«You're really not going to do anything?!» — Maxie was dumbfounded when she learned that I wasn't going to do anything about my recent abduction.
Imdiately after my rescue-the Marquis's daughter intended to launch an investigation into this outrageous incident. But I stopped her.
— Listen!» she tried to reason with , «it was obviously done for a reason! Otherwise, do you think those dogs would have had the courage to kidnap you?
Maxie was sure it was done on soone's orders. As a matter of fact, I was of the sa opinion myself. In spite of that, I prevented her from starting the inspection.
— Camilla's wedding and coronation are in less than a month. Do you think we have ti to deal with it?
— But…!
— Besides, I'm already safe and these people are in jail. We can co back to this later.
The kidnapping of the Archduchess was indeed a serious cri. Not only that, but I was put on the slave market as a commodity. All this is enough to sentence to death all those who took part. On that basis, I understood perfectly well Maxie's indignation.
Still, my life is nothing compared to the future that awaits the country after Camilla's ascension to the throne. That's why I made it my main task.
After all my persuasion, Maxie had to accept my decision. However, she was determined to punish the villain imdiately upon our return. Then I would not stop her any longer.
Before we set out for the rest of the journey — I wrote a letter to Andrew. Specifically, I ordered him to help settle all the freed slaves. Most of them had lost their jobs or hos altogether because of their long absence.
They would find themselves on the streets after they were freed. Even though we had not been together very long — but I sincerely sympathized with these people. Andrew had to help with that. I also asked to get Dylan settled at Ashford Manor. His sister, too, should have been found as soon as possible.
Once all the weight on my soul associated with this was gone — I was able to focus on business again. We continued on to the Oberon Empire.
Luckily, no unnecessary adventures were encountered thereafter. We made it safely to the village of Sorus — where I hadn't been in over two years.
Old mories of the place ca flooding back. It was hard to believe that so much ti had passed since then.
Maxie and I were the first to climb the mountain, while Razor lingered in the village to reconnoitre. We were to rendezvous in about half an hour.
Surprisingly, I still rembered the path to the elder's cabin. We had walked through the woods before we reached the right house.
It looked even more abandoned now than before. In the back of my mind, it made uneasy.
— Elder Ileas!
I knocked on the door, but there was silence on the other side. He couldn't be ignoring us again, just like the last ti.
I knocked nonchalantly a few more tis, assuming he just didn't hear.
Still no answer.
Maxie frowned and peered through the dusty windows.
— There didn't seem to be anyone there.
— What?» I was surprised, «You an he's moved out?
— People his age usually stick to one place for decades. Why would he move?
— But then…
— Maybe sothing happened,» she suggested, «Anyway, I'm going to break down the door.
— No way! — I resented her, «We're here to visit! Who does that?
— We've waited long enough,» Maxie protested stubbornly, «Or are you going to wait any longer? You said we didn't have ti.
I pursed my lips.
Breaking down soone else's door really didn't seem like a good idea. Besides, we hadn't seen each other in two years. Not the most pleasant first eting.
Still, Maxie was right, too. We couldn't wait any longer.
Noticing the doubts on my face, the girl waved her hand.
— What's the big deal? It's just a door. We'll get a new one later. We'll make sure it's okay.
I sighed and finally accepted it.
— Do as you wish.
After I agreed, Maxie got right down to business. As it turned out: the door didn't even have to be kicked in. The door swung open because of her old age, and she only had to knock it open a little.
There was a lot of dust inside, too, which made cough. Maxie covered with her cloak.
— Careful.
I was even more discouraged when I entered the house. There was a thick layer of dust all over the furniture. And the place itself seed long neglected.
But how could it be?! It can't be that the Elder had really moved out. Otherwise, he wouldn't have left so many of his things here…
Various and not the most pleasant conjectures overtook . Maxie frowned, too.
As we studied the house-we were not eager to jump to conclusions. Perhaps the worst would co to pass after all.
All our earlier doubts, however, were dispelled by Razor. The second prince ca toward us about a couple of minutes later.
The guy was clearly running this way and looked out of breath.
— Bad news!» he sighed. — He exhaled, leaning his hands on his knees.
— What kind of news? — Maxie imdiately interjected.
— They say in the village that the Elder is dead…
— WHAT?!
I was inevitably taken aback by the news.
Razor looked at sympathetically and chose his words carefully:
— We don't know exactly when it happened… But a year ago, a resident accidentally discovered his body in the house when he ca to ask for help. They say that even then he…» The boy hesitated and looked at again.
But it was clear without words. Maxie and I looked at each other sadly.
One way or another: we should have expected sothing like this to happen. Lloyd Ileas was long past his pri-and by the ti we t, he was clearly on his last legs.
Even before we parted, he seed to be in considerable pain. So it seed a natural outco.
But let it be so… I felt regret: that I could not even say goodbye to him one last ti. It felt as if a close relative had died, even though we didn't know each other that well.
Of the three of us, I was the most upset. Maxie patted my shoulder.
— You can co out if you don't feel well.
I shook my head.
— It's okay… we have to find what we ca for.
I couldn't give in to unnecessary emotion right now. Elder Ileas was a good man-and I didn't regret eting him. Surely he wouldn't have minded helping us himself.
After a few minutes, I was able to pull myself together and begin my search. We needed this book to figure out where it all started.
After roughly explaining what it looked like, Maxie and Razor began to search along with . This proved a bit difficult due to the fact that all of the books were dusty. And so had deteriorated and rotten altogether.
I went through the shelves one by one, and at one point I even thought she was gone.
But…
— I found it!
Maxie suddenly shouted from the other side of the bookcase. Razor and I both abandoned our search and headed toward her at the sa ti.
— Is that her?
She slid a book, at first glance looked more like a collection of children's tales. On the cover was the only readable title: «The Goddess and the Demon.
I felt a great relief.
— Yes! It's her!
The Marquis's daughter smiled.
— You see, I bring you luck.
I took the book and opened the first page I saw. Maxie looked inside and frowned.
— And what is all this nonsense? It doesn't make any sense…
— We'll have to find a dictionary of the ancient language,» I suggested, «It'll take a long ti, but I think we can decipher it.
Maxie's expression turned sour. She hated digging through papers, much less doing such tedious things.
— Well, you and the Prince will manage just fine without ! — She shrugged us off at once, «I've already found the book. It's enough.
I chuckled involuntarily.
— Razor, what do you think?
I showed the second prince the book I had found, and at that mont I noticed sothing strange. Seeing its contents — the expression on the boy's face suddenly distorted.
— The head! — He suddenly grabbed his hair, — My head hurts!
— What?» I stamred.
The longer Razor stared at the book, the more his symptoms grew. Eventually he broke down and collapsed unconscious.
Maxie and I were equally shocked.
— What was the matter with him?
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