Novel 3. The Last Autumn

What happened next was not what anyone called an audience. A dozen guards simply entered the house and led Armando, Valria, Carlon, and Maria out. The others were ordered not to go out of the door until specially authorised. The Don and his companions were not taken to the main palace complex, but to the south wing of the residence, which was reserved for various services. Nevertheless, when they were disarmed and searched and almost pushed into the office on the third floor, there was waiting for them in a soft armchair a man whose face the former bailiff had hitherto seen only on imperial gold coins. His Majesty the Emperor himself. He was younger than de Gorazzo had imagined, a sturdy, stocky, middle-aged man who would have looked like a peasant if not for the brocade robes and the russet beard, too well-groomed for a commoner.

Lady Maria was the first to fall on one knee and bow her head. Although she was not a true noblewoman, her status as a personal guard gave her a number of privileges. In particular, the right not to prostrate herself even before the emperor. The mercenaries did not have time to follow her example. The ruler of Eastern Daert waved his hand as if he was swatting away a fly:

— Drop the ceremonies. We're not in the throne room. We don't have much time, and I have a lot of questions. I've received your written reports and my intelligence reports, but I want to hear from those directly involved.

"I'm in the habit of talking to royal persons in informal settings, — de Gorazzo thought ironically, trying to hold back an involuntary chuckle. — Queen Octavia, Augustus the Strong, Chancellor Irutava, now the Emperor... Too bad I missed Christina of Elvart". Captain Valria began the report — and Armando noted, that the elfess had a sense of self-preservation after all. Talking to the emperor, she put away her wit and spoke seriously, dryly, briefly. The Emperor listened without interrupting. When the girl grew tired and took a pause to catch her breath, His Majesty asked a question or two of the others. Most often Armando. After listening to the report to the end, the Emperor leaned back in his chair. He remained silent, thinking about something. Nodded, seemingly to himself. He said, looking at Valria:

— Your plan to intimidate King Auguste appears to have won us a few weeks of peace. My commanders say his troops were ready to march a month ago, and there is no point in the Coalition waiting — winter is coming, which is bad for the attacking side.

— But it is only a temporary measure, Your Majesty, — remarked the girl, without averting her eyes.

— Yes, — agreed the ruler of the East. — Fortunately, I have a means to ensure a more sustainable peace.

He pinched his beard as if he wanted to tear out a hair. Unlike master Carlon, the Emperor did not succeed. Suddenly the ruler smiled, a wicked, wolfish grin:

— Aliens aren't the only ones who know how to burn down cities.

— I beg your pardon, Your Majesty? — Carlon frowned.

— Since the end of the last war, the Empire and the Coalition had been searching for a magical weapon that would win the next battle, — the Emperor said, glancing around the room. — But while the west was opening portals and trying to control demons, the mages of the Imperial University were simply improving what was already working. They had originally wanted to improve fire-based combat spells. But it turned out that any mage had a limit to the amount of power they could put into a spell. So, in order to break that limit, the Academy's mages concentrated on creating battle amulets that could draw power from multiple mages. The result of their efforts was a new amulet. "Creator's Flame." That was its name. Two months ago, mass production began in the strictest secrecy. A week ago, the amulet began to be distributed to the air corps of the Empire's armies.

— And... what does this amulet do, Your Majesty? — The mage asked cautiously.

— What I said. — The emperor spread his hands. — It burns cities. Six mages of the first or second stage pump the thing with energy, which is released in the form of a burst of flame in a fraction of an instant. Two or three are enough to incinerate the capital of a kingdom. True, unlike the outsider bomb, the Creator's Flame can be stopped by fortress amulets. But the amulets would have to be incredibly powerful. There are hardly any cities smaller than Daert and Garlond that have such amulets. The amulet is huge, but a dragon can easily lift it, and anyone with magical talent can activate it. It's very simple. Even primitive, you might say. The problem was to keep so much pure energy inside the amulet, which was solved recently. However, it's still dangerous to keep them charged, so the army sent one charged amulet and five empty amulets. They will be recharged on the spot if necessary. Alas, the need has already arisen.

— Were you... planning to use the "Flame" against the Coalition? — Valria asked in a hushed voice. "Your Majesty," she forgot to add. Or didn't want to.

— Of course. — The emperor met the girl's eyes again. — Not against cities, against armies. As a tool on the battlefield. I want to rule the West and the entire continent, Captain. But you cannot rule with ashes. However, if Auguste uses his atomic bombs against the Empire, I will strike his people with everything I have. Scorch the Coalition lands into glass. And I think that's what could save the world.

— How? — The golden-haired elf turned deathly pale, but she didn't look away, just like last time.

— Auguste doesn't want to rule the ashes either, I suppose. — The Emperor leaned forward, his fingers gripping the carved armrests. — We need to get the message across to him — war will lead to mutual doom. Because we both have swords but no shields. We stand naked against each other with our blades at each other's necks. One move and we're both dead. That's the way I see it, captain.

— But is that how Auguste sees it? — The girl asked in a stronger voice.

— I don't know. — The Emperor tapped his fingernail on the armrest. — And I want to convey to him... my view. You, since you're involved in this story, will help me. I've already sent diplomats to the king with a warning. They will inform him of the "Creator's Flame" and the arrival in the Empire of the laptop containing the codes to its bombs. However, words are not enough. I want to give Auguste food for thought. You will go to the West immediately and take my orders to the Sixth Army. The Sixth Air Corps will use one "Flame" on the ruins of the fort in the centre of the Dead Lands. It won't hurt anyone, but it will show the Coalition what we're capable of.

— Why not send a messenger on a dragon, Your Majesty? — Lady Maria asked in a businesslike tone. She, unlike the elf, was not shaken by the news of the new weapon. Or she was just better at hiding her emotions. Armando would have bet on the latter.

— The air is not safe, and there are already clashes between patrolling packs in the border areas, — the Emperor explained. — And this order must be delivered not only quickly, but also reliably.

— And you would entrust him to mercenaries rather than a personal messenger? — Valria arched an eyebrow sceptically.

— I will entrust it to the most faithful servant of my loyal vassal. — The ruler of the Second Empire turned his gaze to the Lady Maria. — She will take the order to the border. And you will be rewarded for escorting her. After that, you can decide what to do.

A new short silence was broken by master Carlon.

— Your Majesty, may I make a small request? — The black-bearded mage said quietly.

— Yeah?

— We want to keep one of our companions in the capital, — continued the mage. — I believe she would be a true jewel for the Academy of Fine Arts, but she needs a high patronage....

* * *

Anya kissed master Carlon on the cheek with a guilty smile. She didn't even look at Alex. The Emperor temporarily accommodated the guest from behind the portal at court, promising to look after her in the future.

No longer burdened by the frail girl and the slow escort, the party began a furious gallop westward. The horses were given almost no rest, and when necessary they were changed to mounts, and it was only when darkness fell that the company was compelled to halt and make camp. It was during the night that this happened.

Armando, exhausted beyond belief, was sitting by the fire, staring dumbly at a pot of boiling porridge, when a white flame flashed in the sky. It was only a distant glow that lit up the sky above the western edge of the horizon, but the mercenaries were stunned. Don de Gorazzo held his breath. Another white flash, to the right of the first — and just as distant. Another, as if closer. And another — but no longer white, but crimson-scarlet, not extinguished immediately, similar to the reflections of a giant fire. It shone in the north, illuminating the jagged peaks of the low Kornath mountains.

— No-no-no... No! — Alex exhaled, dropping the spoon. Captain Valria, without a word, in two movements rolled up the blanket spread on the ground, threw it across Snowflake's croup, climbed into the saddle. She gave the mare a shankel. Not knowing what they were doing, the others followed the elven woman's example. Half a minute — and the whole company rushed towards new and new flashes, lighting up the night. White, red, white, red... "Border towns, forts, armies in camps..." the former bailiff's mind flashed. — "On both sides of No Man's Land. And to the north, imperial ports. Elvarth..." They didn't ride for long — the captain came to her senses almost immediately and tightened the reins. The companions huddled around the girl in a frightened bunch. The horses, sensing the excitement of the riders, wheezed and danced, shaking their manes.

De Gorazzo did not know how long they stood like that, frozen in their saddles, staring at the blazing horizon. A strange sound brought Armando back to reality, made his whole body shudder. It was a dreary, rasping howl that seemed to come from every direction, echoing across the night plain.

— Dragons, — Valria said, throwing back her head. De Gorazzo looked up, too. Nine black dots were creeping across the sky, lost in a scattering of stars. Farther to the south, another wedge was visible, followed by a third, smaller one of only five beasts... The battle dragons of the Empire roared aloft, moving westward, bringing death to entire cities, wedge by wedge, pack by pack. There, in the west, and far to the north, the scarlet glow continued to blaze, to widen. Separate purple centres merged together, into one continuous glow, consuming the horizon, illuminating rare clouds, erasing the stars. It seemed that beyond the invisible line the earth itself was burning, every inch of it. The former royal bailiff was silent, unable to believe the magnitude of what was happening before his eyes.

A gust of cold wind nearly tore off the don's hat, yanked his cloak, rustled dry leaves. Valria threw forward her hand and caught one leaf. Holding it between her fingers, without looking at her companions, she said aloofly:

— It looks like this autumn is the last one for our world. After it comes winter, and after winter — another world, a completely new one...

— What... what do we do now? — Lady Maria asked, confused and lost.

— Well, the company's contract with the emperor seems to be over. — The elf let go of the sheet, letting the wind pick it up again. — You can throw away the paper he gave you.

She was silent for a moment, stroking Snowflake's mane. Than spoke slowly:

— I wish I could give an order to the company, specify a new target. But I think it's time for everyone to decide for themselves what they really want. I'm disbanding "Bright Heads" Company.

— What? — said master Carlon in disbelief.

— Don Armando, do you still wish to find your beloved? — turned to de Gorazzo, the elven woman asked.

— Yes... God, yes. — The former bailiff swallowed. The thought of Vittoria was the straw he grasped in utter despair. The red-haired donna is with the rebels now, rebels driven into the mountains. Ironic, but they should be safer there than King Auguste in the capital.

— Dallan? — looked at Sergeant Valria.

— I'm with him, — the green-eyed swordswoman replied simply.

— And I'm with you, — the elfess smiled weakly. — Not as captain. As a friend. Green, too, I suppose. Alex?

— I'll go back to Garlond, — the alien said sullenly. — Anya's all alone now. Whether she wants to know me or not, I'll be there for her.

— I must go to Elvarth. — Lady Maria's voice trembled. It was the first time Armando had ever seen her like this, and he thought the Guardswoman was about to cry. — I must find out what's wrong with the Duchess... with the city... with my sisters. If Christina... if... happened... it is my duty... my...

— It is your duty to find Emilia, — Dallan turned to her suddenly. — She should be on the islands with the fleet right now. Whatever happened in Elvarth, you still have a sister, and she needs you now. I'm... too. Both of you.

— Anna... — the pale lady whispered. Her voice still trailed off.

— Then it's settled. — Carlon pulled up next to Maria. — We'll go north. You go west. Alex, east. Is that it?

Valria unbuckled her purse from her belt, poured a handful of coins into her palm, and tossed the rest to Carlon:

— You've always been better at handling those round junk. Good luck. I'll meet you in Garlond. One night, after the war.

Maria gave Dallan a quick hug, nodded to Armando, and started the horse away. The black-bearded mage kept in step with her. They soon melted into the darkness, as did Alex, who had turned back.

— The journey to your home will be even more difficult than expected, Armando. — Valria leisurely pulled up her long brown gloves. Adjusted the hat on her head. — The direct route is definitely worth forgetting about. Well, that makes it all the more interesting, doesn't it? There's nothing good ahead, but damn it all, I want to see what tomorrow will be like. And there will be a tomorrow. Even if we burn this place to the ground, raise a cloud of ash over the world, the sun will still rise and set behind the clouds. It doesn't care. — She clapped Snowflake on the neck. — On your way, friends.

It wasn't the first time the squad had split up. But this time the paths of its members were parted forever. Though that night, on a plain lit by the flames of a burning world, no one knew it. As the thunder of explosions shook the continent, some stories ended and others began. And among those that ended was the story of the smallest mercenary company in the Frontierland....

The end.

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