Dragon’s Empire – 1. Curse of the younger Prince

I pulled the heavy curtain. The tassels swung with the rustle, the smoke of golden dust was swayed, and a small room appeared to my sight, from the floor to the ceiling trimmed with marble. I went inside. On the wall hung a carnival mask with elegant openings for the eyes and thin bulging of the nose. I removed it and tried out. The mask smoothly fell on the face, as if it was intended only for me.

In addition to the first entrance, there were three more arched openings with heavy velvet curtains decorated by the countless number of tassels. There was a n mirror on one of the walls. In front of it on a round console stood a slim elegant girl. She was dressed as if she was going to the ball. That’s just the lush rollers of the pink dress too much emphasized the deadly whiteness of her skin. In her right hand, she held an oval mirror and with a flirty smile examined her face in it. She had such thin, elegant features and at the same time, despite all the affectedness of her posture, the girl seemed lifeless. I approached nearer. Around the console stood candlesticks in the form of golden hands holding candles. Another step forward. The light fell on the elastic women’s curls, and I realized with horror that they were made of marble. Did I accepted the cold sculpture for a living person? Yes, and to whom it occurred to put on the statue of real muslin dress and stick into the marble fingers a manual mirror. This clothing was just a mockery above the talent of sculptor. In addition, near of it the statue looked sinister. A live smile on marble lips was washing the border between animated and empty. The sculpture again seemed to me alive. Probably located on such a manner of mirrors and candles it can create visual illusions.

«You have a similarity with the goddess,» I said the phrase from the poems, turning to the statue, and in this moment someone hurts me to elbow. I turned around. No one. Only from one of the aisles came the hurry steps. Raising the curtain, the boy slipped into the passage, most likely the page, although he was dressed too smart. In his hands he held a small mandolin. I was ready to swear that the strings were jerked by themselves, making a long-distance sound.

«Do not wake her!» came to me a frightened boyish voice. «She will wake up only tomorrow.»

The page dragged me from the statue. I continued to look at the sculpture. The boy pulled me over the sleeve.

«Let’s go, everyone already gathered in the hall,» he said.

Thin features of his face were somehow strained, a fold was laying between his eyebrows. The hair was assembled under the velvet beret. I noticed that his ears with pointed to the top ends were too long and do not combine with an elegant face.

«Come on!» He grabbed me at the lapel of sleeves and pulled insistently behind him. «Do you really want to skip such an event? The prince himself will take us today with his presence.»

Without keeping even my senses, he raised one curtain and pushed me into a huge half-walled room. There were no candles in the room. The dull rays of the light made their way through a large glass dome in the center of the ceiling. Thin marble columns lined up near the walls of the round hall. Several elegantly dressed ladies and cavaliers passed by me. They were in completely identical blue half masks. Of these, all I managed to dress a black mask. But I found it quite by chance. I was sure that I was confused with someone, so it is so kindly adopted on this strange collection of graceful, almost essential beings. And someone else’s mask, which I decided to try, allowed me to maintain incognito. This hall under the dome reminded me of an illustration from some novel. Its overwhelming sizes made an unpleasant impression on me. And it was worth only to look at the dome, as a noise in the ears began. A dizzying height can only be safe for those who have reliable wings and strength for flight.

I looked at the page more attentively. Undoubtedly, he was nice, but these sharp ears tips were an unpleasant addition to charming face. If I heard his music, he knew how to play well on mandolin. As if he felt that I was looking at him, he hurriedly moved away from me and stopped next to the lady, sitting on the sofa in the shade of the column.

«You don’t seem that we have a stranger here,» she turned directly to him. «I feel the presence of a person.»

«Strange, I didn’t feel anything,» the page responded. «Believe me, the person’s foot has not yet stepped into this place. People would pass by, without even noticing the steps leading to the gorge.»

I hurriedly stepped into the shadow. If I go now, then it will be a cowardly act. My hand did not want to release the handle of my sword for a moment.

Quiet, musical blows were heard under the dome, but the clock itself could not be seen. People in the hall became noticeably more. Some of them were talking among themselves in some unfamiliar to me language. I have already begun to get used to quiet, rustling voices, how suddenly all the conversations stopped, as if someone mighty and invisible came in. The curtain at the entrance raised itself, as from the gust of the wind, passing into the hall a man, the face and proud posture of which seemed to me vaguely familiar. I have already seen him somewhere. But, no matter how much I stared at him, I still could not remember where we met with him before and under what circumstances. This man had some secret power over every one at whom he looked.

I wanted to look at his face, but instead I stared at a gilded staff in his hand. In one moment, all the surrounding seemed to me to be a ghostly, unnatural, fog and remained only the stately figure, dressed in black fur.

«There is a stranger here,» the accusatory speech has come to me from a magical emptiness, topped with a transparent glass of the dome. «Someone broke the ban and allowed a stranger to go through the sanctuary.»

I have already thought that I have to get ready for defense, but suddenly the same domineering voice announced.

«It seems I was mistaken. The stranger has the full right to be present here.»

A man dressed in fur several times stuck up on the floor. Sharp sounds brought me out of a stupor. I pinned myself to make sure that all this is not a dream.. Several suspicious eyes turned to me from the slots of masks.

«Leave!» whispered in my ear someone. Even without looking at the speaking, I obediently backed up to the exit. Passing by the statue, I noticed that the position of the marble statue changed a little. Probably, the mirrors have played a joke with me again. After all, the sculpture can not move. The shuttle still swung on the water next to the staircase. I jumped into it, without even thinking about the need to find a paddle. But it was and no need. The shuttle itself moved across the flow. I could only observe how the arches and stony shores slip.

Despite the fact that it had to go against the current, the shuttle gained speed. Fearing that it would not take me too far, I jumped up and went to a high arch. It, as a gloomy guard, was bent around the lower stage. I did not want to go through arched opening, but I decided to bypass the arch and step immediately to the second step. I stepped into a staircase cut down in a mountainous stone, but stumbled upon an invisible barrier, as if a glass barrier appeared on my way in the blink of an eye. I went around the arch on the other hand, but groped there the same smooth glass wall. To get out of the gorge, I had to go under the arch again. Stages crumbled under my feet, small pebbles rolled down. A superstitious peasant would call all my adventure an evil joke of elves. I myself could not find a logical explanation to everything that I have seen. When I came out from the gorge, I hurried to the place where I promised to wait for Claude.

My brother, at the same time, arrived at the glade. He brought a beautiful white stallion for me.

«The gift of the baron’s people,» he explained.

«His people are very generous,» I stroked a silky mane and jumped into the saddle. “ The baron already knows that the wild boar is killed.»

«No,» Claude dismissed. «He does not go anywhere from his castle. It will take some time before he is reported about us. But here nearby is a small village where we can spend the night.»

«Then we go to a local tavern, if, of course, such a place is in a small village,» I decided to joked a little over Claude. He, as always, instead of smile nodded quickly and drove ahead, pointing the road.

Soon we sat at the table at the window in the cozy room of the tavern. In front of me in the tin mug smoked some hot drink. The aromatic fluid taste turned out to be tart and astringent. As long as the hostess prepared lunch for us, I decided to tell Claude about my adventure. Of course, I risked to get in response to my revelation alone ridicules, but I had a proof – a carnival mask, which I put in a wide pocket of my camisole. In proof, I took it out and showed it to Claude.

«Well, what will you say now?»

«Edwin, this is an ordinary leaf of fern. Perhaps the sprout made its way under the snow,» on the face of Claude was written a complete bewilderment. «I am afraid that the superstition of the messenger was contagious.»

I looked at my palm and I was surprised to find that I keep not a mask, but a leaf of fern. Strange, I just had a mask in my pocket. With an annoyance, I threw a fern on the windowsill. As soon as the sheet spikes with glass, several color sparks exploded in the air. Claude flinched and moved away from the window.

I plunged into meditation and woke up only when the hostess put two plates with hot meat before us. I was hungry, but I was waiting until Claude begins to eat the first. However, he didn’t touch the food.

«How do we explain the disappearance of the knights and the messenger?» He suddenly asked.

«So let’s say that they threw us,» I replied, although I have long been tormented by doubts about this.

«They didn’t think to throw us in the dense forest,» said Claude. «They were the most loyal knights of the father. They would never have broken his order.»

«In this case, I can not explain their disappearance of anything else, except…»

«The intervention of witchcraft,» finished Claude for me.

«That’s it, but everyone knows that witchcraft is limited to those focus, which are shown on holidays in the cities.

«As you know,» Claude blurted out in response.

The tavern’s door opened. The gust of the cold wind swept over the tables and threw the snowflakes to me in the face. There were several armed warriors on the threshold. I noticed on the shield of one of them the same coat of arms of the baron as on a messenger’s clothes. I looked at the coat of arms attentively, there were intertwined branches of the thorns, roses and other plants, the baron crown at the top, and under it several scrolls. However, I could not admire the coat of arms for a long time, the guard moved to us and after ordinary polite bows, reported about the desire of the baron to thank us personally. We had to say goodbye to a cozy tavern. The fortress, the black silhouette of which has fallen over the distant hill, was the place of our overnight.

Treasure of Baron Raoul

The castle was dark and deserted. Daily light barely pierced through narrow windows – loopholes and brightly colored stained glass windows. The servant held us through the spacious hall and guests’ rooms. In the rectangular hall there were tables for a feast, but there were no guests on this feast. All places at the tables were empty, except the chair with a high carved back, set in dangerous intimacy from the melted fireplace.

From the chair, the old man rose to meet us. White curled strands relate to the collar. Wrinkling hand reached my face. I thought the baron is relatively young, and he turned out to be a memorable elder. He hugged me welcome as a son.

«Welcome, winner of the wild boar!» He whispered in my ear.

I was confused, pre-thought-out words of greetings were frozen in my tongue. I did not think that someone from the feudal will take me in his castle as an old friend. The only thing that the winner could count is, so it is an ordinary dinner arranged from the need. And the court etiquette did not allow the manifestations of any feelings at all.

The baron suggested us to take places at the main table. All other chairs remained empty. There was no guest on the feast, except for us. Only servants poured wine in glasses and immediately retired.

«Baron… Your lordship,» I looked into his bright, radiant eyes and I forgot how to turn to the baron. But his face was glowing such a serene wisdom that I was unable to take my eyes away from him, and was silent.

«Call me just Raoul, Your Highness,» he pretended to not notice my mistake, and I was grateful for it. At the court, such a behavior of the prince would immediately cause condemnation and gossip. In the royal castle, not only noblemen, but even the servants constantly looking for the topic of gossip. After all, that may be more interesting than learn the latest news about the sons of your monarch, and about him himself.

At the empty table, Claude clearly felt uncomfortable and wary looked around, hoping that my unfortunate behavior did not attract a special attention. The position of the prince is very difficult. I did not have the right to make friends, could not hide in the shadows, as the peasants hid from the wild boar in their huts. The baron’s eyes spoke about that he understands me and admires me.

«You showed an amazing valor,» said he with courtesy. «None of my people for any reward would have decided to approach the wild boar. And you defeated it alone.»

«No, my brother was with me,» I hurriedly objected.

Claude looked at me with displeasure.

«As you know, in our dynasty, the younger sons were always shy, milord,» he explained with cold courtesy. «I managed to get to the place of the battle, just that moment when Edwin beheaded the wild boar.

Such a lie from a calm and balanced Claude struck me. I almost dropped a glass of wine from the hands. To keep his impeccable reputation, he decided on a lie. The baron nodded restrained, thereby showing that he unconditionally believed him, and turned to me again.

«You are doubly bold, my prince. After all, my messenger must have explained to you which superstitions are common among the locals. You must be surprised that I sent for help to the court, but, as you can see, I myself am too old for such fun, like a winter hunting. In addition, at the courtyard there are fearless knights, you are a proof of that, and my people are afraid of everything that goes beyond their understanding. Perhaps most peasants are too afraid of this because of their illiteracy. Even the books in my library seem to them the work of magicians.»

«Do you have a library?» I asked. Talking about local superstitions began to scare me, because I remembered those creatures in the gorge and the statue.

«Oh, the rarest books are collected in my library. I have manuscripts written in the ancient languages, the works of philosophers and scientists,» wrinkled, but still very strong baron’s hand reached for a bundle of keys left on the table. «Do you enjoy reading books, your highness?»

«Honestly, I don’t know how to read very well,» after hesitation, I admitted and felt a thick paint poured my cheeks. I could not say such a wise and a steady senior that almost didn’t know the alphabet’s letters, but I practice a shooting and fencing every day. However, baron Raoul without words understood the reason for my embarrassment.

«Oh yes, the ability to fight with sword is valued above the diplomas,» he agreed. «In young years it was difficult for me to find time for enlightenment. I dare to notice, in military sciences you have surpassed your predecessors.»

«I assure you, another knight in my place would have done the same thing,» I looked around the empty places again.

«The guests went out, as soon as they found out about the wild boar,» the baron replied to an unexpressed question.

«And your heir?» I asked and myself was surprised at my audacity. Do I have the right to put in other people’s affairs, because I noticed that baron’s children are not in the castle.

«My son died a few years ago,» answered the baron. The intonation of his voice seemed to me strange.

«How did he die?» I immediately asked, but this time my question remained unanswered.

For the night, we were allocated the best apartments connected by adjacent doors. The idea that Claude sleeps behind the door, encouraged me. If it were not for the presence of a brother, then in this empty, an impregnable fortress I would feel like in a trap.

In the bedroom burned a few candles. The windows were pulled with heavy curtains, so the moonlight did not penetrate into the room. A jug and a glossy basin for washing stood next to the mirror. In the air was the heavy aroma of amber and some kind of incense. From such a strong mixing of the smells my head was spinning. Probably, only sorcerers can burn such fragrant oils and candles in their secret laboratories. I imagined the dungeon, many ancient books, magic things and curves mirrors. Young students of the warlocks mix poisons and potions, prepare magic elixirs and kneeling before books in precious salary before opening them. Voices coming out of emptiness are heard. Where does this vision come from. I stubbornly shook my head. This time my imagination was blown too much. Not undressing, I lay down on a narrow bed under thick, heavy canopy.

The magnificent folds of the matter were fastened on the ceiling and descended down, surrounding an uncomfortable bed like a tent. The bed could well be an old, hence the inconvenience. It seemed to me that I was sleeping on the stones, surrounded by a canopy of foliage. In the uneven light of the candles, I noticed a thin gold pattern, which stretched along the edges of the canopy like an ornament. It seems that many vintage letters and unusual characters are woven into the intricate patterns. I was literate enough to understand it. I have never had to see the inscriptions wounded on the material, but here they were, long and bizarre, like a magic spell.

I plunged into a shallow, disturbing sleep. When I woke up, the bedroom was immersed in the dark. I must have slept only a few hours. I closed my eyes again, but I could not get rid of the feeling that someone watches me from the darkness. I listened, no sound, silence and darkness became all thicker, and the danger was hidden under their cover. I felt someone’s unwanted presence in the bedroom. Suddenly, there was a fire, and I saw the baron.

«Let’s go, a beautiful prince, I have to show something to you,» said the baron. I obediently got up and went after him. We descended down the screw staircase. I did not even have time to capture the transshipment with the sword. The only weapon in the case of danger was a little instructed by pearl and mother-in-law dagger, which I always wore with me.

A black suit of the baron merged with darkness, and the elder face seemed just a mask silently hung in emptiness. I had to follow this silent ghost only in order to prove my courage. I added a step and soon stood with the baron, but I didn’t even decide to touch him, fearing that my hands do not fasten anything but emptiness. The candle’s light was becoming more dull and lifeless. Steps under the feet began to slide. I looked around and noticed that water drips from a low ceiling. Green moss pierced on the walls. We must have descended into the dungeon. I kept my hand over the wall so as not to fall, however, the baron moved surprisingly easily and cleverly, as if he was used to a long descent along a narrow slippery staircase.

Then we found themselves in a long corridor. I’m leaned about the wall and immediately pulled out my hand. The baron, having seen my confusion, immediately brought the candle closer to the wall. The dim flame snatched tiny drawings and symbols carved right on the stone. I looked at patterned letters, long bizarre inscriptions and small figures, even more elegant than those that the jeweler carries out on the female cameo. The image of a winged woman immediately attracted my attention.

«That genius, which made these inscriptions, believed in the legends about the fairies,» I said.

«No one knows how long the letters and numbers are carved on a stone. No sage can tell what it is written here. It is even possible that these are witchcraft’s symbols, and the walls themselves existed under the ground long before the building of the fortress.»

I heard some sound. Silent, patched steps. Someone invisible passed by me, someone laughed. Music female laughter was in my brain. I started choking, as if someone’s strong hand squeezed me throat.

«I ask you, take away from here. This is a bad place,» I prayed, but the baron did not listen to me.

«Do you not really feel that there is someone here!» I exclaimed.

«Everyone who first descends here, becomes bad,» the baron explained condescendingly. «But this corridor is not the worst. Let’s go further!»

My head began to spin and, nevertheless, I went ahead, risking in any moment to lose consciousness. What is it, a terrible dream? Some severity fell on me, as if the ancient walls were about to collapse and bury us both under their wreckage.

Still, I got to the end of the corridor and in the glare from the orange light saw the doors.

«I ordered to establish them here for the sake of the security of others,» the baron explained.

I noticed that the door was with a variety of heavy chains. The chains were firmly fortified in cast-iron rings inserted into the wall. Why such a precaution? Is there really a monster behind this door, which the ancestors of the baron have been held in sharpening for centuries. I wanted to express my guess, but I was afraid to be ridiculous.

«It must be a gate to hell,» I grinned. Just think, even at such a moment I did not leave a sense of humor. Although it is unlikely to be a hereditary feature. My brothers have always been restrained and serious as young philosophers.

«Evil is hidden there,» the baron raised his hand and his unnaturally long index finger almost touched one of the numerous hanging locks.

«Do you keep the dragon in imprisonment?» I asked with the same smile.

«With such a light-mindedness, you will not be able to keep even a titmouse, my prince for a long time,» the baron was clearly offended by my untimely jokes. «Dragons are too powerful creatures, you will not hold them with chains. At this door there is a hatch, also with chains, and under it a stone staircase, which descends deeply into the womb of the earth. There, many generations of my family hid their scary treasure. If you open these doors, then a black hurricane will break out of them and knock you down. And if we go a little further, we will be threatened with inhuman voices. They will also ask to open the hatch, but sorrow to someone who believes their sweet speeches and will release evil to the will. Sometimes the hatch cover shudders so that the chains are ringing and the walls are shaken, as with an earthquake. Even it seems to me that some monster sits underground and is trying to free themselves from its century old shackles.

«And what is under this hatch?» I already asked more seriously.

«If you go down, then you will find yourself in a small room,» my enlightener clearly slowed down with the answer, as if he was weighed, what could be said, but what is not and is it worth talking with a skeptical guest.

«There is an organ in the corner. Sometimes you heard how someone plays on it, although there is not a single living soul in the dungeon and nevertheless the organ makes heartbreaking sounds. And the manuscripts with the witchcraft symbols are stored near.»

«Are you saying that there is a witchcraft? Then why don’t you invite any scientist to decipher all the records?»

«It is excluded,» shook his head the baron. «No one can even touch these ancient scrolls. If you just knew what force they hide in themselves and the curse falls on the one who keeps them in their home. A few years ago, my son tried to descend under the ground and died. Since then, these doors are always closed and sealed by a variety of locks.»

«But there must be some kind of dare-devil!» I protested. «If the witch mysteries hide behind this set of locks and seals, someone who wants to decipher the manuscripts will come.»