Cycle: Land of the Dragon. Selection: Choice or Destiny. Book One

Chapter 16

I should have worn the lowest cleavage I have at dinner. o distract the heir from analyzing my behavior. Bright red color, well opened collarbone and a little chest.

In the dining room this time, I was one of the first, so instead of taking a seat at the table, I went to the event board. There are events marked on it: a play to be held in three months (open to all), a culinary evening from a certain Zarina (invited) in three weeks, and a private dance from Faride next week. – I could get you an invitation to a cooking party- the heir was too close behind my back- or do you think about how to overshadow faride's dance? – at this point the heir raised his hand and gently ran the outside of finger from my neck to the shoulder.

–I'm bad dancer- i retreated from the prince and turned to face him. – I think I'll knit your socks so you won't freeze in the damp castle

– Catherine, dragons do not freeze.

– Good to you, and why fireplaces if you do not freeze? I'm here every night trying to stay close to him, it is terrible to think, as here in the winter.

– For beauty. Fire in it is a very beautiful and fascinating sight, isn’t it?

The room became a little noisy, the sound pushes chairs interrupted our conversation about beauty, and I hastened to take his place at the table, away from the heir.

On the right hand of the heir sits Nadine, most likely the arranged bride, next to her Rosaline, placed Bleckle on the left, followed by Farida, Zarina on my right, Darin on my left. This girl, as far as I knew loved horses, never missed a single horse riding or hunting, swordsman, willingly accepts the challenge and from men. Darina was the embodiment of the warrior: high height, pronounced arm muscles, low loud voice. Her movements were more rapid and abrupt than smooth.

In front of the heir sits Assol. The girl had bright red hair, falling down her back with large, sunny, green eyes, fascinating with her beauty. My dress paled next to her outfit. What she was wearing was a work of art. The creator of this creation is incredibly talented. Dress embroidered with small stones so that it shimmered in the light, (it seemed to dress sprinkled of diamonds). The dress was also decorated with green stones (as our emeralds) and red (as our rubies) , blossoming on a black silk dress with delicate flowers. Assol of ancient and powerful family. So she like Nadine can be a contender for an arranged marriage. Other names I unfortunately, did not remember, so just examine on a variety of dresses and parties at the table. And then focused on my stew with potatoes. That's surprising, such contrast to our worlds, but language and cuisine we were similar? I saw as Nadine and Rosalind easy to feel in communion with the successor of (he has a long full name .. Ridon Amaral Deron kind of Drakodar).

It was impossible to leave before the heir, but I did not have time to warn Amiron about what I need tomorrow to the city in the morning, and the heir was in no hurry to leave the table.

– Katrin, your plate was empty for a long time, with the girls you not communicate all the time fidgeting in a chair, you want to leave ? – heir voice seemed friendly and quiet, but the issue and appeal to my address so unexpected that girls fell silent and all eyes are directed in my direction.

– To be honest, I really wanted to leave early, if it would not insult you, Your Majesty. The fact that I made an appointment in the city with friends, but I didn't have time to warn Lord Emiron that I was going away . I would like to have time to find him, before he live home.

– How long will you be gone?

– I have to be in town by 11:00, the meeting will not take more than a couple hours.

– Well, Catherine, can go. I let Emirom go to the family estate, but the coach will give you tomorrow. Good night.

– Good night.

Chapter 17

Sitting in the park near the castle, breathe fresh air, enjoy the birds singing, i was thinking about conversation with magician, took place in a cafe.

So, a simple communication artifact costs 30,000 gold (unot yet had time to get used to their prices, but for dinner wizard paid 1 000). Weedon said the multipurpose artifact while nobody was producing, but he will try. (I had also tell about the flash drive, plugs for them to exchange information, adding features). For two experimental artifact Weedon invoice for the sum of 100 000 Golden. They will work as standard communication artifacts, but Widon will create 5 cells (connectors) for the artifacts – updating. They will be ready in a month, by the same deadline he will have made two crystals under the connectors with the function of sending and storing voice messages. There’ll be 40,000 more to be paid for these rocks.

The crystal of the record «dictaphone» Vidon will make for me for free, fearing that we will be suspected of spying and will not pay at all.

I also asked whether there is such a thing as a patent, co-founder … I know I’m going back to my world and I can't use the money, but you never know what can happen. Their Patent calls the "Certificate of discoverer". It has three types: 1) non-transferable to third parties (artifacts can produce only a magician creator), 2) with the right to rent (mage, manufactured artifact pays rent to the creator) and 3) the free circulation after a certain period of time.

To register object magic can only magicians. But sales of the store, the purchase of stones, workshops on creation of blanks to fill magic, that such companies can be jointly administered, and I can get a percentage. My thoughts already painted small shop local analogue cellular store.

From fantasies distracted voice of Ridon.

– Good afternoon, Catherine!

– Good afternoon! – blinking in the sunlight, looked up to the heir, he towered over me, and it seemed even higher than I remembered. Assol held on to his elbow, her dress was white, straight and closed, her hair had a neat white hat, and a lace white umbrella over her head.

And by pursed lips of red beauties, I realized that once again violated the established etiquette. Remembering that in front of me future emperor, not simply brunet with blue eyes I jumped off the bench and curtsied (as I remember from the movie, I hope not too sloppy), repeated:

– Good day Your Majesty.

Lips of Assol gonna relaxed, eyes softened. But eyes of the heir slightly darkened and narrowed.

– Catherine, Lord Emiren told me yesterday that you wanted to discuss some expenses for your event. Unfortunately, he will not be in the palace for at least two weeks, due to the worsening health of the lord’s mother, so I suggest we discuss it directly with me. I can give you an hour in my office at 16:00 today.

– Thank you, Your Majesty.

The Heir nodded and continued walking with Assol.

Here’s a beautiful couple, I admired them. The Assol in this delicate white blossom, the red-haired curls around the hat like a little corner of the sun, and the heir in his black, with a straight back. Slow steps, Assol is only slightly below Ridon. They looked harmonious. I imagined myself in her place, as my head is somewhere just below his shoulders, and as my hand gets tired, trying to get to his elbow. The heir felt my long gaze, looked back and slightly raised my eyebrows in the silent question, I only shook my head and turned around slowly walked to the castle.

Chapter 18

Nadine was absent from the dinner (departed to her parents after her brother), and Rosalind took her place. I warned her I wouldn’t be able to walk in the park this afternoon because of His Majesty’s invitation, but I promised to look in her chambers the next day.

I warned her I wouldn’t be able to walk in the park this afternoon because of His Majesty’s invitation, but I promised to look in her chambers the next day.

At the appointed time, I entered the office of the heir, which consisted of three rooms: the first room was a conference room, in which up to fifty people could be accommodated. The second hall, which was used most often, housed up to twelve subjects. But I was taken to a third – a small cabinet with a fireplace. Its wall is lined with a dark tree, a window with a view of the garden, unexpectedly cozy.

– Come in, sit down in the chair by the fireplace. Wine?

– Yes, thank you very much.

Ridon poured two glasses of red wine, he gave me one, and with the second he located in the chair opposite. I admired the glare of fire, taste wine and waited for an invitation to talk. Heir treated me, the wine did not touch. I didn’t dare start a conversation.

It was raining outside the window, it charged from lunch and now sounded quiet in the background, along with the crackling logs.

– Catherine, as I understand from talking to Emirenom, you are asking to allocate funds. Have you made a list?

– Your Majesty, you see, the money I need is for a gift to you, and it has to be a surprise. So, can I not get into the details of what I’m spending?

– Try it out

– I need 140,000 on the development of the artifact, the creation of which will take at least a month. But before I give it to you, it s require to test during a couple more weeks. If testing goes well, then after a month and a half I'll give it to you, and you will give the magician certificate of invention.

– I wonder … Who’s going to test? It is dangerous?

– The assignment of the artifact itself is not dangerous at all. But Weedon says that no one before us did multifunctional artifact, so he is not sure of the stability and wants to check whether there is no side effects.

– You intrigued me, Katrin. We’ll give you half by the end of the week, the other half after the test, but with one condition: I want to to be watching the results of the test. Is there anything else?

– You know, maybe it's the wine gives me the courage to voice one more wish, but I will understand if you will be surprised of my arrogance and refuse.

– You are amazing Catherine – he leaned forward. I didn’t notice when his glass was emptied, and the heir meanwhile put him on a low table with a little knocking and returned to his original position. – your speech does not seem to me provincial, but all the same words and phrases that you eat sometimes I have not heard before. – the sound of rain on the glass became clearer, I held my breath, and even seem slight intoxication wine melted. – But I digress, voice your desire.

– You know that I lived a pretty closed. I would like to see the real world. I’m asking you to let me go on a trip. I understand that a request may seem insolence, but maybe I can not only learn something new for yourself, but also be of some use? Start learn mood or identify issues on which you do not know, visit settlements of people.

– Catherine, and do not you accidentally forget why you're in a castle?

– What? – I'm honestly surprised.

– You see, Catherine, the people on this project are trying to win my heart and capture my attention. They come up with surprises, they show the most beautiful dresses, they celebrate any kind of attention, even if it’s a short walk in the park. Not only are you avoiding me, but the only wish you’re expressing is to get as far away as possible – the heir rose from his chair and walked to the window, I admire of his back and somehow try to deal with goosebumps fear that travel through my body – Moreover, I understand that you are waiting for that i will finance it – he turned to face me, leaning on the window sill.

I peered at him , hesitating to put my glass, which still had red fluid at the bottom of it is still splashing red liquid, slightly swinging it, hiding the trembling of my fingers

– But I'll give you a gift, Your Majesty, is not a sign of attention? And I'll go on a trip in the surroundings of your subjects, not earlier than three months (for such a serious journey must be prepared).

– For some reason, it seems to me that you most curious result of the experiment and the ability to obtain funding from the treasury of the empire, not my response to the presentation of a gift and a possible pleasure from it.

We stood in a duel views. Overall, the Heir is correct in his accusations. I’m not seriously considering it as a possible husband (though if you add a couple of glasses and leave the lighting like this. Like now.)

I need Artifacts more to survive really , but i can not to admit .

When silence lingered, the Heir said:

– Well, let's proceed as follows. An artifact money will be allocated. To make a travel decision, you have to prepare more detailed information: which lands you would like to visit , which establishments and we will return to the discussion in two weeks. The second condition, you have to prepare me a gift. But one that will target it to me. So you told something about the socks ?

– Yes, Your Majesty, but you and without them hot, and I knit bad. But well, the conditions are accepted. From me description of where and why, and a gift like socks. I will go? Outside the window was dark, we probably time for dinner.

– Yes you are right. But I need to work, and will eat in office. I said goodbye, but in the dining room did not go, asked to file into the room. And what to present? This thought occupied my mind all the time remaining before bedtime

Chapter 19

In the morning I took out a notebook, which Elegelika presented me to practice (my days so full of events and thoughts that i didn't start study the alphabet , but I firmly promised that allocated for a class a couple of hours tomorrow). I need a notebook today to simply distribute the options.

So I divided sheet of notebook to two columns for possible gifts and for commenting in the second:

1. Bake a cake // I do not know how to look like a furnace here

2. Knitting, sewing / i'm bad in it

3. Sing // I can play a little guitar, but whether there is such a tool here.

4. Portrait // possible, but it would be a caricature, and it can be offended.

5. Maybe there is a souvenir? Shirt and socks, brandy, cup, certificate …// no, he is not an ordinally man

6. I need to see what theatrical productions are going on, maybe buy tickets?

I feel like before February 23, and all seems silly and trivial, but because turning the leaf started to draw Dragon with flowers in their teeth before the tower with the princess. It at least distract from the sprawling thoughts.

After drawing a leaf from a notebook, i made an envelope from a blank sheet and drew a dragon with a kitten on it. And maybe the envelope would never have made it to the addressee, but at that point, I got a knock.

The young man (his name was Richard, I recently asked, accompanies me every day, and was silent all the time) went to my room. He nodded, but when he saw, the envelope in my hands stretched out his hands, asking to whom to send.

– Do not worry, it's for the heir, I'll find a way to send – I mumbled.

But Richard did not give up and took envelope – I will I'll send it through the Secretary of His Majesty, while you have breakfast. I will be glad to help you.

And I had no choice how to give him my letter, stupid to retreat. Nevertheless, no signature. Maybe he wouldn't guess? And, if he guess, would forgive me this little prank?

That evening, I received an answer to that question. On the table beside the bed, lay a living rose, and under it the envelope, inside picture: Tower Princess, to the tower of the charge of stairs, and the stairs down happy and fat dragon, in the teeth it holds a rescued sad kitten.

Chapter 20

But before messages with the kitten was still far off, the morning just begun. And the first thing I went to the library. I asked for some book about the musical instruments of the peoples of the empire, only necessarily with images of those very instruments. So, what tools we had two thousand years ago? Flute, harp … Could they have also come to the creation of the guitar.

I scroll through the entire book, but an identical instrument did not found.

There were so many variations as familiar to me, similar, and completely unknown. But we also have a variety of strings, but the sound of balalaika, for example, is quite different from the guitar, which means I have to look in the music store (maybe I will be lucky to find something suitable by the sound.)

Putting aside the book, I started to study the alphabet. I had one version of the alphabet from Elegelica and a second version from the wizard. I found the pictures with the letters (you know, as we do for children over the letter «A» painted apple), copied to his notebook and put the transcription of the usual Russian letters. So I can slowly begin to learn to read. But not today. It's time to go on a visit. So I can slowly begin to learn to read. But not today. It's time to go on a visit Rosalind.

Chapter 21

Chambers Rosalind combined the emerald velvet canopy, swamp green sofa upholstery, dark wallpaper in the small green flower, brown, heavy curtains and furniture made of wood (not easy and graceful , but rather massive) bed wide high-backed cabinet with heavy doors and dressing table with wide mirror.

Rosalind sat me down on the couch and poured tea in a cup of the most delicate china.

– How’s Nadine’s mom’s health? – I asked – Postpone she the play?

– No, the play was written long ago. Nadine only edits and rewrites details on roles. She promised to finish before the end of the month. We’ll start rehearsals in July. She was, by the way, very happy your desire to insure one of the participants in case something happens.

– By the way, I thought I could rehearse with everyone one by one reading with the opponent to be able to navigate in the text and suggest from behind the scenes, so to speak be prompter.

– Great idea, we’ll give you a copy of the play and we’ll try. Let's start with me.

– As with the male roles? Some of the servants, or disguised themselves of our participants?

– You don’t know Nadine very well – she said Rosalind with a smile. Some roles will play our escorts. The protagonists be played by the stars of the capital theater.

– Will they come to us or are we going out to rehearse at the theater?

– On Tuesdays we to them, on Thursdays they are to us. 10 rehearsals is too short, but they have a tight schedule of rehearsals and performances, so again, your help will be invaluable.

– I can’t wait to read play and start rehearsing.. And costumes, decorations?

– Some costumes and ready sets will be provided by the theater, the rest will be financed by the emperor.

– I’m a little sorry I turned down a part. – I smiled back. Besides the fact that I really wanted to take part in the rehearsals, I think it is also an opportunity to learn the writing faster.– Rosalind, I wanted to ask you for help. See, I know too little about the real world. I made that point to the emperor, and now I have to map out the itinerary and give as much detail as possible. He promised to look it up and give me an answer. I need help with the map. You do know more about what worth to visit.

Rosalind was thinking. I did not expect that such a simple request could cause a range of emotions and deep thoughts.

–Rosalind, is there something wrong? I’m not insisting if you can’t for some reason, just say I won’t be offended.

– I will help. Of course, I'll help you. I just want to ask you – she stopped for a while – Please take me on this trip.

I got up from the couch and began pacing the room.

– Rosalind, but this selection, and purpose of the project to explore each other. His Majesty and so not happy that I instead of being next to – leave. If I tell him that now two of us… I do not know how to tell him about it? – I froze in front of the girl, she was completely calm.

– Catherine, our families are friends since childhood. Yes, I often talked to Nadine and her brother than to heirs, but believe me, the time to look at each other and fall in love was enough, and my presence or absence for some time will not change anything in our relationship. I, as you rightly noted, better acquainted with the geography and traditions of the country, and therefore can help you navigate, but my knowledge is mainly theoretical, I do not have much traveled. After all, I’m curious. I can to talk to an heir myself if you agree.

– Well, if you have long been familiar, probably, he will not mind. I’d be happy if you could keep me company.

– Great, I promised Nadine to come for the weekend, I'll be back in a couple of days and start, okay?