Kitabı oku: «Elinor. The Deserted Valley. Book 1», sayfa 7

6

They met no more demons on the way.

On the twentieth day of the journey, the fog suddenly dissipated and an amazing landscape opened to their view.

Do’Ayve stopped dead, his mouth wide open. The other Itoshins stopped as well, apparently experiencing similar feelings. Everyone was stunned. Nobody thought the world could be like that!

The contemplation of the surface of Moon Lake on a cloudless night was beauty’s top for any Itoshin. But here, the Valley was full of various colors. The green color of grass and trees prevailed, as well as the azure color of the sky with occasional white clouds. On the glades, there were flowers of red, yellow, and blue hues and a few more, whose colors Do’Ayve didn’t even know.

He looked back and saw a dense white veil.

Can this be? Is it really the Valley, which is despised by all who have returned to the Empire of the Itoshins? How different it is from our world… how scant and poor it turns out to be. And I lived without even knowing that. I’m a warrior! A warrior! And I will follow my spirit further, but can’t a warrior rejoice? Now everyone is happy. Even E’Do has changed in the face, and I want to smile! Oh yes! That’s what struck me in Reyve! She smiled at me, though we almost never smile! I look around at my comrades, and they also have smiles on their faces!

If the soldiers could still somehow could contain their emotions, the yauls have given themselves over completely. They began to moo and mumble wildly through the green glades.

Leerie and Nainuk ran to a tree with bright yellow fruits with reddish sides and began to pick them.

“Wait!” E’Do commanded. They obeyed.

The udoğan approached the tree and tore a fruit himself. He brought it to his nose, sniffed. Bit it slightly.

“Edible” he announced, smiling for the first time (what an unusual sight indeed!), and plunged his teeth into the juicy fruit.

The whole group rushed to the tree and subjected it to intense shaking. Do’Ayve was eating sweet juicy fruit until he realized that he simply couldn’t take in any more. And after a while, his stomach contracted with a sharp pain. Almost everybody’s did at the same time except for E’Do, who announced that henceforth everyone would know their limits and not overeat wild fruit.

With each passing day, the Itoshins observed more and more landscapes. The scenery changed, the colors changed. Each day was interesting in its own way – you could see something new and unusual. Simple, genuine joy came into the troop. Do’Ayve hadn’t felt it in the north, and he couldn’t understand the meaning of the words said by Goro, who preferred life in the north to the life in the Valley.

At the same time, Do’Ayve’s people remained in the cold, raw north and incomprehensible feelings of shame washed over him as he walked through flowering plains, eating juicy fruit, basking in the warm sun. The eternal struggle with the demons remained.

Suddenly quite rebellious thoughts began to visit his head, which the young man himself was frightened of.

What prevents all the Itoshins from moving here? Why does the Emperor prefer to stay in that harsh and unfriendly land? After all, we can build our fortresses here, on the borders, to keep the defenses from the demons in them! Here it is a free, uninhabited land!

But Do’Ayve quickly dismissed these thoughts. Who was he to doubt the wisdom of the Emperor? If a great ruler founded an Empire in the north, then it was necessary!

E’Do was happy, too. He tried not to show this, but his hidden joy could be read in small things: gestures, words, deeds. At the same time, the udoğan continued to warn about possible danger. After all, the Itoshins still hadn’t met any people. And at present, the detachment still didn’t know what exactly had come to pass in the Valley.

7

The Itoshins came to a huge river that E’Do called Kawa. Now the path was straightforward – go along the shore. Todo suggested building rafts and going downstream, but the udoğan refused this idea.

“We can fight on land. We were taught that from early childhood,” he said. “But to learn how to run the ships as well, even if just a raft, on the river, requires skills. We can learn this, but later. Now we need to get to the Valley of the Ancestors. This is most important!”

In the evening, a beautiful falcon started dancing in the wind above the camp. Dissecting the air with his wings, he sank lower and lower until he came up to E’Do’s head. The udoğan recognized Hash, the Emperor’s favorite bird! A parchment with a message was attached to the foot of the falcon.

Do’Ayve knew about the Emperor’s falcons, which could overcome the veil of fog and maintain a connection between the ruler and other people, but now he saw the postal bird of the ruler with his own eyes for the first time.

E’Do carefully read the message, and then announced:

“The Emperor welcomes his valiant warriors and blesses the detachment to continue the journey!”

“Hail the Emperor!” the detachment shouted as a chorus.

“The Emperor commands us to pass the city of Kawa, which stands on this river, and go straight to Eavette, one of the four Great Cities of the Valley. For those who don’t know, Eavette is the homeland of our Emperor! The city from where he came to the north! The city from which the Ito Empire originated! The Emperor hopes that we will enter the city earlier than other nations whose caravans are already certain to be heading to the Valley!

The Itoshins were inspired by the Emperor’s message and promised E’Do that at the next crossing they would go faster than they could.

“And what about the ruler?” Do’Ayve asked, only then realizing that perhaps this question shouldn’t be asked at all, but it was too late. “Was the Emperor able to convince the other nations? Will the Valley have a single ruler?”

“It will,” E’Do nodded dryly.

8

Do’Ayve was the third one on watch. He slept until early dawn, and then took the post from Leerie, who was initiated last night and became a full-fledged warrior. The young girl-warrior was still over the moon with happiness and seemed ready to remain on duty for the whole night, and even the next.

But emotions are emotions, and a rest was a necessity. This lifestyle hardened the Itoshins, as it was quite common to rush into battle half-asleep, which is why E’Do adhered to a strict schedule of shifts.

Do’Ayve began his watch by throwing firewood into the fire, and bathing in the invigorating water of Kawa. He put a pot of water with some herbs on the fire, then went to the trees to pick fruit for himself and his comrades. He stood in wide black robes, without armor. Only his sword hung from his waist.

As Do’Ayve used the tail of his shirt to collect and carry more fresh fruit, a shadow suddenly darted toward him from the bush. The fruits scattered as the warrior jumped back to defend. The predawn twilight helped outline a human silhouette.

“Who are you?” Do’Ayve asked in a menacing voice. In response, there was an inarticulate sound, more like a roar.

Daemon! A demon who took on a human form!

“Stand by for action!” he yelled at the top of his lungs as he simultaneously drew his sword and knocked off the strange creature’s head. The body fell back into the bushes as more figures began to appear from the predawn gloom, and Do’Ayve continued his attack. By this time E’Do ran in to help, followed by Todo and Ğan-Iolai, and then the rest.

A frenzied cry was heard: it became clear that an a’jo’ğan was running into the battle. Warriors parted in different directions, and Joe crashed into the dark silhouettes, sweeping bodies in different directions.

There were a lot of demons, but they were all so slow and sluggish that the Itoshins quickly finished them off. And as the first rays of sun sprang from behind the hill, illuminating the recent battlefield, surprise engulfed the soldiers when they saw who they had been fighting.

“These are people!” exclaimed Biu.

E’Do bent over one of the corpses and examined it carefully.

“The dead!” said the detachment commander.

“Dead, obviously. After all, we’ve just killed them!” Do’Ayve didn’t understand at first what E’Do was trying to tell them.

“No!” the udoğan turned to his soldiers. His severe, pale face expressed anxiety. “Come here!” He waved Do’Ayve over.

The young man also bent over the corpse. Once, what had probably been a middle-aged man was now a swollen body with pale skin of a greenish hue, a battered face, and whitish eye sockets without pupils. An Itoshinian sword cut the defeated in half almost around the belt. And seeping from the huge wound was not blood, but a viscous black slime flowed out into puddles.

“They all died long ago!” E’Do stated.

“The dead came alive?” someone whispered uncertainly.

Everyone could see everything perfectly. It was simply that no one understood how this could be possible.

Here’s your carefree life in the Valley!

A chill ran across the skin of the fearless Do’Ayve.

CHAPTER 3. FROM THE WILDernesS TO THE LIGHT

A moose moves in a straight line, stepping from cell to cell,

In any direction for any number of steps.

He stops in the cell where he ate the figurine.

The moose is the only one who can’t eat a pike.

From the rules of the popular Vedich game “Hurra”

1

A bright red semicircle of the morning sun appeared above the impenetrable wall of trees. Its rays instantly painted the dark green tops of sharp centuries’ old fir trees a fiery color. The fire also ran along the small forest streams and the blooming meadows. It became lighter even in the darkest thickets where the mighty coniferous crowns formed a heavy dome under the sky, covering their secret dark kingdom. But the bright rays of dawn now penetrated these too! They found small squirrels among dense foliage and needles, and flew inward, making life in the gloomy wilderness a little cheerier.

The time of haze and darkness was receding, a dark terrible time, a time of terrible six-fingered monsters. Every Vedich knew to firmly lock one’s house with shutters, or the six-fingered would come at night and drag you off; first into the dark thicket, and then into the underground hole. He knew if that happened, that would be the end and one was lost. Neither the sabers nor the bears would be able to help because the six-fingered were not afraid of them. But when one woke up, he was to open all the shutters, put on the light in his house, and go out to thank Mother Nature for saving him that night and scaring the monsters off!

A new morning fell upon Swa-Ioledea, also known as the Vedich city of the Sacred Dawn or for some strangers, simply Sacredawn. There were legends that told of the ancestors of the Vedichs, who had travelled for a long time from the Valley of the Ancestors to this place. After setting out on their journey, they exited the city into a huge forest glade. And from the thicket across the glade came another unknown tribe, calling itself the people of the Vedas. As the elders of the tribe approached each other, a red dawn rose above the forest. Such a bright one, such a beautiful one.

“This is a sign from above,” agreed the elders, believing that Mother Nature herself had given instructions to her children. Since then, these two tribes united as a single nation, whose name became the Vedichs. And near the glade grew the City of the Sacred Dawn, built on trees with thick branches that served as family houses as the trees themselves were connected by pendant footbridges.

Because the Vedichs worshipped Mother Nature, they didn’t cut the woods, burn grass, or break branches off bushes. There was no need, as the mature fruit fell into one’s hands all by itself! If the forest wanted to get rid of unnecessary branches or extra trunks, a strong wind would come and do its thing. Then one could go and pick up whatever was needed, such as firewood for fire, berries with fruits, branches and logs to strengthen dwellings or crafts, dishes, amulets, plaques for writing. The herbs also were handled carefully. If one raised the bush up to one’s waist, the twigs were cut gently so that it could grow further. And the ones that were cut off were used either in pottage or used to make threads and fabrics.

The Vedichs were also skilled craftsmen who loved beauty. Their clothes were embroidered with various colors and patterns. It was a shame for a Vedich to walk around in dirty clothes! Nature had given the forest rivers and lakes for drinking and ablution, so one should always be clean. All of their wisdom, stories, and poems about the beauty of their forests was recorded on wooden plaques, but the Vedichs didn’t keep track of time.

2

Faolabre, or simply Fao, always thanked Mother Nature for being born in such a beautiful and amazing forest. Yet she could do nothing with her restless character, which resulted in her occasionally quarrels with the elders. For example, when she asked about other lands, they directly caulked her mouth. They said one mustn’t even talk about them!

But why?

It annoyed Fao that there was never answer to that – and so many other questions – and sometimes she didn’t hold back her emotions when they chose not to answer. But being rude to an elder is as unacceptable as doing harm to Nature, so Fao was often punished for her curiosity. While she was happy to live among her people, who were wise, kind, and hardworking, it became necessary to put up with the local way of life and customs.

The elders of the Vedichs have always lived in the roots of the tree. For old people, it is difficult to move from branch to branch, even if they have retained the ability to turn into a lynx or squirrel. Those who are stronger and younger, who have not yet turned six times the six times of six years, live on thick branches at the base of the tree. Living overhead are those who just passed the initiation ceremony and at the highest branches – very young and light, those whose first life cycle has not yet been passed.

Fao’s house was woven on the branches of a huge spruce and belonged to her family of Gray Martens. On this morning, she awakened to tiny rays of dawn, which struck a small carved window covered with a flat, transparent mica stone. When a red ray falls on such a stone, it becomes a small luminary itself and multiplies the sunlight, which covered the entire length of the opposite riverbank.

Fao had turned two times six years, and two more years. There was a third small circle of initiation. Fao already knew how to address small animals, but she hadn’t yet decided who she will become when the first round is completed. Among the wild forest inhabitants, she had many friends, but she did not want to become like them.

With light movements, clinging to the branches, slightly swaying, she jumped lower and lower. Already on the thickest branch she could not resist – her leg slid and Fao went down. The morning coolness deprived the resin of viscosity, making it hard and slippery. She dived downward, falling on the roof of the lower house that was covered with a dense layer of moss.

A squeal came from inside, then an angry grunt, after a few swear words in old Vedichian, and at the end came the moaning and groaning.

“Forgive me, great-great-grandfather!” Fao immediately apologized. Apparently, the great-great-grandfather, forgetting himself, again fell asleep like a wild boar, but when he woke up, immediately turned into a man and felt the pain straightaway.

But great-great-grandfather is tough. And kind. He won’t hold a grudge against me!

The Vedich families retained their names only for the pedigree. For example, in the family of Fao, for a long time no one had turned into martens. However, the name remained. It was the same with others: Coniferous Black Grouse, White Wolves, Red Sabers, Swamp Raccoons, and others.

Fao went to the Pure Grove, and there praised Mother Nature for a quiet night and a beautiful morning. Afterwards, she took the bowler and tugged the water from the lake into the trough while collecting firewood in the forest. Today she happened to be the first in the Pure Grove, so she got the longest and thickest branches.

My parents will be so glad! Maybe they will stop being angry with me for quarrelling with Elder Anolim three days ago.

Then she took the basket again, and headed to Berry Grove.

And again, I am the first!

The blueberries were not yet filled with a dense color, but the wild strawberries had ripened just right! Fao shook the bushes, and pinkish specks began to pour into her bag. Very soon it was filled with fragrant berries. Their smell beat in her nostrils. Fao ate a handful herself – that’s a breakfast! She didn’t shake more. One needed to leave some berries for other families!

No matter how lazy they are, they are still fellow tribesmen.

Fao carried the berries to the foot of her spruce. From the roots, again came the boar’s snoring.

Oh, that great-great -grandfather! He’s become completely scatter-brained!

Now the rest of the morning was free, and Fao could dedicate it to communicating with her friend. She quickly ran past Pure Grove, jumped Ice Creek, galloped through the Ravine Expanse and found herself in the Bear Woodlot. She went to a big snag and began to call:

“Nucko! Nucko, I’ve come! Nucko! Well, where are you?”

Finally, sniffling was heard from under the driftwood, and the fluffy muzzle of a large bear emerged into the light. Nucko drew his morning air with his nostrils, snorted, and after that all of his body emerged. The bear cub was larger than Fao.

“You grow by leaps and bounds!” the girl was surprised, “And it turns out that you are also a sluggard! I’ve been awake for a long time now! I missed you, Nucko.” Then Fao embraced Nucko’s fluffy neck and began to gently tousle the scruff of his neck. Pleased, the bear cub growled happily.

Fao loved bears. Especially while they remained small. “They are so cute and funny!” she thought. The mature bear had no time for games, but almost half of the adults of the Bear Woodlot recognized Fao and paid her attention by licking her hands or carrying her on their backs.

Despite her love for all the bears, Fao did not want to become one after the initiation, when the features of the beast transfer to the person. Fao wanted to remain slender and mobile, not big and fat like the bears. She might be a deer… but deer are very shy. A squirrel? Squirrels are terrible! Quick, but stupid. What if I become stupid too? Sabers are fast, graceful, beautiful, and smart. But they smell disgusting, and a girl must smell good! Already on the third circle, Fao sighed at the uncertainty of who she will become. But she was certain of one thing – no matter which bestial appearance she took on, she will still be friends with the bears!

“This is for you! I deliberately put some aside, and ate less myself,” Fao said, holding out a palm with a handful of strawberries to Nucko. The joyful bear cub swallowed all the berries at once, and then licked Fao’s hand for a long time, which still exuded the sweet smell of berries.

After this, it was time for the game. Fao tried to saddle Nucko but he wasn’t having it, and constantly dropped her away. Once, he even pawed so that Fao fell and saw red circles before her eyes. When the bear cub realized that he miscalculated his own strength, he ran up and repeatedly licked her cheeks as an apology. Fao was very ticklish, and she laughed.

Suddenly the bushes moved, and Fao jumped to her feet.

Who is there? Clearly a human!

But then Fao saw her friend, Inaonomose (Ina), before her.

“I knew I’d find you here,” she said.

Ina simply shone with happiness, her eyes burning with sparkling lights. It immediately became clear that something important had happened.

“What? What’s happened?” Fao wanted to get in on this secret as soon as possible.

“You will never believe it! The Taurs! The Taurs are back!”

This was the news of all news! The Taurs had not come to Swa-Ioledea for more than three years! Neighbors to the Vedichs, the Taurs conquered the will of the animal and forced them to transport themselves, their cargoes, and cut down the forest. The Vedichs considered the Taurs to be savages who didn’t respect Nature and animals. The Vedichs rarely visit the Taurs, and vice-versa, but when caravans of embassies come to visit each other, both people obeyed local laws.

When I asked the elders why the Taurs had not come for so long, I received silence at best; at worst – a box on the ear. But there was really nothing to guess. It is as clear as a bright day, that the konung of the Taurs had another conflict with the elders of the Vedichs.

But what made the Taurs come back?

“Where are they?” asked Fao.

“Their chief went with the elders to the Quiet Creek.”

“How do you know?”

“I’ve peeked in,” Ina replied, embarrassed.

“So, you are suggesting…” Fao did not finish the question and smiled.

Ina winked, and the girls completely understood each other.

They looked somewhat similar: both had sharp noses, running black eyes, and bulging cheeks. Only Fao’s hair was lighter and she had a constant blush on her face. But the most important thing that united the friends was curiosity. A craving for the new, a craving for discoveries.

Eavesdropping on other people’s conversations was bad! The girls knew that! However, how could they miss the return of the Taurs? How could they not discover the secret of this return?

“I’m sorry, Nucko!” Fao patted the bear cub by the ear. “This is very important!” He hung his head, clearly offended. They had not had time to play enough.

“Squirrels?” Ina asked continuing to smile.

“Squirrels!” Fao gave up.

Oh, how she hated those nasty little animals! For their harmfulness and stupidity. But squirrels were quick and fast and when needed, they were also noiseless.

Within moments two small forest rodents were already galloping at full speed on the ground and over the branches of trees to the Quiet Creek.