Story 26. Winners and losers.

Gryvon waited. All those days she'd been absent, he was waiting and guessing, what was happening in the mysterious parallel world Paul was describing to the Regents with such enthusiasm. How everything looks like? What is a life there? What do people do? And the most important thing, if Ashka will succeed this time?

The house of Bron was rebuilt. However, the young man still lived in the village, helping his father. Aaron's health deteriorated, either because he'd been worried about his son, or for some other reason. However, the Summoner tried to keep his spirits up. Perhaps, he hoped that without Ashka nearby his son would become obedient once again. And all his son's thoughts were about her and something they would have after she returned.

Riana had disappeared. Thinking about it, Gryvon decided that either she was in the castle (in a cell, he hoped), or somehow she had gone to Paul's world while the doorway had been opened. Unfortunately, the second option was very real. And bothered him very much.

Gryvon waited. And felt utterly useless. Now, here, in the center of Clayhill, he couldn't get any sense from himself. He could neither help, nor change the situation. Only now he did understand why Ashka hated inaction so much. It really was making him depressed, strangling with its prolonged constancy and tranquility, draining with a viscous lack of opportunities. One morning was replaced by another; he had been opening the doorway, watching the blurry dimensional hole for some time. Nothing. And just one morning, when he had outwitted Correon (as he thought), he set the Eyestone, hearing the familiar powerbolts crackling. Seeing Ashka he was ready to celebrate their victory, not noticing at first her frown or her hands tied behind her back. He didn't understand that victory wasn't Their one…

And then Paul and Riana followed the Spellbinder. Happy, bright and carefree. The winners. He gave a start. And then everything mixed into the whole pressing and tearing humiliating defeat. And Gryvon, led by a spontaneous wrong instinct, ran… But he was stopped immediately by Correon, appearing nearly from nowhere. The Regent loked stern and unapproachable, a harsh symbol of the lost war.

Gryvon didn't believe. Couldn't really believe it was true. That they lost indeed. That a strange boy followed by omnipresent Riana had been able to stop them for so many times and come through unscathed. That he, Gryvon, had been caught for the second time. That Ashka was standing next to him and not even looking at him. That moment he was ready to blame her for everything, having no idea why the fate had played such a bad joke. Correon was inviting Paul to visit the castle seriously. Oh yes, as if he would be waited for… Only the fact that the boy refused was quite a pleasant thing, however, it didn't change the situation…

Only later, when he'd been tied too and locked up in a shed, the realization that everything was true came in strong hitting waves. What will their future hold? What will happen? Why had he and Ashka been reversed with Riana so ironically?

"We can't escape from here, - the young man mumbled, - not this time".

Ashka said nothing, sitting on hay and even in the most desperate moment being self-controlled. It was too obvious to cinfirm.

The door of the shed was opened slowly. Aaron, standing at the doorstep, was impervious, but his mood could be guessed easily.

"Now you've done it, son, - the man said quietly, coughing, - I won't be able to defend you. And I don't want to".

Gryvon laughed silently.

"I don't care".

"Don't care? – Aaron exclaimed, leaning against the wall. - What happened to you? You don't care what your own future will be?"

"Da, don't start it…", - the young man winced. He looked at his father, desperately, boldly but calmly.

The Summoner, seeing such resistance, looked at the Spellbinder.

"Well, and what will you say? – He asked angrily. - Keep silent? You left honest people with no home. You made my son cross the line!"

"So now you consider Bron and his family as honest people, Aaron, - the woman looked at him with defiance, - it was you who was glad to catch them not so long ago!"

Anger rushed to his head. His hand went up. Sitting next to the opposite wall, Gryvon knew he wouldn't have time to stop this hand. But suddenly the door was opened again.

"Aaron!"

Three people turned around. Holding an Eyestone, Correon stood at the doorstep.

"We go to the Tower, I ordered the ship to come there, - the Spellbinder came closer, putting a hand onto Summoner's shoulder, - you'd better have a rest, let's go".

He left the shed. Aaron, watching him, turned to Ashka once again.

"I wished I could destroy you with my own hands, - he said slowly, coughing, - but I'd rather let the members of the Council do it…"