And they had lost. If they had not been cowardly enough, it would have been different. Especially your pet faeries were a failure. Their weapons were nothing but taunts and jokes, and anyone could handle them by force without difficulty. The others were stronger, but we had a weak rearguard. And it was too arrogant leader
Oh, you blame yourself, too?
I should have thought more of the battle itself, rather than boiling with hatred and lust for revenge. Anger only takes strength, not strength, even if its righteous.
Revenge? She asked incredulously.
Remember when I stood up for my rights?
She remembered all that could be read about the rebellion of Dennitsa from the scriptures. Most of it was just incoherent scraps that gave little insight into the whole shattering picture of the celestial struggle, and there were certainly no clear descriptions of its causes and characteristics. How had he risen, accompanied by what forces, why, why, what was he displeased about? All this remained a mystery. Gradually, however, she was learning something for herself. Perhaps the knowledge was passed down to her from him. Often she looked into his eyes and saw in them fragments of his grandiose past.
You were hurt, she remarked, not a question but a statement, and she wasnt referring to the punishment that had befallen him after the battle, but to what had happened before.
It always hurts to find out whats wrong before youve done it, he said. Its different now. I took the first step into the abyss and the pain is gone. People can die and torment each other around me, and I dont care. I pass without looking back at their trickery and torment, because I myself have become the worst.
No, she protested so vehemently, as if she were among his legion of angels herself. Youre not the worst, and you never will be. Youre better than everyone and everything Ive ever seen.
People tend to worship only those who do favors for them.
She shook her head.
Gods perfect creation had only rebelled against him because it couldnt stand the fact that everything around it was imperfect. There is no evil in that.
Then there wont be any, either, if you rebel against me one day. Its just that the wheel of inevitability will turn again. Then I will suffer the same thing I once did.
She frowned.
Is that what you want?
Madael shrugged only a little.
Thats what Im afraid of.
What do you mean, we cant step on it? Manfred yelled like a madman, not a bit embarrassed to see all the advisers huddled in the corners of the hall listening to him. Just a moment and the golden goblet flew into the ambassadors head. Manfred missed just a little. The young man, who had survived only because of his youthful agility, dared not speak any further, and Leroy took the floor. He rushed here as soon as he heard about the emergencies in the fields near the intended rally. At first the peasants were afraid to report it for fear of trampling their crops. But then they had to confess.
The frost that covered the fields wasnt the only reason, the young man began in an uncertain tone.
Not the only reason? Manfred clenched his fists so white his knuckles and Leroy was not unreasonably afraid that the next heavy object the monarch encountered would strike him. The king was now so enraged that one could have no doubt that if necessary he would remove the heavy crown from his head and use it as an instrument of punishment, and yet Leroy took the liberty to continue.
The thin ice is too slippery for our horses and lancers. And it cant even be melted by visible warming and fires. Sometimes there seems to be something under the ice he paused to explain in words what hed recently seen himself. It seemed to defy any explanation. Neither the sounds, nor the voices, nor the movements of the tiny bodies beneath the ice could be described in words, much less convinced that this was not nonsense, but Manfred seemed to understand and nodded.
Go on!
Courageously the young man took a step forward. His hands were trembling and he clasped them in front of him. Even on the battlefield, in the midst of the carnage, he did not feel as helpless as he did here. On the contrary, there he was in his place. Physical strength was all that mattered in battle, but here a single word from the king was enough to make him lose his head. Leroy had already imagined the execution order and the executioners axe. He decided to be honest before he died. There was nothing left to lose anyway.
The local villagers swore they saw someone in the fields, some who were more courageous, who had been near the battlefield, swore they had observed corpses cowering or some creatures near the corpses. Of course, we executed the witnesses as looters, but the rumors didnt stop. They say someone is knocking on peasants houses at night, trampling and burning crops, even eating corpses in cemeteries and battlefields. We didnt believe it, of course, but at night when we decided to go out again we did see he swallowed hard, not knowing how to describe it. It was a whole field of these creatures. There were black creatures. And they really do eat corpses.
Did they threaten you? Manfred tensed.
It was not in words, the young man admitted honestly. He really couldnt hear the words, only the clucking and writhing, like all his companions in general. It wasnt the speech either, but their looks, their movements. It was hard not to understand their intentions. They wait for us, every time we are about to approach the mountain range. They wont let us into Menuels territory.
Cant you fight them because of the ice? One of the counselors grinned, but Manfred signaled him to be quiet.
Where is the warrior who helped you to win the first victory? He asked. Where has he gone? Why is he not with you now, though he was at your side in the first battle? They say he never leaves those he fights for. He brings victory.
Leroy didnt know what to answer and nervously studied the floor with his gaze. The king was close to the truth. The first time it really was. But then they began to be haunted by bad luck. It was after the incomparable warrior disappeared.
No one knows where he is, the young man finally muttered, already sensing that another outburst of royal wrath was about to follow. He disappeared just after he helped us gain the upper hand. Hes elusive. He comes and goes as he pleases. And it is impossible to find him again.
It is not impossible, Manfred bellowed, and then another of his cries echoed sharply through the hall. The walls of the palace seemed to tremble. Douglas!
There was no need for such a cry. The young warlock, dressed as a raven in black, strode out from behind the throng.
He wanted to bow politely, but then realized that was unnecessary. Manfred was quite out of breath. He beckoned his extraordinary pet to him.
Think of something.
Douglas shuddered; never before had the king made such a request of him in front of witnesses. After all, everyone would have subtly realized that it was a matter of forbidden techniques, or rather of witchcraft. But now no rules of court etiquette mattered. Douglas only straightened the black lace sting that suddenly tightened around his throat like a noose, and nodded courteously. There was nothing he could do.
Sire, I He did not know how to confess at once, and so he hesitated. There was something he had to explain before there could be any unnecessary misunderstanding. Sometimes even I am powerless.