«But they can also be dangerous. Their pretty appearance is deceptive.»
«And they also have a court etiquette. They know how to behave in order not to provoke a new enmity.»
And what if Dagda himself is dangerous? What if he just pretended, that does it want to make friends with you?»
«I do not think! No wonder he has rumored about him that he is the most noble of all the rulers of the elves, which were before him.»
«It is true, others did not agree to go to the world. But it does not mean at all that it is necessary to believe him unconditionally.»
«I do not believe! I check it! Therefore, he was invited to the wedding. Let me get him acquainted with my bride. He must promise that he will not hurt her, only then we will become real friends and allies.
«Its all because of Amaranta, yes?» It seemed to Theobald for a moment that he looked into the heart of his friend. «In order to provide her security, you are ready for everything.»
«Well, besides her, I am obliged to patronize all the inhabitants of the county, my vassals, servants. I am entrusted concern for many.
«You yourself would fought to the last drop of blood. You did not forget that the elves were the invaders, they murdered your parents. They damaged us by centuries while we did not do anything bad. You see, all these lands, on which we live, were their property even before the first person arose. They considered us only as parasites in their private territories.»
«Stop doing that! Everything is not so bad!» The count takes a spyglass to consider the works of the Finodirries better. Still a little bit and they will finish. And the sun is not even beginning to tear up to the sunset.
«Great workers!»
«Just do not invite them to work in our county. They are very dangerous.»
Although the cathedral was built on a deserted plain, where it was not necessary to build anything before, and where, because of bad rumors, no one tried not to enter, gossip about the shaggy workers had already separated throughout the county. Somewhere there remained the imprint of their clawed foot size. Somewhere heard their laughter, from which global walls of rural houses were shook. Somewhere broke the roof, on which they jumped in passing.
«Do you really believe that banshees lived in this plain?» interrupted his reflection the count.
«The rustic girls accurately heard them. These spirits are howling, foreshadowing a tragedy. And even if they were driven by Finodirries, the place to build a wedding cathedral here is very unsuccessful.
Where banshees are howling, it is always better to build a chapel for funeral and prepare the graveyard for the funeral, but Theobald didnt say about it. Why once again alarm the friend. In addition, the elixir of Finodirry gave temporary relief from the wound. And thank him.
Only thanks to say it is impossible not to provoke hysteria and discord. Theobald stopped himself in time.
Society of gold masks
Amaranta did not notice how she fell asleep. She dreamed that she walks among gold roses. It was amazing! The flowers, in fact, were made of pure gold, but they could not be called jewelry as they grew right on the bushes and trees. From their radiance blinded eyes. And some dark shadow swept in the sky. Amaranta touched one of the roses, but only pricked a finger about gold spikes.
«Caution, you are very close to the boundaries of the magic kingdom,» said someone suddenly. Amaranta raised her head and noticed a bird on a high branch with a human head. It seems such creatures were called Sirin. Or alkonost? Or Hamayun? And they existed only in fairy tales. This bird had a luxurious, almost peacocks tail with sparkling stones. What are they just growing from her feathers? It seems that this bird is Sirin, because her plumage is light, and a smile friendly. Alkonosts and Hamayuns feathers are dark, and the faces are gloomy, as they predict tragedies. The Sirin is a bird of joy. The maidens head on a bird body was crowned with a real crown with rubies and diamonds.
«Hes coming!» said the Sirin. «He is so close to you, as he has never been. And he will take you with him! Soon!»
«Who?»
But the Sirin only smiled. And the gold roses ring, as if the bells. There were here hundreds, thousands of roses. And from each was heard a melodic ringing. Someone hugged Amaranta from behind. She turned around. Nearby there was someone state and attractive. It was warm and pleasant with him, but a little confused that his face was completely closed with a gold mask. Amaranta wanted to remove it, but suddenly realized that the mask was his face. Do not remove it!
The dream broke off. The carriage sharply slowed down, and this was the reason that the girl woke up from blissful dreams. Only all her companions still dreamed. Probably, it is a knock of wheels and monotonous landscapes outside the window have affected all sleeping.
«No matter how they attacked the robbers,» said the white bird with an amber in her forehead, «I heard, there are many robbers in these forests. And there are also those who are worse as robbers.»
«About what are you talking?» Amaranta abruptly remembered a stranger from the dream.
The bird was silent, brushing her luxury snow-white plumage.
«Listen, have you ever seen birds, the same luxurious, like you, only with the human head?
«You have little that I am talking to the human language, you want me to be the girl?!»
«No, what are you! I did not want to offend you. By the way, how can I call you. Do you have a nickname?»
«A nickname?» The bird was displeased.
«Well, okay, a name, not a nickname,» went to the assignment Amaranta. «It seems that I speak to a real lady from a notable birds race!»
«You can choose a name for me. My birds language you dont understand. It is too difficult for people. But I give you a carte-blanche to choose a new.»
«For example, Your Majesty,«Amaranth jokes.
«Not so high!»
«Then the White Queen,» the girl looked at her plumage. «or a snow-white marchioness.»
«More like titles than the names.»
«And what will be suitable for you?»
«The name is not just a beautiful sound, it should characterize me, give individuality. Do not call me like a dog.»
«Well, well,» Amaranta began to bend fingers and put all his ingenuity into the move. «A Gossip? A Snowflake? An Amber? I think the nickname of an amber is best suited.»
«Well, no, there is a feeling that the stone is the main thing that I have.»
«Then the fluff. You are easy in flight, like a fluff. And the touch is the same soft.»
«No, I dont want to compare me with a fluff,» the bird was capricious.
«Then,» Amaranta urgently sought a compromise. «Infanta!»
«And what does it mean?»
«I somehow saw a princess who came with the ambassador from a distant state, where girls are sweet, beautiful and decorate their hairstyle with the peacocks feathers. They would like them. The heiress of the throne in those states is called infanta, and I will call you so much.»
«Well, it doesnt sound bad,» said the bird. «Infanta! I like.»
«Then now its your name,» Amaranta made a note for herself that the word «a nickname» can not be used. For some reason, she did not want to insult the bird. They did not spend an hour together, and she had already started to treat the gift of the merchant, as the best girlfriend. Its amazing how they did not wake up anyone from her maids with their loud conversation. Even Adeline peacefully dreams. Not to mention the old nurse, which Amaranta also took with her. It will be very good, if Angus does not come in bewilderment, seeing such an unusual escort. He can not send such an unusual escort away. All of her fellow travelers will have to find some place in the castle. They are as if part of the dowry. By the way, she has almost no dowry, not counting the jewels of her mother that she got as the only daughter. But Angus was not embarrassed by this fact. Probably because he himself was very rich. He has more fertile lands than Prince or King!