Fantasy - The story EG Nesterenko, "The Crown and the Ring" (Part 1)

<b>Fantasy</b> - The story EG Nesterenko,

From the Editor:

   We offer you the
the first part of yet unpublished story Eugenia
Nesterenko, "The Crown and the Ring." AND
since this is his first publication, we hope that you send us 
your feedback on the story. Personally, we liked it very much, 
and you? 

   The author is waiting for your letters!



        CROWN AND RING.

(C) 1997 Evgeny Nesterenko.
________________________________


         Part One.

       Messenger of the Demon.


   Many years ago in the worlds of the Mist, lost on the edge
Universe, as the legend goes, lived
a King. Country, which he
rules, Nature generously endowed and
fertile land, and extensive
forests with towering to the skies
gigantic trees, and teeming of
Fish rivers. In the mountain coal mines in
huge number of prey was
gold, silver and precious
stones. In the vast grasslands
grazed numerous herds, and
dust raised by them, sometimes
obscured the sun ...

   But a dark shadow incident on
faces more and more, for
Night was approaching Mertvyh.Za any happiness has its own 
board and for the inhabitants of the worlds Mist She was truly 
dreadful. Time in thirteen years of bloody Moon obscured the 
Sun and the Kingdom of night came when the Dead rose from the 
depths of Hell Fire Demon, headed by its monstrous entourage 
and demanded a human sacrifice ... 


   Crackling fire in the fireplace,
her candle, flickering shadows on the
walls of the old castle. At the table
sat four: King Ventslav,
old magician Loudborg, CyClean governor and someone who 
introduced himself as Yorzh of Podogorbska. King was

none other than the lord of the country
Lilac mist, strong man in his forties with a face overbearing 
and severe. Walked the thirteenth year, as

Ventslav ruled the country for the first time
He had to face to
face with the lottery, he was sitting, reaching
hands, chin and stared glumly
on Yorzha.Loudborg hoarhead
with the eternally burnt red hands and a glass eye alternately 
lit and extinguished the candle, whispering incantations. He 
was the best magician of those who lived through the last 
eclipse. Gossip argued that Loudborg sold

Demon Soul in exchange for an unprecedented
magical power, and the right eye
Demon took him to the hell
follow his master. If
the first two were very gloom,
then governor CyClean quite the opposite. This was a cheerful, 
slightly silly boy, in love

the king's daughter Princess Liliyu.On
and now only thought about that
late for an evening stroll
Princess in the royal garden.
CyClean looked at the king,
sighed and fidgeted impatiently
on the bench. Ventslav also breathed
and once again wished I had
appointed governor Arbtsisa ...

   Yorzh the first to break the silence:
"So the great king, what
Reply hear my ears? "

   Ventslav looked at Loudborga.Mag barely noticeable 
kivnul.Korol pulled out a silver dagger and scabbard sharply 
threw it at Yorzha.Voevoda fright jumped up, pulling out his 
sword and Tilting bench. Magician

slowly stroking his arm head
snakes on his staff, closely
looking at what has recently been
Yorzhem. At the site of the messenger
Podogorbska squirmed, pinned to the back of a chair with a 
dagger, its disgusting suschestvo.Kozha

darkened and wrinkled, his nose fell through, his lips drooped, 
dull eyes lit up with twinkling, and his teeth furiously 
creaked. On a torn coat flowed dagger dark liquid spreading

rigor zlovonie.Monstr strongly
tried to break away from the chair, but
he did not succeed. Young
Governor stared at the monster's eye, fearfully drafting the 
left hand kabbalistic signs.


   Yes stop you, "frowned Loudborg. "A Thu-it?" babbled 
voevoda.Mag looked for back substantially. Shadow was not there.

"Fiend, my young friend."
Ventslav, previously silent, stood up and asked, "Devil", will 
it speak. Monster croaked a few curses and growled angrily. "Do 
not think that night will last forever, "smiled a magician," 
until the morning there were only a couple of hours, and when 
the first rays of the sun gilding walls of the castle and Lord 
of the Wind chase across the sky their white

clouds, you will never see
light of the moon and can not eat living flesh. "monster 
started and looked out the window. Outside the window is already

began to pale stars, the morning dew stood on the grass, and
over the river flowed thick fog.

   "You know, a sorcerer, that waits
who will open the mystery of death
Dead World? "Muttered dully
he said. "And you have a choice?" said
King, othlebnuv of the Holy Cup
water. The monster looked at the Cup
and asked what you need to know the magician.
Loudborg moved closer to the monster
and looking into his eyes, said something to the Forbidden 
language. Monster a long pause, and the governor would have

propose to the king his jab
a couple of times with the sword, but he unexpectedly
spoke slowly, as though chant: "On the western outskirts of the 
city, in the old forest, stands a crumbling necropolis. In the 
depths of the necropolis, a secret door in a stone coffin, lies 
the fact what remained of the once great

sorcerer Zoltama. And as with the sorcerer and buried him
magic amulets, they are still
day lie there. Chief of the same
they stick magic Smerti.Govoryat, this walking stick is afraid 
of himself Fire Daemon, and therefore guarded his faithful 
servants of the coffin together with its contents. In addition, 
powerful spells guarding the entrance in the cache, and only 
when the radiance full moon will illuminate the walls of the 
necropolis, you will see a secret door ... "The monster stopped 
and ugly smile expectantly

looked at the king. "Well,
you deserve a reward for help, "
Ventslav said, "you will die quickly and without pain." He took 
out his sword and went to the monster ...



   Dust gently swirled under the horses' hoofs. A small 
detachment led by Prince Arbtsisom returning from an 
unsuccessful hunt. As luck, the famous Evidensky Wood

is always swarming with game, though extinct, except, perhaps, 
the raven yes wood mice. All day

hunters are eaten more provisions,
than nastrelyali game, even Prince
wanted to wait out the night in the woods and
morning to try his luck again, but
the conductor refused to spend the night under the open sky and
strongly suggested that depart
nearest to the forester to his friend.
"It wore on, it would be better
we hurry, "said the conductor, looking at the flame-red sunset 
drive. Arbtsis silent. But rangers be fed up with boring road 
and they brought a conversation with the conductor, so as not 
to remain silent: 

   As this year's wheat?

   Wheat is good, so only
no time for her now. "- he frowned
he said.

   Why so?

   And so the people instead of
order to harvest sbirat for the spit, for
forks came from. Here truly as
the curse of a night Mertvyh.I
not so that night and terrible (well, eats Demon Duke of, or
there, the graph), but so far it will go,
so much because some people simply disappear! Is it not better 
... but seeing frowning glance

Prince, the guide stopped. Detachment
moved along the old dusty road winds among infinite
fields. The wind swayed dreamily
Sea wheat, ruffled shag
opposing peasants, bowed
escort the Prince, taking off his hat, drove in a reddish 
sunset clouds and angry gray clouds in the north.


   Far? growled the prince nor
on someone without looking.

   And there's already seen from here, your
Monseigneur! conductor waved his hand in the forest and live my
friend, he, mean, and stay overnight. Hut he had a large,
Spacious grub Mighty, and
his daughter, heh, heh ... grinned
he zyrknul on swagger
rangers. And indeed, on the horizon chenille forest, which
discussed ... Twilight only begins when warm forester
welcomed the guests. Resin torches
snatched from the darkness mighty
oak gates, sharp stakes of the fence, played highlights on the 
faces of weary travelers. Woodman, prikriknuv to choking dogs 
barking continued, invited to go into the house. The spacious 
hall has served impressive size table covered with a relatively 
clean cloth. 


   As draining jugs with
wine dinner visibly animated.
Flushed continuously maid rushed into the kitchen and back, 
accompanied by obscene jokes drunk young.

All forgotten and unsuccessful hunt, and
a long way, and the gloomy stories of the conductor. Cheered 
even Prince Arbtsis silent, however,

when the huntsmen discordant chorus struck up a drinking-song, 
join in singing declined and went out to walk around the 
garden. Conductor, staggering him zasemenil with a torch in his 
hand: 

   Excuse me, Your Highness, I
you spend ... Look out, here
steps will be, I mean. And now
directly. They went through the rear
porch to the garden. Night had enveloped the
its velvet coverlet sleepy land, and many stars twinkle little 
night light. Prince admired golden

lunar disc, which, when it
Do not obstruct the passing clouds, watered the ground even 
gentle light. But the quiet move in a garden

suddenly caught his attention.

   And that, Your Highness, my daughter
The master is whispering escort prince.

   What did she do at night in the garden?

   Yes it is, therefore, not simply there,
and on the blah-arodnym education will; her father that she 
worked, no, no! And walks integer days there, then here. Here's 
to take, For example, me, so I'd place the forester took the 
reins, yeah ... uh! But the prince did not want to "grab" any

conductor, no reins. He went to
garden behind the girl politely
refusing to help the conductor tried to oblige. He did not
insisted, and sighed, and returned to the house. By the time 
the guests checked taste smoked fish, abundantly watering her

beer and even the servants have joined them, abandoning aspen
stakes. The conductor sat down next to
forester, and filled the cup.

   Your health, Faigr!
Forester nodded.

   Prince of us a long time?

   No, we tokmo spend the night, and in
way! Hunting was completely worthless
even Evidenskom woods, so often lose my
hardly more successful in your budet.Ego
Highness deigned vozvernutsya home to the castle, I mean.
Because I will bring them to the Royal Shlyakh and ottel they 
really get to me without ancestral lands. 

   Your righteousness, hunting is now a bad everywhere, it's 
all he nodded to the table the old stock. You would Boven, told 
me about the retinue of Prince Pobol, and what you see you 
Rooms me at all will not be enough and if I, for example, to 
some count, or where the Baron in the closet bed, so he will 
still be offended. The conductor grinned. 

   Do not be afraid, Dukes Tooth no.
Vaughn is the Trinity, on the edge of the table, it
royal huntsmen. People simply
and unpretentious. Them that the downy feather bed, what on 
earth the woods are all one. The old man, that

left of your Lord Chamberlain.
He, when in the palace, an important person, and here he has 
nothing to do. I think, the king-father to the prince set out 
to look for his son, not otherwise. Servants with

a prince did not take, take tokmo
warriors. Won them in coats of mail,
mean.

   And the one with a mustache?

   Oh-oh-oh, what a biggie! Now he navrode as head of the group 
of soldiers, but in fact he entot like it ... eneral, exactly!

Ba-alshim army commanded by the court. Just look, he even at 
the table is not armor symaet.Ezheli all these would be, so 
we'd entih demons ... uh! Well navrode as everything. Sorry, 
did not take the prince buffoon svogo, but it really 
obhohotalisya would exactly!


   And where the Prince himself, then? asked
forester, the reason his eyes over the room.

   Duck that he, for your Clime,
mean uhlestnul the garden. Well,
you understand ...

   You're it! interrupted forester. Worthless joke like that! 
Do not you you know, my daughter died. That's really

two weeks since it was buried.

   K-to-like? deathly pallor swept the face all at once sober 
Boven. I also Duck with my own eyes ... he muttered.

Forester was blown from the bench and
rushed to the door, picking up on
Running from the floor, thrown by someone from
servants aspen stake. Moustached voennachalnik carefully 
observe what is happening, and nodded his soldiers, and ran 
after him, awkwardly swinging on the severity of armor. 
Servants frantically to pick up stakes, even the old 
chamberlain hobbled after all. And only hunters stayed put, 
looking with amazement at the strange turmoil. 


    I'm not disturbing you? asked
Prince. The girl turned around and he
was finally able to address it.
Pale face framed issinyachernye hair, from under which
glittering emerald eyes. Pale lips stretched into
a weak smile.

   How do you call it, a beauty?
For example, I Arbtsis.

   She did not otvechala.Tolko handed prince slightly faded rose
she held in her hand. Arbtsis
took the flower, breathed its fragrance.
The smell was a bit strange
seemed familiar, and at the same time
a little disturbing.

   Are you reticent, but I'm actually too. But if you do not 
wish say, it could let me

accompany you at this hour?

   The girl nodded and handed
he ruku.Teply wind stirred at
tree leaves, but her hand was
holodnoy.Prints took off his coat and threw it on the girl's 
narrow shoulders. They walked around the night garden strange 
whitening in the dark apple blossom petals showered their 
remaining in the hair. Thick scent of flowers enveloped, touched

hidden strings of soul, disturbed
some memories. Girl
stopped by a bush of white
Rose turned to face Arbtsisu
and something whispered, smiling. He
touched his lips to her hand, but
she suddenly clung to
him, reaching for the neck and
slightly bitter taste of her lips burned Prince. Gentle hands 
moved to his belt, unfastening hanging sword. Dizzy in a fiery 
whirlwind, clouded mind and thoughts. As if in a dream prince

heard the distant human screams.
The girl shuddered and looked
the sound. Supplies were running along the path
people with torches, swinging his arms and shouting something. 
Prince made out in a crowd of his commander guard and forester.


   Do not worry, all is well. Perhaps something happened, a 
can, they just look for me.


   But she escaped from his open arms and jumped with his back 
to a high fence and staring anxiously at the approaching crowd. 
Prince slowly raised to land sword strapped to his belt.

First, panting, ran a forester and distraught eyes stared at 
his daughter. Ringing metal Arbtsisu jumped to the head

guard and whispered something in his
ear. Gradually ran up the rest, lighting torches going. At the 
sight of the girl's father issued a weak long-

moan, her eyes suddenly flared up
green light, and from the corner of his mouth
flowed a trickle of dark blood.
One of the servants cried spell drew in the air eight-pointed 
star, which is slightly flushing faded. The girl's face

distorted, the body cramp and ran it with a groan fell
land. Forester came to a stationary body and swung stake.

   Stop! cried the prince. That
here it happens, damn it!

   Your Highness! forester count down two weeks ago, my
beloved daughter died of a sudden ailment and we buried her. K
Unfortunately, at the funeral I did not
able to pierce her heart aspen
stake and because of his pitiful
almost became responsible for your
death. Forgive me graciously, but now I have to do
his duty and rid the world of the vampire.

   He wiped a lone tear and
waving the stake, plunged deeply
his daughter's chest. Dark blood
stained standing side by side, eyes
corpse flung open and glazed. Skin began to quickly
darken, gathering wrinkles and
dried out at a furious skorostyu.Rezkoe stench spread
around, enveloping sepulchral chill
gathered. Prikovylyavshy by the time the old gentleman-prince 
hurriedly examined, frantically clutching hands in his shirt. A 
few moments later by a vampire were only moonlight illuminates 
the bones ... 


      The end of the first part.
___________