скачать книгу бесплатно
– Can you repeat it? – the king addresses to both of us.
– Yes, but I don’t promise that it will work – said Dinah.
– Are you unsure of your magic? – the king’s gaze became more demanding and heavier.
Dinah crumpled the fabric of the dress with her slender fingers and bit her lip.
– Your Majesty, I am only a housemaid. My knowledge of magic is small, and such a revival happened for the first time, perhaps by accident.
By the end of the sentence, her voice was slightly hoarse, and perspiration appeared on her forehead.
– However… – I interceded.
Demons, I forgot – I am not asked, be quiet. However, the king nodded and I continued:
– We will try.
– Can I take a look at the phoenix? – the king held out his hand.
Inis looked at me, I nodded, and he immediately flew towards the king. A red ribbon was glittering behind him. He landed on the brocade sleeve where the golden rings were. Inis bowed his head, peering into the face of the king, who was looking at the bird in surprise.
– Why does he have eyes of a different color?
– I put the glass that fitted – I sighed.
Dinah caught my smile and winked.
– This is the first time I’ve encountered such magic. This bird is incredible. Is it really mechanical? – the king asked incredulously.
Yes. He doesn’t eat. But he sleeps… I think this is how he restores his strength… – I didn’t finish.
– Is it true that he awakens a magical gift that hasn’t been revealed yet?
How did he…? Mom. She had probably informed my father about this.
– It happened only once, and I can’t say for sure – I shrugged uncertainly.
Inis was already uncomfortable with Pontiar. He jumped. The king grabbed him imperiously by the paw. Inis made a crackling sound with his beak. I felt a sharp pain on my ankle, as if it was shackled with manacles. The guardians moved towards the king, but he winced, let go the bird and gave the order to the magicians to return to their place. What happened?
– And the phoenix bites, and, apparently… – the king winced again, squeezing out a smile, – he belongs to one owner.
Well… Phirin! – The king waved to my father, who immediately went to the door behind the curtain.
– I beg your pardon, your Majesty – I glanced at Inis. He muttered something and scratched my shoulder with his beak.
Pontiar raised his hand with a clearly visible burn.
– No, you shouldn’t! It’s my own fault. If you are injured by someone else’s weapon, can you blame its owner?
I exhaled gratefully the tension. And that’s true. I was glad the king hadn’t got angry. But apparently his arm hurt. I wonder what happened when he grabbed him?
The king’s retinue now was looking at me warily, ready at any moment to protect Pontiar. Dinah touched my pinky finger and pursed her lips. She understood that if it were not for the wisdom of the king, something irreparable could have happened. But who could have known? The curtain moved, grabbing our attention. The father returned with something in his hands.
– Mechanical pigeon? – I asked, lifting the wing spoke.
– It was made recently and has not yet been revived – said the father, placing the pigeon on Dinah’s hand.
She raised her eyes filled with excitement and awe.
– Don’t worry! – I encouraged my friend.
Dinah squatted down, laid the pigeon in front of her on the marble floor, and cast a spell. And nothing. Well, everything was usual as it was with other simple mechanisms. The pigeon fluttered, flapped its metal plate wings, flew around several columns and landed at the same place. No energy spheres, nothing special. So, it was not all about Dinah.
– Apparently, it’s not all about the lady… – Pontiar pronounced and looked at me intently.
– But the guy has no gift, right? – he clarified, referring to my father.
– No, your Majesty, however…
The king didn’t let him finish. He raised his hand and turned to Dinah:
– Lady, deactivate the bird. Can you?
She nodded.
– And you, Nicholas, disassemble and reassemble it with your own hands. Probably… – the king exchanged glances with father. – How long will it take for you? Do you need any tools? – he looked at me.
– A few minutes, your Majesty. And no, I have my own tools. But they… – before I could finish, I heard an echo of footsteps behind me.
The tall elf who stood at the door was carrying my bag. He held it out, winked and, in a whisper, wished me good luck, and went to his place.
In Dinah’s hand was a pigeon, whose head hung unnaturally.
One of the courtiers brought up a small wooden table that looked more like a stool. I took out my tools and laid them out. It wasn’t difficult to disassemble the bird. Inis was watching my actions carefully.
The parts that made up the bird were perfectly fitted, oiled and expertly carved. It was a kind of masterpiece. I carefully reassemble the pigeon and put it on the table on its paws. It looked at me with black beady eyes and seemed it was going to grumble.
– It’s done. Dinah, it’s your turn – I gave way to my friend.
She sighed and, plucked up all her courage and began. After casting the spell, several sparks of fire flashed around her. But nothing more. The pigeon hummed with the metallic squeak of gears, flew up, made the same couple of circles as the previous time, and landed on the table. Dinah dropped her shoulders in disappointment.
An unpleasant silence hung in the air. Peter smiled sympathetically at Dinah and me. The guardians didn’t even blink, they didn’t receive this order. Four short men with starched frills stared at the king who had come down to us.
– I was hoping you were one of them … – He clenched his teeth and snapped at the stupid bird’s brass head with displeasure. The pigeon didn’t react. It was looking through me into the space with an empty gaze.
– Of them? – I asked in bewilderment.
– There is a legend… – the father began, but the king didn’t let him finish.
– Nonsense! I shouldn’t have believed. This bird is an absurd accident, nothing more. And you know very well that even the Mechanics had magic! – the king remarked with displeasure and fell into thought. Apparently, he lost hope for a miracle.
Mechanics? Who are they talking about? Dinah cocked up her ears, too.
– But there was a chance – the father spoke in confusion.
– Phirin. I know that put high hopes on your son, but he is not a magician, much less a Mechanic! On planet Pyramid they all died out, like dragons… – he sat on the throne and said it with a sneer. – I promised that I would send him to study at the Academy of Magic, the faculty of Mentalistics. And I will keep my word. I think the boy will become an excellent diplomat. And lady Dinara… – he took thought – is a talented girl. Magic of fire, if I’m not mistaken?
– Yes, your Majesty – she sat down in a curtsy.
– The battle took away many of the warriors. The number of war magicians became smaller. Ruby doesn’t know about this, because we’ve fought them back. Demons – the king growled. – Therefore, lady, I invite you to study at our Academy of Magic with Nicholas. And then to the service.
Dinah was confused and timidly asked:
– But does the housemaid have a place among the elite magicians? – there was sadness in her voice.
The father answered for Pontiar:
– It doesn’t matter if you are a baker, a housemaid, or a daughter of a noble family, above all you are a magician.
– Yes, yes! The king hastily confirmed.
– I am immensely grateful, your Majesty! Sherida bless you! I will pray to her for your good health!
The king smiled contentedly and turned to me.
– Nicholas. Don’t be upset that you are not a magician. Study well, and I will take you to serve in the palace!
– Thanks for the honor. I will not fail!
Pontiar gave several orders.
– Peter, take the kids to the academy and ask dean Christian Dassay to assign them in the right faculties – he glanced in my direction. – And tell him… or, never mind, I’ll visit him myself.
Pontiar took my father aside. They exchanged a couple of phrases, the king once again looked at us with a studying look and disappeared behind the curtain. The retinue disappeared in a single file in the same direction.
– Nicholas. I need to resolve some issues now. I’ll see you later. I think we have something to talk about – the father smiled.
He looked tired and seemed disappointed. Again. But, nevertheless, he smiled…
I nodded. I didn’t want to talk. It seems that I need to rejoice, after all, I am now a student of the Magic Academy, and Dinah is with me, side by side. But… I had no illusions about my abilities, I had no idea about any mechanics. Are they special? I thought that everyone who fixes and crafts mechanisms – is mechanic. Probably, there is still a difference, and I have to learn more about this. Inis rubbed against my ear. Father bowed to Peter, then briskly left the throne room.
While Dinah was arranging an interrogation for the charioteer, I collected the tools from a simple table that stood alone in the middle of the luxury of the palace. Tools are in the bag. I ran my hand over the wooden surface and whispered: «Well, buddy, do you feel like an outcast? Well, I feel dazzle due to all this glitter in my eyes, and my stomach сoils into the knot. But look, you were useful to me. Thank you. Everyone has a duty. And yours is worth! Well, good bye.»
– Did you say goodbye to the table? – Dinah grinned.
– Aha! He’s an outcast here. As I am among you – I uttered an ironic answer.
Peter was politely silent about our dialogue.
– Are you ready to head to the Academy?
– Sure! – we answered in unison.
After leaving the throne room, Dinah picked up her huge bag. I looked back at the elf, who had wished me good luck.
– Thank you! You know, sometimes luck can manifest itself when you even don’t expect anything good, and in the most unusual way. Sherida bless you! And you! – I smiled at the nearby magician. His eyes flashed, as did the halberd in his hands.
– Same to you, Lodesco – he chuckled.
Well, yes, his politeness is not surprising. I am the son of Phirin, their Commander-In-Chief. I chuckled at my own thoughts. Father’s glory? No. I can handle without it! Soon you will hear about Nicolas Lodesco.
Chapter 4
We were approaching the walls of the academy in the air sphere.
– There is a powerful protection over the entire territory. Since, this is one of the places where war magicians are trained. They won’t let us inside by the air. The charioteer spheres disrupt the structure of the shield from within, making it weaker. – Peter lowered the air transport at the forged gates.
This time we didn’t feel sick and we were standing almost firmly on our foot. Dinah embarrassedly looked at Peter.
«Did she fall in love? She is blushing… Humm».
Inis pecked my shoulder. And then it dawned on me. Dinah was all crimson, even her ears. And Peter pursed his lips, shaking his head. I covered my eyes with hand. It’s a shame. Stupid, stupid habit of speaking out loud my thoughts.
– Dinah, please, forgive me… I am… – I was truly sorry. I didn’t even know how to justify myself. – I’m sorry. I admit. I am fool.
– Fool, – she screamed huffily. – And no, I didn’t fall in love… – she said, and she blushed even more, glancing furtively at Peter.
The magician embarrassedly straightened the dark strand of hair and, holding Dinah’s bag, turned to the gate. Faint sparks of small lightning were visible in the air like a veil.
– Peter Orro and two new arrivals, to dean Dassay! – he said loudly.
The gate swung open and we entered. I trudged a little behind. Inis looked around in silence, as did Dinah. She opened her eyes, which were already round, like two saucers, wider. The academy was pretty far away. The gate locked behind us and Peter stopped.
– Are we waiting for someone? Are there carriages here too? – I asked and stopped, contemplating a light cloud of dust that arose in front of us.
I rubbed my eyes. Dinah coughed slightly. Only our attendant didn’t budge.
A female figure emerged from the dust.
– Pete! You have completely abandoned your trainings. Does the ruler want you to remain an ignoramus? – the voice of a dark-skinned girl about Peter’s age rang out. She threw herself at him. – I had a presentiment of your appearance.
– Aha – the charioteer squinted slyly. – Or rather, you’ve interrogated the dean…
The interlocutress waved him off and snorted.
The girl’s hair was strange: curly, most of it was braided in pigtails in several partings.
Snub nose, sensual lips, chocolate color of skin, this is the first time I’ve seen such a thing. There were holes in her earlobes. I’m not sure, but it looked like golden washers or rings glittered in them. I couldn’t find out.
