Mission

PROLOGUE

Many centuries ago, before 8500 AD, the eastern part of what is now the Greater German Republic, or WRN, was inhabited by a nation with its own language, culture, and an exceptionally rich history, and its state was commonly called Poland. Polish scientists invented an elixir, which they appropriately named the Elixir of Transference, and along with many Poles, they migrated to the planet Jupiter, establishing their own, independent state there, which they named Siras, which in the language they created means "Commonwealth," and themselves Anganerds, Bearers of the Past. All was well until a young, handsome, but above all, power-hungry man named Senegorn appeared on the horizon...

PART ONE

In which I am increasingly concerned about the situation in the west, and in which Danny appears quite unexpectedly.

It was a warm, sunny day. In Siras, the season of inekris, or autumn, had already arrived. The trees on the Avenue of the End of the World, where I was strolling, shimmered with a thousand colors, from a delicate, optimistic yellow to a vibrant, sharp red.

Admittedly, I don't stand out much among the other inhabitants of Hagrabengia—I have long, slightly curly brown-green hair and enormous, hazel eyes. A wreath of maple leaves adorns my head, the kind every unmarried woman in the kingdom of the Great Forest wears. It's true that this wreath is usually a bit askew, but I think everyone has gotten used to it by now. I am a creature with an innate penchant for madness, a trait that still torments my teacher, the brilliant wizard and philosopher, Wardenon Aragas. However, this same teacher also claims that I am highly intelligent, sharp, and above all, courageous. What more can I say? Oh, of course! Some people think I'm not particularly good-looking (Danny, for one), others think the opposite (Felix, for one), but the cold, dry fact is that a traveling architect once said that "I have a lovely, sweet face, rosy cheeks, and beautiful, pink lips, and at the same time, wonderful, mysterious eyes, which almost compensate for the shortcomings of my beauty, which are undoubtedly too short." My outfit isn't particularly original either – plain, light green linen trousers, the same loose blouse, and my beloved recurve bow on my shoulder.

I walked a dozen or so meters along the Avenue of the End of the World, then headed towards the enormous royal palace. It was a building built in typical Hagrabendian style – white walls gleamed from afar, medium-sized windows let in plenty of daylight, and in front of the entrance stood four columns, above which stood a tympanum, charmingly decorated, engraved with the ruler's four names, surname, and titles: "Tu epono korenton Hagrabengii hadetenum wadeum kalecu, Cegonius Endor Karenton Izopomus Eledis."*

I stepped inside. Although I should have considered this palace my own family home, as usual, right at the threshold I felt a characteristic, unpleasant knot in the pit of my stomach.

I passed a dozen marble statues of Hagrabengii's rulers and smiled sadly at the last one, which, after all, represented my father, killed by Senegorn.

With a firm push, I pushed open the massive cherrywood door and saw the royal apartment I hated so much, the monumental and eerily empty.

There were three people inside. I smiled at Wardenon, the elderly man I'd already mentioned, glanced mischievously at Phoenix, and said quietly, disapprovingly,

"Hello, Uncle!"

Cegonius gave me a cold look, then said,

"I dare say we're not in a theater, so I don't see the reason for your greeting. At the same time, I'd like to point out that longbows are intended for use ONLY by the royal guard. Furthermore…

" "I want to know why you summoned me," I said firmly, forcing myself to meet his large, black eyes.

"The point is that the situation in the west has definitely worsened, Fendelis," Wardenon began. His voice calmed me. "Just beyond Rosabana, Senegorn has expanded the old Anganerd defensive stronghold." Worse still, he's brought back from the blue planet super-sterile cannons* that can destroy Hagrabengia in a single afternoon. Twenty minutes ago, Senegorn's envoy brought us news that His Great Lord and Master does not accept our compromise solutions.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, feigning stupidity, but I knew exactly what he meant.

"We need to shoot an arrow containing the Elixir of Destruction into the super-sterile cannon warehouse."

I looked at Wardenon strangely. I knew I had less than a two percent chance of survival. I was scared. Damn it.

"I accept this task," I said quietly.

Wardenon sighed, and the Phoenix told me I was a very special girl.

"You won't go alone. We have someone here who will carry out this mission with you, unfortunately not willingly. He's in the next room, his name is Daniel Wecksdon, and he comes from the blue planet, specifically the Isles of Central Britain," Uncle spoke fluently, smoothly, and coldly. As usual. "Tomorrow at dawn, you'll be given two horses and set off. And now, goodbye!"

I obediently entered the next apartment. A boy with brown hair, large green eyes, and a strange, cynical smile appeared before my eyes. I felt a dislike for him, I have no idea why, maybe because he was half a head taller than me. I guess he didn't particularly like me either, because he said without conviction:

"Is that you?

" "As you can see," I smiled back and extended my hand. "I'm Fendelis.

" "Danny. But I warn you, I don't like girls. Especially brunettes.

" "I do like boys, though. But not conceited brown ones!" I have a question: can you use a sword?

- No.

- Shoot a bow?

- No.

- Do you know anything about Anganerdian magic?

- N...no...

I smiled imperiously.

- So I'm in charge of the whole operation!

- Wait a minute - Daniel looked at me defiantly. - I'm 15, and you...

- And I'm 78, if you're curious! See you tomorrow, Danny!

- Bye... - He said with a sour face.

PART TWO

In which the distance between us and Hagrabengia grows ever greater, and in which we argue less and less.

I woke up, as usual, with the sun. The sunrise that day was exceptionally beautiful, and for a good fifteen minutes I stood on the balcony next to my apartment, watching as a huge, fiery ball slowly illuminated our world. My surka* was sitting on my shoulder – it was the most wonderful animal in the world, even though it had asymmetrical wings and a tail that was definitely too long. But it did have beautiful eyes – huge, yellow, and sweet.

I dressed and went outside. Daniel Wecksdon was waiting for me by a weeping willow in the palace garden. I think that particular garden would be worthy of more attention, but unfortunately, it's difficult for me to describe it in ordinary, prosaic, human terms. Wardenon often said that there were things in the universe that the simple human psyche couldn't grasp. He usually called these things abstractions. For example, the abstraction of love.

"Hi," I said curtly, laughing silently at his wild, dark hair.

"We were supposed to get horses, weren't we?" he asked.

"Of course, boss! Although I don't know if you're aware that horses are usually kept in stables." I smiled cynically at him and went to fetch our two chestnut steeds. Danny, a little embarrassed, trailed after me.

We left Hagrabengia, and with a slight sense of dread, I realized we'd just left the safest spot in Siras. Before us stretched vast expanses of grass—anyone who hadn't seen it couldn't even imagine how incredibly beautiful it looked—its diverse species and sizes captivated travelers from even the most beautiful corners of Siras. This is Moravia.

Moravia lies on the longest river in Siras, the Rosabana. We crossed it via two enormous bridges, old, admittedly, but still in good shape. The first, slightly larger than the second, is called Erden Analaj, or Battle Bridge, because the battle with the Parnei, inhabitants of the distant but still dangerous constellations Sirius and Aries, took place here. The second bridge is called Erden Perdon, or Rising Sun Bridge. No being who hadn't seen this place in the early morning hours could even imagine the beauty of that moment. It was this bridge that we intended to take to our destination.

"I wonder why your hair isn't completely brown," Daniel said suddenly, surprising me with this statement.

"Well, I suppose on a blue planet they'd call my slightly green hair highlights," I replied. "And by the way, does something about it bother you?

" "No. Generally speaking, it even adds a bit to your questionable beauty.

" "I'll take that as a compliment," I said ironically, looking into his green eyes.

We rode for a good few hours, and after resting under a large baobab tree, after waiting for midday, we continued our journey. Finally, the Rising Sun Bridge came into view – monumental and built of beautifully crafted marble. The river was about a dozen meters wide, and behind it loomed the mighty, majestic Senegorn's fortress, a few dozen meters away. I dismounted and let him go, and Daniel did the same. I looked at him. His face was pale; it seemed he was only now realizing what we really had to do.

"Look at those walls. It's suicide!" We won't make it," he said.

"Oh. Is Mr. Earthman a little scared?" I asked, but after a moment I saw he really wasn't in the best of shape. I added quickly,

"Calm down. The Warden often says that the only thing a person should fear is fear. So don't panic! It'll be alright."

I put my hand on his shoulder. For the first time, I appreciated that Danny was here with me, and he seemed to appreciate it too, because he smiled without cynicism.

PART THREE

In which we learn that proximity to death unites and in which I test my aim

We found ourselves at the walls.

"Well, that's a bummer," Daniel said, lifting his head and looking at a good few dozen meters of nothing but brick.

But I thought things through carefully and pulled a thick rope, woven by the inhabitants of my land, out of my backpack. Daniel glanced at me uncertainly, then said,

"You're not planning on climbing THAT, are you?!"

"What, are you afraid of heights?" I smiled, attached a brass hook to the end of the rope, and with a quick movement, tossed it to the first protrusion in the wall. It held.

"Ladies first!" Daniel said quickly, eyeing me uncertainly.

"Thank you for your manners, but this time it's different. YOU first, Danny!"

He tugged on the rope to make sure it was secure, then swung it around forcefully. He took two steps onto the brick wall and… fell onto the grass. I sighed.

"Okay, your impeccable manners won," I said, and took the rope.

A moment later, I was a dozen meters above the ground, dragging Daniel behind me. Finally, I reached the very top and stood on two feet on the top floor of the keep. I brushed my hair back from my forehead and offered Danny my hand—it was cold and damp with sweat.

We looked around. There was no one within sight; only two large black ravens perched on the ledge of a small watchtower. I wasn't particularly surprised; the Wardenon had told me that Senegorn had called all his troops together that day for a ceremonial speech and council.

"Come!" I said. "We can't delay!"

Danny nodded, and we both descended the winding, slimy stairs to the lower floor. We found ourselves in a shadowy, unpleasant hallway that smelled of sulfur and had animal skulls hanging on the dark burgundy walls. I glanced at Daniel and said,

"Lovely, isn't it?

" "They say there's no accounting for taste on Earth," Danny muttered.

"And in Siras, they say that taste is a man's taste."

A moment later, we found ourselves in a large, eerily quiet room, and the bright sunlight streaming through the enormous window momentarily blinded us. A surkanek flew calmly from my shoulder, rapidly flapping its membranous wings. When it hit the ground, it made its usual do with a slight crack, and Daniel jumped in surprise.

"You're so nervous," I said with a mischievous smile.

"I don't know how anyone can breed such UNKNOWN THINGS. By the way, what is this?

" "A surkanek. It comes from the constellation Sirius, is rather medium-sized for a male, is 39 years old, and is named Rivel. Is that enough information for now?

" "But of course, Professor! But I wonder why you're so—

" "Be careful!" I shouted, pushing Daniel to the right, and immediately drawing an arrow, I shot it straight into the muzzle of a huge Doberman, Senegorn, who had just appeared on the horizon.

"I suggest we run," Danny said, realizing what was happening.

We dashed toward the next rooms, arranged in a remarkably symmetrical row. The Dobermans kept arriving, and as we closed one door, we had to automatically open another.

I watched anxiously as my quiver slowly emptied when we saw a ladder ahead of us. Daniel, climbing several rungs at a time, climbed up, and I followed close behind him. Exhausted, we collapsed onto the marble floor.

"You're a good shot," Danny said after a moment, rising to his feet.

"I'll take that as a compliment too," I smiled. "Looks like we're in luck.

We were right next to the so-called Pantry of the Super-Sterile Cannons."*

PART FOUR

In which we destroy the magazine and learn that brick can be dangerous

"What do we do?" Daniel asked, his voice slightly confused.

"First we have to prepare," I replied, then pulled a small vial full of Destruction Potion from my backpack. I carefully smeared it on the tip of an arrow, the last of my remaining arrows. Danny watched me anxiously, and I wasn't sure what I was doing myself.

"So," I began slowly, "I have to get to that window." I pointed to the small vent; it was the only way inside, as the door was locked. "You'll give me a boost, I'll shoot an arrow, and then you'll let go and run.

" "And you?

" "Don't ask me anything!" I said sharply. I was scared, but I was prepared. "Let's begin!"

A few minutes later, I was standing on Daniel's shoulders, the bow with the arrow ready in my hand. I'll never forget the moment I released it, those few seconds. For a moment, I wondered what would happen if I died. Would I see another world? What world? I heard a huge bang and Danny's scream, saw the red of a brick sliding, and lost consciousness...

When I woke up, the sun was shining and birds were singing. For a good few minutes, I listened to the chirping of a lark, then saw Daniel's smiling face. So we were both alive. For now. As if in the distance, I heard the Wardenon's voice, saying that Senegorn's troops were advancing towards Hagrabengii. But without the cannons of the Light Sterile. For a moment, I felt myself breathing deeply and calmly. We had completed our mission...

GLOSSARY

"Tu epono korenton Hagrabengii hadetenum wadeum kalecu, Cegonius Endor Karenton Izopomus Eledis" – "Here reigns the ruler of Hagrabengii and the supreme commander of the troops, Cegonius Endor Karenton Izopomus Eledis."

Rosabana – The longest river, Siras

Sterile Cannons – Cannons invented on the blue planet in the XXXII century, powered by special steam that controlled the solar system. Their only drawback is that they can only be used during favorable weather conditions. They are incredibly powerful.

Sterile Cannon Pantry – Also known as the Sterile Cannon Pantry, a special warehouse created by Senegorn's people to store cannons brought from Earth.

Surkanek – A small animal. Brought to Siras from the constellation Sirius, it is often called the "Bat with a Tail."