- Relax," River found her sword and clenched her handle, then rose as quietly as possible. Step by step, she was approaching the thickets. Her eyes were already accustomed to the darkness, and it made the task much easier. As she approached the target, she carefully pushed the tip of the branch blade to the side, ready to repel the blow.
- What is there? - Erin stood up to see the night guest, and River squatted down, and a cold, damp gray wolf's nose lying on the ground poked her palm. Strangely enough, River didn't even think about why the animal hadn't attacked them, just as the wild beast would have.
- It was a wolf.
- A wolf? - The girl approached River with curiosity, looking into the shining eyes of the reason for her fear. - But what is he doing here?
- How do I know?
Erin gently ran her hand over the beast's tough wool.
- How nice! Good," she said, she already boldly patted his neck The wolf gladly wove his head, gladly accepting weasel. River got back on her feet.
- If you want, you can communicate further, but I'd rather get some more sleep - she looked at the sky. - The sunrise is coming soon.
She left Erin to talk to her new friend and lay down on crumpled branches. Just a few minutes later, footsteps were heard behind her back.
- What was it so fast? - River dreamily asked. Erin sighed.
- Well, you said it wasn't long before morning. You'd make me walk all day again. I still need to rest.
That answer made River smile, and she flipped over, hugging Erin again.
- I will," she confessed without opening her eyes. - Sleep. Are you comfortable?
- Yeah," she said, curl up. River sighed and buried herself in the blond hair of her ward. "Sleep...
* * * * *
The tall man walked through the corridor separating him from the waiting room and opened the door.
- So, where was your head when you were doing all this? - He started without greeting. The woman sitting at the large desk looked at him in surprise, putting the feather aside.
- Clyde," she said drily as she leaned back. - What a surprise! And I was waiting for you by noon.
- Don't be so coy," the High Priest of the Bright Council waved, moving the chair by the wall for himself. - How do you explain to me what happened yesterday?
- And what happened? - Zion's eyebrows were thrown up. Clyde punched the table with his fist.
- You know exactly what I'm talking about," he bent down on the woman. - As you know, how important it is for us that the witch gets to Mogar.
The priestess despised the angry man.
- You don't have to tell me how much effort you put into establishing your authority, her face has gone dark. - Or will you offer me an alliance again?
- Will you refuse again?
- We don't need fanatics, Clyde," Ziona stood up and went to the little table by the window and poured herself a cup of tea without offering to buy a guest. - You need them because no one in their right mind will follow you and your ideas.
The priest mockingly humiliated, throwing his foot on his leg.
- Are you saying that you are served by idealists only?
- They don't," the woman meticulously corrected him, carefully tasting a hot drink. - We make a contract. They are my services, I am their money. We are equal partners. Can you say that about yourself?
Clyde's got his head in the air.
- I also pay them money. But that's not the point," he crunched his fingers nervously, and Siona grimaced: she couldn't stand the sound.
- What was it?
- The fact that you made a storm to get rid of my best mercenary, the man started to get turned on again. The priestess shrugged her shoulders phlegmatically.
- My best mercenary was there, too, if you remember?
- I don't care about your hearing... of the employees! - He got up. - I want the witch to get to Mogar unhindered.
- Already done.
Clyde took a staggering look at the calm woman.
- I didn't understand.
- You've always had trouble thinking about it," Siona left, grinning. The priest began to purple.
- Listen...
- They made a deal," the woman interrupted him. - They don't touch the witch until Mogar.
- And there?
Ziona smiled, and there was nothing funny about her smile.
- And there, our game started all over again - she came close to the man. - Did you make bets? Hurry up, there will be no such opportunity anymore.
Clyde looked at her for a while, then retreated on the step.
- Sometimes I amaze you," he said quietly. - We're fighting for the same thing, but then why can't we come to a single decision?
Ziona turned her back on him and came to the window.
- Because we are going in different ways," she said, "she took another sip of cooled tea. - And the one whose path will be shorter will win. You took the first step by sending a mercenary to protect the witch. I answered by sending a murderer. Your move.
Clyde wanted to say something, but instead silently left the room. The priestess just smiled.
To be continued...