Amaranta. Rival of Fairies’ Queen

But the merchant, too, waged on the bridge, offered some junk for money exclusively. Her companions, as discharged, became interested in his commodity and began to choose something. Amaranta was more interested in the axis, which was fixed by itself. She sat down and looked at the wheel. The axis on it turned out to be made of ice. And she did not melting. Where is the broken axis? And why did she suddenly replace the ice plant? Indeed, magic.

«The beautiful lady does not need a friend?»

Who said that? Amaranth looked around. Who can, seeing her escort, so brazenly impose.

«A girlfriend, which can predict the future, this is what you need,» the voice seemed to have come from heaven, for which the filament clouds crossed with a red sunset strip.

«No, thanks, predictions for me were enough,» she stopped, noticing that the merchant turned out to be a real wizard. He showed the tricks, and the girls applauded. The clothes on it was like on the eastern worship: a turban with a feather, a silk bathrobe, beaded jewelry and suspension. And she accepted him for an ordinary merchant! An instant and he won a white garden lily from emptiness to give it to Amaranta. The audience was applauded, and the lily revealed in her hands, and from the core of the flower was swept away to the upstream insect, suspiciously resembling a tiny fairy.

«Wonders! «Amaranth saw already at the court in Aluar the various magicians, but they were not capable of that.

«Who you are?»

He hid face behind a translucent cloth that did not close only his eyes. Of course, he did not answer her. But the luxurious white bird, sitting on his shoulder, shook:

«I want to her! I want to predict her fate!»

Well and miracles! It seems that this bird is a hostess of the merchant, and not he is her master.

«What is her name? And how much does it cost? «Amaranta stretched out her hand to a white fluffy bird. It was very royal she looked. And a major amber, as it turned out, grew right in her forehead, first seemed to be intricate decoration. Instead of sticking, the bird happily flew into the hand of Amaranta.

What is it lovely! She has a luxurious tail than Peacock. Feathers fluffy and gentle to the touch. Is there still paradise birds, white, like clouds? Or this is so unique.

«She is a great predictor of fate,» said the merchant.

«Yes, of course, I believe you,» Amaranta already pretended to the brain, as far as the poultry price will increase from this unrealistic praise. If the money taken on the road is not enough, you can pay for it with jewels. She has already prepared to part with the ring or with the earrings.

«This is a gift!» answered the owner of the bird.

Amaranta did not even bother him to believe. How can he give to someone such a miracle, and even gratis.

The mrchant meanwhile kissed her hand as a nobleman.

«You are beautiful as a fairy, lost far from her native magical kingdom,» he whispered so that the surrounding did not hear. «I’m so, believe me, I know how they look like. And the bird knows, so it will obey you. There are almost impossible to tame such birds, except for fairies. She still had no owners, so consider she as your girlfriend.»

«What is it called?»

«This bird is a fortuneteller. The magic bird. It is so called no reason, but because it gives predictions.»

And the bird really spoke almost the human language alternate with nightingale trills. Pure Magic! Amaranta smiled, and the merchant disappeared.

Or was it pulled under the bridge of ice creatures? Well, even though the bird remained.

«Let’s go, a white girlfriend with an amber in your forehead,» Amaranta wanted to bring her on her hand, but the bird was fought and flew over her.

She may spit on the prediction! Amaranta was going to leave the Ice Bridge and move to warm herself in a meadow from piercing cold. Let ice creatures scream in the abyss under the bridge. One of them warned her not to ride. Well, let! She made her choice. It’s time to go to the wedding! Amaranta turned around to look back to the bridge, whether all the same ice creature, threatening for goodbye. But there was only some beautiful blonde cavalier in clothes similar to the Eastern Bathrobe of the merchant and shook off the snowflakes from his hat suspiciously similar to the Turban.

The merchant was old, the cavalier on the bridge is young and handsome. A stranger smiled at Amaranta and waved for goodbye, as if she knew her well. Is it not strange that he suddenly found himself on the bridge in a deaf terrain without a crew and without a horse?

Amaranta dismissed from him some thunder from heaven. There is a thunderstorm or a dragon flies? Slightly leaning out of the window, the girl noticed the flying creature, something like a white dragon with a tiny silhouette of a rider. Did it stretched over the sky a sharp strip of fire or sunset? Probably, it was not a dragon, but simply the cloud-adopted cloud shape. Amaranta was distracted by observations, because the bird spoke to her again. And her tongue was human. It is good that companions are in a carriage sleep. You can talk with the great predictor of fate in bird plumage.

«Well, are we friends with you? «Amaranta tried to warm up the fingers, touching her fluffy bird.

«We are not be friends if you are so naive as today,» a luxurious bird said brazenly. «But since you yourself are very stupid, I’m going to become your adviser in everything.»

«Well, thanks,» Amaranta was offended. There would not be such a beautiful bird, she would immediately drive her for rudeness. Coach rolled forward, and the new girlfriend began to absorb residues of fruits from the basket without demand. She so highly appreciated her advice, which did not even notice sarcasm in the voice of a new mistress. Although no, as the merchant said there. The hostess of this bird cannot be, you can only become her friend.

Wedding Casus

«You want to invite the king of elves to your wedding,» Theobald did not understand. «This is no joke! What will people say? What will the priests think? To marry you will arrive a bishop of the Roshen itself. Everyone will see the king of elves with a retinue of magical creatures on your wedding.

«And good! Now we are allies! Let everyone know about it! No war! We need to rejoice, Theobald. Who did not take another disgusting taste of helplessness in the fight against supernatural creatures? But how good they are when you are asking them to help you.

Angus himself watched the ugly Horde of Finodirries, who deftly dragged huge blocks for the construction of a grand cathedral. Such blocks could not raise the whole group of skillful builders. And these terrible freaks, wool and claws, everything was very cleverly went out. Cancelled masters!

«Do you remember that in no case they can not be thanked for work?» asked the Count.

«Even if, despite all my bias against them, their work will make an unprecedented impression on me?» Theobald crushed incredulously. «I do not like the active Finodirries, I really did not like them. Such boys can conquer the whole world, and they suddenly are here and build something. This is not good! In all this lies some trick.»

«They can not be thanked if they were pleased you with their work!» said Count Angus. «You don’t remember, I told you about them.»

«Yes, something about the fact that their ancestor married a simple girl, and from this union were born such freaks endowed with a random power and immortality. And then an unusual couple ignored some solemn reception in the country of fairies, and for it all the descendants punished with a curse – they are doomed to be slaves of someone else’s will of all eternity. To work and build for anyone who will like or lubricate them with cunning, but any words of gratitude will burn them like a whip. They will conquer from pain at the sight of a gift or having heard the word „Thank you“ and disappear. So can thank them right now. Hey you!»

«Do not even think about it!» objected the count. A flock of Finodirries has already wrapped the shaggy heads in anticipation of the next commands.

«Go on!«Angus told them, and Theobald was dressed down. «You don’t remember that Dagda himself sent them here. Insult him and the Union will end. Again, you will have to lead a senseless war in which we will lose in any case. Reconcile yourself to the fact that the magic people are stronger than us. It is better to be friends with them, not to be enimies.

«The fairies and elves will never be friends of people,» Theobald again felt the pain from his long-standing injury obtained in a duel with evil spirits. «Believe me, I know.»

«No matter how hard it is, we must try,» Angus was adamant. He did not tear off the eye from the construction, which grown out of nothing on the empty plain in one day. Finodirries were famous that they were able to dry the swamp and build a luxurious palace complex on it in just one night. It will be necessary to ask them to build a chic palace for Amaranta, barely finish with the construction of a grandiose wedding cathedral.

Dagda decided to make a great gift and told the magic builders to create a cathedral for the wedding, which will be remembered by a lot of generations, because it was at this wedding that the Union was announced, which was concluded by mortals and fairies. And it became that this wedding will become significant.

«What will the priests say, when will learn that the most luxurious cathedral is rebuilt with evil spirits?» said Theobald. Having received a dangerous wound from the fairies, he was biased in everything that was in connection to the people of fairies, but he could not take his eyes from the next magnificent building. «Fabulous thing! But what if these monolithic walls get crouched into the dust, barely the visitors come into the cathedral? Do you not know how the elves and the fairies are sly!

«You are too suspicious!» Angus in a friendly way slapped Theobald on the shoulder, and scared when the friend turned pale and almost fell. It seems that the count hurt his old wound.

One of the Finodiries immediately jumped to them and raised the bottle with a sparkling greenish elixir.

«Your friend becomes better… for a while,» said he.

«This is a poison!» suspected Theobald, but the Finodirry has already flew back to working friends. They circled over an unfinished cathedral like a dance of black jinns. From afar it seemed that they did not work, but dancing, fluttering in height. The monstrous and something beautiful spectacle! While Theobald looked at them, the count made him drink a gulp of elixir. And a small miracle happened. Instead of poisoning, Theobald felt relief.

«The fairies’ jokes,» muttered still, he wanted to spit, but the grass under his feet sparkled from some kind of magic pollen, and he was sorry for her to dump.

«I heard about the ancient King of Moran, who crushed over the swamp, which was fruitless,» told the count an old legend. «It was impossible to dry the swamp, a different creature was jumped out of it, hungry, and terrible voices were heard. Somehow that the king managed to call on a Finodirry. Just one, and not a whole company. That Finodirry per night drained the swamp and built a fortress on it. The graceful king decided for this to build a magic builder to the noble rank, to make his approximate and left him a gift from the dried swamp – an exquisite court outfit with all regalia, a hat, boots. Nearby was waiting for a skilled tailor with a large mirror to help the monster to have a sophisticated clothing and if you have to, urgently fit into size. And a little bit, the royal retinue was hiding, wishing to see how Finodirry was getting on an expensive outfit and will be quietly looked at himself in the mirror in full growth. Especially for him found a mobile mirror of a huge size, because the Finodirry is much higher than the people. Yes, and the fabrics for the outfit chose the best. Buckles, buttons, laces – everything was the highest quality and expensive. Seeing this luxury, Finodirry howled. He did not appreciate the gratitude of the king, only was offended and began to smash something that his paws, claws and horns were not a place where there is a similar luxury that he was driving, and he should leave. With that, notice, no one drove him. On the contrary, he was offered an enviable post at the court. The king could not lose such an employee. But offended by the gift Finodirry destroyed some church in the thickets and disappeared.

«And what conclusion should I do from this story?»

«The Magic creatures are not bribes, not seekers of rich patrons, not cunning. It is useful to make friends with them.»

«Yes? And this is not that Finodirirry who seduced the wife of the king and a terrible freak was born from their connection instead of the laid heir. By the way, the queen and Finodirirry met in that destroyed church.»

Well, maybe it was another Finodirirry. Look, you do not distinguish them from each other.»

They jumped so vigorously, as if flew. One dusted Finodirere chopped the stone block, but fortunately managed to catch him raid before he smashed his head to a whole team of the count.

«You are not afraid that one day they will become dangerous.»

«Dagda will hold them away,» the count has objected confidently, «while we are in friendship.» He is their ruler. No wonder they need a strong king.»

«And if something happens at the wedding.»

«Only Dagda himself and his chosen retinue are invited to the wedding. Monsters there will not be, only fairies and elves. They can behave decently.»

«But they can also be dangerous. Their pretty appearance is deceptive.»

«And they also have a court etiquette. They know how to behave in order not to provoke a new enmity.»

– And what if Dagda himself is dangerous? What if he just pretended, that does it want to make friends with you?»

«I do not think! No wonder he has rumored about him that he is the most noble of all the rulers of the elves, which were before him.»

«It is true, others did not agree to go to the world. But it does not mean at all that it is necessary to believe him unconditionally.»

«I do not believe! I check it! Therefore, he was invited to the wedding. Let me get him acquainted with my bride. He must promise that he will not hurt her, only then we will become real friends and allies.

«It’s all because of Amaranta, yes?» It seemed to Theobald for a moment that he looked into the heart of his friend. «In order to provide her security, you are ready for everything.»

«Well, besides her, I am obliged to patronize all the inhabitants of the county, my vassals, servants. I am entrusted concern for many.

«You yourself would fought to the last drop of blood. You did not forget that the elves were the invaders, they murdered your parents. They damaged us by centuries while we did not do anything bad. You see, all these lands, on which we live, were their property even before the first person arose. They considered us only as parasites in their private territories.»

«Stop doing that! Everything is not so bad!» The count takes a spyglass to consider the works of the Finodirries better. Still a little bit and they will finish. And the sun is not even beginning to tear up to the sunset.

«Great workers!»

«Just do not invite them to work in our county. They are very dangerous.»

Although the cathedral was built on a deserted plain, where it was not necessary to build anything before, and where, because of bad rumors, no one tried not to enter, gossip about the shaggy workers had already separated throughout the county. Somewhere there remained the imprint of their clawed foot size. Somewhere heard their laughter, from which global walls of rural houses were shook. Somewhere broke the roof, on which they jumped in passing.

«Do you really believe that banshees lived in this plain?» interrupted his reflection the count.

«The rustic girls accurately heard them. These spirits are howling, foreshadowing a tragedy. And even if they were driven by Finodirries, the place to build a wedding cathedral here is very unsuccessful.

Where banshees are howling, it is always better to build a chapel for funeral and prepare the graveyard for the funeral, but Theobald didn’t say about it. Why once again alarm the friend. In addition, the elixir of Finodirry gave temporary relief from the wound. And thank him.

Only thanks to say it is impossible not to provoke hysteria and discord. Theobald stopped himself in time.

Society of gold masks

Amaranta did not notice how she fell asleep. She dreamed that she walks among gold roses. It was amazing! The flowers, in fact, were made of pure gold, but they could not be called jewelry as they grew right on the bushes and trees. From their radiance blinded eyes. And some dark shadow swept in the sky. Amaranta touched one of the roses, but only pricked a finger about gold spikes.

«Caution, you are very close to the boundaries of the magic kingdom,» said someone suddenly. Amaranta raised her head and noticed a bird on a high branch with a human head. It seems such creatures were called Sirin. Or alkonost? Or Hamayun? And they existed only in fairy tales. This bird had a luxurious, almost peacock’s tail with sparkling stones. What are they just growing from her feathers? It seems that this bird is Sirin, because her plumage is light, and a smile friendly. Alkonosts’ and Hamayuns’ feathers are dark, and the faces are gloomy, as they predict tragedies. The Sirin is a bird of joy. The maiden’s head on a bird body was crowned with a real crown with rubies and diamonds.

«He’s coming!» said the Sirin. «He is so close to you, as he has never been. And he will take you with him! Soon!»

«Who?»

But the Sirin only smiled. And the gold roses ring, as if the bells. There were here hundreds, thousands of roses. And from each was heard a melodic ringing. Someone hugged Amaranta from behind. She turned around. Nearby there was someone state and attractive. It was warm and pleasant with him, but a little confused that his face was completely closed with a gold mask. Amaranta wanted to remove it, but suddenly realized that the mask was his face. Do not remove it!

The dream broke off. The carriage sharply slowed down, and this was the reason that the girl woke up from blissful dreams. Only all her companions still dreamed. Probably, it is a knock of wheels and monotonous landscapes outside the window have affected all sleeping.

«No matter how they attacked the robbers,» said the white bird with an amber in her forehead, «I heard, there are many robbers in these forests. And there are also those who are worse as robbers.»

«About what are you talking?» Amaranta abruptly remembered a stranger from the dream.

The bird was silent, brushing her luxury snow-white plumage.

«Listen, have you ever seen birds, the same luxurious, like you, only with the human head?

«You have little that I am talking to the human language, you want me to be the girl?!»

«No, what are you! I did not want to offend you. By the way, how can I call you. Do you have a nickname?»

«A nickname?» The bird was displeased.

«Well, okay, a name, not a nickname,» went to the assignment Amaranta. «It seems that I speak to a real lady from a notable birds’ race!»

«You can choose a name for me. My birds’ language you don’t understand. It is too difficult for people. But I give you a carte-blanche to choose a new.»

«For example, Your Majesty,«Amaranth jokes.

«Not so high!»

«Then the White Queen,» the girl looked at her plumage. «or a snow-white marchioness.»

«More like titles than the names.»

«And what will be suitable for you?»

«The name is not just a beautiful sound, it should characterize me, give individuality. Do not call me like a dog.»

«Well, well,» Amaranta began to bend fingers and put all his ingenuity into the move. «A Gossip? A Snowflake? An Amber? I think the nickname of an amber is best suited.»

«Well, no, there is a feeling that the stone is the main thing that I have.»

«Then – the fluff. You are easy in flight, like a fluff. And the touch is the same soft.»

«No, I don’t want to compare me with a fluff,» the bird was capricious.

«Then,» Amaranta urgently sought a compromise. «Infanta!»

«And what does it mean?»

«I somehow saw a princess who came with the ambassador from a distant state, where girls are sweet, beautiful and decorate their hairstyle with the peacocks’ feathers. They would like them. The heiress of the throne in those states is called infanta, and I will call you so much.»

«Well, it doesn’t sound bad,» said the bird. «Infanta! I like.»

«Then now it’s your name,» Amaranta made a note for herself that the word «a nickname» can not be used. For some reason, she did not want to insult the bird. They did not spend an hour together, and she had already started to treat the gift of the merchant, as the best girlfriend. It’s amazing how they did not wake up anyone from her maids with their loud conversation. Even Adeline peacefully dreams. Not to mention the old nurse, which Amaranta also took with her. It will be very good, if Angus does not come in bewilderment, seeing such an unusual escort. He can not send such an unusual escort away. All of her fellow travelers will have to find some place in the castle. They are as if part of the dowry. By the way, she has almost no dowry, not counting the jewels of her mother that she got as the only daughter. But Angus was not embarrassed by this fact. Probably because he himself was very rich. He has more fertile lands than Prince or King!

Someone gently knocked at the window of the carriage. Amaranta was ready to swear that on a moment she saw an unusual hand with sparkling claws and fingers, swirling, like a twig.

«Welcome to the land of the elves, Ms. Amaranta!»

What is this, a joke? Amaranta looked out and did not believe her eyes. At the carriage stood a boy in a green coat. He hid face under a mask, skillfully made of small golden leaves.

«You accidentally turned out the wrong way,» he explained delicately. «The coachman fell asleep, and the horses moved to the call from the elves’ lands. It happens here with all the travelers. But according to the contract between us and the inhabitants of the county, I have to warn you that you are going directly to the cliff.»

«What?»

«You need to turn around and drive a little back, then you will not fall in captivity or trap.»

«You want to say, the robbers’ nest is nearby?» Amaranta repeated what she heard from her bird.

«Oh, no, they have long shied Arachnes.»

«Who?»

«Golden spiders, they weave their web on the way ahead. Therefore, it is safer to turn back.»

«You do not want me to come back, change my mind to play the wedding.»

«In no case! The wedding of people is an interesting event for us. We all want to visit it, but, alas, not everyone is invited.»

«So I can fix it. I invite you all.»

Words themselves flew from the language. Amaranta did not have time to regret them, because they were not so many ones in gold hard masks. Just a dozen or a couple of dozens? Or are there several dozen? Ladies and cavaliers in the golden leaves opposed trees. They are suddenly like mushrooms. It costs to break through that she invites them all. Such an army and at the royal wedding do not fit.

Fortunately, the boy, originally spoke to her, delicately explained:

«We can not appear there to everyone. Our lord does not tell us. And otherwise there will be riots. People still do not like us very much. That is, most people… Some people, as it turned out, is very good. You are, for example.

Amaranta seemed suddenly that he touched her hand, although they were separated by a much greater distance than his hand could reach. Oddly enough in her hair, she suddenly stuck one gold leaf in the form similar to aspen. It was subtle, but tough, precisely metallic. Sack reminds clean gold.

«I don’t know who your master, but I am not just a guest at the wedding, but the bride.» On ancient tradition, I have the right to invite everyone I want.

The boy looked back concerned, where the state strangers in hardwood masks suddenly turned out to be as much as trees in the forest. It seems that for each tree was at least one of them.

Infanta was anxious and didn’t fly out of the carriage.

«I invite at least you and your companion,» Amaranta recovered a little.