Illuma-Nadine was left far behind.
Returning home, I thought of different things: about my mother; about Archonte Belkete, whose renewed army was about to make a great campaign; about Illum-Nadine; about the teachings of the mentors and, of course, about the words of Sekhbet. We talked a lot about these last days before the separation, and one day my friend involuntarily shamed me. Telling me about Lord Giovanni, he said the following:
"No, I could not keep Malfrou in my castle, but Giovanni would not have kept him." Do you know why? Because he thinks that a larger allotment will make him happier. We must admit that justice requires it, - it is now managed quite successfully with its possessions, but a very high price was paid for him to learn this! He lost respect, lost honor, lost the city, lost his own sister, and after all lost his very life, and his immortality is not a joy to him. You hardly noticed, my friend, with what melancholy he looks at every living face, especially the young one, and not only past bad habits of his that reason. This is only one testimony to the fact that he still gravitates to worldly joys, which he can not indulge in, and replaces it with society and jokes, which seem to him merry, and holidays, and excessive blood libations. Now he believes that if he receives more land, more wealth, more sources for his cruel ecstasy, he will feel relief. Ha! If this were so simple. He will not understand the main thing, my friend: one who is able to manage one house can manage the estate; able to manage the estate can manage the city; able to manage the city can manage the province; and the one who controls the province on the shoulder can rule the country. Great deeds begin with the small, Aranthir. From a small start, I started with a small start and Giovanni. He, like a knight who does not want to obey an experienced rider, gives himself up to passions and resists the voice of reason... For me this is not visible, my boy, but I am old and right to advise you: never disdain to start with a little, take into account trivialities. Having gained experience in small matters, you acquire skill for the great.
Tearing with remorse, I recalled these words. Yes, sorrow, not frivolity, drove me on the road, yes, I knew in general how things are going on in the estate, but never went into details, venerating this unworthy necromancer and scientist, and in vain! What is happening now at home, to whom I left my native walls and depending on my will? Is not this an insult to the memory of the mother who kept my paternal possession for me, in order to pass it on to me in order and prosperity?
With these thoughts, I hurried back and much was overjoyed when I heard screams:
"Sir, the lord is back!"
"Praise to Ashe, at last!"
The smiling groom bowed and intercepted the reins, the servants poured into the yard, the old cook hugged me like a child, the chief housekeeper for the first time reported to me as the owner that everything is quiet in the estate, and I finally gave up pretending not to be touched. Hardly after the first joy of the meeting, everything gradually subsided, I, for some reason not daring to cross the threshold of my father's house, thanked everyone and went to a distant cemetery to visit my parents. For a long time I stood at familiar graves, mentally turning to the souls of my father and mother. They both went to the throne of Ashi, they were not there, but I whole-heartedly hoped that they would hear me. When I was about to leave, I suddenly felt a sharp and cold alarm, like an icy arrow, suddenly pierced my chest. Not understanding what was the reason, I looked around. There was no one around, only a bird flew by. Slowly the clouds floated in the sky, the damp grass sloped lazily to the ground, and the world seemed to be plunged into a serene day's drowsiness, but an unaccountable fear did not let me go. I was ready to write off this for fatigue and the pain experienced by the loss of my mother, from the heavy separation from Sekhbet, but suddenly I thought: what would they tell me at this moment?
"Listen to your heart, my son, it does not fail you."
"Trust your instinct, Arantir, it is developed in you extraordinarily!"
And I realized that this is what I should do. Not knowing why I'm doing this, I, having first ascended Ashe's prayer, began to carefully place on the graves of my parents protective charms that protect me from fire, from water, from the earth, from air, from lightning, natural and induced by human hand, from accidental damage, from malicious intent and harm to vain... Only after I completed this, could I leave the cemetery relatively calm.
To be continued
Thank you for reading!