: The cure for insomnia (part III) III

 

The silence rocked like the waves of an endless sea. It rose, fell, pulsated. It pulsated with a blackness that enveloped everything. Or perhaps nothing? In this blackness, it was impossible to tell if there was anything beyond it.

But there was something within it. In the black silence that enveloped everything and nothing, music dissolved. Or perhaps singing? Quiet, distant, airy like morning mist in the meadows. And like mist, it flowed in a thin line, entwining thoughts. Over time, it became clearer and stronger. It became loud enough that one could already tell it wasn't singing but a voice. A delicate and quiet voice. A voice that caused the darkness to begin to fade to gray. At first, this grayness took the form of mere spots, which slowly grew and grew until they became one great gray. Grayness that glowed slowly, fueled by a voice that became increasingly clear and delicate.

In that brightness, Adiar saw spots that were no longer gray or black, but bright and colorful. Blue, green, red, white, orange. He tried to squint to see them more clearly, but then a sudden pain shot through his forehead and temples. He persisted, and finally the spots began to transform into shapes. Their edges sharpened, and the colors became increasingly saturated.

And when he closed his eyes again and opened them again, the shapes transformed into a human face. A young and delicate face, a girl's face, a face with fair skin, smooth cheeks, deep green eyes filled with peace, and bright red lips that kept moving. From them came the voice that had awakened him. He didn't understand the words, didn't hear them. He only heard their melody. Calm, gentle, soothing. A melody that brought him to consciousness, soothed the pain, calmed his thoughts.

He narrowed his eyes again and saw her fully. He saw her kneeling beside him, supporting his head and speaking to him. She leaned over him so that her long hair, the color of blazing fire, swayed before his eyes. It seemed to him that if he touched it, he would burn his fingers.

For a moment, he thought he was dead, lost, and had entered another world where this divine being was his protector. After all, it was impossible to find someone so beautiful among the living, with such green eyes, such beautiful lips, such a gentle voice, and such delicate hands. She must be a goddess who kept all evil from reaching him.

He wanted to move, to say something, to ask something, but his voice wouldn't come. Instead, a sharp, shrill, ear-piercing screech cut through the silence. When the terrible sound repeated, Adiar's head fell back to the ground, and he drifted into the darkness.

"What was that?" Darmir asked.

"Who knows," replied Grandpa Omnicius. "Some beast must have woken up. The sun has already peeked over the horizon."

When Adiar's consciousness awoke again, the endless darkness still pulsated around him. He felt the pain that was somewhere deep inside his head, and everything began to lighten again. The darkness turned to gray, then to spots that took on shape and color. He squinted, searching for the image of a face. And he saw it. A face, a head, a figure. A plump, smiling figure, devoid of hair. The face of a man.

"Do you hear me, sir?" the figure asked.

"Where is she?" Adiar asked.

"I presume you can hear me. Do you see me?

" "Who are you?" Adiar continued.

"Mansu Alai, the physician. Greetings," the man smiled. "I am glad you are recovering. And who are you, if I may ask?

" "I am Adiar da Gerve, knight and cavalier..." Adiar paused, gritting his teeth against the pain. After a moment, he added, "Where am I, what happened? Where is she?"

"You are in the royal infirmary, sir." Battered and bruised, but essentially healthy. The soldiers brought you here. Where? Why? I don't know more. Drink this potion now, and in a day or two you'll be back on your feet.

The medic handed him a bowl of some strongly scented herbal drink. Adiar was still so dazed that he didn't consider what he was drinking or why. He swallowed a few sips of the bitter concoction and collapsed onto his bed. Before he fell asleep, he saw the red-haired figure in his mind.

"He should be fully recovered tomorrow," Grandpa Omnicius said, and he was a little happy about this, for it had been three days since their forced excursion began, and it was high time they returned home.

The previous morning, thanks to the help of the owl, they had found Adiar. He lay unconscious on a forest path.

"What can we do?" Darmir asked, terrified.

"Ha, what can we do? We can't carry him. " I think this branch is to blame for everything." Grandpa Omnicius pointed to a branch stretching over the path a few steps away. "When he was running away in such a hurry, he must have hit his head, and now the poor thing lies here. But he's alive. We have to revive him, and then it's all over."

It wasn't an easy task, though. With the help of Jagoda, who knew medicinal herbs so well that no elf in the area could compare, it would have been easy. But unfortunately, she wasn't there with them.

"Well, we have to manage on our own," Grandpa Omnicius said, and after a warm farewell to the owl, they set off into the forest. Strangely enough, instead of finding medicinal plants, they kept finding something to eat. Finally, they settled down for a meal and a moment's rest.

Just as they were about to return to their search after a snack, a cool wind suddenly rose over the forest. The leaves on the trees rustled anxiously, and somewhere above them a loud, shrill screech sounded.

"What was that?" Darmir asked.

"Who knows," replied Grandfather Omnicius. "Some beast has probably woken up. The sun has already peeked over the horizon. We'd better get back to Adiar."

On the way back, the sound repeated itself a few more times, but this time more quietly.

"It's a strange beast," whispered Grandfather Omnicius. Seeing the anxiety in Darmir's eyes, he added, "But it must have gone somewhere, or flown, because the sound is getting fainter and fainter."

When they returned near the road, there was indeed no beast. However, riders appeared. This time, the dwarves and Adiar were finally lucky. It was a soldier from the royal army.

"He has nothing on him," said the one who knelt beside Adiar. "Judging by his clothes, he's of a higher rank. No valuables, no signet rings on his fingers, just bumps on his head. Mr. Vergo must have been graciously gracious to him. He lies unconscious, but still alive."

"We'll take him," the commander ordered.

"Well, we're in luck, Grandpa," Darmir rejoiced.

"True, we are," Grandpa replied. "However, my dear, it's best for us to stay with him until he regains consciousness and health. I may not be as good as Jagoda in healing with herbs and spells, but our help may still be useful. We'll be home by evening. Tomorrow morning at the latest."

So they set off after the soldiers carrying Adiar. And since they weren't traveling too fast with the wounded man, even the dwarves' legs were enough. They walked through the forest, whistling and singing. Grandpa Omnicius even lit a pipe when they all stopped to rest around noon. The forest again generously provided them with its fruits, so that when they continued their journey, they were neither hungry nor thirsty, and Darmir had so much energy that he had to jump every other step. Grandpa Omnicius just smiled faintly and whistled happily.

They traveled through the forest, sometimes passing clearings, sometimes a stream, sometimes uphill, sometimes downhill. Finally, the forest began to clear and thin out, the gaps between the trees widening, until they emerged from it entirely.

The sight they saw silenced Darmir, and Grandfather Omnicius stopped whistling. They stood on a mountain slope, at the foot of which began the royal Sun Valley. Bounded by mountain peaks to the south and smaller hills to the north, it was so vast that it would take almost a whole day to traverse it on horseback. Its other end disappeared somewhere beyond the horizon, making it impossible to say how many days it would take to reach it. At the bottom, a carpet of meadows spread, blooming in countless colors with poppies, cornflowers, daisies, tulips, marigolds, jasmine, cherry trees, and hundreds of other plants that the dwarves couldn't name. These were interspersed in places by golden fields of grain and the blue threads of streams shimmering here and there. On the banks of the valley, wide expanses of forests glowed brightly green. Above it all, hills protruded in places, as if, bored by the cold of the mountain rocks, they had fled to the valley floor for warmth.

On the nearest hill, the royal castle gleamed in the sun, at the foot of which stretched the royal city of Estercja. On the second hill, somewhat obscured by the first, a windmill waved its majestic arms.

"A windmill," Darmir said, barely audible. "Do you see, Grandpa? A windmill! A real one.

" "I see, I see," Grandpa replied. "A windmill, a valley, a castle. I think we're almost there. Let's move on, for the soldiers have already moved on a bit.

" "But there's a windmill there," Darmir was almost shouting now. "A real one.

" "My dear Darmir, the windmill won't slide down the hill and get lost, but the soldiers might. Let's move on before they disappear from sight."

And they set off on their journey, which, in fact, wasn't very long. Darmir kept stumbling, unable to tear his gaze from the windmill, but eventually they reached the castle safely, while the sun was still quite high in the west.

Grandfather Omnicius's intentions on his way to the castle were simple: wait until Adiar reached the medic, add some herbs he'd gathered that morning to the potion the medic would undoubtedly prepare, add spells to ease pain, soothe sleep, and boost energy, and, having made sure everything was on track, return home. And they probably would have succeeded if it weren't for the fact that there were countless elves in the world.

As they approached the castle gates, the bell on Darmir's hat chimed first. A moment later, the bell on Grandfather Omnicius's hat joined in. However, these weren't alarm bells full of fear, but a joyful tinkle. A moment later, much more tinkle could be heard.

Where good and righteous people live, there will always be dwarves willing to help with the hard work. And since King Estertian, who ruled the castle at that time, was a particularly just man, there was no shortage of dwarves in the area. So they met their grandfather Selian, the eldest of them all, in the castle; they also met the brothers Elias, Telias, and Nestelias, who were the sons of their grandfather's cousin's daughter; they also met Besnar and Farod, two dwarves who helped woodcutters in the mountains but came to help at the castle in the summer; Oriell, his maternal cousin, who was unrivaled in making strawberry cake; Fanae, who sang not only lullabies beautifully; Nasturtium, who was Grandpa Selian's direct granddaughter; and a whole host of other elves, older and younger, fatter and thinner, taller and shorter, whose names Darmir couldn't remember, and who were or weren't relatives of Grandpa Selian. And the meeting would probably have ended with a celebratory reception and an exchange of elven pleasantries, if not for the fact that Grandpa Omnicius turned out to be the cousin-in-law of Grandpa Selian's father's cousin's son's wife. They were like brothers.

"There will be a feast!" Grandpa Selian announced, and there was no room for protest.

The time for the feast, however, would not come until late at night, when the people were sound asleep and all elven matters had been taken care of. Meanwhile, after a warm welcome, Grandpa Omnicius explained the reason for his and Darmir's journey.

"You needn't worry about this unfortunate man's health," Grandpa Selian stated. "From now on, we'll take care of him. He's only slightly bruised his head, so he'll be as healthy as a tree in two days at the latest. You, as guests, will remain with us until then. We'll immediately send a pigeon with a message to your esteemed Jagoda, Grandpa Omnicius, so that she doesn't have to worry about you any further."

So, whether they wanted to or not, they weren't destined to return just yet. Fortunately, there was at least a way to inform Jagoda that nothing bad was going to happen to them. Grandpa Omnicius whispered to the pigeon what to say and how to convey it, and watched for a long time, like a bird sailing across the sky.

After all these unexpected events, the castle elves returned to work. Some busied themselves with helping the blacksmith, others with the shoemakers, and still others began preparations for the night's feast. Darmir, Grandfather Omnicius, and Grandfather Selian went to the room where Adiar lay. They found that the medic had already prepared a poultice and applied balm to his forehead.

"So, my dear," said Grandfather Selian, "he is a fine healer. Your knight is in good care. However, it wouldn't hurt if we added some herbs to his potion after dark and seasoned it with a spell."

Since there was still some time left until sunset, they went to the tower, from where they would admire the view of the entire valley. And there was much to admire, for the view of the valley from this point was even more expansive and even more beautiful. The sun, now quite low, bathed everything in orange. The trees were orange, the meadows were orange, the houses, forests, mountains, flocks of birds, streams, and clouds were orange. The windmill, waving its mighty arms, was also orange. From this point, it seemed as if all you had to do was reach out to touch it, all you had to do was gain speed and jump to land on its roof. Darmir, initially a little intimidated by the whole encounter, felt almost at home. So he bombarded Grandpa Selian with questions about what it was like to work at such a windmill. He even got answers to the first two, but Grandpa Selian interrupted him at the third.

"Oh, you see, my dear, I haven't been there in ages. But my granddaughter Nasturtium is there almost every day in the summer." She'll tell you everything best.

And taking advantage of the kindness of a raven, who happened to be resting on the roof of the castle tower, he immediately called her to them. Although politeness is inherent in the nature of dwarves, Nasturtium was exceptionally polite. She greeted people politely, smiled sincerely, and had so much joy within herself that she always had enough for everyone around her. She loved dancing, singing, yellow dresses, and a red vest made of rose petals, which she wore this time again. She also had her hair braided in a long braid the color of ripe wheat.

She was very happy that someone liked windmills. So when Grandpa Omnicius and Grandpa Selian sat down on the other side of the tower and, having lit their pipes, engaged in a conversation about tobacco, old times, and the helpfulness of pigeons, Nasturtium sat down next to Darmir. She didn't even need to be encouraged or asked any questions. Darmir sat and listened to the stories of how the congregation gathers, how the windmill arms turn, how the millstones rotate, where the grain is poured, where the flour is collected, what can be seen from the top of the windmill, how the miller's children are put to sleep so they won't be disturbed by the noise, what cakes can be baked from fresh flour, how to negotiate with the mice in the cellar, how to feed the birds, how to sew up torn sacks, how quickly the arms turn during a storm, and what to play with with the sparrows in the attic.

There would probably have been many more stories if it weren't for the sun, which had already disappeared below the horizon. It was high time to get to work. The castle was large, but there were enough elves to take care of everything quickly and efficiently. So they set about sewing, cleaning, singing lullabies, mending, and painting. Grandfather Omnicius, accompanied by Darmir, and Grandfather Selian, went to visit Adiar. He was still asleep, but breathing calmly and deeply. It turned out that a distant cousin of Grandfather Selian's, who lived in the castle, knew how to make a magical balm, invaluable in treating fractures, bruises, colds, and rashes. So they smeared it on the sleeping man's head and, just to be sure, on his nose. Finally, they decided it was best to leave him alone.

A few moments after midnight, or perhaps a little later, all the important matters were taken care of, and the feast was ready. In winter, the elves preferred to live on the lower floors of the castle, but in summer, there was hardly a single one who wouldn't sleep on the tower. The nights were warm, the sky clear, and so many stars were visible that it was impossible to count them. The feast had to take place on the tower as well.

The tables were laden with delicious jams, cakes, and drinks. So what was left for them to do? They feasted until dawn. They sang loudly, danced joyfully, and gorged themselves on the delicacies nature had provided. What Darmir remembers most about the feast was that, at Nasturtium's insistence, he had taken a liking to dancing and singing, even though he had never enjoyed them before. So he danced until he was exhausted and sang songs taught to him by the other dwarves. Grandfather Omnicius, after dancing a bit at the beginning, continued his conversation with Grandfather Selian. They smoked tobacco from their pipes and savored a drink made from forest blackberries, which Grandfather Selian prepared according to his own recipe. It had the property of giving him energy, improving his mood, and loosening his tongue. Sometimes, however, he would get a headache the next day, which Grandpa Selian believed was a result of adding overly ripe fruit.

In the morning, tired and happy, they retired to bed. Only Grandpa Omnicius, Darmir, and Grandpa Selian went to visit Darmir again. There was noticeable improvement, as the lump on his forehead shrank, the bruise faded slightly, and Adiar briefly regained consciousness. This didn't last long, however, as the medic gave him a potion to drink, after which he fell asleep again.

"He should be completely recovered tomorrow," Grandpa Omnicius stated, and he was a little pleased, as it was the third day since their compulsory trip began, and it was high time to return home.

"If you're in a hurry to get back, then go back. Nothing bad will happen to him here," Grandpa Selian stated.

"We're in a hurry, but because of us, he's lying here, so he shouldn't leave until he's healthy again. We can stay one more day.

" "True," Darmir agreed with Grandpa Omnicius.

"Ha! If so, we won't waste any sleep tonight either," smiled Grandpa Selian and ordered a second feast to be prepared.

The elves spent the rest of the day resting. Around noon, Darmir sat down with Nasturtium on the tower roof again and listened to her stories about drying grain, making sweet rolls with berries, repairing cracked millstones, summoning wind, making snowmen from flour and sugar, making flower wreaths, drafts, miller's white aprons, bathing in a cold stream in summer, braiding daisies into hair, naughty children, using the arms of a windmill as a carousel, and much more. And although not all of them were related to the windmill, they were all very interesting. They didn't even notice when the valley turned orange again. It was a clear sign that it was time for afternoon tea.

Shortly after tea, a dwarf named Telias informed them that Adiar had woken again.

This time, it wasn't a struggle to emerge from the endless darkness, but a simple awakening. Pain still throbbed slightly in Adiar's temples, but his vision was sharp and his thoughts clear.

"Where am I?" he asked again, and seeing the medic before him, he recalled their previous conversation.

"In the royal infirmary, sir," he heard the reply. "How are you feeling?

" "I think I'm fine," Adiar replied, pushing himself up on his hands. "Just a headache. How did I get here?

" "It's a small thing," the medic smiled. "A sip of the potion I'm about to prepare for you will make you feel as good as new. In the meantime, would you like to have a word with the soldier on guard at the entrance to the full moon? You'll learn everything from him, and he'll probably want to ask you a few questions too.

It was one of the soldiers who had found Adiar in the forest. He explained how they had spotted him lying on a forest path and brought him to the castle. Adiar then recounted how he had been attacked, how fortunately he had escaped, and how miserably his escape had ended.

"Is it true then that you are a knight and of noble birth?" the soldier inquired.

"On my honor! I am Adiar da Gerve, knight and knight of the noble da Gerve family. Rumors circulated along the roads that the lord and ruler of this land was seeking brave men, so I set out for these parts. Is this true?

" "True, true," the soldier nodded. "Then I run to deliver this news to our lord, whom I most appreciate. And you, rest, for I have a feeling that if you have enough strength, you will appear before him tomorrow."

"It would be a great honor for me," Adiar smiled. And with that, their conversation ended. He decided it was best not to mention the mysterious figure he had encountered in the forest, as it was probably some apparition born in his befuddled mind. He felt a pang of regret that the image had only been his imagination, and resolved to visit that place at the next opportunity. Perhaps, by good fortune, he would encounter her there again. He took a sip of a headache potion and spent the rest of the afternoon lying down, dozing, and thinking. Although he felt quite well, the doctor wouldn't let him leave his bed.

When night fell and Adiar fell asleep, Grandfather Omnicius, Darmir, and Grandfather Selian returned to him. They, too, considered him almost completely healed. The lump had almost completely disappeared, and the bruises on his forehead had lightened considerably. Therefore, there was no need to treat his head. In case of a cold, they also rubbed his nose, because, as Grandpa Selian's great-grandmother used to say, "It's easier to treat an illness before it comes, because once it does, it's harder to cure it."

After midnight and important matters had been taken care of, all the elves gathered again on the tower for a grand feast. And it was a special feast, because they were to say goodbye the next day. They feasted on delicacies, danced, and sang. Darmir learned new songs, and Grandpa Omnicius and Grandpa Selian puffed on their pipes and sipped a drink made from forest blackberries. This time, it must have contained some overly ripe fruit, because Grandpa Omnicius had a headache that morning. He preferred not to mention it, however, so as not to offend anyone. During the breaks, they regaled everyone with mysterious stories from the old days. At the end of this farewell feast, they promised each other that they would visit each other more often, and in August, if time permitted, at least some of the castle elves, led by Grandpa Selian and Nasturtium, would visit the Glade.

When the sun finally rose, it was time to rest. Darmir couldn't sleep again, and worst of all, even the magic sleeping powder he still had with him wasn't helping. So he went to the top of the tower, admired how the rising sun bathed the windmill on the neighboring hill, the castle, and finally the entire valley in its glow. And though he was a little homesick, he felt sorry that they would have to leave. What could he do? The people of the Glade needed the elves' help too.

Adiar had barely woken up when a soldier he hadn't seen before entered the room and announced that His Majesty, the gracious king, would receive him in the throne room at noon.

"Then your knight must be quite well," Grandpa Selian said. "He will come to pay his respects before the king today. So stay until noon to take a look at the throne room. Then Mr. Raven will help you get home. You met him on the tower the first day. He's a very helpful fellow. You'll be there before the sun sets."

As noon approached, the elves were already in the throne room. It was a long, wide hall, divided by four rows of columns that rose high to support the vaulted ceiling. On the floor were slabs of polished stone, so close together that even dust motes could barely penetrate. A red carpet with gold patterns stretched the length of the hall between the middle rows. At the end of the carpet was a stone dais, on which sat a throne. The king was already seated on the throne. He was an elderly man with a graying beard and wrinkled cheeks. He wore a gold crown. He also wore red robes embroidered with gold thread. He wore the royal emblem on his chest. At his feet sat the jester—a small man with no hair or eyebrows, but a beard, a red jacket, and shoes with turned-up toes. Along the red carpet, on both sides, stood royal guards armed with halberds. Everything was bathed in the reds, blues, greens, and oranges of daylight, streaming in through the colorful mosaic windows.

"Bring in," the king said loudly and solemnly.

The great wooden doors, decorated with bas-reliefs, opened, and the royal chancellor appeared. He paused at the entrance and announced in a loud voice:

"Before our gracious reigning majesty, Estertian XXII, Lord of the Kingdom of Estercia and the adjacent lands, Adiar da Gerve, knight and knight of the noble da Gerve family, will have the honor of bowing today.

" "Bring in," the king said again.

Then Adiar appeared in the doorway. He was dressed in the robes he had received that morning from the royal messenger. He stood there, a little apprehensive, for although he had seen the mighty many times before, it had always been on the battlefields and rather from afar. This was to be his first such close encounter with a royal figure.

"Greetings, gracious king," said Adiar.

"Greetings, good sir," replied the king. "Come closer. Let me see you."

And Adiar moved slowly, striding along the red carpet toward the king. When he reached the end, he knelt on one knee and bowed low.

"Greetings, noble sir knight," said the king.

"May I humbly offer my respects to your great majesty," said Adiar.

"Rise, rise. We know you have experienced inhospitality from a vile inhabitant of our kingdom. Then let our hospitality be your recompense. Tell me, good sir knight, who you are."

"I am Adria da Gerve, a knight and knight of the da Gerve family. In my youth, orphaned, I fought alone for the glory of my name in many battles and skirmishes. Having entered the knighthood, I defeated the enemy fiercely and always defended them with noble virtues. However, on Your Majesty's path, I fell victim to an elaborate ruse, and the rest of my inheritance fell into the hands of evil men. So, if we are talking about compensation...

" "Yes!" the king interrupted Adiar. "Know that your family is known to me. In our chronicles, the name of your ancestors appears here and there. I am all the more pleased to host you. And tell me, good sir knight, what matters have brought you to our land?

" "Messengers carry word through the land that you are seeking knights, sir. Then, as a knight and a man of noble rank, I offer you my humble service."

"You see, it's beautiful," the king beamed at this point. "Very beautiful. You're making the sun shine on our faces again. So you're a knight who has deigned to answer my call. I confess that no one has brought me such joy in a long time." Here the king became serious again. "Know, however, that to seek the princess's hand, one must demonstrate valor, courage, and heroism.

The princess's hand?" Adiar's mind was reeling. After all, he only wanted to become a royal guard. So was that why the knights avoided these parts? But could the young lady be so ugly that no one wanted to seek her hand? What could he do? If he told the king now that he didn't want his daughter at all, he would probably be beheaded on the spot.

"Of course, Your Majesty," he replied weakly.

"Well, that's beautiful, that's very beautiful, good sir knight." The king was still beaming. "Chancellor!" When was the last time Our Royal Majesty granted a private audience?

"Your Royal Majesty... well... a long time ago, back in the fall," the chancellor, suddenly summoned, stuttered.

"Why so long?

" "It wasn't..."

"Was it or wasn't it," the king interrupted, "Our Royal Majesty has decided to grant a private audience to this brave knight today. Leave us alone, then, so we can discuss important matters.

" "Yes, Your Royal Majesty," the chancellor bowed and moved toward the door, followed by the royal guard.

"And don't forget to take the guards from the door with you," the king ordered.

When everyone had left, the king spoke to Adiar again:

"So, good Sir Knights, you say you wish to seek the princess's hand in marriage. Giving the heir to the throne in marriage is a matter of the utmost importance. It would be best if we discussed this privately for a moment. Don't worry about him, he's a clown," he pointed to the small man who was the only one left in the hall with them. "And a mute one at that. And if by some miracle anything from this chamber reached the wrong ears, I promised to flood his ears with molten lead. I promised the same to his predecessor.

" "Is..." Adiar began to ask, but stopped abruptly when the king looked at him.

"Is it proper to test the king's word? I promised, I promised. A king must set an example for his subjects. Besides, I am a king to be obeyed. And I particularly value verbal promises." The king looked at Adiar again, carefully. "So, good Sir Knight, you have decided to make an effort to marry my daughter and prove your valor and courage in my presence?

" "Yes, Your Royal Majesty," Adiar continued. He finally thought that perhaps joining the royal family wasn't such a bad idea. Only a few receive such honors, and he was, after all, of noble birth. There was no reason to deny himself anything until everything was resolved.

"I am very pleased," the king smiled. "You are precisely what I need. A brave and courageous knight. I know well that escaping the clutches of that wicked da Malantesa is not easy. So, good Sir Knight, listen to what I have to say, for this is a matter of the highest royal importance." The king stepped closer to Adiar and lowered his voice. "We, the king, have reigned in our kingdom for many years. And for many years, my wife and I have exercised our power honestly." However, it is common knowledge that someday this reign must end, and then an heir should ascend the throne. Do you understand me, good Sir Knight?

"Yes, Your Majesty.

" "That's good. So, Her Majesty the Queen and I made every effort to have an heir. But time passed and passed, and the forces of nature seemed in no hurry to bestow an heir upon the kingdom. Until finally, one autumn, the kingdom's long-awaited heir arrived. However, it turned out to be a princess, not a prince. Well, an heir to the throne is an heir after all. A time of joy and celebration had come to the kingdom, because after all, we had to wait a long time for an heir. Why should a princess be worse than a prince?

" "Your Royal Majesty, history contains many examples of kingdoms that flourished under the rule of women," Adiar interjected, to further encourage the king.

"You speak wisely, good Sir Knight. I thought so too." And although the princess wasn't a princess, from her earliest years I taught her everything a ruler in his later years might need.

Here the king paused for a moment and made a sour face.

"However, the queen began to increasingly express her dissatisfaction that the royal family had not produced a male heir. Since I greatly dislike it when someone sows unrest in my kingdom, I advised her to go to the royal residence in the forest and rest there. At first, she was reluctant, but eventually she agreed. However, instead of the forest palace, she decided to go to the fortress on the Etar Plateau. This fortress is located no more than two days' journey from here. With a good horse, if you leave in the morning, you'll arrive at your destination by noon the next day. The Etar Plateau stretches at the mouth of a mountain valley, which leads to the other side of the mountains. I didn't object, because it's closer, and the fortress has been inhabited only occasionally by troops for decades, ever since the kingdom's borders moved far beyond the mountains. So let the queen sit there, enjoying the mountain air for peace of mind, while I take care of the kingdom's affairs." The entire move took place only two years ago. And imagine that after only spring, the queen left, and in the autumn, her retinue was waiting for her return at the gates of the royal city. The retinue was there, but without the queen. As it turned out, in the meantime, some overseas magician had visited her. And she had become so fond of the art of magic that she dismissed all her servants from the fortress and decided to practice witchcraft. I don't believe in witchcraft, but I know that in old age, people come up with all sorts of ideas. So I didn't interfere in the queen's affairs, and she didn't interfere in mine. Meanwhile, the princess had reached the age when she should marry, take power in the kingdom, and begin seeking an heir to the throne. It was time to find a worthy suitor, preferably a knight, to offer him her hand. However, that hag probably also thought of it..." Here the king raised his voice briefly, but immediately lowered it again. "The queen." And one morning, I was awakened by a raven perched in the window of my bedchamber. The bird, as black as a cloudy night, had a letter from the queen pinned to its paw. In the letter, Her Majesty informed me that she was taking her daughter in for a while and would only return her when Enea, for that's her name, was ready to take the throne.

"The queen kidnapped the princess?" Adiar asked incredulously.

"Exactly. One night, without waking the guards or alerting anyone, she had apparently crept into the castle by some devilish trick and taken the princess."

Adiar concluded that matters had become sufficiently clear. In this situation, marrying the princess was out of the question. They had to find a way to escape this situation as quickly as possible and seek happiness in another kingdom.

"I sent envoys," the king continued, "demanding an explanation and the return of my daughter, but the witch said that as a mother she could also take proper care of her and had no intention of giving her up for the time being. What could I do, good sir knight? I sent more envoys, only slightly more armed. These, imagine, were luckier." Here the king smiled for the first time in a long time. "They met this foreign magician along the way, who had deigned to acquaint my wife with the art of magic. As it turned out, he only gave her magical books in exchange for her hospitality, while he himself dealt more in herbal medicine. So when the queen led my daughter to the fortress, she asked him to deign to leave her hospitable threshold. And the poor fellow happened to encounter a troop of my armed envoys. It was a very fortunate event, because thanks to this, he found himself in my presence. I asked him to report on what was happening in the fortress." And to add weight to the whole meeting, I promised him that if he deigned to lie to Our Royal Majesty with even a word, I would pour molten lead down his throat.

"And what news did this magician bring?" Adiar asked, to gain a fuller picture of the situation.

"Not a magician, but a herbalist, as it turned out," the king corrected him. "He told me that this witch had taken it into her head that through magical arts she must regain her youth and bear a male heir, who, according to royal law, would have priority in inheriting the throne. However, the youth elixir didn't work. So, guess what she came up with?

" "I beg your pardon, Your Royal Majesty, but I can't imagine.

" "Well, you see, good sir knight. Because it's difficult for such a vile idea to arise in a healthy mind. Since she couldn't rejuvenate her own body, she decided to use someone else's." So she plans to magically transfer her soul to the body of another woman and thus regain her youth. Since only a royal heir can sit on the throne, she, in her madness, decided to use her own daughter for this purpose. And I, by announcing that I wanted to give my daughter's hand to a noble knight, unknowingly participated in this plan. So you see, good Sir Knight, that this matter is serious.

"The story is incredible. And are you sure, Sir, that the herbalist you questioned didn't lie to you a little?" Adiar asked, searching for a way out.

"You are right, good Sir Knight. It is clear that you are not only brave in body but also in mind. This pleases me even more. Of course, that scoundrel probably lied somewhere. But even if you wanted to ask him about it, there will be no opportunity. As you remember, I promised him at the beginning that if he told a single word that was untrue, I would have molten lead poured down his throat. And I greatly value keeping my word. In any case, the princess is in danger, and we cannot delay any longer. She must be saved. Fortunately, good Sir Knight, you arrived in time. How better could you prove your courage and bravery than by saving Aenea from the hands of her mad mother, for you promised to prove your courage and bravery in seeking my daughter's hand in marriage. And you know how much importance I place on promises.

" "Perhaps we should send a detachment of troops to the fortress," Adiar continued, looking for a chance.

The King only nodded.

"Army always causes anxiety in my subjects, and I want them to live in peace. Bringing a larger force from the borderlands will take some time, and we can't afford that. Besides, I'll tell you in confidence that I sent a smaller force there some time ago, and so far I haven't heard anything about them. But where can common soldiers compare to a knight? Then I'm glad you're visiting and I hope you successfully complete your mission. And then we'll throw a wedding reception at the castle, the likes of which haven't been seen here in a long time."

The king's final words convinced Adiar that this wasn't the expedition for him. Facing enemies in battle was one thing, but getting involved in some dark magical affairs was quite another. As if slaying a dragon weren't enough already.

"At your service, Your Majesty," Adiar bowed.

"Excellent." The king approached and hugged him tightly. "You are brave and wise. Who better to help me than you? You've rested a few days in the infirmary, so there's no point in delaying your departure." The soldiers will prepare everything, and to make things easier for you, I'll send a small detachment with you. They'll escort you near the high ground. You'll have to find your way to the castle yourself. If you set off immediately, you'll reach the fortress tomorrow before dark. You understand there's no time to waste. Chancellor! the king shouted, simultaneously ringing a small golden bell.

No time to waste, Adiar thought as he left the hall; we must disappear as quickly as possible. Let the soldiers be there too. I'll ride with them, and when we part, I'll find my way. It's not for me to interfere in such matters. Some are born for the sword, others for the crown.

When the door closed behind Adiar, the king sat on the throne and looked at the bald man in the red jacket, who was still sitting at his feet.

"So sad?" he asked the jester. "Perhaps I should play the lute for you?"

"He's a strict lord and sometimes hot-tempered, but just and kind," Grandpa Selian said.

- What is this story about the princess? - asked Grandpa Omnicius.

"Oh, these are sad things."

And Grandpa Selian told the elves once again the story they had heard earlier from the king. He added that knights had come in the past to rescue princesses. But they never returned from their journeys to the fortress.

"What can we do?" he concluded. "I didn't want to tell you about it, so as not to cause you unnecessary worries.

" "It's a sad story," Grandpa Omnicius replied. "But what can we do? It's none of our business. It's high time to go home."

So all the elves gathered, as they usually did upon greeting, and said their fond farewells. They wished each other happiness and much joy. Grandpa Selian secretly revealed to Grandpa Omnicius the recipe for a drink made from forest blackberries, and Darmir received a strawberry cake from Nasturtium, which Oriell had helped her bake, and a kiss on the cheek. He blushed, and everyone laughed loudly. At the end, everyone hugged, and Darmir and his grandfather sat on the black raven that would help them return home. They waved to the castle elves and set off on their return journey.

From the air, they could still admire the charms of the vast royal Sun Valley. Meadows, trees, and houses flew by below them. Then the forest began, through which they followed the wounded Adiar. They also saw the place where they had found him on the road and said goodbye to the owl. When the lake, in which the bag of gold had sunk, loomed in the distance, Darmir said to his grandfather:

"So he was a true knight after all. We were wrong to accuse him of evil intentions, grandfather.

" "True," replied his grandfather Omnicius. He remained silent for a moment, until he finally decided: "We caused him much trouble. But we can't help him forever. For the last time! We'll save the princess, and from then on, let him fend for himself. We're going back," he shouted to the raven's master.