Unconquered Sun (27 page)

The young man screamed from pain. Screamed also the Puppy with the Kitten. Darkly red thick blue blood a plentiful stream poured down directly in the substituted bowl.

"Perhaps, - the Fairy noted about herself, - blood it was gathered just on a quarter of a cup … there"

At last, having considered that blood in a cup was gathered enough, Cora touched a wound with a hand and whispered something. A wound was at once stopped, but on a hand there was a big crimson hem. For some reason the Fairy thought that it will remain at the guy now for the rest of life.

It did the same actions also with "bride", only unlike "groom", that did not even stir. On the contrary, even somehow voluptuously grinned. It did not seem to the fairy strange. She heard long ago that blood was a favourite delicacy of night hunters.

The same was done also with other couple.

Then Cora lifted both cups over the Black Stone on which ran crimson sparks, and loudly said the ritual phrase:

- Drink from the Cup of Love and the Unification. Yes you will become from now on one blood and be never separated any more while this Moon shines and there are these sacred stones!

With these words she stretched a cup to first "groom".

That took the first shy sip and right there reeled. But, probably, it was usual reaction of the person to terrible mix of magical swill. It was picked up right there under hands by two hunters and something was whispered to it on an ear. He silently nodded and as the child, having narrowed very strong eyes, at one stroke emptied a cup floor under an approving rumble and an applause of all meeting.

Bark took away a cup back - and in time! Because the young man reeled again and failed on hands of the dryads standing behind.

But when, in several moments he got up and opened the eyes, the Fairy gasped - she did not expect such change for such short term! Eye proteins of the young man became red, a look - same predatory and passionate, as well as at the others, directly in the face of a hand, legs and a breast began to become covered by a hard black hair …

"Bride" emptied the part of a cup as if it was the glass of sweet water both loudly and stridently laughed. Then embraced the groom and kissed and so that from the bitten-through lip directly on a chin the thin stream of blood which this predator with pleasure pinched the long red uvula began to flow.

Approximately the same happened also to other couple.

Now time for the most important came.

To bark brought other tray. On it there were couple of objects. It were big bracelets from the polished not decaying tree of black color. On them some black runes were cut out.

"Probably, - the Fairy thought, is some plot, as well as on our rings, urging magic force to promote marriage preservation".

The night Queen assigned bracelets to the Black Stone and solemnly said:

- And now, on you who became one blood between themselves, and, so and with all of us I call blessing of this sacred place and the Creator of darkness to become you uniform not only by birth, but also on flesh. Your hands, brother and sister!

The groom and the bride carefully laid the hands on the Stone. On a black smooth surface ran dark-lilac sparks. Invisible force was included into them and the grimace of pain distorted faces both.

Then Cora took the first bracelet and put on it the young man's wrist. The bracelet clicked the invisible lock, on it ran lilac sparks. It did the same with the bride's hand.

- Though these bracelets do not connect you by visible chains, - Cora solemnly said, - but, having received force from the Black Stone, they connect you is invisible. From now on you will always feel each other at distance, to find each other anywhere, to exchange thoughts and feelings. But if suddenly you want to betray each other, force of the Black Stone will turn you to stone. Such is destiny of everything, profaned this great sacrament of Love and Unity for ever and ever!

As soon as she said it, deafeningly burst a thunder and on both bracelets ran lilac sparks again.

The same happened also to other couple.

These words made awful impression on the Fairy. And fairies had sacred marriage, but not to the same degree! To imagine that the rings blessed with their Knowledge could kill, it could not. Though they, certainly, were not a simple metal toy. The fairy caught herself on thought that since began to carry a ring, she really felt Prinze better and more sharply, than earlier. And, maybe, the ring also prompted to it that he really is still living …

When the ceremony of a betrothal was complete, Cora turned facing the Stone and, having upraised hands, loudly said:

- For the sake of the Creator who created darkness, also as well as light, I, the power to me given by the Black Stone - the Power source and the authorities of my race - I declare you husbands and wives!

Its voice sank in noise and hubbub and all audience at once started congratulating newly married. They embraced them, kissed, pulled, some even bit and pinched, especially young men. Probably, it be newlyweds dressed by the end of congratulations all of them equally would be naked as newborn children.

When, at last, the first passions settled, guests a crowd tumbled down from a sanctuary outside, directly to the laid long tables.

The fairy and Animals, as guests of honor, put near Cora.

However, the local food was suitable for them a little. Venison, zaychatina, meat of wild geese and ducks, wild boars, rabbits and other forest living creatures. Everything smoking, hot, juicy, strewed with some strange seasonings and watered with fragrant sauces from which there were slyunk and having felt hungry as much as possible though all this, on the contrary, caused disgust in the Fairy and Animals. That liquid which was drunk by newlyweds, only, of course, without their blood was drink.

Guests greedy attacked on an entertainment. Ate with hands, greedy breaking off the meat splashing juice, swallowing of it big pieces. Saw the whole cups.

Newlyweds sat near Cora.

To the fairy the amusing custom was evident - wives fed and gave to drink to the husbands directly from hands. Perhaps, it was the only attractive and lyrical episode of this wild feast.

The curious Fairy furtively scanned the Analyzer crimson-violet wish-wash which they drank, and with satisfaction noted the high content in it of amphetamines and animal hormones so the further behavior of representatives of night race did not become for it big surprise …

Because when the first hunger was satisfied, again wildly hammered drums which also pastushesky wooden pipes joined. Melodies which they published were extremely primitive, unartful, but are surprisingly rhythmical and incendiary. Was not in time the Fairy and an eye to blink as hunters povytaskivat the husbands because of tables and broke into a dance.

What dancings were! Wilder, more sensual if not to tell, she did not see an erotic show yet.

Dancings consisted, generally, of movements, pretty, at first sight, simple, but difficult executable without preparation, in which all parts of a body at the same time were involved.

Couples at the same time constantly strove to seize each other by hands, by shoulders, by hips. Men took the workmates on hands, threw them through the head, women rushed on a breast and a neck to men. Generally, the impression of utter chaos in which only one mattered was made - it was expression of continuous sensuality, the game of passions, the dark beginning released by terrible drink and magic of this strange place constrained by nothing.

In which fairy already time densely reddened and bashfully looked away from this madness. And when lifted looked again, thought what would be better than it for it be not to done. Because some couples were already tumbled down on the earth, breaking the friend from the friend clothes and began to do absolutely indecent things. Others followed their example - and already all space of the Bald Mountain was filled with the reclining, twitching naked bodies. And the rumble of drums and squeal of pipes not only did not cease, but amplified even more. But even it could not muffle voluptuous groans of the lovers who reached extreme degree of fury.

The fairy was ready to fail under a table with shame, but Cora with curiosity and undisguised pleasure watching her reaction, at last, decided that she will be enough her.

- Well, expensive, time we with you were left in minority, without couple, we do not have need any more here to remain.

The fairy was ready for everything if only to escape, depart, disappear, evaporate from here as soon as possible. Red as the boiled crayfish she silently began to nod in agreement. Animals sat under a table long ago, having hidden behind a cloth, and having closed the ears and eyes plush pads.

Bark clicked fingers and suddenly as if out of nowhere before it there was a big wooden mortar, like in what peasants squeeze out grapes. She was rather great in order that in her all four easily were located. By the word of the Night Queen the mortar sharply soared up up.

But even now Cora could not do without jeer. The mortar spun three times over top of the Bald Mountain that the Fairy could consider an awful show below better. However, when the mortar came on the third circle, suddenly the cloud closed the full moon which, appear, was ashamed of what occurred below, and the Bald mountain plunged into darkness. Cora disappointedly sighed and directed flight of a mortar down, to "hut on chicken legs".

Flight - more precisely, descent, - was such prompt, as at the Fairy, and at Animals even intercepted breath.

One question was at the Fairy at the tip of the tongue all the time, a question on which it was powerless to find the answer: Whether "Took Prinze's part in these terrible orgies when "stayed" with the Night Queen? Whether it to Cora made "missing couple for pleasure"?

But she did not decide to ask directly about it Cora, especially at Animals, and the forest witch told nothing about it.

8.

At last, the mortar softly landed at other Black Stone that faced Cora's hut. Cora took the place on the same chair near the Stone again, as at their first meeting, gesture having invited the Fairy and Animals to sit down on wooden stools at opposite part of the Stone. Having sustained a long pause, she gloomy told:

- Whether you know that you face certain death and bear death to that
whom
you follow, and, perhaps, and to all of us?

- What do you mean? - the Fairy who was painfully pricked by Cora's doubt, and also her amazing awareness in so confidential enterprise frowned.

- Do not pretend to be the little fool. Of course, I mean your mad intention to go straight in paws of the solar sorcerer.

- I …

- There is enough! - sharply Cora tore off. - It is not necessary to sing the praises of me to all-powerful love and volume similar nonsense here. Most important, in my opinion, in this case this, first, full misunderstanding from your party to what history you got …

- And secondly?

- And secondly, misunderstanding of WHY all this occurred.

- And why?

- Your husband committed the heaviest of possible a crime - he broke Great Balance. Because of his offense now under the threat there is not only his and your life, but also many others, perhaps, existence of this world. Unless you do not know, oh, the wisest of Fey, - with a gloomy smile Cora told, having bared brightly white how at a black panther, teeth, - what violation of an oath can break Scales of the Order and lead to accident? So, the small snowball thrown from mountain top can cause an avalanche …

- What do you mean? - with a sinking heart the Fairy asked.

- When I had your husband on a visit, he pledged the word - to give me the first that will see near you when finds you on Fey's Island. You know it, he told you. He swore on this most Black Sacred Stone - and I accepted his oath, in exchange for the help. Without me he would not reach for anything the Island of fairies and especially would not run away with you from there. I kept the word - he did not keep the promise. Balance of the world reeled. And circumstances developed so that it contacted the dwarf possessing one of the last, the mirrors of the Invincible Sun which are not destroyed yet. Having looked in this mirror, it brought the ancient evil which was almost neutralized and forgotten to life, and now this evil is going to strike new blow to Tselestiya. Danger threatens all country. And danger with which, quite perhaps, not to cope to either Triune Knowledge, or even all Community of fairies. Fairies during an era of the Order and Prosperity fairly poutratit the fighting qualities … - and in Cora's voice at all not hidden jeer was heard.

The fairy closed the turned pale face hands.

"Creator!" - she thought, - "My creator, it is the truth! I knew that non-performance of the oath sworn at the Black Stone can lead to such consequences, but even did not try to correct deeds! What I am a silly woman! And still - the Keeper Predela of the 3rd rank … Made a mistake as the first-year student".

Really, when the Fairy regained consciousness from a dream in a bud of the Flower of Oblivion and quite recovered from postponed experiences, she asked Prinze a question how it got on the confidential Island of fairies and managed to escape with her on hands from there.

At first Prinze began to invent on custom, but the Fairy right there put it into place - never the lying fairies cannot be deceived. Then he admitted and told both about an oath, and about everything. Then the Fairy suited it a decent dressing down. And really, as he dared to stake destiny of their little newborn daughter! It did not sustain and even few times whacked it from disappointment a towel on a neck, but what now you will make?