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Bardess

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Школа кожевенного мастерства: сумки, ремни своими руками
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  • Аннотация:
    Хотелось написать несколько рассказов, связанных одной темой - музыкой и образом героини. Но героиня оказалась упрямая. В каждой главе есть песня, мой (ну почти всегда мой) перевод русскоязычной музыки. Те, кто читают свободно на английском, я думаю, угадают почти все песни с первой пары строчек.
  Story one: The inn
  
  - Two casks of your best ale, a half of the spit-roasted lamb, and don't forget the bread and the fish-stew Aya is so good at.
  - Yes, my lord.
  
  The chubby innkeeper was moving quite fast for his age and weight: and his speed, the same as the taste of food, prepared by his wife, was well-known in surroundings. Shorty after the order all the items were placed onto the table. The inn 'Brave and Bald' was not the usual one in this county: it wasn't as dirty and dark as the other inns those three males, sitting at the most comfortable corner-table of the dining hall, have visited recently.
  
  The owner's wife was not originally from this place - she was said to come from the islands, where one could find hundreds of fish and pearls right on the ocean-shore. That country was famous with its culture of baths and hot springs, and that's why 'Brave and Bald' was the cleanest inn Alan and his friends have even seen. There were a lot of little lamps with yellow and red glass-shades, hanging above the bar-counter and each table in the hall, and even outside the inn. But no one could dare to associate this place with a house from the district of red lights: in that case the offender could hardly escape the fist of the innkeeper. And that fist was really heavy.
  
  Tom, the owner of this place and the husband of that 'exotic flower' was a retired captain of royal guards. During his last trip to the ocean, as he could jokingly explain to anyone who was eager to listen to his story, he had lost his right leg, but obtained the biggest treasure in his life. Aya, as miniature and fragile as the real female should be, would personally greet only the most important guests. Moving slowly on her small feet, dressed in the tiniest expensive leather boots the shoemaker have ever manufactured, she would amiably smile to the special guests. Nodding her head, making her long black hair gently jump, she would welcome those guests to the inn, and prepare her best dishes with unusual spices. Although she would act as a hospitable lady, Tom and his good friends knew that she was too introvert and enjoyed staying in the kitchen more, than chatting with the most famous people in the county or even the King. She liked to follow the rules of her home-city, where decent females would take care of the house and children, leaving all the other duties to the husband. But there was a little exception: Aya and Tom had no kids. God didn't bless the family with a child. For the last ten years Aya was praying to her gods, Tom - to his Holy Lord, but the result was still the same.
  
  'Brave and Bald' was not oriented only for rich people, who were able to pay for expensive dishes with Eastern spices. Ordinary inhabitants of the county knew that they could find a bowl of meal and a thick slice of bread, as long as they behaved well and had a cooper-coin to pay for the food. But there were special hours, when the innkeeper would accept only noble guests: he would hang a shield, the one left from his royal serving days, above the door. Such hours were dedicated to the knights, guardians and all kinds of gently borns. According to the rumors this inn was several times visited even by the King, but who could control the rumors? And Tom would never gossip about his guests. He could tell everyone about his private life, or about the recent news in the town and in the country, but not about the guests, especially those, who preferred to stay incognito. Tom would address each of his noble guests the equal way: 'My lord', without emphasizing the certain title or showing the difference between visitors. And a lot of visitors would come in civil clothes, and some of them won't use the symbols of their status or titles here.
  
  Alan was tired. But his tiredness somehow was vanishing in the air of this bright inn, full of low-voice laughter and delicious smells. He was visiting this inn every time he passed near the town. But his today's companions were here for the first time, and were looking around with wide-opened eyes. Alan smiled at their reaction. Well, it was understandable: there were three viscounts, two barons, one earl, and, if Alan guessed corrected, that haughty guy in the mask, covering the upper half of his face, was Duke Dumont. And there was even no need to mention the guardians, wearing liveries of various colors, representing several powerful household troops, some of which in the other circumstances would gladly jump down each other's throat.
  
  Alan had spent several minutes during their way to the inn to explain his companions the rules. Actually the rules were simple: 'No weapons, no fights, no love for sale'. All the armor of the visitors should have been left before entering the inn in the small armory-room. During the day-time visitors could come alone, with their friends or families, but never would bring courtesans or look for that kind of entertainment in this place. And all the waiters were males. And the dinner time, dedicated to the noble guests, was usually a kind of old-and-good club, where only males were invited. And those males had to behave well. If they had something to argue about, they could do it outside.
  
  Tom didn't lose his skills and speed despite the increased weight, and the punishment for rebels was simple: a powerful hit to the head, and then the unconscious body would be instantly carried outside. If Tom personally was busy at the moment of 'crime', there were a lot of volunteers to execute the same punishment immediately. This inn was a rare clean and peaceful spot in the county, shaking with continuous war campaigns, and its frequenters valued its atmosphere too high to let the bad-mannered visitors ruin it.
  
  Alan looked around once again. They were no familiar faces besides Tom, even the waiters have changed since the last time he had visited the inn. It had been too long. His last campaign was completed with a victory, but cost too much. Alan shook his head, trying to escape the gloomy mood. He came here, to quite a distant place from destination of his trip, to relax and calm down. Good ale, good food and a company of the most clever guys his subordinates finally acted like it should. In a while Alan was laughing at the jokes of companions, and saluting with his big glass to the wise comments of guys from the next table.
  
  Our of the corner of his eyes Alan noticed something strange near the bar-counter: Tom, wiping the sweat from his head, which of course was as bald as the name of the inn, was carrying away one of the empty tables outside the bar, preparing a kind of stage in front of it. Alan felt a pang of interest: Tom was known with his refined taste. Thus if there was be a performance in his inn, the quality would be sufficient to please the King. Till now Alan managed to see the music show in the inn only twice. First time was the concert of a bard, a shy and tall young lad. His voice was strong, and his songs - heart-touching. So Alan wasn't too surprised when he learnt afterwards that the bard later won the title of 'Golden voice' during the annual contest at the palace. And the second time was when Aya, persuaded by long nagging of her husband, played the folk instrument of her country: a big wooden plate with the strings of various thickness. Alan wasn't a music fan, but something in the fast movements of Aya's fingers, the reflection of inspiration on her face, which was usually calm and emotionless, stayed in his memory for a long time.
  
  It looked like today the innkeeper prepared something unusual again. But when the performer entered the makeshift scene, Alan couldn't hold his disappointed whistle. That was a female, and Alan didn't like female bards. He had listened to too much of their music on obligatory gatherings and celebrations, and they all were singing about flowers, prince charming, and that boring love stuff. 'One more girl with a guitar, acting like she can sing well, and trying to sell herself with the larger price,' - that was his first thought. But on contrary with the other girls he had seen in the same role, this one didn't want to show the beauty of her body. She was wrapped in a long black cloak, so the figure was totally covered, and there was a hood on her head. And there was a black domino mask on her face. The mask didn't hide the snow-white color of her skin, her aristocratic nose or full rosy lips, and her hazel eyes were shining brightly. And the dignity and self-assurance of her look, the same as the trust to Tom's taste, made Alan delay his negative judgment. If Tom bothered to bring this girl here, maybe she was not as bad as Alan thought. And maybe she can sing - and not only pitifully murmur or tell sad stories.
  
  And so it was. She didn't sing about love - even if that word existed in her songs, it wasn't the detailed description of love-suffering or a process of waiting for prince charming. She sang, as if she was narrating someone's stories, and every her song was accepted with applauds from the audience. She sang a song about the Casanova-earl, who couldn't skip a single pretty face in the surroundings, and the lyrics were funny and wise. Only the lonely earl in the dining-hall blushed when the song was over - but probably it was just the result of strong alcohol he drank. Then she sang about the life of guardians, when they have to work hard during the day-time and listen to the landlord, and later, in the evenings - obey the orders of their wives. The refrain words: 'Who is the real captain? Who has the real power?' arose the wave of laughter in the hall. The biggest part of tonight's guests were serving in the guard in the past or at present, so they agreed with her jokingly lyrics loudly.
  
  And Alan couldn't take his eyes from the girl. Tom introduced her in the beginning, saying that today she is 'the bardess of their hearts', but didn't tell her name. Alan was curious about this girl. Who was she? Why did she wear a mask? Where did Tom find her? And that curiosity, together with the charm of her voice, made him drunker, than the strongest ale he had ever tried.
  
  She sang about two hours until her voice begun to sound hoarse, and the cup for coins near the stage was full with silver. Tom poured out all the coins into the pocket of her cloak, offered her a glass of water (ignoring the shouts of guests, asking to bring her wine), and announced she'll sing one more last song. She glanced around the room, slowly plucking the strings of her guitar, as if she was looking for inspiration to choose the song. Her eyes met Alan's, she smiled, and her mischievously-sweet mouth was looking even more attractive with that smile, and then she changed the rhythm. Fast strokes, fast words, and her deep voice sounded louder and even deeper. And the lyrics - Alan lifted his head after hearing the first line and couldn't respire in the previous relaxed rhythm anymore till the end of the song. Of course the story in the lyrics didn't have much in common with reality, but.... But...
  
  There's an admiral brave of the northern seas,
  He was gallant, and cheerful, and bold.
  From the early spring he was out with breeze,
  Seldom coming back to his castle cold.
  
  I was trying to steal just one more glance at him
  From my window of costal length.
  Only highland-witches could have loved him in dim,
  As the earthborn won't get enough strength.
  
  My admiral was bringing to witches the pearls
  And was sitting with them near fire.
  And witches weren't aware that for coastal girls
  Those pearls were cheaper than a smile.
  
  My admiral would walk without saying a word,
  And would dance in the shower of stars,
  Highland-witches loved him with passion, I heard,
  And he smiled with the sorrow in his eyes.
  
  When my admiral was sent to a cruel war,
  And his fleet said farewell to the port,
  Highland-witches were crying and praying ashore,
  So the moon would light up his way on board.
  
  And his foes were angrily complaining to themselves
  'What the hell? Is he charmed by chance?'
  Just the highland-witches were protecting him against
  All the pain in his cruel war-dance.
  
  I was waiting for him on my homeland shore,
  And my heart was aching with sadness,
  It's too late to learn highland-witchcraft chore,
  I can only bow to them with gladness.
  
  Please, keep that dark-waved death apart,
  And save my dear hard-working lord.
  Highland-witches, please, protect his heart,
  From the water, and bullet, and sword.
  
  The last words of the song, that pray, repeated by the bardess twice, were still echoing in Alan's head. He was sure he didn't meet her in the past, didn't see her brave eyes nor heard her crystal-deep voice. How did she recognize him? He could read the same question and shock in the eyes of his companions.
  - Have you met her before?
  - No. But I'll get to know her. Right now.
  
  Alan Seymour, admiral of the Royal Fleet, called 'Lucky Devil' by his foes, stood up and followed the girl through the darker side of the hall till the stairwell, leading to the second floor. Other visitors of the inn, keeping in mind the rules, didn't try to chase the leaving lady, albeit the comments of disappointment were heard from many spots of the hall. Alan easily caught up with her speed, coming to her close enough to touch her if he would lift his hand. He had to stop her and to talk to her, and he knew a way for it.
  
  Two fast steps, and he was already ahead of her, obstructing her way. He quickly put two hands on the wall, at both sides of her body, restricting her moves without touching her directly. She was trapped between the wall at her back, and his body in the front, and his hands were completing the ambush. She was standing too close to him. So close, that he could feel the flowery smell from her body. He liked that smell; her perfume could make a male mad with desire. But he had another aim.
  - Who are you?
  She didn't reply. She was looking at him with the same bold expression, and there was no fear in that look.
  - Who are you?' - he repeated, placing his face closer to hers in a kind of impending, and adding commanding tone, which usually could make half of his subordinates shiver.
  - A bardess,' - her voice is low. She doesn't look to be accustomed to long singing, as the male bards should be. Was it her first performance?
  - How did you recognize me?
  - Tess, what's going on here?' - Tom's voice from behind broke the charming closeness and put the end to interrogation.
  - Nothing. I'm leaving,' - and with one fast and gracious move she's escaping the trap of his hands and runs towards Aya, who's standing next to the back entrance of the inn.
  That move takes off the hood from her head. And Alan can only watch, silently cursing Tom, how the girl with blond hair, shining under the light of lamps, comes closer to Aya, how she kisses Aya's forehead, says goodbye to her, and how the figure in the black cloak is disappearing though the back door. When he couldn't see her anymore, he turned to the innkeeper.
  - Tom, did you tell her who I am?
  - No. Have I ever talked about my guests behind their backs?
  - You didn't. But how did she... whatever. What's her full name? Where can I find her?
  - My lord, she's also one of my guests. Please, follow me to the dining hall. You companions must be waiting for you.
  
  More ale, more drunk talks and the following night hours didn't take away the image of the bardess from Alan's mind. But there was nothing he could do.
  
  He left the inn early in the morning, and he was able to visit 'Brave and Bald' the next time only in one year. Alan won another campaign, this time - without losing a single soldier from his side, although several hundreds were wounded. And immediately after arriving to the inn Alan was surprised to hear Aya finally gave a birth to children, and the proud father was showing all the visitors his new treasure - several-month-old twin boys. Tom, Aya and other visitors of the inn were so engaged in talks about children, that Alan could not find time or courage to ask about the bardess named Tess, whom he had seen in the inn one year ago.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Story two: The night task
  
  - I need two guardsmen for escort to Willow Lane.
  - Two guardsmen? Do you think this is a guild of sellswords? The city guards don't accept private tasks.
  - I was told I would find the necessary assistance if I show this sign.
  The figure, covered with a black cloak, took off her hand from the placket and stretched it into the ray of light. The guardian at the gates, who was talking to her in the informal manner, first of all paid his attention at the aristocratic thickness of her wrist, and the whiteness of her hand, and the smoothness of her skin. This hand probably belonged to a noble-born. The girl was staying in the shadow, so he couldn't properly see her face, and everything else was covered by a cloak. But her voice was young, and her hand - definitely pretty. The guardian felt the luck blessed him today, sending this pretty flower right to his gate. She could be noble, but decent girls don't stay outside home at this hour. If she came here, she had an aim for it, and she must be ready to pay for it. He had almost started imagining the most pleasant way to spend the following hours till dawn, but another glance at her hand, which she was still keeping at the light so he could see it, stopped all his dreams.
  
  That second glance made him realize what she was talking about. There was a large signet ring on her middle finger. It looked to be too big for her delicate hand. There was a sapphire in the upper part of the ring, and the other part was the inscription. The coat of arms. And the owner of that coat of arms was no other but Duke Dumont, protector of Aspen city and all the lands around. No wonder the young wench knew she'll get everything she would have ever requested here.
  
  No one in or around the city could object Duke Dumont. He was the father, the god and the holy spirit for the citizens. Merchants and craftsmen were 'bought' by his support and low level of taxes to compare with the other cities around, which belonged to the other households. Elder nobles, who were living nearby, were charmed by his respect to the traditions. Females would praise his handsome face and strength, and would dream to dance with him at least once during the annual balls in the town hall. Some sly girl, led by their smart parents, would try to trap the duke, who was officially still single, but till now no one succeeded in that difficult task.
  
  As for this girl... well, there were no engagement announcement, and the guardian couldn't remember any gossips or wedding preparations in the church, so even if this wench managed to obtain her aim, that aim was quite low. A mistress of the duke. Who else could she be? And the ring she's wearing was not the lineal one, transferred from the lady of the family to the bride of a firstborn son. It was just the signet ring, which normally belonged to males, and could be given to the others only for a short time. A kind of rent, when the ring would be a part of payment. It was big and powerful enough to mark the toy of the duke, and till now the captain had seen that ring (or similar ones) on the hands of several girls. Although he should admit those hands were not as pretty as this one.
  
  He sighed and finally replied:
  - Yes, Lady. Two of my best guardians will be ready for your journey at dawn. Will you prefer them to wait for you here, or escort you from the inn or other place where you stay?
  - No for both. I need them now.
  - Lady, it's one past midnight!
  - I know. I should be in Willow Lane as soon as possible, and the road takes 7 hours.
  - Lady, the road in the dark could be dangerous.
  - That's why I ask for two guardsmen. And the horses for them, of course.
  - Two horses? All right. And where's your cab?
  - I'm travelling on a horseback, too. My horse is waiting with the luggage outside the gate.
  - I'll be back in several minutes.
  As the guardian disappeared from her sight, cursing mad wenches in a low voice, she hurried to hide her hand. That's a relief the guardian didn't notice her hand had started shaking, and that there were notes of uncertainty in her voice.
  
  It was the first time she used the ring. Tess didn't want to accept it, but the duke was too persistent. And her inner voice told her to take it, as it's often much easier to agree with a man, than to insist on her own position. Long quarrels with powerful males won't bring her anything - that was the lesson she had learned well.
  
  And today that fateful signet ring played an important role for her. She didn't come to this county for the whole year, and her road was not the pleasant one. She could go one travelling alone, as she often did, but recently there were rumors about direwolves in surroundings. And her inner voice was telling her those were not just the empty rumors. Plus geographical location of Willow Lane, which was the last big inhabited locality in front of Basra Heights, was terrifying on its own. She preferred to lose some of her pride, asking for help and escort, but to arrive at destination all in one piece. And she was really in a hurry: one of her old friends, Lynn, was in labor. The health of mother-to-be during the whole time of pregnancy, as far as Tess knew, was the permanent problem, and Tess was planning to visit her very soon. Her recent tasks were far from the county, and all she could do till now was only receiving the news from messenger-pigeons. The last of them arrived half an hour ago, telling that the labor has started, earlier than they expected.
  
  Tess was not a professional healer or herbalist, nor a midwife, but she knew she could help Lynn to do what she wanted to - as long as she would reach her in time. And she was ready to delay her current task, and sacrifice her night sleep, and deal with angry guardsmen all the way to Willow Lane. Her mare Iris was left near the city gates, and her guitar and a small knapsack were attached to the saddle. She liked to travel without much luggage: a pair of clothes to change was enough and didn't slow down her speed. She could find the other clothes and necessary items at the houses where she usually lived - nay, temporarily stayed - as there was no place on the Earth she could call 'home'.
  
  Tess fastened her cloak tightly, thinking if she should wear a mask, too. Will it be really risky to travel at dark, accompanied by two unknown males? And what will be more dangerous for her: the direwolves, or those males? The duke's ring should protect her, but just in case she'd better keep the hood on her head, and don't let the guardsmen see her clothes, quite unusual for a female. She hated skirts and wide dresses, so for long journeys she preferred the trousers, shirts and waistcoats. And some males, unaccustomed to such style, could have understand her intentions wrongly.
  
  In a while, when she had already started jumping on her place, trying to get warm, she saw two riders on the horses. The riders in liveries of the city guards reached her hideout, and she made a couple of steps forwards to let them see her.
  - Lady, I'm Steve and this is Brayden. We were told we're leaving immediately.
  - Right.
  She mounted a horse, and the guardians followed her without the further instructions. They seemed to be too well-trained to show any signs of dissatisfaction with this task: escorting the duke's mistress in the middle of night. That way of behavior chased away her fears. Those two were knights, and her inner voice told her neither Steve nor Brayden would insult the female.
  
  Steve, a tall and muscular male around 45 years old, was leading their small group. Tess was in the middle, and Brayden - at the rear. At the first glance Brayden seemed to be quite young to take part in such tasks: he wasn't older than 20, but of course the captain of guards, who assigned two companions for her, should have his own reasons. She thought it could be a grudge, but after looking back at Brayden several times, and listening to the way those two were talking to each other, she understood the cause of choice was different. Two guardians were blood-related: Brayden called Steve 'uncle', and she also noticed similar facial features when she looked at them properly. And there was something else, related to Brayden...
  - Lady, if you keep looking at him so often, you risk to fall down from the horse. If you're in a hurry, should we ride at a full gallop?
  - Yes, please.
  
  There was a familiar silvering brightness above Brayden's head and heart. And the leftovers of her own gift from the past were enough to interpret it. He was in love with one of her 'sisters'. But would he believe if she says it directly? No way. She'd better keep silence.
  
  The last time when she saw the similar silvering gauze was about one year ago. She couldn't stop herself - and keep under control her long tongue and fingers on strings - and had almost made a mistake, exposing her incognito. The fate was favorable to her that day, and the other visitors of the inn didn't understand she was singing pretty serious. And Admiral Seymour was busy with guessing how she recognized him, instead of wondering how she could see that gauze. Usually only girls with the similar talent could notice the 'work' of other highland-witches - with some rare exceptions.
  
  Tess wasn't a highland-witch. She didn't receive the proper education, she left the Highlands too early, she wasn't blessed by the moon. But the leftovers of that talent, living in her blood, were enough for her. Sometimes she thought it was even more, than enough. Especially when her employer was giving her the tasks like the last one. If she was a usual female, she would definitely get fewer worries and live in a calmer way. But if she was a usual girl, she wouldn't be able to help Lynn either.
  
  Lynn was an offspring of the witch. Her grandmother lived in Highlands during all her life. Some people thought that Highlands and Basra Heights were similar, as both were situated in the eastern part of Remulus and didn't get visitors from outsides easily. But there was a certain difference, both in population of those two, in language and in order of life. Albeit both Highlands and Basra Heights had problems with the King.
  
  Lynn's grandfather was a landless lord, earning for living as a sellsword. He visited Highlands by chance and the beauty of Lynn's grandmother conquered his heart. He decided to come back to his home-town shortly to take care of the necessary procedures, and then move to Highlands. The unexpected pregnancy of his beloved person delayed his leave. But the further events, at least the way Lynn narrated them to Tess, could shock an ordinary person. When Lynn's grandmother realized she's pregnant, her attitude to the lover had been totally changed. She didn't let him come into her house anymore. She told that she needed a daughter, as highland-witches don't need husbands. She permitted him to stay in the same village only until the birth of her kid. And when the child was born - a boy, to the great disappointment of mother - she threw the baby to his father, asking him to get away from the Highlands and never come back.
  
  Lynn's father was raised by one parent, who settled in Willow Lane. From time to time Lynn's grandfather was trying to visit his beloved woman and show her the son, but only when the boy grew up old enough to get married, his mother looked at him for the first time. She arranged the dates with her friends' daughters, but Lynn's father didn't like any of them. He was in love with an ordinary girl from the same town, whom he got married with not long after. And they gave a birth to Lynn, and then the Ten Years War has been started. Tess didn't want to recall the other historical events, which happened after the war. They were painful both for her and for Lynn. One of the results of that war was extension of the magical barrier, which till that time set bounds only to Basra Heights, till the whole territory of mountains, capturing the Highlands inside the cursed lands.
  
  The concentration of blood Lynn had in her veins was not enough to transfer the magical gift to her child or to help during the hard labor if something goes wrong. That's why she asked Tess, whom she knew for a long-long time since childhood, to help her. The most powerful of Highlands rituals were usually done by more than one witch: the more, the better. And Tess couldn't decline her friend's request. She had to rush to complete the ritual and give the silver gift to Lynns's baby. Of course, if the baby is a girl. The power of highland-witches, as everyone knows, is useless for boys.
  
  Tess felt an impulse of panic in her heart and focused on the road. Her companions were keeping silence. Maybe they also felt something in the air. Something weird. Something freaking. Something dangerous. Her instructs were crying out. The moon was shining bright enough to light up their way, so she was seeing the road quite well. The danger was not on the road... yet.
  - Stop! - the certain tone of her voice surprised even herself.
  - What's wrong, lady? - Steve followed her order immediately, the same as Brayden did.
  During the two-hour-long way till now Steve has started feeling a kind of respect to the girl in black cloak. He didn't hear a single word of complaint from her, and except her strange looks at Brayden in the beginning, she was behaving perfectly. Her mare was fast, and the girl seemed to enjoy the gallop. Till this moment.
  - The road will become menace in a while.
  - Why?
  - I don't know. I just feel it!
  - Uncle, you also heard the rumors about direwolves from the nearest villages.
  - I did. But why should a direwolf come to the main path?
  - He must be hungry. And our horses, even if we don't put into account ourselves, are too attractive.
  - Lady, could you climb the tree?
  - Sure.
  - Then you will stay as high above the ground as you can - on that tree. Should I help you?
  - Yes. Please, give me my guitar and a knapsack.
  - Lady, it's not the best time to worry about your luggage!
  - My guitar is precious. And my mare will feel herself more comfortable without a load, so she could try to run away from the wolves.
  - I doubt she can run away from a direwolf though.
  - At least she'll get a chance.
  - As you wish.
  
  In several minutes the preparations were over. Tess was sitting on the big branch, almost at the top of the tree. Steve and Brayden, with the guns in their arms were waiting under the tree, hiding behind their own horses. The picture could have looked funny - if it wasn't so terrifying. From her high position Tess felt the upcoming danger more distinctively. Iris was tied near the other two horses, and in front on the horses there was a trap, arranged by Steve. He used the dried tree branches to conceal it, but Tess knew that there were several thin ropes (from her luggage), strained not far from the horses, and there were jars with wildfire, attached to each one of the ropes. When the direwolf (or any other big animal) would touch the rope, the wildfire would explode. Steve said they got those in case of unexpected meeting with wild animals, and Tess thought the captain of guards was not as bad as she considered. The horses were standing at small distance from each other, tied to the trees, and Tess hoped that distance will save the lives at least for two of the horses.
  
  There were moments when Tess felt pangs of sorrow she could not become a witch. This day was among such moments. A witch could have seen the type of menace from the distance, and could have used the magic for protection. Or at least could foresee the result of the fight. Tess could do none of those.
  
  Another wave of panic swept through her mind. She heard the howling sound very close to her shelter, and the next moment the show began. A big beast, taller than a horse, with long white fur and strong claws, was already on the road. And he was hungry - so hungry, that he didn't pay attention at two humans and the guns they had. Tess heard the sounds of gunshots, but the beast didn't stop. Continuously looking at the horses, he was coming closer. One step - and Tess could hear the curse-word from Steve, who hit the direwolf's shoulder instead of his head. One more step - and Brayden's hands were shaking so much that he missed the next shot. One more step, and the powerful hit of the claw - and one of guardsmen horses is badly wounded, but the beast is still looking greedily at the remaining two. One more step - and finally the trap worked. With a strong 'boom' and a lot of smoke the wildfire exploded, and Steve shot twice from his and Brayden's guns, aiming the eyes of the beast. When the direwolf got blind and unable to move because of other wounds the wildfire caused, Steve cut his throat with the sword.
  
  All those happened too fast for Tess, and probably she was holding her breath the whole time since she saw the beast. Only when it was dead she felt the dizziness and could hear her own heartbeat. 'That's over, that's over' - saying that to herself, she slowly climbed down the tree. When she was on the ground, there were already two dead animals: the direwolf and the horse, killed by the same sword of Steve, who didn't want to see his horse suffer. Tess had seen many bloody scenes before, but each time she had problems to make her stomach calm down. She looked aside, trying to extract from her memory the violent picture of the main road.
  - Brayden, put the head of the beast into your sack. The guards should know the rumors were true.
  - Yes, uncle.
  - Lady, do you prefer to ride with me or with Brayden?
  - Pardon?
  - My horse is dead, and Brayden's one can't take two males. One of us is going to ride your mare, and the second - Braydens's horse, together with you, of course.
  - I'll ride with Brayden.
  
  And the way continued. The poor horse, which now had to carry two riders, slowed down their speed, but in spite of that they reached Willow Lane before the noon. Tess was in a hurry to help her friend, but travelling on the same horse's back with Brayden, and the braveness her companions demonstrated during the battle with a direwolf, didn't let her just leave. When they could already see the city-gates of Willow Lane from the distance, she asked the males to make a short break.
  - I'd like to sing a song. For Brayden.
  Both males, surprised by her sudden decision, and feeling a kind of burden of such interest towards the young guardsman, couldn't refuse the offer. They dismounted and after a short sip of water from Steve's flask, she took her guitar and started singing.
  
  He was older than her
  She was pretty as hell
  She was humorous, vivid and smart as well.
  They were living together,
  And they didn't argue or fight.
  And everybody was telling:
  'What a beautiful couple'.
  And only one tiny trouble
  Kept making him yelling:
  He loved her,
  And she loved the night flight.
  
  He was suffering when the outside was dark,
  He couldn't sleep, and tried to keep the windows shut.
  And he sobbed, drinking cups of bitter tea,
  At the times, when she was flying free.
  In the mornings she was promising and cried
  That yesterday was her very last flight
  He forgave her, but the darkness is to blame,
  And she was flying again all the same.
  
  He brought her flowers,
  He bought her perfumes,
  And had spent long hours,
  Singing songs in her rooms.
  He was keeping the hope,
  Like the silliest fool.
  He was scared that once under the moonlight
  She can lose the road home from sight.
  And there came a night,
  When his fear turned to be true.
  
  And three nights and three days
  He didn't eat nor sleep.
  He stayed near the window,
  Staring at the sky deep.
  He was calling her name,
  Looking always upwards.
  And when the moon was full he flipped his lid,
  He stepped out of the window, the same as she did,
  To fly as she flew. But his flight
  Was downwards.
  
  The first stanzas of song made Brayden smile, and whisper the female's name: 'Ann'. But after hearing the further lines, he was looking at Tess with anger and disbelief. Steve seemed to be more serious, but Tess couldn't know for sure if they would trust her words. Well, if they won't, Brayden's life will be ended quite soon. By his own will.
  
  - What was it about? - asked Steve when the song was over.
  - Brayden knows.
  - Are you a ...?
  - No. But I can see. From here I'll find the way on my own. Thanks for the escort. And send this note to Duke Dumont,' - said Tess, writing several words with a slate pencil on the small piece of paper.
  She mounted Iris again, and without waiting for any reply from the guardsmen or saying goodbye, clapped the spurs to the mare.
  When Steve looked at the note, there was only one sentence: 'Steve from Aspen city guards - could be a good choice. Bardess'.
  - Who are you? - shouted Steve, trying to get the answer before she would be too far.
  - Just a bardess...' - replied she without looking back. And that wasn't totally a lie.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Story three: The hostage rescue
  
  Admiral Seymour was boiling with anger. He was tracking three brigantines, waving the flags of Eelen, their old enemy, who since the times of Ten Years War became even more annoying, for two days with no result. The damn brigantines seemed to become invisible in the waters of Rillaar Sea.
  
  The fact that the enemies have reached the western coast of Remulus Kingdom itself was not enough to make Alan mad. Several times during last years emissaries from neighbors were entering the sea-area of his country, and each time he or his subordinates were successfully getting rid of them. But the thing, evoked his anger, was that this time they managed to stay ashore for several days, their intruders have reached the capital and even the palace, and have stolen something important. It was the scroll of premarital agreement between the princess of Remulus Kingdom and the Crown prince of Rossvoll. Their engagement took place in the early spring, and in the end of autumn - just one month ahead - they were supposed to get married. 'Supposed', because if the Royal seneschal won't present the agreement, signed by both sides, and the wedding rings, there will be no marriage. Those rings were designed by the groom's side, and manufactured by the best goldsmiths of Remulus Kingdom. They used the jewels the groom's ambassador brought directly from the mines in Rossvoll. And now both the scroll and the rings were in the hands of enemies.
  
  There was no way to get the same gems and make another pair of rings in the nearest one month before the date of wedding. And if those significant items won't be found and returned to the palace shortly, it would provoke the war. A bloody battle instead of the marriage. And Alan hated wars. If he would say it aloud, a lot of his friends, subordinates, generals or politicians would call him crazy. But it was true. Every time he had to enter the battles, he wished there could be a way to stop the wars. Once and for all. And every time he was calling himself a dreamer, and continued fighting, risking the lives of soldiers and his own one.
  
  Remulus Kingdom's spy-network was functioning well. The head of the network, the main 'spider', as soon as he learnt that a scroll and rings are absent, made his agents work day and night, but managed to obtain the names and nationality of those, who dared to steal such precious items from the palace. They were Eeleners, and the road from palace to the Western coast usually took about 5 days. During last two days Alan, accompanied by the best of his brigs, was on duty. Yesterday he saw those brigantines, but they were too far and the wind favored them. Today the weather has changed: the wind stopped, the grey smog captured the coast and several miles of the sea-space. From one point of view, it could stop Alan's efforts from pursuit the enemy. From another point it would help him, as the foe's brigantines could hardly knew all the coastal difficult places and also had troubles in sailing fast or searching the correct way. Alan knew those rats should be somewhere in the temporary 'hole', waiting for the weather to become better.
  
  - Sir, I've got news from the agent.
  That was the phrase Alan was longing to hear, and it came from Derek, a wizard and official representative of 'network' in the Fleet.
  - What's that?
  - It looks like the brigantine, carrying the stolen items, is in the small bay called Tenney, hidden behind the coral reefs.
  - Tenney? Let me see.
  Alan together with Derek and Ian, their navigator, looked at the detailed map of the coast. Yes, there were reefs not far from their location and a small bay called Tenney behind it, in north-east direction, but...
  - Admiral, the stream there is really strong. And if the wind suddenly starts again, that could be a risk for us.
  - I know. But it will risk for Eeleners, too: they can't leave the bay if they don't want to strike the bottom. Derek, what about the remaining two brigantines?
  - My agent said they left yesterday evening, parted off by stream. They must be far from here, on the way to Eelen.
  - Are you sure the items we're looking for are on remaining brigantine?
  - My agent says so.
  - Could we trust that agent?
  - Till now that person didn't make a single mistake. And...
  - What?
  - Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt your plan, but could you, please, try to reach the brigantine as soon as possible?
  - Why?
  - My agent... The tail of messenger-pigeon I receives with the last message was stained in red.
  - Red?
  - Blood, sir. It means my agent is in danger, probably caught by the enemy.
  - Are you sure?
  - Yes. We use the red color only in case of life-threat. It's easy to apply, you know: all you need is just to let the pigeon strongly scratch your hand or, if you're already wounded, you could paint the pigeon's tail with that blood.
  - Keep me away from these details.
  - My apologies, sir. But would you take into consideration my words?
  - I will. Although you know better than me, that our priority is the items, not the agent. Your spy knew the level of danger while accepting this task and tracking the items on the enemy's ship.
  - Yes, sir.
  
  Alan spoke the cold and self-assured way, but that wasn't what he really felt. He silently promised himself he'll do his best to save that brainless but brave guy, who informed them about the certain location of their foe - of course, if that guy is still alive.
  In several minutes his plan was ready: he has to leave the brig, and with two three-master fast schooners will attack the brigantine. One of schooner will enter the bay, and the second will close the exit into the sea. Then the cannons and soldiers would finish up the Eeleners. And Alan will be among the first knights to grapple the brigantine and search on board for that guy. Whoever he is.
  - Derek, what's the name of your agent?
  - I know only the code name: 'Bardess'.
  'A female? What the hell is going on in this world?' - said Alan to himself, but of course admiral of Remulus Royal Fleet could not pronounce it aloud.
  
  ***
  A small compartment in cargo hold, heavy chains on both wrists, chains on ankles - so short that they don't let her move for more than two steps - and lack of light. They left her only one little candle, and it will go out in less than one hour. Well, she was lucky she managed to free her last pigeon and wrote the necessary information before she was placed here. She seemed to find a shelter to hide in till the end of voyage, and stayed there for several hours, but the cook, a middle-aged black guy with huge fists and long scraggy hands, noticed her while looking for the special barrel of beer, ordered by the captain of brigantine. Today was not her lucky day. Being the only female on the ship was already bad. Being the citizen of the enemy-country was worse. But the pigeon she freed right in the sight of the cook made her situation the worst of ever possible ones. And at the same time it was her only hope.
  
  Dispatcher on fleet, Derek Raddaway, should have received her message till now. And if she had a drop of luck left, he won't leave one of his best agents (and it wasn't the eyewash) in danger. Will he? Probably she'll learn the answer soon enough. She smiled bitterly, when she remember that just about 10 days ago she was thinking that a direwolf on the road to Lynn's town was a big danger.
  
  Tess was scared, but the panic didn't stop her from analyzing the situation. The captain of brigantine didn't touch her - well, almost didn't. Several strong slaps of her face, one of which split her lower lips, was not the worst variant. And when the cook was convoying her to the captain, and later - to the cargo hold, he also didn't do anything special. Some punches on her ribs, and bruises on arms and thighs were not serious enough to put them into account. But the words of captain, who said he'll personally interrogate her later, when he completes that damn barrel of beer, were more frightening. How long time did she have? One or two hours? Could she hope the captain will be too drunk to harm her? No, such experienced old salt would hardly get drunk after one barrel. And the news about the pigeon she sent, the same as her presence on his ship, in this small compartment - defenseless, shackled and unable to stand against him - would only add the black and red color into the way of that 'interrogation'.
  
  She should do her best to delay it, or at least to get something for self-defense. A weapon. Hah, Eeleners weren't idiots, and the cook carefully (even more carefully than his duty required) checked all her items of clothes, and they took off her top-boots, and her jacket, and beanie, which was hiding her long hair till that moment, and even her waistcoat. The thin shirt didn't protect her body from cold, so Tess couldn't stop shivering. But cold wasn't torturing her as much as thirst. She didn't have a single drop of water since she hid behind the caboose several hours ago. How long have it been? Was the Royal Fleet or 'network' tracking the brigantine? How long should she bear more? What happens if she faints from hunger, thirst or the captain starts interrogation before his ship will be attacked? She didn't know the answers.
  
  A weapon. A weapon. During her long education by the main 'spider' she learnt to shoot arrows, and a bit of fencing, and could throw knives when there was no way to escape the battle, but what was the use of all those now? She had no knife, no sword, no gun. The old 'spider' always taught them not to rely on big weapons, which could be hardly hidden in their scarce luggage, but on their own strength and the other items around. All she could see in this empty compartment were her chains (the weight of which has already started hurting her hands), a candle, a chair - too far to reach it - and her guitar. A guitar could be used as a weapon, couldn't it? She cherished her instrument a lot, but not more than her own life. And maybe she wouldn't have to break the guitar: its strings, if she manages to remove at least one of them from the cord, would become a sufficient threat, if the interrogator comes close enough for her trap.
  
  The guitar is on the floor, too far from her. Well, when she was placed here, she heard the cook left one warder outside the compartment to keep an eye on her.
  - Hello! Do you hear me?
  Her voice sounded strange. But she needed it now.
  - Hello!
  - What? Captain told you'll get no food or water until he comes,' - the sailors was speaking her language with accents, but she could understand his each word.
  - I know. Can I ask you a favor?
  - A favor? Huh, this sweet-pie makes my duty better and better. What's that, and how do you to pay for it? Ah, should we start with payment?
  'Aghhr. That was not in my plan,' - thought she when the guy unfastened his belt.
  - You've heard the captain's order, too! He will come to interrogate me personally. He won't be glad if he learns what you're going to do?
  - Hey, nothing wrong. You asked, I did.
  - No! I didn't ask for that.
  - You said 'a favor'.
  - Yes. Please, could you give me my guitar?
  - Huh? Guitar? Why?
  - I'm a bardess. I will play the guitar and sing.
  - Sing? For me?
  - Sure.
  Seeing reflection of delight on his rough face made her smile. That's it. Instead of watching the compartment from the outside, he'll stay inside and listen to her music. And maybe he won't even notice that in a while the brigantine will be attacked.
  
  She sang to him as he asked. Tess went through her wide repertory and picked the songs, which could be easy to understand for everyone. She avoided the war themes, and sang about love, about wide seas and mysterious animals, about loyal wives and pretty kids. With each song she was feeling more weakness, but her warder seemed to sympathize with her. Sometimes she seemed to hear strange sounds above the deck, but she wasn't sure if that was her imagination, hallucinations, caused by tiredness, or if the real battle has already started.
  
  She got the reply in a while. Another person entered the compartment. He brought the smell of gunpowder and blood. And Tess felt as the same metallic-alike taste of blood has filled her mouth again. The man had a hook in his hands, and the blade of it was already red. He barked several phrases on Eelenese, and the knowledge of that language Tess had let her understand only several words. 'Attack', 'captain's order', 'end'. The last one was repeated by the gestures, leaving no way for the wrong meaning.
  
  Tess hadn't broken the strings yet. And there were two males against her. Her plan could hardly work. She had to think about additional measures. If the ship is already attacked, she could try to reach dispatcher - or any other of wizards on board, and ask for help. She concentrated her weak magical strength and telepathically cried out: 'Help! Cargo hold, special compartment!'
  - Please, can I sing just one more song?' - she said aloud and let them see the real fear and tears in her eyes.
  - Captain said: Now,' - and with the same gesture the second guy touched his throat with the edge of his hand.
  - Please.
  Another short dialogue between those two. 'Please, please, just a bit more time,' - she's silently praying.
  - Good. One song.
  Three minutes of life more. And then... It will be then. She shut her eyes for the second, gathering the remaining strengths.
  
  There are some days when you lose your heart,
  And there're no words, no music, no strength left.
  And everything I tried to do just fell apart,
  But I've never asked anyone for help.
  
  I wished to go where my feet would take me,
  Lock up my house and never find the key.
  But I believed, there're good days to foresee,
  Until the light's not faded, until the candle's lit.
  
  And at such days no one could force me to sing,
  The silence is beginning of everything.
  But if the song starts in my mind to ring,
  It will be hard to shut me up or break the strings.
  
  And though every day can bring me sorrow,
  And snow has fallen, I'm looking for tomorrow.
  The hundredth time, I'll play again the beat,
  Until the light's not faded, until the candle's lit.
  
  Still singing the last line without accompaniment she loosened one sting, removed it from the cord and quickly grasped the neck of the warder, who was standing closer to her. In the normal situation she would had no chance, but now he wasn't ready for her move. And that unexpectedness brought her a couple of seconds in advantage. But she overestimated her own strength, and totally forgot about the second guy with the knife. When he realized what she was doing, with the rude shout he flung away the first warder from her, removing the string from her weak fingers, leaving the bloody marks on them. And then he lifted her in the air, cursing her in Eelenes, and hit her head against the wall. She closed her eyes.
  
  The next moment she heard the sound of a shot. If he had a gun, why didn't he use it from the beginning? And why... why isn't she not dying? Was she already dead?...
  
  - Bardess? Hey, hey, do you hear me? Derek, is it your girl?
  - Yes.
  - Unfasten the chains!
  - One of these two should have the keys.
  - Look for them. Her head is bleeding. Hurry up!
  - I'm trying.
  'Dispatcher is here. And if I'm still alive, that's not too bad,' - thought she, unable to open her eyes, right before the gentle fog inside her head took away her worries.
  
  She didn't open her eyes when they moved to the Royal navy schooner, and when Derek and later ship's doctor examined her. She didn't hear the curses of Alan, who was roaring at the doctor, when he said he's not sure if her trauma is serious or not. She didn't learn that the sailors of Royal feel found the stolen items, killed the enemies, put the brigantine of fire and captured the captain to interrogate later. And she didn't know that Alan let his subordinates take care of those procedures. He was staying in his cabin, looking at her pale face, sitting next to her bed during the remaining time of their journey. The bardess with blonde hair - was she the one who he meet one year ago in 'Brave and Bald'? Why did she become a spy? Her mystery and illness didn't let him sleep. She had a fever and Alan personally was taking care of her during that night.
  
  The next morning, when the schooner reached the harbor, a bardess was feeling better. She opened her eyes, asked for water, and fell asleep again after drinking the fever reducing tea. But of course she was too weak to come ashore on her own. When flag aide announced they could leave the ship, Alan carried the girl in his arms. Carried from his cabin to the deck, from deck to gangplank and to the firm ground. And there he saw the person he didn't expect to meet. And that person - personally, without asking assistance of his knights, servants or other people, with the simple wave of hand ordering the others to stay away - that person took the precious load from Alan. And Alan could see the sorrowful expression on his face before he got into the cab and heard his first phrased, said to the unconscious girl.
  
  - Tess, my stubborn bardess,' - said Duke Dumont, and the tone of his words was strange.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Story four: The skeletons
  
  The next time when Tess opened her eyes, she was in a big bedroom, lying on the bed, dressed in clean clothes and attentively covered with an expensive blanket. Both the bed and the room were familiar to her.
  - Milady, you've finally woken up. Don't get up, please, I'll call the doctor. Doctor Delius, Doctor Delius...' - a pretty young main, who was sitting near the bed all the time during Tess's sleep, got up and run away from the room before Tess could stop her.
  And all Tess could do was just to growl. She recalled her pitiful condition when she managed to get rescued from Eelener's ship, and seemed to remember a figure of Admiral Seymour, who took care of her. The wave of embarrassment colored her pale cheeks in red.
  
  - My dear girl, let me see what happened to you this time,' - another familiar voice belonged to the old but still energetic short scraggy male in tidy clothes, who has just entered her room.
  Tess didn't object his examination and answered all the questions he asked about her condition. It wasn't her first meeting with Doctor Delius, and she got accustomed to his sweet talks and professional help. Thanks to him she escaped sepsis from a knife-wound she got several years ago, and only a small scar could remind about the shot she received while obtaining another piece of necessary information the 'spider' ordered her, and the malaria, a present from Eastern wetlands, also left her soon enough without the trace. From his long talks she caught the main idea: she needed only one day of rest and some special nutrition till she totally recovers. Her concussion of the brain was not serious and if she will be careful during the nearest week, everything will be fine.
  - I want to talk to the duke.
  - Yes, my girl. I think he also has a lot to discuss with you.
  
  Tess tried to evaluate her appearance. She didn't want to seem too pitiful and weak, so she quickly combed her hair with the brush Talia, the young maid, left on the bedtable, and hid her hands with the mark of chain's handcuffs under the blanket.
  
  - Tess! Every time I see you unconscious, I lose my mind!
  - Sorry. You know it wasn't my fault.
  - Huh, wasn't it? You tracked the Eeleners from the palace to their ship, and you were brainless enough to get onto that ship. Alone, without support, without sufficient information!
  - I was updating the 'spider' and all necessary persons in each transit-point.
  - But why did you have to go there personally?
  - Well, it was a chance. If I didn't follow the thieves, I couldn't know for sure which of three brigantines was carrying the stolen items.
  - Items, spider, duties. You're driving me nuts more and more with each your task.
  - Sorry, cousin. That's my job, you know.
  - When are you going to quit, huh? If you like travelling, you can be just a bardess. Or if you prefer to work for the 'network', you could stay in one of communication point as I do. Choose whatever you like: an inn, a girls' gymnasium, a shop - any place you want, I'll buy you the land and built a house.
  - Edward, you know what I think about it.
  - I know. And that's the problem. You've paid the contribution they required, did you forget? They asked for only two years of serving after the two years of full education. And you're serving for 7 additional years more. Tess, please, come to your senses! He will never value you as high as you wish, and will never accept you!
  - Stop, please. My aims and what I feel about the 'spider' shouldn't bother you.
  - Tess, you call your own father 'spider' and still think that's ok?
  - And you call your own uncle 'spider' and think that's ok.
  Looking at facial expressions of each other at the last phrase, both of them couldn't help laughing. That laughter was the cord of connection, making two people feel closer. That worked always, since the time Tess had first seen Edward Dumont.
  
  That time he wasn't a duke yet, just a 14-year old marquess, visiting an unknown place with his father and uncle. And she - she was scared till death. Her peaceful life has been ended at once. That was a long and sad story, and Tess didn't like revealing all skeletons in her cupboard. Well, she didn't like hiding them either. And there was nothing she had to hide from Edward, as he knew her story from the very beginning.
  
  Tess was living in Highlands, protected by the gentle care of her grandmother and aunt. Her mother was a patriarch of the Clan, so she couldn't spare enough time even to see her only daughter often. But Tess didn't worry about it: she knew other girls' moms were also busy and didn't return home for many days, saying that they're on a 'mission'.
  
  What exactly that mission consisted of, the children didn't know. Or they just didn't want to learn it. The story of Lilly, who was too curious, and secretly tracked her mother to learn more about her mission, was scary enough to terrify all the girls in the village. They didn't get any news from their playmate for several weeks, and then her mother returned home, carrying the only remain: the scalp of her beautiful child, the piece of skin with her long brown silky hair. She didn't explain what happened to Lilly, but her death kept under control the curiosity of other little inhabitants of the village for the long time. Till the time when their defeat in the Ten Years War was officially announced.
  
  That time everyone in the Highlands, including the little kids, learned the truth. The struggle of descendants of Rhea's and Corbins's Clans with the Kingdom had come to the end. To the bad end. Rhea was the great witch and Healer, one of the seven heroes, who fought with King Emmanuelle in the past. But as the witches didn't accept males in their towns and usually had only one child each, their population was lower and lower with each generation. Corbin was the legendary archer, whose descendants also lost the number in population and strength. And the current king of Remulus had an excessively strong army and a will to kill everyone who was, or could become in the future, more powerful than him.
  
  Corbin's Clan was wiped off the face of the Earth - or at least that was what the witches heard. And their Clan, the Clan of females, was left unharmed - almost unharmed. Those, who died during the 'mission', should not be reckoned among. And the extension of the magic barrier, which would lock the witches inside, was one of the conditions to save their lives. And of course, as it happens in each war, there were contributions the Highlands had to pay. Each year they agreed to send the definite amount of jewels and other rare goods from the underground caves on their territory. The day of winter solstice was announced to be the Day of tribute, and the special commission since that time was coming to the Highlands via a transit corridor every year. Only males could be the members of that commission. Every year they would spend in the village ten days, collecting the contributed goods and sharing their affection with the witches, who couldn't see other males in the village during the whole year.
  
  But besides the magical barrier and the annual contribution, there was one more condition of the peace agreement. That was called a 'one-off payment'. And the content of that were the girls. Ten girls, in the age from 9 till 12, were handed over to the winners. Their mothers signed the contracts, that girls will have to stay in the Kingdom at least for 4 years, 2 of which they'll dedicate to education (the name of certain profession in the list was left empty), and the second 2 - serving the Kingdom. What kind of serving could an 11 or 14-year-old girl provide in the name of Kingdom, was not told to the relatives or even to those girls before the documents were signed. The first commission, consisted of noble persons, who were sent personally by the King, and some of their family members, arrived to the Highlands to sign the peace agreements and choose the suitable girls on the day when the peaceful life of Tess faced the crisis.
  
  Lynn, who was 9 years old that time and happened to be in the village due to her father's visit, was unluckily chosen to be one of participants. She was picked randomly, as another 8 girls, and her tears or cries of her parents didn't soften the steel heart of ambassadors. Tess, aged 10, was chosen totally purposeful. First she thought it was due to her mother's position in the Clan. But that idea was broken by the words of a man, wearing the most expensive armor, who seemed to be the main person in the commission. He talked about something with Tess's mother for a long time, and then, when she pointed at Tess, and the soldiers made her join the other nine girls in the middle of the square, that man said so loud that everyone around the square could easily hear him:
  - So is this ragamuffin my bastard?
  
  That was the first day of Tess's disgrace. Later she had a lot of similar moment during the period of her education. And Archduke Stephen Dumont, head of the Secret Chancery, the main 'spider' in the 'network', was the one to blame. Tess, led by her pride and stubborn character, decided to prove she's not a ragamuffin, and can worth her father's attention more than any other girl in the Kingdom. She thought if she'll become the best agent the main 'spider' has even seen in his wide 'network', he'll take his words back. Or that at least he could find a couple of warm phrases for his daughter, even if that daughter had another surname and would be dealing with the strange and sometimes dirty business in the name of the Kingdom.
  
  Tess didn't visit Highland and didn't meet her mother since that time. She knew that tributes were allowed to see their parents in the middle of the corridor, once a year for one hour, but she didn't use that possibility. She blamed her mother. She blamed her that she had chosen a night-partner so carelessly. She blamed her that she didn't spent enough time with Tess when she had a chance for it. She blamed her that she didn't say a word when Tess was dragged into the group of other tributes in front of her mother's eyes. She blamed her that she didn't come to say goodbye before Tess left the village. She blamed her - and she loved her for everything she did. That's why she was always sparing some minutes to write the letters to her mother, grandmother and aunt - at least once a month - to tell them she's fine.
  
  Tess worked hard to become the best agent. And she gained her aim. And got disappointed in it not long after. Her father at the end of her 2-year-long compulsory service invited her into his cabinet, for the first time in her life. And he said that now Tess could choose if she'll stay in the network, would leave it and return to the Highlands or do anything else. And Tess mastered up her courage to ask, what he would like her to do. The reply she got was bitter and indifferent:
  - Do whatever you want. You can continue serving the Remulus Kingdom as you did till now, or make me even a better favor. You could get married with one of the people the Kingdom needs to keep close: I'll give you the list.
  
  And later he sent her by the messenger-pigeon the list with 20 names. All of them were much older than a 14-year-old Tess, and the idea of getting married at that age 'in the name of Kingdom', with a totally stranger, was so hateful that she tore the list into pieces. But due to the habits she got during the education, she tore the list only when all the names on it were reflected in her memory. That was the first time, when she heard the name of Admiral Alan Seymour. Later she made some researches about him and other candidates, including their biography and portraits, but didn't consider any of them seriously.
  
  Since that time she continued doing the same work as before. She wished she could meet a nice guy and get married to him, settling down in the calm town, as Lynn did. But she couldn't find such a guy, who would make her heart flatter, and didn't know if the calm life was suitable for her. As for arranging the communication point, she wasn't sure about the certain place or the function she will do there. And in addition to that, she really liked travelling. And singing. Singing helped to release all her emotions, to feel the unity with the audience, to 'drink' their admiration and use the crumbs of that energy as the silver gauze for her own magic. She was in need for that magic to protect the people she liked: Edward Dumont and everyone in his house, and some keepers of communication points, including Tom from 'Brave and Bald', Catherine from 'Fashion Boutique', Ivan from 'Hunter's Place' and their family members. She could also help her friends and combine the energy with them from time to time, so she just couldn't stop singing. That's why her code name was 'Bardess'.
  
  During the first month of education the 'spider' and professor Lime were talking about importance of their undercover-role. They had to choose a story and a profession, which could allow them travel from one county to another inside the Kingdom to fulfill their serving without restrictions. Lynn was 'Seamstress', who was known by her bad manners towards the tailor-studio owners, so she couldn't stay in one city for a long time and was travelling and offering her service for clothes sewing and repairing whenever her luck brought her. Jill was 'Gymnast', wandering with travelling circus or losing her troop and trying to catch them in the nearest town. Joy, the oldest among them, was 'Hetaera', and the biggest part of her education was separate from the others. And Tess since the time she had first seen a guitar, couldn't dream about anything else but to learn playing it and singing.
  
  And for the first time she saw that instrument in the hands of a 14 year old lad, the youngest one in commission, who was standing on the square in her village on that fateful day near his father and uncle. He was caring the musical instrument on his back, and Tess, the same as other girls, was truly surprised, when during their first night-stop on the way from Highlands that guy joined the captive girls near the fire, and offered to entertain them with his singing. He sang to them for several hours, and when all the other girls fell asleep, only Tess was still listening to him, looking at him with admiration and delight. That was the time when he told about the fact they're blood-related. And in the end of journey he presented that guitar to his newly-found cousin.
  
  - Edward, where's my guitar?' - asked Tess, looking around with anxiety. Recalling the instrument stopped her retrospective thoughts.
  - Over there, behind the desk. I ordered to change the strings, too. You didn't watch over the guitar well, cuz. No, no, stay in the bed, Doctor Delius told you can get up only tomorrow. I'll bring you the guitar. Here...
  Tess immediately hugged the guitar and started plucking the strings, checking the tuning. Edward smiled, looking at her affection for the musical instrument.
  - Tess, will you sing for me?
  - Of course I will,' - she smiled in reply.
  During their first trip from to the Secret Chancery headquarters, it was Tess who begged to Edward every time she saw him, asking to sing one more and one more song. But later somehow they exchanged the roles. And when the education of Tess was completed, it was Edward to beg to hear her voice.
  
  ***
  Admiral Seymour, waiting in the living room of Duke Dumont's residence, lifted his head after hearing the first sounds of guitar. And when the female voice joined the melody, Alan nodded. Yes, that definitely was the voice he heard before. And the run-away bardess with blonde hair turned to be the agent of 'spider' and the 'special person' of the Duke. Alan closed his eyes, listening to her singing, loud enough to vibrate at the whole first floor of the residence. No wonder the Duke was so busy that he didn't come out to see the guest, making him waiting in this room. As it happened in the previous time, the voice of the bardess took away all other thoughts and worries of Alan. He just listened to her, wishing her song would be never finished.
  
  The fiddler hung his coat onto the back-side of the chair.
  His nervous hand straightened blow-tie to make sure it was still there.
  Come on, viewers, move up closer, so you could hear me better,
  If of course you aren't too drunk just yet,
  About the happy, about the sad, about the good and bad,
  About the secret love, about the furious hate,
  About what happened, about all what's gonna happen in this land,
  All's in the music, just let it resonate.
  
  Business and things, rushing around you, and years make you old.
  Why you have come into this world, you usually can't recall.
  Fiddle's sound would have awakened everything that's still alive in you,
  If of course you aren't too drunk just yet.
  About the happy, about the sad, about the good and bad,
  About the secret love, about the furious hate,
  About what happened, about all what's gonna happen in this land,
  All's in the music, just let it resonate.
  
  A fiddler's tired. Everyone grows old from pain and fear.
  He put down his fiddle and drunk the remaining sips of his beer.
  And he left without goodbye, and also left his silent fiddle-case,
  As if the old man was too drunk tonight.
  But as the wind of autumn leaves, the melody remains,
  In all that human noise, too fragile and too bright.
  All what happened, all what's going on in your land,
  Is in the music, the meaning's still the same.
  ***
  - There's a guest in the living room, Sir Duke.
  - Who's that, Talia?
  - He introduced himself as Admiral Alan Seymour.
  - Who?' - the cry of Tess shocked both the duke and the maid. - What is he doing here? How did he learn about me? Edward, when did you servants start gossiping? They can't talk about my presence here or our relation!
  - And they didn't. Admiral Seymour saw how I took you in my arms into my cab, so he probably wanted to check if you're under my care and if you're fine. I heard he saved you.
  - He did. But I don't want to see him in this condition. And did he follow you all the way from the coast till your residence in the dukedom?
  - Probably. Cuz, don't be ridiculous. I'll give you 20 minutes if you need to clear up your appearance.
  - Edward!
  - Shush, I can't make our guest wait too long.
  
  ***
  When in 20 minutes Duke Dumont, together with Admiral Seymour, who was feeling strange but still didn't want to miss a chance to look at the mysterious bardess once again, entered that room, Tess wasn't there. She wasn't in any other room of the residence either. Her guitar, a set of new clothes from Edward's wardrobe, and the fastest of his horses were also absent. And Alan, who didn't receive any additional explanation about the relationship degree between Edward and Tess, had a dinner with duke and in three hours left the residence, cursing its owner, who made the injured girl run away. He couldn't even guess that it wasn't Edward, whom Tess tried to stay away from.
  
  And Alan did something, that he didn't intend to do from the beginning. He begged the duke to give him one thing with a fake excuse, and the duke, without further questions, granted his request. And then Alan urgently had to search for the magician for the ritual of connection. He must be really crazy. Nay, that girl must have made him crazy.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Story five: The strange correspondence
  
  Archduke Stephen Dumont didn't like such days. Although he had to face many of them during his long and quite successful career. The agents could disappear, get captured or die - and definitely no one could serve the Kingdom forever. Especially the females. It was Stephen's idea to use females, nay, girls, for his 'network'. And later he was the one, who disappointed in results most of all. That's why he didn't continue experiment with choosing female-agents by force of circumstances.
  
  Ten girls, whom he brought from Highlands, acted well for his plans. But it was a headache to hide their real identity, and to deal with their caprices, and witness their tears and whining during education and even later. Of course the program of that education was different from the male-agents, but still even that reduced level was not easy to undertake for the girls. And after the end of compulsory contracts, only 3 of 10 girls continued serving the Kingdom. Governess, Hetaera, Bardess. The 'spider' was planning to check their skills one more time, and then - to choose the best of them to stay in the 'network', teaching the new agents, and let the others get retired. The news he got this morning changed his plan, narrowing the choice between two: Governess and Bardess.
  
  Hetaera was found dead in the upstairs rooms of the famous bar in the capital. And it was Stephen's duty to inform the remaining two girls about that fact. During last years he tried to keep their identity under protection. Only important persons, including the professors who took part in education, and a couple of other officials knew the real names and saw the girls in person. The others only could hear their legendary code names. Well, even the archduke couldn't foresee everything and couldn't totally isolate the agents from ordinary people. So he knew that his girls had friends, lovers or even distant family-members, and some of those were aware of their real profession.
  
  Stephen usually tried to keep those people under control. And a lot of such 'friends' became his agents earlier or later. Of course not everyone was the acting agent, but many of those people would become the 'communicators'. They would keep a certain place, a house or a shop, and would collect news and send the most important pieces of information when the correct time comes. Also they would hold substitute pigeons for the acting agents, provide them food, horses and other tools.
  
  Duke Edward Dumont was one of communicators. And today he sent a strange message that Bardess, who hasn't totally recovered from her last duty yet, disappeared from his house. That wasn't a special event, till now Bardess was vanishing in the air several times, hiding from the controlling eyes of agents and communicators, but in case of urgent missions she always could be reachable by the pigeon, magically connected to her. And today archduke had to use one of pigeons to call for her.
  
  There were about a dozen of those pigeons in the headquarters. And Stephen knew that his nephew also had several special pigeons in his residence. Usually the process of connection was long and too magic-consuming, so the ordinary agents could hardly get more than two of special pigeons. But it was totally different with the girls from Highlands. They didn't need the extra rituals or the help of other magician to connect the pigeons to themselves. All they needed was just a drop of blood. And once the pigeon tasted their blood, the bird would be always able to find the girl whenever in the continent she would be. And then the pigeon would stay with her, or return back, carrying the reply-message. This ability of females with the Highland bloods was one of the reasons why Stephen decided to use them as the type of contribution. During his short affair with a witch Stephen learned about that matter and didn't forget later. So the girls could easily connect dozens of pigeons and would use them for a faster communication, when the ordinary agents had to borrow pigeons from communicators and forward the messages in a chain order.
  
  Stephen's intuition told him Bardess was not far from the capital. So he took one of her pigeons from the cage, wrote a message, asking Bardess to come to the headquarters as soon as she reads it, and sent the bird. Then he repeated the same procedure with Governess's pigeon. According to the last report from communicator in Gaal, she was there, in a 2-day-away distance from the capital. Well, if one of the girls will reach the capital faster than the other, he'll make her wait. He has to announce the bad news, so two of them would better hear the news together. It was the first death in the girls' squad, and he didn't know anything about the funeral or mourning traditions of the Highlands. Stephen will leave it all to the girls, keeping the body of Hetaera in the cold-storage room in the basement of the headquarters.
  
  ***
  
  Tess received two blood-connected pigeons at the same time. And that wasn't good. Edward used pigeons very-very seldom. She could count such cases with the fingers of her one hand. She became anxious about that pigeon, the fat white bird of a special breed, famous in the dukedom, but another bird from the headquarters could contain a more important news. She opened the small roll of paper and read it. An order to come as soon as possible wasn't too unusual, but somehow increased the level of her worry. She replied: '1,5 day away from the capital. I'll set off right now', let the bird drink water and sent it away.
  
  Then she took the message-roll from the second bird. There was only one line, and her heart throbbed when she read it. 'I hope you're fine'. The words were simple and didn't imply anything negative, but the handwriting didn't belong to her cousin. Someone else took the bird, the special blood-connected bird from Edwards's dove-house. And Tess could guess who it was. She also felt there was another magical ritual, applied to the same bird. So now the pigeon was connect to two owners, and could find both of them in any time, in any place. The procedure of connecting the birds was very expensive. But the admiral of the Royal Fleet could afford it, she thought.
  
  She wrote the answer: 'Why do you care?' and quickly, before she would change her mind, let the bird fly. Fly back, but not to the dove-house where the poor creature lived for the whole life till now. Since this moment the bird would have to get the new house, closer to the new owner it is connected with. Tess could have left the message unanswered and let the bird stay with her, but she had no home for herself, and to speak honestly she was intrigued and eager to see why that powerful man is interested in her well-being.
  
  **
  During the long road to the capital the correspondence by messenger-pigeons was the main tool of entertainment for Tess. She was receiving unexpected answers, and she often had to keep the bird in her hands or inside her bag, to let the poor messenger get a little nap and rest. Her opponent didn't seem to understand the pigeon is alive and needs a more delicate care. Tess was receiving the answers quite fast, and she tried to guess if Admiral Seymour was also coming to the capital, the same as she did.
  
  She looked at the messages she collected. The first one was really short, but later he started writing longer and ... warmer? ... in the way, that was unusual for her. Her experience in romance was nothing special, and he, the well-known womanizer, probably just applied some of his techniques to keep her interest high. But she still couldn't understand the reason.
  
  Instead of answering the question in her first message, he sent her his questions in return: 'Why did you run away? Did the duke hurt you? Do you have a place to stay in?' and she couldn't help smiling and replying him straight away: 'I'm fine'. She thought it would stop his enquiries, but it turned to act the opposite way. His next message said: 'When you say you're fine, do you mean you're tired, hungry, angry at me, still feel pain or want to be listened to and comforted... by me?'
  
  While the poor bird was having a rest, which Tess also was itching to get, she, riding the horse towards the capital, thought what kind of answer she can give. She was really tired and still had a headache, as she forgot to take with her the medicine Doctor Delius prepared. And she was hungry, as the delicious piece of a meat-pie she took from Edward's kitchen was the last thing she ate during her long road. The 'spider' didn't write she had to come very urgently, but she didn't like making other people wait for her. There will be a nice tavern in two hours way, so she'd better stop there and have a... what will it be? Breakfast, lunch and dinner - all together probably. She was angry at Admiral, but at the same time admired his efforts: he managed to get her pigeon from Edward. She was sure he couldn't just steal it from the dove-house. Admiral Seymour was too noble and well-mannered for such a theft, so he found the sufficient arguments to persuade Duke Dumont. Probably it was a kind of excuse admiral made up to contact her, and of course, Edward thought admiral will send Tess an important message, and then the bird will return to the dukedom. But he was wrong, and admiral was smarter and pushy than Edward could guess. But his inner strength and his fast reaction made Tess find him attractive. And about the last part of his sentence... it would be nice to be an ordinary girl, who would have ordinary problems, the normal loving family and live a quiet life. And that girl would definitely like to be comforted by a strong and powerful admiral. But Tess - she was different.
  
  Conclusively she wrote the reply: 'Definitely not the last one'. His message again arrived very fast, and its content was too sharp for her tired mind and body. 'I like that you don't tell me a lie, as long as you don't lie to yourself. Don't get exhausted. You might receive a lot of tasks and missions, but you have only one life. Contact me whenever you need my help, any kind of help. I'd like to meet you again one day, and any pretext will be fine'.
  
  She was already too exhausted to look for additional meaning behind his lines. She had a dinner in the tavern, then a short nap in the small room on the second floor, and only after getting up she was determined to write a reply. The long time for thinking over didn't help to keep her curiosity under control though. 'Where are you? And how could you help me, if I'll be in the other part of the Kingdom? And why should I accept your help?' - it was her turn to ask questions.
  
  'I'm on the way to the capital, planning to deliver the stolen items personally to the King. And who knows, maybe one day I can help you even if I'll be far from you. About the reason why you should accept it - you'll learn it when the time comes'. His reply was self-assured but still too implicit for her current condition. She put the bird into the bag, and decided to stop for now. The capital was very close, and that weird correspondence could be continued later - of course, if later she'll still want it.
  
  ***
  
  Bardess and Governess were standing in front of archduke, with tears in their eyes. The death news laid their self-control low. Till this time archduke didn't see Bardess crying. Well, literally she wasn't crying even now, as the tears didn't stream down her face. But the Governess was already sobbing, unable to hide her pain. 'Minus one point to Governess' - thought he, keeping in mind the competition of those two.
  - Her body is in the basement. What should I order to do?' - asked he.
  - Send her to the Highlands. Her mother is alive, and she'll arrange everything there,' - Tess spoke when her 'rival' still couldn't stop crying.
  - Good. But neither of you could escort the body.
  - Why?
  - I'll give you the new tasks tomorrow. We can't postpone them. If you want to say farewell to Hetaera, do it now. Follow me.
  
  He took girls to the down floors of the building. There were several floors of basement, and each part had a separate purpose and usage. Till now girls have visited several times the training gym, and many times went into interrogation room, and have seen the torture chambers. But this part, the cold-storage, was not popular for visitors. Alchemists used it for keeping some of their ingredients safe, and cooks of the headquarters stored there fresh meat, fish and vegetables. And there was another small room, separated from the others. The morgue.
  
  Usually the bodies from here were collected by the relatives very soon, transported to the chapels of rest or churches for the further ceremonies. Unlucky agents, those, who had no relatives, would be buried right behind the headquarters, at the small cemetery, belonging to the Secret Chancery. That was the final destination for either agents or enemies, who died in the jail inside the headquarters, and were not requested by any family-members or friends.
  
  Archduke opened the door, let the girls come in, and said:
  - You have one hour,' - and shut the door from the other side, leaving them alone.
  Tess and Zoe sat directly on the floor, looking at the snow-white face of their friend. They let the bags they were carrying till now fall down, and cried. The temperature in the room was freezing cold, but they didn't try to put additional clothes on or to get out. They talked to each other, as if Joy could answer them, and recalled the funny moments of their education days and missions they took together.
  - Sing for her, please,' - asked Zoe in a while, pointing at the guitar Tess brought with her.
  The guitar was the main item of her image, and the thing she cherished a lot, so Tess could leave outside the headquarters a horse or some of her luggage, but never the guitar. Tess looked at the pale cold face of her friend, and shook her head.
  - I can't.
  - You can. You need to. She liked listening to you. Sing her the last song.
  
  Tess took the guitar from its case with shaking hands, and tried to concentrate. There was one song Joy liked a lot, asking Tess to sing it for her again and again. And Tess would laugh, telling that they should learn to be wise and careful to live a long-long life. That song might be not the best for this situation, but it was all Tess could remember now. She touched the string with fingers, cold as ice, and sang:
  
  All things must pass, so the wise man says
  Every fire's bound to burn out one day.
  The wind scattering the ashes will leave no trace.
  But till that, as long as the fire burns,
  Each one cares for it in the own terms,
  Through the troubles and all the cold to face.
  
  They keep it burning low, for the night is long,
  Saving the strength and supplies for the next day.
  They don't make a noise, and don't harm the woods.
  But once in a while, a strange girl comes alone,
  She does everything in her own way,
  Raising a huge bonfire to heaven's gods.
  
  Not everything has been set yet,
  Not everything has been allowed,
  Not all the day-colors have been faded.
  The fire could stay loud,
  And God will keep you aided.
  
  The one was wise, who saved his fire for long,
  Through he couldn't warm the others' falling out,
  He lived to see the following warmer days.
  But you were so wrong, you made the fire strong,
  And in one hour the big fire burned out,
  But during that hour everyone was warmed and praised.
  
  ***
  Tess entered her small room on the 3rd floor of the headquarters. It was narrow, dark and smelled dust. There was a bed, a desk, two chairs and a sink. Maids, working in the building, were cleaning each room once a week, but still Tess felt here a special atmosphere of the uninhabited place. Tess preferred not to stay in this room long, and anyway the 'spider' said tomorrow she'll get the new task. Only one night - but she's not obliged to spend it here.
  
  She took the pigeon from her bag. The half-sleeping bird picked some grains from her pockets, and started cleaning its feathers. And Tess, nervously twisting the pencil in her fingers, was thinking what she can do tonight. There was an inn near the headquarters, and Tess sometimes sang there for the guests, and one of the rooms upstairs was always reserved in her name. She wasn't in the mood for singing today, so she could just have a dinner upstairs without coming down to the other visitors, and could sleep in the inn, returning to the headquarters early in the morning. But she didn't want to stay alone today. Zoe had a lover in the capital, so right after leaving the basement she went to his house. And there was no another person in this city Tess could talk to tonight. Was there?
  
  She pulled an empty roll from the pile on the desk, and wrote: '21:00, inn 'Iron Salute'. Ask for the room of Bardess. I need a shoulder to cry on. Nothing more'. In about half an hour she got the answer: 'A shoulder to cry on. Nothing less'.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Story six: The challenge
  
  Tess rode her horse for the whole day without breaks. She had to reach the western harbor, then set off for Havre, then do everything that needed to be done and return back to the headquarters within two weeks. The time-frames were strange, but the task itself was even weirder. She had to bring one of royal regalia from Havre to prove her mission is over.
  
  There was no war with Havre - and there were no any in the past two hundred of years either. That was a little island country, which didn't have many big ships or cannons. Havre inhabitants were a peaceful folk, dealing with fishing, pearl-hunting and exporting those products to Remulus, Eelen and others of their neighbors. The royal family of Havre lived in Hadar, the small island, which total size was less than the land area of the capital of Remulus. Till now there were no dynastic marriages with Havre, and Tess knew that Remulus was definitely looking down at the island country, using them just as a cheap economical partner.
  
  So she couldn't see the reason of that mission. Tess wasn't good in big politics, but she could guess that a regalia she brings won't offer much to Remulus Kingdom with the simple reason: there's nothing special to take from Havre. It was important for Havre, but not for Remulus. So what will the 'spider' do when she brings a royal seal or an orb? She shook her head, unable to catch the logic.
  
  Tess got this task early in the morning, when she visited the 'spider' alone. She had already started wondering why she didn't see Governess in the corridors of headquarters, and what kind of mission her friend got. Quite often the agents of girls' squad could meet each other before getting out for the next task, could consult with their friends or professors. But this time she was told any kind of consulting is forbidden, and that she could contact the dispatchers or ask for help only in case if something really extraordinary happens. Apart that, she was supposed to avoid attracting attention and using the possibilities of communicators.
  
  That's why the 'spider' provided her with a sufficient sum of money to deal with all the needs for this journey on her own. She would use the horse from the headquarters' stables and later - rent horses at the coaching inns on her way, and eat in the ordinary inns, and would find a ship or probably just a fishing boat to reach Havre. That country welcomed all kinds of tourists, so Tess knew she won't have problems in that stage. The more difficult thing could be entering the palace (hah, it wasn't even called the palace, just a small castle) of the Havrish royal family. But with her singing skills that didn't seem to be a big problem either.
  
  The long riding refreshed her mind and reminded her about the last night. That was something unusual. Tess still didn't know where she got that courage from, but she didn't regret inviting Admiral Seymour into her room in the inn. He was tender, he was wise, he was special. She cried for a while, and he allowed her to use his shoulder and wide chest, and rubbed her back, and touched her hair, and... nothing more. When she stopped crying, they've talked for several hours - about light and simple matters, like the reasons of her songs-choice, horse breeds or architecture in the capital, and then Tess just fell asleep, leaning on his shoulder. And when the inn-keeper woke her up in the morning, knocking at her room's door, she was alone in that room. Admiral left when she was sleeping without leaving a note. She quickly checked her luggage: the pigeon was still in her bag, in the special magically-furnished pocket, which was suitable for the birds and should be cleaned only once a week. The admiral didn't take the pigeon, didn't say her goodbye, and during the time he spent in her room was behaving like a perfect gentleman. Tess was glad he accepted her rules. And she was disappointed at the same time. He did exactly what she asked for, and left her longing for more.
  
  ***
  Her way to the western coast took totally 4 days. And there were several times, when she was itching to write a message to Admiral Seymour, but every time something stopped her from it. With the largest possibility it was her pride. And unknown nature of her task, too. No contacts, no assistance, just a strict aim and 14 days. She had already used 4, and needed about 1,5-2 days to reach Hadar by sea. Then 2 days to return to the harbor, and 4 days for the back way to capital, so it was 14 in total. The 'spider' didn't leave her a single day for rest, besides the necessary breaks for sleep - 6 hours per night - and she'll have only one night, and only one attempt in Hadar's castle to get what she needs. 'To steal,' - she corrected herself. She didn't like that particular side of her job, but there was an iron rule in the 'network': once you've got the mission, you should fulfill it. Or quit. And there was no guarantee, that the ex-spy could leave peacefully after it. Tess heard some dark storied about ex-agents, who were killed inside the capital or other big cities not long after they declined the important tasks.
  
  She easily found a boat for her journey and as usual started a dialogue with the 'captain' after getting on. A fisher, the funny graybeard with wrinkled face but still strong arms, allocated her the most comfortable place on the boat, and slowly, piece by piece, told her the story of his life. And she was listening to him gratefully, enjoying the communication. She always liked to listen more than to speak. And her conversation opponents often felt that interest and were glad to find an attentive listener.
  
  During the long road to Hadar she learned a lot about the family of an old fisher. He had a nagging wife, who managed to spend every penny he earned the very next day, and two sons, both of whom were married and lived in the same harbor-city but in separate houses, and a daughter, who still lived with the parents. A fisher complained about the girl, saying that she had only fashion and clothes in her mind, and didn't like any of groom-candidates the relatives introduced to her. And her dreams were too high and too rosy for the daughter from a family of a mere fisherman and a fishmonger. She wished to get married with a knight - or at least a condottiere. That's why she was buying expensive dresses in the tailor's studio in the city, and would never miss a single swordsmen competition in 100-km radius from her town. And both of the fisher's sons had their own boats, but somehow their income wasn't enough to help the parents, so the old fisher had to put to sea every day before the season of winter storms will start.
  
  Of course he was interested to learn, what a young and pretty girl is doing there alone. And Tess told she heard about the hospitality and love of the Havrish royal family to the bards. That, and her own curiosity, made her set off for this trip. She agreed a fisher would wait for her in the Hadar's fishing port, so she could leave the next morning when the performance for the royal family and her night rest will be over.
  
  ***
  Hadar met her with a number of various colors and smells. Fish, both fresh and smoked, seaweed, sweet fruits, wine, sweat, flower scent and a lot of other odors were unusual for the girl from Remulus. It was her first visit to any of the island countries, and the crowd of the city, which was a big port, a market and a place for living for the nobles at the same time, surprised her. There were a lot of people, stray dogs and cats, pigeons and seagulls in the port. Everyone seemed to be busy with their daily work, and people would easily find their way between the baskets with fresh fish, the rows of hungry cats, the market-stalls and small stoves where the food was prepared. The old fisher left her alone, saying that he had several buddies living here, and Tess could slowly have a look around, making a plan for the further actions.
  
  The water in the port was turquoise-green, the houses in the fancy district, beginning of which Tess could see from her observation point, were made of the white shining stone, the flowers surrounding each house were scarlet-red. This combination was attractive for the eyes of a foreigner, who saw a lot of grey and brown buildings in her own country. As far as Tess could see, the design of those houses could be different from each other, some of them were smaller, some of them - bigger or taller, but they were done of the same white stone, and that unity brought the city a special atmosphere.
  
  And there was a castle, easily seen from any point of the island. That part of the city was also white and emerald-green, and the trees were as wide and as high as the walls, surrounding the castle. There were four high towers from four corners of the wall. And behind the walls, in the middle of protected area, there was one more tower - the tallest one. Tess heard it was called 'The Queen's tower', and she also heard that when the new heir of Havrish royal family was planning to chose the bride, every time for the last 300 years, only the most beautiful girl on the island could become his wife. Tess also heard that at the time of king's choice, a lot of single girls from Hadar and other islands of Harve were dragged into the palace by force or with the efforts of their parents, who wished to step on the higher class. The lineage of the bride was not important: she could be a daughter of noble or peasant, or even the foreigner. The only important thing was her appearance. And there were servants and noble court-ladies to help the newly-chosen queen to get accustomed to the life inside the castle.
  
  The Queen didn't have to rule the country, only the King was capable of that. If the King would die when his heir was still a minor, the council of noble families, ten representatives of the most affluent families of Havre, would rule until the heir will come of age. And the fate of Queen was to live inside the castle, nay, inside her tower. After entering the tower as a newlywed she wasn't able to leave it till the date of her death.
  
  Tess also heard that the current Queen liked music, that's why without fear or hesitation the bardess, after tasting several hot tiny pies with seafood, steamed in front on her eyes at the harbor, started walking in that direction. The castle seemed to be close, but it took Tess more than two hours to reach the gate. The guards at the entrance quickly checked her bag and looked at guitar, and let her in.
  
  The scarlet peonies were everywhere. Green bushes and scarlet-red flowers with the head-spinning smell were making Tess task to remember the road inside the castle and try to guess the location of the treasure-room difficult. She had to make small stops each five minutes, asking the pageboy, who was guiding her, to wait for her. She pretended her shoe-laces were loosen, and then that she has lost her earring, and that there's a small stone in her shoes, and during those stops was asking question about all the parts of the building. So she learned that king's chambers were connected by the big underground tunnel with the kitchen, and there was another tunnel leading into the ceremony hall, and into that one-floored building at the back side, which the pageboy called 'King's atelier'. There were not many rooms in the castle, without adding into account the part for servants, so probably the royal regalia could be situated in the place, where the King would easily reach them. And Tess didn't think it would be his chambers or atelier. She asked if there's a special corridor or an underground tunnel between the King's chambers and Queen's tower, and got the answer that of course there is one, which could be used only by the King himself, the princes, the court ladies or the senior pages. Tess realized she'll have to pretend she lost her way from the Queen's tower, and try to walk through that corridor.
  
  ***
  The Queen was really beautiful. Tess couldn't find enough words to express her admiration even if she'd like to. The snow-white face, big dark eyes, thick dark hair, arranged into a complicated hairstyle with pearls and corals, the smooth skin without a single wrinkle, the long neck, and a well-fitted long dress were enough to bring delight to any male. But the sadness, reflected in her eyes, has changed her image from a well-made porcelain doll into a living human.
  - His Majesty informed he will be too busy tonight so he can't see the performance,' - announced one of the court ladies.
  - Then we should start right now. I can't wait to hear the singing of my guest,' - said the Queen, and Tess understood she'd better lay aside the snack she was eating till now, and grab the guitar.
  
  They were sitting in a nice small room in the bottom of the tower. There were many cushions of bright colors on the floor, and an armchair for the Queen. The second armchair, the biggest one in the room, was empty. There were no windows in this room, but the walls were decorated with various paintings and curtains, so the atmosphere of this place didn't suffocate the inhabitants.
  
  Tess knew a lot of ballads about love and she felt the Queen needs to hear some of them. This woman, locked in her tower since the day of wedding, especially keeping in mind infidelity of the King, would like to hear the stories of love. The love of other people, noble or not, happy or sad. And Tess sang for several hours without breaks, refecting herself with scarce sips of fresh-made grape wine and little bites of canapйs, which were put next to her cushion by the attentive pageboy. That pageboy was looking at Tess with devotion and admire, and Tess tried to support that feeling with her smile and nods, keeping in mind that she'll need the time and a possibility for her maneuver when the performance will be over. When she saw that the Queen seems to be tired, she asked for permission to sing the last song.
  
  Jingle, jingle, little bell,
  My guitar, please, help me to sing.
  I'll sing a song about love, as big and dangerous as spell,
  A love of harlequin and queen.
  
  In the great castle of the king,
  With all the fancy lakes and gardens,
  There lived a young harlequin, a young and handsome harlequin,
  Warmly greeted in kings' apartments.
  
  He knew the songs of wildlings,
  He knew the whistles of free birds,
  He knew the songs the people sing, a lot of songs of love and sins,
  The songs with sweet and tender words.
  
  One day the queen has said to him,
  'I'd like to hear a serenade'.
  And with her gentle pale hand his hand was placed on guitar's strings,
  He sang for her and a sleeping maid.
  
  He sang a song about love,
  She couldn't keep her tears from falling,
  That was the time when he obtained the love of female high above.
  A love of queen was worth recalling.
  
  The hangman came into the room,
  The early next morning with the king.
  The king dragged her out of the room, and made her wait in night-costume,
  And said he'll get a gift to bring.
  
  'I didn't like that harlequin,
  But was enjoying his sweet tunes'.
  Angrily said the mad king and threw a gift to his queen,
  The head of her lover under the moon.
  
  She cried: 'My dear harlequin,
  I loved you more than everyone.
  I love you now even more, I wish I could be your heart's queen,
  Your real wife to bear you sons'.
  
  In the great castle of the king,
  With all the fancy lakes and gardens,
  There is a tomb behind the garden, a small tombstone near a spring,
  It's always covered with flowers.
  
  And every night when sun is set,
  A mother-queen with her son-prince,
  Together visit a tombstone, and she looks truly upset,
  And brings the wreaths of wild quince.
  
  Jingle, jingle, little bell,
  My guitar, please, help me to sing.
  I sang a song about love, as big and dangerous as spell,
  A love of harlequin and queen.
  
  When the Queen went upstairs to go to her boudoir together with the court ladies, Tess asked the pageboy to bring her more food from the kitchen, and said she'll wait for him right there. The boy disappeared and Tess entered the corridor, leading to King's chambers. It was the long hall, made of the same white stone, with several branches, and the floor of the main 'road' was covered with the scarlet carpet. Tess looked around and slowly walked in corridor, which seemed to be quite dark at this hour. She turned left, keeping in mind direction of the pageboy, and then again left and then almost jumped out of her skin when she heard a voice behind:
  - Are you looking for something? - the Queen, who must have used another branch of the corridor, was standing right behind Tess.
  If the Queen would have called for the court-ladies or guardians, Tess wouldn't be able to escape. The corridor was narrow and anyway she hasn't found the thing she was searching for yet. And the Queen didn't seem to like the King much. What happens if Tess tries her luck?
  - Yes. One of the royal regalia.
  - Hmm, that's strange. Does it matter which one of them you get?
  - No.
  - Your songs were beautiful. And I haven't paid you for your performance, have I?. What about this kind of payment?' - asked the Queen, and took off her wedding ring, offering it to Tess.
  Tess looked at the ring totally astonished. There was an emblem of Havre on it, and when the Queen pressed the small ripple in the left side, the lid got opened. And there was a tiny key inside the ring.
  - A key to the throne, which makes it rotate when it's connected with the second key the King has,' - answered the Queen unpronounced question of the bardess. - 'That's one of less-known royal regalia of Havre, but it's necessary for coronation and wedding ceremonies in this country'.
  - Isn't giving the key to me dangerous for you?' - asked Tess, accepting the little key.
  - No. The King doesn't ever ask or look if the key is inside the ring. And he won't need it till his death - or till my death, when he'll plan to get married for the second time. It could be a large surprise for him that time,' - ironically smiled the Queen.
  - Thank you.
  - You're welcome, child. You can visit my tower again later, as a usual guest. I will be always glad to hear your singing. And now follow me, we should come back to my chambers before anyone would get suspicious.
  
  **
  Tess returned to the capital of Remulus in time, in 10 hours before the due date. Before coming to the headquarters she stopped by the inn 'Iron Salute' to have a dinner. And it was a waitress who asked her to pop into her room upstairs before leaving, as there was a gift, waiting for her.
  
  There were fourteen pink flowers with delicate petals in the big vase. The waitress said they arrived one per day with the same order to be brought into Bardess's room. There was no card or other message, just the flowers. And Tess couldn't help taking one flower from the bouquet with her and entering the hithermost flower shop on her way to the headquarters to ask for the meaning of that flower. The assistant-girl said it wasn't purchased from her shop and that she couldn't recall its meaning either. Then, with a sudden idea, she asked Tess if she could read, and proffered her a thick book from the upper shelf. Tess looked through the pages, following the guidance of the shop girl, who said the flower is called camellia. Finally Tess found the picture of the similar flower in the book and read the explanation what the pink camellia means. 'Longing for you'.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Story seven: The new step
  
  The same cabinet, as grey and colorless as its owner, and another shocking piece of news.
  - Governess failed to fulfill her task and didn't return in the scheduled time.
  - Is she okay?' - the first question pop out of Tess's lips before she stopped it.
  - Yes. A broken leg, two broken ribs, gloomy mood. Well, she won't be my problem anymore. She's getting retired and won't serve the network from now on. And I have another announcement for you, Bardess.
  She shut her eyes for the second, trying to keep her emotions hidden. 'Bardess', as always, only 'Bardess'. Since the time when ten girls from the squad had chosen their professions (different for each one), those titles became their code name, and their teachers, seniors and officers were addressing to them only that way. And somehow it hurt Tess to see that the 'spider' addressed her the same way, even when they're alone in his cabinet. She never heard him calling her 'Tess', and didn't ever dream to hear 'daughter'. She lifted her head and looked straight into his eyes again.
  
  - Announcement?
  - Yes. You'll be awarded for the long serving and all the dangerous missions you undertook. I promote you to the teaching staff. You'll get another room in the headquarters, and the new assignment. Thirty boys will start their education tomorrow.
  - Pardon, when?
  - Tomorrow. What's wrong?
  Is he still asking? That way of life she enjoyed, travelling with her guitar and singing for the audience seemed to be finished. No, he finished it in her name, without asking for her confirmation. She'll have to deal with training the young boys, who'll look down at her just because she's a female, and live in this colorless building, when she doesn't like spending here more than two nights in a rough. She was feeling suffocated. The walls, those thick grey walls were bringing her nightmares. And it was forbidden to bring pets, flowers or other alive items into the room in the headquarters, excluding the messenger pigeons. She didn't want to live here. Nay, she didn't want to stay here even a single day more.
  - No.
  - What did you say?
  - That won't happen. I won't live here. I won't work as a teacher for new agents.
  - Are you sure?
  - Yes.
  - You can't return to the operations.
  - I know.
  - And if you quit from the network, you can't use the abilities of communicators, and you will be an ordinary client for all those inns and shops.
  - I'm aware of that.
  - You can't ask for help in case of danger from any of the agents and communicators.
  - Well, as long as I quit working in the network, there will be no danger. Won't it?
  
  She smiled. Her mood was too strange to describe. But the biggest feeling of the moment was relief. That relief made her head light-weighted and a bit dizzy. Maybe later she could regret this decision, but not now.
  - If you're so sure, then goodbye, Bardess.
  - Goodbye, father,' - emphasized she the last word with her voice tone and walked out of the cabinet keeping her head proudly high. He wasn't her director anymore, and this little revenge brought her another portion of braveness.
  
  Archduke looked at her back till the door got closed. The girl was too stubborn: probably she took that feature of character both from him and her mother, so the total amount was oversized. If she said 'No', there was no way for him to insist. Probably he should have considered it well beforehand. But as always, the future of the network for him was more important, than his personal thoughts or feelings. At least now his organization, his most cherished and beloved 'child', was purified from females, and he had another candidate for a teaching position. One of agents was injured badly recently, and for the nearest three years leastwise won't be able to take part in active operations. The guy was clever and well-educated, so he could be even a better choice than Tess, a girl from the distant village in the mountains. With such thoughts archduke ordered to annihilate all the remaining special pigeons of girls in the headquarters' dove-house, and in several minutes he totally forgot that one of his best agents has left the network.
  
  ***
  Tess took her bag with several pieces of clothes, writing materials and the pigeon, and put the guitar's case on her right shoulder. There was nothing left in the room where she was coming so often during last 9 years. So there was nothing to feel sorrow about. A new life was waiting for her.
  
  With every step out of the headquarters her resoluteness was slowly fading. She didn't regret quitting that job, but... she just didn't know how she will live now. She'd better contact Edward and ask for the advice from him. Or some wise ideas could appear in her mind during that 2-day-long journey. She counted the coins in her pockets, thinking if it will be enough to buy the food for two days and pay for the room in 'Iron Salute'. Till now the working expenses, including accommodation and quite often - food and even clothes, were covered by the network. But the room she kept reserved in 'Iron Salute' didn't have anything in common with the network, and Tess was always paying for it from her own assets when she was visiting the capital.
  
  When she reached the inn and looked at the bill, the sum was not a small one. Tess covered it and with a deep sigh had to admit she can't afford keeping the room anymore. After 9 years of successful serving the Kingdom of course she had some assets, but it was Duke Dumont who took care of them, and Tess didn't know even the name of the bank where her money was. She should personally talk to Edward about this matter either. For now, she thanked the innkeeper, kissed the waitresses who were always kind to her, and said goodbye. But before Tess could go out to the stables where Iris was waiting for her, one of waitresses asked her to wait a second. In a short while she returned with the bouquet of flowers in her hands. She said that one more camellia was delivered this morning, and told it's really a pity their bardess is leaving and her admirer will have to stop sending flowers, too. Tess took the bouquet, thinking she could dry the blossoms as the nice memory.
  
  She left the inn, wondering what she should write to Admiral Seymour. She should definitely inform him that she won't return to the capital in the nearest time, so he would stop spending money and his efforts for complimenting her. And he knew about her real job, so she'd better also tell him she's not a spy already. But how could she write it? She didn't want to look pitiful, and didn't need his help. She was just trying to understand what she would like to do, and start learning to live on her own, without support of communicators, without tasks from a 'spider', without missions and deadlines.
  
  Finally, when she had a lunch break on the river-bank, enjoying the fresh water from the spring, tasty bread, salty cheese and sweet and sour small apples, she wrote a message to her correspondent: 'Thanks for the flowers. It's time to stop. I took off to Dumont Dukedom, and don't plan returning back to the capital in the nearest time. I'm starting the new life'.
  
  The answer didn't come. The pigeon, which got used to stay in her bag for the last several days, didn't return that day or the following day either. Probably admiral was angry at her. She didn't mean they should stop the whole communication, although her message could be interpreted that way either. Well, if he understood her wrong, it was his choice.
  
  As she predicted, she reached the residence of Duke Dumont before her provision was over. She and Iris were a bit tired, but not as much as it happened before. And the shining smile of Edward, gladly welcoming her 'home', was enough to warm up her heart. She thought a lot about plans for future during her way to the dukedom, and her fears of first hours had slowly vanished. But still she wasn't sure if she can settle in the dukedom - at least for now.
  
  - Tess, you're looking wonderful. I've got the pigeon from the 'spider'. Congratulations for your freedom.
  - Thanks, cuz. Careless life could improve my complexion, I guess.
  - That's true. Are you tired? Would you like to get a bath or will you join me in the dining hall?
  - A bath sounds good.
  - I'll order the maids to prepare it right now.
  
  While enjoying the water of the most pleasant temperature: hot enough to take away her tiredness, and warm enough to protect her gentle skin from burns, Tess thought about the place she would like to live it. It shouldn't be as big as the residence of the duke. Neither as complicated and grey as the headquarters of the network. Neither as high and isolated as the 'Queen's tower'. But the white shining stone of the houses in Hadar couldn't leave her mind. That was a wonderful material - for the houses in subtropical climate, of course. So first of all she should make up her mind in which part of the world she'd like to live. In Remulus Kingdom with its cold winters and brightly-hot summers, when the most beautiful and comfortable season is autumn? In any of the island countries? In Rossvoll, famous for icy-cold beautiful views? She couldn't find the answer yet. For now she'd prefer to get a small house, where no one could disturb her. She'd get a big fluffy dog, and a cat - no, better two or three cats - and a small dove-house for pigeons. She didn't want to depend on other people much, so in ideal she'd like to keep all the necessary materials and especially communication suppliers right in her place of living. So there should be a small dove-house, and a well, and the warehouse for gardening tools and firewood near her house. And there should be a big stove inside it to keep warm all the inhabitants, especially those who don't have thick fur. Her assets probably would be enough to buy a house in the countryside, not far from the big towns.
  
  Tess stepped out of the bathtub and wrapped herself into the soft towel of beige color. She'll need to buy all the necessary things for her own house: furniture, curtains, kitchen utensils, bed linens. She smiles, thinking how fast she accepted her new position and started dreaming about the things she didn't pay attention at before. Was she getting old? Plenty of 21-year-old girls around could be married and have their children, more than one. But she was still alone. And she couldn't say that loneliness was bothering her a lot. As long as she'll find a place to live, she could still go on travelling and singing from time to time, earning for living, keeping in mind that her sweet home and its inhabitants will be awaiting for her.
  
  When she left her room, Talia told her Duke Dumont is waiting for her in the ceremonial dining-hall. And Tess, looking at her own simple house-type dress and still wet hair, wondered what the occasion was and if there were other guests. To her great relief, there wasn't anyone except Edward in the dining-hall.
  - Where did this solemnity come from?' - asked she, looking at the table. There were a lot of dishes - Tess could say there were at least 40 types of food - and the serving only for two.
  - We should celebrate, cuz. You've finally cut the ties with the 'spider'.
  - If you say so...
  
  They enjoyed dinner, complimenting the skills of the chef-cook, and when the initial hunger was satisfied, continued talking.
  - Any regrets?
  - No. Just feeling at a loss. And I'll need your consultation.
  - About what?
  - About the sum of my assets. And a place where I can settle in - the countryside, close to the main roads and to a big town or at least a nice-looking village.
  - You won't accept if I offer you to live here, in my house, will you? We don't have to keep our blood relation in secret anymore.
  - We have to. Your only uncle is the 'spider', and I'm afraid he won't be glad to hear rumors about his bastard daughter, accepted by the rest part of the family.
  - I got it. But my proposal to stay in this house is still valid.
  - No, cuz. Sorry. You know I don't like crowded places, that's why my house will be small. And there will be no servants.
  - I see. Ok, in the evening I'll send pigeon to the banker and ask him to visit us tomorrow. He'll bring the statement of your account. And I suppose I can also start enquiring for empty houses for sale in the dukedom. You don't think about living too far from me, do you?
  - I don't know yet. Give me time, please. Anyway even if I'll be far from you, I'm planning to have a dove-house, and you can always send me blood-connected pigeons at any time you like.
  - Yeah, I know. But still I'd prefer to keep my heart at ease, to be sure you're safe and don't live in another country. Ah, by the way, about the blood-connected pigeons. Tess, I'm sorry, I've lost one of yours.
  - Lost?
  - Hmm, should I say it was stolen?
  - Stolen? Did the admiral dare to steal a pigeon from your dove-house?
  - Hmm, actually he didn't directly steal it but... Hold on, how do you know it was Admiral Seymour? Did you receive a pigeon with his message?
  - I did.
  - Ah, than did you keep the bird? I was waiting for it to return back to me, but it didn't happen. I thought the smartass should have done something with my bird. What, why are you laughing?
  - The way you called him. Ha-ha-ha, it's so funny.
  - For me that's exactly who he is. So, what's with the pigeon? Did you bring it with you?
  - No.
  - No? Why?
  - He arranged the second blood-connection ritual. We've exchanged several messages, and he didn't reply the last one. So the pigeon probably is in his hands.
  - Exchanging messages? With Admiral Seymour? Tess, you're shocking me. Hey, don't blush. Is it something serious?
  - Probably not. Anyway, he didn't answer the last message.
  - Ah, you didn't hear the news, did you? Of course you didn't. I know you can't use communicators to obtain the full summary of news now. But I, as the family member, could still share with you information I get. Listen, Tess, the brig of Admiral Seymour was lost in the Himossa Ocean.
  - Lost?
  - Yes. Dispatcher on Fleet was on the same brig, and he can't be contacted for the last two days.
  - I see. Edward, I think I'm tired. Would you excuse me?
  - Sure, cuz. Have a rest in your room.
  
  She shut the door of her rooms, but somehow the tiredness didn't leave her, and the comfortable large bed didn't bring her sleep. Turning right and left for several hours, she took the guitar from the case and started playing it, singing in a low voice, afraid of disturbing the other inhabitants of the residence. She sang the first coming-to-mind song.
  Did sea killed that frigate,
  Swallowing it with waves,
  Or maybe a pirate,
  Arranged their water graves?
  But captain is awaited,
  By pretty brunette Margret,
  What if he's still alive,
  What if he didn't die?
  
  And what if he's ok?
  Please, don't light those candles.
  He'd turn to Santa Cruz
  To buy rum or some wine.
  He could have stayed at bay,
  Protected by the angels.
  I know we'll get some news,
  I hope he will be fine.
  
  It is so hard to wait,
  Spend hours for nothing,
  And throw the sand and hate
  Into the greenish sea.
  Why did you cover mirrors?
  Do you believe in crushing?
  What if he's still alive,
  What if he comes to me?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Story eight: The payback
  
  - Tess, Tess, where are you?
  - What happened?' - Tess went out of the wine cellar with two bottles of red dry wine, which she was interesting in tasting.
  The wine cellar of Edward's residence was a comfortable and big place, so she was often visited it as a museum, reading labels on the bottles and trying to imagine the places where those grapes came from and the people who collected them. Probably Edward was calling for her several times already, but she didn't hear him.
  - I've got a pigeon from Gildford.
  - A harbor-city at Himossa Ocean?' - she was all ears now.
  They didn't get any news about the lost brig or any of its passengers during the last six days. Tess was still feeling uneasy, thinking about Admiral Seymour, but her worry couldn't help him or her. And finally obtaining some news could be wonderful.
  - Yes. The brig returned. And all the passengers are safe. With one exception.
  - Admiral Seymour?
  - Yes.
  - Is he alive?
  - Yes.
  - Then could you tell me what happened? Where's he, and what was it all about?
  - He had a mission to visit Rossvold, and was accompanying the Ambassador. They had only one brig. And they were unlucky enough to meet the squadron from Ullered on their way.
  - Ullered? The island of amazons?
  - Uhu. Can you imagine what happened later?
  - They usually ask for the ransom with the goods or ships they capture.
  - Yes. But that was a diplomatic mission, and there was nothing the captain could sacrifice from the brig's cargo.
  - So? Did he deliberately offer himself as a ransom?
  - Yeah. Dispatcher wrote all the officers were shocked. And admiral seemed to know the laws of Ullered quite well. He said he'll insist on the trial in a fortnight.
  - A trial? What kind of trial is that?
  - Cuz, didn't you study Ullered's regulation? The free males, coming to the island, should find the spouse, and the trial or a competition should be arranged with that purpose. Any female, irrespective of her nationality, could claim the guy as far as she brings sufficient arguments. The choice of the male is important, but it's not the decisive factor. The female of his choice could pick the tool of the trial. So if she's a warrior, she could choose a certain weapon, if she's rich, so could try to settle the matter with money and so on.
  - What is he hoping for?
  - Admiral Seymour? I don't know either. Maybe he has a wealthy lover somewhere, who will come and save him. That's why he asked for two weeks, hoping she'll reach Ullered till that time.
  - He's crazy.
  - Yes, the same assessment I got from Dispatcher. He sent a pigeon from the port, informing about the madness of Admiral and told they're asking for permission to use the town portal for a safer trip to Rossvold. Probably in several days he'll get the answer from the king and association of magicians.
  - I see. Cuz, which bottle should we drink at dinner today?
  - I like this one.
  - Ok. Then I'll put back the remaining bottle.
  
  Tess left one of bottles in the dining hall and returned to the wine cellar. Her thoughts were still busy with admiral. Does he have a lover? Tess was usually keen at evaluating if a male is single or not, and she didn't feel any female trace with her magic next to Alan Seymour. The silver gauze she saw at their first meeting was too old, so probably admiral met that witch - or two witches - several years ago. Does he think they'll rescue him? If those witches live in Highland, that wasn't possible. If they were only half-educated girls, the same as Tess, living in the other parts of the Kingdom, she had doubts they had enough power or money to win the trial with amazons.
  
  She got her answer on the same evening. The white dove, looking quite skinny and dirty today, flew into the dining hall where she was sitting. And right in front of the eyes of Edward, Tess hurried to satisfy her curiosity. The message was the answer to her last letter: 'I'd also like to start a new life. But not in the place where I'm now. Ullered, trial on the next fullmoon. And I bet you can sing better than any of amazons.'
  
  Tess was too shocked to say anything, so Edward took the message-roll from her hands and read the content aloud. Then he burst into laughs.
  - Tess, he's really crazy. Is it the invitation or a marriage proposal? He wants you to come to the trial and win it. Wow, what a self-assured snake he is! Hey, you don't seriously think about it, do you?
  Instead of answer she just blushed.
  
  - No! No-no-no!
  - I'm not so sure in singing, but I have money either. I'll take the sum your banker left yesterday, and two weeks are more than enough to reach Ullered.
  - Tess, you're as mad as Admiral Seymour.
  - Well, it means we could be a nice couple. And just in case if you have forgotten, the marriages, solemnized in Ullered, are not valid in the Kingdom.
  - Wow, my cousin is as smart as a fox. So is this your goal: to get admiral away from there, and then leave him hot and hungry?
  - Edward!
  - Sorry, cuz. If you spend your money on him, don't forget to get them back later: of course, if you still plan to buy your own house and not be my roommate in this residence.
  - Edward, I'll need Iris and a spare horse for change, and food, and a map, and...
  - And doves. Don't forget to write me from each big city, and especially when you reach Ullered and enter the trial. If you're not going to change your mind, at least keep me informed.
  - A deal.
  
  She didn't need long consideration. She felt the familiar wave of excitement, and was eager to take this challenge. He asked her to come, didn't he? So he values her much enough for that, and he probably doesn't have another lover. Besides that, he values her singing skills! He didn't compliment her performances before, albeit his facial expression when he was listening to her usually was showing he liked what he heard. But seeing that compliment in the written form was better than only guessing about it.
  
  Tess was sure she's doing the right thing. She must do it - and probably it could be a fun for here. It wasn't too risky anyway: the road to Gilford shouldn't be too difficult, she liked travelling by sea, and even if she lose the trial, all she risks were money. And she shouldn't forget she ought her life to Admiral Seymour. If he didn't find her on time on the Eelener brigantine, and didn't shot down the guy who was lifting her as a bag with sand, she wouldn't be alive. So it will be a kind of payback. And this payback could give her a chance to see Ullered, and to breathe a bit more of that adventure-smelling air, which was one of her addictions during being a spy. She knew she'll miss it after quitting, and the message of the admiral brought her a possibility to return to the long roads and gave her an aim.
  
  She thought if the Kingdom or the 'network' would do anything to help the admiral, as they also knew the date of his trial. The 'network' could have tried to do something, but they have no female-agents left. And Admiral Seymour was sometimes too harsh in his words about the bureaucratic procedures in Remulus Kingdom, and too difficult to control due to his young age for such a high position as he was only 32, so Tess had doubts if he'll get any help from the high officials this time. There were five other admirals in the Kingdom, so probably if Remulus lose Seymour, they'll appoint another person on his place, someone easier to manage.
  
  ***
  Another sea journey was over, and another new island was right in front of Tess's eyes. Ullered was different from Hadar, it didn't have many green oasis or wide plants and flowers. This island was covered with sand and mountains, and the skin color of its inhabitants was darker. And the buildings on Ullered were lower, the plants - scarcer, the water - more expensive. Tess remembered from the lessons of history, that males and females were living on the island together, and no one would ask the male to get away from the island (as it could happen in the village in Highlands where Tess was born). Thus male and females had almost equal rights, with some little exceptions. Males didn't learn swordsmanship and didn't take part in pirate-raids amazons were famous for. And males couldn't choose the partner for marriage on their own: it could be the choice on their parents, battle-competition or a trial.
  
  Tess found a good-looking inn on the island, the one where she learnt she could get a bathtub filled with fresh water, not the one from the ocean, and asked for location of the court. The trial of Admiral Seymour was scheduled for tomorrow.
  
  ***
  The next day brought her a lot of disappointment. And the fist of them was related to financial matters. Amazons didn't accept gold, silver or cooper, the same as they didn't accept bonds or loan stocks. Only swapping, natural exchange - and the most valuable items were jewels. When Tess learnt about it, she had to look at her own appearance in different eyes. Normally she didn't wear many accessories, so now all she had was a pair of earrings with small sapphires and pearls, and a set of hairpins with pearls... No, there was something else. A signet ring, belonging to Duke Dumont - as Edward didn't ask for it, Tess totally forgot she still had it. Today her obliviousness could favor her.
  
  She settled the hotel bill with hairpins, and the boat to take her back to Remulus Kingdom was reserved beforehand. As it belonged to the adventure and travel enthusiast from the Kingdom, Tess could feel at ease about payment for that part. But she was afraid there could be another financial surprise to her right now. And there was one.
  
  - Entrance fee!
  - Pardon? Should I pay just to enter the court?
  - Of course you should!' - the tall female with bronze skin and red black hair looked at Tess with reproof. - 'Today's spouse-candidate is wonderful. Oh, those muscles! And he is said to be a high official in the navy, so probably his head is also working good. Could you imagine living with him in the same house, waking up every morning and seeing his face on your pillow?
  - Hmm,' - Tess tried to imagine that picture. That seemed to be attractive.
  - So the judge announced a certain minimal limit for those, who would like to try their luck here today. If you won't pay, you can't enter the court hall.
  - Even if I was invited by that guy?
  - You? Really? Mm, that doesn't matter. He could choose a girl to take part in the contest only between the girls inside the court hall. If you don't come in, you'll lose without trying.
  - Will this work?' - asked Tess, taking off one of the earrings.
  - This?' - Tess could see the fire of greed in the guardian's eyes. - 'No, that won't. Give me both, then I'll let you in.
  That didn't seem to be a fair cost, but Tess didn't see other guardians or court-workers around, and when she looked back, she noticed a group of amazons, wearing their official attire, approaching them. The swords in the arms of those women didn't look like toys, and Tess preferred to stop the discussion. She gave to the guarding both earrings and came into the building.
  
  The courthouse, made of grey marble, provided to its visitors a pleasant coolness after the desert-alike heat outside. A building wasn't too large, had only two floors, and Tess went upstairs, following the noise. There was a big auditorium with many rows of benches for the visitors, a special loge, enclosed by marble banister with a large red cushion inside (for the judge) and another loge - smaller though - for the 'candidate'.
  
  There were about hundred of females in the auditorium. The biggest part of them was amazons, but Tess could see that there were several representatives of other nationalities and ever races: she had noticed an imp and two dryads. Neither the judge nor admiral had arrived yet. And there was one more thing, a big blue sphere on the high holder. That sphere could be seen by anyone in the hall, and there were several candles in special candelabras, emphasizing the meaning of it. Tess glanced at the sphere once again, trying to catch any magic-related aura from the item. There was a magical trace, but she couldn't calculate exactly what it was. Probably the item at the moment was in 'sleeping' mode, and it was hard to say anything before its activation.
  
  The door behind the judge loge opened up. An old female with the face covered with wrinkles, and long grey hair, wearing a long gown of purple velvet, entered the loge, and all around Tess stood up. She also stood and was able to sit down only after permitting gesture from the judge. The old woman looked at the audience, and asked the guardian near the second door to open it and let the candidate come in.
  
  Admiral Seymour was looking exhausted. Tess wondered if the amazons made him starve or if it was related to his mental worries. Immediately after he took him place on the small bench, he looked at the audience, searching with his glaze one row after another, and Tess saw the reflection of relief when the admiral saw her. She realized he was really waiting for her, only her.
  
  - Candidate, do you have the special participant for the trial, the female of your choice?
  - Yes, your honor. That lady in black cloak in the third row.
  - Stand up, lady. Do you accept the trial?
  - Yes, your honor,' - Tess's voice was loud and assuring.
  - Good. You know that you could only chose the branch of competition, and still have to win it to make the candidate your spouse?
  - Yes, your honor.
  - Name the branch.
  - It's singing, your honor.
  - Singing?' - there was a color of doubts in the voice of judge, and Tess could hear the whispers around her. From those whispers she caught that singing is not the best job for the decent female. That made Tess exhale freer, as there won't be many rivals in that case. The judge continued: 'Ok, it was your right. Ladies, is there anyone who could compete in singing to win the hand of a brave admiral?'
  About a dozen of girls stretched their hands up.
  - Oh, so many requestors. What should I do with you? I'm not planning to spend the whole day here, listening to mere singing. That guy caused our ships a high damage: he had only one brig, but he managed to scupper thirty of our ships. It would be hard for us to build the new ones in the nearest time. I suppose it would be fair to set a compensation for it: requestors should offer me the price of a good sword.
  The whispers around Tess arose again. And she was trying to imagine how much does a 'good sword', in comprehension of the judge, cost. In front of her eyes the biggest part of hands were put down, and only two other females still kept their hands up.
  
  - Show me your price, ladies,' - said the judge.
  Two middle-aged amazons, one by one, approached the judge's loge and stretched her their swords. And even the scare knowledge Tess had about the weapons, let her see that those swords were not the ordinary ones. The judge put her hand on the sphere - and now Tess could see that the magical item got activated. It was a sphere of truth. The judge asked both of females if the swords belong them by rights, and after receiving positive answers, told that only the winner would take her bet back. The other two girls will lose both the spouse-candidate and the sword. Then she looked at Tess, inviting her to come closer.
  - What about your bet?
  Tess took off her only remaining valuable item: the signet ring. It had the great value in Remulus Kingdom, but will it be enough to buy a good sword?
  - A signet ring? Well, the gold is good, and the sapphire is sufficiently big. But the matter that confuses me is its origin. Lady, it's a male's ring. Do you have a right to keep or sale it?
  - Yes, your honor.
  The judge quickly glanced at the sphere, but it was still as blue as the calm sea.
  - You have a right for it. Hmm, lady, you apply to get a spouse candidate, but give me a male's signet ring as a bet. What's your connection with the male, original holder of this ring?
  Before answering the question, Tess saw the tension in the posture of Admiral Seymour. Probably he was afraid her bet could be declined, and was interested in her answer greatly.
  - We're blood-related, your honor.
  The color of sphere didn't change. And the judge with a deep sigh announced beginning of the competition.
  
  When the other two females were singing (if that could be called 'singing'), Tess was watching Alan. And he didn't take his eyes of her. She thought if he could guess the certain degree of relation between Duke Dumont, Archduke Dumont and her.
  
  Amazons were really bad at singing. They tried to conceal it with dancing and loud strikes of their hands and feet. They were trying to sing funny songs about battles and warriors, returning to their homelands, but even the help of audience didn't make the major difference. Tess relaxed and was thinking about the certain song she should pick. Amazons appreciated war and everything connected to it, and Tess tried to recall the songs about war in her memory. There was one strange song, written, as Tess heard, when the author listened to the story of the legendary amazons' warrior, called Sun, the same as the name of the start, lighting up the days of humankind. That girl was the first one, who started travelling and visiting many places, including Rossvold and other cold countries, too foreign for the amazons from this island of desert-hot weather. And when her turn came, Tess was ready. She sat on the chair between the audience and the loges, took the guitar and started.
  
  White snow and grey ice cover this barren earth,
  And upon it this quilt of the land is a city strangled by roads,
  And above it the clouds pass by, blocking the light of gold,
  And above it the yellow smoke, the city's 2000 years old.
  The years spent under the star known as the Sun.
  
  And for 2000 years they've had wars - wars for no reason at all.
  Wars are fought by the young to keep them from growing old.
  Scarlet puddles of blood in an hour will turn into dirt,
  In two hours the earth is dry, and in three flowers will grow,
  Warmed by the rays of the star known as the Sun.
  
  And we know that nothing will change, that Fate will favor the one,
  Her who lives by the rules of her own, her who's destined to fight and die young,
  She forgets about the words: 'Yes' or 'No', ranks and names mean nothing in dim
  She can reach for any star in the sky, as for her it's not just a dream,
  And fall down, burned by the star known as the Sun.
  She sang strange lyrics from the old legend, the words about blood and death. But her voice was tender and soft, and all the people in the court hall were listening to her in total silence. And the judge, grinding her teeth but still keeping the hand on the sphere of truth, had to announce the correct verdict.
  After a short ceremony of wedding oaths Tess put the signet ring she got from the judge on the finger of admiral. 'Another weird tradition of amazons,' - thought she, but didn't comment anything aloud. They were announced to be the married couple, and finally everything was over. Only when they left the court building and without a single word reached the harbor where the boat was waiting for her, Tess stretched her hand to Alan.
  - Give me back my ring, please.
  - Here you are. Tess, may I ask why you came here?
  - That was a payback. You saved my life, I saved yours.
  - Thank you. And I suppose we should personally thank the one who gave this ring to you. If it wasn't so valuable, I would be in danger. Your... cousin, right?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Story nine: The consequents
  
  The returned way to Gildford was strange. 'To speak honestly, everything related to this man is strange,' - thought Tess. 'If I have to confess it, this female is one of the oddest persons I've met in my life,' - thought Alan. But the conclusion of thoughts of these two people, so different from each other, was the same: 'Nevertheless I like that person. A lot'. And of course no one of them could pronounce it aloud.
  
  They talked a bit about simple things, about the taste of meals in Ullered and the seafood the ship-owner offered them for the dinner. About the fact that Ambassador to Rossvoll has already left, using the town portal, as the special permit was granted for him by the King of Rossvoll and the council of magicians of that country. It looked like both of them had more important questions in mind, but were hesitating to ask them openly. Alan was eager to learn why Tess left the 'network'. She wished to comprehend the reason why admiral decided to sacrifice himself and stay in Ullered by his own will. But those topics seemed to be too personal, too confidential, too... dangerous? And when the small talk was finished, the silence captured the ship's deck.
  
  When admiral was next to her, Tess didn't want to think or talk about serious matters. She often felt that she just wanted to lean on his shoulder, to find herself in his arms, feeling protected from the whole world, even if that protection was just a short-lived illusion. She was amazed by his abilities to light up her mood and ensure her everything will be fine without speaking much and without giving empty promises. Last time, when they were alone in her room in the inn, he didn't ask about the reason of her tears. He didn't inquire what happened, didn't ask about her past or didn't talk about himself. He didn't try to increase the depth of their relationship. But his embrace was warm, his sympathizing smile was honest and his hands, slowly patting her back, were strong but tender. When she woke up alone in her room in the morning, she was disappointed. But the memory of that evening, when she cried in his arms, was sweet. And now she couldn't find words to ask him that she needed his help. Again. Nay, probably 'help' was the wrong word. She wanted to feel his presence next to her - in any way he would choose - for a long-long time. While thinking about all those, feeling that her cheeks get warmed with a blushing wave, she continued looking at the horizon, at the turquoise waves and white seagulls.
  
  The owner of the ship didn't disturb her thoughts and didn't break the silence on board after the short conversation of two travel companions was ended. The ship-owner felt the tension between his two passengers, the same as he knew that the male was for sure noble and high-standing, and the female - probably not. But the attitude of the male to her, his wordless respect and the small flashlights of desire in his eyes, which other males could easily see and interpret the correct way, told the ship-owner he'd better leave those two alone. There were two cabins on the ship, the one, belonging to the captain, and the second - for rare passengers. He said he'll let them take both cabins and will spend a night on the deck. But his today's companions in this journey didn't rush to come under the roof. They were both sitting on the deck, looking at the ocean, but the deep thoughts of both of them seemed to be far from the beautiful seascape.
  
  Alan didn't want to break the silence either. The cocktail of his emotions could hardly be described in several words. He was blaming himself for a silly decision to exchange the lives of his crew-members and successful mission of Ambassador with his own life. But at that moment this was the only decision he could make. All the males in his crew were married, and he couldn't think about breaking their families or making all of them wait there for several weeks until the ransom in satisfying amount will be sent to Ullered. He thought he could make a deal with amazons, saying that he's engaged and his fiancйe is waiting for him on the continent, so they should let him go or exchange his freedom with a solid sum he would ask to be delivered to Ullered in a while, but he failed. Keeping in mind the strange tradition of that island folks, he managed to set a date for the trial, and sent the pigeon to the 'fiancйe'. The bardess of his heart was his only hope. Alan knew the hidden mechanism of Royal Fleet, the intrigues in the army and in the palace enough to comprehend, that the kingdom won't do anything to rescue him, the mere admiral, from the hands of amazons. And a lot of friends he had, male friends of course, couldn't find any power of influence to affect the hearing or the statement of the amazons' court. Nobody could help him besides her. A girl, whom he met only several times. A girl, whose voice bewitched him. A girl, whose body, smell and every smooth movement made his blood boil in the veins, so he had to exert himself just to pretend to be calm and indifferent. He was glad his pretention worked well. He was feeling miffed because he couldn't read her mind or guess if his current way of behavior was all what she needed from him or not. That evening, they spent together in the small room of the capital's inn several weeks ago, was a torture and the biggest pleasure at the same time. Pleasure - because he could sit next to her, touch her, pat her back and caress her hair, listen to her heartbeat and sobbing. And it was torture, because he had to behave as a well-mannered gentleman and don't cross the line. He didn't want to frighten her and break that fragile connection or trust between them.
  
  Today was another ambivalent day. She came to Ullered, and won the competition, and saved him. Salvation by a female was quite a hard punch to his pride, but in this case there was no other way. He had to accept her assistance and take part in the fake 'wedding' ceremony (thanks Lords the marriage won't be valid in Remulus Kingdom's territory), and follow her to the harbor, and get on this ship. To his shame, half of his pocket money was left on the commander's brig, and the other half - taken by the amazon-guards. If this girl would have left him in Ullered, he would have to find a way to borrow money from any of rare Remulus citizens on the island or earn a sufficient sum for the return trip. But again, she saved him from that trouble also.
  
  And she solved the biggest puzzle in his head, telling that Duke Dumont was her blood relative. Alan recalled all the stories he heard about that family, and in conclusion the reputation of Edward's father was definitely too high to consider existence of adulterine. But Edward's uncle, archduke Dumont, was known with his love affairs, and Alan could remember now that there was a story about his bastard-daughter from Highlands. The members of the first commission to Highlands after signing the peace agreement were gossiping a lot about it. They didn't know what happened to the girl, who was taken as contribution to the palace, but now Alan could guess the following part of her story. So all ten tribute-girls became archduke's agents, and till the recent times Tess was serving the kingdom and her father, and was often visiting her cousin. But recently something happened - something, harsh enough to make this strong female cry on his shoulder for several hours, and to leave her position not long after it.
  
  He was trying to find another pretext to contact her later, when they get off the ship in Gildford. There was a regular communication point of the Fleet in Gildford's harbor, and Alan knew he would get all the assistance for travelling to the capital from there. But what will she do? Where will she go? Does she live in duke's residence? He wanted to ask all those questions, but something stopped him. Was it his pride or just respect towards her private life?
  
  ***
  The next day they said goodbye to each other, thanked the ship-owner and chose separate ways. He promised he'll return her all the expenses she spent while coming to Ullered and attending the court by sending the funds to the Duke's residence. She said her horse was in the stables of the nearest inn, and walked towards the inn without ever looking back.
  
  Alan reached the communication point of the Fleet and after the necessary orders went upstairs to get a quick bath before going on his way. When he put the thin bag - the one he got from amazons with the clothes and weapons he was wearing during the battle - on the floor, something unusual attracted his attention. There was something alive inside his bag. He definitely didn't put anything, that could move on its own, into the bag, so he rushed to open it. And there it was, his special pigeon. The girl returned the bird to him. So he could feel free to contact her again. That was the best news of the day.
  
  In several days he understood that was the best news of the nearest weeks. He reached the capital quite fast, presented all the reports about last events and his decisions to the King's attention, and was waiting for his verdict. King Emmanuel II was known by his hot-temper and ability to bear grudge for a long-long time. And Alan could guess from the attitude of people around him, that at the moment the King seemed to be angry at him. Probably if admiral would have been totally defeated, have lost his brig, all the passengers and crew-members, but saved his brave name and have died with a high-lifted head, the King would be satisfied. As for his current reaction, Alan couldn't predict it. He waited and waited, staying in the navy's quarters in the capital, but the King didn't call for him, neither sent him any letters. Several times Alan thought he should contact Tess, but his current mood was not the best for the flirt. Then there came the day, when Alan was invited to the council's hall of the palace, and the invitation said he should wear ceremonial dress.
  
  That was a big wide room in the left wing of the palace, lightened by many bronze chandeliers. The floor was covered with red carpet, and there was a special gallery of portraits on the walls. Those were the pictures of important people: ministers, generals, commanders - not member of the royal family, but those who obtained the high positions by their efforts and achievements. Of course Admiral Seymour was too young to be represented on one of those portraits, although sometimes he dreamed one day he could see his own face there, too. He had visited this hall several times before, as it was the place of the main announcements, related to the Royal Guards, Army and Fleet. That was the hall where Alan received his last assignment and admiral's epaulettes.
  
  There were other admirals, two generals, three ministers and a lot of other high-rank army and navy officials in the hall, when Alan entered it. And only several of those officers greeted him. There was a feeling of danger - nay, disfavor - in the air. And he seemed to be the main subject of that disfavor.
  
  ***
  In one hour, when Alan was leaving the council's hall with still high-lifted head, his heart seemed to be frozen. One wrong decision, one mistake - and his successful career was ended. The king didn't order to take his life, but Alan thought that probably it would have been better if he did. Instead the King tore down Alan's epaulettes, and in deathlike silence read the commandment about his dismission. The reasons were several lines from Section eight. Alan saw as the faces of people, surrounding him, slowly turning away. He could notice shame, blame and even gladness on some of those faces. No one could dare to speak in his defense, and of course he also had to accept the statement without a single word.
  
  Keeping the calm face despite the storm he felt inside, Alan left the palace. He never liked this nest of vipers, where every snake could hiss and bite each passing person just to make their own way forward smoother. It looked like he finally was free from that place. He could choose a new road. And probably also a new place for living, too. Alan could hardly think about other position, far from swordsmanship, strategy, navy and long journeys - and he could hardly obtain any official position in Remulus Kingdom till the reign of Emmanuel II will be over. Alan could become a mercenary - but that life after a definite age is not the best one for the male, who would seriously consider creating his own family. And Alan had to confess to himself, that he had already reached that stage.
  
  Thirty two years were not too much - but he wasn't a boy either. He'd prefer to settle down in a small town, buy a house with a wide garden, and get a pretty wife, who would wait for his return from his journeys or missions, and would raise his kids, and would sing for him every evening... 'Sing?' - he caught the last thought in his mind and shook his head. He has just experienced the greatest failure in his career and his 32-year-long life, but all he could thought was that girl with blonde hair, full lips and a witching voice.
  
  ***
  Tess heard the news about Alan's dismission from Edward. Her cousin was transferring data back and forth, using all the abilities by network, as he liked that position and his duty. Tess left the network, but Edward was still working for it. Thus he could share some pieces of information with her, especially some interesting ones.
  
  Tess was bitterly laughing to their fate. She was jobless, homeless and still unable to find a further road in life. He, the person she often thought about, was jobless either, his pride was hurt and she wondered about his intentions and plans for the future. She was ready to swallow her pride and ask about those plans - if the pigeon still could have been in her hands. But she gave it to admiral, with the hopes he'll contact her soon. And he didn't.
  
  She looked at many houses in the dukedom Edward suggested her, and didn't like any of them. They were too ordinary, and were situated too close to the big cities. Tess didn't want to see dozens of people each time she would open the gates of her house. And after her last trip she started thinking that living alone maybe wasn't the best idea. No, she didn't want to stay forever in Duke's residence, but for now the idea to look for a house for solitary living didn't seem to be as attractive as it was before.
  
  When her hopes to receive a message from admiral have totally faded, she decided to take her guitar, her horse and visit some of her friends. The following week was amazing: she felt she could travel just for fun, and sing just for herself and the people in the audience she liked. She didn't have to worry about the persons she should track, or the information she should obtain, or the tasks or items she must find. Getting rid of the network definitely was a wise decision. She travelled from one town to another without a definite purpose or plan. And she liked that trip - as long as it wasn't the main style of her life, it could bring some excitement and interest from time to time.
  
  When she was on the way to the inn she liked most of all in the Kingdom, the white fat bird caught up with her. She took the roll from the pigeon, thinking that it will be another message from Edward, who had started contacting her almost every day ('Trying to control or protect?' - she wondered), but when the piece of paper was opened, Tess couldn't believe her eyes. The author of the message wasn't Edward. And after the other, more attentive, look at the bird, she realized it was that pigeon she was longing to see for so many days. His pigeon.
  
  'I suppose you've already heard I was dismissed. I'm not the Admiral of the Royal Fleet. Does it change anything in our communication? You can openly say if it does. You can't even imagine how many times during last days I was disappointed by the attitude of my friends. Anyway, I'm going to leave Remulus for a while - I've got a job offer from Marine Academy in Ungarde, and in the nearest ten years I could hardly return back. What about the farewell meeting? I'm ready to be a diligent listener and only watch your performance, if you're not in the mood for long talks. Tell me the place and time. Just sing for me - will you?' His message was outspoken and honest, and Tess could feel his pain behind the lines. Probably a lot of his old friend turned their backs on the admiral. Huh, she should learn to stop calling him 'admiral' in her thoughts: but what should she change it with? 'Sir Seymour' was too official, and she was not sure if they have already reached the level of relationship when she could address him 'Alan'. They got married by the odd wedding-customs of amazons, but after leaving Ullered both of them just laughed at that marriage, calling it fake. Thus she still couldn't find courage to call him 'Alan' even in her thoughts. That was funny, she thought, and stopped the horse to refill her flask from the creek and write the reply to him.
  
  'I don't care if you're an admiral, a professor or a sellsword. I'm not far from the Dumont Dukedom and tonight I'm planning to stay in 'Brave and Bald', so you tell me about the place and time where we can meet. Don't leave the kingdom without seeing me, please'. She reread the message, and, disliking the pleading tone of the last sentence, stroke through the word 'please' until it turned to be totally unreadable. And then she prepared herself to wait for several hours until she gets the reply. But it took less than she thought. Another message, carried by the pigeon, arrived before her horse reached the gates of the nearest town. 'I'll be there tonight. And thank you.'
  
  **
  Tess sang as usual, sitting on the high chair near the bar-counter, protected by Tom's reputation and the special atmosphere of the inn. There were a lot of habituйs tonight, but that person, whom she was waiting, haven't arrived yet. And only when she was ready to leave the stage, and go upstairs to have some rest in the small room, she saw a new visitor of the inn. He came in, entering the wide and thick door in a hurry, and when he caught her glance, he smiled in relief. He was afraid he could miss her performance, thought Tess, and sang for him - just as he had asked.
  
  Guardsman or swordsman, your days are shorter,
  And hence, the sweeter is your reward.
  The trumpet calls, the curtain's opened,
  And distant swords are clearly heard.
  The voice of trumpets is still fading,
  Yet the commander's on the horse.
  Don't ever promise a young maiden
  An everlasting love on earth.
  
  In vain your innocent amusement,
  Naively, you make last a while.
  Until the battlefield consumes you,
  Your quest for glory is futile.
  And sweet as moonlight ever may be,
  There's still a worry for the worse.
  Don't ever promise a young maiden
  An everlasting love on earth.
  
  Champagne is flowing like a river
  Your vision's pleasantly obscured.
  And all appears to be forever
  And all appears to be assured.
  If cast or wooden, fate has made it
  For each one's share to be a cross.
  Don't ever promise a young maiden
  An everlasting love on earth.
  
  This time in the end of her performance he openly helped her to carry the guitar, and when she collected the coins the visitors dropped in her cup, Alan took her elbow and gently led her to the staircase. And Tom, after noticing the permitting nod from her, didn't try to stop Alan. When they passed through the kitchen and walked upstairs, she was already slightly shivering. Shivering not from cold and fatigue, but from his presence, the warmness of his body so close to hers, the slight smell-combination of sweat, horse, road-dust and leather clothes, from the fire in his eyes and from her own expectations.
  - Where's your room?' - asked he, and his tone told her this night will be different from the previous ones, as long as she won't object it.
  When they reached the room, she had problems with breathing, and her heart was beating too fast. She sat on the bed, and he sat right next to her, holding her right hand in his. The charming mood was filling the air. But his next phrase had changed the mood at once. He said:
  - I'm planning to start my way out of the Kingdom tomorrow morning. Will you come with me?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Story ten: And the adventure continues
  
  Several times after that night Tess called herself an idiot. Several times after that night she was enormously glad she accepted that offer. Edward was angry as a hundred of mad horses. He would try to stop her - if he could, if he didn't know her stubbornness. But he knew her too much to give a try. Lynn and Zoe, when she wrote them about it, answered that she must do whatever she wants now, so she won't regret later.
  
  Her dream about the small house, her own castle, her calm harbor in the sea of worries, didn't disappear. But she thought maybe she's too young to settle down in such a place right now. And she thought maybe it won't be so fun to live on her own. And the empty house, where only pets will be waiting for her return, didn't seem to be as warm as she imagined it from the beginning. It would be nice if there was a person, who could live in the same house. He could wait for the end of her journeys with guitar around the nearby taverns, and she would try to reach home before the clock strikes midnight. Or she could wait for him - if he would take part in long missions.
  
  She wasn't lying to herself. She didn't want to see just 'any person' near her. She'd like to get a certain person - that one, who was dragging her through the whole continent to reach Rilaar Sea to continue the way to Ungarde. She couldn't understand what kind of magic or which feature of his character made her feel so attached to him. But that was true and she couldn't deny it. And she didn't want to pretend it was nothing special. The feeling she had was special, and that person was special for her either. And she was excited to learn she could stay next to him. The status wasn't important. She wasn't too puritan to think that a male and a female should not travel or live together if they're not blood-related or married. She had spent many years, serving the network and temporarily staying in the headquarters, which often reminded her military barracks of the city guards, so she wasn't too shy or felt any discomfort with her male friends. She travelled a lot, and there were times when she was sleeping on the ground, and there were times when she stayed in the houses of male-communicators. But till now she didn't experience that affection towards a definite male.
  
  He didn't ask her to marry him. He didn't ask her to spend the night with him in her room of 'Brave and Bald'. He didn't tell her what exactly he felt or considered her to be for him. But she forgot all those just looking into his eyes, when he was waiting for her answer. From what she could read in his eyes, he didn't expect her positive reply. But he was desperate hoping for it at the same time. And she, losing herself in his glance, said 'Yes' without further consideration.
  
  They left the inn immediately. She had all the necessary things with her, including the substantial sum of money, and if she would need anything else later - something, that she couldn't find on another continent - she could ask Edward to deliver it by courier service. She would just have to wait, as that service was quite slow, but anyway she thought she won't have to use it often. She didn't have big crates, full of clothes or jewelry: even in the Duke's residence, at the place she stayed oftener than anywhere, there were only a few of her personal belongings. And there was no need to take any of them with her, to lose time for it.
  
  Her explanations about it made the admiral raise his eyebrows. But he was too well-mannered to comment on this strange habit of his travel-companion. During the following days of road, when they both spend as much time on the horses' backs as they could, they were talking a lot - but those talks had a light mood and were not difficult for both of conversation partner. He didn't speak about her certain position and status there, in Ungarde, in the place she has never visited before. She asked questions about the climate, major professions, state of government, people and places of Ungarde, trying to fill her memory with useful knowledge. And he was patiently answering all her questions. He also told her about the Maritime Academy, and she thought that could be a nice place to study in. She even carelessly put that idea into words, and was surprised till death with his answer:
  - Ungarde Maritime Academy accepts female-students, too. Education is free of charge, and the maximum age-limit to enlist is 25. Have you ever thought about becoming a ship's captain?
  - Me? Are you kidding?
  - No. You have a suitable background from the network, your physical shape is excellent, you don't have seasickness - I haven't seen a single sign of it during our two mutual trips by sea - and you're currently looking for a new job, don't you? Why not?
  - Hmmm... I should think over it.
  - Sure. You have plenty of time. Staying at home and looking after the kids don't seem to be too attractive for you, I suppose.
  
  She didn't answer his last remark, although somehow it hurt her. Does he think she's 'one of the lads', a friend who needs his advice about choosing her new job? Does he really see her just as a friend, nothing else? Is it the reason why he didn't try to deepen their relationship during the time they had together, when they were alone? Did he find her attractive at least? The wave of those thoughts submerged her mind, making her bite her lips to keep any sarcastic comments unspoken and didn't let him see her disappointment and pain. Was that the only reason why he asked her to come to Ungarde: to enlist her as a student in that academy?
  
  ***
  Alan couldn't read anything in her eyes or face expression and that made him mad. He was pleasantly surprised by her reply in the inn, when she agreed to come with him to another continent. And he was scared to ask for the reasons of that. Was she bored from doing nothing after the colorful and dangerous service in the network? Was it her usual way of behavior, travelling with any man she liked to any place he would take her? Was that the reason why she was ready to share the same hotel-room or the cabin of the boat, without any fears or doubts? During this trip to Costa Blanca they had to spend a couple of nights in the inns near the tract, and there were times when only one room was available. And she didn't complain about it - though she didn't try to make their relationship deeper either. She was coming with him - without explaining her reasons, without demanding anything (that was unusual for a female, as Admiral Seymour could judge from his wide experience), without trying to become more, than just his friend. And it was annoying him. No, it was making him angry till death.
  
  With his last question in that conversation he was trying to check if one of his guesses was correct. Probably the girl wanted to make a new fresh start and use the things she learned during her serving the network to find another adaptation for her skills. If any of his male-friends would be in the similar situation, free and careless as wind, without much bounds or duties left in Remulus Kingdom, Alan wouldn't doubt a second and would offer that friend to come along to Ungarde, to start the new career there. During meetings in the past with representatives of that country Alan saw female-captains several times, and was impressed by their skills (but of course they were steering small toy-alike ships to compare with the ones in Remulus Kingdom). He thought that if she really needed a job at the moment or was looking for adventure, such challenge could be interesting for her. She didn't say 'Yes' - so probably his guess was wrong. But she didn't say the certain 'No', and that uncertainty was annoying him.
  
  He was feeling strange next to that female. He was feeling strangely comfortable next to her. She didn't like empty blabbering as a lot of girls around him. She didn't demand him to buy her expensive presents, nor to rent her a house, nor did she show the wish to sleep with him or to get married with him. And he didn't want to ruin the magically delicate atmosphere between them by just taking her into his bed, without any promises or future consideration, as he did many times before with other women. She was different from the girls he had met till now. So the way to treat her must be different. The problem was one crazy idea, stuck in his mind, and he couldn't get rid of it. That idea appeared in 'Brave and Brave', when he saw her singing and hold her hand after the performance. The first step was asking her to come to Ungarde. The second step - the second step required some preparations.
  
  ***
  The day when they arrived in Costa Blanca admiral asked her to wait in the inn or walk in the town alone, saying that he had some things to do before they leave the Kingdom. Tess felt offended he didn't give her any details about those urgent things he needed to complete. During last several days she thought they have started trusting each other much enough to share at least the main purpose of their actions, if he prefers to keep the details in secret. But that presumption turned to be incorrect.
  
  The general female's curiosity made her wish to track him and personally witness what he will do. And she knew that she could try to follow him, invisibly, using the special method of stepping - soundless and smooth - which Xi Yuan, their bare-hand martial art teacher in the network, taught them. She was the only of girls who liked the lessons of that teacher. No, she wasn't good at martial arts, and she always knew her fragile body would not be suitable for direct fights with males. But she liked some small hints, which the teacher could give her. Shadow following, soundless stepping and high flexibility were the result of those lessons. Even after the end of two-year-long education, each time, when Tess had to stay in the headquarters for more than two days, she was always visiting the old master and he, the same as at the time of her apprenticeship, didn't hesitate to teach her a new trick or punish her if she, from his point of view, was moving heavier, than before. Bruises on her legs, arms and back were the usual consequences of that punishment, but Tess didn't bear a grudge towards the violent methods of an old teacher. She knew one day those little hints could save her life.
  
  She didn't have illusions about the nature of her work in the network. It was dirty, dangerous, unfair and, as many people around would tell her, totally inappropriate for a female. But during her nine years of serving, including two compulsory ones, she often had good times. She met interesting people, she found wonderful friends, she could visit many places in her big country and even some places abroad, she could sing as much as she wanted, and could gather the silver glaze of admiration from the audience - which she used a lot. That glaze brought her extra luck and helped supporting her reputation of a reliable agent. But of course there were times when she hated her job, so after quitting it till the current moment she didn't repent that decision.
  
  She thought again if she should follow admiral during his solitary way in the city, but realized that she didn't want to play any dirty tricks at him. He was too valuable in the small circle of her close friends, and she understood she'd rather keep under control that curiosity of hers. If it will be stinging her too much, she could always directly ask what he did in Costa Blanca, when they get on the ship. That will be a long sea-journey to Ungarde, and she could use some pretext to demand him satisfy her curiosity. Even the most perfect females could have some small shortages, and people around, as long as they value that girl high, are ready to accept her in whole, with all the shortages, fears and high expectations.
  
  ***
  That day of their travelling on the cruise-ship began the same way as the previous three. There were 14 passengers on the ship besides Tess and Alan, and they were gathering in the dining-cabin together to have a breakfast every morning. Tess liked talking to two females in their company: one was the wife of the director of trade commision, and the second - a young girl, who just graduated from a girls' boarding school and immediately got married to the first handsome male she saw, and now was travelling for their honey-moon. Both of women had a lot to share about their lives, and Tess, as always, was a very attentive listener. And when she was asked about her own profession and plans, she used the story she has just composed in her mind, about a girl from the middle class, who decided to become a navy officer like her father, who passed away recently, and was travelling to Ungardian Maritime Academy - the most famous place where female-students could be educated in navigation and other marine science. Alan, after hearing that story for the first time, chuckled and in the evening asked her if she really made up her mind. Tess told she's still thinking over it, but that legend was better than just a talk about a homeless bardess, who goes where her careless head brings her. And she said to her new companions that Alan was the junior of her father, so Alan was helping her to reach Academy, as he'll be also working there. That was enough to stop the gossips, although girls were asking Tess several times if there was anything else between her and Alan. She always answered 'No' and was silently thanking the admiral's foresight, which made him book two cabins on the ship for them.
  
  The time between breakfast and dinner Tess spent on the deck, enjoying the fresh ocean air and taking part in slow conversation with two ladies, when Alan joined the company of male-passengers. This day seemed to be similar to the previous days, but right before the sunset, when the cook has just rung his big bell, inviting the passengers to the dinner, the routine of their journey got interrupted.
  
  There was a sudden high wave, higher than the ship - that wave arose and stood in the air in its biggest scale. And there was the legendary creature, appearing from that wave. Water dragon, blue with sharp red-edged crests on his back, covered with transparently-blue water bubbles, was in front of the ship. The captain and the ship-crew looked to be scared, but managed to gather their wits and don't attack the creature with their weapons. The dragon put his head on the deck, and spoke the language they could understand:
  - Humans, you should pay for passing though my area.
  Before the ship's captain could reply it, Alan, who heard a lot about water-dragons from his seniors (although haven't seen them by his own eyes), came closer and asked:
  - What kind of fee should we offer to the King of the sea?
  The dragon seemed to be pleased by the compliment. He looked at Alan, and, acceptingly nodding his huge head, answered:
  - One fee from a male, one fee from a female. The defense from one, and the most valuable thing from the other. Would you guess what I'm talking about, admiral?
  Alan nodded. He heard that the sea-dragons are wise and strong, and their demands, no matter how ridiculous they could sound, should not be declined. He looked at the ship's captain and the crew, wondering what kind of defense the dragon was talking about. The sailors had no shields, and nothing of their weapons could be used for defense instead of attack.
  
  After several seconds of silence another thought crossed his mind. Probably the dragon was talking about Alan's defense, that power of prays, which was given to him by the highland witches. He remembered as his lovers, twin-girls he met during participation in annual commission to the Highlands, told him before he left: 'We'll try to protect you. But there is one condition. Your defense will work till the moment your blood drops into the sea. If you get injured on the ship's deck, try to dress your wound immediately and collect all the drops of your blood from the deck, and then burn the cloth'. If the dragon was talking about that defense, it wouldn't be hard to get rid of it. Anyway Alan was not the Royal Fleet Admiral now, and probably he won't have to take part in dangerous campaigns in the nearest future. He took off his stiletto from the sheath, approached the end of deck, cut his palm and let the blood fall down into the water.
  - One,' - said the dragon.
  Alan felt that the tension of the crew-members and male-passengers around him became less. They didn't understood what he was doing, but could see that the sea-dragon is peaceful and continues talking instead of eating them together with the ship. Alan guessed correctly and completed the first part of the quiz. It cost him the special defense, which brought him the nickname 'Lucky Devil', but it helped to pay the fee the dragon required. Now it was time to think what could be the most valuable thing for one of female-passengers of the ship.
  A young bride and the trade commission director's wife were holding the hands of their husbands and crying. And only Tess contracted her brows and didn't show any fear in her facial expression. And the next moment she was running towards her cabin. The captain tried to stop her, but the girl was too fast for him - she dodged his hands and disappeared inside the cubby, and in several second she was back, carrying the guitar-case in her hands. She approached Alan and gave her guitar to him. And Alan, after another nod of the dragon, threw the guitar into the waves.
  - Two,' - commented the dragon, and in a heart-beat there was no trace of the huge legendary creature, and the ocean-surface was as plain as the green valleys of Remulus middle territory.
  
  Greeting and thankful sounds from the other passengers and crew-members arouse around Tess and Alan. He, after replying a couple of them, asked to excuse them and brought Tess to her cuddy, the furthest one on the ship (its distance from the other cabins was the main reason why Alan chose it). And, on contrary to his usual behavior, he didn't leave the cabin immediately. Tess sat down on the bed, and Alan preferred to stay standing, looking at her.
  - I'm sorry you have lost the guitar. I know it was valuable for you. I will buy you another one as soon as we come ashore.
  - Will you? Really?' - the delightfully-surprising smile on her face made him smile in return.
  - Yes.
  - Why are you doing it for me?
  - Mm, why? Because you're special. Hold a second,' - murmured Alan and with a shy expression, which was unusual to be seen on the face of that strong man, was looking for something in the pocket of his jacket.
  - Will you give me a minute? Hmm, I didn't think I would do it at such a moment, but...
  He took his hand off the pocket. There was a small box of red velvet, and when he opened it, Tess saw a small memory-stone: the one, which was used by magicians as the storage for some pieces of information, like portraits, copies of books, songs. Alan pressed the small ward in the stone, and the sounds of music - duet of violin with a pianola - filled the cuddy.
  - I've asked the music teacher in Costa Blanca to play this melody in duet with his wife, so the wizard could record it.
  
  Tess hasn't heard this melody before. And admiral surprised her the second time, when in several numbers of bars he started singing:
  
  I will bury a grape seed into the warm ground,
  I will kiss the grape's twig and pluck the bunch as it worth.
  I'll assemble my friends, I'll attune my heart for love sound.
  Otherwise, why do I have to live on this eternal earth?
  
  Gather on, dear guests, to my food for this feast,
  Tell me straight to my face - who am I known to be among you.
  King of Heaven will send me forgiveness for my sin.
  Otherwise, why do I have to see all my days to pass through?
  
  And when the sunset of gold will swirl around the corners,
  Let them drift by me again and again in daydream:
  Blue buffalo, and white eagle, and golden trout.
  Otherwise, what else can I see in this eternal gleam?
  
  In her dress of the dark-red color my darling will sing for me,
  In my black-and-white attire I will bow my head,
  I will listen to her and will die of love and sorrow I foresee.
  Otherwise, why do I have to live on this eternal earth?
  
  When the song and the beautiful accompaniment were finished, with the same shyness Alan continued speaking:
  - I heard this song a lot when I was a child. My father often sang it to my mother. I haven't told you before, have I - my parents passed away during the plague epidemics five years ago. I have no brother, sister, or other close relatives and I don't know if I should ask for your hand from archduke Dumont or any of your family-members in Highlands. I just...
  Without completed the phrase he took his second hand off the pocket and showed Tess another small box, which looked to be absolutely the same to the previous one. There was a ring inside that box.
  - Will you marry me?
  
  ***
  Three month later, when the new semester in Urgande Maritime Academy was opened, there were two persons with the surname Seymour among new participants of the big and friendly academy's 'family'. Professor Alan Seymour was announced to give classes in strategy and tactics of navy wars. And Tess Seymour was enlisted as the first-year student of cruise-boat navigators. At that moment, when both of them were enjoying the joy of a first day in Academy, nobody, including her, could guess that their love and fate had already prepared another surprise for them. Well, there were a lot of females in this vast world, who managed to be successful in their career even after giving birth to a child. And that child's mother was indeed too independent and too fidgety to live a quiet life.
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