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The Labyrinth of Inter-Time
Juriy Tashkinov
Another story about the world of Saisil, where magicians rule. Many years have passed since the Great Storm of Time. Or maybe it will happen a millennium later, who knows? Hundreds of portals will be opened that will connect myriad worlds. The past and the future will merge in wormholes with the present. The world will live out its last days. The portals seemed to open randomly, but they also had logic. The Great Labyrinth Of Inter-Time Has Been created.
The Labyrinth of Inter-Time
Juriy Tashkinov
© Juriy Tashkinov, 2024
ISBN 978-5-0062-2850-4
Создано в интеллектуальной издательской системе Ridero
Part 1. The Mystery of the Order of the Vernikov
Chapter 1. The world behind the mountain
A lonely mountain broke away from a huge mountain range reaching to the very horizon. The seemingly endless blue sea eagerly caught the reflections of the tired sun, which was trying with its last strength not to drown.
– How long can you endure! – the girl shouted, breaking away from the guy’s embrace.
– Well, go! – he said, trying not to show emotions, so as not to escalate the already tense situation. Although everything was boiling inside. – Is someone holding you?
She sobbed a couple of times and walked away, muttering something under her breath. And he, without turning around, walked in the other direction.
They came here to mend relationships that were falling apart at the seams like an old shirt. But you can’t make a broken vase new. It seemed like this was the end.
He walked a little more, and one could already see the last reflections of the dying Sun on the surface of the sea. He always dreamed of watching the sunset at sea. And finally, the romantic’s dream came true, but did this make my soul warmer?
He lit a cigarette to drown the ghost of a lost feeling in tobacco smoke. And then he took out a flask to drink some bitter whiskey. And don’t care about the Highway Patrol. Today he can do anything!
– Dorian! – he heard the echo of a well-known voice. Former grievances immediately evaporated, and he rushed to the side where his beloved’s voice came from.
Twenty steps. Two hundred. Five hundred.
– Angel! – he shouted, and the mountains echoed him with a long echo. – Angel, where are you?
Only an echo was the answer.
He stopped only for a few seconds to catch his breath, and then began to run further. When he had no more strength, he shouted again:
– Angel!
And again silence.
– Angel, my love! Where are you?
How often do we realize that we have lost a loved one when he is no longer around.
Dorian looked around and realized: something was wrong! It seems like the same mountain, the same sea on the horizon. The air is not like that at all. Oh yes! How could he not notice right away: the sun was on the other side. He didn’t remember the night at all, but during his run the evening gave way to morning, and somewhere behind the mountain the first rays of sunshine flickered.
He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
– At least I’ll take a swim in the sea!
He had to walk for quite a long time: he never found the car. Angel probably left without even saying goodbye. Dorian stripped naked, because there was no one to be shy in this wilderness, and rushed into the cool water. It was his first time at sea. And for the first time I saw such crystal clear water!
– We need to buy a house on the beach.
What clean air, there is no familiar smog that was a constant companion of megacities. Having got out of the water, the guy lay down on a stone to dry off. And then he pulled on his trousers. He wrapped the shirt around his waist, because the sun was already starting to get hot.
An unfamiliar sound was heard nearby, and Dorian walked in its direction. Behind a small ledge stood… He didn’t immediately remember the name of this creature. Locker? Curl? Oh yes, a horse. I once saw these in Cinema. But this is an almost extinct species! Where does the horse come from here? They say there are no more than a hundred of them left, and they live in the Reserve.
There was a bag nearby. He opened it, seeing a lot of food items. Ah, that’s what was missing for so many hours!
The dried lamb filled my empty stomach with a pleasant lump. But it’s real lamb! Not the usual meat substitute, but a completely natural product! The last time he ate meat was as a child, while his father worked as a Guardian. They had direct supply of first-class products. Dorian was envied by everyone in the class when he brought a fresh apple, and not jam from a tube, like everyone else, or a raw potato, and not custard mashed potatoes made from starch. But then my father was taken away, accused of participating in a conspiracy.
He continued to lie there, reminiscing about old times when something cold pressed against his neck. A tall young albino stood next to him, his sword pressed to Dorian’s throat.
– Thief! What do you need here? How long have you been spying on me? Who sent you? – the stranger’s eyes glowed with anger and irritation.
– Nobody sent me! I came myself. Is this your place?
– You lie next to my horse, faithful Dolt, eat my food, and dare to say that you ended up here by accident? I haven’t believed in coincidences for a long time! Speak! Who are you?
– My name is Dorian. And you?
– As if you don’t know yourself! – said the stranger.
– Nobody sent me! How many times should I tell you? Calm down, guy! Let’s put down your weapon and we can talk in a peaceful atmosphere. I have some whiskey, we can drink to meet you. And I’ll pay for your food, if necessary. Don’t be so angry about it.
The albino lowered his sword and sat down on a stone.
– Sorry if I offended you in any way. I have no one to trust, life disappoints people. Call me White Wolf,» with these words he extended his hand. Dorian shook it hesitantly.
– A wolf? What a strange name?
«I took this name for myself when a white wolf saved me from a pack of fellow tribesmen. You know that it is better not to reveal your real name to anyone, so that demons and magicians do not take over your mind.
Dorian glanced sideways at the stranger’s sword, so he did not make comments about «demons and magicians.» Fate sends him strange friends after all!
The wolf rummaged in the bag and took out an apple. Then he pulled out another one.
– Will you? – he handed the fruit to Dorian.
They sat like that for a while in silence and chewed the delicacy.
– Where are you going? – the albino interrupted the silence.
– We need to go home, to Stelton. I just don’t know how to get there! The girl took the car, and the wallet was in the glove compartment. You’ll have to hitchhike.
– Are you seriously from Stelton?! – the stranger rose to his feet, again pointing his sword at Dorian. – I told you that you are a spy! How did you know the name of my hometown? Who sent you?
– Will you ever calm down! You need to treat your paranoia, White Wolf. What spies!
– A person from my hometown couldn’t be here!
– Yes, the world is not a small place, but you should never rule out the possibility that fellow countrymen can meet a couple of thousand miles from their home!
– I haven’t been home for more than ten years. Ever since I came into this world.
– You know, by your appearance we can say that you came into this world more than twenty years ago. And not like all the children, but that the aliens forgot about you when they left the planet!
– How long have you been here?
– Here – at the sea? Or how long ago did you «come into this world»? I’m twenty-five, if that, and I came into this world at birth!
– It looks like you’ve been here quite recently. I want to make you happy – you crossed the portal.
– What?! Fuck you! Psycho! Abnormal!
Patience comes to an end sooner or later. First, the girl with her «corrals». Now this one. Dorian turned to walk away from his strange acquaintance. But a huge dragonfly suddenly appeared before his eyes, which the White Wolf cut in half with his sword.
«What the…» said Dorian, and fainted.
***
He opened his eyes when the sun was at its zenith. The White Wolf poured water on him.
– Looks like you’re not a spy. My real name is Eleon. What area did you live in?
– Near White Square. What was it? This is huge,» Dorian suddenly remembered the strange creature.
– Strekkil. These are often found in these parts. You may or may not believe me, but you ended up in Seisil.
– What?
– This is what the locals call this world. I came here completely by accident when I was fourteen. I was running from the gang, and didn’t even notice how I crossed the portal. And there was no turning back. It’s okay, it’s also quite good here, I was able to find a home here.
Then Dorian remembered how he walked around the entire area and did not see a single trace of a car. This clean air, the sun, which turned out to be on the other side. Dragonfly. Horse! So many coincidences.
Although, you shouldn’t even communicate with him, so as not to become infected with madness.
– What is the year now? – Dorian asked.
– One hundred and thirtieth era of the eighty-fourth King Henry.
Okay, it’s worth going with this weirdo. At least until the first traces of civilization. After all, he won’t get far without a car, but at least the psycho has a horse.
– So where are you going?
«To the House of the Sorcerer, the great royal castle,» answered the White Wolf.
The sorcerer’s house… Okay, the main thing is not to be too surprised. For Eleon these are quite normal words. Never mind, civilization is very close, you won’t have to endure it for long!
– Can I go with you?
– My path is not close and is full of various dangers! I can’t involve others in my problems!
– Don’t leave me here alone! – said Dorian.
***
Riding a horse together with another guy is a dubious pleasure. Cinema usually showed a brave adventurer carrying a beautiful lady on a horse. But it’s time to get used to the fact that life is not Cinema.
Half an hour – and Dorian rubbed his crotch, sat on his leg, a complete «bouquet».
When the sun began to sink below the horizon, they decided to stop at a nearby village on the outskirts of the forest. With every mile, Dorian’s hope of meeting civilization became less and less. Are there really still places untouched by Megacities?
Chapter 2. Execution at sunset
Every self-respecting gossip has at least once been to a tavern called the Old Magician. And today the hall was filled with guests, and old Halfrid’s treasury was filled with gold. The beer flowed like a river, and the out of breath young beauty only had time to bring more and more mugs of foamy drink and take away the empty ones.
– Suzanne, three more mugs! – one of the guests shouted.
«Teddy… hmm… Maybe… hmm… that’s enough?.. hmm,» said his comrade, with difficulty overcoming a hiccup.
– Why, Dil? Ali, aren’t you having fun on this beautiful fine evening?
– I… hmm… to be honest… hmm… not very good with gold…
– Don’t worry, buddy! I’m treating you! Suzanne, three more mugs and fried lanels with maize sauce! – Teddy said, slapping the innkeeper’s helpful daughter on the thighs.
– Hands off! Otherwise I’ll tell my father everything! He will definitely throw you out onto the street! – the girl squealed offendedly.
– It’s good for you that you shouted! Bring the beer, I tell you!
The girl hurried to fulfill the order, mincing through the dense rows of tables in the room saturated with the smell of beer, just to quickly get rid of the «dork,» as she called him, who was not allowing her passage.
– Have you heard the latest news? – said the man, sitting down with two drunken comrades.
– What’s new, Willie? – asked Teddy.
«Tomorrow at sunset there will be an execution,» Willie answered.
– Magicians again? – Teddy clarified.
– Serves them right! There is no point in embarrassing the good people with your tricks! – Willie raised his voice slightly.
