Raven's Soul. Volume 2 - стр. 12
– What's so unusual about her? – The old man squinted his eyes at me, making me feel a little creepy.
– The thing is…" I decided to stop in mid-sentence so I wouldn't say too much, and I looked at my companion with concern in my eyes.
– The thing is, she's the Queen of Culdwynd," Evans added with absolute calm.
– Evans! – That statement took my breath away. He'd given away my secret!
– Don't worry, he's trustworthy," Evans smiled at me.
– That's how it is…" The old man leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment. – As far as I know, King Merkswerd married Princess of Flammehav. Which means she's a demoness. Your battlemate doesn't look like a member of that race. – Alviss looked at his young friend carefully, as if waiting for a new explanation.
– It was true. She took the same potion that I do. If anyone recognizes her…
– That demoness will be captured and taken to the palace, and you will be executed! – The old mage bounced on the table with his palms on his hands, and his face was so angry that I flinched as if I'd been slapped in the face.
– Don't worry, we won't get caught," the healer continued, ignoring the raging old man. – We won't be here long.
– That will be enough time to kill you. I didn't help you so that you would act so thoughtlessly now!
– I'm sorry, it's my fault. I was the one who asked Evans for help," I interjected, as I couldn't keep quiet any longer.
– Of course you did, who else would have? – The old mage said sarcastically.
– Alviss, that's enough. – Evans stood up sharply, his palms on the table.
It was the first time I'd ever seen him like that: I'd always thought he couldn't get angry, but at the moment his eyes were shooting lightning bolts.
– Did she really seduce you? Demonesses, they say, are good at it! – The old man shook his head disapprovingly, as if he was not a grown-up mage, but a green boy barely acquainted with the beauty of women.
– Seduction is our talent, and you're right about that, Alviss," I said calmly, realizing that the old mage had his own accounts with my race. – But not all of us resort to it. You must have heard about the relationship I have with my husband, Derek Merkswerd.
– Let me guess: you hate him so much that you ran off with that fool? – Alviss rolled his eyes.
That phrase made both Evans and me laugh: no, he didn't!
– Evans, of course, is a man, but I assure you that my heart belongs to my husband, strangely enough. Sometimes hate turns to passion, and pain and bad memories are washed away by mutual love," I said quietly. The words came easily, but I thought again that my love for Derek had swept over me too quickly, but I didn't have time to search my mind for the hows and whys of it. I knew: I cared for Derek… It must be the distance and the separation that gave birth to these black doubts in me.
– Then why aren't you with him? Why did you run away? – The old man squinted his eyes. Apparently, he still didn't trust me.
– Unfortunately, our separation is forced: Derek is poisoned, and Evans and I have volunteered to find the herbs needed for the antidote. If you've heard of nysta decoction, you understand the threat to my husband. – I stopped talking and gave the old wizard a cold, piercing stare.