The Dragon's Vow or the Stubborn Bride: Fantasy World

By EDGARS AUZIŅŠ

My name is Mirre Blackrock. Not so long ago I was an empty shell and my mage parents shook me like a hothouse flower, but today I go to the Wind and Storm Academy, the best place to train elementals! The only problem is that it's all-male, and as I found out when I arrived, we're not very welcome here - adepts and teachers alike. Especially one senior student. He can't stand me, and I haven't done anything to him. What's this strange tattoo on my arm? It's magic! Wait! Wait! I've seen that before... Mummy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: EDGARS AUZINS
• Release date: Apr 21, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224475162

EDGARS AUZIŅŠ

Dzimis 1989. gada 22. decembrī. Absolvējis Rīgas Juridisko koledžu. Profesijā nav strādājis, bet apguvis programmēšanas prasmes un pašlaik ar to nodarbojas. Kopš 2022. gada ir personīgā uzņēmuma vadītājs, kas nodarbojas ar transporta pārvadājumiem, kā arī programmēšanu. Dzīvnieku, īpaši suņu, mīļotājs. Born 22 December 1989. Graduated from Riga College of Law. Has not worked in the profession, but has acquired programming skills and is currently working in it. Since 2022 he has been the CEO of his own company, which deals with transport transport as well as programming. Lover of animals, especially dogs.

Book preview

Prologue

The office has never been so noisy and fun. Writing instruments, pages, dust from the cabinet, and even splashes of saliva flew into the faces of intractable opponents. The rector of the Academy of Wind and Storms, Escher Felsen Schwartz, the onyx dragon, watched this disgrace with a stony face. He had held his position for almost a hundred years, but he had never witnessed such a commotion before.

- Enough! – he couldn’t resist and slammed his fist on the table. Having dispelled several whirlwinds accidentally created by the debaters, the rector delivered a verdict: It will be as I said, and this is not discussed!

His words fell like black blocks into the depths of the sea.

Excuse me, Asher Schwartz, but I... the dean of the Faculty of Natural Arts, Richard Blackrock, did not want to calm down.

He was unceremoniously interrupted by Estella Krieger, head of the Department of Household Magic, the only woman among the deans:

But from the very beginning, only boys studied with us! We are simply not ready to accommodate girls here! You will need separate amenities, a separate house! How will they shower after training? They'll have to run to campus! Surely you haven't even thought about this? So what should we do? – she added sarcastically and hit the nail on the head!

But she didn’t manage to win over the rector with this.

– There’s still a whole month before the adepts arrive, eshsheri. I am sure you will cope with arranging your home. After all, that’s what you teach, isn’t it? Don't disappoint me!

- Pfft! – the Magess snorted arrogantly and turned away, folding her hands on her lush chest.

The quarrel almost flared up with renewed vigor, but the rector kicked everyone out of the office, ordering them to calm down.

– We’ll continue tomorrow, when you’ve cooled down and can absorb the information, but now everyone is free! Free, I said!

Felsen Schwartz pronounced the last phrase with palpable pressure. Yell after that Vooooon! I didn't have to. The dissatisfied deans, sensing the smell of something fried, gloomily reached for the exit.

- Blackrock, stay! – the rector suddenly stopped one of them.

When the door closed behind the others, and he and the dean were left alone, the onyx dragon openly showed dissatisfaction with his colleague:

And from you, Duke, I expected support, and not such fierce resistance. It seemed to me, or you are personally interested in preventing changes in the academy. I'm right?

The dean hesitated, looked around the room, but still met the rector’s gaze and answered:

It seems like a waste of time to me. We'll just cause confusion.

– Richard, I already said that the idea was not mine. The order came from the Bishop’s office, and who are we to contradict? The union of your eldest daughter with Rengold Hallward and the healing of the northern dragons from the Scourge has shaken up the dragon community throughout Balaria. The tradition of marrying true ones has returned to fashion, but you know what?

- What? – Blackrock asked.

– The number of marriages has sharply decreased. For two years, dragons have been regularly visiting the Valley of the Spring Primroses, but, as you know, there are almost no elementals of the required orientation there," Schwartz shared a secret.

– Is that why the Bishop ordered the creation of a women’s faculty? "Blackrock showed glimpses of understanding.

- Right! It's enough to hide girls in closed boarding houses. You can’t organize a show there, it’s a violation of all foundations and rules. But, as you know, not only dragons have problems, but also magicians.

- What are these? – The dean frowned.

– Elementals are degenerating! Don't you notice this? – the rector flared up, angry at the denseness of his colleague and one of the most skilled elemental magicians. – Every year we receive fewer and fewer students with above-average potential. And all because in these boarding houses of yours they teach dancing and dressing up, and not how to control the weather and pacify hurricanes! A gift that is not in demand dries up as unnecessary! Take your wife, for example," Felsen Schwartz couldn’t resist making a quip.

The Duke spoke, choosing his words carefully.

You see, Felsen, he addressed the rector as if he were an old friend, which he allowed only in private and then rarely. – My youngest daughter Mirre is studying in one of these boarding schools. She is making some progress, but...

– If she is successful, she will definitely be chosen. Don't worry so much, we will easily solve this issue.

The dean's face contorted for a moment as if he had been offered a sip from the latrine. But he immediately pulled himself together and, sourly thanking the rector for his help, left the office.

Felsen Schwartz leaned back in his chair with relief.

It turns out that Blackrock was simply embarrassed that his daughter was not a strong enough magician. There were rumors about the dean's wife: she was beautiful, but the magic was barely there. It is not surprising that my daughter’s gift awakened only at sixteen - four years later than usual. And what kind of gift is that? One name, most likely...

But the rector was not particularly worried. He hoped that all the adepts would quickly find grooms and leave the academy early. Even if they return to their boarding houses, most importantly, already engaged. For the dragons, it didn’t matter at all how strong the magician the true couple was. Everything is arranged differently for them.

So Felsen Schwartz, with a calm soul, promised to place Blackrock’s daughter in an academy closer to daddy. Since the mediocre Crystal Princess grabbed the whole duke and the best elementalist, then their daughter will also look after her future husband. And then, lo and behold, she’ll get married even before finishing her studies. It is not at all necessary for her to study well.

Chapter 1

Mirre Blackrock, a pupil of the capital's Boarding House for Noble Elementals named after Teresa the Magnanimous in Verlore, Onyx Rocks

Having settled down on a wide window sill in our shared bedroom for twenty pupils, I placed a book under a sheet of paper and hastily wrote a letter to my older sister. My neighbors and the girls from the room opposite gathered with us, sitting on the beds in twos and threes, to admire the lucky one, that is, me, and at the same time express to her, that is, to me, a collective Fi!

Fortunately, there were those here who rejoiced at my luck. Unfortunately, they found themselves in the minority, or rather, alone, so skirmishes broke out in the room every now and then. Quiet and even relatively polite. For others, we would be punished - it is not right for noble eshsheri to behave like market women.

Therefore, the girls whispered animatedly and sighed enviously, every now and then glancing sideways in my direction, but they did not allow themselves more than poisonous statements.

– Lucky you, Mirka!

- Still would! Her father is a dean at the academy. It's no surprise that she was chosen.

- That's it! So, did your father bother? I see...

- What are you talking about! I seriously didn’t know?!

- The first time I've heard!

- Don’t be jealous! Or have you forgotten what score Mirre received on testing last year? – my only friend Samantha sarcastically reminded. - A hundred out of a hundred! And Grymza said that she would have made an excellent battle mage if she had been born a boy. So there’s nothing to talk about!

The discussion went in a new circle, but I didn’t listen anymore. During the two years that I spent at the Boarding House of Teresa the Magnanimous, who during her lifetime was still such a bitch, I managed to become completely disillusioned with both local teaching methods and the noble eshcheris in general, which is why I was glad with all my heart that I was leaving. Another dream coming true!

The thrill of anticipation, concentrated at my fingertips, poured out in neat lines onto the paper:

Hello, beloved sister!

I don’t even know where to start... I’ll start, perhaps, with the main news - I’m going to the Academy of Wind and Storms! Yes, yes, you heard right...

I had almost finished the letter when the girls jumped out of their beds and stood with their hands folded on their stomachs, as decency required. Having quickly said goodbye to my sister, I crumpled the scribbled sheet into a ball so that it would fly further and, opening the window sash, threw it outside. True, I didn’t have time to get back into service. So she stretched out in the place where she was found. I don’t know about other educational institutions, but the order in our boarding house was cleaner than in other barracks. The mentors trained their pupils with all their might, trying to make them exemplary eshsheri and ideal future wives for elemental magicians. True, in their opinion, the ideal wife was a submissive, and better yet, a completely weak-willed creature, who did not have her own opinion, but was capable of carrying out a number of laid down instructions. Somehow: estate management, playing music and other arts, etiquette, politesse and much more.

Only girls with gifts studied at Teresa the Magnanimous Boarding School, but for some reason very little attention was paid to magical sciences. Basics of elemental magic. The history of the magic of Balaria, general information about the races of Balaria, about magical sources and their influence on all living things, and a few more theoretical subjects, but that’s all!

And practice is only twice a week! And even then, for the most part, we learned to pacify the gift.

Certainly! After all, this is so important for the noble eshsheri! Otherwise, if the Mother of All That Existed didn’t bring him, she would smash the crawler in a quarrel with her beloved, or hit him with the fist of the wind in response to impolite treatment, and even smear the unfortunate man against the wall.

In general, the gift of pupils was considered only as a guarantee of the appearance of a strong heir in the family, but nothing more. But I hoped to develop the gift, and not to pacify it, which I repeatedly tried to tell my dad and mom, who traditionally did not hear me.

This is the best boarding house in the capital, baby! I learned everything there myself, repeated Calle Blackrock, nicknamed the Crystal Princess.

The first beauty in Onyx Rocks at one time and a very weak mage, whom no one married for a long time, despite all her beauty and excellent marks in home science. Now I couldn’t help but think that my mother put too much effort into taming the gift when she was studying here. I know that when she insisted on studying at this boarding school, she only wanted the best for me. But our understanding of this best was very different. In general, there is no hope for my mother, and my father... An experienced dean, he always took the side of the teachers. He said that the mentors were right and knew better. And in general, they have experience, you’ll understand as you grow up, and stuff like that. So I had to train in secret, fortunately I managed to find opportunities.

Grymza, the director of the boarding house, a terrible woman in every sense - both in face and in character - burst into our bedroom, accompanied by several mentors and a curator. She looked around at those present with a stern look and asked:

- What kind of gathering is this? How did you let this happen?

The second question was addressed to our curator, Ashsheri Tix, an elderly, timid lady who was always afraid of everything, especially the wrath of the headmistress.

- Eshsheri, why not in your rooms? – She began to fuss, showing zeal with all her appearance.

– The girls came to see Mirre off. She’s leaving early, simple-minded Samantha tried to cover for everyone.

She always does this - she takes the fire on herself, and then she is punished. And never a word of gratitude from anyone, except me, perhaps. This is probably why we became friends from the first days.

But this time Samantha was rescued by stupid Henrietta, without wanting it herself:

– And Mirre threw the garbage out the window! She deliberately decided to set us up because she was leaving!

A short, fair-haired beauty with a childish, doll-like face and lush eyelashes spoke with a disgusting drawl, which spoiled the entire impression of her appearance.

Mother of All That Is, what a fool she is! Who was pulling her tongue?

I was sure that the silly girl was simply voicing the thought expressed by the snake Ashsher. And exactly! The brunette with a sharp nose narrowed her eyes meanly, carefully hiding her smile. Did you want to spoil me one last time? Oh well...

Ashsheri Tix immediately ran to the window and looked out. I didn’t even move, hoping that Simka had sorted everything out.

Grymza looked at me intently and asked:

– Pupil Blackrock, is this true?

– I didn’t throw garbage out the window, director!

Yes, I wouldn’t dare call the letter to my beloved sister garbage, so I didn’t lie one bit.

There’s nothing under the window, Ashsheri Tix confirmed my words.

I couldn’t resist and also turned around, noticing a white speck in the bushes at a distance. A fluffy tail flashed and immediately hid. The paint has washed off Simka again! It's time to update.

– What kind of book is this, Mirre?

Ashsheri Tix took a textbook on the basics of elemental spells from the windowsill, which I used as a backdrop.

- Oh, sorry for the mess, eshsheri. I was just refreshing my knowledge before leaving. You are not allowed to take a textbook with you, and the most powerful elemental magicians and dragons study at the Academy of Wind and Storms. I don’t want to lose face in front of the local adherents and disgrace the glorious name of our boarding house.

I said all this, embarrassed, and in such an unctuous voice that I even felt sick. Ashsher was completely warped, but more because of how cleverly I managed to get out.

Commendable, Blackrock student, commendable. – Grymza was flattered by my words. The rest of us have an extra task for the evening, since there’s nothing else to do besides gossip. Learn paragraphs thirteen through twenty-eight on obedience theory. Let's do an additional lesson.

- Yes, ashsheri director! – the pupils answered in unison, mentally howling.

There was nothing more humiliating than this trashy book. If there was a will, each pupil would burn it, and feed the ashes to Grymza and her henchmen with a small spoon without salt and pepper.

- Blackrock, follow me! – the headmistress commanded, interrupting the flow of my thoughts.

Picking up my half-empty suitcase and coat, which were already waiting on the bed, I joyfully left the room, hoping that I would never return here again.

Still, something bothered me. For example, exit time. It was planned to leave only in the morning, but now, even though it’s evening, it’s not even dark yet! However, I did not dare to ask why this was so. Once again, it’s better not to contact Grymza first - it’s a bad omen. And it was not a matter of superstition, but of her bad character. Now I was most afraid of frightening off my luck, so I was silent until we went out onto the back porch, next to which a gig with a folded phaeton was already waiting on the driveway, Bathmore, the boarding house’s regular driver, was sitting on the box.

Autumn this year came ahead of time, and as soon as the sun leaned towards the horizon, it became chilly, and at night it was downright cold, so I, instantly shivering, began to hastily put on my coat.

Bathmore will take you to the South Station of the Travel Bureau, the director deigned to inform Ashsheri, condescendingly watching my awkward attempts to get into the sleeve.

Out of confusion, I couldn’t catch him, and besides, the bag hanging on the crook of my elbow got in the way.

- Right now? But the academy stagecoach will only arrive in the morning!

I really didn’t like the idea of ​​spending the night right at the station.

– The stagecoach is already waiting at the Travel Bureau station. I was informed a little less than half an hour ago, so I came to hurry you up. Are you ready?

Grymza's question confused me. Usually she was not interested in such trifles as the readiness of her pupils.

Y-yes... I answered, finally mastering the sleeve and began to fasten the buttons. But having fastened two, she stopped. - More precisely, no! Ashsheri Director, everything is so sudden! I didn’t have time to prepare to leave... - Seeing that Grymza’s eyebrows were converging on the bridge of her nose, she hastily explained in a whisper: Can I go to the restroom before the road?

The face of the woman, whose age had frozen somewhere between the sixth and seventh decades for thirty years, smoothed out.

- Certainly. But hurry up.

– Thank you, eshsheri director!

I put the bag right on the porch and rushed back to the door.

- Blackrock, what kind of gait is that? Why are you rushing like crazy? Where is the dignity? - the whip whistled from behind.

- Sorry!

I straightened up, turned my shoulders and hastily trotted off, as decency required. I broke into a run again when my inappropriate behavior was hidden by the door. I still looked into the toilet. It was true that the matter was necessary, but the main purpose of the absence and the choice of place lay elsewhere. Climbing onto the wide windowsill, I opened the sash of the window overlooking the park and, looking outside, called quietly:

- Simka!

Simka is my familiar Simuran. Actually, elementals don’t have such familiars, but I’m not a completely normal elementalist. I was born an empty nester, and received the gift just two years ago. At sixteen years old, and not at twelve or thirteen, as expected. And even then I received it in an unusual way, but that’s a completely different story*.

My older sister Talaria gave me the SIM card. She saved a little simuran with a broken wing. While he was being treated, the baby’s mother disappeared somewhere, and he had to be left behind. But Simka grew up to be such a hooligan that they willingly gave him away to me, which made me incredibly happy, because I had a pet and a true friend that I had always dreamed of.

Simka and I had love at first sight, but my mother barely survived his stay at the Blackrock estate. Not only did the wolf cub spoil things, but he also scared her on purpose, which is why we all experienced many unpleasant moments. But I was able to insist on my own and pacified both of them – the simuran and my mother too. Surprisingly, my father only chuckled as he watched our battles and flatly refused to take anyone’s side.

- Simka? – I called again, hearing some rustling in the lush thickets of the garden euonymus.

This time we didn’t have to wait long, and from the largest bush, a smiling wolf’s face, white with green spots and stripes, looked out.

- Are you here! I exhaled with relief and, easily jumping over the window sill, hugged the simuran, who did not stick out of the bushes completely, but only up to his neck. Is it just me, or have you grown up again?"

Simka licked my nose, making me wince and wipe myself off. I couldn’t talk to him mentally, but the simuran understood me perfectly, and I understood him too.

When I was sent to a boarding school, Simka followed me and lived secretly here in the vast park. How he managed to get food, I never found out. He probably hunted chickens at night in the surrounding villages. Or on rabbits and birds in the mountains, fortunately his wing had grown together long ago, and he flew perfectly. But I would rather believe that Simka steals food from the local kitchen. I heard the housekeeper swear at the cook, and the cook at the unknown thief.

To prevent Simka from being caught, because he is so clean and all white, I regularly tinted his fur with green pigment, which my sister taught me to prepare. Fortunately, the ingredients there were trivial. Now the dye had almost peeled off from the simuran’s fur, and he amused me with his spotted colors, which hid him so well among the white-green leaves and gave my winged wolf a particularly hooligan look of a warrior on a mission. Sometimes they also paint their faces like this in order to be more invisible. As Talaria says: Rely on magic, but don’t make a mistake yourself!

- Simka, do you have a letter? – I asked.

The head dived into the bushes, and then looked back, and the simuran put on the ground the leaf crumpled into a ball that I had thrown out the window earlier. I smoothed it out, folded it into a neat rectangle and put it in a special pocket on the magic collar, which was visible only to me and Tali, and also did not interfere with Simka at all.

– Give the letter to Talaria and come back. Yes! I'm leaving right now, not in the morning. First to the Travel Bureau station, remember? My father and I arrived there, and you found me.

Simuran growled affirmatively.

- Here. From there a stagecoach from the academy will pick me up. I’m sure you’ll quickly catch up with us, especially since the road is already familiar to you. All. Fly, don't delay. I want to please my sister with the news as soon as possible.

I kissed my pet right on his wet nose and climbed back out the restroom window. The window was too high. I didn’t calculate something when I jumped out, so I hung on my elbows, vainly groping along the wall with my feet, trying to find at least some kind of support. She found herself. The forehead of a wolf placed itself at my feet and easily lifted me up. Climbing onto the windowsill, I smiled at caring Simka and thanked:

- Thank you!

Simuran wagged his fluffy tail goodbye and took off from the ground with a jump. He opened his mighty wings, the snow-whiteness of which alternated with green, and... He disappeared right into the air, turning into a milky haze, which immediately dissipated. I will never get tired of watching this magic! Not all simurans are capable of this. Probably the only one of mine in all of Balaria.

When Simka delivers the letter to his sister, he will return in the same way to the place where we last saw each other, or where we agreed to meet. True, for the second option it is necessary for the simuran to visit there at least once, otherwise he will have to fly in the usual way and spend more time.

Having finished sending urgent mail, I hurried back. Grymza is probably already tired of waiting and will swear.

- Blackrock, why is it taking so long? Or maybe I should have chosen someone else? "The rebuke came as soon as I appeared on the back porch.

The headmistress, squinting, examined me, as if deciding who would be best to replace me. I went cold. She will do this, and then goodbye to my long-awaited freedom...

- Ashsheri director, please forgive me. I was so excited that I felt sick to my stomach, so I had to stay late," I began to make excuses.

Even my face became stained from excitement, so Grymza did not doubt my words for a moment.

That’s great, she sighed grumpily. – Still, you won’t be able to find another candidate quickly...

Meanwhile, I had already climbed into the gig and sat down on the seat, straightening my back and taking on the most innocent and beautiful appearance, so as not to give her time to come to her senses and doubt me even more.

The headmistress came closer and suddenly covered my hand with hers.

I want to give you some advice, Blackrock. Don't rely too much on your father once you get there. And don't boast about his name. Family ties in such matters are not always for the good. And second: the Academy of Wind and Storms is filled to capacity, albeit still young, but already men. Men can be unrestrained in their impulses, so I want to give you something. Here. "She took a pendant on a chain from her pocket and placed it in my palm.

It turned out to be an asymmetrical transparent crystal, lined with black stripes on the inside. All in all, it was about as beautiful as Grymza herself, and would have looked great as her decoration.

- What is this?

I stared at the headmistress, wondering why I needed such a trinket and how it would help at the academy.

Grymza broke into a knowing smile:

- Ugly, huh? I remained silent so as not to lie to my face, and the headmistress condescended to explain: This is an artifact of a distortion of appearance."

- Forgive me, Ashsheri Director, I am sincerely grateful to you and I understand that your gift contains some deep meaning that, due to my age and stupidity, I simply cannot grasp. Could you give me a little hint? – I smiled guiltily, hoping that they wouldn’t drag me out of the gig, completely disappointed in the choice of candidate.

- Why is it unclear? If you need to hide your beauty, just put it on your neck and imagine what you need. Scars, burns, sour mine, just a faded appearance, a tired, painful appearance, warts, whatever!

- Warts?!

I finally stopped understanding what she was talking about and batted my eyelashes.

- Oh, my girl! Nothing can cool a man's ardor more than the right wart at the right time and in the right place. Understood?

– It seems... This is all for disguise, right?

For camouflage, Grymza repeated after me and grinned condescendingly. You’re a smart girl, you’ll figure it out on your own when the time comes. Do not lose. A rare thing. Most likely, the second one does not exist. The master did it.

Suddenly I realized that she was looking at me almost affectionately. And her face didn’t look so stern now.

- Eshsheri director, and you... Don’t you need it anymore? – Having blurted out the question, I fell silent and swallowed, afraid of my own courage.

It was necessary to blurt out such a thing! And to whom!

But the headmistress only broke into a surprisingly pleasant smile.

Grymza’s mask has grown on me over the years, baby. People here are afraid of fire, so I really don’t need the amulet anymore. It’s not like fifty years ago, when I, a girl not much older than you, was forced to take the reins of the boarding house into my own hands. Believe me, it wasn’t easy..." she shared. - All. Enough chatter. Touch it! – the headmistress commanded the elderly, silent driver. - Good luck, Blackrock! Show them all there!

Raising her fist, Grymza smiled at me and, without turning around, headed into the building. I followed her with my gaze until her straight, tall figure disappeared behind the door, and then looked forward to a bright future.

Chapter 2

There were a dozen Travel Bureau stations in Verlor, the capital of the Onyx Rocks, but I had to leave from the same one where I had once arrived with my father. The journey to it from the guesthouse took about forty minutes, and while we were driving, it began to get dark. Reacting to the deepening twilight, bright magic lanterns began to blink on the streets, flooding the area with a cozy, warm light. I admired the beautiful houses of wealthy capital city residents and the majestic building of the theater, which made an indelible impression on me - I had the opportunity to visit there once with other students.

Sitting in the gig driven by the silent Batmore, I gazed at the noble Eshsheri leisurely strolling in the autumn park with their smart daughters and husbands. At the carriages rushing past. On thoroughbred, well-trained horses with equally thoroughbred riders. To tastefully decorated shop windows. For fountains that don’t freeze even in winter. She looked and smiled involuntarily, sincerely enjoying every moment.

Eh! Still, there are advantages in the life of a magician! Did I think, running around the castle courtyard with the boys, that this would happen to me? That one day I will be able to travel alone without parental supervision?

As we moved away from the center, the houses became darker in appearance. Their narrow dark windows did not please with bright light and pretty curtains, but frightened with bars and iron shutters - the industrial quarter had begun. Buildings of factories and factories stretched out, where magic and craft were intertwined, producing metal products known throughout Balaria: from rune swords to cart wheel rims. From magical jewelry forging to ordinary scythes and sickles. Only at the boarding school did I learn what an important place my native land occupies in the world. How many inventors and scientists are born, and how rich in metals and jewels its depths are, the guardians of which from time immemorial were the ruling families of onyx dragons.

Having passed industrial areas, we found ourselves in residential ones. There were also shops and shops here, but with simpler display windows. Dim lights were burning in the windows, and the shadows of residents preparing dinner flickered. A rollicking melody came from some tavern, and the bright magic lanterns had long since been replaced by dim lanterns that gave off a deathly green color. Because of him, the faces of people rushing from work seemed especially sallow, and a staggering drunkard could easily be mistaken for a zombie.

And in some alleys there was no lighting at all. A noisy group tumbled out of one of these straight onto the roadway, frightening our horse. The driver had to use an air wave to gently push the revelers to the side of the road. Drunken swearing followed, but the phlegmatic Bathmore silently whipped the reins, urging the brown filly on.

My father and I passed these places in the morning, and then they did not look so dangerous. Feeling uncomfortable, I hid deeper into the phaeton and, just in case, grabbed the handle of the bag, regretting that I was not traveling in a carriage, but in an open carriage. There was only a short distance to the station—three or four blocks—when I felt a magical tension in the atmosphere. The hairs on my arms stood up and a specific chill ran down my back. Wary, I turned my head, looking around the street with an unfocused gaze. I was still incapable of doing more, but this simple technique allowed me to see exactly where magic was used.

- Stop! Stop! – I shouted to the driver, but Bathmore was already pulling on the reins.

He managed a moment before a man was thrown out of a nearby alley by the horse's feet, mercilessly slamming onto the pavement.

The air wave at the end reflected from the wall of the building opposite, scattering dust, small debris and dry leaves on the sides. Screaming in fear, I stared wide-eyed at the body that Batmore was trying to avoid. But the filly neighed and fought, not wanting to go further. Meanwhile, the tension of magic intensified. Ahead of us, drifting snow ran from building to building, swirling in the uncertain light of the streetlights like thick steam. Along the line she drew, a real palisade of thick icicles grew. Do not go around or jump over!

Following the driver's quick glance back, I realized that the same fence blocked our way back.

- What’s going on today! – Batmore could not stand it and tried to take it to the left so as not to run over the victim with his wheel.

And I suddenly wondered if I had ever heard his voice before?

Batmore, is this man... dead? – she asked quietly, unable to take her eyes off the person lying on the road.

If he’s a magician, he’ll survive, the driver tried to reassure me, but he didn’t do a very good job.

- We must help!

I stood up, intending to jump out, but I was stopped by a sudden shout, like the crack of a whip:

- Sit, eshsheri! We don't want any trouble, and the guards will deal with the tramp.

Bathmore pulled on the reins, causing the filly to back up a little. Just a few steps. The gig turned out to be opposite the alley on the other side of the street, but even a fleeting glance made it clear that it was impossible to get through there. The passage was cluttered with some rubbish. So we managed to fall into a trap! If we had driven a little faster, we would have managed to get past...

At the end of the street, from behind the squat houses, the dark silhouette of a gas tank was clearly visible. The large round building in which PR was accumulated, and from there it was used to heat houses and illuminate streets, impressed me even on the day of my arrival. It was located right next to the station. Maybe run to it on foot and ask for help there?

I pulled the bag closer. I can, I can run. Maybe...

But while she was deciding to get out of the gig, which was creating a false impression of security, a group of men appeared from a nearby alley. They were in no hurry, they walked imposingly, laughing and talking. There was no doubt that everything that was happening was their doing.

There were six men, and all were definitely magicians. Not paying much attention to us, they imposingly surrounded the unfortunate man, who lay motionless on the pavement. One of the magicians lit a firefly, illuminating a small space above their heads, and I was surprised to realize that they were all young guys, hardly much older than me.

Mikael, it seems you’ve gone too far, stated one, blond and rosy-cheeked, the spitting image of mom’s little pie, reproachfully.

- I do not like it! Let's get out of here! - whined another, short and the frailest of all.

I agreed with him, and I myself would gladly follow this advice.

- Splinter, you always don’t like something! Better shut up! – a tall and dark-haired magician, who was named Mikael, barked at him. He poked the victim with the toe of his boot. - Hey, stop being a fool! Get up and start apologizing! I'm waiting!

The man on the pavement moved, and I mentally exhaled. Still not dead!

The scoundrels, and these scumbags could not be called otherwise, began to chatter animatedly in anticipation of entertainment. I couldn’t resist and grabbed the driver’s elbow:

- Bathmore, do something, eh!

- No, eshsheri! My life is dear to me, and these murderers... Ahem! "He glanced sideways at me and corrected himself. – These people are the offspring of noble families in the capital. It's better for us not to shine at all. Maybe they won't pay attention to us.

This was the longest tirade I heard today from the driver of the Teresa the Magnanimous boarding house.

- But that’s not possible! "I objected hesitantly, not taking my eyes off the people on the road.

The bully Mikael bent down and grabbed the victim by the hair, thick dark with contrasting light strands. Their owner suddenly jumped up quickly, simultaneously squeezing the bully's throat and lifting him up at arm's length. So much so that your feet left the ground!

I even stood up in my seat, surprised by such agility and strength.

Do you want me to apologize to you, morel? Me, the daughter of Jarl Hedwin from the Coast of Sharp Blades?!

The voice was low, but definitely female!

The stranger stood in profile towards me, and despite the male attire, the features of the female figure stood out clearly from the front. Such decent features, I must say! It's a girl! There could be no mistake. Tall and strong, slightly taller than the bully whose legs dangled helplessly above the ground, she held Mikael by the throat with apparent ease. The guy convulsively clung to her hand and wheezed, trying to free himself.

Judging by what I managed to hear, this strong woman was a northerner and compatriot of Audbjorn Strike, one of the brothers-in-law of my half-sister’s husband. I don’t know why Earl Hedwin’s daughter annoyed these guys so much, but what they did went beyond what was permitted.

- Bathmore! Bathmore! We must help her out! – I became worried, not imagining what I could do against six magicians.

- Eshsheri, calm down, I beg you! – hissed the driver, not wanting to interfere in the squabbles of the rich youth.

Meanwhile, the hooligans, taken aback by such agility of their recent victim, regained their composure.

- Let go of Mikael! - the one called Splinter squealed.

And the most powerful and broad-shouldered of them all suddenly growled and rushed into the fight. I screamed in surprise, believing that he would now trample the northern woman, who was still more fragile than this closet with mezzanines. But the stranger was faster. Throwing the Tuffnut away so that he crashed backwards onto the pavement, she twisted and met the Brute with a direct kick to the head. He, as if hit by a battering ram, silently fell on his back, and three of them attacked the northern woman at once. Subtle Splinter did not participate in the fight, he only caused a fuss by shouting:

- Blood! You're bleeding! – he yelled, staring at the stunned big man.

He was already getting up, pressing his hands to his broken face and looking unkindly towards the fighters.

- Shut up! "He slapped the screamer on the back of the head, and he choked on his next tirade.

Before I decided to do anything, the northern woman scattered the trio, but it wasn’t easy for her. She was breathing heavily and taking care of her left side, and the Big Man, crimson with rage, was already approaching her. The others also pulled themselves up, wincing and rubbing their bruised areas. It would seem that it was time to escape while there was still at least some chance, but the northern woman did not even think about making a move.

– Where is my backpack, pregnant penguins! – she went on the offensive.

The girl was confident in herself and did not seem to be at all afraid of this pack!

The bully made a sign, stopping his henchmen, and asked arrogantly:

- Do you even know who I am?

- Unfortunately. – The girl winced in disgust. You’re a thief, an idiot, and a bad fighter. Shame on your father, in general. It will be a miracle if he doesn’t drown in shame when he finds out who your mother’s womb gave birth to.

Well, the stranger really knew how to infuriate.

- How dare you! – Tuffnut hissed, but instead of attacking, on the contrary, he began to retreat.

His comrades did the same, as if they knew in advance what was about to happen. It's clear as day that something is wrong!

- No no! Mika, don't! - Splinter squeaked, but the thug, whose broken nose was dripping blood directly onto his expensive jacket, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck with one hand and dragged him to the wall of the building.

Bathmore did the same, pulling me back into the gig.

- Where, you fool! Sit! – he hissed.

- But...

- Quiet!

The bully extended his hand, fingers spread, and shouted just one word. The ether tensed, and the next moment lightning struck from the sky, deafening with a dry crack and blinding. I screamed, covering myself with my bag, but even through tightly clenched eyelids I saw lightning strike one after another, all over the street and the walls of the houses!

Above us, the absorber shield hummed strainedly, which by some miracle managed to deploy Batmore. The driver himself, no longer embarrassed, hissed dirty curses through his teeth, interspersing them with prayers to the Mother of All That Is. And it seems that she heard him, because the shield withstood the blow. When it was all over and I risked opening my eyes, the girl was lying on the pavement again. The magical firefly was destroyed when lightning struck the area. The windows went out in the houses whose residents were disturbed by unexpected disputes between the nobility.

At a distance, the PR lantern that had somehow miraculously survived was still shining, and the thin wisps of smoke emanating from the girl’s clothes seemed especially ominous in its greenish light.

-You killed her! Killed! – Splinter was the first to break the reigning silence, but he was forced to shut up with a short blow to the nose.

All participants in the incident looked scared and confused, but did not yet take their eyes off the northern woman’s body lying on the ground. Entertainment turned into a real