Elena Star

Warrior's Wife, or Love for Survival

History first. mysterious

Night. The calm breathing of Eran, his hand gently covering my palm, the sleepy growl of Ikasik, who settled on the balcony.

But we are not alone! I feel it clearly. I feel steps - light, weightless. I feel, but I don't hear. I feel presence. I don't know how, but I feel it. I track and even with my eyes closed I see how the shadow is approaching me.

I shuddered as soon as the dark substance stopped a step away from the bed, and at the same moment Eran woke up. The light flashed, the blue-eyed warrior peered at me in alarm.

The shadow continued to stand by!

I want to answer, I try to utter at least a word and ... I can’t. I'm scared. I have never been so scared, I was afraid to even move.

Kiran, - the warrior gently touches my cheek, and a terrible realization comes - my face is wet with tears.

I woke up and sat up in bed. My head hurt. Strange weakness all over the body, and fear. Silent panic horror pulses and beats like the echo of a heartbeat. I looked around nervously - in the bedroom of the lord of Iristan there were only me and Ikas sleeping on the balcony. For a long time she did not dare to look in the direction of the front door, then she cursed herself for cowardice and turned her head. Nobody.

So a dream?

Just a bad dream? Since when do I have nightmares? From what crazy atom did my brain throw such a dream at me?! And why is it so scary ... It's still scary.

The door opened - a blue-eyed warrior, in black trousers and a snow-white shirt, silently approached, sat down next to me, extended his hand, touched my cheek and asked:

What scared you at night?

Tar-en nodded.

And I realized that what happened was not a dream! I saw a shadow. Not the same as Nrogo's, and not even the monster that controlled the papandra, something else. Terrible. Dangerous. For me it's dangerous.

Without looking at the warrior, I cautiously got out of bed, went to the window, sat down near Ikas, thoughtfully stroked the snow-white fur of the beast. The only thing I could think about right now was, did my mother tell me everything?!

Noise behind the wall. Eran rose, majestically crossed the bedroom, opened the door.

Eshen akkerdan eithna McAdle, - said the warrior standing outside the door.

Cairn," the tar-en replied sharply and closed the door.

I did not understand either their language, or why the negotiations this time were conducted in such a way, because Eran could have done it differently, somehow putting his fingers to his neck and that's it. But here's what I specifically understood - it was about my grandmother, and the blue-eyed one said no. Well, maybe not, but it was definitely a rejection.

Why are you afraid? the tar-en suddenly asked, turning sharply towards me.

What could I say? During the night, even Iqas did not react to the substance. And Eran didn't see it. Nobody. Because the shadow came for me. And now I was desperately trying to remember what Aravan said. Remember verbatim.

But only fragments came to mind:

Agarn needed a girl from the Aerd clan. Aerd - eithns, traditionally. There are several clans capable of accepting the blood of any clan, Aerd are the strongest. Traditionally, eitna-hassash belongs to Aerd, and our grandmother was supposed to become the main eitna.

And I am from the Aerd clan, like my mother and grandmother.

Grandmother was being prepared to take the ordination of eitna-hassash, and for this, the seer must experience a painful shock twice. Usually, eiths define seers in this way - the girl experiences the first shock after a night with a warrior, the second after giving birth, and then the mutation is pushed in the right direction and the seer becomes eith.

Pain shock… Tent, first time with Eran, terrible, unbearable pain and exclamation of one of the eitn ‘She sees’.

I feel my hands go cold, there is frost on my back, it becomes dark in my eyes.

Grandfather understood that childbirth would be that second stage of mutation. Grandmother understood too, but really wanted to give him children. For many years they lived together, and after that she did everything to conceive. Grandpa didn't want that.

I shift my gaze to Eran. Tar-en touched me neither evening nor night. Hugs and nothing more. He knows? Knows and does not want to allow the second stage of mutation?

And then I remembered: She came at night, no longer as a woman, but as a mother and the ghost of that beloved, to whom grandfather always remained faithful.

It always seemed to me that fear is an inevitable component of any action. Now you are scared, but the master gives the order ‘Forward’ and fear becomes a catalyst for an adrenaline rush, allowing you to cope with the most difficult tasks. But what I felt now was not even horror, but something worse. Much worse.

Current page: 13 (total book has 17 pages) [accessible reading excerpt: 10 pages]

I closed my eyes for a couple of seconds, remembered the codes of seir Dyar, there was a number with which my older brother, who is also my failed husband, communicated more often.

She typed from memory and shuddered as soon as the sair displayed the face of papandra, only younger! But definitely not Dyar, he has shorter hair, although this one is about the same age as him, and I assumed:

Tar-en smiled wryly, and said:

“Kiran is me,” she disagreed with her brother.

He arched an eyebrow mockingly, but said nothing more, continuing to look at me with hatred. And this undisguised hatred forced me to remind:

“By the way, thanks to me, you are now the head of the MacWarras family!”

He chuckled, appreciating my words, inclined his head slightly, ironically over the very thought of gratitude, then asked:

What does my benefactor want?

I didn't want anything, I was just wondering:

- Where's daddy?

Regan frowned, scratched the bridge of his nose, pinched it, then replied in a hollow voice:

- Do not know.

- In terms of? - I did not understand.

“I mean, no one knows,” he growled. “When the ruler handed over power in the hasstarat of Aigor to the head of the Makorat clan, my father left. His one and Adalyn live in my house.

Pause, then quietly:

“The last person your father contacted was you, we haven’t been able to find him since.

- Did you search? I asked suspiciously.

This is our father, of course, and my brothers and I did everything to find him.

- This is our father, of course, and my brothers and I did everything to find him.

It was impossible not to notice the reproach in his words, one problem - I was not ashamed. Not a drop. Not a gram!

“Are you trying to put pressure on my conscience? I asked directly.

“I doubt you have it,” the brother replied mockingly.

“There is, but not in relation to papandra,” I said. Then she added: “However, your father didn’t put you under Nrogo, and he didn’t give Dyara for intimate games, so I guess ...

It's not for you to judge the deeds of a warrior, woman! Regan snapped at me.

When a man is wrong, he starts raising his voice,” I retorted.

Tar-en switched off. I just took it and cut the connection.

Has Agarn disappeared? Mom asked quietly.

"Will take revenge."

And Kaerla grahanar!

- Mom's scream made me flinch, the left one opened his mouth in surprise, and Nrogo jumped out of the house. The stern warrior in Agarn disappeared? Mom asked quietly.

- Yes, - I took off my shoes, climbed onto the sofa with my feet and looked at the left hovering over the table.

He looked at his mother, mother at him, then the left one said:

"Will take revenge."

“And the blow will strike on the dearest one,” Mommy said in a barely audible voice, looking frightened at own hands. “Kieran, I think it’s best for you to stay with the overlord right now. A month, maybe two, but a few years is better.

“Aravan,” said the left one, “Kira is under the protection of the sovereign, the blow will be on the one who is dear to both of you.”

And Kaerla grahanar!

Mommy's scream made me flinch, the left one opened his mouth in surprise, and Nrogo jumped out of the house. A stern warrior in gray trousers tucked into his boots and a green-gray loose tunic with cut off sleeves, which only emphasized his muscular arms, stopped as soon as he saw me, then turned his gaze to Mommy.

Kiara, do you need help? Hassar asked Shaega.

"I'm sorry, I'm fine," she said stifledly.

And I was blown away by the way these two communicated - cute in the extreme, like very old friends. Very old and something clearly related. Interesting what? In general, I wanted to talk with my mother, and in private ... especially now.

Two fingers to the neck and I called:

"Listen," came the instant response.

"I would like to talk to my mother, without witnesses," I asked carefully.

In response, silence. Long, tense, angry. And yet he replied:

And then I got angry, though it was some kind of tired anger. "Eran, you can't do this! I just want to..."

"No, Kira. I have no reason to trust your mother, and after today's antics, I can't trust you either!"

"What antics?" I asked in shock.

"The attack on the Shays," he answered quietly and very angrily. "I barely made it, Kira, and I refuse to think about what would have happened if I hadn't!"

And I had nothing to say to that. Nothing at all. Before my eyes, as if in reality, sheisa soared into the air and I, chained by a stupor ...

"I'm going back to Irae, just wait for me."

She removed her fingers from her neck, got up tiredly, and left the arbor.

“Kieran,” Mom caught up, hugging her shoulders. - What's happened?

I didn't tell everyone. I looked at my mother, she also had something to say to me, and also not in front of everyone. Bad feeling.

"Eran is coming back," she said softly.

Mom's gaze darkened, and she seemed to simply not hold back the words:

“The last thing I wanted was for you to become a concubine on Iristan!”

A blow that she did not want to deliver, because she instantly whispered:

- I'm sorry, Panterenok.

You have nothing to apologize for, - she answered just as quietly.

The whole situation was ugly. No, I wasn’t angry at Eran, for some reason I wasn’t angry at all, I couldn’t be angry at the one who saved my life today, it’s just all this ... Mom is right ...

“Let’s break through,” I said.

Then she hid my mother's seir in her belt, looked at the sky - so blue - blue, like the eyes of my warrior, smiled, and asked:

- What will you do?

“Go ahead,” Mom said in a barely audible voice.

Sideways glanced at her. What to do, I didn’t even doubt it, but, a defective navigator, not without me.

Nervously looked around the garden, remembered the garden in Eran's house, that black stone. By the way, yes, the mother sees the shadow, perhaps she will be able to use the transitions of the sheys. The idea didn't make sense...

Story five

I was sad and heavy at heart. We sat in the refectory - Eran, Gardang, Liraet and Osher. The last two are the brothers of the ruler of Iristan, Gardang - a mentor and educator, and I. The conversation did not go well, there was no appetite, I wanted to hide somewhere and burst into tears so that no one would see the tears. The warriors ate silently, quickly, with concentration!

And then Gardang said:

“Lady, I bring you my condolences…

“Kira,” I asked quietly, not looking up from my salad plate.

And no one even objected. I don’t know if they themselves were also in a depressed state, or if my mood had such an effect, but the containers silently returned to the food. I also silently picked the salad. Sad, sickening, the feeling that everywhere the smell of blood. I never thought I was that weak.

Ikasik, lying by my chair, sniffed nearby.

“Kieran,” one of the warriors suddenly called.

Raising her head, she realized with surprise that it was Liraet. And yes, he really looked like Eran - also huge, muscular, tanned, only his hair was a little longer, his torso was slimmer, his face was sweeter. As far as I remember, Liraet was the eldest, but at first glance, I would say that Eran is much older than him. Not because of their appearance, neither of them had wrinkles, but Eran's eyes were harder and more intent, his face was strong-willed, and there was not an atom of softness in it.

Liraeth smiled at me and continued:

“Today you proved to all three clans that you are worthy to be the Sovereign.

My look reflected all my surprise.

- Lear! Osher looked at him darkly.

And this hard reining down provoked my words:

“Well, I don’t know,” I poked around in the salad, “personally, no one has yet proved to me that I am worthy of being their Lady.”

Everyone has stopped eating. And for some reason I experienced an attack of appetite and joyfully crunched the salad. She swallowed and continued:

“No, seriously, who are these three clans of yours anyway?” I didn’t even really see them, seriously, we communicated even more closely with the Shays.

Four stern warrior muzzles looked sternly at me. Eran's cheekbones played with jaws. She smiled sweetly at him and continued:

- So far, all I know about you is that you screwed up completely with these aetns!

A moment's silence, then furious at Eran:

- Yes, yes, my love? I responded instantly.

The warrior, ready to give me another portion of Iristan morality, fell silent, looking at me in bewilderment.

“I really love it, very, very much,” I sincerely admitted, but then added: “But I don’t know why.” Because you screwed up on a level with everyone!

This time there was no growl - Eran just clenched his jaw.

And I lost my appetite again and already tired, quietly added:

- I understand that you were dealing with the local population, in fact, with the natives, but how much it was necessary to dislike the population of the planet that gave you a home in order to start the situation with the Aethns and Shays like this.

The silence on the part of the soldiers did not last long, and Osher broke it:

It's not for a woman to get into...

“My grandmother suffered,” I angrily looked into the blue, not as blue as Eran's, a little lighter, tar's eyes. “And my mother suffered too. And I. Are you telling me now that it's none of my business? And how, is there enough conscience for such statements ?!

Osher looked nervously at Eran, then at me, and not so confidently and condescendingly:

“We are sincerely sorry that our ancestors colluded with the Shays. But in those conditions there was nothing else left - among the survivors there were practically no scientists, only warriors.

I listened to everything in silence, then quietly said:

“I'm sorry that you only noticed the problem when it affected the interests of the Lord of Iristan. Before, you just didn't care!

"Kira," Eran tried to reason with me.

But where is it. In fact, it probably looked funny - four hefty bulls and a skinny cadet of the Space University in comparison with them. But there are moments in life when you don’t care at all about the size of the interlocutors.

“Look at yourself,” I grabbed a napkin from my knees, crumpled it, and threw it on the table. - How did you live, huh? Not bad, is it? Do you know how many girls ran through the dungeons of the main one - I met, - my mother suddenly spoke, - in the caves, where there were ancient and such awkward buildings, the name "Irania" ...

Irania?! And suddenly I had a very clear idea - Tarstan, Enastan, Iristan ... It turns out that Enastan was also a Tara name, but in fact our planet was called differently at all?

- That's bullshit! – there were no other words.

Nobody had. We sat frankly shocked,

I especially mom and Ar. But it just seemed to me that the brother really had the same blood with us, because he recovered quickly and asked

- What about the shays?

“And the Shays really wanted to live,” I answered quietly. - They wanted it so much that one of them committed suicide and ... gained freedom.

Mom looked at me in surprise, Ar did with noticeable distrust. And then I explained:

- In grandmother Kirata - sheis! And her mutation is just Shay's adjustment of the captured body for herself.

Kira, what are you talking about? Mom was amazed. - Is not…

And she stopped. Yes, yes, it was not difficult to draw a parallel - if a warrior is able to absorb a shadow and become a tar-en, that is, a symbiont, then what prevents you from realizing that aethns are also peculiar symbionts. And my mom seemed to understand.

– Only here there is one difference, – I continued, – tar-en is really a symbiosis – that is, a warrior gets the capabilities and knowledge of a tar, and a tar acquires a semblance of life, then in the case of Shays, everything is different – ​​the shadows of Shays capture the body of the victim absolutely and completely and body and mind.

The garden on the long-lost ship became incredibly quiet. So much so that I thought I could hear the snow falling. Slowly, with a quiet rustle, soothingly ...

“So,” I continued, “the Shays that committed suicide and gained freedom, it seems that he caused the death of the ship.

- To give those one thousand four hundred and ninety-nine freedom? Ar guessed. - I guess so.

I looked at my mother, my mother seemed completely depressed, and I understood why - for Aravan and I, grandmother was not a very close person, and for Kiara McAdle, what she heard was a blow, perhaps stronger than a mother’s attempt to kill her daughter ...

- The Sheys really wanted to live, didn't they, Kirill? she asked hoarsely, staring blankly ahead of her.

At that moment, I thought that I would never tell my mother about what I saw in the dungeon, or rather, I would tell about the temple, but about those crippled women who became completely disfigured and lost their minds - no.

And I said:

Then something didn’t go according to the Shays’ plan, these are already my guesses, so I could be wrong, but the Shays were hardly satisfied with the form of existence in the form of shadows, and they began to look for options to achieve an alliance with the surviving containers, looking for a way to become useful to them. And found. Mom turned her head and now looked at me attentively, Aravan also caught every word, and I didn’t even know how to tell them about it. And yet, I had to.

“We are Aerd,” I began, “and our family, like some others on Iristan, is distinguished by the presence of a recessive gene.

A quiet moan from my mother, a creak of Aravan's teeth, and I continued:

“It was the girl from the Aerd clan who became the first victim of the Sheys. As far as I understood, the introduction took place in three stages - at the moment of birth, when the baby was in pain, at the moment of merging with the warrior - when the body was weakened by the struggle with the Tara microflora, and at the moment when the woman gave birth. Three stages - and Shays captures someone else's body.

Even I felt terrible from these words, I can imagine how my mother and Aravan felt.

“So the women didn’t die?” the brother asked.

“As far as I understand, the microflora of the Taras is like a virus – you get sick and that’s it, immunity is developed,” I said. “I could be wrong, we haven’t really gone through medicine yet, so I’m not an expert, but I guess that the weak died, the strong survived ... Before the advent of eithn.

– How did they appear? - again Aravan, mother was simply shockedly silent.

- That girl from the Aerd clan who came to the tars chose a strong warrior, I told it carefully, because I was afraid that if I started to verbatim recall the words of Gardang, I could contact him through this strange brain frequency of the tars. - She gave birth and mutated, then left the alien village, and returned already as an eitna, offering help. And the women stopped dying...

“I take it they didn’t really die before that?” Aravan hissed.

“You are warriors,” Mom said quietly, “for you, a woman is something fragile, tender, vulnerable and weak, while you are strong and can do anything. I guess the containers made a deal, right, Panterenok?

“Yes, Mom,” I confirmed. – In exchange for their services, the Sheys asked for only a prison block with their remains, motivating the request with the fact that they want to give a decent burial…

- Myself? Aravan chuckled.

“Something like that,” I smiled sadly.

– Brad! he said gloomily.

And I realized that I love my brother! I love everything, for the mind, ingenuity and ingenuity!

- You immediately understood, Ar, but they didn’t! I exclaimed. “They didn’t even come down to think!” They went to Kaarda, removed the prison block, and, without opening it, gave it to the Aitnam. And they dragged the hulk into the dungeons, built a temple for themselves there, and began to multiply.

- How to reproduce? Ar asked.

“Aithnami,” I explained, “they all wanted to live, so they needed at least fifteen hundred aethn.

- Least? Mom responded. What about the maximum?

I said nothing, but my mother is smart and began to guess:

Mom had one problem in life - she is very smart! That's too much! But I don’t have any problems and I know how to keep silent!

Ignoring my mother's cry, I continued to tell:

- But not only the Tars had problems with their brains, I suspect that the Sheys are not particularly friendly with the mind, and the first Sheis that turns out to "saved" them did not share something with his fellow tribesmen and he went to the masses.

- Like this? Ar didn't understand.

Frowning, she honestly confessed:

“I don’t know much about this moment, but the Tars settled on a separate mainland, right?

Ar nodded and confirmed:

- the mainland of the ruling clan, the smallest on the planet, but you are right - isolated. Further. Mom glared at me, she quickly noticed the move with a change in the topic of conversation, but she also listened carefully.

“Well, then,” I continued, “three hundred years ago, among the tribes of the local population, one extremely intelligent individual appeared who became the head of a tribe, and then united them all, taught them how to build ships and led them into battle against the Tars.

“Asherkhad,” Mom said in shock.

“I don’t know, Gardang didn’t give his name.” I shrugged.

– Gardang? Mom was amazed. Have you spoken to Gardang?

I nodded, my mother chuckled and asked:

- And how is he to you?

“Smart bastard,” I was forced to admit, remembering our breakthrough in Kaardu and his orders, “just like you, mom.”

Mommy frowned, blowing her a kiss, I continued:

- The containers broke them, you see, they themselves have already managed to recreate their technologies, but the question arose before them - what to do with the local population, which had to be somehow controlled. They abandoned the idea of ​​appointing their Tara rulers in their places - as I understand it, it was a waste to live with the natives, and then, lo and behold, the sheys came!

“Your mother,” my mother scolded.

“Tar-ens,” Aravan guessed.

“That’s right,” I beamed with a fake joyful smile. - The Tarams were too lazy to control the locals, they decided to take the path of least resistance proposed by the Shays, simply to introduce their own rules, traditions, laws into the locals. And among the main laws is the Right of the Strongest.

“Because all tar-ens subconsciously obey the strongest, and the strongest on Iristan are the ruling clan,” Ar said hoarsely.

I nodded. Mom cursed again.

“The Tars underestimated their opponents,” I continued, “over the years, the Shays have not only created an army for themselves in fact - and the Tar-en are an army whose survival depends on aethn, but also cloned themselves by recovering DNA from the remains of bodies. I saw four, but I suppose there were more ... - the voice somehow sharply sat down.

- Did you see it? Ar asked.

I nodded.

Mom began to breathe carefully, and I realized that she was trying to control herself.

“This is such a sad story,” I hastened to finish my story. – The Shayses have now seized everyone, aitn the same way. We will treat.

Mom, who had completely drooped, after my last phrase threw up her head and asked again:

- Treat?!

“Yeah,” I confirmed. “Osher swore that they would take steps to treat any surviving eithn.

Silence, then Mom clarified:

– Osheran Dard Ae, elder brother and deputy of the Sovereign?

- Yeah, - I confirm again, - we had something like a family council yesterday - I ran into, the containers were justified. Everything ended acceptable - Eran will free the blue-skinned slaves, they will destroy the sheys, they will treat the eitn.

Mom and Aravan looked at each other. - What? I didn't quite understand their reaction.

With a shrug of her shoulders, Mommy summed up what I had said:

- The rulers allowed you to high council, allowed to state their point of view, and took note of your words ... I can’t believe it!

“Me too,” Aravan said.

“Yes, even I don’t really believe what’s already there, only it wasn’t like that,” she sat more evenly. - I was in a bad mood and I was actually going to go cry, and they screwed up and apologized.

– Apologies? - Ar was in a trance. – Warriors of apology to the woman?!

Frowning, I tried to remember how it happened, and thoughtfully answered:

- It all started with the fact that Liraet said something like "Today's proved to all three clans that they deserve to be the Sovereign."

“Unbelievable…” his brother muttered.

“There are no words,” Mom agreed.

- This is a great honor, Kiran, - said Aravan with fervor, - this is an honor that was not awarded to any of the wives of the Lord of Iristan. None, you know? This means that you were accepted, not easily accepted, recognized as equal to the ruling! It's ... - it seemed from excitement Ar would now jump up and walk from side to side. “Kira, this is an honor that no daughter of a Khassar has received!” None! It's much more honorable than being the only one! This... You should have bowed and thanked for the honor! I hope you at least thanked me!

Skeptically looking at the overexcited brother, I remembered what happened next yesterday, and honestly admitted:

- She answered that no one had yet proved to me personally that I was worthy of being their Sovereign.

Ar jumped up! Mom groaned her eternal “Kira-ah-ah-ah!”, I didn’t feel guilty at all, also got up and said:

– You know what, they are generally invaders! And the aethns appeared because of them! And, in the end, the rulers really screwed up and are to blame in all respects, and if it weren’t for me, seriously, I’m not even kidding, so if it weren’t for me, then ten years would have passed and the papander would have seized all power in Iristan, so What…

Mom took my hand, forced me back, and as soon as I sat down, she asked gloomily:

Aravan also sat down, looking at me inquiringly, I had to tell about my suspicions:

- One thousand four hundred and ninety-nine shadows were captured, that is, you yourself understand - one is not enough. And I guess that that Asherkhad, who three hundred years ago raised an uprising, as a result of which the rulers agreed to start tar-en, so they didn’t kill him then. In the sense that the peasant was killed, but the shadow, that is, the Shays, remained. And I suspect that it is this Shayse that the former Hassar of Igor, that is, Agarn MacWarras, is possessed.

“But actually, the Shays itself is turned on you, Mom, and I’m afraid this creature loves you much more than your father.”

Probably, there was too much information, because for the next ten minutes I drank juice, and my mother and brother tried to digest what they heard and were generally in shock. But this did not stop my mother from gathering her thoughts and reminding:

“Ar, you have to eat.

“I lost my appetite,” the brother snapped.

“Give it back,” Mom ordered, getting up. “Because now we know for sure that Agarn will come for you and he also has two shadows. And I will never forgive myself if you suffer through my fault!

My brother frowned at my mother, I was about the same, and added:

“It's not your fault, mom. Not a gram.

Ma very slowly squatted in front of me, Kiara McAdle looked at me with her huge green eyes and said softly:

“Because of me, Agarn MacVarras went to seize power in the clan, because of me he became stronger and colluded with the shadow, because of…

Because you are Aerd,” I interrupted her harshly. - Mom, think again - it was Aerd who traditionally became eitnoy-hassash. And papandra needed a woman from the MacVarras clan, that is, me, to become eithna in order to seize power in Iristan.

- What? Mom breathed.

“Daddy told me about it personally,” I enlightened her. - So stop killing yourself with this feeling of guilt and what do we have next?

“I must go look for a shadow for Aravan.

“Happy hunting,” I said.

But without moving, she muttered:

- Get out of Iristan. Quickly, decisively and as far as possible!

Well, I didn't agree.

- What about the Eitns?

Mommy frowned.

“And something needs to be done with the tar-ens,” I continued, “either stop this symbiosis, or fix it, because now without aethn, things will die out.

Mom finally frowned, and I honestly admitted:

- And you need to return your grandmother.

“You need to finish your studies,” Mom hissed.

Yes, and I’ve already skipped quite a bit, and you can’t prove to Master Lodzhen, for example, that your native papander dragged you from Gaera, and he will still have to retake all the fights.

- Need to. I agreed.

“I didn’t raise you to be just the concubine of a harbor warrior!”

“The only Lord of Iristan,” Aravan corrected.

- Yes, it doesn't matter! Mom was outraged. - Kira, you understand - you wake up in the morning and realize that you could become anyone, but turned into only a wife and a concubine. You are different, Panteronok, different. And like me, you want more than a man's love can give.

- So, let's not heresy, - Aravan was indignant, - the warrior gives the woman everything she needs.

Mom just measured him with an attentive look and sarcastically asked: - Sex once a week and in an orderly tone "Where is my lunch woman ?!" Is this, in your opinion, the limit of women's dreams? Ar, I always thought you were smarter than a bunch of self-important tar-en, don't disappoint me.

Aravan was embarrassedly silent. Apparently, he is not so hopeless.

And I have another question:

- Mom, maybe you just never loved? - By the way, the question in my opinion is on topic.

But I didn't wait for an answer.

“Okay, young people, I’m going,” Mom stood up in one smooth movement. - Behave yourself. Get out of the ghost that stands by the tree do not talk. Kir, remember that the transition to another reality is fraught with the possibility of staying there. I left.

And my brother and I were alone. On a creepy boat full of ghosts. And everything would be fine, but somehow it suddenly became dreary and reality is fraught with the possibility of staying there. I left.

And my brother and I were alone. On a creepy boat full of ghosts. And everything would be fine, but somehow it suddenly became dreary and scary.

– Brr, – Aravan was the first to move away from the desire to freeze and not move, down there in the cave all this is not so creepy.

– What is there? - I tried not to look at the tree indicated by my mother, where the ghost was.

“Beautiful, candles, carpets,” my brother listed. – And aets ply from time to time, everything is not so terrible.

“And don’t talk,” I moved closer to him, then completely climbed onto my knees. “That’s it,” I say, “now I’m not afraid.

- Why? – Ar gently embraced.

“Now if we are attacked, you will be the first to be eaten!” I giggled, I said.

Meanly and treacherously tried to knock me off my feet, but I pretended to yell, and clung to my brother with everything that was available, including my teeth.

- Don't bite! Aravan was outraged.

- Do not give me to the inevitable death, - but she stopped biting.

“Does that mean I can?” – the huge muscular warrior was indignant.

- Yeah, yes, I'm arrogant.

- Well, everything! brother got angry. Your death has come!

The next moment I was thrown over my head. Ar rushed from above, was caught on my half-bent legs and flew somersault. When we both jumped up, pleased that now it was fun and not so scary, my brother asked only one question:

- Trained?

- Naturally!

- Great! and the tar-en rushed towards me again.

We managed to knead the grass within a radius of twenty meters, accidentally break two trees and even drive to the fault to leave the snowballs when we heard:

- Do you have a conscience? This garden survived even the fall of the ship, but obviously it will not survive two overgrown children!

I was immediately embarrassed, but this did not stop me from vengefully throwing a snowball at Ara! He was clearly my relative, since there were two vengeful snowballs from his side! Well, I'm not used to staying in the loser and ...

Hey, can anyone hear me? Live to me both! Mom was outraged.

We somehow remembered at once that my mother returned not alone, but with a surprise and rushed to her. Ar was ahead of me. How he managed to move at such a speed I have no idea, but it worked. I dragged myself behind, but unlike my brother, I saw him.

- Maaam, why is it gray and not dark?

Smiling, she explained:

- He's a follower. I attached its essence to the image.

And sure enough, as soon as my mother moved her hand, a shadow followed her, gazing intently at a piece of fabric that mother was holding in her hands.

So they can't see us? I guessed.

- Those who have been tied to the living many times can see, the rest can not. Come on, time. Ar, did you eat everything?

“Sorry, Mom, we started playing,” and he ran to the backpacks.

“Get mine,” I called after her, never taking my eyes off the shadow. “Mom, is he dangerous?”

“Very much,” my mother, meanwhile, simply smiled happily. “As long as they don’t feel heat, they are neutral. And while you do not look them in the eye, they are also neutral.

- And if you look? Well, I couldn't help but ask.

– Then, Kirill, it seems to them that something is attacking them, and they attack. You see, it seems to them that they are alive, but we are ghosts.

“It’s terrible,” I whispered, frustrated.

- How to say, they are convinced that "terrible" is just about us. In this world, everything is relative, Panterenok.

Aravan came up, flicked my nose and put his arm around my shoulders, just as pleased as I was.

“Come on, kids,” Mom laughed.

We didn't walk very long. Mom is in front, leading a gray, barely noticeable shadow as if on a leash, Ar and I are behind, pushing and making fun with might and main. And somehow, quite imperceptibly, we approached a black wall, behind which strange howling sounds were heard.

“There are warriors,” Mom explained. - Kir, take out the coverlet from your backpack. Ar, spread yourself against the wall and sit down.

We silently followed all the instructions, after which my mother took out three more lighting capsules, lit it, placed it on the wall, and somehow it immediately became light. And while Aravan and I blinked, getting used to the bright light, Ma suddenly cursed:

Your mother!

What else? Rubbing my eyes, I asked.

“He came after,” Mom said nervously.

Ar and I turned around at the same time. My brother didn't see anything, but here I am... I looked in amazement at the black shadow with bright blue eyes.

- Turn away! Mom commanded. - So, we will solve problems as they come, now the main thing for me is Aravan.

Broken navigator! I still could not forget the terrible vision - a ghost with blue eyes!

“Don’t think,” Mom ordered. “Now we can’t be distracted, do you hear? I can't do it alone, I just can't, pull yourself together, Kirenok. And I got together. I forgot about the ghost and looked around - a gloomy room of obviously artificial origin, wires along the walls, somewhere in the distance some kind of sensor was still blinking, there was dust on the floor, everything around was gray-green. That is, it is generally gray, but because of the three green lighting capsules, the illuminated space also acquired a greenish tint.

Mom caught my meaningful look, nodded approvingly, unzipped my jacket with a sharp movement, took it off, threw it over my backpack, opened hers, took out a leather bundle, followed by two sleeping bags and a kern. I can't believe Mom brought a pull-out couch with her!

I didn’t believe in vain - throwing sleeping bags on my own backpack, the most standard almost weightless ones, my mother, taking xirin, went up to the wall, placed a rubber plate, activated it and walked away.

Xirin puffed up instantly, taking on a predetermined form - a single bed, on a thick soft base, with a pillow. The luxury, by the way, is incredible - xirin was strictly forbidden to us on campaigns, and indeed at the university, and the teachers justified this with the wording "this is only for sissies."

If you are an S-class cadet, you will have a bright future, a job in the best armada in the galaxy and a dizzying career. If you are the princess of Iristan, a bright future awaits you, marriage with the ruler of the planet himself, he is also the strongest warrior, and a long and happy life. If you are from the Aerd clan, a bright future awaits you, the position of the great eitna-hassash and almost immortality. But if you are a cadet, a princess and a seer in one person, problems await you. Very, very many problems.

And even love is not simple, but for survival.

Elena Star

WARRIOR'S WIFE, OR LOVE FOR SURVIVAL

Story one:

About secrets, nightmares and target planning

Night. The calm breathing of Eran, his hand gently covering my palm, the sleepy growl of Ikasik, who settled on the balcony.

But we are not alone! I feel it clearly. I feel steps from the door - light, weightless. I feel them, but I don't hear them. I feel presence. I don't know how, but I feel it. I track and even with my eyes closed I see how the shadow is approaching me.

I startle as soon as the dark substance stops a step away from the bed, and at the same moment Eran wakes up. The light flashes, the blue-eyed warrior, having risen, peers anxiously at me.

The shadow continues to stand by!

I want to answer, I try to utter at least a word and ... I can’t. I'm scared. I've never been so scared, I'm even afraid to move.

- Kiran, - the warrior gently touches my cheek, and the realization comes - my face is wet with tears.

* * *

I woke up and sat up in bed. My head hurt. A strange weakness spread throughout the body. And fear. Silent panic terror pulsed and beat like the echo of a heartbeat. I looked around nervously - in the bedroom of the lord of Iristan there were only me and Ikas sleeping on the balcony. For a long time she did not dare to look in the direction of the front door, then she cursed herself for cowardice and turned her head. Nobody.

So it's a dream?

Just a bad dream? Since when do I have nightmares? From what crazy atom did my brain throw such a dream at me?! And why is it so scary ... It's still scary.

The door opened - a blue-eyed warrior in black trousers and a snow-white shirt approached silently, sat down next to me, extended his hand, touched my cheek and asked:

What scared you at night?

Tar-en nodded.

And I realized that what happened was not a dream! I saw a shadow. Not the same as Nrogo's, and not even the monster that controlled the papandra, something else. Terrible. Dangerous. For me it's dangerous.

Without looking at the warrior, I cautiously got out of bed, went to the window, sat down near Ikas, thoughtfully stroked the snow-white fur of the beast. The only thing I could think about right now was, did my mother tell me everything?!

Noise behind the wall. Eran got up, crossed the bedroom, opened the door.

Ashen accerdan eithna McAdle,” said the woman in white standing outside the door.

Cairn," the tar-en replied sharply and closed the door.

I did not understand their language, nor why the negotiations this time were conducted in such a way, because Eran could have done it differently, somehow putting his fingers to his neck, and that's it. But here's what I specifically understood - it was about my grandmother, and the blue-eyed one said "no." Well, maybe not a no, but it was definitely a rejection.

What are you afraid of? the tar-en suddenly asked, turning sharply towards me.

What could I say? During the night, even Iqas did not react to the substance. And Eran didn't see it. Because the shadow came for me. Right behind me. It would be possible now to be afraid, worry and even tell the tar-en, but what will it change? Nothing. The shadow came for me, you need to understand why and why. And now I was desperately trying to remember what exactly Aravan said about my grandmother and how she became an eith, even though she was the only one for grandfather.

Remember verbatim.

But only snippets came to mind:

“Agarn needed a girl from the Aerd clan. Aerd - eithns, traditionally. There are several clans that can accept the blood of any clan, Aerd are the strongest. Traditionally, eitna-hassash belongs to Aerd, and our grandmother was supposed to become the main eitna.”

And I am from the Aerd clan, like my mother and grandmother. So, it’s also traditionally eitna, right? However, Papander also spoke about this.

“Grandma was being prepared to take the ordination of eitna-hassash, and for this, the seer must experience a pain shock twice. Usually, eiths define seers in this way - the girl experiences the first shock after a night with a warrior, the second after giving birth, and then the mutation is pushed in the right direction, and the seer becomes eith.”

Pain shock... Consider my situation: a tent, the first time with Eran, a terrible, unbearable pain afterwards, and an exclamation from one of the eithns: "She sees."

This book is part of a series of books:

Elena Star

WARRIOR'S WIFE, OR LOVE FOR SURVIVAL

Story one:

About secrets, nightmares and target planning

Night. The calm breathing of Eran, his hand gently covering my palm, the sleepy growl of Ikasik, who settled on the balcony.

But we are not alone! I feel it clearly. I feel steps from the door - light, weightless. I feel them, but I don't hear them. I feel presence. I don't know how, but I feel it. I track and even with my eyes closed I see how the shadow is approaching me.

I startle as soon as the dark substance stops a step away from the bed, and at the same moment Eran wakes up. The light flashes, the blue-eyed warrior, having risen, peers anxiously at me.

The shadow continues to stand by!

I want to answer, I try to utter at least a word and ... I can’t. I'm scared. I've never been so scared, I'm even afraid to move.

- Kiran, - the warrior gently touches my cheek, and the realization comes - my face is wet with tears.

* * *

I woke up and sat up in bed. My head hurt. A strange weakness spread throughout the body. And fear. Silent panic terror pulsed and beat like the echo of a heartbeat. I looked around nervously - in the bedroom of the lord of Iristan there were only me and Ikas sleeping on the balcony. For a long time she did not dare to look in the direction of the front door, then she cursed herself for cowardice and turned her head. Nobody.

So it's a dream?

Just a bad dream? Since when do I have nightmares? From what crazy atom did my brain throw such a dream at me?! And why is it so scary ... It's still scary.

The door opened - a blue-eyed warrior in black trousers and a snow-white shirt approached silently, sat down next to me, extended his hand, touched my cheek and asked:

What scared you at night?

Tar-en nodded.

And I realized that what happened was not a dream! I saw a shadow. Not the same as Nrogo's, and not even the monster that controlled the papandra, something else. Terrible. Dangerous. For me it's dangerous.

Without looking at the warrior, I cautiously got out of bed, went to the window, sat down near Ikas, thoughtfully stroked the snow-white fur of the beast. The only thing I could think about right now was, did my mother tell me everything?!

Noise behind the wall. Eran got up, crossed the bedroom, opened the door.

Ashen accerdan eithna McAdle,” said the woman in white standing outside the door.

Cairn," the tar-en replied sharply and closed the door.

I did not understand their language, nor why the negotiations this time were conducted in such a way, because Eran could have done it differently, somehow putting his fingers to his neck, and that's it. But here's what I specifically understood - it was about my grandmother, and the blue-eyed one said "no." Well, maybe not a no, but it was definitely a rejection.

What are you afraid of? the tar-en suddenly asked, turning sharply towards me.

What could I say? During the night, even Iqas did not react to the substance. And Eran didn't see it. Because the shadow came for me. Right behind me. It would be possible now to be afraid, worry and even tell the tar-en, but what will it change? Nothing. The shadow came for me, you need to understand why and why. And now I was desperately trying to remember what exactly Aravan said about my grandmother and how she became an eith, even though she was the only one for grandfather.

Remember verbatim.

But only snippets came to mind:

“Agarn needed a girl from the Aerd clan. Aerd - eithns, traditionally. There are several clans that can accept the blood of any clan, Aerd are the strongest. Traditionally, eitna-hassash belongs to Aerd, and our grandmother was supposed to become the main eitna.”

And I am from the Aerd clan, like my mother and grandmother. So, it’s also traditionally eitna, right? However, Papander also spoke about this.

“Grandma was being prepared to take the ordination of eitna-hassash, and for this, the seer must experience a pain shock twice. Usually, eiths define seers in this way - the girl experiences the first shock after a night with a warrior, the second after giving birth, and then the mutation is pushed in the right direction, and the seer becomes eith.”

Pain shock... Consider my situation: a tent, the first time with Eran, a terrible, unbearable pain afterwards, and an exclamation from one of the eithns: "She sees."

I feel my hands go cold, there is frost on my back, it becomes dark in my eyes. Do not panic. Calm down. Think! Yes, I became a seeing Aerd, Nrogo talked about it, Eran too, yesterday.

And I remember another remark of Aravan:

“Grandfather understood that childbirth would be that second stage of mutation. Grandmother understood too, but really wanted to give him children. For many years they lived together, and after that she did everything to conceive. Grandpa didn't want that."

I shift my gaze to Eran. Tar-en touched me neither evening nor night. Hugs and nothing else. But was it just the absence of eitna-hassash? He knows? Knows and does not want to allow the second stage of mutation?

And then I remembered:

“She came at night, no longer as a woman, but as a mother and the ghost of that beloved, to whom her grandfather always remained faithful.”

I used to think that fear is an inevitable component of any action. Now you are scared, but the master gives the order “Forward”, and fear becomes a catalyst for an adrenaline rush, allowing you to cope with the most difficult tasks. But what I felt now was not even horror, but something worse. Much worse. I was just smeared on the floor with the realization that I could become an eitna!

And not mine! The shadow has fallen!

Eran, - I turned to the warrior, - did you see a shadow at night?

Tar-en said nothing, but his blue eyes narrowed slowly, and I was asked a counter-question:

Did a shadow come?

Yes, - I answered, patting Ikas behind the ear and quickly rising. - It turns out that there are suicides in the other world.

And resolutely went to the bathroom, trying not to look at Eran at all, because ... now I won’t look at him at all. Until I deal with the shadow. The tar-en probably felt the same way, because he did not follow me, and his words reached me from behind the door:

Kira, I'll be back by noon and show you IrAe. You will wait in the palace.

Page 59 out of 87

“Yes, yes, I remember,” they just gave me a briefing at breakfast, “do not leave your brother’s house, do not make explosions, you will be spanked for escaping. I remember everything, Eran, I have a great memory.”

"The memory is excellent, performance is lame."

It was kind of a hint. Frowning, I replied:

"My diligence allowed you to cover a stash of shakes."

"Believe me, even this would not reconcile me with your death."

Yes, she messed up, yes, sheysa almost tore me into atoms, yes, it’s her fault, and now what ?! I didn’t risk anything but my life, so there’s nothing for me to arrange a brain wash now!

But the warrior answered the exact opposite:

"I do, Eran, I'm sorry."

And he no longer cursed, he only said:

“Your father is nowhere to be found. If our assumptions are correct and he's possessed by Shay's essence, he's dangerous. Do not leave the boundaries of the fortress MacAdle!

"Yes, Eran, yes, I remember everything, and in the end, where will I go, there will be your containers around the fortress."

He said nothing. And he was silent the whole flight - about twenty minutes.

And then, when we went downhill, he said quietly:

“I feel you, Kira, and now I clearly feel that you are lying to me. But remember, my heart, if you leave the McAdle house, I will forget about restraint!

It sounded like a threat, and I had a couple of questions about it, but what's the point? I understood that I would just start to object - and this ship would simply not land, but turn around and take me back to the showdown with solid testosterone. And, of course, I liked Eran, even the way I saw him without a touch of glamor from the Shays - an adult, stern, powerful, sexy like that, but ... it's one thing - he is quite another - adventures and finding out the problem with the Shays to the end. In this scenario, Eran could nervously turn on the engine to the side, here.

So I didn't answer. Here's not a word. I smiled again, waited for the ship to sit down, patiently waited until they unfastened me from the seat, and rushed faster than an asteroid to the exit. But somewhere there, in the subconscious, a thought flashed: no matter what happens, Eran cannot be caught, it would be better to return just as carefully, and then let the lord of Iristan prove that I was washed away from Aravan's house.

As the sunroof came down, sunlight flooded the cockpit, and I squinted, but I still saw my mother and Ara waiting for me with two tariges.

They waited in vain - one of the tars approached Aru and, completely ignoring my mother, said something to him. The little brother immediately frowned, took his mother by the elbow and led her to the platforms. And they took and flew away without me! That's without me at all!

And this warrior came up, knelt down in front of me, bowed his head and said:

I'm sorry, mistress, but the master gave clear instructions, he fears for you.

A multi-seat platform flew up to the airlock, and guess where I was sitting? In the middle! In the armchair! Strapped in! Endured, of course, there was nowhere to go.

But as it turned out, this was only the beginning!

As soon as we flew up to the fortress with a tall wall (Iristan continued to surprise), the fair-haired warriors flew around the entire wall, placing some devices on it, then activated something, and the whole house was covered with a protective canopy. And only then the platform on which I was, flew up to the gate and sank on the sand.

The gates opened. Behind them were two warriors of the MacAdle clan and an angry mother, who immediately told me:

This is overkill!

What are you, I like everything! I quipped.

Judging by your face, you are just immensely happy, - my mommy answered me in tone.

And don’t say, - I waited until they unfastened me, - I’m just soaring with delight!

Zzzmetno, - my parent hissed.

As soon as they freed me, I jumped up, ran to the edge of the platform, jumped off and hugged my mother from a run.

It's kipets, she whispered to me.

I have an idea, I replied.

And we stopped hugging.

Well, bye, - I said to the taram, grabbed Mommy by the hand and dragged her into the fortress.

The McAdle warriors, keeping their eyes on my mother and me, closed the gates.

And at the same moment a cry was heard in the fortress:

Freedomaaaa!

What are you yelling at? Mom asked.

It's as simple as that, the adrenaline rushes through the roof. Where is Aravan?

And then an absolutely fantastic smile appeared on my mother’s face, and she whispered breathlessly:

He has children...

Who? - I did not understand.

At Aravashechka. - And the look of my mother became completely insane.

And I realized that it was not enough for her to have me alone, oh, not enough, with such a maternal instinct and unspent maternal love, she needed at least three.

Mom is funny.

I'm no better!

Aunt Kia! - Three-year-old Darran jumped off the knee of Ara, who was sitting on the terrace of the second floor, and rushed towards me.

She picked up the small one on the run, threw it up, caught it and immediately put it on the floor, since it was necessary to catch the second one - Ilran was three and a half, but he was somehow calmer than his brother and ran more slowly.

And you got caught, ap! - tossed him too.

As a result, a joyful squeal from one kid and an offended “Ise hoshi” from Darran.

Aunt Kiya, - Aravan said, distorting my name in the manner of children, - sit down at the table and stop spoiling my sons.

Kirill, they are boys, - reminded my mother, sitting down at the table.

So what, boys. I hugged Ilran, twirled Darran a little more, and only then went to the table, and then only because Aravan was already clearly angry. Yes, yes, over the past two hours I managed to get to know my nephews, fall in love with them thoroughly and understand that two hours were not enough for me.

A little love won't hurt them," I said, sitting down on a chair.

Kieran, what love?! They are boys, future warriors, they are not supposed to love in principle. - Ar was clearly dissatisfied with me. And then, raising his voice: - Women, where is my breakfast?

Mom and I just looked at each other. Aravan, as it turned out, already has four wives and six sons, he was not lucky with girls. He is neutral towards wives, as he was forced to marry at a young enough age so that the lineage would not be interrupted. But he doesn’t just love children - he worships and adores. But he is trying to hide, and not only from us - even from himself.

Ar, don't be mean. - Mom put her hand on top of his wide and strong arm.

No need to teach me how to live - but the sigh was a clear indication that he had already calmed down. - It's hard for me, Aunt Kiara. Grandfather was married to the only woman who bore him only two children. As a result, by the age of seven, when my grandfather died, I was left alone. Completely alone.

You had the guardianship of Uncle Roe, and grandmother also tried to be there, - reminded my mother.