The Dragon's Vow or the Stubborn Bride

“Ada… Really, it’s not worth it…” I stopped short, catching the northern woman’s gaze, and realized that if I refused, I would offend her to the core.

Sighing, she dipped her finger into the golden light, and her chest felt hot, as if she had sipped the cinnamon wine that we were treated to at the boarding house on New Year’s Eve.

“We are now more connected than sisters.” “You are my kyari, my savior,” Ada explained.

Her face suddenly blurred, and then I blinked, and two tears rolled down my cheeks.

–What are you doing? Are you crying, or what? – The northern woman frowned.

– No no! It's just… Everything is so unexpected. I lived alone for a long time, and just recently met my older sister. And now I have another sister.

The northern woman burst into a smile and hugged me by the shoulders in a familiar way, but immediately shuddered and again took the “hook” pose.

– Hurts?

“Stronger than we would like,” Adalbjorg answered with a dark smile.

Hearing her, Bathmore reined in his horse and began to choose a level road. We were just driving past the giant gas holder, and ahead there was already a station glowing with lights, where life was in full swing day and night.

– Ada, forgive me for the indiscreet question, but why did you need to get involved with this dubious company? Where did you actually come across them? – Unable to bear it, I asked.

– I arrived in Verlor this morning and decided to take a walk around the city. I haven’t been to the capital of Onyx Rocks before. Everything here is structured differently than here. And I accidentally encountered these children of a sick walrus on the street. They stuck to the sole worse than dog shit. No matter how many, it still stinks and stinks. I usually don’t let anyone off the hook, but here I endured it until the last moment. I didn't want any trouble with the locals. “I tried to be taller,” as my mentor punished me.

Ada nodded and continued. “We were taught the same thing at the boarding school,” I interjected into her story.

“By that time it was getting close to dinner, and I was pretty hungry. But in the center they didn’t let me into a single establishment, can you imagine? They said I looked inappropriate. I assured that I had something to pay, but they still did not agree! And those petrified mammoth feces kept trailing behind me. They neighed like sick horses at my shame. And then, as if on purpose, my stomach began to growl…

The northern woman sighed heavily and, wincing, looked at me meaningfully.

– Yeah. I can imagine what kind of food for ridicule this gave to the presumptuous idiots.

– Right! Then I simply caught a cab and asked him to take me to some decent establishment not far from the South Station. The kind where you can eat delicious food and the prices aren’t too bad.

“And he brought you to Rabochiy Gorodok,” Bathmore unexpectedly butted into the conversation.

“I don’t know, but the food here really turned out to be good.” I like it. Everything was fine until Mikael’s company entered the same tavern. These degenerates of the rickety sperm whale began to mock me again. They laughed at me for being so tall. They made fun of my clothes, and then they stole my bag and began demanding insulting things from me for returning it. I am the daughter of Earl Hedwin and I couldn’t let them down! – The northern woman flashed with rage in her eyes.

–Did you get into a fight?

– No. She insulted them back, and they rushed into the fight. They turned out to be not as patient as me. “She grinned almost cheerfully.

– Mother of All That Is! But these are the children of the capital's aristocrats. All elemental magicians…” I grimaced. – What a disgrace! What were they thinking, chasing a foreigner throughout the capital?

“It’s a pack of mad dogs, not children.” People like them ought to have their teeth pulled out before they bite someone to death,” Bathmore opined, stopping the gig next to a large black stagecoach that bore the Wind and Storm Academy emblem on its side.

And next to the stagecoach stood a man, at the sight of whom my mood immediately soared to heaven.

“Uncle Al…” I screamed joyfully, but seeing that he was not alone, I corrected myself: “Eshsher Nett, how glad I am to see you!”

Alan Nett, a teacher from my father’s department, who visited us more than once, saw me and also burst into a smile.

– Mirre Blackrock! Meet girls, this is Mirre Blackrock from Teresa the Magnanimous boarding house. You will study at the academy together. Mirre, this is Lisel Konradine and Hvoyana Holtz,” he introduced them to me. – And Yumi Lo is hiding inside.

– Nice to meet you! – Lisel answered politely.

The Conradine family was rightfully one of the ten most influential in Onyx Rocks. Duke Conradine was the ruler's adviser, and in front of me stood his youngest daughter, about whom they gossiped even in our boarding house.

Slender, tall. With a shock of light brown hair, braided in a loose braid. Her travel outfit fit perfectly and looked as if it had just come from the tailor shop. Lisel was a strong elemental who, according to rumors, had already mastered the control of lightning, and also the most enviable bride of Onyx Rocks. She was predicted to marry one of the dragons of the ruling family.

– Hello! – Khvoyana waved to us.

Judging by the unusual bright blue color of her eyes and the blue tint of her hair, which only remained ash-blond near her face, the girl preferred water to other elements. And her name was unusual – Khvoyana. It would be more suitable for a sorceress from the Old Forest. However, the girl looked so that I would not doubt that she was a native of those places.

Khvoyana wore her long hair in two braids, and another one adorned her head like a wreath. She dressed in the traditional clothes of the peoples from the banks of the Struna. I must say, quite exotic to my eyes. Even more exotic than the northern woman was dressed.

While I was looking at my future classmates, Uncle Alan looked at some list.

– So. All we have to do is wait for Adalbjörg Hedvin, and…

– Adalbjorg is already here, and… She needs the help of a healer! – I realized.

– What's happened? – Lisel immediately looked into the gig.

I quickly introduced Ada to everyone and retold a brief version of the attack, keeping silent only about the artifact that Grymza gave me. Ada did not say a word about him.

– It’s incomprehensible! Where are the parents of these little kids looking? – Uncle Alan lamented. “Sit here, I’ll bring the healer.”

Lanky and awkward, he rushed towards the building with a characteristic bowl and a “healing hand” stretched over it, emitting light.

– Mirre, do you remember any of the attackers? Are you familiar with them? – asked Lisel.

– No, but their leader was called Mikael. And another one, small and fussy, was teased with Splinter.

I described the attackers as best I could, and Ada filled in the details I had missed, telling me what magic they used and what techniques they preferred in battle.

“I will make sure that those responsible are punished,” Lisel promised us with the most serious look.

For some reason I had no doubt that this would be the case.

– Thank you. – Ada smiled wryly, trying not to show too much that she was suffering.

– Girls, what happened to you? “A very young girl’s face suddenly looked out of the stagecoach window.

A frightened look of wide eyes, a slightly open mouth, an unexpectedly short haircut framing the face. Only the eyes shone with a deep blue, and the hair had already turned completely sea green.

Wow! A very strong sorceress comes from the mouth of the Struna! It directly feels close to the sea elements.

– Stop hiding, Yumi! Go out and meet your classmates. This is Mirre and Adalbjorg.

“I’m afraid…” the girl whispered and hid again.

We looked at each other, and then I left the girls and climbed into the stagecoach.

– Hello, Yumi! I'm Mirre.

– I know. “I can clearly hear what’s happening outside,” Yumi answered, for some reason again in a whisper.

– You said you were afraid. And what exactly?

In general, after the attack on Ada, I will not deny that the streets of the capital are not so safe at night, but still the station is guarded, and it is quite light here…

“I’m afraid that I won’t be able to control my magic from excitement.” “I have a lot of dope, but my control is poor,” she shared in her own way, clearly repeating someone else’s words.

I giggled.

– Didn’t they teach you to “pacify the gift” at your boarding school?

– We taught. It just didn't work out very well for me. That's what I'm worried about. When I get excited, I can’t control myself at all.

The girl sighed heavily.

– Don’t worry! “Smiling, I put my hand on her shoulder.

– Do you think it’s not worth it? – She stared at me with hope.

– I think it's useless. Worry or not, it will be difficult for all of us.

Having voiced my secret thoughts, I suddenly realized that I was right.

Until that moment, I carefully hid them even from myself. I was happy to leave the boarding school, looking forward to a new free life, but I was latently afraid that everything would not be as rosy as I had imagined. And what just happened is a clear example of this. After all, these were also those whom we would have to face at the academy. What if all the guys there are just like them?

The thought did not make me happy at all. I could only hope that there were people like my sister’s husband there. Rengold Hallward was for me the ideal man and husband, and I secretly dreamed that someday I too would find such a faithful and reliable life partner.

Uncle Alan returned with an elderly, strong woman in a healing robe. She brought with her a suitcase with drugs and rubbing substances, but did not even open it. She just stated in a hoarse bass voice, briefly examining Ada:

– Yes, two ribs are cracked! Numerous bruises, and that’s just a rough guess! And on the aura there are traces of a blow from elemental magic. No, she definitely needs to stop by the healing room for at least half an hour. We’ll fix everything, she’ll recover in three days, strictly following the recommendations, of course.

– Will you join your friend? – Uncle Alan asked hopefully.

– Certainly! Bathmore, can you take us to the healing room? – I asked, climbing back into the gig.

Uncle Alan breathed a sigh of relief and clarified the essence of his request:

“I don’t want to go away, it’s already night.” We need to keep an eye on you, you never know…

– Don’t worry, Asher Nett. We can handle it. – I winked at him in my own way.

Bathmore stopped the gig right at the healer's porch, and we helped Ada get out.

Having said goodbye to the driver, we hobbled into the healing room. Ada's damage turned out to be much more serious than we thought. As soon as she got out of the gig, she almost lost consciousness from pain and magical exhaustion. I would hardly have been able to hold her alone, but the healer helped. We set off not after the promised half hour, but only after two and a half. When the treatment was completed, I asked how much we owed. “Batmore, tell the director my sincere gratitude for the gift,” I asked. – And tell us in detail about the attackers. Maybe she can call them to order?

– Not at all! – the healer answered dryly. “The invoice will be issued to the Academy of Wind and Storms, and they, if they deem it necessary, will ask the parents for compensation.

After giving us recommendations, some bottles and powders, the healers sent us out. Yawning furtively, we wandered towards the stagecoach, already drawn by six horses. The coachman sat on the box, and Uncle Alan paced impatiently next to him.

– Finally! – he exclaimed when he saw us. – How are you feeling, Hedwin?

“Much better than when we first met,” Ada joked.

She really was now holding herself upright and breathing normally, without wincing from every breath and word.

– That's good! Get in quickly, we have to go. We are already far behind schedule.

Indeed, the time was approaching midnight, as the clock on the high tower told us. According to rumors, there were these at every Travel Bureau station. As soon as Ada and I climbed inside, the stagecoach started moving. Yumi and Hwoyana were already asleep, leaning against each other. Lisel sat apart and dozed, throwing her head back on the seat, but when she heard us, she opened her eyes and nodded slightly, congratulating her on the healing.

– Good night! – Ada muttered and immediately dozed off, exhausted from a difficult day.

And I was prevented from falling asleep so quickly by the impressions that I had more than taken in that day. I couldn’t really see anything outside the window, but a small magic lamp was burning inside, and I looked at the girls, each of whom was dressed differently. An involuntary thought flashed: “But I’m only here in a boarding school uniform, right?”

The measured shaking, the creaking of wheels, the clatter of horseshoes – all this gradually lulled me to sleep. I woke up with a jolt and realized that the stagecoach had stopped, and someone was arguing with Uncle Alan outside. Pulling back the curtain, I closed my eyes against the bright light – it turns out it was already morning! At the same moment, the stagecoach door swung open, and two more curly brown-haired girls climbed inside, who did not even try to be quiet.

– Hey, sleepyheads, sleep away your happiness! – one exclaimed, looking around us all with a perky look.

–What other happiness is there? – Ada, awakened too early, muttered in an unkind voice.

– What is this? Meeting the Dustrasse sisters, of course!

“Dubious happiness, some kind of…” Ada grumbled, looking at them with a dissatisfied look, and closed her eyes again.

And I stared at the twins… No, still at the twins with all my eyes. The girls were so similar, and yet very different. Starting from clothing, facial expressions, and ending with the manner of speaking and the smoothness of movements. Although if they wanted to do it themselves, distinguishing them from each other would become a real challenge.

All my ears were buzzing about cousins of the third or fourth water and their potential success in the magic of the firmament even in early childhood. As soon as I visited Dustrasse’s relatives, they immediately began to drag my mother’s face into the mud, until my father forbade her to take me to visit my grandparents.

I also didn’t like the pitying glances or the sympathetic sighs. And especially the moments when every relative I met tried to express condolences to my mother. As if I was not born a dummy, but completely dead, forgive the Mother of All That Is! But, perhaps, the most disgusting thing was when, sympathizing with my mother, my relatives began to praise their cousins right in front of me. In general, visiting relatives turned into an unpleasant duty, so my father’s ban did not upset me at all.

And now those same Dustrasse twins, my competitors for the attention of my maternal relatives, stood in front of me and smiled. I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I wanted to punch them on the nose with the fact that I was no longer a dummy, and at the same time I was simply scared. I don’t know what exactly? Is it possible that I won’t be able to meet the high standards of Dustrasse? Or that I will remain a dummy in their tea-brown eyes?

But this wasn’t the first time I had to face my own fears, and this time I didn’t look away.

“Introduce yourself properly, eshsheri,” Uncle Alan called the sisters to order.

– I'm Willde. This means wild.

– And I’m Volde. This means a rule.

This sounded somewhat defiant. The girls in the stagecoach looked at each other and also began to introduce themselves. Even Ada deigned to wake up for such an occasion. It was my turn and, having overcome my inner turmoil, I smiled wryly.

– And I’m Mirre. Mirrae Blackrock. “It means fair, reasonable,” she added in tone with her cousins.

It sounded strange, but Dustrasse really had such a tradition.

“And also brave and selfless, don’t even doubt it,” Ada suddenly added additional meanings to my name.

Vilde stared at me incredulously.

– Come on! Are you the same Mirre? – she said in amazement.

– But you’re empty! – Volde blurted out bluntly.

– What stupidity! Would a dummy be invited to the academy? – Khvoyana noted innocently.

– Girls, don’t you think that for boarding school girls, you are all a little… ill-mannered? – Lisel noted.

– What did I say? – Vilde took it personally.

– In your opinion, is it polite to call a relative empty in front of unfamiliar people? – Khvoyana, who had just distinguished herself, chuckled.

– It wasn’t me who called it, it was you and Volde! – Vilde was indignant.

– But it's true! Everyone knows that Mirre Blackrock was born without magic…” Volde tried to justify herself, batting her long, thick eyelashes.

“Then how did I end up on this stagecoach?” – I pretended to think, barely restraining myself from anger.

Here we go again! As soon as someone from Dustrasse is nearby, they start pestering me!

– Well… Maybe your father set it up? – Vilde suggested in all seriousness, lowering her voice.

– Who is your father, Mirre? – Khvoyana suddenly asked.

– Duke of Blackrock! – Volde responded innocently. – He serves as dean at the academy. He could have pulled it off in such a way that Mirre was taken.

The envious girls at the boarding school said the same thing, but for some reason it was the cousins’ words that touched me. I even jumped out of my seat and blurted out:

– What nonsense! I have the highest score on testing! Yes, our Grymza signed me up as a combat magician!

I came to my senses when Ada persistently pulled my hand. It turns out that I was standing over my sisters, clenching my fists and wheezing like an angry yak.

The Dustrasse sisters looked at each other.

– Yes cold!

– Can't be!

– Show me!

– What can you do?

They demanded vying with each other.

– Yes, girls! Stop! Mirre will not demonstrate his skills to you, if only because this is prohibited for first-year adepts,” Uncle Alan stood up for me. – Sit down, and let's move on. We should be at the crossing already an hour ago. There we will change to a vehicle more suitable for traveling across the steppe, and several days of travel await us. I advise you to find a common language during this time.

Having thrown the twins' bags into the luggage compartment on the roof, Uncle Alan joined the driver on the box. It seems he spent the whole night there. The Dustrasse cousins took seats opposite me and began to look at me without a twinge of conscience.

– Mirre, how did it happen that you finally got magic? – Vilde asked a question.

– No, really! It is interesting to us. After all, they said that…” Wolde joined her, but her sister elbowed her in the side.

I realized that questions could not be avoided, and I decided that it would be better to tell them my version. In addition, the other girls watched us with curiosity. Even Yumi, who never said a word except her name.

“Late initiation under stress,” I very briefly described my deadly adventures in the Ancient Forest two years ago.*

– Oh!

– Wow!

The cousins reacted.

– What happened to you? – Vilde asked.

“I was in mortal danger, so the gift woke up.” “It happens,” I gave the version that was agreed upon in the family.

We kept the details of that story secret for obvious reasons.

– Of course…

“I see…” the sisters said in disappointment, hoping for a more detailed story.

The others hoped so too, judging by the way they looked at me.

“Girls, maybe someday we’ll get to know each other better, become friends, and I’ll tell you, but not now.” “Everyone started talking in unison, assuring me that this would definitely happen.” And I decided to take the bull by the horns, and smiling, added: “But on one condition: don’t shout at every corner in the academy that my father is the Duke of Blackrock, agreed?”

Chapter 4

On the way, we caught up with the gap and arrived at the crossing on time. After warming up and having a snack at the tavern at the Travel Bureau station, we transferred to another stagecoach. More bulky than the previous one, it did not have wheels, but simply hovered above the ground. The steppe stagecoach looked unusual, but it turned out to be spacious. I could even walk upright inside. The cabin had shelves for luggage and special light bunks for sleeping according to the number of passengers.

– The ride is smooth, the load capacity is increased. “Everything is as ordered,” the new driver in the blue bureau uniform muttered nasally.

“I know, I know,” Uncle Alan nodded. – I’ve already traveled on one of these. Please take care of our luggage while I sort out the formalities.

Having overloaded his few belongings, the driver took his place on the box. After waiting for Alan Nett to return, we climbed inside and the stagecoach set off, carried by a team of long-legged steppe wolves. They were much tougher than horses, did not need a good road and were not afraid of the inhabitants of the plains – the Yutars, two-legged nimble lizards who, although they did not eat meat, fiercely defended their territory. There were also plenty of other creatures in the steppe, an encounter with which could have been fatal if wolves had not been with us.

The night on the road was not very comfortable; we had to sleep sitting up, so the girls immediately took their bunks and dozed off. Lying on my own, I looked out the narrow window for a long time and hoped that Simka would catch up with us, but without waiting, I fell asleep too. Simuran appeared only on the third day of the journey. We had just stopped at the next station to have a snack and rest when a white spot appeared in the sky.

Adalbjorg was the first to notice him.

– I can’t believe my eyes! – the northern woman muttered under her breath.

– What's there? – attentive Khvoyana, immediately appeared nearby.

– I give my right hand to be cut off, because I see a simuran! – Ada answered her.

–Where is the simuran? – Vilde shook her head.

– What kind of simuran? Simurans live in the northern lands,” Volde noted.

– This is Simka. My simuran! – I intrigued everyone.

– Your Simuran? – Lisel raised her eyebrows.

– Do you have a live simuran?! – the cousins said in unison.

– This one is clearly not dead. Look how it flutters its wings! – Khvoyana chuckled.

And Simka, noticing such attention to himself from afar, did not miss the opportunity to show off, and having formed a circle above us, he landed spectacularly, raising clouds of dust.

– Simka!

I hugged my friend’s neck, and at the same time checked the pocket on the collar, where I found a long-awaited letter from my sister.

– Oh, how cute! – Volde melted. – Mirre, can I… Can I pet him?

The cousin folded her hands in a pleading gesture.

“We weren’t allowed to keep animals,” her “wild” sister said unusually quietly.

– Iron for good health! If he allows it, of course. I have a Simka with character.

Winking at the winged wolf, I stepped aside. Simka was not at all against affection. In general, he loved attention, treats, and having his belly scratched. While the girls were squeezing and stroking him, Ada came and stood next to me, condescendingly watching the others.

– And you are full of surprises, Kyari.

– This is bad? – I asked.

– It's fun! – the northern woman responded with a smile.

– Ada, do you have a pet at home?

– Was. Large northern wolf. But he died.

– Oh. sorry…

“He died of old age,” Ada explained. – Happy and toothless. He also loved having his belly scratched.

Uncle Alan, who had gone away to replenish water and provisions, was already hurrying to the stagecoach. Noticing Simka, he turned towards us.

– Mirre, about your simuran… I’m not sure that you will be allowed to keep it at the academy. Of course, you can ask your father, but the rector… – He shook his head.

– Ashsher Nett, don’t worry about Simka. It is adapted to wild life and knows how to get food. Or do you think that at the boarding house he lived right in my room?

– Simuran accompanied you to the boarding house?!