Raven's Soul. Volume 2 - стр. 13

– Poisoned? By whom?" Alviss didn't look so surprised, but he frowned even more.

– It's a long story," I said evasively, not about to tell a stranger, though a good friend of Evans', about the misfortunes Derek and I had caused by my suddenly resurrected witch grandmother, Hund. – But that's why we need your help.

– You should never have come back, boy… The King hates you and will do everything in his power to wipe even the memory of you from the face of Emmerlend. You crossed him, and he will never forgive you," Alviss said in a quiet, trembling voice, looking at Evans.

– I know that! I'm not going to show up at the royal palace and drink wine with Jakub! – The healer shrugged with a short laugh. – We need the Dead Man's Axe. You will sell it to us, and we will return to Kaldwind immediately. Without this weapon, our quest will only end in our deaths.

– The Dead Man's Axe! The power of this weapon is legendary, but no one has ever been called upon to test its power… Not even our king, and he is a powerful mage, the most powerful of us all," Alviss said quietly under his breath.

– Excellent! We'll take our chances and test it, and then we'll give the Axe back to you if you want it," Evans said with a sigh of relief, as if glad that we were finally getting to the point, and leaned back in his chair.

– Give it back to me? Who said you'd get it? – Alviss left the table and left the room, as if he'd forgotten about us and the tea and cake.

Evans and I looked at each other and hurried after the old wizard.

– I know you have it," Evans said in an affirmative tone as he followed.

– I don't have it! No!" Alviss shook his head stubbornly.

– We'll pay you well! Very well! – I raised my voice, hoping to seduce the old man with the sound of gold coins, because it had worked so well before.

– Offer me even a mountain of diamonds! I don't have it!

– We need him! Without him we have no chance-" Evans began.

– Are you deaf? I told you, I don't have the Dead Man's Axe! And I have no idea what it looks like! – Alviss shouted angrily.

We went back to the shop. Alviss hid from us behind a low counter, opened a thick book, written from cover to cover in sharp, sprawling handwriting, and pretended to read one of the pages carefully.

– Then you won't help us? – I asked bluntly.

– I wouldn't think of it. Even if I had that weapon, I wouldn't sell it to a demoness for all the gold in the world! Who knows what kind of evil intent you would use it for? Ha!" the old mage snarled at me, not looking up from the book.

– But my husband's life depends on it… King Kaldwind's life! Don't you have any pity for him? – I exclaimed in despair.

– Why should I pity any man? Let him die! Maybe it's for the best! Hedda Juris will sit on the throne that is hers by law, and you will be sent back to your parents! It's a win-win for everyone!

– Alviss, you know me, you raised me! – Evans said quietly, but there was pain and disappointment in his voice.

But the stubborn old man didn't even look at him.

– Don't grovel to him, my friend… He's already made up his mind. – I was so sad that I didn't want to look at the old man or hear his voice anymore. I turned my back on him and walked over to the tall glass cabinet, where the shelves held artifacts and weapons I had never seen before. As I got close to the cabinet, I felt a grave chill go through my body and my insides shrink, causing me physical discomfort, but at the same time I was filled with a strange fierce energy.