– No, please, he’s lying!
– There is only one way to check this! – said one of the inquisitors, removing his hood and smiling ominously. Silence suddenly reigned in the square. – The ancient spirit of Justice will help us judge. ILLIGULUS! – he shouted, throwing his hands up. Teddy suddenly fell to the floor, writhing in pain. He tried to cover his face with his hands, but the spell knew no barriers. Not even a few seconds had passed before the poor fellow was no longer moving.
– Oh my God! Isn’t this a dream? – Dorian closed his eyes, then opened them again. Blinked. He pinched his elbow. But the picture hasn’t changed.
– May the Great Spirit of Justice be glorified! – the five inquisitors shouted in one voice. – Lead the next one!
The young man now stood in the center of the circle. One man emerged from the crowd.
– NO! He is not guilty! This is all slander!
– Don’t be humiliated, father, I beg you! It doesn’t affect them.
– The Spirit of Justice will judge! – said the same one, in a black cloak. – He never takes innocent people! ILLIGULUS!
The guy remained standing where he was. Nothing happened.
– The Spirit spared you – that means you are innocent. He only takes magicians who do not have the right to practice witchcraft. But now we need to check your sister, is he as innocent as you?!
The young black-haired girl was thrown at the feet of the executioners. She stood up proudly and spat in the face of the inquisitor who had so short-sightedly removed his hood.
«I hope you pay with your life for this,» he said, wiping his face.
Eleon already realized that the girl was guilty if an innate gift can be considered a sin. He had a personal account with the Anti-Witch League. After all, thanks to them, he ended up in this foreign place!
– Dorian, I’ve only known you for a short time. But tell me, will you stay with me? My path is thorny and full of dangers, so I would advise you to leave the square. But if you go, will you be with me to the end, earth?
Dorian, speechless, could only shake his head.
– Great. Then go towards the forest, we’ll meet you there. Get ready to run.
I didn’t have to repeat it twice. Dorian took small steps towards the endless line of trees.
The wolf raised his hand, and the two in black hoods fell to the ground, as if from an invisible blow. The chief has already raised his hands. But he didn’t have time to say the cherished spell. He grabbed his throat, as if someone was strangling him with an invisible rope. Eleon, taking advantage of the general confusion, threw the girl over his shoulder. Pushing aside the crowd, he squeezed into the forest, where it would be more difficult to find the fugitives.
– Stop them! – shouted the inquisitor in an imperious tone, who never took revenge for the spit on his face. But the crowd suddenly closed in, preventing the order from being carried out. Everyone in the village loved the clerk and his family.
– You pathetic people! Do you even understand who you are contacting? Move away quickly!
The five inquisitors extended their hands forward, and red lightning streamed from them. The crowd parted. The executioners began to make their way through the resulting passage, but their path was blocked by the brother of the condemned woman, who was given life.
– Move away! – said the one without the hood.
– Only over my dead body!
– You’re welcome! – said the judge, and lightning from his hands killed the young man. Here the exclamation of the father of the family was heard:
– After all, he was innocent! You promised him life – and killed him! This is how you serve your spirit of Justice! – lightning from his eyes pierced the killer’s head, and he fell to the ground. No one in the village knew that the clerk was such a powerful magician that he could defeat the anti-mage centurion alone! But coping with five is an unprecedented thing, so the man had no choice but to run deep into the forest, following in the footsteps of his daughter and her saviors.
And his enemies literally stepped on his heels, not giving him a second of rest…
Chapter 3. The secret of Advisor Khan.
One single window among the cold stone walls of the castle. Near the window there is a wooden table, a lit candle on it sends an uncertain light to the bored walls.
Royal Councilor Khan, the head of Parliament, sat in the room and studied the new denunciation under the rhythmic crackling of a candle that filled the whole room with a burning smell, and his little daughter played in the next room. He is not tall, he looks like he is fifty years old, but there is not a single gray hair on his jet-black curls.
Nobody liked the Advisor, not even the ruler. He was born into a poor family, but his tenacious mind quickly gave him a path to life. Khan is cunning and uncompromising, so he quickly surpassed his comrades. And luck is always on his side. Avinius at the last moment refused the post of Royal Advisor, tormented by remorse for raising Dell, a dark magician. But in vain! When it comes to power, it is better to go all the way. There is no place for being too sentimental in politics!
The years went by, but Khan did not change, he only became more cunning and resourceful. Even the death of his wife did not become a reason to be kinder and more compliant. (Although there were persistent rumors that he himself killed the poor woman – people love to talk). He always worked tirelessly, trying to find those who wanted to screw him. The paranoia probably came from the former king.
There was a guard outside the door. It was ordered not to let anyone in. Therefore, nothing could prevent the head of Parliament from working.
It was early spring, and the evenings were often still cold. But he, all in his thoughts, did not even notice how it became even colder, even for March, although the windows were closed: Khan was afraid of being struck by a spell of lightning or other death at the hands of enemies. And there was a reason: many hated the Advisor. There was a noise behind the door.
– What is there again! – the Advisor was indignant.
Suddenly, a black-haired young man of strong build appeared before the eyes of the head of Parliament, as if out of nowhere.
– I ordered: not to let anyone in! Security! – Khan turned sharply to the door.
– Don’t fuss like that! – the uninvited guest spoke, blocking the path to the exit. – I won’t delay you for long. I just need to talk to you.
– There is a specially designated time for conversations. Sign up for an audience. And now I’M BUSY! Security!
«I would love to come another time, but I’m afraid that I will disappear forever.» And the conversation will be informal.
– Introduce yourself! – the angry Advisor almost shouted.
– Of course, my friend. «My name is Dell,» said the guest.
– Dell… Dell… I don’t remember that name.
– After the War of Troubles, no one dares to name their son that. I am a ghost. Until today I was invisible, if you refuse my offer, in an hour I will disappear into oblivion. Fate is inexorable, and everything is in its hands!
Once upon a time I alone dealt with an invincible army. And now I bring the cold with my presence, and I can only cope with the flowers on the windowsill!
***
This story dates back to the reign of the last king, Leonard. Then the Order of Glory was able to awaken Darkness in its purest form, and ancient