– You are free to move, you can leave the castle for any number of days, the castle carriage will take you to the place and take you back at the specified time. All I ask is that you inform me of your departure. You can invite the guest to the castle only receive permission of heir, so try to meet friends or family in the city.

– Okay, well, in that case, I’ll be out half the day tomorrow, leaving at 8:00 a.m. the second question is to be honest a little awkward.

The Lord smiled only in the corners

– From what I understand participant may make a surprise – invite an actor or a magician, to make a gift to the heir… But what if the participant is limited in money resources? Perhaps you have a dedicated budget for such a case? – Paint the face flooded, eyes hidden in the floor, and my fingers gripped the tortured someone to me armrests. And Lord was silent for what seemed an eternity.

– The first applicants did receive money for clothing and jewellery. But over time, representatives of rich ancient houses started to participate in the contest, and no one had raised this issue before you. So we do this, you calculate how much money you need, and I’ll try to get the emperor to agree on the amount without going into the details of your surprise, I take it you’re planning a surprise?

– Thank you, I will draw up a cost estimate and will bring you. Can I go?

– Yes, if there are no more wishes. – Emiren looked very thoughtful, his gaze wandered distractedly across my body, but clearly his thoughts were far away.

– Thanks again

I backed against the door, realized that I look stupid, spun around 180 degrees and extremely fast pace, almost running toward the door.

Chapter 13

Why do I need money? According to legend, I am a distant relative of (the girl who took care me in the first day on this side of the portal and to whom the carriage takes me). As part of this legend, we turned to Vidon, and he was kind enough to help fulfill the dream of a girl from village – to include in the selection. He presented money to buy a few dresses That’s all. Guardianship or kinship with the magician would draw unnecessary attention to us, so I am a distant relative of the person (Elenelika just a man), who appear suddenly out of the blue with a dream: I want to be the princess.

But now due to the same verisimilitude, I can’t get money from Weedon, and to communicate need a reason. Feel 007 in a far-off kingdom. Do not want? So I did not dream.

When I reached the place, I released the driver and warned him to return by about four o'clock, and making sure that the coach slid a sufficient distance so as not to be detected i trudged to Weedon.

The Mage did not know of my desire to visit him, and was therefore disheartened and disturbed by my arrival.

The first question that came up was:

– What, you’ve already been kicked out? – he asked this question with no anger, but rather with surprise, but they let me in, they poured tea and prepared to listen.

– Look, it’s okay, no one’s kicked me out yet, but I need to talk to you.

– Yes, of course. How are you? How’s the relationship with the Heir? How’s the experience with the castle?

– I’m fine, the Emperor is out of town. The castle is a bit damp and a little gloomy, but not about that. I need to understand what means of communication you have here (while only the bracelet is mastered, press – comes the chaperone). I’ll try to explain what I’m used to in my home, and you tell me if you have something like that.

First of all, we have a building which is called the post office, it is possible to bring the letters, and they will be delivered after some time a person anywhere in the world.

– We do not have the post office but there are messengers, they will deliver a letter to the addressee and there is an artifact of exchange. Artifacts, if they are tuned to each other, open something similar to a small portal and you can to drop into it by a small object (letter or gift).

– And can I have a sheet and paper? I’ll write it down.

– Yes, of course

– We have a phone. A person in one city can talk to another or a group of people in another city with this device.

– We have a communication artifact, but you can talk at the same time with only one and you need to pre-arrange a code activating the connection, set up the artifact at the reception

– We have a number of digits instead of a code, which is injected into the phone’s memory. Can you redesign artifact so that several people can be connected at the same time?

– Why would I do that?

– I’ll explain later, so can you create one?

– I’ll try it, of course

– So what else… We have an answering machine… Well, for example, is not convenient now to talk or you’re away from your artifact, and another person later can not call back… That person dials a number, dictate a message and sent… the blinking lamp on your screen show you, that you have a missed call and you can listens a voice message later..

– Not all words are clear to me, but the point is clear. No, there is no such thing. Do you think you need it?

– I need it in the first place. As it turned out, I can not read and write, we have a different alphabet. You can modify your artifact?

– I’ll try – he scratched his chin thoughtfully

– And also, I need to try learn to read. Can you get me an alphabet with pictures?

– Well, how can I give it to you?

– Tomorrow is the last day when there is no heir and I will be able to leave in the morning for a short while in a city, is there some cafes near the castle?

– Yes, there is" at the rock" for example. What time?

– Let’s go to 11. I forgot about another device – a voice recorder… You turn on the button, and it records everything that he hears around him, can do a lot of records, and they are stored in order, until you delete it

– How much is interesting in your world, and we thought it was backwards and apart from the sacrificial lamb you have nothing to offer.

– Not Wonderland, but we do not quite backward, even though we do not have dragons and magic and we live quite a bit. But back to the point, I agreed with the emperor’s aide for compensation of some of my expenses. But, I have to provide a list stating the purpose, amount and recipient.

So I need to:

1) Artefact of exchange

2) Communication artifact

3) Finalization of the communication artifact regarding the recording and storage of voice messages and finalization to the possibility of simultaneous communication with 3-5 opponents

4) The artifact of recording and storing the speech around.

So if you can create such artifacts and announce the cost and timing of their creation I will try to get money to buy them.

Weedon silent. Silent and looked at me enthusiastically. – Unbelievable! – Finally, he said – Incredible! – he said, and walked around the room. – In a matter of two days to agree about financing! You know, like the ministers for months knock money for their projects? – he paused briefly, looked at me and walked further

– But we haven’t been given a penny yet

– You do not know Emiron. If he didn’t reject at once, it almost certainly will be issued. I still can not believe it! Do you realize that if I create these artifacts, I will have stable orders from the Imperial Palace, and it is not just wealth, this recognition! – Weedon returned to the seat-Catherine, now I do not want to overthrow the Emperor.

– Vidon, first, we need to create these artifacts, try them out, and get the funding, the fame, and these orders. And if it works out, and you decide not to overthrow the Emperor, you’ll back me home before the final ball.

Only advance figure out how to escape then from werewolves.

– Yes, werewolves are not easy. They won’t forgive.

I realized that it was better to leave him alone with his thoughts.

– Weedon, I'll go.

– Yeah, see you tomorrow.

And he sat there, apparently lost in his thoughts. I Did not return it to the harsh reality, I closed the door and went back to Elenelike.

Chapter 14

Elegelika met me at home, we drink tea with herbs and berries, baked pancakes and sat behind a table in the garden among the green and smells of summer.

And before I could even take a sip, Elegelica started asking me questions, how are the contestants dressed, who has the most beautiful dress? What kind of furniture in the rooms, the halls? And the curtains and the wallpaper? Did the prince like? And the food is delicious? And in the garden which flowers grow? Not only did she ask questions, but she was interested in a thousand details of which she was putting together a picture, but unfortunately, I was not as attentive, so I shared what I had learned . But i promised that in the future will be more attentive to the interiors of the palace rooms, style palace ladies and taste Palace food. About Prince answered with restraint: not to my taste. I did not say that prince is fire-breathing monster and a special love for crocodile appearance, though winged, i never entertained.

– Elegelica, I have a delicate request to make. You know, I lived in the lands of the portal and as it turned out, even though we speak the same language, but we have different writing. I can not read and write letters, and for the future Empress is incredible disadvantage. Even if my chances to become the minimum, I would like to learn the letter, could you help me?

Elegelica jumped from the chair, and with the words «of course help» retired to the house. She returned with a pile of books and a notebook.

– So, from these books, my nephews were learning to read, and there’s alphabet, coloring, assignments, fairy tales. They are for the very little ones. – And notebook with handles for training. Here is the book of fairy tales – she picked up a thick folio – there is a large font and a lot of pictures. Kids often check the reading by syllable.

– How lucky I am that it's your house was on my way! Thank you so much!

The time flew by, the books and the cakes were packed, with happiness and thought " with such friends I certainly will not be lost in this world" I would return to the castle, looking out the fields and forests on the way. The green was saturated, the road was dusty, the sun was bright and the wheels creaked. In general, I entered the castle though not much tired, but happy.