Марина Марли – Universal Parallels: The Earth (страница 7)

Gazing into its endless, she felt hope again. Gathering her courage, she turned her head and looked at the guard. He was still standing in the doorway, steadfastly waiting and not bothering her.

Stealing a curious glance at the girl, he decided to give her time, which was obviously vital for her now. She looked up at the sky as if it gave her the strength she needed after a night spent in captivity. And as soon as she looked at him again, he nodded at her, as if asking if she was ready. The maiden, without saying a word, got up from the floor, shook off the hem of her dress, straightened her hair and cloak and moved towards him confidently. He stepped aside a little to make way for her. The weightless cloak trailed behind her and didn’t even seem to touch the floor. He looked at it again, as if mesmerized, remembering how quiet starry nights can be.

CHAPTER 4

Stephen did not sleep that night again. Tossing from side to side, he ran in his head through the events of the previous day. «It’s already the second night without sleep. An endless stream of worries. I thought a miracle had fallen on our heads that would help us to cope with the enemies, but it turns out that it is of no use. Let’s see if the tower will bring her to reason. But if not? Then the dungeons?» He was full of doubts about what to do with her. «Why did you come to us? To remind us once again of our plight? Yes, we are falling into decline, no matter how deplorable it may sound. I, my elders, and perhaps the people already understand that this cannot be fixed. It is not possible to change or fix something that was broken centuries ago. I’m just trying to save time. I’m trying to slow it down as much as I can. If we win the war, it will probably revitalize the clan, pour new blood, and inspire the exhausted people. And if not? Don’t you dare doubt it! Don’t you dare lose faith! You have a son. It’s not all gone yet. Sleep, Stephen!» he closed his eyes tightly, trying not to let his feelings run away. Tried not to think about anything else. His body, like his head, demanded rest, and he obeyed then fell into a short and troubled sleep.

They wanted to notify him that morning was coming, but he didn’t seem to need it. Coming out of the dressing room and not believing his eyes, Stephen stopped in the doorway. He stared in amazement at the floor, which was covered with weightless golden lights. It had been a lot of time since the sun had looked into their lands. He took the first step, crossing the line, grunted contentedly to himself and headed to the exit of the chamber.

At the same time, the prisoner was taken out of captivity. Deva stopped at the wall and waited for further commands from her escort. The guard was rattling the keys as he closed the door and, having finished with it, he turned to the prisoner, showering her with a wave of derogatory gaze. The maiden shrank a little and lowered her head.

Convinced with his complete superiority, he headed for the stairs. The guard walked steadily down the steps and struck a rhythm with the iron tips of his boots. The maiden followed him noiselessly, and her light tread resembled the breath of a spring wind. The guard was silent, and Deva did not want to bother him with unnecessary questions. She followed him, maintaining their mutual silence.

Quickly descending the stairs of the tower, they found themselves in the corridors of the castle that she already knew. «How easy it is to remember the path that may be the last in your life,» she mused, running her thoughtful gaze over the walls, windows, ceilings and floor.

And here, again, is the very door on which the bird was carved, forever sealed in a tree. Stopping in front of it, she reflected on the vicissitudes of fate, which, as if frozen in one day, decided to repeat this scene.

«It’s just like yesterday,» she thought, walking to the middle of the council room. «The head of the clan is on a raised platform in the center, flanked by his elders. It seems that they didn’t even change their clothes, as if they had been sitting here all night making a decision about my fate. Or maybe about someone else’s.» She ran her eyes over the rich robes of the elders sitting in front of her.

When she stopped her eyes at the head, she tripped over his sword, which she had noticed the day before. Something about the sword seemed familiar to her, but she couldn’t figure out what it was. Stephen also stared at her with a long, tenacious and searching gaze. There was silence in the room from the moment the maiden appeared.

«What an interesting thing,» she mused, not taking her eyes off the sword, which seemed to have especially attracted all her attention. «I remember something, but I can’t get to the truth,» she frowned and narrowed her eyes, looking for a trace in her memories.

The minutes of silence seemed to last forever.

«Well, Deva, how was the night? Tell us,» Stephen finally broke the long silence.

«I’m fine, thank you,» she replied humbly, not taking her eyes off the sword until he covered it with his robe. Then she stared at the floor.

All this annoyed Stephen very much. He was used to being feared, and all these sickening pleasantries made him unbalanced. He was frowning. The words of the girl about the extinction which she had said earlier were moving in his head. He couldn’t move the word out of his head. After examining her with his eyes to the holes, he thought: «She is not who she says she is. What kind of assistance is she? She won’t even be able to kill a fly,» he was indignant and to some extent upset.

«So, you liked our tower,» he smiled smugly and looked at his elders, who, like him, bared their teeth in response. «Would you like to spend another night there?»

«As you wish,» the maiden replied meekly.

«Why are you nursing her, Stephen?» Meatraw shouted, who was also starting to get mad at this humility. «Send her to the dungeons and that’s it!» he banged his fist on the arm of the chair.

«I agree with Meatraw,» Oleo said. «We are all terribly tired and it seems that there is no escape from this scourge.»

«Who else hopes to find salvation for themselves in the dungeons?» Stephen asked an ambiguous question, looking pressive at the council, but there was no answer.

The elders feared the dungeons like fire. They hadn’t been down there for a long time, and people weren’t sent often to the tunnels. It was all the fault of the legend, the truthfulness of which they were afraid to test on their own skins. So they intimidated all the prisoners who needed to loosen their tongues. And what’s add more, it really worked. They had a special cave where the too intractable were kept – they instantly became silk and soft. But they wanted to deal with this lady once and for all. They did not see any benefit in it for themselves. Nothing supernatural, except for how she got to them, and an unusual cloak.

«And is there any use in them? Will they help us to resolve our issue?» he turned to the elders, nodding towards Deva. «Let’s start it again,» he gave her another chance, without hearing any sensible suggestions or objections from the council. «Why did you come to us?»

«To help,» the maiden whispered, but everyone heard her voice.

«In what way?» Stephen decided to support the absurdity of this dialogue, when suddenly the door of the council room burst open, banging against the wall. The guard dragged the fugitive, unceremoniously throwing him on the floor next to Deva and right in front of the council. Startled, she flinched and jumped aside, and everyone in the room fell silent, watching the scene unfold. The fugitive got all the attention now. The one, who slowly rose from the floor, stood up to his hull height. The one who looked fearlessly and contemptuously at the council.

Standing slightly to the left, Deva had the opportunity to see them from the side. She examined the very young, but already so self-confident man. He was dressed in upscale fabrics that were badly tattered and now looked more like rags, which were hanging and exposing wounded skin. He didn’t have a sword with him. The young man did not notice Deva at all. All his attention was addressed only to the head. He seemed ready to incinerate Stephen, but he clearly lacked the strength to do it. His jaw was clenched, and his hands were clenched into fists every now and then. Rage bubbled and boiled in him.

Stephen was looking at the young man as well. He was not taking his displeased eyes off him. He was obviously very angry, but he didn’t show it so much that it was noticeable from the outside. The head was clearly doing well with emotional control and the ability to put on masks, unlike the young man who had not yet learned this skill. Looking at him standing in this rag, Stephen maintaining complete external calm, said:

«Good morning, son. I am glad that you have returned home,» he said coldly and aloof, showing indifference and contempt.

At this time, Daniel was furiously clenching his fists. His stern gaze was still fixed on his father.

«I didn’t ask to be returned anywhere,» he said through clenched teeth with the hatred he could muster.