Rescue of Araklia. Игорь Владимирович Княгницкий

took her hand and pulled her back to the door.

      – Wait – Alice took a couple of steps and bent down to the girl. She took the teddy bear toy out of baby`s little hand and said softly: “Baby, I promise I'll avenge for you!”

      The rest of the way Alice was going just sobbing and from time to time repeating “bastards, I hate you” Enilice kept holding her hand because he didn't want her to go anywhere else. In his other hand, he held the horse's reins. They couldn`t waste time. They needed to rest and continue to go by the track of the key again.

      Soon they came to a more or less saved two-story house made of white stone, probably once owned by a local nobleman. The windows were boarded up, and the door was locked from the inside.

      – I think we should check it out. Wait for me here. I'll get through the roof and open it from the inside.

      Enilice leaped lightly and grabbed a jutting block of stone above the front door. Then he was hanging by the second-floor window sill, and a second later he was on the roof. Soon, Alice heard his footsteps outside the door.

      – Come in, we'll stay here, – said elf opening the door – I don`t think we`ll find something better.

      Sunlight came into the spacious hall and Alice was able to look around. A couple of chairs were in decent condition, also there was an old sofa with swords putted on it. There were several large chests and barrels around the perimeter of the hall. Against the wall to the right of the entrance was an old fireplace covered with spider web.

      – Alice, please check if there's anything useful in those chests and barrels. I'll light the fire for now.

      The barrels were empty. Once it was water inside. In the chests were old clothes, weapons and some rolled-up scrolls. From one of them Alice took out more or less clean clothes and makes them on the old sofa, which Enilice already had emptied of weapons. In this house was a mess like everywhere else, which was no longer surprising. But there were no human bones and skulls but a lot of weapons and armor.

      – It looks like this house was used as a defensive point. On the second floor near the windows I saw bows and quivers with arrows – said elf moving away from the fireplace, where fire was already burning.

      – Looks like – Alice drawled, sitting down on the sofa – Why there are no any skeletons?

      – I don't know. Maybe the defenders were able to escape. Or maybe it was magic.

      Enilice sat down in the chair opposite Alice and took out a small bowler hat from his backpack. Then he filled water in it from a small flask and put it on the fire.

      – We'll warm up the water and make some tea. You know, when I left our Outpost, I didn't think I'd have a companion on this journey so I only have one mug.

      – It's okay, we'll drink from one. I'm not squeamish.

      – I'm glad. I also have some elven bread and dried deer meat. Not much, but we'll have enough for now.

      When Enilice had made the tea and passed the mug to Alice she said:

      – Drink it first.

      Enilice had expected this reaction and took a few sips.

      – Don't worry, this is real elven tea. I'm not a Doppelganger. After all, I saved you from the hungry Wargs.

      – I'm sorry.

      – It`s okay. If I were you, I'd be afraid, too.

      Alice found the Elven tea, bread, and dried deer meat surprisingly delicious. But for the most part because the fact she was really hungry. After eating, she stretched out on the couch, and Enilice leaned back in his chair.

      – How much time do we have?

      – We'll rest for two or three hours, and by the evening we`ll go. To the night we`ll get to Pleepmorr. It is quite hot in the Plains during the day. – said Enilice, standing up and heading to the exit.

      – Where are you going?

      – There must be well in the village, and not even one. If they didn`t dry thoroughly. I'll go look for it. We need some water for our horse. I'll be back soon, and you rest – the elf answered. Alice closed her eyes and fell asleep in a minute.

      ***

      Alice saw herself standing in a large circular meadow with a large glass jar in its center, where fire was burning. The whole meadow was covered with snow, but around the glass jar was summer. The young green grass was there. Barefoot, wearing only a nightgown, as if she had just been dragged out of bed, she walked through the snow with a desire to take a look more closely that amazing space inside of glass jar.

      – Why are you here? – The voice asked out of nowhere.

      – I have to release Eraqel.

      – Are you sure you can handle it?

      – I just have to! – Alice answered, stepped on a fluffy carpet of young grass and touched the glass jar.

      In one moment, everything was gone, as if nothing had ever been there. In front of herself Alice saw the image of a human figure with outstretched arms. And somewhere in her subconscious mind, she heard in Elvish: “Naur”.

      A swift flight somewhere into the abyss captured Alice. She was falling with a furious speed and thought that she was about to crash on the ground. But the reality changed around her again. She saw herself walking through a snowy desert with the winds and blizzard howling around her. The plaintive meow of a lonely kitten was clearly heard somewhere ahead.

      – Where are you going? – The voice asked out of nowhere.

      – Someone is calling for help.

      – This is a trap and you will die!

      – Even so, my conscience will be clear.

      After walking some distance, she saw a frostbitten, half-dead kitten on the snow, who “asked” for help. Alice picked him up from the snow and hide under her nightgown, gently holding to her chest. She breathed the warm air out of her lungs several times, trying to warm him as quickly as possible, and in the next moment everything was gone, as if nothing had ever been there. Alice saw in front of her an image of a human figure with a hands straightened at the chest, perpendicular to the body. And somewhere in her subconscious mind, she heard in Elvish: “Cuil”.