It felt like an eternity before Lera finally fell asleep. Descending to the first floor into the living room, Albrecht approached the fireplace. The fire crackled, licking at the dry logs. On the mantelpiece stood several photographs. Reaching out, the young man picked up the one where the three of them posed together.
He was certain he could protect them. He couldn’t afford to make another mistake.
Rada headed to the kitchen to check on the food preparations for tomorrow. On ordinary days, they didn’t cook much and rarely used magic for household tasks. They had immediately declined the idea of a housekeeper. Rada didn’t want anyone else in their home.
Tomorrow, a lot of guests were expected, including Emira-Sultan, a distant relative of the Filan princess Shahria, whom they had helped back in the seventeenth century. She wielded considerable influence. Having such a patron for their daughter wouldn’t hurt. Thankfully, she had agreed to come. Even while staying in their manor near Zmiiv, Rada and Albrecht maintained connections with the magical communities of Earth and Aladeya.
But Albrecht doubted anything could stop Morl if he decided to kill them. The only solution, in his mind, was to sit down at a negotiation table. The Roen king could never get his children back, but they might be able to put an end to this feud. Albrecht hesitated to voice this thought to Rada, knowing that while she pitied Morl, she categorically refused to negotiate with him.
Hearing Lera’s cries, Albrecht set the photo back in place and hurried upstairs to the second floor.
Rada’s mood shifted like a weather vane. She was increasingly worried that they were living a relatively quiet and peaceful life when her ancestors had died within months, at most, after giving birth. Rada had been terrified during her last delivery, even preparing herself for the possibility that she wouldn’t survive it. But everything had gone well then. Now, the situation was repeating itself. Not knowing about the family curse would have been far easier than living like they were sitting on a powder keg.
Paranoia wasn’t her only problem. As she passed through the hallway, she heard a noise outside. Cautiously opening the door, she peered into the darkness, but no one was there. Closing the door, she continued on her way.
In the kitchen, everything was perfect. A knife was autonomously chopping vegetables for stews and salads on a cutting board. On another board, a fish lay already cleaned of bones and guts, waiting to be baked in the oven alongside a chicken. Today, Rada had decided to prep the dishes, planning to assemble everything tomorrow morning. She genuinely didn’t understand why they’d need a helper when magic could handle it all. Or maybe that was just her paranoia talking again.
Leaning against the wall, Rada lazily watched as Brussels sprouts floated to the board, got sliced, and then tumbled into a small dish.
Suddenly, goosebumps prickled her skin. She shivered, feeling like someone was watching her. Rada spun around, her gaze darting like lightning to the window. From the gate, two yellow eyes stared back at her.
Yanking the curtain shut, she quickly left the kitchen. With a sharp wave of her hand, she closed the rest of the curtains and hurried upstairs. For some reason, her mind flashed to a creature they had accidentally encountered on Aladeya. It was a terrifying monster with multiple heads. According to a true legend, it hunted during the full moon, taking the form of a small puppy to lure its victims closer. And though that monster was dead, there was no guarantee it had been the only one. A single glance from it could drive a person insane.
She couldn’t climb the stairs as quickly as she wanted. The baby in her belly stirred again, forcing her to stop and catch her breath.
“You’re being ridiculous. It’s not a full moon, and nothing like that exists around here,” she scolded herself.
Still, Rada decided to check on Albrecht. Ten minutes ago, he had been in the living room. She found him in the nursery, holding Lera in his arms.
“How’s it going in the kitchen?” he whispered, rocking the child. “Lera’s fine. She woke up, didn’t see us, and started crying.”
“Can you check outside?” Rada whispered back.
“Why?”
“I saw two big yellow eyes out there. Might just be a cat.”
“Was it on our property?” Rada shook her head. “No one unauthorized can get in here, so let it wander out there. Or is something else bothering you? Tell me,” Albrecht said firmly, noticing she was holding back.
“Well, I thought about that monster we ran into during our journey through Feromansk.”
“The Multi-Headed?” He raised an eyebrow. “It’s gone.”
“I thought about that too. But…”
Albrecht sighed heavily and walked over to the crib to lay their daughter down.
“I’ll check the gate right now.”
Rada flinched, and instead of feeling relieved, she tensed up even more.
“No, you’re right. The house is under strong enchantments. I must’ve imagined it,” she said, stopping him. “Although…” Opening the window, she cast a protective spell into the yard. “Abilanoris!” A cat’s screech followed. “It’s just a cat.”
“Let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow’s a big day,” Albrecht said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and guiding her to the door.
“What if I stay here?” Rada suddenly suggested.
“I’m right here. Everything will be fine,” Albrecht replied gently.
Pulling away, Rada walked to the window and closed the curtain. Albrecht restrained himself from letting out a heavy sigh. Though his beloved had admitted her fears were unfounded, it seemed she wasn’t entirely convinced. He was almost certain she hadn’t let him go outside because of that.
* * *
The next morning began with a doorbell ring. On the doorstep stood a woman with copper-red hair, and peeking out from behind her was a similarly red-haired girl in a blue jumpsuit—her daughter.
“Hey!” Rada said, opening the door. “We were expecting you through the teleport. Where’s Gleb?”
“His boss held him up at work. He’ll be here a bit later.”
“Alla, Lizzie, come on into the living room. Lera’s there playing with her dad,” Rada smiled, ushering the guests inside.
From the room came the sound of bright, childish laughter. The little dark-haired girl sat on her father’s lap, twirling a stuffed teddy bear in her hands. Albrecht was unwrapping a gift for his daughter. Nearby on the couch lay a pile of still-unopened presents.
Seeing the guests, the girl hopped off her father’s lap and ran to the red-haired girl who had just appeared in the living room.
The kids continued playing with the gifts in the living room while the adults headed to the dining room. With each passing hour, more and more guests arrived—some by regular transport, others via teleport. By lunchtime, the house was packed with people.
The sound of an engine roared, and a car with tinted windows rolled through the open gates. Rada and Albrecht were already at the door, ready to greet the esteemed guest.
The car stopped, and out stepped a beautiful dark-haired woman in her forties, dressed in an expensive pantsuit. The only hints of her high status were a small tiara and gold earrings.
“Good afternoon, Emira-Sultan. How was the journey?”
“Good afternoon, Duke, Duchess. Everything was wonderful! Flying in a personal crystalet is a delight!” The corners of the woman’s mouth lifted in a warm smile as the bracelet on her wrist jingled. “I wanted to see the birthday girl! I have a gift for her!”
* * *
Albrecht had been standing on the porch for a while, hands resting on the railing. His gaze was fixed on the gate. Seeing him through the window, Rada stepped out onto the porch.
“Almost everyone’s here. Come on, Al. He’s probably not coming.”
“I could deal with him forgetting our birthdays, but to skip the first birthday of his only niece… Your aunt called first thing this morning to congratulate her granddaughter. And this guy can’t tear himself away from his books for one day,” Albrecht grumbled.
The air shimmered, and out of nowhere appeared a man in a tweed suit with a neatly trimmed beard that reached his collarbone. His swamp-colored eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Is that what you think of me?” Merlin quipped, brushing an invisible speck of dust off his jacket sleeve.
“Did the protective wards glitch, allowing invisibility spells on the manor grounds?” Albrecht pressed his lips together, his expression clearly showing his irritation.
“The one who cast those wards can use them. I placed the spell back in the village and forgot to lift it. It’s your daughter’s birthday, and you’ve got such a sour face. As usual… Shall we head inside?”
“Now I get why the Roen king still has a grudge against you,” Albrecht shot back. It was uncalled for. The smile vanished from Merlin’s face. Rada tensed, sensing trouble brewing.
“Not today!” she said, shooting a stern look at both men. “The house is full of guests. So, please, argue as much as you want tomorrow. Today, I won’t let anyone ruin the celebration!”
Arguing with Rada was scarier than facing a mountain troll.
The party went on until late in the evening. There were plenty of kids in the house, so Lera had no shortage of playmates.
* * *
Outside, a light rain drizzled. Closer to midnight, thunder rumbled, and the sky was sliced by several bright flashes of lightning.
Wrapped in a blanket up to her head, Rada turned over to the other side. Glancing enviously at Albrecht, who was quietly snoring on the other half of the bed, she threw off the blanket, slipped on a robe, and left the bedroom.
Approaching the nursery, she opened the door—Lera was sleeping sweetly in her crib. Adjusting the blanket over her, Rada decided to read a little, hoping it might help her doze off again. Behind a wooden door with a bronze wolf-shaped handle was the library.
Pushing the door open, Rada stepped into the dark room. Outside, the storm still raged.
“Vold-inclub!” she said with a snap of her fingers, and instantly, all the lamps lit up. Like all the women in her lineage, Rada could perform magic without artifacts. This unique power was called ancestral magic.
The room wasn’t large, but it was cozy. Two walls opposite each other were lined with bookshelves. By the window stood a leather couch, and next to it was a small table with an open book lying on top.
Sitting on the edge of the couch, she flipped through a few pages. She remembered she hadn’t finished writing a description of a particularly nasty plant.
Closing the book, Rada glanced at the cover again, which bore the crest of their family—a wolf—and beneath it, the title “Ala in Ral.” The book was enchanted and could quickly find needed information, provided it had already been recorded. Despite its age, the book was in excellent condition.
Picking up a pencil, Rada decided to finish the drawing first. On one side of the page was an image of what looked like an ordinary rose. But in cross-section, it revealed sharp, blade-like teeth where the calyx began. This predatory plant was called Trapodimeda. Rada didn’t know who had come up with the name, but she was somehow sure it meant something crude.
She herself had run out of polite words when she nearly fell into the jaws of this oversized flower, which could grow up to three meters in diameter.
Every now and then, thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed, visible even through the closed curtains. Somewhere in the village, a dog barked. Outside, the wind howled ominously, desperately trying to uproot the trees. It sounded so sinister that it seemed like it might succeed any moment.
After fifteen minutes, Rada started feeling sleepy again and nearly dozed off sitting on the couch. Suddenly, the phone rang in the hallway, jolting her awake. Reluctantly, she stood up, pursing her lips. She had to answer it before it woke Albrecht and Lera.
“Hello,” she said, her irritation fading instantly when she heard the voice of her adoptive father. “Merlin? What’s wrong? It’s the middle of the night here!”
“Where are Albrecht and Lera?” Tension laced his voice.
“They’re asleep! What’s happened?”
“You need to leave the house immediately! Runnr have been spotted nearby. They’re closing in and will be at your place in about an hour and a half!”
“But the house is well-protected! That’s impossible!” Rada protested, casting a worried glance at the window. “They can’t get through the barrier…”
“Unfortunately, they can! Morl is leading them! You need to get Lera out of here now. The Order will be there soon.”
“But where will we go?” Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of their old enemy. “To Aladeya?”
“No, you can’t go there right now! Head to your aunt’s place! Use the teleport. As soon as I arrive, I’ll destroy it so no one can track you.” Rada huffed. “This isn’t up for debate! You’ll be safe with Mary. No radar can find you near her.” Merlin cut her off just as she was about to argue. “And don’t you dare come back without permission. Pack up now!”
With a trembling hand, Rada hung up the phone and rushed to wake Albrecht. But the phone call had already roused him.
Relaying Merlin’s words to him, Rada followed Albrecht out of the bedroom. She didn’t want to leave the house, but she started gathering some things anyway. Her proud and defiant nature didn’t want to hide at her aunt’s place, and she intended to return here soon.
Grabbing a large bag, she began tossing in children’s clothes, wrapping a crystal ball—their only means of communication with Aladeya—among them. Scanning the library, her eyes landed on one of the shelves.
Pressing a lever, she quickly opened a hidden compartment and pulled out several small pouches, which she also threw into the bag. On top of everything, Rada placed the enchanted book “Ala in Ral.”
* * *