Chapter 24
She was glad Galaspiael let her stay in the house for long. She felt good there – it was the only place she could define as her home.
In the early afternoon, she entered the prince's room.
Many things were changed. Galaspiael transformed the destroyed room into a place for work. The dynamite project was in full swing. Vials with different contents were stacked everywhere, and on the table, placed exactly in the middle, there was a larger vessel for mixing ingredients. Near lied a large pile of books and scrolls, which the prince sorted according to suitability.
He worked hard and had a good chance of achieving his goal. The recipe for the Kagolanian dynamite has already been recreated and rewritten many times on the special, indestructible paper of the Scribes' a.s.sociation. Galaspiael wrote several copies with invisible ink, others with a cipher. He also made several false recipes, which he intended to bury in places that he thought were most likely to be found by someone.
His version of dynamite was not to be based on gunpowder like Madegaldian one. Instead, he worked on creating a liquid explosive.
"How do you like it?" the boy asked, raising his head from behind the pile of books. "I've made a lot of progress."
"Your mind's abilities are shocking," she said, slowly looking around the room. "What's in these bottles?"
"In these? The different substances that have one thing in common. They work with fire. This one is a special oil. Long ago in Sekania, murderers were punished by splas.h.i.+ng with it and setting on fire. They were fried like a duck. That green one is also from Sekania. It was used in naval battles. It floats on water and forms one dense stain. When you set it on fire, the uninitiated have the impression that the water is burning."
"I heard about it," she admitted, "In my previous home lived a man who was a slave on a pirate-attacked s.h.i.+p and saw this. At the time I thought it was magic."
"Many people try to explain this way phenomena that they do not understand," Galaspiael said, writing something and drawing quick sketches. "The truth is, there is always a logical explanation for all magic. For this thing in the Forbidden Zone too!"
Kalena leaned against the wall and silently watched his work. Her master opened the cabinet, from which he took out two vials, supported by a special tripod and placed them on the table. He constructed it for experiments with hazardous substances. Using the k.n.o.b, the vial could be positioned higher and lower, and at the right angles and n.o.body had to hold it while mixing the ingredients.
Unfortunately, Galaspiael didn't place one of the bottles evenly. Kalena touched the k.n.o.b and tried to move it but to no avail. As she put more strength into it, the vessel tilted too much, and the yellowish liquid spilled into the other, placed below it.
She hissed and clenched her fists. Fortunately, the yellow liquid formed the layer, so she could sc.r.a.pe it back. However, Galaspiael took out the vial, stoppered it and began to shook vigorously."
"Wait, I..." she began quietly, not quite knowing how to tell him what had just happened.
"If a precipitate forms, I will lose an important ingredient. Inside is the powder I made of water-nephrite..." he stopped and looked anxiously at the vial. He put it down and took a few steps back.
The liquid inside foamed strongly, and after a while, there was a sound of the cork hitting the window. Now in the gla.s.s pane appeared a small hole, around which a crack resembled a cobweb.
Kalena pursed her lips and froze for a moment waiting for his reaction. The boy straightened up slowly and went to the window. A triumphant smile immediately appeared on his face. With a wild cry of joy, he took
"We did it!"
"What happened? It just boiled over!"
"And that's exactly what it was about!" he explained, "I am as close to Kagolanian dynamite as never before!"
*
A few days later, the girl felt healthy and wanted to return to Yagn-Sho.
Unfortunately, since her accidental discovery, Galaspiael was completely absorbed by work and did not think to stop it. At first, he tried to persuade Kalena to give him another day or two to move the lab, but in the end, they both agreed that there was nothing to wait for. Everything seemed to indicate that she would have to return alone to the Scribes' quarters.
Just before her departure, Lin-Si visited them for some unknown reason. Kalena felt uncomfortable with her, but she was not much disturbed by the presence of the princess.
Since the conflict with the prince, she felt that something had changed, but she couldn't tell what it was, and finally realized that the change was in the way she loves Galaspiael. Or rather the lack of love. She still considered him her closest friend, but she no longer loved him. She even wondered if she had ever really felt something for him at all. Now it looked more like deep fascination.
Still, she tried to avoid the presence of the future queen. They only had one opportunity to talk to each other as she prepared to leave. Lin-Si used it perfectly.
"What did you do when you were a slave?" those were the first words she said. Kalena, slightly surprised that the princess paid attention to her, did not know at first what to answer.
"I was doing housework." It was the simplest way to describe her former duties.
"Yep I can see," Lin-Si said, curving her lips in a strange grimace for a moment. "You wouldn't be good for anything else."
One day Kalena would ignore such an accusation, mainly out of fear. She didn't feel too hurt, but she decided to nibble anyway.
"Since you can see the past of man in his eyes, Your Highness, why ask unnecessary questions?
She heard a soft snort.
"I see he has already taught you insolence. Like master, like a student, great! I hope it doesn't work the other way around, because if you instilled your coa.r.s.e customs into him, I won't be able to hide my disgust."
"I think the prince knows best which customs will suit him." Kalena barely suppressed the growing anger.
"He's fixable. My sisted worse. I feel ashamed by her lack of taste when it comes to choosing the company."
"And did I ask her to hang out with me?"
Hearing this, Lin-Si came over and hit Kalena in the face.
"Hanging out with you... I don't see anything pleasing in it. How dare you speak to me like that! Do you think we're equal? We are not!"
The princess grabbed Kalena's hair and pulled her back. The girl raised her fist vigorously but hesitated for a moment. She was eager to hit her, but she knew she would suffer the consequences.
"Come on, do it!" The princess..h.i.t her again. "Do it and he will have to personally sign a death sentence on you!"
She raised her hand for another blow, but this time Galaspiael stopped her. They didn't even notice when he came in. He grabbed Lin-Si's wrist and pulled her back.
"Stop it now!" He shouted so loudly that Kalena was s.h.i.+vering. The princess hissed in pain as he squeezed her hand.
"Let me go!"
"Leave it!" Kalena grabbed his arm. "Don't fight because of me."
"Let him try!" Lin-Si broke free and pushed Galaspiael away. "My father will hear about this!"
Kalena took advantage of the moment when they both did not pay her attention and quickly slipped out of the room. She was afraid that Galaspiael would get into trouble because of her.
When she was about to leave, he came to say goodbye. Kalena carefully looked for Lin-Si but she didn't show up.
"Ready to go? You can take my horse."
"I thought I'll walk," she confessed.
"Do you know how hard the route is on foot? You would arrive in the middle of the night!" he broke off and touched her red cheek. "I'm sorry for her. I didn't want it to happen."
"You can't control what other people do," she replied. Galaspiael shook his head.
"Think about this walk, it may be beyond your strength. Even a healthy, strong man would be exhausted after the whole day of marching."
"I think well when I walk. I wanted to reflect on some things that have been going on lately."
"It sounds alarming."
"When someone manages to escape death, they begin to see different things differently. I feel great, don't worry"
"Oh yes! I also feel great when someone slaps my face. Please, don't go on foot. I will be calmer."
*
Kalena listened to Galaspiael's advice, although she still did not feel confident on the horse, despite a dozen or so lessons.
There were many ways to reach Yagn-Sho. The most interesting road, full of unexplored places, was extremely tempting. The path led far into the mountains, but if you turned at the right moment, you could find the Scribes' quarters, and maybe come across a secret from years ago.
Galaspiael showed her this way on the map, one evening at the Yagn-Sho. Since then, she wanted to go there with him or alone. However, it was a much more difficult route and it would certainly take more than a day of the journey.
In the city, the preparations for some holiday were taking place. Kagolanian calendar consisted of many holidays, especially religious ones. Wors.h.i.+pers of ancestors, elemental deities, and even spirits enchanted in trees and stones lived side by side, and the customs of all religions mixed. Only the cults that showed overt hostility towards others were forbidden.
Most of the beliefs made up Kaita, the official state religion, whose follower, at least in theory, was also Galaspiael.
Great respect for ancestors was a.s.sociated with cultivating the memory of them. Every inhabitant of Kagolania knew what family he came from, which Kalena envied them very much. She couldn't remember anyone of her family. The stigma could say about the slave and once she tried to start from it. Unfortunately, the mark she had burned on her shoulder did not resemble anything that was known in Kagolania, Sekania, Velikanii, Port and even Madegald.
Someone offered Kalena a salty cookie. She accepted them, slightly confused, not knowing if she would have to pay for it, but the man quickly left without waiting for anything in return. She walked slowly, looking around from time to time. In the outer circle, people were also preparing for the coming holiday. When she left the city, she didn't meet anyone for a long time.
During the walk, she heard many flattering things about Galaspiael. Only a few people referred to him as "His Highness," more often the phrase "our prince" was used. He managed to remain anonymous, people did not know that he was living among them for a long time. His pa.s.sion for experimenting and constructing various things was well known, as well as his extraordinary skills in wielding the sword.
About halfway to Yang-Sho, she took a break for a meal.
Galaspiael packed her an extra portion of food, but she would be more grateful for a little more water instead. She quickly felt full so she stuffed the leftovers into the cotton m.u.f.fler and continued her journey.