A thin chain of steel rings. Try to break it? Your hands would be more likely to break than her. The bracelet—clearly riveted with magic. The rivets instantly glow white-hot and cool immediately. If you use them skillfully, you won't even burn your body. And they know how to use them.
He walked up to the wall and tugged at the ring set into the stone block. It was useless, as if it had grown into the stone. Or maybe it had—magic, too, no doubt.
The door is massive, bound in steel. A real prison. I tried to reach the door, but it was impossible. Well, that's understandable—what if the jailer decides to peek in, and there's a prisoner with a stool around the corner! Bam! However, this is nonsense. The chairs are so far away that it's out of reach. Incidentally, it's quite a large room. What are they doing here, I wonder? The floor is stone, there are holes in the corner for draining water and... blood? Sacrifices? Why not... Yuragor did such things, after all. He did worse. Images of memories surface—it makes me want to puke.
"Gentle, it hurts! You can't do real magic without blood, and great magic requires great blood."
"There's no need for magic that involves blood... people's lives. It can't be done!"
"You don't understand much, puppy! Keep looking, keep looking for the exit! Stop! Someone's coming! Fall on the bed and pretend to be asleep, just in case."
Ned quickly jumped onto the cot and froze, facing the wall. The door creaked—very quietly, inaudibly—then closed, and… nothing. No footsteps, no rustling, as if a spirit had drifted into the room. And then a cold hand lay on Ned's thigh.
- Stop pretending. You're not sleeping.
"You?" Ned asked in surprise. "What do you want?"
- I want to make a deal.
"And what kind?" Ned asked, alarmed.
- I need a child.
"For sacrifice, perhaps?" Ned grimaced. "I hardly fit the definition of 'child.'"
– In body, hardly... but in mind... Stop pretending. You understand what I'm talking about.
- You're twice my age! You're old enough to be my mother! Are you serious? Why do you need it?
"Are you really that stupid? What difference does it make to you why? Do you know what your question should be?"
- What? What will I get in return?
- Finally... Yes, you will get something in return.
- So what? You'll let me go right away, and I'll run off to do my business? Who are you trying to fool?
"I'm not promising you'll walk out of this room right now. But I promise—and I always keep my word—you'll live. No one will kill you. Time will pass, and you'll walk out of here, it's possible. When the political crisis subsides, when everything calms down, you'll go about your business, and that's it. Quality work from you."
"Like a breeding bull, huh?" Ned grinned wryly, but the woman nodded silently.
"Yes, that's right. No obligations, except one—to bear me a child. Nothing else. I'll give you enough money, let you go after the political crisis, won't let you be killed, and will cancel the contract to kill you. Is that bad? And that's for something you'll also enjoy! Admit it, I'm a beautiful woman. Many would like to be in my bed, but not everyone is allowed to continue my lineage."
– Where are the pitfalls here? Where did you hide them?
"No stones. I could arouse you so much that you'd climb on anything that moves. With spells, potions. But I don't want that. Your actions must be deliberate, you must want to do it—in a good mood, with desire. Sober and not drugged with potions that could affect the health of the unborn child or even conception. I don't need an abnormal, frail child."
"Why do they need me, of all people—I still don't understand! Are there not enough men? Why some prisoner, some country bumpkin?"
" Don't play hard to get, you idiot! A woman is trying to persuade you to have sex with her! Are you crazy? Maybe this is a way to get out of this situation? Out of this dungeon?! You're normal, you don't have any cravings for men, you've been without a woman for weeks, you dream about women, so why are you making faces, you idiot?!"
"Yuragor, leave me alone! Where are you nesting? Where do you come from?"
"I'm you, remember? Where you are, there I am. It's just that you shoved me a little too far away. But never mind, maybe now that you're chained like a dog, something will change. You'll start thinking with your head, not your butt. And you'll drag me closer. Remember: all paths are good if they lead to victory! For the fighters of Shirduan, nothing is impossible, nothing is shameful, nothing is dishonest: everything that leads to victory is right.
- Hmm... to listen to you, this woman is lying?
"Of course she's lying. About everything except one thing—she wants a child. Why? I think she's got some kind of problem with Silena. Listen..."
"You shouldn't care why. However, I will say," the woman suddenly changed her mind, "I am not satisfied with my successor. She is too stupid and weak in magic. Her father, with whom I had an affair before the death of my official husband, was handsome, but… not distinguished by intelligence or magical power. I thought that Silena would inherit my intelligence, my strength, but it did not work out. Alas. I need a successor. And not just any successor—but a powerful mage, a dark mage. Our magical powers will unite, and my son will be a great mage! Like Yuragor. He will conquer the entire world! Silena lacks scale; all her thoughts revolve around satisfying her own passions, her little passions; she is mired in pleasures, which, I must admit, she understands. I want the revival of the great secret organization Shirduan, its power over the entire world! Maybe not me, but my son will revive Shirduan… but so it will be."
"Did you understand everything? Why do you think she opened up so much? You're dead. Only a dead person can't spread information to the world. A surefire way to shut her up. She'll keep you as long as necessary to ensure a successful conception. Maybe even hold out until the baby is born. And then she'll kill you. If I were her, I'd kill you sooner. What if your magical powers awaken and you free yourself? Or better yet, cut out your tongue, chop off your arms and legs, so you can't cast spells and escape. You can make children even without arms and legs."
- What disgusting stuff! Are you serious?!
"Don't you know if we're serious or not? We're one. Of course we are."
- I hate the Shirduan sect!
"Yourself? You're part of that organization. Yes, yes, don't grimace—you're part of Shirduan, you just don't want to accept it yet. But when you do, everything will go as it should. And you and I will turn this world upside down! We will turn it upside down! We..."
- Get out! Go back to your hole! I'll think about it and...
- Yes, yes - "and"! Give her a good one!
- Take it.
- What is this?
"No, what does it look like? What kind of stupid questions are you asking? Dry your body, dry it properly. When was the last time you washed?"
– Well, they could have taken me to the shower...
- Yeah. And if you try to escape along the way, I'll have to cripple you... shut up! Rub yourself down, this is a mixture of incense, soap, and water. You'll smell like a virgin on her wedding night. Really, really rub those spots! Come on, let me examine you... so... so... you seem healthy. You're a good boy—you probably don't go to whores? Are you saving yourself for your wife? Afraid of catching a nasty disease?
"And if so? Do you know about your wife? By the way, what have you heard about her, if you're so omniscient? Is she healthy, okay?"
"She's healthy, fine, well-fed, and well-cared for, so there's nothing to worry about. You worry about yourself. Well, now you're a little cleaner. Of course, I wouldn't say you're particularly clean, but... Lie down! On your back!"
The woman shed her shapeless clothing and stood naked. In the glow of the bright oil lantern—she'd deliberately turned up the light—her toned, strong, and flexible body glistened slightly, apparently rubbed with some kind of incense. Ned had already smelled her scent. The aroma was arousing, alluring, and inviting. Although she'd said she wouldn't use any stimulants, that was a lie.
Atrok was beautiful. Her body was little different from that of a twenty-year-old girl—a slender waist, strong, firm thighs, and full breasts. Seeing Ned's attentive gaze, the woman asked with a slight smile:
"Good? Mind you, after having three children! Magic, special tools, and special training. With a strong will and knowledge of special techniques, you can achieve a lot. We black magicians age later than other people, and later than ordinary, white magicians. Do you know why?"
"Why?" Ned breathed, watching the woman approach him, caressing her chest and hips, her gaze fixed on his body. "There was definitely some mental trickery involved." And Ned felt the blood rush to his groin. He wanted this woman—passionately, frantically! He wanted to knead and bite this beautiful body, push apart this sweet flesh, bury himself completely inside her... And spend the rest of his days like this!
- Calm down! It's just mental pressure combined with stimulants! Cool down! Cool down!
- Beautiful woman...
– Yeah… I've seen prettier ones, but for her age… she's a beauty, no doubt about it. She's almost forty, after all…
- I don't care!
– Because we drain the strength, health, and life from those around us, feeding on their souls! Aha… You're ready. Excellent! Lie still… like this… Oh! Good, yes, good… take your time! Take your time… there. Maybe we should make two heirs, huh? It's a shame to let you go. You'll live with me for a few years, and then we'll see… Now lie down like this… harder, harder!
She squeezed him dry, using him to the fullest. After she left, Ned fell asleep as if he'd been digging a ditch all night without stopping to rest. Yes, it was a storm, a hurricane! Never in his life had Ned been with such a woman. Beauty, combined with experience and magical tricks, produced THIS.
To call this an act of love would be foolish. There was nothing of love here. There was only the animal passion of two strong, dangerous beasts, partners fearful of each other, which added passion to their intercourse, as if it were their last.
* * *
"Well, shall we continue?" Silena smiled, but it immediately vanished. "It smells like a woman. Who was here?"
Ned remained silent, looking straight ahead, and Silena turned to her mother, who was sitting calmly in a chair, and said sharply:
– What, have you decided to find a replacement for me? Or are you just having fun?
"Have you forgotten yourself, Atrok?" the woman replied coldly, looking into the eyes of the one who had once been her flesh and blood.
Silena held her breath for two seconds, then looked away and slumped wearily in her chair. Then she looked up at Ned and bit her lip in thought, straining her teeth.
Ned deeply regretted losing his ability to listen to thoughts. How he could use it now! How he wished he could hear what the girl was thinking!
"No, I haven't forgotten," Silena answered coldly, "I try not to forget anything."
"Wonderful," her mother nodded, "but it's best to write it down. Hey, stallion!..." Silena winced and began biting her lip again. "Are you going to drink the potion yourself or should I pour it down your throat?"
"I'll do the talking myself, no need to pour anything in," Ned bowed his head, expressing submission and humility.
"You should have done that a long time ago," the woman grinned contentedly. "You're a smart boy. Silena, are you ready? Let's begin..."
Ned spent the entire day dictating spells, with breaks for meals and urination. Food was brought on cue, and he had to perform his "deeds" right in front of the women, who watched the process with curiosity. When Ned hinted that it would be better if they turned away and instead escorted him to the latrine, they merely smiled disdainfully, indicating that they had understood and exposed his pathetic attempt at escape. Then he began to do everything demonstratively, making no attempt to hide. However, this, too, was of no consequence to the two Atrocs.
Towards evening the older woman felt the urge to go for the second time – the younger one had already gone out three times – and when she came out, Silena asked Ned tensely:
- Slept with her? Well, tell me!
"So, I was sleeping. So what?" Ned shrugged. "She asked me to give her a child. She says you're a stupid bitch, unworthy of the post of Great Atrok, you need a replacement."
"What, that's what she said?" Silena grimaced.
"Something like that. Almost like that," Ned shrugged again. "I don't interfere in your affairs, I do what you tell me. You know she was with me, why are you asking?"
"You're in love with me!" Silena declared categorically, her eyes glittering triumphantly.
– Hook! Hook! The fish has bitten! This is it – what I was talking about!
"Probably," Ned looked at the girl tenderly, his eyes fixed on her thighs, covered in leather leggings.
" See what the bitch was wearing? She was trying to seduce you! You're a hit with the girls, congratulations! Don't screw up the conversation—we need to find out where she's going! By the way, the girl is definitely stupid. Mom would never have bet on the illusory feeling of being in love."
- Good. I have a proposition for you, you'll like it. My mother will come in now and interrupt our conversation. I'll come to you this evening.
- What if she comes?
"Hardly. That spider has had enough with men for one night. You've done your job—now you're no longer needed. I'm not like that, remember that. Wait."
They spent another hour and a half extracting the prisoner's knowledge. Then Ned, tired and exhausted from the interrogation, was left alone. He leaned back on his cot, eagerly awaiting Silena's arrival. He gathered himself to consider the situation and… unexpectedly fell asleep.
He woke to a light touch. Silena stood before him, handing him a face covering, like the Shatrii wore.
- Put it on.
"Why?" Ned didn't understand, but he quickly pulled the helmet-band on as if it had always been his everyday headgear. His hands tied the ends themselves and adjusted the mask as it should have been.
"The servants will come in now and bring in the trough. They mustn't see your face. Wash yourself. You stink... and of that bitch too. I wonder if she fucked you unwashed? Or at least sprinkled you with water?"
"Are you sure she won't come?" Ned asked cautiously. "She'll execute us later..."
"Maybe for you," Silena chuckled, "but not for me. I'm your beloved daughter! Don't worry... she's gone until tomorrow evening, I know that for sure. Ispas is still with me."
- Does she trust you to that extent?
"She doesn't trust me at all," the girl muttered sullenly, "she thinks I'm stupid and not capable enough to make decisions on my own! That's it, we'll talk later!"
The girl left the room, and a minute later a copper bathtub, polished to a shine, was brought in. Several men in shatriya suits filled it halfway with hot and cold water, left soap and a washcloth, and promptly left, closing the thick steel door behind them.
- That's it, get in! You can take off the tissur.
Ned removed his helmet with relief, stood, and walked over to the tub, delighted by its size. Then he stepped over the edge and savored the moderately hot water. His body itched as sweat washed away the scratches and abrasions from the whip his "beloved" had showered him with the previous day. The water felt like a healing solution.
"Wash yourself and listen to me. If you're smart, you and I will be the greatest people in the world!" Silena's voice trembled, and Yuragor inside said mockingly:
- Of course! We will! She will! The stupid bitch will use you, drain you of your knowledge, use you as a fighter, and then discard you like a dry stub. At least, that's what she hopes for. Be careful, don't give in! Watch your tone, your words, your face. You'll immediately see where she's lying. The old bitch is more complex, but this one, the little one, is as plain as day.
- I know. I know. You are me, I haven't forgotten!
"The main thing is that you don't forget. Today you need to try harder than you did with your mother. Those whores! How the great Shirduan organization has degenerated, if it's run by a fool and an old whore! They don't deserve to live. When this is over, kill her. By the way, don't rely on Silena's stupidity. What we once saw, what she can do—that's definitely Atroc-level. Even if not the highest level. Now, with magic, she's several times stronger than you. Don't forget, you don't even have magical protection."
- I know!
"That's wonderful," Ned's voice was quiet, calm. "What's my role in this? What do you mean, 'if you're smart'?"
"You have to be smart. Listen to me, do what I say, and you'll have everything. Including me. Do you want me?"
"Of course I do," Ned answered seriously, pouring water over his head from the ladle and tilting it so that the water would flow comfortably and it would not be visible that he was smiling.
– Look! Listen carefully. My mother is a fool. She doesn't know how to run things properly. If we were more decisive, we would have already taken power in the kingdom. She's waiting for the king to die so she can change the government, so she can install Prince Bordonar in his place. He's head over heels in love with me and will do whatever I command. And we will rule through Bordonar. But that's all nonsense. This is not how it should be. We need to be more decisive. And many in the Church agree with me. Young people, like me! So, here's the deal – you help me, I help you. I'll get you out of captivity, and you… you'll do what I need.
"What do you want?" Ned said monotonously, simultaneously discussing with Yuragor the question of when she was going to saw off Ned's head.
"You will kill the king. Then you will return, and when Bordonar marries me, we will kill him too. I will remain on the throne and rule as we see fit. You will be my consort. How do you like that?"
"And your mother? Will your mother just sit back and watch you do all this? As far as I understand, she's very much in power and has no intention of giving it up to you. How's that going?"
"Mother? It's time for Mother to retire," Silena explained vaguely, "and you'll help me with that."
- Kill her?
"Well... if that's the case? She's too stupid to understand how to build power. By the way, you'll get money too—lots of it. I mean—before you become my consort."
"She's lying! She's lying, the bitch! She'll target you with her mother, you kill Great Atroc, then Silena will target you with all her Ispas—because now she'll be Great Atroc—they'll grab you, especially since you've lost your magic, and... you're dead!"
- What should I do? What should I do?
"Get out. Get out of this dungeon. And... on the run! Far away from everyone. Then gather your strength, restore your magic, come back... and turn everyone inside out!"