CHAPTER 7 Queen of the Siberian Land

At the bridge over the moat, they again met eleven guards. But, they immediately recognized the Queen, and bowed to the belt. The immortals walked across the bridge, into the arch of the vast gate, and looked… Yes, and there was why. Outside, after all, the city was more like a huge hill overgrown with grass, only from above with a high tower, and a wooden fence for archers, but inside… A vast street ran in circles along the inner wall. And in the wall, in the hill itself, small dwellings were arranged, like honeycombs, with windows and doors. As many as two floors were residential, and the lower one was utility. And, from the courtyard, comfortable shoots are placed upstairs. And Tivda noticed how the hostesses in the yard collect water in one of the four wells, and then carry it to themselves, for their families. They also prepared food downstairs, in utility rooms. Artisans also worked here, doing important things for the city.

– That’s how… – only Tivda was able to say, – but, it’s cramped here… It’s hard to live a long time… It’s inconvenient, what a crush…

– But, safely, – said the businesslike Sysoy, who had already looked around in this place.

The city greeted the chosen fighters warily but joyfully. People made an enthusiastic noise when meeting Elena.

Ahead was the daughter of the Magi Rista, Ilsa, with a loaf of bread on a gold tray. The Slavnitsa bowed, paying homage. Except Elena the Beautiful didn’t eat anything. Therefore, she kissed the girl three times, and gave the loaf to Sysoy.

And behind her, the captured people of the city also showed themselves. In elegant clothes, with staffs in their hands, three elders Ouma-Lin, Okast and Duptun bowed their heads. The glorious governors of the Patronal City, Quintal and Gord, who also rose from the dead, and their best twelve soldiers stood here.

– Come on, Lady, you’re expected! – an important voice was uttered by Duptun, now becoming the eldest of the elders in the capital city.

– Yes, Lady, take your place on the White Throne! – added Rist, – all the people ask you! Do mercy!

Okast and Lin watched the sign of power shining on Elena’s head. They looked here at Duptun and Rist, both were silent with annoyance on their faces. But, they were afraid to go against. We saw that the relatives and warriors enthusiastically greet Elena the Beautiful.

– Glory to Elena the Beautiful! Lin shouted, and turned to prostomutgo

– Glory to the new Queen! Okast tried to shout down his opponent.

The crown on the lady’s head sparkled with fire. Previously, no one would have understood how it is, a girl-and on the White Throne? And now everyone nodded according to the words of the magician, bowed so low! Elena just looked at her own, looked back, as if she was looking for support.

“Call my adoptive parents. Father Horya and mother Zayu. And give them honor! Elena announced loudly.

I noticed how the magician Rist pushed his unot, and he ran to follow the order. Well, as if not an order, but her will. And so, from the side where ordinary relatives were crowded, Zaya and Horya were brought out. Those, as if not recognizing, looked at the named daughter. Then Elena herself approached them, bowed low, almost hitting the trampled earth of the main square of Ouma with the rays of the crown.

“So I am grateful to you, my new parents,” said the Queen, and bowed again, “I owe everything to everyone forever!” Stand up, be with me!

– Why… Horus whispered, adjusting his hat, whether the case had been seen… Yes, daughter, the whole earth only talks about your exploits!

– We are glad that everything is fine with you. And I, here, baked pies, and Zaya served a small basket with hotels.

– And this is for you, take it, – and on the sign of Elena Sysoy put a voluminous cat in Horya’s hands, – that everything would be fine!

The queen tried to smile, but her icy face seemed to be numb. She couldn’t laugh anymore. Then she just kissed both parents in turn. I noticed how Duptun and Rist whispered, and noticing her gaze, they bowed. And the junots of the Magi led Horus and Zaya to the procession, and they stood behind her, ahead of the Immortals. Rist picked up the staff, and everyone went to the royal tower.

And in front of her quickly stood four slender unots in white clothes, with jade axes and a bunch of roses on their shoulders. These youths should not guard or protect the Queen, but only to honor the new Sovereign. The captured people, with solemn faces, followed Elena the Beautiful. And behind everyone stood two musicians, and played a perky motive, on horns and on the pipe. So this procession moved to a separate tower in the middle of the Ouma fortress.

Tivda looked at it, listened, and kept quiet. I’ve never seen such a thing! Why should he see something like this, growing up in a village of fishermen, standing in two day crossings from Throne City. And others, from their deck, also had not been behind the ramparts of the fortress before. It happened that they came to bargaining, but no one happened to look at this, especially Tsarsky Terem.

The other Immortals were also silent, succumbing to the triumph of the moment. But the tower was really good, as if from a fairy tale! Everything was decorated with carvings on the outside and inside. As if alive, deer fled, eagles glided in a vast blue sky. Even the ceiling was strewn with stars made of minted gold!

Unots opened high doors, and everyone entered the Great Hall. Lit lamps to give greatness to these moments. Everyone froze, calmed down, not looking up at the empty Tsar’s place.

Magus Rist and Elder Duptun raised Elena to the White Throne by the hands, dance music hit here! Unots in white and with axes stood as an honorary guard. Rist laid a huge bundle of grain ears of a new crop at the throne as a sign of wealth and a desire for happiness. And elders Okat and Lin raised their wands, as if asserting what had happened.

– Roll out honey and beer from city stocks! Elder Oakust shouted.

– Let the holiday come to every house! Distribute as you grain! Lin added, hitting the floor with a staff.

All hail rejoiced that people found the true Queen! The doors of the royal tower were opened wide. Children were brought to her, bless, and whom to heal. She sat on the chair calmly, and got down to business as usual. The deck of the Immortals stood a little further away, not knowing what to do with themselves. The weapon was now closed behind an oak door, in the Queen’s personal storeroom. They shifted from foot to foot, sweated, in the sable capes brought to them. Tan sighed, did not know where to put his hands.

– What do you say? – Sysoy said quietly, – again rush to wave an ax? Did you cut down few goals from strangers?

– Hot here somehow, uncomfortable to me – Tan complained, – in fight much more fun!

– Enough to bully others! – just as Khvylya said quietly, – everything is impossible for you? There is nothing to occupy yourself with?

“What are you doing here?” – Sysa said with an unkind expression, – So, this magician, Rist, with his notes… And five years ago he did not take me into training, disdained me… Either I didn’t come out with a face, or my mother and father turned out to be poor, they could not give him a hotel!

– What are you? Apta said in fright, but is it taken for a bribe?

– And for a considerable… No less like in a young calf, or in a pair of rings of gold. Well, and we have risen higher than them all. Who are the Magi Rist and Elder Duptun for us now? There is no one – and there is no way to call…

– Quiet… Tan remarked.

Tivda did not believe his ears. For a long time he knew Sysoy, went fishing with him, hunting, and rafting the forest to Gandvik. And they went with merchants, merrymakers. Oster was always in Sysa’s tongue, but devoted to oaths and comrades. And Tivda could not believe in such a thing that this comrade-in-arms kept so much in himself. And nearby, in joyful noise, people who believed in the deliverance of the finders, by virtue of the new Queen and her undaunted army. And in them too, Immortal Knights.

– And now we ask everyone to the tables! Holiday in the city! The servants took out huge zkorchagi with honey and beer from the basements! said Duptun happily.

They noticed that the Queen was in good spirits, sighed with relief. And the one who in Oum did not know that the Queen had resurrected them at once, at one time more than three thousand people! And since she raised her from the dead, she can kill! They understood this, although they did not speak out loud.

Elena sighed, put her hands on the arms of her seat, and nodded to the magi, calling him to her.

“What do you say, Queen?” Rist immediately asked, folding his palms on his stomach.

All just turned into attention this person. He looked at her obsequiously, barely ate with his eyes, glanced, looked like an image of God. And Elena remembered how this man behaved with simple relatives. And on a goat you can’t drive up to such a thing, they are always inflated from the sand.

– Craftsmen are needed, – Elena reminded of the case, – On the skin, and the coppers are good, who can make cunning locks. I can’t do it myself.

– Yes, they themselves will come to you! Don’t doubt it! I’ll show you Acasta. He is much for every business, great intelligence and skill. He will certainly do whatever you need. Any delicate work will do.

“Better take me away, wise magician. So it will become more accurate. An urgent matter.

Here the magician Rist led the Queen to these intelligent artisans. Immediately Elena gave them gold from the booty taken from the battle. Not herself, of course, but Sysoy, according to her sign, laid out four heavy bags filled with gold nuggets on the table. Gold, drawn into suede, rang deafly.

The workers, the case has not yet been stopped, one of the blacksmiths inserted a hot wire into the hole, and began to quickly upset it with a hammer. A great door hinge came out. The queen looked at the craftsmen engaged in an important matter at the anvil and workbench.

But, those finally, the craftsmen turned their heads, hearing and seeing the intruders. They released the instrument from their hands, and expected to be told. The craftsman took off his leather apron, mittens from his hands, bowed. He went closer to the guests and bowed.

– Good evening, Queen! he said.

– Here, payment for a complex case. I’ll make a drawing for you in the sand, “she said,” and there are eight such pairs. “You, they say, the craftsman Acast? Jack of all trades? Is it true?

Here a middle-aged man, a little stooped, but still tall, rubbed his chin in thoughtfulness. He exchanged glances with his comrades, and smiled mysteriously. This smile painted him.

“Well, not for everything,” the craftsman began to say, “but I can do something.” Sutei and Thunder will help me. Both are grasping, sensible, praadpukakoy business, of course. Rook for the day we do not sweet! ‘he joked.

– So you take it? Or not? – the Queen began to lose patience, – in a hurry.

– What? The work is not easy, and the fee is large. We have good suede, and we have good bronze. Sweet Queen, don’t worry! Make a drawing!

Well, Elena asked to give her a tray with sand, and on it she began to display a drawing of what was required in a thin style. But, due to the complexity, it took four drawings. The craftsmen stood nearby, looked at each other.

“Got it?” For business it is necessary, not for trifles. To finish off strangers from cover. We settled high, you just can’t get to them! Elena explained.

– And measurements should be taken from everyone. Otherwise, hands will flow, – said Akast.

– And on me too, and on my whole Deck. I will come myself, and I will send them when you say.

– Let’s hurry, it’s important. We will fulfill everything in three days, do not doubt! Yes, only, – and he looked at the Queen in doubt, – what for business, so such people should be ten times stronger than usual? And then at twenty?

Elena was glad when she managed to talk with sensible or kind people. Immediately it became better, both in the soul and in the heart. But, only she twisted her bracelet on her wrist and said, without answering:

– You are smart, craftsman Akast. You understand everything on the go.