“You know ... I would like to ... apologize ...” Chris glanced at the drow in surprise. This is from whom he did not expect to hear these words from the dark elf.

- We are not yet dying to repent of all sins - it turned out a bit rude, but Istel did not even pay attention.

- Who knows ... - she was silent for a while - Simply ... you are not the worst ... person - She looked straight at Chris's eyes - And I wish I had dragged you into all of this. And it's a pity that it happened with El ...

Chris looked into Istel’s eyes. It seems to speak sincerely - apparently, she has really changed a lot since her meeting. Chris felt a sudden rush of tenderness for this elf, next to him. He wanted to press her to her, kiss her, say softly in her ear that everything will be fine ... But he was not sure how Istel would react to this ...

- Nothing - he patted the elf on the head - get out. Maybe you can do something?

The elf smiled sadly.

- Yes, which of me is a magician. All I can do is ... - her eyes widen - summon demons! “And I continued in the usual tone.” By any chance you don’t remember one demon who didn’t fulfill the set tasks last time? - Istel smiled mischievously - it's time for him to work ...

Circle call drawn quickly. True, the elfs drew from memory, so perhaps the demon would simply kill them because of a wrong call ... but who does not take the risk, he wanders through the endless corridors. After the spell of the elves, a fog appeared in the circle of draft, outlining the horned figure ...

- Are you kidding me? Dame asked venomously when he saw a familiar drow. - And a month has not passed. You absolutely fucked up, mortals. - Chris did not understand the last sentence, she was in some unfamiliar language.

“We are trapped - Istel often — help me out and I won't call you for another ten years (not so long by the standards of both drow and demons, but still) ...

A powerful explosion made the entire castle shudder. A huge ball of fire flew through walls, doors, partitions, sweeping away all the traps in its path ... When the dust had settled a bit, Chris and Istel saw a straight path broken through the whole castle. In the distance was a staircase. Dame was not looking for difficult ways.

“Class,” said Chris, “can you lay out yellow bricks?” - but then he stopped himself under the gaze of the demon.

- Fulfilled. - he frowned, dissolving into the air - Adios.

* * *

After a brief meeting, they rushed up the spiral staircase, which led them to a wide, blown-up area on the highest tower of the castle. In the east, the sun was slowly rising, illuminating the steppe and the elven forest seen in the distance. But there was no time to admire it - they were already waiting.

Chris even faltered a bit - there was a dark elf standing on the floor, like two drops of water similar to Istel. But no, it was difficult to confuse them - there was never such a wild mixture of rage, pleasure and madness on his face. She had a whip in her hands, and a purple amulet hung around her neck. Chris drew his sword. For some reason it seemed that there would be no joyful meeting of loving relatives.

- Sister! - Santil shouted happily - how long have I represented this moment. True, I have new important things to do - she chatted with an amulet, smiling madly - but there’s always a minute for you!

Istel furiously hissed like an angry cat, and rushed at Santil, pulling daggers from her sleeves. She was obviously not going to chat. Chris slowly walked around Santil, hoping to come in from the back.

And she reacted unexpectedly quickly. She threw a fireball towards Istel, and with a whip she tried to reach Chris. The warrior dodged, and he rushed to the attack - it is better to fight hand to hand with the magicians.Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Istel, although she had been thrown dangerously close to the edge, but did not suffer much and was already rising to her feet. Santil again attempted to attack the magic, but Chris was too close, and she was forced to go on the defensive — the steel handle of the whip could serve as a club. On the other hand, Istel already ran up to her.

Santil rushed about. With someone one fight would be on equal, but not with two. She made a serious mistake without even trying to take a person into account. Therefore, within a few minutes, she was forced to constantly retreat. However, after carving out the moment, she jumped off and again threw a spell. This time, Istel, with a stronger cry, scattered, flew off to the parapet and fell down, hanging on her arms. For a second, Chris's heart stopped, suddenly he realized that he really didn’t want to lose this sometimes extremely successful, but still beloved dark elf ...

Chris sharply turned to Santil - if he is now rushing to the aid of Istel, then the priestess will have a great opportunity to get rid of them. And saw Istel’s daggers next to him ... They rushed at the same time - Chris grabbed the dagger and threw it at the priestess, and she waved the whip ... Without looking at the result, Chris turned on his heels to the elf hanging over the precipice. A strong pain burned his cheek, but he did not pay attention and reached for Istel ... He managed to grab her a moment later, as her hands opened. And behind him, Santil sank with a dagger in his chest.

Santil was breathing heavily, trying to realize - where did she make the mistake? But now it is not important, the main thing to be saved. Fortunately, she managed to pull off a bloody amulet from Nate. No matter what she wanted to get from him, she would always find a way to charge. The priestess reached for the amulet hanging around her neck ...

When Chris pulled Istel onto the roof, she hissed again, not controlling her rage, and snatched the weapon out of her hands and rushed at her sister, trying to finish her off. Chris looked back at the priestess, who was surrounded by a purple glow and whispered something. An unpleasant foreboding pricked him and he grabbed Istel by the waist, slightly raising him above the floor and dragging the resisting elf to the stairs. "Do not have time!" - Flashed in my head. He did not know what was going to happen now, but the intuition of the warrior cried out loudly: “HOST, VALI !!!” And Chris used to believe her. He was about to jump from the tower, as the portal window flickered in the center of the ground. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a glimpse of Who He created him, after which Chris darted into a glowing circle, pulling a dark elf kicking behind him. He had not seen the purple glow behind the closed portal, absorbing insanely laughing Santil, disappeared for a second, being drawn into the stone ... and the amulet exploded, demolishing the castle to the ground and raising a giant pillar of fire into the air ...

* * *

But other eyes saw it. Nate shook his head sadly, watching the castle collapse. He liked this place. How nice that he decided to first try the amulet on this drow, and not use it himself. Stupid dark, it seems not far gone from the development of the orcs - she saw a brilliant pebble, saturated with force and decided that now she would crush all enemies only with the power of thought.

But still - why did the error occur? According to his calculations, the stone really had to fulfill the desire of the elf. After which he, of course, would have removed the pebble from the priestess's tenacious paws. In any case, it does not matter. You can return to the original plan. It would be time to get acquainted personally with Archmage Calais. In the eyes of a five hundred year old necromancer, forced until recently to hide from the eye of the Inquisition, an unkind light came on, and he opened a portal to the capital of the Empire of the people. Yes, back to the original plan ...

* * *

Chris and Istel left the portal on the border with the elven forest, right under the stumpy oak. The elf burst out of Chris' hands and rushed back to the portal, but he again intercepted her. Luckily ... Read more →