The new morning on the farms was no different from the previous one. Shortly before dawn, rows of peasants stretched along the roads between the fields. The shepherds drove their herds along the edge of the forest, greeting familiar hunters. In the forest, axes spoke, piercing the timber trees. With the victory of light over darkness, the yard of the master's domain was filled with the screech of saws, the noise of voices and the hammer on the anvil. At the behest of Nismass, the world outside the city walls came to life and stirred, but here, in the stone bowl of mountains, it belonged to one person - His Majesty of arable land and forests - the Landlord.The morning really seemed ordinary, and no one would have noticed the difference if there hadn't been a fussy peasant named Jagins in the domain. Walking around the estate until sunrise, he accidentally went into the left wing, where the landowner's office was located, and stumbled upon the baron there. The shutters were closed. The

The rays of the setting sun illuminated a wide stone platform littered with bones. Below, overcoming fatigue, a henchman clambered up the slope. His scarlet half-robe with a knee-length peplum was torn and covered with stone chips. Clinging to the edge of the ledge, he pulled his heavy body up one last time, and collapsed onto the rocky ground.Nearby, as before, lay two dead men: a few steps away - the stiff body of a young man with a noose around his neck, a little further away - a withered skeleton with a severed head. Both the deceased were dressed in similar clothes. The young man jumped up, pulling a stone ax from his belt. He built it below, breaking the useless staff and parting with sandals, the straps of which went to strengthen the stone blade.Holding the weapon in both hands, the listener looked around. It seemed that he was experiencing this moment not for the first time. The stone man kept among the firs at the foot of a sheer cliff. The giant's hands ended in huge boul

The city came to life with the first rays of the sun. As always, the spark of life flared up in the lower limit, and then, like a fire, spread throughout Gottford. The fishermen were the first to go to sea. On narrow single-masted boats, hundreds of sea hunters left the lagoon and swam towards the horizon. Hammers clattered and saws screeched in the shipyards. The narrow sandy streets and wooden stairs among the hills were filled with dirty figures. The inhabitants of the lower quarter began to work in the morning. The homeless begged for alms. Someone was in a hurry to get contracts in the shops. The old fishermen checked the nets on the piers and collected seaweed to sell to the farmers. The dockers lined up near the port office, where they gathered unloading teams. Women left their houses and walked along the streets, carrying earthenware jars to the stream.The slums were followed by the middle quarter. As soon as the sun rose above the mountain line, the shepherd's horns blew. Th

Through the gloom, Shanti felt a touch. Someone's cold fingers clutched at his hand. The first thing that came to mind was the dead. With a strangled cry, he opened his eyes. Overhead, the vault of a cave loomed black. There was darkness everywhere, only a lamp was burning somewhere in the distance. Turning his head, he met Annabelle's pale face. The girl's brown eyes looked like pieces of coal in the dim light.– What are you yelling at? she asked rudely.As always, courtesy itself, Shanti thought. The last time he fell asleep, the peasant woman lay like a corpse, barely breathing. Now, like, was in order, except for the swollen cheek.- Where did you drag me, and why did you lie down next to me? – again breathed dissatisfied voice.Shanti immediately sat down on the couch nearby and briefly explained everything. Anabel listened attentively and gradually changed in her face.- I thought you were dead. I thought you weren't breathing, he admitted honestly. “When you hit your head on t

Rick didn't listen as he aimed his crossbow at him. Rumbold pointed his sword at the bearded mercenary, who was holding an ax with both hands. Distenza stepped forward, shielding his comrades. As befits an honest leader, he plunged his sword into the ground and showed his empty hands as a sign of good intentions.Your name is Fergus, right? the mercenary inquired, curling his thin lips in a grin. “Grog was your friend. I see you have similar amulets. He often spoke of you as if you were a half-witted fellow ...The warriors behind him burst into laughter. Fergus didn't hear half of what he said." Explain how he died," he demanded, his eyes fixed on the warrior's shell, which featured a seven-pointed star with a crown in the center.“ Two weeks ago he went north to carry out his master's assignment and disappeared without a trace.- What are you saying then?" Of course he's dead," Distenza laughed. What do you think he was doing there all this time? Enough chatting! You're not here f