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Only watch

Tesheri, whom Rime favorably gave the opportunity to observe Deos, all this time, without moving and without blinking, looked at the man. His movements gave rise to a long, unfamiliar pleasure, which sometimes splashed her with a slight flash at the climax of the working scheme, when from one slight movement the living crumbled into myriads of sparks of life. Only now it was long and somehow even, and nothing needed to be done for this. Just stand and watch.

When Deos first disappeared from her eyes — Rime hid from her the acquaintance of Deos with Katana — she called «Rime! Rime! I understood!»

«What did you understand?» 

«Understood what it means when you are not noticed!» 

«And how is it?» the spider asked indifferently. 

«Painfully.» 

«And?» 

«What is «And»?» 

«Well, I understand, it hurts — and? So what?» 

«You said you would let me go when the time is right and I understand. Let me go. I need it.»

 Rime laughed. 

«I said you would understand. And I’ll let go when the time comes. Why did you mix it up in your head?» 

«What should I do?» — Tesheri asked in a matter-of-fact and unemotional manner. 

«I don’t know. Think, probably. I would think if I were you.» 

Tasheri thought. And then Deos appeared again and she decided to watch. And think about when he will disappear. 

There is such work

Already almost at the castle, Kin saw how some kind of vampire pressed the tender golden girl against the wall and reprimanded something with fury. The vampire was from the lower ones, the girl from the higher ones. The former oppressed tried to take revenge. Kin go to there.
— In the new world there is equality of opinion. The girl doesn’t want you, — Kin said.
— In the new world no one orders me, — the vampire snorted. — That’s enough, we’ve heard enough of what others want.
— I didn’t admit it,- Kin chuckled.
— You better go out, girl, you look after your business,- the guy advised.
— It’s because of people like you Katana is considered a usurper,- Kin sighed.
— Listen, you don’t even mention his name, you all, smeared yourselves with gold, you didn’t know where to shove this gold! Go in a good way, I won’t listen to a woman!
— So, should I call Rime so that you listen? – blazed with a purple spidery look Kin.
— Kin? — the vampire recoiled, releasing the higher one, — sorry, lady, there was a mistake.
Kin sighed.
— You are a mistake, I shoul kill you indicatively, you understand? So what this one, — Kin nodded at the stunned and rude attack, and the same salvation of the Kandzirian, — told about how fair our ruler is.
— Well, if for his sake it is necessary … — the vampire stretched out in front of Kin.
— Nothing.
Kin ordered, and caught the crystal in her palm, which remained in the place of the vampire.
The Kandzirian screamed in horror. Kin smiled wryly at the girl.
— It won’t be long in our world. But the ruler will soon finish what he’d started. Please warn your friends, — Kin said in a singsong voice. — Need I help you somehow, do you want to go to the castle, sit, drink or eat sweets, call you a wave to bring you where you need to?

— No, no, than… … thanks, I … … I’ll go, — the girl did not move away from the horror of the murder in front of her eyes.
— Have a nice day, — nodded Kin and, tossing the crystal on her hand, went to the castle.

Good people gifts

— And mentors came to me today, Raes and another one, I saw him for the first time, Sherd. He is kind. He gave me this, — the young handed the kaleidoscope to Edos.
The man took the gift, looked into it, a beautiful mosaic swirled in front of him.
— Yes, it’s beautiful,- Edos grinned, reading the hidden orders in the folded patterns that only few should be trusted, and then the hieroglyphs indicated how to recognize those few, and changing them to the usual advice for children — that complete honesty protects, that lies never will lead to happiness that loneliness is unnatural, that the main value is a person.
The man handed the kaleidoscope to Alham. He twirled it and exhaled admiringly.
— Wow, what did you do? It seems to be getting brighter! — Alham shouted in a melodious voice.
Edos laughed.
— It’s just that the sun came out from behind a cloud, — he ruffled the boy’s golden hair.
— I have an exam in three days. It will be clear whether the wings will grow, — said Alham, — I’m not worried at all. Will you stop being friends with me if I grow wings?
— I won’t stop,- Edos chuckled.

Golden hearts

— Raes, you go with us. Treason.
Excitement, Raes sank into a clearing in some eastern village. The queen stood in front of a frightened family — a man, two women, a girl, the age of the concubines sold to robbers, and a young man, a little older than the girl. The father held the young man by the shoulders.
Between Laa and the family lay evidence of treason. Phoenix laid out with pebbles on the grass.
— I’m asking, who tried to call the Phoenix, bypassing the Order? — Laa asked.
— I just wanted … — … — the girl began, her father interrupted her:
— It’s me. Just asked for a harvest. Just like the grandfathers did. I didn’t know it was forbidden.
The woman covered her face with her hands and burst into tears. The other hugged her, trying to comfort her.
– Raes, was the call algorithm explained to them?
— Of course. The instructor chuckled.
— And why didn’t you apply to the Order? Laa asked.
— It is very expensive. — said the man.
— The Order is merciful, you could work out the conversion, lazybones.
— My wife is already working for the Order. But it is enough only to pay gratitude for the Phoenix’s mercy that he does not burn us.
— We could sell one of our puppies. -Raes chuckled.
The man didn’t answer, tightening his grip on his son’s shoulders. He was always trying to say something, but his father preemptively squeezed his shoulder.
— It’s all clear to me. But the rules are the same for everyone. For treason — death or you can redeem your life.
The man nodded and stepped towards the queen. The woman broke free from the woman’s embrace and rushed to the queen.
— No, don’t kill him! Take me!
— You? She looked at the peasant woman. — What’s the use of you? Death will be a lesson to others.
The young man was finally able to escape from his father’s fingers.
— Take me instead father.

Laa beckoned the young man to her.
— What is your name?
— Call it what you like. — the young man shrugged.It was the ancient rite of this village, as long as you don’t give your real name, there is no power over you. Therefore, the villagers had nicknames for others, giving names only to those close to them.Laa laughed, patted the young man on the head, turned to Wing.
— Well? Will we forgive them?
— The queen is merciful.
Raes grinned.
— We’re taking Kurd for your life,- Laa nodded.
— But we must punish you.
Raes unfolded his hand and the stones with which the Phoenix was laid out, shot up, fell on the man, he fell to the ground with a groan, women and daughter rushed to him with screams. Kurd also rushed to his father, but Raes pulled him towards him.
— No, you’re mine now.
Kan-Dzirians soared up, Raes pressed the young man to him, who tried to understand what was happening with his father. The mentor took possession of the prey in flight, gagging him in his mouth.
— Don’t yell, it’s indecent to yell in front of the queen.
Ito no longer believed the deceptive first moment, waiting for further developments. She silently wept when she saw the beautiful Azarta. How did it happen that two beautiful Gold Virgins turned out to be so cruel that they can equal the conqueror? Ito felt like her heart was turning inside out.

Family showdown

— I’ll burn a sign on you,- Katana hissed, hovering over the Golden Wing. — No one should come close to you. The privilege of a tyrant.
Edos stood against the wall of the throne room, in front of him, arms folded across his chest and smiling. He looked away, laughed, and shot a golden-green glare at Katana.
— So this is my job, remember? To approach me and restore order in the Order. Didn’t you call me for that, did you?
Katana looked up, then turned his black gaze back to Edos.
— At first this, right, but afterwards all everything became different.
— But this is different doesn’t cancel things to do, right? — Edos said somehow fabulously convincingly or restrainedly caustically, boldly leaning towards the Conqueror.
— Things should not interfere with life! There are always things to do! You can’t put your life on hold because of them! — Katana was outraged.
Edos sighed, shifted from foot to foot.
— It’s a normal part of life for you! Your life consists of deeds, but for normal people, for example, for me, life is separate, and deeds are separate. I do things to finish them, so that they won’t exist! And when they run out — I will not look for new ones! — Edos explained.
Katana thought.
— Don’t break him! — Kin called from the hammock. He, dark-haired, with shining violet eyes, now without wings, without gilding, definitely a young man, not a girl, played stones with Rime, phlegmatically listening to the skirmish between Katan and Edos. They took turns stacking stones on a plane, creating some kind of picture.
— He is strong, he can handle it, — Edos arched a little and stretched his neck to look out from behind the Katana and answer Kin.
— It’s not the reason! Let it be! I still don’t like that after your business you don’t come to me, but anywhere!

— Not anywhere! I just don’t have any «after», I do something, then I go and do something else, and then I do something. Well, when, finally, there is a respite, I then …
— Must come to me! — Katana whispered angrily.
— …And I see what else I need to do! — Edos said caustically and hysterically. — And then — I go and do it!
— You need to live here, — Katana said stubbornly.
— I live here, it’s just that we each have our own work. I can’t do mine in the throne room.
— I need to dissolve you in me, — Katana hissed.
— You can’t. Not yet,- Edos chuckled. The man flashed a smile and stroked Katana’s cheek. — You know everything, mine, what are you hissing about?
— He talks like that,- Rime explained.
Edos chuckled, looking fondly at Katana. The Conqueror caught the palm of his beloved Golden Wing and pulled it towards himself. Edos laughed and crumbled into gold and darted around the hall, the diamond darkness rushed after him, but suddenly stopped and began to grow, densely filling the hall. Gold sparkling, cheerfully stretched along the wall. Katana chuckled wryly, turning in his direction. Darkness continued to fill the room.
— I warned him that you’d be mad, — shouted Kin, and burying himself in Rime, stretched out his hands into the darkness behind him.
Soon darkness covered everyone in the hall. A dull golden groan caressed the ears of the Black Conqueror. Rime exhaled beautifully noisily, Kin groaned sweetly.

Master of Mirrors

Edos told some amazing stories, and Alham tried to repeat the advice from them later. According to such a fairy tale, he can learn to walk through mirrors. He remembered that it was dangerous, it was easy to get lost in them, but Edos said that there is Master of Mirrors, he can call him if he gets lost, and Master will lead him to where he were going or return him back.
— And if he doesn’t return me? If he doesn’t want to? — Alham asked.
— Why wouldn’t he want to?- Edos was surprised and smiled.
— Maybe he’s evil,- Alham shrugged.
Edos laughed.
— There are no evil ones, Alham. There are stupid ones. Stupid people do not know much, so they are afraid of much. And when people are afraid of many things, they believe that everyone around them is an enemy. And so they do evil deeds.
— That is, the angrier the person, the more intimidated they are?- Alham asked.
— Of course. And the more ignorant they are, the more intimidated they are. But the Master of Mirrors knows a lot, he sits in the hall of mirrors, and sees all the worlds in the mirrors. So if you ask him, he will take you out.
— Then why didn’t the others who got lost in the mirrors ask him?
— Because they don’t know about it. You see, again ignorance has brought trouble.
— Why didn’t you tell them?
— I told them,- Edos chuckled, -but they were already so intimidated that they didn’t believe me. And they decided the Master of Mirrors is evil.
— I was also told that he was evil. That you can’t walk on mirrors, because the Master of Mirrors can catch and leave forever in the mirror, like a picture.
— Of course, — Edos chuckled mockingly, — they’re all so beautiful that he needed it so much to look at them. Huh, pictures. It’s so doubtful pleasure to stare at them for eternity.

The piece of the new song

The resurrected army, not by people, but by swift streams, scattered around the world, opening the centers of conspiracies, evaluating, sorting out people, sometimes holding them, or, conversely, driving them somewhere, but not killing them, leaving them until the trial of Katana, which, as the resurrected people assured, will have time for everyone.
Umukur and Tumus joined the army, Kaderoy at first could not decide what to do, he did not want to just go over to the side of the winner, as he clearly understood, once in the tower, but when he saw the Phoenix, on the hand of Katana, the young man made a decision — he always wanted to serve the Phoenix, whoever was for him was right. Therefore, he and his detachment of magicians, which was supposed to be punitive for the supporters of the new government, went where the Phoenix called and pointed, hovering over the slaughter that the world had become.
The war went under the languid, lingering, love song of the Phoenix. Trees and flowers thought that a new spring was calling them and blossomed.
Sometimes the rain suddenly began to turn golden, washing away the bloody streams. It was not nature that reacted, but natural phenomena, as if individual spirits of the elements wanted to express their attitude to what was happening. The first to respond, as often in such cases, were the winds.
When there was no one left in the tower, and this happened rather quickly, Katana quickly flew around the capital, gathering in the form of a resident near everyone who was waiting for his trial.
The darkness carefully carried Ito into the throne room, where there was still an open gap with broken crystals, and an open working book of Katana’s plans on the table. The princess, like a deer, buckled her legs and she sank to the stone floor. A new song of the world thundered in her head, but at the same time she heard how the individual words disappeared. She didn’t need to see the blood to understand how much of it had spilled all over Kandziru. She raised her head, trying to keep herself in this world, and not go into the darkness, now she wouldn’t even need a punch in the face to do this, she was already on the verge. A little more understanding, a little more awareness, a sight of what is happening, a cry, a prayer, and for the sake of saving her own consciousness, she would fly into the void.
To save herself from the madness that seemed to be waiting for her with open arms, she pushed the body towards the opening. To give her brain another job, stop dying with every missing word, turn her attention to something else.She peered into the opening. She heard a quiet chime and carefully entered the abode of crystals. In another space, it seemed that the song of the world became quieter, but Ito did not stop feeling the pain of loss, so she could not completely ignore what was happening behind her back. She walked looking at the crystals, trying to figure out what they were. Carefully, in her usual manner, when only the tips of her fingers lightly touch something, she stroked one of the crystals, picked it up, looking at it. And she trembled with her whole body, throwing it away from her. From there came the song of her mother. Ito looked around more attentively, listened, and began to retreat towards the exit. There were lives waiting for a new death. She remembered how one of these crystals shattered under the foot of the conqueror, and panting again found herself on the floor of the throne room on all fours. 

Spider toys

Rime got up, walked to the wall, as the werespider approached, a silver web with crystals appeared on the empty wall.
— There are children from different worlds.
Various creatures were locked in the crystals, along with their fears and pain. Someone fought from within, realizing in horror the boundaries of their cage, someone humbly waited for the executioner, trembling from some kind of hidden torment, someone fought with attacking nightmares with amazing naivety. Torn and untouched, mutilated and it seemed that they weren’t, but as soon as you take a closer look, it became clear that hidden injuries did not allow the creature to live fully. There were some, it seemed, out of place here, tender and cheerful, living in some kind of sweet flower-radiant world, not alone, with someone, with some girlfriends, young guys. The crystals reliably concealed any manifestations of life, not a sound came from there, the crystals themselves were motionless, the web did not tremble, but life was beating everywhere inside. When Rime looked at the web, those locked in their personal hell seemed to feel his approach and at the same time froze in fear. Even those who did not raise their heads, seemingly resigned, imperceptibly flinched or froze. Those locked in the lovely worlds also trembled, but did not seem to understand why.
— I understand, there is a lot of information, it is difficult to choose. I can suggest the same race if you want, Esvett is a muse, somewhere I had one. But I’d rather you take the time and choose for yourself. You can enter any toy, you can stay there unnoticed, you can talk and look at their past … games. To evaluate the behavior of the material. Broken and obedient on this branch, — Rime drew along the line of crystals on the threads of the web, and hot, restrained languor, like a wave of a thin, hot smell of desire, seemed to break through the walls of the crystals. It seemed. Movement inside caused such a sensation. Bitterly stifled fear and sweet anticipation made those locked in tremble or freeze, waiting. Someone looked up, smiling timidly, probably believing that Rime would see.
— A muse here, — Rime hit one crystal with his fingernail. The girl inside dropped her book, looked around, and carefully sat up in bed, probably frantically wondering if everything was all right. She was frightened and did not know what to expect, so she tried to somehow get together and meet everything that would come with dignity. 

Phoenix Color

«Kan-Dziru had only two colors before, black and red. It was later, when the Phoenix arrived, she was so delighted that she added his color to her world,» Emonk said.
«Kan-Dziru is a he, they say,» Inshirakh corrected.
«They say,» Emonk waved his hand, «listen them more.
«Well, how can I not listen, Emonk, if you don’t listen to people, you can’t…»
– You can’t do your dirty things to them,» Inshirakh heard behind him.
He stared in front of himself, pretending to resign himself to his fate, and turned around with a wide grin.
‘Ladzoy, have you been executed yet for your deeds?» Inshirakh asked cooingly, the tempter’s silver eyes watching him affectionately, matching his voice.
«You won’t wait down it,» Ladzoi waved his head toward the tavern rooms and headed there first.
Inshirakh gracefully got off the wave-chair and sighed.
«I have to go, he is a new Overlord’s assassin after all,» the man said still as feignedly humble and looked out the window where Kan-Dziru shimmered gold.

Traitor

«I was at Josan’s,» Sherd leaned back against the wall.
The men settled down at a table in the corner, like a forgotten world. «Little Place» had plenty of those, giving the illusion of silence and privacy.
«Oh, well. Good,» Ladzoy seemed pleased at Sherd’s words. Kan’s attorney was cautiously surprised.
«He told me you were a traitor.»
Ladzoy smiled and redirected the smile to the wave that brought the order, though it was inanimated and mindless.
«Try it, it’s delicious,» Ladzoy placed the plate in front of Sherd and continued: – «A traitor, Sherd, is someone who was on one side and then switched sides. And I’ve always been on Katana’s side. So I’ve never betrayed my side.

What were you missing?

«You were underestimated by everyone»
«Well, to be fair, I did everything for that,» Ladzoy smiled.
«But what wasn’t enough fro you? What did you get in the new world that you couldn’t get under Kan?»
«The whole world»
Sherd looked at the man perplexedly.
«Be specific, without generalities»
«There’s nothing more specific. We’re building a safe world. A world that is home. A world where we don’t have to fear a knife in the back or a stab from around the corner. No need to know rituals and intrigue. I could go to any part of Kan-Dziru, to any planet of it, and feel at home there. That’s what I’ve always dreamed of. I was suffocated by your musty cages you called palaces and thrones.
«But you could be Kan’s lover, and just as safe…»
Ladzoy laughed intoxicatingly and contemptuously.
«Safe? You don’t know what safe means. I wanted to walk in a crowd without fearing that every person I met would stick a knife in me instead of saying hello, and without thinking that every smile was fake. You’re beggars, you’re all sitting in your cages, afraid to come out. Because you deserve to be torn apart for your filthiness. You’re all still alive because Katana won’t let the mob retaliate. Your magic and your guards wouldn’t help you. If you were in trouble, if you were to fall into the abyss, who would lend a hand to any of you? I don’t like squalor, Sherd. I’ve spent my life trying to avoid being pathetic. And that’s the only feeling you evoke.»
«It’s amazing. Such a shrewd, smart guy, and you believe in such naivety. Okay, well, do you at least have some sort of plan in case of… disappointment?»
Ladzoy grinned.
«Of course, Sherd, I can always work any of you, wretches, you know that,» the man said wryly.

The pulse of life

They were walking through the city, it was a long way to go, but for them now the very pulse of life was beating, this road did not seem like a road to them, as if they were living now, at last, passing by the stone barracks of the former poor laborers, those whose hands had created everything in the world, past the elegant, like lace houses of the former nobility, from which the nobles would be evicted, all the most beautiful houses would become public houses – theaters, schools, libraries…. and the old noble families, embittered at this injustice, stopped caring for them, and, once shining, these houses now looked dull and haggard, past the frozen parks, which were also no longer cared for. It was unfair, the nobles thought, to take away the houses they had not built and give them to those who had. There was a strange feeling about the world now, as if it were frozen, waiting, and yet the unusual liveliness of its inhabitants drove it on and on.
Vehenta walked and thought that without Katana in the throne room, she would not be walking through the capital like this, not getting drunk, as if from spring joy, from a simple conversation with a nice guy, with whom she was not even in love yet, because there would be nowhere to go for her, nothing to expect from a life in which there was only elbowing others, to climb up some hill, to fence herself off from life with a higher fence and be afraid for the multicolored glasses, so that someone else, who is younger and stronger, who is also pushing, doesn’t take them away, to climb up that hill, to throw you down from there. And even if you abandoned the capital, flew to the Islands, lived a simple quiet life and then you wouldn’t be left in peace, at any moment a bunch of nobles could fly in, have some fun, with a squad of Battle Wings, kill all the inhabitants and take one of the islands… and that had happened more than once. There was nothing to live for in this world. Before. Before Katana sat on the throne.
And now, Vehenta looked up at the red trees, frozen brightly in the darkness of the evening, like veins filled with blood, but in which the pulse of life was just beginning to beat. She thought that they, these veins and vessels, were beginning to be fed life by the Black Heart of the Overlord. Vehenta smiled, how could it be, what had changed so important that any simple action had become so full of meaning? What had he done, this Overlord with the diamond black gaze and the same black diamond heart.
– Let’s go and see the Heart of Kan-Dziru? – Vehenta said to Kore.

Heroes

«That’s why you’re a hero. You constantly confront Katana for people you don’t need.»
«I’m not doing it for those people, I’m doing it for him, because he needs those unnecessary people. So I’m not a hero,» Edos smiled, «heroes are those who have some bright goal they fight for. Ladzoy is a hero, he is building the world he wants to live in. If we disappear, he’ll keep doing what he’s been doing. Katana loves the world, the world learns to love him. You, me and Raim don’t have any goals. We do what we do, not because we need it, and not because people need it. And not even because the world itself needs it.
«Wait, but Katana is people-piece too, so we do it because one people-piece needs it. So that’s why it counts too!» Kin laughed.
«Yeah, it’s a lot of honor to do it for someone for whom anyone would do anything anyway. They just don’t have the knowledge and skills like we do. But look, everyone is doing their best.»
«Well, not everyone,» said Kin.
«Well, those are just very confused.»
«What’s up?» Raim appeared on the swing, and began to get comfortable, pushing Kin so that he was sitting behind her, facing Edos.
«We’re discussing what heroes we are,» Kin leaned back against Raim’s chest.
«Not bad, I think,» Raim smiled and kissed Kin’s hair.
«Another hero,» Edos grinned.
«Why not? I’m like this… underground revolutionary.»
«If Ladzoy did it, he’d be a hero, but when it’s done by an omnipotent being who could have done it at any time, it doesn’t count as heroic,» Edos said.
«And that’s how the whole conversation went, can you imagine?» Kin pretended to be indignant.

Offensive miracle

Did she believe in miracles? She really wanted to believe in them. Hiding with an indecently fairy-tale book in her hands, in which everyone was beautiful and happy, she wanted to believe that she would end up like that too and suddenly become just like everyone else. She would also be happy as enthusiastically, completely and amazingly as the heroes of fairy tales. Yes, she wanted to believe in that, but she knew too well that this would not happen. Her difference with these heroes was too obvious. They were beautiful, so that it was impossible to take your eyes off them, and she knew that she was not beautiful too well. She wasn’t ugly, but she was ordinary, if to take away her wings, among the golden-haired girls you won’t recognize her, she will get lost in the crowd like an ordinary gray mass.
She remembered well the only time when she cried indecently about this. She so wanted to dance, she so wanted to be liked. It was a big festival of Phoenix; for the first time she entered the hall not for children, but for adults. In this huge majestic hall, full of light, the creator’s love spilled out through the luminary. The first time when it seemed like the whole world was in front of her.
And it was then that she realized that she could be a princess even a hundred times, but they would prefer the Virgin to a lower title, because of her grace, beauty, and individuality. She understood this with all sincerity, after several dances, when all the debutantes already danced, more than one dance in a row, and she was still standing alone from below admiring the flights of the couples, then Rime approached her. Rime! Yes, the best man she knew, a bastion of security and tranquility, someone she could snuggle up to in hours of uncomfortable melancholy and always hear: «Everything is fine, sweetheart.» But it was like a father would come up to save his daughter. It was then that she realized how uninteresting she was, so even the title and possible blessings did not help her to be attractive in the eyes of the Wings.
If only she had ever plucked up the courage and asked Rime someday why he had approached then, even if it was to confirm her bitter thoughts, then the turnskin-spider would have answered, he thought that many would dance with her, even if many did that for her status, and when he saw that everyone was acting like a mouthful, and the princess wanted to dance, he approached her.
Rime was never guided by mercy or tact. He would have said that he would have invited her again, but Ito ran away immediately after the dance. But, of course, Ito never asked Rime about this.

If you want to win

«I want Rhyme to teach us how to be warriors, but he wants you to do it,» Sard snickered.

Ladzoy nodded.

«Rhyme is a better warrior than I, better to have him teach you.»

«But I’m worse as a teacher,» Rhyme twitched the corner of his lips.

«Don’t be cranky,» Edos smiled.

Rhyme didn’t smile back, but something sparkled in his black eyes.

«Well,» the skinturner waved his hand uncertainly, apparently inviting the youth to line up.

«The sense of righteousness must be complete,» Rhyme explained blankly, «a feeling, not an emotion. Righteous anger, for example, is a defeatist emotion. You can’t win in battle with it. To win in battle, you have to assess what’s going on at all times.»

«And if the opponent is also sure that he is right?» Senz asked.

«Whoever is more confident will win,» Rhyme shrugged, «none of this has anything to do with objective rightness. Because it’s not objectivity or idea that fights, it’s a person.

«So the wrong person can win?» Mehr asked.

«Yes, but only if the right one agrees with it,» Rhyme nodded.

Decision to come

«Did my mother oppress anyone? If she did, then so did I. Do I have only a week or two to live?» She asked.
«Don’t you know that?» Katana pulled Ito a little away from him to look at her. «Don’t you know about the village girls who were sold to the mountain settlements to prevent them from attacking the capital’s supplies? Don’t you know about her rejuvenation project for kan-dzirian women, that they had to wash with the tears of the healthiest girls, a series of that royal cosmetics called Crystal Tear? Don’t you know about her support for your father’s idea to build recreational parks for kan-zirians on fertile land, driving the zirians off to the lands where they couldn’t feed themselves? And, as part of her aid, did she suggest that the pretty children of the poor should go to the seraglio for guests? That she introduced the fashion of living servants instead of inanimate waves?»
The Conqueror spoke softly and calmly, as usual. Only his black eyes seemed to be covered with a shining cover of ice. In front of Katana’s eyes, lands lovingly cultivated by peasants were being fenced off, people were chased to nowhere. Gardens were no longer fruitful, but marvelous flowers grew everywhere, in parks for the rulers and the chosen ones. The royal family had nearly wiped out the swan totem tribe by selling several generations of children as concubines for the peace with the bandits living in the mountains. Outlaws who were the children of those impoverished peasants driven off their lands. The King and the Pleiad of the Phoenix tightly controlled magic and the Dzirovians, a nearly omnipotent life form, in terms of survival, were starving.

Catching Water

“A Wave of Bliss has escaped from the Ocean,” Edos said.
“Did he mistreat it?” Ladzoy asked.
Edos smirked. “He created it as a gift for Katana.”
Ladzoy chuckled and shook his head.
“And where are we supposed to store such gifts? Soon enough, everyone will be rushing to give them,” he rubbed his eyes. “So, where do we put her?”
“The Ocean doesn’t know if he created her, and she doesn’t know she’s a wave. That’s why she can’t be found. She has no distinguishing features, except that upon seeing Katana, she’s supposed to dissolve into bliss.”
“Well then, we could order all the women in the kingdom to appear before our Lord’s dark, smoldering eyes. Whichever one dissolves, that’s her,” Ladzoy shrugged. “We’ll return the extras to the Ocean. I suppose there might be quite a few who dissolve.”
“Indeed, the last thing Katana needs is this circus. We need to find her. We don’t necessarily have to bring her to Katana, but we must find her.”
Ladzoy sighed, leaning back. “Are you with me?”
“Of course, but start without me.”
“Alright, I’ll go now. Set some traps.”
“We’ll be catching water,” Edos smiled.
“Yeah, we’re always catching something liquid like that. You should get those five revolutionaries involved in something more substantial too.”
“You think they can handle it?”
“I didn’t fight for this world to live with those who can’t handle it. I’m tired of this fuss, some can’t, others won’t, give these a chance, help those, chew for these. If they’re not ready, let them go out. I want to live.”
Ladzoy straightened up. “To live. Not to endlessly prepare someone, teach someone, wait for something. I’ve waited long enough.”
Edos admired the man, then smiled.
“Well, many have waited longer, so much longer that they’ve forgotten how to recognize it, so some simply don’t know they’ve already received what they were waiting for.”
“If they’ve waited longer than me, how can they not recognize it?” Ladzoy scoffed harshly and shook his head.
“Well, if everyone were like you, we wouldn’t need Katan.”
“Oh no! Don’t start with that. Even don’t be sarcastic with that. I’ll go get the youth myself. Let them get to work.”
“Go ahead. You can tell me later what you’ve accomplished, and we’ll continue together.”
Ladzoy nodded and swiftly picked out Sard from a group of students.
“You,” he pointed at the young man. Sard looked at his teacher attentively and expectantly. “Gather your friends, we’re flying out. For business.”
Sard nodded without asking for details and quickly followed Ladzoy, sending waves to his friends.
Ladzoy walked briskly towards the exit. The five golden students followed him like five rays of light. Edos smiled, watching how joyfully and importantly the youth followed the former underground fighter.
Ignis left a glass of water on Edos’s table and tried to disappear unnoticed, but she met the green-gold gaze of the Golden Wing.
“Thank you, dear,” said Edos.
“I’m not dear,” the girl replied with hidden pain.
“Alright, thank you, not-dear,” Edos smirked, turning away and bumping into Raim, who stood before him. The Golden Wing exhaled, “It’s you… come with us to catch water?”
“Of course, who wouldn’t want to catch water,” Rhime stepped closer.

Cleanup

«You claim that everyone is equal, yet you only associate with them,» Golden Maiden said, shaking her head towards the Five. «You fly off with them, lead them to the Tower, and visit them in the evenings! I cook just as well as Sharizat, and I read no less! Do we not deserve your attention?»

Ladzoy let out a nervous smirk, his honey eyes darkening as they fixed on the student. He was ready to respond, but Edos warmly placed a hand in front of his friend, stopping him.

«So you don’t want to, Talayla,» said Edos.

He smiled his usual sunny and bright smile, stood up easily, and surveyed the class.

«Don’t want to? I’m simply not invited to all these gatherings! If they stand and laugh at something, and when I approach, they fall silent. I’ve asked Sard several times where their party is, and he always says it’s not a party! Of course, then I hear them sitting in a room laughing! And the music! And you say I don’t want that?!»

The girl was breathless with indignation.

«You don’t want to,» Edos repeated, «when we were clearing the rubble in locked rooms, you said to do it without you. When we flew southeast to turn waves into rivers, you said you were fine in the capital. When we flew to clean up trash on Tamatis, you said trash was outside your interests. So it’s not that you don’t deserve it, you just don’t want it. And Ladzoy goes with them along Kan-Dziru to clean up trash. They meet to discuss the cleanup. You’d be bored at their parties. And you’d have nothing to discuss with them. And they go to the Tower to report what they’ve greened, where they’ve cleaned. There too…» Edos smiled warmly and sparklingly, «is a Cleaner.»

Many in the class smiled involuntarily.

«And if I don’t want to engage in all that, does that make me worse than the others?»

Ladzoy made a barely perceptible movement, intending to respond again. Edos, without looking at him, squeezed his shoulder.

«We have no hierarchy of comparison. But you have nothing to do with those who want to engage in all that. You’d be bored with them, and they with you,» Edos replied.

Ladzoy nodded enthusiastically in agreement, smiling predatorily.

XXXX

«How many more and whom do I need to kill to earn the right to ask for all the townspeople to be expelled?» Ladzoy looked after the students and turned his gaze to Edos.

Golden Wing laughed warmly and gently shook his shoulder.

«Ladzoy, just wait a bit, we’ll set everything up and transfer you to the best planet of Kan-Dziru for the best! Everyone there will be just like you. Or do you want us to put you to work with the best right now?»

«No. This is my world, and it’s mine to clean. I don’t want to walk on swept paths. I want all paths to be swept.»

The Exam Before Phoenix

Sherd paused in one of the parks, shifting his gaze to the Black Tower where the conquerors remained.

The golden whore of Raihm had undoubtedly stayed on the throne, shimmering in Sherd’s favorite shade of gold. The new overlord probably wasn’t perched on the edge of the table with arms crossed anymore, but had likely returned behind it, just as when Sherd first entered the throne room.

And somewhere, Raihm had settled in. Sherd couldn’t imagine where. The shapeshifter had stood aside throughout the meeting, completely off the Sherd-Katana line, but the former king’s counselor had no doubt that if danger suddenly threatened Raihm’s new employer, he’d be there in an instant. Sherd had no intention of attacking the new overlord; he was simply assessing the situation out of habit.

Sherd felt an involuntary respect for the Dzirovian Raihm, who had managed to earn the centuries-long love of Kan, the battle wings, and almost everyone else, and now remained in the same position under the new regime.

Because Sherd believed that abilities should be rewarded.

And Raihm was very capable. Sherd had never understood why Raihm didn’t take the Phoenix exam and become a golden winged one.

 

Once, during yet another debate in Kan’s council, Raihm suddenly took Sherd’s side. After the Council, the aristocratic schemer approached the shapeshifter and said:

“If you ever want to take the Phoenix exam, know that I’ll support you.”

Raihm, as always, flashed a dazzling smile and replied:

“Thank you, Sherd, but I think that in my exam before Phoenix, your support won’t help me.”

“You’re wrong to think so,” said Sherd, mentally noting Raim’s Dzirovian speech pattern – ‘exam before Phoenix’ was what Dzirovian assassins called the judgment after death – but he didn’t correct him, “I can easily become the chairman of any commission.”

“At my exam, there won’t be any commission, only Phoenix.”

Sherd had nodded respectfully then, assuming Raihm was from some proud clan that adhered to their own wild code, which Phoenix was supposed to evaluate after the assassin’s death.

And now Sherd pondered, recalling both that old conversation and the recent one in the Throne Room. Even then, Raihm had known about the coup and had meant the real god-Phoenix. Did that mean the coup had been in preparation for several centuries? And no one noticed? No one? That’s impossible!

It’s not shameful

“You know I have to go to the capital,” Tumus said, running the back of his hand along East’s high cheekbone.

Umukur caught his hand and kissed it.

“Let’s wait until things calm down.”

“But we’ve already been waiting for so long! The Conqueror has been on the throne for ages, and I’m hiding here. People in the North are suffering.”

Umukur sighed.

“We don’t know what kind of coup this is, Tumus. Look—nothing is changing. We receive beautiful orders, but as far as I know, I’m the only one who carries them out. Neither the South nor the West, and certainly not your father. And punishment doesn’t reach them. Not for such a long time. It’s quite possible that the Dzirovite on the throne has sunk into the temptations of power.”

“No, no, I spoke with Kheirshid,” Tumus said, sitting up on the bed and shaking his head, recalling the conspirator who had helped Katana. “They’re different. Completely different.”

Umukur smiled and sat down as well. His gold was dark, ruddy, and dense. Beside him, Tumus was dazzling. He would have been light if he were not so bright—his gold shone like the daytime sun on snow.

“You are young, Tumus. All rulers, the moment their backside touches the throne, speak fine and noble words. They just never match their actions.”

Umukur looked at his lover.

“Long ago, I failed to protect what should have been protected. You have nothing to be jealous of,” East smiled. “It was not personally dear to me, but it was something that should have existed in the world. I regret that to this day. As I said, it wasn’t personally dear to me. But you are personally dear to me. I cannot lose you. You are the only thing that has become dear to me over these thousands of years. That is why I understand your revolutionary moods, I understand that you cannot be otherwise… but I cannot be otherwise either.”

Umukur spoke, and Tumus tried to interject, but the man gently and inexorably did not allow him to interrupt.

“So let’s wait a little longer. Just a little. Even if you are ashamed of hiding away. Do it for me. I am willing to take that shame upon myself. It is worth it.”

“Nothing is worth dishonor, Umukur,” Tumus smiled. “You wouldn’t love me if I could do that.”

“I would,” Umukur sighed. “I have lived too long. I have seen such baseness. I have even committed some myself. I have seen idealists turn into tyrants, the best ideas twisted into the worst. Now I understand that only happiness truly matters.”

Tumus smiled and stroked East’s wing.

“But happiness is an ideal state, Umukur. You cannot become happy if you do not strive for it. It’s strange that no one sincere has crossed your path in all these millennia, but I am sure you loved me precisely for my ideas. Because I am an idea.”

Umukur thought for a moment and shook his head.

“No. I still won’t let you go. You may hate me. Let’s do it this way. I’ll meet with someone, and then I’ll go to the Conqueror myself and see what’s really going on. There is a chance that the Conquest is a fabrication. A test. Or… worse still, that it is Raima’s game, the one he has finally begun to play.”

Tumus ran his hand over his face.

“Can you do it quickly?”

“I can. But I’ll still have time to kiss you, won’t I?” East leaned toward the northern prince.

His world

At times Katana assumed the harsh form of the inhabitant he had been born as; elsewhere he appeared as the one he had become; in other places he took on totemic shapes — a dragon, a bat. He merged with molten oceans or shimmered within the ice of young planets; he darkened the blazing stars of the world with his own presence, shaping for them a future — useful, unfolded, beautiful — marking where life would arise. Having gazed his fill upon the beauty of the world under his dominion, he thoughtfully descended to the shore of one of the inhabited planets. Dark and majestic. Katana idly thought of nothing and of everything at once, running his palm through the black sand and letting it slip through his fingers. He sighed into a moment in which he remained alone, creating in Kan-Dziru the future he had planned. The order he could establish even without the motion of his hands — by will alone. But people. The living could not be changed by will alone. They had to learn, to understand, to accept many obvious decisions. Katana stepped into a moment of the distant future. He remained in that instant of serene creative happiness. Once again he wished to share his vision of the future with Raim and Kin; he grew shy, felt his friends gently touch him, and returned to the present moment, radiating assured love and happiness. Glad that the shore was empty.

Katana rose and flowed back toward the capital planet Kan-Dziru. He circled the lands of his light, sometimes with sadness, sometimes with joy, watching the rulers of the world, and returned to the capital, from which new life would begin to spread.

Why?

…The ruler of the Forests used to come to the palace often, cheerful and handsome. A friend of Ito’s father. And then he suddenly stopped coming. Her father said that Ledjin had betrayed him, that he had conspired with the ruler of the South and that they were preparing a plot. The Mirror revealed that her father had made a deal with the ruler of the South: in exchange for the Forests, he would increase the levies from the eastern lands. Then he asked Ledjin to go to the ruler of the South and present the terms. Ledjin went. And the ruler of the South killed him.

“More?” Katana whispered.

Ito slowly shook her head. When the heart turns inside out, it hurts even to remain conscious.

“And me? What was I doing? Living…” the princess whispered, answering herself, unable to escape the cruel knowledge that pierced her, telling her that her suffering was what she was meant to receive, even if only a fraction of it, to answer for the plunder, cruelty, heartlessness, and hypocrisy of her parents, and for the fact that she had never even tried to think about those she did not see. A punishment for the laziness of her own mind, which sought to uncover all the secrets of the Phoenix while ignoring life beyond the temple. Now she understood why the square had erupted in cheers at the sight of the fallen living symbol of power. She should not have been kept in the palace but thrown to them. To be torn apart alive, as her parents had torn the world apart. “Phoenix, how long you delayed our punishment.”

Katana stroked Ito’s head, kissed the crown of her hair, and put the Mirror away. He returned to the table, still holding her close and settling her on his lap. Ito closed her whitened eyes, from which golden tears of grief continued to flow.

“I came as soon as I could,” Katana said.

“Why did they need all this?” She was not asking for an answer; she was fighting for her sanity. Not even for understanding, but to find at least one reason why they should not wish her dead, why they could smile at her, even be kind. Like Edos. Like the dzyrovtsy who had touched her wings only once and by accident, though they could have thrown stones at her, or books, as in the library. It was not without reason that she avoided the residential quarters; there, death, contempt, and hatred truly awaited her. How were her parents different from the Conqueror? Only in that they did not torture her personally? But if Azarta was the same, then suffering had been intended for Ito as well, only there had been enough others nearby for now. And when there were no more? Would they, too, have been courteous at times, like the Conqueror, trying to calm her, wipe her tears, explain? If one looks honestly, everything he does he does openly; his cruelty lies in his truth and in how he understands it. But their actions would always have been covered in hypocrisy. Comfort would not have been a real wish to soothe her, but a way to give her hope that everything would be fine, only to crush it later, as with the dzyrovtsy family. To wipe her tears, to explain, in order to lead her to powerless submission and agreement. How was she to live the remaining two weeks given to her and not burn beneath the sun in shame for being a worthless creature? Ito could not stop the golden stream from her eyes, yet the tears grew fiercer, as if they were tearing the hysterical core out of her and exploding it.

“I do not know why people need more than they can eat, Ito,” Katana said, stroking her hair and back. “Especially in a world where there could be enough for everyone. I do not know why people divide themselves into better and worse, why there must be chosen ones. But I know for certain that it should not be so. And here, it will not be so anymore. Because I am here.”

Princesses

“You will not rule here long, do not flatter yourselves!” Dmeris flung back in bitterness. “All will return as it was, and when it does, I too will laugh.”

Edos inclined his head, thoughtful, as though weighing the words of Golden Wing upon an unseen scale.

“Let us suppose,” he said gently, “that the world bends to your imagining. Let us picture it. The throne is taken by—whom? The Regent Sherd Kan-Amiyas? Ito’s husband? Some relic of the old nobility, perhaps. Yet by your own statutes Ito stands disgraced. Veenta is not. The husband of Kan’s bastard daughter will be crowned, for Kan has no sons remaining. And you, my dear, will find no comfort in that dawn either, for once again you will dwell beneath the authority of the detested directress.”

Dmeris, who had in earnest resolved to conquer Ito’s heart, faltered. If she could grant him no passage to the throne, what use was a torn and unlovely girl, now but the Conqueror’s bedding?

Edos laughed again, though not unkindly.

“Have I scattered some far-reaching stratagem of yours to the wind?”

“He meant to dazzle Ito and cloud her wits,” Veenta said. “He boasted of it.”

“Ito’s wits are well guarded,” Edos replied with an idle wave of his hand, and at the mere naming of Katan an unbidden merriment poured itself through the library like sunlight through high glass. Those gathered there laughed—warmly, bright as struck crystal—though none could have said precisely why.

Dmeris, persuaded the laughter was his undoing, turned and fled toward the door.

“We will yet see,” he hissed.

But the dwellers among the books seemed dream-steeped and would not heed the despair of one unmoored. They wished to remember and to imagine—of one thing only, though each in his own fashion.

Ilara and Yumna bent once more above their notebooks, the failed suitor already forgotten.

Edos smiled at Veenta and laid a hand upon her shoulder.

“Well done. That is the manner of it,” he said, and then to the others: “It looks like that. Don’t rehear.”

Veenta swept the room with a proud gaze.

“And do not attempt,” she added, “to wed me in hope of a crown. I will bite off your wings and throw them at Katan’s feet.” She smiled with sweetness and departed.

О Сокровенном

About personal

– Raim! – Veenta called out in a lilting voice when she saw the werespider.

Raim looked at her with surprise.

– Has something happened?

– No, I… I need to tell you something… – Veenta faltered. – But somewhere no one can overhear.

– I see, – silver flashed coldly in Raim’s eyes. – No one can hear us. But first tell me this: do I have a sign on my forehead that says “come and tell me some personal”? Is this some sort of joke I was not invited to? Kin? Edos? Ladzoy? Or that demon girl, the clever necrophile?

Raim’s voice was sharp and edged with malice.

Veenta looked at him in astonishment.

– I have no idea where you were not invited, but I was drawn into a conspiracy, and I came to confess it to you.

– Oh, – Raim exhaled and gave a familiar, almost casual smile. – Go on then. For a moment I thought you had suddenly found yourself in need of my love as well.

– Phoenix spare me, – Veenta muttered aside, then smiled at the spider. – But actually… yes.

Raim’s black eyes flashed silver again.

– The conspiracy is to seduce you.

Raim gave a short, nervous laugh.

– That scheme those mad girls came up with, I suppose? What are their names… your friend…

– Yes. Ilara and Yumna. They came to me and said Katana does not exist, that he is merely a creation of your magic. And since I am Kan’s daughter, if I seduce you they will not interfere with me. You, meanwhile, will be pleased, because I am better than Ito, whom you dislike, which is why you broke her completely.

– I am not merely pleased. I am delighted, – Raim nodded without smiling.

– Well, there it is. I have told you everything, – Veenta shrugged. – I simply thought you should know.

– Good girl, – Raim said with a smile. – You have my permission to seduce me.

– Well, thank you, – Veenta replied acidly. Yet, as always, her soft, musical voice carried no trace of the sarcasm she intended.

– Since you have invited me into this, let’s play, – Raim stepped toward her.

Veenta instinctively drew back, but Raim caught her by the neck and pulled her close.

– Smile. You are seducing me, remember. We already have an audience.

Veenta let out a startled breath.

– Imagine how furious they will be, – Raim said with a smile.

Her fear vanished at once. She smiled back at the spider, and when he seized her lips she wrapped her arms around him, shamelessly running her hands over his back and thighs. She laughed when he finally pulled away. The laughter sounded spiteful, yet unmistakably happy.

– I have passed on a few fragments of knowledge to you, and the ability not to tire, – Raim murmured against her ear.

She closed her eyes and exhaled softly – and this time the effect came to her effortlessly.

– Thank you.

Raim stepped back.

– Off you go, seductress.

– Very well, I shall, – Veenta replied with a touch of defiance, though it emerged warm and gentle all the same. She took a step away, then paused. – Could my voice convey the emotions I actually mean, instead of whatever it chooses on its own?

– No. That would hurt, – Raim dismissed the thought lightly.

– I can endure it, – Veenta sighed.

– Run along. It suits you, – Raim said, waving a hand.

– I will ask Edos. He will make sure it does not hurt, – Veenta sang, darting away with a bright laugh and slipping past Raim’s attempt to seize her.

But the web caught her and lashed across her back. Veenta gasped as the pain washed through her – exquisitely sweet, and fiercely strong.

– Do not provoke me, – Raim said cheerfully as he appeared beside her.

– You said I was allowed! – Veenta protested, struggling to pull the web away.

– Which is precisely why you enjoyed it, – the spider replied with a smirk.

– Edos, get him off me! – Veenta cried in her musical voice, ducking behind the back of the man who had just appeared.

– Why are you pestering the director? – Edos removed the strand of web from Veenta’s back and wound it around his wrist. It tightened instantly, cutting into his skin and slipping beneath it.

– These are simply our games of courtship. She seduces me, and I allow myself to be seduced. I am very easy that way. And she knows exactly how to capture a man’s attention.

Edos laughed despite himself.

– Are you all right? – he asked Veenta.

Smiling, she nodded.

– Do you know why no one ever tells you anything? Because of this, – she said to Raim, hiding behind Edos again. – Even when someone comes to you with good intentions, you manage to frighten them half to death.

– It does not matter. The finest atmars fear nothing. You came, after all.

– Because I am responsible! I told you for Katana!

– I have no interest in the reasons, – Raim said with a dismissive tilt of his head.

Veenta exhaled happily.

In that moment she wanted to laugh aloud with joy, to ask: would it always be like this? Always? Every day throughout endless eternity? Would they always be able to tease one another and revel so intoxicatingly in it? Would she truly be able not to fear even Raim?

But asking such a question aloud now would have been inappropriate.

And overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of happiness, Veenta burst into tears. She realized with horror how foolish it must look, yet she could not force out a single word to explain what was happening. So she merely shook her head and ran from the men.

Edos gave Raim a look of gentle reproach and went after her.

– What did I do now? – Raim said in bewilderment. – Hey!

The spider strode after them, irritated.

Добро и зло Кан-Дзиру

Good and Evil of Kan-Dziru

Inshirah came up to Ladzoy’s table and sat down.

“Where’s your food?” he asked.

“They’ll bring it now.”

“Chika of Katana is here, in The little place. She hooked up with the Cursed one.”

Ladzoy leaned back, exhaled as if he had just sworn, and ran a hand over his face.

“Just what we needed. The Wave of Bliss and the Cursed one. If only we could get them both out of Kan-Dziru…”

“There you go, your precious authority,” Inshirah said with a sneer. “Always eager to push around people who’ve done nothing wrong.”

“True enough,” Ladzoy replied thoughtfully. “What do you know about the Cursed one?”

“One of yours. Young. Not disillusioned, not bitter. I’m working with him, but he’s difficult. Still, I’m working.”

“Leave him alone.”

“And why should he get special treatment?”

“Because the Curser has already taken a special interest in him. That alone warrants a bit more respect. He must have seen something in him.”

Inshirah snorted.

“Inshirah, I’m serious. Don’t touch the Cursed one. I don’t know how this thing works. I know the curse doesn’t spread, but I’ve heard a story that the Curser watches his curses. Not the Cursed themselves, but the curses. He observes how they resolve. And sometimes he notices the people around the Cursed—those who seem suitable for new curses. As if the Cursed always carries a fragment of the Curser’s attention.”

Inshirah was about to object, but Ladzoy pressed a finger to his lips.

“And I don’t want him to notice you. You’re far too cheerful and unshakeable. That kind irritates him. You irritate everyone, of course. But let’s leave the Curser off that list.”

“Are you worried about me?” Inshirah asked with feigned tenderness, though his eyes were warm.

“I’ll be the one dealing with your curse afterward, because you’re such asshole no one else will bother. And the last thing I need is to deal with the curse of some asshole,” Ladzoy replied dryly. “Besides, we can’t have you getting hold of the Curser’s omnipotence.”

Inshirah couldn’t hold it in and broke into a bright, genuine smile, nodding in acknowledgment that Ladzoy had won the exchange.

At that moment, their order arrived, and the two of them began eating from a single plate with one utensil.

“So, what do we do with them? Take them out of Kan-Dziru?” Inshirah asked.

“That would be best…” Ladzoy said, thinking. “But Katana has sealed the exit from Kan-Dziru so that dangerous trash can’t escape.”

“Greedy bastard. Even the trash he won’t let go,” Inshirah muttered.

“We could ask him to open the passage, but how do we explain it? He’ll latch onto the Cursed one and try to rid him of the curse. By force. The Curser will notice, his ‘Khans’ will descend from his Palace, we’ll have to call in the ravens, and we’ll begin our new life in debt.”

“I don’t want to owe the ravens,” Inshirah said quickly.

“No one does,” Ladzoy shrugged. “Can you keep the Cursed one and the Wave away from… everyone? I’ll bring Raim into the sayyam.”

“I think I can,” Inshirah nodded.

“Good. Done eating?” Ladzoy asked.

“Yes,” Inshirah replied at once.

“Want to take on the good?” the Golden Wing said with a bright smile.

Inshirah smiled back.

“Always.”

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