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– I'll be happy to share your dinner, – he said, extending his hand to Ratmir.

A young man with eyes like steel looked at the king searchingly from under his short platinum locks. For a moment, Robin thought he could see into his soul. Finally, the Duke of Oden shook his hand.

– I'm sorry, Your Majesty, for not coming sooner. We needed to place the dragons in a suitable place to take off.

– Not so long ago, your aunt, Lady Raine, graced our court with her presence, – Robin said suddenly. – How's she doing?

Rathmir glared at him again, but he didn't read anything in the impenetrable face.

– Thank you, Anna is in a good mood, despite what is happening.

Raven realized that the young duke did not know anything about what had happened in the palace.

– She told me that your province is no longer a desert.

– Yes, it is. And you can see it for yourself, Your Majesty. The King of Adenia will be welcome in the County of Rhein.

The young man's eyes were open, and there was sincerity in his voice. But there was a wariness in his whole appearance, and Robin knew that Odensky did not trust him. At dinner, Ratmir, Luchezar, and Buslay ate little and drank no wine at all. The courtiers made toasts, but the guests preferred to salute with clean water. A footman came up to the king and handed him a note. After barely glancing at it, Robin quietly got up from the table and headed for the exit. Edward and Arthur quickly followed him out.

– What happened? – Bear asked, breathing in the frosty evening air.

– Trouble with the Arenian wires, – Raven muttered.

– Maybe we should take the guards with us, – Falcon suggested.

– Everyone's drunk. And what can three wizards do with their magic securely locked? We only open the portal in one direction, – said Arthur.

Three Arenians and six Adenian mages were standing on a slope covered with snow that sparkled in the torchlight. When the king saw the Raven, he grinned ominously.

– Your Majesty, – the wizard said to Robin. The teleport didn't open at the scheduled time. We're looking into the reasons.

– What, you decided to stay with us? Raven asked the monarch.

– Yes, there are unfinished business, – the sinister Arenian replied in the same tone. – It's a pity, pup, that you refused to make a magical strike on the Rhineland. He could have been twice as strong. The young man of the word was struck with a whip. Yes, the king continued. Soon this desert of the Rhine will cease to be blooming. The Piranha Rose knew that they were in danger of a magical strike. Yet she chose to protect Adenia rather than her own land. So I didn't manage to kill two birds with one stone. But that's for now. I wish I could kill you personally, you know, the contract. But that's okay, but I'll enjoy watching you die. Robin saw Murd approaching, and a smile touched his lips. The teleport opened, releasing fifty Aden mages who had betrayed their king. The six escorts were blown away by the flow of magic. Arthur and Edward shielded the Raven, releasing a powerful stream of energy that killed ten mages. But they were followed by others, even stronger, and it was clear that the young men were doomed.

– Robin, go away! – Bear shouted at the top of his voice. – We can hold them off!

Raven's mind flashed with images from his childhood and adolescence. He remembered how Arthur and Edward had protected him, and how he had protected them. They managed to survive only thanks to each other's support and trust. Only a few seconds had passed. Robin's friends were already on their knees, fighting the pain. Raven concentrated and gathered all his magic, which swept away twenty opponents at once. Surprise flickered in the Arenians ' eyes. They had not imagined that the young head of the Raven clan had such power. Robin stepped in front of his friends, who were already unconscious, and concentrated again, gritting his teeth. Twenty mages had parried his blow and were now advancing, trying to break through the shield. The king smiled, knowing that it was all over for him, and whirled the energy into a vortex, knocking the fifteen mages away, falling to the ground with a groan. Already immobilized, the young man saw the Arenian approach him, accompanied by traitors.

– It was a tough attempt to survive. Even I'm impressed. Finish with him.

One of the wizards created a ball. Raven continued to smile as he looked at the sparkling, deadly stream. And suddenly, instead of the warriors looming over him, he saw a starry sky. There was the sound of a teleport opening quickly, and someone yelling. After a few minutes, everything went quiet. Rathmir was leaning over Robin, looking anxiously into his eyes.

– A magical blow to your land, – the young king whispered. – Save Anna…

Anna sat on the floor of her little house and wept bitterly. The more she tried to control herself, the more her sobs seemed to grow. In her bedroom, the unconscious Raven that Rathmir had brought to the desert a week ago still lay. The Adenian healers were able to heal his body, but were unable to recover his soul. In an unequal battle, the young man spent all his life force. Realizing this, Anna tried every means she knew to save Robin, but it was all in vain. Out of danger were the lives of Arthur and Edward, who were at that time in the castle of the County of the Rhine. The young men were still weak, but they had regained consciousness and were recovering. Ratmir and his friends, the brothers of the Rhone, left immediately for the capital to calm the unrest associated with the illness of the king and his closest subjects. Anna was choking on tears when she heard a sharp shout.

– Stop your tantrum right now!

Through the salt water, she saw her friend Rogneda. Her brown eyes glowed with anger, and her long dark hair was tousled. The girl let out a long moan and stopped crying.

– What? – Rogda asked.

– There's less hope every hour, – Anna said in a dejected voice. – I contacted all the healers and tried everything I knew.

– There's still something to try, – she said.

– I've learned that our old friend, the all-powerful King Piran, has a thing that can bring back magic.

– Where is he keeping her?

– In his cave, which is familiar to us.

– Can I open a teleport there? – Countess Raine asked, gathering herself.

– What do you think I've been doing these days?

– When can I go there?

– Stop joking, do you think I'll let you go alone?

– I'm not kidding, it's dangerous. I think that our old friends are well aware of the current situation and will be waiting for us there.

– There's no doubt about that, so we'll go there together.

Anna wiped her face with her hands, got up from the floor, and went into the bedroom. Rogneda followed her. The Raven King was lying in a snow-white bed near the open window. The curtain fluttered in a gust of wind, opened, and a few delicate apple petals flew into the room. Lady Raine went to Robin, straightened the blanket, and stroked his bare arm.

– Yes, – Rogneda said, blowing an unruly curl from her forehead. – The boy had a chance to drink shit on the way to power.

Anna looked at her friend absently.

– And how much more to come, oooh, – said Ronskaya.

Augustus burst into the bedroom and stood by the bed, panting. The fair-haired, rosy-cheeked boy with the glowing eyes was now hardly recognizable as the former puny child. He bowed slightly to Rogneda, who nodded back.

– August, – Anna said to the child. – I'm going out of the house and I'm asking for your help.

The boy was all ears.

– I want you to look after His Majesty.

– I get it. I've already thought about it, – Augustus said seriously. – Our friends and neighbors volunteered to help. We can keep a steady watch here. Our estate is protected by magic.

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