Bourneys were returning from a big hunt, accompanied by ten loyal people, but when they were already approaching the settlement, they abruptly stopped and, at a given signal, immediately retreated, hiding nearby.
The head of the Borni family, who gave the sign, also hid his presence and disguised himself with his wife.
— What is happening, why is the barrier removed? the old woman asked her husband anxiously.
I don't know, but that's a bad sign. Asia should have already arrived back, which means that the barrier was either removed from her knowledge or destroyed.
- Destroyed? What are you carrying? - Alnol, obviously worried about the fate of her granddaughter, succumbed to emotions, reproached her husband.
— Calm down, now is not the time for worries, — Veyzh answered her in a quiet but hard voice, — I will go to reconnaissance, and you all hide for a while and wait for the signal, is everything clear?
"Yes," the woman nodded, trusting her husband.
***
In less than a few minutes, Veyzh silently, like a breath of wind, reached the settlement and penetrated inside.
"I don't smell blood. Also, the village is still full of life... There are no cries, no cries for help, no sounds of battle either. We should probably scan the area."
Sitting on the ground and cross-legged, an elderly man began to recite a long spell at great speed, which was passed down in their family from generation to generation and allowed them to scan for life forms the district within a radius of two kilometers.
The old man turned pale ...
"What kind of monsters are these?! How did such powerful creatures end up in our settlement?!"
Veyzh was seized with fear, the two auras that he detected near the council tower were incredibly strong, their magical power surpassed all the villagers combined. They were creatures with simply unattainable power.
"What's happening? We decided to capture? But who? What to do, what to do!? No, you need to calm down. After all, I also detected the aura of Asia and many other residents besides the council members… Hmm, too little information, this is not the time to panic. Since there is no massacre, it means that the invaders are at least reasonable and do not seek to destroy us immediately, and this already says a lot… I need to meet with Asia and find out everything."
But before the old man had time to get up, a melodious female voice was heard from behind:
- And who are you?
Veyzh froze in place, he felt that behind him was a creature with great magical power.
Without a doubt, it was one of the two auras he had just sensed at the council tower.
"How did she manage to spot me? No, how could she get here so quickly? Damn, what am I even thinking about, there is a real monster behind me, with an incomprehensible amount of magic for me, and I'm thinking about some nonsense!
Veyzh, raising his hands, slowly turned around and saw that same monster, froze like a statue.
The girl looked at him, wondering why he raised his hands, for it was devoid of any meaning.
- Why did you raise your hands, old man, are you playing with exercises? Well, it's not morning.
"Pe….p-p-p-ancestor?" escaped his lips.
- Well, in a sense. So, what am I talking about, oh yeah, who are you and what are you doing here?
Veyzh, who came to his senses a little, immediately knelt down and fell on his face.
"Oh, ancestor, please forgive my dullness and slowness, I was so surprised by your coming that I could not greet you properly. Oh, great one, I ask you to have mercy on this old man and do not punish his family, for he trembles before your eyes.
The girl in the black dress smiled broadly.
- Okay I forgive you.
"My gratitude knows no bounds. Oh, ancestor, tell me what this servant can do for you," the old man said, still pressing his face to the ground.
Leiko really liked the old man's humility and sincerity.
"Raise your head and say your name and what you're doing here."
"I am Veyzh Borni, one of the heads of the council, returning at the moment from a great hunt with my companions. But, seeing the removed barrier, he ordered them to stay outside the settlement, and he himself went on reconnaissance, where Your Excellency found me, - the old man chattered.
"I see, so those eleven people near the village are your subordinates?" Tell them to come.
— Yes, — said Veyzh, immediately taking out a few leaves of some flower and blew, sent them flying.
- Flower magic huh? Nice, so you're related to Asia?
"Yes, ancestor, that's right, she is my granddaughter."
- Go to the village to the main square, you have a meeting there now. And yes, let those guys go there too.
The girl was about to leave, accompanied by signs of honoring the old man, but then she turned around again:
"Do you understand what will happen if you dare to run away?"
"I didn't even have such thoughts, oh, great ancestor," Veyzh answered as quickly as possible, bowing to the ground.
"Good," the beauty in black said with a soft smile, and disappeared like a mirage.
***
— Grandpa! Asia shouted overjoyed as she briskly ran towards Veizh, "Where are Grandma and the others?"
"They'll come right away," having beckoned his granddaughter with a gesture, the old man began to whisper in her ear, "What's going on?" Here that, the ancestors showed up?
"Yes," Asia said in the same whisper, "Lucas met them first and led them to the council tower, and…"
Veyzh became worried, seeing how his granddaughter turned pale.
What is "and"?
- I was not there and they were met by the council. And they...they...
- Speak already!
"They attacked the ancestors and wanted to kill them.
"WHAT?!" Veizh shouted, drawing the attention of the crowd gathered in the square.
"What the hell, what the hell is this?! he whispered again. "What kind of idiots do you have to be to attack such powerful creatures as true elves? Perhaps it was the ancestors themselves who attacked them for some kind of offense, because we know how strict their laws are.
"I thought so too, but… Lucas told me that the ancestors held out to the last and endured all the antics of the council, and only when they set out to attack did they take their lives.
Yes, they are complete degenerates. We will all be killed for this, and we won't have time to blink an eye! Idiots!
- Grandpa, hush, hush! Everyone is looking at us.
What did your ancestors say to you? What will happen to us?!
- Grandpa, calm down, you're talking too loudly. And let go of my ear.
"Sorry, I panicked. So what did they say?
- They said to gather everyone in the main square, they want to announce something to us. O! And Grandma is coming, shall we go to her?
"Go, I'll stand here and think.