Spark shoved his head behind his back.

“You will take me straight to him.” To the villa. You swear the road will be the shortest. That you will not harm me or Aineke. Neither. And that you will be silent until I cancel this obligation myself. Do you swear?

- I swear.

- Lead.

Bozena proudly lifted her chin. Iskora burned with a scornful look. But the hall crossed in an arc, fearing to approach the Magus. The girl, quickly slapping the stones over the stones, headed for the blank wall. Aine opened her mouth to warn you that it was not enough what happened with your eyesight. But Bozhena just waved her hand, as if to drive away a mosquito. The world faltered. In place of the wall formed an arch.

The staff lightly struck the frozen mawka lower back. Aine jumped up in fright. A quiet scream rushed to the ceiling.

- Do not lag behind, - Sparked growled, passing by.

The moment when it was possible to respond, worthy of a decent girl, was missed. And Aina, on her legs trembling with excitement, followed.

The hall was replaced by a narrow corridor filled with blue light. A folded pattern of pebbles curled along the walls - countless shades of blue intertwined, forming waves, the water column beneath them.

There, closer to the floor, they rushed about, flashing scales, fish.

Aine blinked in surprise. The waves were moving. The fish swam. Rotated with round, without a single thought, eyes. Slammed gills.

What Mawka took to be an elaborate mosaic turned out to be a living, mobile stone.

A moment of delight was replaced by anxiety: the fish noticed the guests. And, not lagging behind, floated behind. They became more and more - from the depths of the stone to the flock relatives were beaten.

“Spark,” whispered Mawka.

Magus did not respond. Wooden knocked staff. Slapped leather cherevik.

Fish flooded the walls so that they could not see the water - the corridor was flooded with restless silver light reflected from the scales.

"I will look at the ceiling," - decided mavka.

The stone vault was decorated with rustic square hatches - through them, daylight fell into the corridor. Aine smiled. The sun. At least something native. From him, both she and her sisters take power.

People happen and the moon rejoice. Not from a great mind: they, as mothers, only the sun and yes support.

The smile went out, exactly as it flashed. In some hatches could see the starry sky.

Aine realized with horror: terrible will happen. What should not be in nature. A little bit more, and tears spill from the eyes - what could be more shameful?

Mavka sniffed.

- Aineke, with whom Bozhena came to you? Well, that day when she told me about the treasure, ”asked Iskor.

He spoke softly, but his voice echoed off the walls. Fishes, to Mavkin's happiness, frightened in dismay.

“I don’t know,” answered Mawka. The voice trembled, but it became a little easier. - I did not see. Guests are always met by Aneshka.

- Does she, too, provoke them?

“No,” Aine began. And stopped.

Before it, finally, began to reach what has recently been spinning in my head, but never became a thought.

“It turns out,” continued Iskor, casting a mocking glance over his shoulder, “have you not seen the guides?”

Aine wrinkled her forehead, remembering.

- She ... Bozena that is ... said she sent the guard home. And so in the yard I did not see anyone. You would Anishka on this score tortured, not me.

- Yeah, - snort spat.

Mavka pulled the sorcerer by the sleeve.

- What are you ugukat, owl? Say what you wanted.

“It happened so,” Spark breathed, “that you and I saw this very“ guard ”. I mean those kind people who scattered my borrowing on a log. So here. Before heading out for you, their head blurted out that Anishka told them about the treasure itself. It turns out they did not accompany Bozena anywhere.

Aine shrugged.

- Not they, so others. Little, or something, she has people?

“I thought so too,” answered the sorcerer, “decided that those strangers to us were accompanied and led the“ retinue ”to your house. And then Bozena received his sight. Together with her, I also saw the light.

Bozena stopped. She turned sharply to Iskor, a look of utter despair on her face.

- Give you her word! - muttered mavka, looking out from behind a volkovy back.

Magus just waved away:

- Early. First of all, Aineke, you need to know something. Namely: miracles in nature are countless. Only the sudden insights of their number are not included. Any “miracle” always has grounds, which deprives them of the status of “surprise”. Do you understand?

“No,” Aina answered honestly.

- To curse blindness was removed, you first need to impose. But if there was no curse, then remove nothing. If a person who has been born blind can be cured, then it will take years. In truth, I do not know if this is possible.

Aineuke nodded.

- It all depends on the case. But you are right. The treatment takes time. Is always.

- Of course. This is how the world works. There is no curse on Bozena, you can believe me.

- Believe it and me. She is blind. And now sighted. What is this all about?

Spark grinned at his mustache.

“Besides,” he replied, “that one can see not only with his eyes.” Through the guide, for example. I think that Bozhena came to you alone. With such a protection - a reasonable act. And if someone accompanied her, so trouble. To talk did not go. Ahead of time. As for the guide ... his role is perfectly suited to the spirit. Villa, for example. In general, they are very accommodating, for a fee. Willingly make deals with people ... in other words, Aineke, in front of us is a witch.

Mavka looked at Bozena in surprise. The girl stood, looking down. The fingers were pulling the fabric of the dress.

That's right. Well, where did the suddenly seen man have such habits - lower his eyes? Especially, if all my life I walked in darkness. Yes, and - she herself could walk the mind! - the first days of the sight should see nothing but a burning light.

And everything in the world, absolutely everything, must be seen as a stranger. New

Bozena, of course, was surprised. Very convincingly, but still Aine would get to her. As soon as I brought my thoughts in order.

Too much mind has come down - how to maintain the purity of the mind?

“Although I’m wrong here,” continued Iskor. - Witches should call those who successfully concluded the contract. Few who are cunning, or anything else subjugated to themselves the spirit. Signs are not worth believing. To become a witch, you do not need a gift. Enough arrogance, confidence and ignorance. They all end in the same way - in slavery by the villa. So Bozhena, wishing, perhaps, to see his eyes, got caught on a hook.

The blonde woman shook her head, looking imploringly at Iskor.

- After we dived into Nav, the gift escalated. And our witch began to see better. Or maybe not. Just talked, for example. In any case, the villa keeps her on a leash. And the price assigned for freedom is my head. I have a frog on my tooth. I do not know what, and I do not want to know. Spirit helped to play the story with the treasure, in the hope that I will buy. In general, the way it happened.

Mavka's fingers grabbed Iskor's wrist.

- Go from here.

Magus smiled.

- I will calm the spirit. I will remove Bozhena from a hook. And we will go home.

Aine bit her lip.

“We should leave her here,” she whispered, dropping her eyes in embarrassment. - Only, Iskor ...

“Love is the greatest magic, Aineke.” That's why you came with me. That is why we will win.

Bozena howled, stamping her foot. Sparkle stared at her. Mysteriously smiled.

- What with my love? I am not a witch. Not Magus. Not a prince with a retinue.

She waited for Iskor to take him by the shoulders. Soulful look into his eyes. And he will say something like “you have something that the whole army does not have”, or “unprecedented forces are hidden in you”. It would be the most simple, but so beautiful is not true.

“You,” said the sorcerer, turning away, “will divert his attention.” I have enough heart beat. Come if ready.

And Aine went.

******

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