The road, which twisted and turned along the mountain slopes, now soaring up into the clouds, now diving back to the very bottom of the gorges, gradually began to even out, became better. But Hani had a strange feeling that they were moving further and further away from the dwellings. Perhaps the reason for this was the mountains, which were becoming higher and more gloomy. Now they fully justified their name - Black, for this was the only color left on the steep slopes of the formidable peaks rising from all sides. They pressed, made one feel tiny, weak and insignificant. The sugar-white snow caps on the mountain tops made this blackness literally glow.
Khani shivered and turned his head.
- An inhospitable place.
"Yes, there are more hospitable roads," the princess agreed.
"I think this blackness is created on purpose," Chani complained.
Toril glanced at him quickly.
- What do you know about this?
- Nothing. It just seems that way to me.
"Yes, you are right to some extent," she agreed reluctantly. "Eternal Lost tried to make the borderlands unattractive to strangers. Although further away, on the reverse slopes of the Black Mountains, the picture is quite different.
"Why?" asked Chani.
— The Lord of the Lake Kingdom does not want to tempt those who are hunting for other people's wealth in vain.
Gradually the road rose higher and higher, and soon Hani realized that they were walking along a high aqueduct, built for some reason along the gorge. Far below, the river roared, so far that it was not even visible in the light fog that spread under the openwork columns of the aqueduct. Only the faint murmur of streams of water jumping over the stones reached the travelers.
Ahead, a vague black spot appeared, crossing the road. As he approached, it grew, spreading out to the sides, and soon Khani realized that the road ended at a gigantic mountain. It did not go around it along the rocks, but went deep into the mountain. It was difficult to look against the sun, and only when he came close did he realize that he had made a slight mistake. It was not quite a mountain.
Once upon a time, in time immemorial, the mountain had been split in two by a powerful earthquake. Enormous boulders torn from its slopes still stood on either side of the aqueduct. But the split in the mountain itself had been repaired. It was covered by a stone wall, made of the same black debris and therefore seeming to be an extension of the mountain itself. Although no, it was not a wall. An entire fortress had been squeezed into a narrow gap. Hani counted five tiers of high crenellated walls, rising one above the other. The first two tiers were completely smooth, the next three were decorated with squat thick towers, in which strange large round windows were visible, covered with heavy steel shields. One could assume that the lower tier of the wall-fortress was as thick as the mountain itself. And there was another strange feature that struck Hani. Usually, a fortress has a gate. Here, there were no gates in any of the walls, not even in the very top one.
Toril paused, looking at the black mass of the fortress, illuminated from behind by the sun, seemingly lifeless. Only somewhere high up, on the fifth tier, the tiny dots of the sentries' helmets glittered, so Hani decided. But the travelers immediately felt that many eyes were watching them.
"This is Nordenkalst, one of the four entrances to the kingdom of Nyklost," said the princess.
"What kind of entrance is this?" Chani chuckled. "No entrance, no exit."
- Nevertheless. It is impossible to bypass the fortress through the mountains. Only by passing through its fortifications can one enter the domain of the eternal Lost. The Lake Kingdom is well protected by nature. Then we will follow the road to Leverton, and then turn east and through Leverkalst we will reach the eastern plain. Well, and then... We'll see.
"We're not going anywhere yet," Chani responded ironically.
- We need to wait until the commandant of the fortress comes to us.
- And when will this happen?
- When he deems it necessary.
Chani gave an irritated snort.
- Maybe we should hurry him up? Otherwise, we'll have to hang around here until tomorrow.
"It's pointless," the princess shook her head. "On the contrary, no one might come out to see us after this. The people of Nyklost are a strange people. Without knowing their customs, you can easily get into trouble and ruin your relationship with them forever. Therefore, I ask you to watch and only watch, without interfering in the conversation, no matter how strange it may seem."
"Or maybe they just don't know we're waiting?" Khani suggested.
"Have no doubt, the grandmaster has known about our arrival for a long time and is now probably looking at us, deciding what to do.
A loud flapping of wings caught their attention. Raising his head, Khani managed to notice a large eagle taking off from one of the towers of the fourth tier.
— A tame eagle?
"Yes," the princess nodded.
Here, with a quiet rustle, a rope ladder unfurled and swung from the lowest wall. Three men in fluttering white cloaks quickly and nimbly descended onto the road, although the height of the wall was at least fifty cubits. Under their cloaks, bluish steel armor was visible, and Hani thought once again that these warriors were very strong, since such a weight did not hinder them. At each warrior's side hung a straight sword. Their heads were hidden by closed helmets, reminiscent of buckets and decorated with lush blue plumes.
The tall warrior, whose cloak was fastened on his right shoulder with a clasp in the form of a large bronze cross, stepped toward the princess, raising his right hand in an iron glove in greeting. The other two remained standing, arms crossed over their chests.
"I greet you. Praise the Eternity, there is no news in Nyklost," the warrior's bass voice sounded dully from under his helmet.
- Praise be to Eternity, there is not and there never will be.
— From time immemorial and forward.
"How is the health of Lost, the eternal and unchanging in his seventeenth incarnation, Flowning the Noble?" Toril asked.
- Lost is healthy as usual.
- Greetings, valiant commander. I would like to see Grandmaster Randenschreisen.
- For what?
"I want to assure him of the immutability of the world.
A sarcastic chuckle was clearly heard from under the helmet.
- In your last appearance, just a month ago, you committed a terrible crime - you brought news to Nyklost. You were to be executed, and only the completely incomprehensible intercession of the sea marshal Dreggenheiner saved you then. But the sentence passed by Lost, eternal and immutable, remains in force. Your foot will never set foot on the soil of the Lake Kingdom again.
"I would like to speak with the Grandmaster," Toril repeated stubbornly.
- No.
The princess began to get angry, red spots appeared on her cheekbones.
- There are things beyond your understanding, Commander. Your feeble mind is unable to grasp them.
— The Grandmaster did not wish to meet with you.
— I still ask for a meeting with the grandmaster, let him listen to me and only then decide.
"News?" the commander asked ominously. At this terrible word, both warriors standing behind him put their hands on their swords.
"Are you trying to threaten me with a weapon?" the princess was surprised, almost cheerfully. "The Fire Lords are not at odds with Nyklost yet."
"Eternity spare us," the commander responded, waving his hand at the warriors. They froze again, like two iron statues.
"No news," said Toril. "It's all as old as time. Sea King. Give these words to Randenschreisen."
The commander shook his helmet negatively.
- No. Nyklost is eternally unchanging. No news is good news. And the storms that rush over the world bend around the mountain walls of the kingdom. The waters of the Blue Lake remain clear and bright. We do not interfere in the affairs of the world and we will not allow the world to interfere in ours. These are the words of the Grandmaster.
— Last words?
— Yes.
Toril sighed heavily.
- You take on a terrible responsibility, you and the Grandmaster. The Black Mountains seem eternal, but remember the stone storm that split this giant. It may happen again. And then news will come to Nyklost, terrible news. The Blue Lake will turn muddy and red with blood. And it will be on your conscience.
"We, the children of Lost, the eternal and unchanging, only carry out his commands," the commander objected. "The Grand Master ordered me, Marshal Netzlbeck ordered him, and the Grand Master, through whose mouth Lost himself spoke, ordered him."
- Well, farewell, Commander. But remember my words. Nordenkalst seems indestructible, but not only the walls, but even the mountains are crumbling.
"Lost is eternal," the commander repeated stubbornly.