«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.
«I’m a bit of a magician myself,» said Teddy. – So I may also fall out of favor with the Anti-Witch League. After all, I don’t have the right to magic. Who will be executed this time?
– Children of the local clerk Herold.
– These impudent inquisitors have completely loosened their belts! There is no peace for them! – Teddy hit the table with his fist.
– And most importantly… hmm.. the king… hmm… will not protect! – Dil said, raising his head from the table.
– And I thought it was a sinful thing that you fell asleep! – Willie laughed.
– Henry will protect! – said Teddy. – He doesn’t care about us! It’s called the king! Who needs nothing but science! A great magician is a useless ruler! I think even our clerk would become a better ruler, and no less a scientist!
In a heated conversation, the regulars of this establishment did not notice how Suzanne and a gray-haired, mustachioed, wiry man approached them.
– Greetings, Halfrid! – Willie said, but the innkeeper did not notice the outstretched hand. He looked at his comrade with eyes full of anger and hatred.
– Teddy! You’ve been harassing my daughter again! I have already warned you more than once!
– You misunderstood everything!
– Get out! And never cross the threshold of my tavern! I’ll see you one more time, and you won’t waste any more air intended for honest people! – the angry father grabbed the drunkard’s collar. And he flew away, hitting his back against the corner of the table – Teddy was a sorcerer, albeit weak and illegal. Three more strong guys ran up to the lout – the sons of the old innkeeper. The three men, who had recently been quietly chatting about public policy issues, jumped to their feet. Dil began waving a knife, Willie – a fragment of a broken bottle, and Teddy had a weapon of enchantment invisible to others.
– Get Teddy alive! – shouted Halfrid. – He is an illegal magician! He must be handed over to the Anti-Witch League, as the Law says!
One of the innkeeper’s sons grabbed a knife from Dil, who could barely stand on his feet, and now crossed him with Willie’s broken bottle. And the careless owner of the bladed weapon fell to the floor and tried unsuccessfully to get up. Two other strong guys tied Teddy up. Then the three of them grabbed Willie and threw him out into the street. Dil also flew after him.
– Throw Ted in the closet! – Halfrid said.
And so every day: beer flows like a river, new gossip pours in from all sides, the bored sons of the tavern owner have something to occupy their fists in peacetime. Everyone is having fun, there is bread and circuses, everyone is happy.
But one guest is not having fun today. An albino with red eyes sits silently with a friend, lost in thought and finishing more than his first mug of intoxicating drink. But even beer haunts him from bitter thoughts and memories.
***
A huge hall made of white marble.