Read Online The Road to Magic (Book 1 of the Way of the Demon Series) by Alexey Glushanovsky - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Alexey Glushanovsky
Ads: Link
her from taking her place among the three finalists of any of the beauty contests so popular on Earth.
The same imperfection could be seen on Albert’s face, too, and if Oleg hadn’t witnessed how he had made up to the girl, he would have said they were close relatives.
Once he’d finished his thorough and even somewhat blatant examination, Oleg looked into the eyes of the princess, who was blushing at such attention, and said: ‘Well, I suppose I can let him go. I was about to let him explain himself anyway.’
Before either of the unsuccessful demonologists could give a sigh of relief, one of the snake-hairs detached itself from Oleg’s head, slithered along his arm and gently wrapped itself around the hapless Albert’s neck. Oleg released his hand and the boy tumbled to the floor like a sack of potatoes.
Smiling his sweetest of smiles, Oleg turned to the princess: ‘Your request has been granted, Your Highness. Might you have any other wishes?’
Looking at the now grey Albert, who was afraid to so much as move or even simply breathe, (the poor guy was suffering from an acute attack of serpentophobia, the fear of snakes), she mumbled to herself: ‘Valdes was right when he warned us not to get mixed up with demons unless it was absolutely necessary and if you do get involved, to formulate your thoughts clearly and unambiguously. If this is how he carries out requests, then how is he going to carry out orders?’
After listening to her little speech, Oleg countered without delay: ‘You’re right, Your Highness. If that were an order, I would have simply killed him, for the only way for a human to gain absolute freedom is death!’
The girl looked at Oleg dolefully: ‘You know, Arioch, now I think I made a big mistake in invoking you. I wanted you to save my life, but it seems that even if Albert had been able to force you to obey him, you’d have found a way to rebel. And no doubt that would have caused more people to suffer than my death would.’
‘What’s going on? You don’t look as if you’re mortally ill,’ and Oleg scanned her aura just in case. No, everything was fine. An unusually healthy girl.
‘It’s my father, the king, who’s ill. He’s slowly dying.’
‘I’m not a healer,’ Oleg shrugged his shoulders, perplexed. ‘In fact, you could say I was quite the opposite. It’s unlikely I’ll be able to cure your father. And anyway, how do you fit in?’
‘No, you can’t cure my father. It’s impossible to lift the mortal curse of a black magician. Valdes really went to a lot of trouble. But my death goes by the name of Lord Chancellor Victor Kreghist, Duke de Briion, Regent of Fenrian, my uncle.’ She gave a shuddering sigh, as though holding back tears. ‘You see, I’m the crown princess and as such I stand between my uncle and the throne. My father’s not got long left at all, and as soon as he dies, no doubt some “unfortunate accident” will befall me.’
Ataletta was about to go on, it was obvious her soul was troubled and she wanted to get everything off her chest, but Oleg interrupted her rather rudely: ‘What did you need a demon for?’
‘What for? To kill Kreghist. Assassins can’t get near him – he has many guards, and he knows magic, to boot. And hiring a magician isn’t an option; after Valdes’s death, there isn’t a magician who’ll come near us.’
‘But why do you want to kill this Kreghist? Why doesn’t he just marry you? Much easier, and nicer, too!’
‘He’s my uncle. My father’s brother. The church is categorically against such marriages. And anyway, he’s already married and has a son who he wants to make his heir.’
Oleg thought for a while. He had to find something to do in this world, anyway. He had to somehow settle in, earn some money, and find the school for magicians. By helping the princess he might be able to solve quite a few of his own problems at the same time. The main thing was to figure out if he would just be
The same imperfection could be seen on Albert’s face, too, and if Oleg hadn’t witnessed how he had made up to the girl, he would have said they were close relatives.
Once he’d finished his thorough and even somewhat blatant examination, Oleg looked into the eyes of the princess, who was blushing at such attention, and said: ‘Well, I suppose I can let him go. I was about to let him explain himself anyway.’
Before either of the unsuccessful demonologists could give a sigh of relief, one of the snake-hairs detached itself from Oleg’s head, slithered along his arm and gently wrapped itself around the hapless Albert’s neck. Oleg released his hand and the boy tumbled to the floor like a sack of potatoes.
Smiling his sweetest of smiles, Oleg turned to the princess: ‘Your request has been granted, Your Highness. Might you have any other wishes?’
Looking at the now grey Albert, who was afraid to so much as move or even simply breathe, (the poor guy was suffering from an acute attack of serpentophobia, the fear of snakes), she mumbled to herself: ‘Valdes was right when he warned us not to get mixed up with demons unless it was absolutely necessary and if you do get involved, to formulate your thoughts clearly and unambiguously. If this is how he carries out requests, then how is he going to carry out orders?’
After listening to her little speech, Oleg countered without delay: ‘You’re right, Your Highness. If that were an order, I would have simply killed him, for the only way for a human to gain absolute freedom is death!’
The girl looked at Oleg dolefully: ‘You know, Arioch, now I think I made a big mistake in invoking you. I wanted you to save my life, but it seems that even if Albert had been able to force you to obey him, you’d have found a way to rebel. And no doubt that would have caused more people to suffer than my death would.’
‘What’s going on? You don’t look as if you’re mortally ill,’ and Oleg scanned her aura just in case. No, everything was fine. An unusually healthy girl.
‘It’s my father, the king, who’s ill. He’s slowly dying.’
‘I’m not a healer,’ Oleg shrugged his shoulders, perplexed. ‘In fact, you could say I was quite the opposite. It’s unlikely I’ll be able to cure your father. And anyway, how do you fit in?’
‘No, you can’t cure my father. It’s impossible to lift the mortal curse of a black magician. Valdes really went to a lot of trouble. But my death goes by the name of Lord Chancellor Victor Kreghist, Duke de Briion, Regent of Fenrian, my uncle.’ She gave a shuddering sigh, as though holding back tears. ‘You see, I’m the crown princess and as such I stand between my uncle and the throne. My father’s not got long left at all, and as soon as he dies, no doubt some “unfortunate accident” will befall me.’
Ataletta was about to go on, it was obvious her soul was troubled and she wanted to get everything off her chest, but Oleg interrupted her rather rudely: ‘What did you need a demon for?’
‘What for? To kill Kreghist. Assassins can’t get near him – he has many guards, and he knows magic, to boot. And hiring a magician isn’t an option; after Valdes’s death, there isn’t a magician who’ll come near us.’
‘But why do you want to kill this Kreghist? Why doesn’t he just marry you? Much easier, and nicer, too!’
‘He’s my uncle. My father’s brother. The church is categorically against such marriages. And anyway, he’s already married and has a son who he wants to make his heir.’
Oleg thought for a while. He had to find something to do in this world, anyway. He had to somehow settle in, earn some money, and find the school for magicians. By helping the princess he might be able to solve quite a few of his own problems at the same time. The main thing was to figure out if he would just be
Similar Books
