***
Amirel was glad that he was able to fool the customs: no one noticed that
Avilena was a Zarian princess and they managed to pass her off as a foreign
concubine, which means that she could be hidden from the celestials of Illuria
for a long time. The main thing is not to let friends into your tower. He made
the officers promise not to tell anyone about his wife.
Avilena quickly grew bored of being in the tower in his absence, and
often went outside through a magically hidden exit at the bottom of the wide
base of the tower, wearing a cloak and hat.
She could walk freely downstairs,
without fear of undue attention, and communicate with whomever she
wanted, remembering Amirel's warning not to stare upward. A large number
of shops with a variety of goods aroused the sorceress's curiosity, and she
wandered through them for a long time for fun, pretending that she was
going to buy something. Trade flourished on the streets of Illuria, where
much of the food grown and created things were sold for precious rainbow
crystals.
Farenia was frightened by the private visits of Lantas's father to Xiorlis;
it turned out that the spirit of this child was previously his son, who died in
the war. She tried by all means to avoid meeting the Holy Anchon Lamronius
and retired to other rooms when he appeared.
His very tall stature and huge transparent eyes caused fear and
numbness in her limbs. On top of that, the delicate features of his eternally
youthful face bore a resemblance to Lantas' appearance, which confused her
somewhat. It seemed that this was her husband, only increased in size.
At first the Archon did not pay attention to the princess and did not try
to talk to her, but after some time he began to look at her with obvious
interest, and she realized that a conversation with him could not be avoided.
She was very worried that he would start lecturing her about proper
behavior in Xantarian society and complained to her husband, fearing that
the giant would pester her.
"He's my father, I don't think he'll harass you." Besides, its radiation is
dangerous for you. You'll get sick if you stay near him for a long time," her
husband reassured her.
But one day Lamronius showed up when Lantas was not at home, and
sat by the bed with Xiorlis, casting glances piercing to the depths of the soul
at the princess.
"Do you like it here, Farenia?" His voice sounded affectionately and
insinuatingly.
"It's still difficult to get used to, but it's better than on the ship," the
princess admitted in a trembling voice, being at a respectful distance from
him.
"Don't be afraid! Come here, closer," Lamronius pointed to the seat next
to him.
She walked up on stiff legs and sat down next to him, holding her breath.
He was too overwhelming with his size and forced communication was an unpleasant burden for her.
"Do you miss Zaria? What made you leave your homeland?"
She smiled tightly and shrugged.
"Isn't it clear? I love Lantas, and he loves me."
"It's are not allowed to live with one partner for more than a year. If you
don't want to go with Tumariz, then you need to choose someone else. You
are no longer a person and you need the status of a princess with your own
separate tower. It is strange for a winged woman to remain as a concubine in
our society. The clairvoyants have already noticed you and are demanding
that the Rulers grant you the status of a Xantarian royal person. So you
cannot avoid increased attention."
"And everything is repeating itself again," Farenia said dissatisfied. "And
Palien told me similar things and forced me to enter into a relationship with
Tumaris after the birth of Lantas's son. But Kamily's curse will work as soon as
someone's hand reaches out to me without my consent, and Lantas will die
again."
Lamronius froze in amazement: he had never heard such sedition.
"What? What curse? Was my son dying because of her evil intent?"
"Kamily created a curse when your son begged her to take me with him
on his travels: as soon as they let me go, he will die immediately. This is what
happened when Palien enchanted me to go with Tumariz to the bedroom."
The Ruler checked the events with his mind and became slightly
agitated:
"Does Kamily have such power? Impermissible! But she never had such
abilities. Who gave women such a right to punish men?"
Lamronius froze for a while and smiled mysteriously.
"I lifted the curse, don't worry about Lantas anymore. And this Kamily
needs to be punished for such terrible atrocities. Arumy has always hated
men."
He looked at the princess with burning eyes, and Farenia shrank in
horror. She recognised that gaze of lust.