- Are you sure? Usually the officials and the top of the government have no place to sell. - I skeptically asked about the right-hand Molai-Ha.

- Undoubtedly, the Emperor monitors their work, and he does it personally, I'm not talking about the close attention of the Council. - Convinced confidently magician, cutting the chop in his plate.

- Hm ... And how can we do now ... - I muttered thoughtfully, carefully examining the list of names that he kindly provided me with.

- Maybe already tell me what you have in mind? - Calmly and calmly asked Sorianna, sitting at the opposite edge of a long table.

- I myself have not decided. - I casually dismissed the woman and I began to touch the paper. Behind, Verimera came and silently poured wine into my empty glass, without looking, I took it by the thin leg and sipped.

- And if you do not pay in the usual sense of the word? - Bumping into an interesting thought, looked up at the magician.

- I do not quite understand what you mean? - Realizing that nothing threatened his sister and mother in the near future, Molai-Ha calmed down and even relaxed a little.

“Keriire Mortens, he's the head of customs, right?” - I showed him a half-written sheet.

- Yes, exactly, the Earl has been serving the Empire for more than thirty years and in good standing with the Emperor. - Chomping, Mol said.

“If you're going to bribe Mortens, this is a very stupid idea.” - Suddenly said Sorianna. I put the sheet on the table and looked at it.

“Lady Sorianna, when I need your opinion, I'll let you know.” - I answered very politely and graciously, the woman understood the promise and grimaced in disgust.

“Look, you wrote that six years ago this Earl had a son, and since his birth, the Emperor’s personal magician has been visiting him monthly, why?” - Again I turned to Mole.

- I don’t know for sure, there is a lot of talk in the city about little Laimore, but the Earl stops all rumors and doesn’t apply about it himself. - Chewing, replied the magician and blotted his lips with a napkin.

- Interesting ... And what exactly is chatting in the city? - I was interested.

- The most common version is that a small Earl was born with some rare semi-magical disease. - A little thought, said Mol.

- And what is this? - I frowned, not finding the description of such a disease in my bottomless memory.

- So sometimes it happens when a person is born, a person does not have abilities for magic, but his body needs it. This does not happen often, and most of these children die in the first month. - The magician explained to me, I did not understand completely, but I caught the essence.

- So, if the rumors are true, without the constant help of a magician, the son of Count will die? - I broke into a contented smile.

“Precisely, it is impossible to cure such a disease, many generations of magicians have been struggling with this task and alas, not one has come to success. - Molai-Ha shook his head sadly and pushed the empty plate away from him. Veriyra immediately approached him, took the dirty dishes and quickly took her to the kitchen.

- I can kill him. - Has offered hitherto silent Veririra. Sorianna choked on her wine and coughed convulsively.

- While not needed, I have other plans for this child and his father. - I shook a finger at the girl and I leaned back in my chair. A thought was spinning in my head, I tried to grab hold of her, but every time she slipped away.

- Like, say, are you familiar with such a concept as religion? - Finally, having decided, I turned to the magician.

- No ... What is it? - He was alert and tensed.

- Hush, do not need to be afraid, I'll explain. Religion is a concept according to which there is a certain force, with worship and worship of which, you can get various benefits. - Trying not to touch on confessional aspects, I tried to explain.

- Aaaa ... Are you talking about advice? I, it seems, understood that the inhabitants obey the magicians, follow their laws, and for this they get good weather, a bountiful harvest and the complete absence of any massive diseases. - Threw the pier.

- No, no, you do not understand, I'm not talking about magicians. - I frowned.

- And then about whom? - He looked at me blankly.

- Try to present an abstract something that can absolutely everything.

“This is impossible, the research of Rotiramon in his treatise on the limits of the magic ...” Molai-Ha spoke confidently, but I interrupted him.

“I have no idea what treatise you are talking about, but forget for a minute what was told to you at the Academy.” Do you remember my friend who took you oath? - Deciding to go with a trump card, I reminded him of XA-Aran. Molai-Ha immediately turned pale, and horror flashed in his eyes.

“I see you remember, relax, now he's not here.” - Stretching out my hand, I nudged him encouragingly and looked at Sorianna. The woman watched with close attention our conversation and the reaction of her son.

- Do not pay attention, we are talking about our mutual friend. - I winked at her and beckoned to her finger.

Marquis paused for a second, but, remembering the contract signed a couple of hours ago, got up from the table and slowly approached me. I took her hand and put her on my lap, Sorianna immediately stiffened, but did not dare to resist.

“Look at your mother with magical eyesight.” - I asked at the embarrassed Mola and hugged Soriannu by the waist, holding him closer to me. Molai-Ha overcame himself and, blinking a couple of times, looked intently at his mother, after a few seconds his eyebrows crawled up in amazement.

- Well? What have you seen? - I smiled contentedly.

- She ... She is dead ... - barely speaking the words, the magician muttered, not taking his eyes off her parent.

- You're wrong, she is alive all living. - I did not agree with him and deftly unzipped a couple of buttons on Sorianna’s dress. My hand slipped between the folds of the fabric, and I cupped my lush fleshy chest with my palm.

- Do not turn away. - I demanded ordered Mol.

- And you are not redder, not a girl already. - Sourly added Sorianne, continuing with pleasure to squeeze her charms.

- The heart beats, blood runs through the veins, and the consciousness is clear and unaffected, it is alive, but in magical sight you see it dead, you know why? - I asked the mage.

“I ... I don't know ...” He murmured, and I saw that confusion and interest overcame shame.

“What you call magical vision is only a way to see the reflection of the soul, its dim shadow in the human body.” And now there is no soul in your mother, she has signed a contract and lost an immortal particle of her own self, now only ephemeral concept of loyalty protects her from death. - I explained to the magician, he thought for a long ten seconds, and then he looked at me amazed and not believing eyes.

“But ... It's impossible ...” he muttered in dismay.

- Exactly, this is what I tell you, the objects of religion are capable of doing the impossible. - Inspectingly I raised my finger to the ceiling, taking out Sorianna’s hand from under her dress.

- Come on scat. - casually having driven the woman from her knees, I slapped her on the ass and leaned on the table.

- The world was created with certain rules and laws, which its inhabitants have to obey, this is precisely a verified self-contained isolated system, but the demiurge made one mistake, he did not lock the door to his creation, which makes it possible to form a religion, now do you understand me? - Molai-Ha listened to me very carefully, but, I saw in my eyes, I did not understand anything.

- I recently saw one book in your library, some textbook on magic for beginners, it says that it is impossible to create something from nothing, look here.- Spitting on the theoretical explanations, I rolled up my shirt sleeves. Pure energy began to accumulate in my palms, it gradually turned into a small candle, having finished creating, I concentrated and materialized the energy, causing it to become visible and tangible. - When at the end of the wick flashed a light, the hitherto fascinated watching my actions magician ...