The question puzzled Tant. He did not want to talk about the terrible temple and the deceased kenovia in front of everyone. However, Thomas quickly rescued him.

“ But what the hell is the difference. Yes? Losses don't count in this fucking world.

The wry-nosed one just waved his hand and went to the shelves, where there was an entrance to the kitchen extension. Tant and Holden sat closer to Kord.

“ Maybe she won’t follow us after all?” whispered the hearer.

“ I hope so,” whined the fisherman’s son. - This fury will not put the whole city to sleep.

“ Yes, the city is already sleeping,” he whispered angrily. – What are you hoping for? After kenovia, this creature will even look for us in Tantalia.

What if she's been here for a long time? Waiting for us to leave?

Tantus glanced at the closed shutter. With such strength, he would have brought the matter to the end in her place.

“ Tell them the truth,” Kord suggested, holding the pitcher to his lips. “Let everyone come with us to Master Wistan.” You noticed? This woman seems to be afraid of being seen.

- Eh, no. Who will believe us? Holden said.

“ Master Tantu will be trusted. He is a Nisman. Even robbers will listen to him.

Tanta almost spat. He didn't want to pour his heart out to a bunch of drunkards, but there wasn't much choice. It was dangerous for the three of us to walk the streets at night. He stood up, looked around the audience and said:

“ Citizens of Gotford!” In the name of Nismass, I conjure, listen!

Silence reigned in the drinking hall. Many eyes turned to him. The tavern owner politely hinted that now was not the time for preaching, but Tant motioned him to be quiet. After considering a plan of action, he made up a story about a group of gentiles from Asmatur who wanted their blood, and asked to be escorted to the militia stronghold. While saying this, he looked at the oil lamp, and was very surprised when he did not find fire in it.

Following the light, the front door disappeared. A gust of wind tore it off its hinges. In the dark, people jumped out from behind the tables. There were gasps of astonishment.

- Don't look at her! Holden yelled, getting everyone's attention.

Still pale was nearby. Tant pulled his companions towards the kitchenette. He waited for a white mist to appear on the threshold, or the throats of drunkards to open by themselves, but none of that happened. The silence dragged on.

- Whom to look at? - asked the owner of the tavern, lighting the lamp. What is this mystery? Your reverend, wonder elsewhere!

Immediately after these words, the tavern rocked. All tables and benches went to the exit. People rolled on the floor, mixed with barrels and earthenware. A memorial boat fell off the roof, in which the first owner of the tavern was fishing. Gripping the doorframe, Tant managed to pull Cord up, watching the piles that held the Double Bottom's pediment crawl out of the floor against the wall.

The three of them climbed into the annex, listening to the cracking of the boards and the screams coming from the drinking hall. Opening the back door, Tant jumped down. Cord followed. They looked around for Holden, but the henchman didn't show up.

The fisherman's son looked at him and shook his head. There are fewer of them again. As soon as they found themselves in the slums, the crackling and blows in the tavern ceased. The street is left behind. They ran between wooden houses and huts, bumping into hedges and bushes in the semi-darkness. From there they managed to climb the stone stairs to the middle of the hill.

Tant caught his breath with difficulty, leaning against the flower box. Behind him lay the lower limit, and farther on, the waters of Gotford Bay sparkled in the moonlight. The ruined tavern and the crowd of people around it could also be seen from here.

- Well, does she have strength? Kord blurted out, holding on to the small of his back. “The hurricane can't handle it either. These piles are buried three yards into the sand.

He stopped. Tant followed his gaze, making out some movement between the houses below. Kord raised his hand and shouted:

– Look! Yes, it's Holden!

A man appeared at the foot of the hill. Jumping over the fence, he combed the stairs and soon climbed to the observation deck. There was fear on the young man's pale face.

“ We thought you were finished, buddy,” Kord said, slightly emboldened.

“ She let me go,” he blurted out, looking around fearfully. “Master, I beg you, listen. The lady asks you to come to the cliffs on the old pier. There is no one there now.

Since when is she your mistress ? asked Tant, holding the bola at the ready. “She spilled the blood of our brothers. What to talk about with her?

- About what needs to happen. The day of the last light is coming!

The young man crossed his arms over his chest.

- Do you want to know who Mirai is or will you continue to run away?

Something in the listener's tone struck him as suspicious. Holden never gave ultimatums. He was smart and farsighted. The real Holden. Swinging, Tant launched a jet of flame at the boy, but he did not move.

- Ghost! Kord croaked as he watched the figure of the henchman disappear.

- Don't be a fool. She knows how to create illusions.

Tanta pulled him up. Illusions could not be controlled from afar. Pale was closer than they thought. A series of steps brought them to the edge of the middle quarter. Finding themselves near the stone estate, both jumped over the ruined wall and ran through the streets. Narrow and crooked, they changed before my eyes. There were plenty of dark corners and alleyways along the sides. Tant waited for the attack, but the pale fury disappeared along with Holden's illusion.

“ It looks like she really is afraid of being seen,” Kord whispered as soon as the temple square appeared.

Sensing a catch in his gut, Tant ran to the marble rotunda on the other side of the square. In it stood a tall sculpture of the goddess of life, and nearby in an aspen grove huddled an unprepossessing house. Coming up with the statue, Tant noticed a man nearby. Wistan was sitting on a bench, his head thrown back, looking up at the sky.

" Master Wistan!"

He twitched and stood up. He was a thin man of thirty-seven. On his bony shoulders, instead of a mantle, he wore a spacious shirt and a thin loden. The sorcerer's skin was as pale as his own.

“ Good night, brother,” the Nismanth said in confusion. “I didn't think you'd be done so soon. Did you find the Rainier trail?

He ran up to him. Holding the bola at the ready, Tant pulled the sorcerer and whispered in his ear. At the same time, he looked around and at Kord. The young man did the same. On the way, they agreed to watch what was going on behind everyone's back.

- That means how? An ancient evil,” Wistan said with a smile, scratching his broad forehead. “And the commands of the Meandrians can stop him?”

“ I'm not sure, but she can feel them.

“ Did that pale woman talk to you?”

Yes , but I didn't understand what she wanted.

“ Well, everything will be clear soon.

The master, as always, was calm. Nearby stood a mug with laydor, which the Nismant had long abused. Wistan had always believed him, and rarely worried, but now he was acting too nonchalant.

- Master! There's someone coming, Kord warned.

They turned. A tall man crossed the square in the moonlight. A brown jacket was pulled over his muscular body. At first it seemed to Tantu that this was a passer-by, but the man was walking towards them.

- Nismass is merciful. It's Taur," Kord muttered.

Tant went out to meet the boorish porter, raising his bola over his head. He asked Wistan to go behind the woman as soon as she appeared, and then issue a command. The pale one must have thought them idiots if she believed they would fall for this trick a second time.

“ Your Reverence, wait!” shouted the Magorean, raising both his hands, and himself stopped not far from the rotunda. - Dont kill!

Show yourself and talk to me! Are you Mirai? Why are you taking us out?

The man didn't answer. Tanta waved. Kord backed away, keeping Wistan in sight and the terrain behind him. Taur stepped closer.

- I have a message for you.

- And I have for you! Tires mirk ladum.

Wistan was still behind him, watching Thaur stare at him in amazement. The command didn't work. The porter clasped his hands in a pleading gesture and whispered:

- Please, come to the pier and take the boy.

- You won't get it!

Tantus unleashed a fountain of flame on the figure. The cobblestones beneath the man's feet turned into an orange mass. Taur dissolved into the fire, waving his arms frantically.

- Already received.

A soft female voice came from behind. Wistan and Kord seemed to be gone. Tant wanted to turn around, but felt himself losing consciousness.