Blessed ice. Desires of the Immortals

By EDGARS AUZIŅŠ

It's wonderful when the long-awaited discovery of a secret falls right into your lap, even though Iris was supposed to go to the Academy with her brother, but he left her on the first day and left. But she was "lucky" to meet dragons who became a potential door for her and her friend to their closed empire. And maybe it was not all a coincidence? And did this opportunity cost someone a lot of thought, a few bitten nails and a belief in miracles? But what to do when the Emperor's nephew, seeing a witch, wags his dragon's tail, while his uncle behaves strangely and distracts the princess from her original goal, whose nerves have long been tested by her acquaintance?

• Language: English
• Publisher: EDGARS AUZINS
• Release date: May 9, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224133000

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

Chapter 1

In which children are found in the bushes

-Where have you taken us? — I peered at the area in surprise and looked doomedly at the beast.

The portal was configured correctly, but they interfered. I didn’t dare refuse. — the calm voice of the griffin rang out in my head.

Whoever interfered, I urgently need to go home. And we ended up in Royle Forest. Let's start casting a spell, we'll be carried deeper if some beast doesn't tear us apart even earlier. - I complained. - What did they even ask for? Who?

Just walk, the roads will lead us there themselves, the animals will not touch us. To my questioning glance, he only explained: Someone else’s secret. He does not cause harm, only asks for help. They will repay us in kind.

I wish I knew who else. Graerd would not take risks, which means he is confident in them, all that remains is to trust him. Having come to terms with my unplanned hike and having decided on a side, I went deeper into the thicket.

The forest absorbed magic and cruelly took revenge on violators. Collected and replenished the strength of its inhabitants. It was useless to fight them, and it was too difficult to come to an agreement.

I could not refuse to attend the naming ceremony. Even my pregnant wife could not save me from this. I won’t say that I didn’t want to be there, I still wanted to be friends with the dragons, but Ria was more important. I didn't want to leave her alone at that moment.

I walked, slept and ate whatever I could find. Forest. All around there is a continuous forest and no one alive. A couple of days passed like this.

Once again, walking through a swampy swamp and looking for somewhere to step and not give up my soul, I heard a squeak, either a cat or some other living creature. The strange thing was that until that moment no birds or insects had been heard, only the wind was walking among the trees, slowly driving me crazy.

- Do we need to find the source of the sound? - Realizing that this was not an accident, he asked the griffin.

Find and help. - Graerd explained.

Having got out onto dry ground, I listened again. It was quiet. Graerd headed towards the thicket, I followed him.

A crystal clear lake framed by bushes, as if trying to protect it from all living things. Moreover, it is a source of strength.

My gaze fell on the box, but as I came closer, I realized it was not a box - a basket... with a child. He could barely breathe. Magical power could not sustain life forever.

A growl came from the basket. The blanket covering the baby slid down.

- The devil would take you! — I said quietly, looking at the little animal. He looked straight into the eyes, did not look away anywhere and pressed his ears to his head, bristling, preparing to jump.

- Will you let me help? Why did you call if you didn’t let me? You will die in a few days. - he spoke quietly, but he heard and, despite his young age, understood everything.

Soak up the magic. Both. Gryphon wasn’t surprised, as if he knew what was waiting for us.

Turning the child around, he carried him towards the lake, and the animal trotted after her.

The water will freeze you. Dip the baby without touching her. Afterwards they will take us home. - he said, a second before I plunged into the lake. Seriously?!

This puddle can freeze me, and this is the baby's place of power? Badly. If someone finds out about this, there won't be any problems. This means that placing him in foster care is not an option. Ria will kill me...

〜〜〜

Is it possible to talk about your beloved husband: alive and well?

Your Highness, are you sure that we shouldn’t continue our search? "The advisers have been servilely but persistently pestering me for a couple of days.

— After your report on how much it will cost us, the treasurers had to be pumped out along with the accountants. - Terrible people, I wouldn’t be surprised if they rake in all the income from a professional beggar, and he will also be happy. Lucky, at least my pants are still in place. The Lord is alive and well, everything is fine with him, if the search spells returned with nothing, then he is in this damned forest, and it is useless to comb it. Any other suggestions for spending money? - They’ve already loosened their belts. A month has not yet passed, the disgrace has already begun. Let's allocate money here. We need to support this. Did it seem easier to push a woman around? Can't wait! - I think you have a lot to do. So please don't distract me. I'm finalizing the recipe. By the way, would you like to contribute to science? - I asked sarcastically.

We need to discuss the issue of dismissing a couple of ministers and involve the chief treasurer in this matter. He cuts with pleasure, and can help with his feet depending on the situation. We swam - we know.

No matter how much I reassured others, I was anxious myself. I have not yet recovered from what happened during childbirth, and then Des disappeared.

〜〜〜

If you continue to sit here so intently, you will miss how our son grows up. — The hugs were expected; the creaking door gave the visitor away.

Putting on a smile, I told him that if he continued to wander around unknown where, he would not notice that I had a lover. I also wanted to share the news about my mother, who decided to stay with us longer. I hope he has the ingredients behind him; why did he walk in this forest for so long? Was it really impossible to pick a couple of blades of grass for your beloved wife?

I would be immensely happy to spend a couple of days with her. - he answered. However, when I turned around, I did not see happiness in the eyes of the dead man.

- Yeah, especially from afar and in the picture. What's behind you, Desmond? Mind you, I have high expectations. - Ingredients, at least ingredients!

- You sit down. - Clear. Where's my poison? - This is a child. — The basket was placed on the table. I drank the first bottle I found. - Take it easy, darling! I'll explain everything.

- Let's find out right away. Did you manage to find some woman in the forest, and she gave birth urgently, or is your favorite sitting in a neighboring country? You check with both of them about the moment of the funeral. The last will of the deceased is a sacred matter. We can’t get by with poison here, where are my mushrooms?

- Ria! What kind of women? — surprise flashed in his eyes. - Graerd, explain to her! - he begged the griffin in despair.

Here's another missing one. There were great hopes for him, but the idea of ​​picking a couple of flowers probably never occurred to him. What prudent individuals who think about other people.

Greetings, Your Majesty. I was asked to. Desmond helped them, they help you. A life for a life. The debt has been paid. - If these are explanations, then the books have enough annotations. I looked carefully at my husband, searching in his eyes for at least an epilogue.

— Paid? But nothing happened. Desmond frowned.

That's right. Your son is alive - the debt has been paid off. - the griffin explained, making my husband turn pale, while I shuddered from the memories of past events.

— The birth did not go very smoothly. — I began to explain to him, exhaling loudly. — Ariss wasn’t breathing, mom tried to help, but nothing worked. She still hasn't recovered from what happened. Her strength was not enough, and I am sure that even yours would have been enough. He wasn't breathing. True, he wasn’t breathing. But then everything around me burst into flames, and our son..." Tears welled up in his eyes. - He came to life.

- Sorry! Sorry, Ria. - he whispered in a drooping voice, hugging me. - I should have stayed with you. "I felt that he was overwhelmed with guilt. However, this was hardly his fault.

Instead of one life saved, we now have two. What we are going to do? - I clarified.

I would suggest keeping it. — a pleading look stared at me.

A thought process began in my head, it had nothing special to do with his request, I had already decided everything for myself. Repairs will have to be done in yet another chamber, although it is possible to get along together until they grow up, buy furniture, clothes, toys, and increase the staff of nannies. There's a lot to do, and we're standing still.

- This is not a pet - it gets boring, you won’t find it in good hands. You are sure? — After waiting for a nod, I continued: Then I offer this official version. Twins were born. Because of this, both were weak. However, to the joy of everyone, we managed to save them. A heartbreaking story with a happy ending. We need to call mom and coordinate the testimony. Thinking a little, she fixed her gaze on the basket and, going up to it, continued: Of course, I don’t have any experience with children yet, but I can tell you for sure that this is a girl."

Chapter 2

In which princes are numbered in pieces, and subsequent troubles are in liters

Parental patience is theoretically limitless. Painted walls in the shadow of an easel, covering the creation from eyes alien to art. Toys in the hands of young dark lords, helplessly captured by children's imagination and world cruelty. The moment when a child turns into a crocodile is usually called: We have our first tooth! Rallies against the global conspiracy of cleanliness and bathing. Other horrors of childhood.

People begin to understand the importance of a good nanny only after the birth of children, having previously looked down on them. Good nannies can kill and quietly bury with a glance anyone who slams doors and doesn't take a spoon out of a cup, even if it's happening at the other end of the castle. They smell the silence breakers and drafts with their nose.

First you need to be afraid of the nanny, then of the child without a nanny. You can’t explain to a kid why his uncle’s eyes are three by four and a half. He wanted to introduce his familiar to his sad uncle, but his uncle began to stutter and did not want to get acquainted with the deep inner world of his cute pet.

Iris and her brother quickly realized that nannies are fickle people and did not invite them into their affairs anymore, preferring each other’s company.

Once, spying on Riadna and seeing confirmation of Desmond’s stories that mother could eat mushrooms for poison, they, having learned about genetics in class, went to test their knowledge in practice.

The eyes of the parents who came running to Iris’s drunken brawl were in a square state. What exactly did you drink?, Where is Ariss? and a string of other, in the child’s opinion, meaningless questions. You won’t remember everything anymore. In response to her unintelligible explanations that her brother was in the restroom and had gone to leave with lunch, attempts were made to break down the door. The door, oddly enough, held. The parents were furious.

In the end, Arissa was given antidotes, and Iris at first too, but after the examination they were sent to sleep. So, in a practical way, he and his brother discovered that genetics is a terrible science, and it made a serious joke on them. And only the girl inherited her mother’s peculiarity in a very strange form. She was simply drunk from poison. But alcohol, drunk a little later with his brother, brought them nothing but problems.

How nice it is to watch a happy father who pampers his beloved daughter and indulges all her whims, while the indignant mother tries to appeal to her husband’s conscience and stop the disgrace, finally removing all the obstacles to raising her child, which he will only shrug off and joyfully continue. The little girl is so precious and sweet, and how she adores her daddy. As if you can refuse these eyes that look into your very soul? But in just a few years, the sweet angel may grow into an imp, whom it will be too late to raise, which was now confirmed in the king’s office. The walls shook from discussions more than a dozen times, but at the same time they helped relieve tension. Since these disputes led to a mutually beneficial solution, which, as the man believed, would help his girl in her upcoming activities, even though at times Iris made him worse than all the courtiers and ministers combined.

Then I’ll be a witch, like grandma! There is a broom, and so is the familiar. I will spoil you for the rest of my life! - she informed her father indignantly. But Lady Kemina would be very happy about this news; in her youth she dreamed of hereditary witches in her family.

- Only over my dead body! I won't survive another witch! - Desmond exclaimed in his hearts.

He cheated a little. He adored his wife and her mother, and if Iris had decided to be like her relatives, he would have loved her just as much as he did now. However, he didn't want her to actually become a witch. This outcome seemed terrible to him.

Ah... the girl began about the second option, but her father interrupted her.

And you won’t go to this lousy academy! I will have to send more people to protect you than are currently guarding the entire castle.

- Who would think of threatening me there? she asked in shock.

Iris hesitated at such an attack from her father. What could happen at the academy? Will the session really pounce? But the girl is not completely toothless. She would bite her a couple of times and everyone else would be wary of her.

- Suitors... Should I personally catch them next to your room? They will compromise you, and should I tear you apart and marry each of you to a separate piece? Do you already have a plan to restore your damaged reputation? asked Desmond.

The king did not imagine what the reason for such behavior of his daughter should be, and assumed that it could be a teenage rebellion, but is it too late to cover the character with the formation of a personality?

- So Arissa can be spoiled? — the girl asked sarcastically.

You don’t think that young titled girls will, defaming themselves, hang themselves on my son? — he asked with some irony.

Iris remembered what recently happened at the ball and whether to report it or keep it a secret for the future. With great regret, she decided to preserve his cloudless days without his father’s harassment.

- I can go incognito. Nobody will know who I am and there will be no problems. Let's say that I am from some periphery or, better yet, an illegitimate child. Ariss will look after me. You won't hear from me. - she said, trying to maintain an honest expression in her eyes, but Desmond, taught by many years of experience, did not believe them for a second.

‍​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌ ​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​ ​​If I don’t hear, I’ll be doubly scared. - he sighed. - Go. I'll think about what can be done. — the man said wearily. - Not a witch. Gods..." Iris heard as she was already walking out the door. Seems like it went well, right?

Iris began to look towards the academy only at the suggestion of a friend and had previously been very upset by this idea, but did not see any other way out. Now, already being one of the students of this institution, I wasn’t particularly worried about anything.

Oh, are your princes fresh? Can I see everyone? Somehow they are too sluggish! — my familiar mocked.

I’m allergic to princes. Sorry. - Iris responded.

Mirelle could barely contain her laughter. Previously, she had not understood the popularity of this place, but now she assumed that the rulers deliberately made heirs so that one day they would meet here. The girl understood the situation in the world. Peace agreements, negotiations and all that, but it was too much. This is what she whispered to Iris, wondering.

And it all started with the word - march! — the familiar choked with laughter in the mistress’s head.

- Ari, there are these beautiful princes... If you convert them, then it’s like f... mud in the spring! I don't want to choose. "Mirelle glanced at her friend intently.

I’m afraid princes are a little too tough for us, little sister. - Absolutely correct thoughts. He called himself a horse, so at least don’t meow.

During their studies, Iris and Mirelle became sisters. The illegitimate daughters of one of the queen’s distant uncles, although he did not know about this good event of his family, but in the eyes of others, he managed to try hard, since he managed to enrich society with two illegitimate daughters at once. What a fine fellow!

Infrequently, such children were still taken into the family, but more often illegitimate children had to be content with only a monthly allowance, the anger of a deceived mother and sidelong glances. Some were lucky, they were sent to study, others were helped to find a worthy match. At times they could simply sell it to someone’s family. Even though the king was watching this moment, all civil issues occur between people, and this is the most uncontrollable relationship in the whole world.

In aristocratic circles, Mirel was the heiress of an ancient, very wealthy family. Iris's friend and her broom taming teacher. Actually, that’s how they met. Lady Kemina, Iris's grandmother, who secretly gave her a broom to her granddaughter, was extremely surprised by his anger, sincerely not understanding where the girl got the witch's attribute from. The girl didn't give it up. A little later, this future witch and the threat of all living things helped her. Wayward red firefly. The hair color was explained by an experiment that got out of control, while the character was explained by belonging to witches.

There really were a lot of princes at the academy. Three whole pieces. However, this fact could help them all, helping them all together to resist the attention of society.

Iris learned this wonderful news while standing at a meeting in honor of the new school year, for which she was fortunately late.

The girl was late because of her familiar. He stole ice cream. At home. It was blasphemy to ask him. He's a predator. And the girl, stand and wait. When he pulled a bag of ice cream in his teeth and demanded to freeze it, Iris almost hit him with a spell. By chance. Is it true!

Standing at the gates of the academy, the princess was somewhat discouraged. There was some kind of desolation all around. First day, and no one around. Maybe everyone is late? We're late. But not them, but Iris. And also this commandant. An absolutely vile person. He could have at least warned her that she had to hurry, but no, he stood and smiled in her face.

In the room, the only thing waiting for the girl was a note from a friend specifying where to go if she still deigned to show up. The princess woke up from an obsession in which she was slowly freezing this... commandant. The note was covered with a crust of ice. Revenge, of course, has always been a cold dish, so freeze it and let him swallow it whole.

Ice was a perennial problem for the princess. The element was rare among magicians, but it did occur. However, they studied her as if she had to save this world and invent a portal to another. The king himself helped her develop her strength. Iris froze, he poured fire, Ariss controlled the resulting water. And the palaces are intact, and the children are at work. Everyone was happy until the girl somehow raised the long-dead man with her ice. After some research, the young parents were convinced that the aspiring magician of death had created it with his own hands, and the revived great-great-grandfather could only howl sadly in the family crypt. He probably called someone. It’s strange that no one responded, it seems like he was a good person during his lifetime. However, there were no more such interesting episodes, to the delight of the parents and those lucky ones who did not even suspect the existence of a small problem in the person of Iris Colt.

Various thoughts were spinning in the girl’s head. The rector was pushing the speech, one can assume that it must have filled someone with enthusiasm. So far, only the rector has been inspired. The teachers were bored. The students yawned. At least sing...

"...You can forget about your titles and parents, from