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Chapter 39. Angelina
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2024-10-29 19:42:56When the appointed hour approached, I kept getting more and more nervous. We left the guest mansion, accompanied by the zombie and one more servant assigned to us just today. His name was Lacier, and he stared at the silent Zomzom with some suspicion. However, he could hardly have guessed who was really keeping him company. We’d put it about that Zomzom was as dumb as a fish.
We were allowed through the silver-black walls of Firel without a problem. We walked slowly along the corridors, looking at the architecture, fretwork and the castle’s interior. Reive seemed to purposely stroll slowly, so I could get used to the place. Though sometimes, when I turned to him, I caught the strange thoughtful glance he cast at the drapes, the pictures and then at the painted ceiling.
Then something unexpected happened. Maybe my nearness to the necromancer contributed to this, or maybe because I was wearing Reive’s chain that absorbed magic. At a certain moment, I bl
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Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 40. Reive
Angelina rose to the challenge brilliantly, although Reive saw her face turn pale and her breath become more hurried. The invocation wasn’t so easy.However, one could say for sure that this girl had the makings of a really good necromancer despite her weak anarel. The Undead King had always said the main thing in magic was persistence.Today, Angelina didn’t disappoint him.He took the girl by the arm and squeezed it approvingly. The little one started and flushed like a lobster. Again.Almost immediately after the ‘performance’, Gerhard politely asked Reive to send the horse back ‘where he’d come from’, otherwise the dinner might be spoiled.The Undead King shrugged his shoulders, not getting how the shellmougr could spoil the meal. However, he didn’t argue.A table decorated in rose and gold was already set in the next room. At the head of the table were elevated two real thrones, and the ro
Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 41. Reive
Reive cocked his head to one side, not knowing what to do: answer Livia himself or wait and see what Angelina would say.She didn’t feel puzzled and was ready to engage in conversation with the future queen. It was quite surprising, taking into account her total lack of experience.First, she dropped thoughtful eyes to the white tablecloth and the pink china plates on it. Then she raised them again to Livia.“I’m afraid he’s not lying, your Grace,” she breathed, and a hesitant smile crossed her lips. “It’s he who taught me to call forth the shellmougr. He created him. He... can do many unusual things...”As he heard these words, the necromancer felt something stir strangely within him. The faint blush on the girl’s cheeks only enhanced this feeling.The duchess looked at Reive without ceasing to smile, “Well, in this case, your experience could seem truly invaluable, honorable earl!&
Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 42. Reive
Angelina dived into her plate, senselessly poking food with her fork and knife. A second later out of awkwardness, she cut her finger with the knife blade. She winced quietly but stifled the desire to stick her finger into her mouth at the last moment. The necromancer saw her hand flinch. She’d already put it in the air, and then, she put it down on the tablecloth again.She was afraid of becoming a figure of fun again.Afraid to break this damn etiquette...Reive was slowly working into a fury. Everything had been much simpler in his time. He used to invite necromancers to his castle. Among them, there were no conventions about the number of forks on the table and appropriate behavior.However, that had irritated his former wife very much.A drop of blood was dripping down Angelina’s skin. Reive took a handkerchief from his pocket and held it out over the whole table, not bothering about decency at all.The girl looked at him wi
Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 43. Reive
She curved her full round lips in a smile. She slowly raised her thin flexible fingers and... suddenly called the Dark. And at the next moment, the candles in the corridor began to go out one by one. As if someone had blown out the fire in a methodical fashion – first near them, then many feet away on all sides.The Dark flows arose with striking conformity. The duchess clearly was a skilled necromancer. However, her abilities didn’t much surprise Reive.He flattened himself against the wall and crossed his arms on his breast. It was even amusing. If the witch wanted to scare him, then the evening wasn’t so bad. He’d even have some fun.“Well, let’s say I wanted to check if you hadn’t got lost in our corridors,” she chanted sweetly, coming closer to the necromancer.Despite the dusk, the woman’s profile was seen clearly. The lighting might give it a pleasant roundness. However, Reive wasn’t much
Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 44. Reive
Gerhard Iris raised his bushy eyebrows and smirked, “Dances on a full stomach? I’d say that’s not the usual thing here. But why not? It’s not a bad idea at all, really!”He clapped his hands, and the servants began rushing around behind his back. In a few minutes, a couple of musicians with violins appeared in the hall. A pianist showed up behind a huge piano laden with flowers in the corner.A cheerful chiming tune began to play which the necromancer had never heard before. The guests at table began exchanging glances in embarrassment. It appeared no one dared to be the first to dance.“So? Are you ready?” smiling, Reive invited the girl, already raising her from the chair.“But I can’t!” she whispered, flushing. Then, she came close to his ear and added, burning Reive with her breath: “It’s the same as with riding. No one taught me!”“Well, you’l
Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 45. Angelina
My eyebrows flew up by themselves. Was I imagining it, or did he really ask me about the Nocturne of Death? Or maybe where he lived, they have their own nocturne, not the one Reive Eridanus Castro-Firel played seven hundred years ago? He, who invented that melody raising spirits from nothingness…“Reive,” I said uncertainly, “could you tell me please which nocturne you’re talking about?”The necromancer smiled broadly. His eyes were glowing with such dark mystical light that a wave of goose bumps ran down my spine. Prickly sparks flowed under my skin, and it felt like every little hair rose on my body.“I’m sure you’ll like it,” he whispered suddenly, drawing me closer for a moment and slightly touching my ear with his lips.No, it just couldn’t be. Simply because it could’ve never been.“Reive, are you going to play right now among all these
Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 46. Reive
Yeah, he liked how it looked. He liked being as before, the very same Reive, who had easily controlled hundreds of the dead. The very same Reive whom ghosts feared, and to whose music they were coming to dance. Firel, his home, became his own for a few long intoxicating minutes. It began to breathe. It was resurrected as it felt the dance of death. Reflections of old tapestries flittered on the walls and the dark polish shone on the lacquered wooden floor. The shameful miniatures on the walls and the pictures on the ceiling disappeared.Alas, it was only a memory, spirits of the past enclosed within the castle stones together with the death of several dozen builders. Their souls became the ghosts of the castle. Reive had no mercy on his subjects. He had thought he was doing the right thing.The music was still playing, and Reive was sitting on his former throne surrounded now with the familiar Dark. He had only to snap his
Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 47. Zomzom
Quiet. Quiet like in the grave. You can barely hear footfalls. The quiet’s reflecting from the walls and seeping into your head. And the wind... I hear it, but I don’t feel it. I wonder – whether the wind so quiet and mournful when you lie in the grave? Guess it must be so under that thick layer of soil and worms...The zombie was strolling slowly along the castle corridors and reflecting. His master had left him in the guest mansion, but the dead man felt... How to put it? Bored. Yeah, exactly.On the day of his second birth, Zomzom had turned into an undead possessing his own mind. The Undead King imprinted the zombie’s brain with his invocation, and now the Dark itself circulated through his veins and capillaries, as well as his nerves and neurons. It was the Dark that made his limbs move, and it was the Dark that created irrational, inexplicable impul
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Do not awaken the Undead king Epilog. Part 4
***Five years later the kingdom of Aldenor was renamed ‘Empire of Shadow’.Reive and Angelina were awarded the titles of emperor and empress. A year later their triplets were born, two boys and a girl. All three possessed a strong dark gift for twilight magic. In time, they entered the academy their mother had founded, CYANIDE— Central YOUNG Academy for Necromantic Ideology and Demonology Education.Therefore, the royal couple introduced a new fashion for necromancy. Henceforth, all influential families in the empire dreamed of sending their children to CYANIDE, still sometimes jokingly called ‘Academy of Death’.Twenty years on, necromancers had become the main combat unit of the army of the Empire of Shadow. Not one of the neighboring states would even dream of transgressing the borders or otherwise offending the continent’s most dangerous empire.Until the day of his death, Reive saw Ulfricus from time to tim
Do not awaken the Undead king Epilog. Part 3
The order in Ashgenrian sounded more powerful and confident that ever before. Shivers ran down my spine.That very second a small pale shadow formed beside me, a few seconds later it acquired an outline.“Byelndevir!” Reive exclaimed, his eyes opening wide. Such a wide smile appeared on his face that I felt truly happy.“I’m sorry I nearly bit your head off,” the little spirit said, spreading his wings. Real ones, not bones.The dragon was of human size and so took up an impressive amount of space. However, that was nothing in comparison to his former dimensions. I knew his size could now be changed at will – bigger or smaller.“Fantastic!” the necromancer gasped and struggled, then succeeded to stand up from the bed. He went up to the ghost and carefully touched his wing, as if they were blood brothers. “And I didn’t take offense, my friend.”It seemed to me that
Do not awaken the Undead king Epilog. Part 2
“Yes, it can.” I nodded, “When the dead opened their mouths to sing, the earth was filled with the voices of Twilight itself. It was horrifying and amazing at the same time. With each second that passed more and more ghosts appeared. Their numbers grew and quickly surpassed the numbers of the Union Army. They were dressed like military, in ancient cuirass and such like armor. Their sounds were like thunder as they moved amongst the troops of our enemies. Then the living dead on our side moved into their ranks, joining in the song, but not attacking. The warriors of the Union soon began to throw down their weapons and retreat. Several spirits surrounded each of them, shaking their swords and drawing closer as if they were thirsty for the kill.I sighed deeply, shaking off dark thoughts and continued, “And Ulfricus appeared beside me. He introduced himself, I hadn’t known what he would look like. The druid smiled sadly, laid his hand on my shoulder
Do not awaken the Undead king Epilog. Part 1
hree months have passed since I became Queen of Aldenor. Reive has spent the best part of this time lolling about in bed and has only now begun to rise himself. See, I’ve taken upon myself the none-too-easy burden of governing the country.To tell the truth it hasn’t been very enjoyable. Especially having to resolve conflicts with the not inconsiderable number of disgruntled people who wanted to see someone else in power. I had much help. Advisors, mages, military leaders. Those who had come across to our side when things had quieted down a little. When it had become clear that we had a rightful claim to the throne. Reive was the enthroned ruler who had never renounced his crown. And I... I was the Gerhard Ayris’ bastard. The only illegitimate daughter of the recently deceased king.This became widely known not just to the highborn nobles, but to the common people. And, as I understand, not without the help of Asper Glane.The day after t
Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 93. Angelina
There were screams of horror from somewhere to the side. I turned round and saw the gates finally open and the drawbridge come fully down. Now, crowds of the transformed undead – frightening, strong and dangerous – were slowly crawling out. Even from here I could see their empty eye sockets flash with hunger and hear their sharp teeth clatter in their skulls.However, the undead weren’t hurrying to attack. There was no longer anyone to give them the order.I began to panic. I closed my eyes and forced myself to slowly breathe out.My hands were shaking. The chain in my hand was twitching, its links rattling barely audibly.Suddenly, behind my lowered eyelids I saw the threads of the Dark. In their hundreds and thousands, they were stretching out from Reive to the subjugated undead. They were chattering and tightening, demanding the order that couldn’t come.Nevertheless, there was also something else. Almost unnoticeable. Al
Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 92. Angelina
Dark and Twilight, how could this happen? Why?!“Duchess Myria Clarian Castro-Arcs broke away from the ranks of the main army and raced through the rows of our zombies under her own initiative,” Glein answered gloomily, drawing his sword uncertainly.It seemed I had asked the last question aloud. The garrison commander, Reive man who had been covering our rear all this time, didn’t know what he should do now. How he could bear arms against the woman he had formerly sworn to protect. Gerhard Ayris’s sister, the Princess of Aldenor.Also her own brother’s lover and my mother. Nevertheless, it was hardly likely that would be known to anyone.“And all this for the sake of killing Reive?” I moaned, struggling to help Glein keep the necromancer on his feet.The Undead King lost consciousness, and I could feel how heavy he was. I wanted to make a joke like: ‘you couldn’t tell by the look
Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 91. Reive
Angelina smiled confusedly but didn’t let him distract her, “You must stop this battle. Right now. You started it, so you stop it.”Reive pursed his lips, thoughtfully rubbing his chin with one hand while continuing to hold Angelina’s wrist with the other, “Hmm... The battle’s already started. The Council is continuing its attack despite the throne guardian’s death,” he was deliberating. “I suppose either they don’t know that, or someone else is acting as supreme commander. But...” he made a short pause and then smiled and winked at the girl. “But I have a plan.”He clicked his fingers and the canopy of the Dark above them dispersed like mist.“Your Dark Majesty, it’s dangerous,” broke in Glein, standing at a respectful distance from Reive all this time. “The arrows, the magic, the flying beasts. We may not reach the walls of the fortress.”He looke
Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 90. Reive
The Ashgenrian words left Reive’s lips, immediately breaking the higher undead’s attachment spell. Now, Biellendevir was attached neither to him nor to Angelina.The huge beast opened his mouth wide and cried aloud. A terrifying roar tore through the surroundings, freezing the wide-open eyes of the soldiers and chilling the hearts of the living.A bloody film clouded the gaze of the higher undead. No one controlled him now.It was no longer the same Biellen the necromancer’d known all his life. It was a higher undead, incredibly strong and incredibly hungry.“Forgive me,” Reive repeated, creating a ghostly noose and throwing it over the dragon’s neck.One movement – and the huge monster’s head drooped, his bones creaking.Biellendevir was roaring, making sounds like the howl of the cursed Abyss. No one dared to approach the three of them at that moment. Neither the enemy’s soldiers nor th
Do not awaken the Undead king Chapter 89. Reive
All the last day flashed by like a whirlwind before the eyes of the necromancer. He saw himself coming out of Angelina’s room. He saw the broken potion bottle, and Zomzom’s crippled body hidden behind the flight of stairs.The necromancer didn’t have any time to search for the killer just then. He ordered the zombie brought to his laboratory, promising himself he would find the brazen mage who had decided to make such a stupid joke with his personal servant.Now, the puzzle had come into place. This brazen mage was Livia Rendan. She had turned out to be a much stronger opponent than he had realized. The woman hadn’t only been able to delay the effect of the curse but with time might manage to completely neutralize it. Reive saw she was already able to speak perfectly well and even get to her feet. It was worthy of admiration. Reive had always respected strength of mind.However, Livia didn’t want to live. She had something els
