant Valria.

  - I'm with him, - the green-eyed swordswoman replied simply.

  - And I'm with you, - the elfess smiled weakly. - Not as captain. As a friend. Green, too, I suppose. Alex?

  - I'll go back to Garlond, - the alien said sullenly. - Anya's all alone now. Whether she wants to know me or not, I'll be there for her.

  - I must go to Elvarth. - Lady Maria's voice trembled. It was the first time Armando had ever seen her like this, and he thought the Guardswoman was about to cry. - I must find out what's wrong with the Duchess... with the city... with my sisters. If Christina... if... happened... it is my duty... my...

  - It is your duty to find Emilia, - Dallan turned to her suddenly. - She should be on the islands with the fleet right now. Whatever happened in Elvarth, you still have a sister, and she needs you now. I’m... too. Both of you.

  - Anna... - the pale lady whispered. Her voice still trailed off.

  - Then it's settled. - Carlon pulled up next to Maria. - We'll go north. You go west. Alex, east. Is that it?

  Valria unbuckled her purse from her belt, poured a handful of coins into her palm, and tossed the rest to Carlon:

  - You've always been better at handling those round junk. Good luck. I'll meet you in Garlond. One night, after the war.

  Maria gave Dallan a quick hug, nodded to Armando, and started the horse away. The black-bearded mage kept in step with her. They soon melted into the darkness, as did Alex, who had turned back.

  - The journey to your home will be even more difficult than expected, Armando. - Valria leisurely pulled up her long brown gloves. Adjusted the hat on her head. - The direct route is definitely worth forgetting about. Well, that makes it all the more interesting, doesn't it? There's nothing good ahead, but damn it all, I want to see what tomorrow will be like. And there will be a tomorrow. Even if we burn this place to the ground, raise a cloud of ash over the world, the sun will still rise and set behind the clouds. It doesn't care. - She clapped Snowflake on the neck. - On your way, friends.

  It wasn't the first time the squad had split up. But this time the paths of its members were parted forever. Though that night, on a plain lit by the flames of a burning world, no one knew it. As the thunder of explosions shook the continent, some stories ended and others began. And among those that ended was the story of the smallest mercenary company in the Frontierland....

  The end.