There is a Witch Street in Pales. Once the site of witch hunts and executions at the stake, the street fell into disrepute at the very moment when all the witches of Dalcatir were considered executed. People left the terrible, dirty, smoke-smelling street.
However, in the capital, which was crowded with people, there was always a shortage of housing, and poor artists and beggars settled on Witch Street. When the street was cleaned, and artists decorated it, and the former bad reputation began to be forgotten, people flocked there again.
They started calling this street where the witches died Witch Street, and some turned the witches into a commodity. This became possible because over several decades the attitude towards witches has changed. Now Witch Street is the most luxurious and safest street in Palesa. How ironic.
So many dozens, so many hundreds of people were killed for no reason.
But Adi has nothing to say.
After all, it was the Grimaldi who were in the forefront of the hunters.
The Grimaldi family is a clan built on the bones of witches.
She handed the letter to the registry. Whether he will be checked at the palace or not is unknown. The sealing wax is sealed carelessly, so it will not be difficult to check. However, she sometimes sends letters with no content at all, so this does not raise suspicions.
Adi headed towards the residence where Duke Jules Woodpecker was staying. It was a fair distance to the inner palace, so she arrived around the time the servant called.
- Showed up on time. Over time, at least you get along,” Bert said. He added that he would now go to bed and asked to look after the Duke. Nothing will happen, he assured, patting Adi on the shoulder with noticeable force.
Jules Woodpecker was dressed more simply than she had expected. No rich jewelry, no precious stones - ordinary clothes made of simple cotton fabric. Cut for adults. Undoubtedly tailored to his figure. The clothes showed signs of wear. Apparently this happened quite often.
- Let's go, Your Grace.
Jules Woodpecker did not answer. But from several previous occasions, Adi had already realized that this silence meant consent.
The Duke refused to get into the carriage with the coat of arms of the Palace of Pales. It’s better in an ordinary carriage, he said, and Adi agreed.
However, even an ordinary palace carriage looked no worse than the carriage of another aristocratic house. Jules' clothes were also simple only in comparison with his position, but still marked him out as at least a junior noble or gentry.
Apparently, the driver already knew where to go: as soon as the Duke and Adi got into the carriage, it moved off.
The carriage left the Palesa Palace. This was Adi’s first official trip.
A dry wind blew through the open window of the carriage. Just recently it was cold and the magnolia was blooming, but it had already faded - not a trace of the pink petals remained, and the streets were buried in lush greenery.
Juls looked at Adi. Adi Grimaldi glanced at him from time to time, but mostly looked out the window. Knights always do this. They constantly look around to see if anyone is approaching.
He heard from Bert that he was silent, but so silent that he couldn’t even hear his breathing. The barely noticeable presence of Adi Grimaldi greatly pleased the always sensitive Juls.
With his eyes closed, he seemed to be alone in space. There was neither the smell of sweat, as from other knights, nor the suffocating aroma of perfume.
- Adrian.
Juls called Adi. It had been so long since she had been called by that name that Adi froze for a moment.
— Do you know Witch Street well?
- No.
— As far as I know, you have been in Pales for several years.
— I did not go beyond the Palesa Palace.
- To protect, you need to know the surroundings well.
“I received an appointment to the Second Order of Knighthood quite recently.
-...
In response to Adi Yuls's answer, he fell silent. Accustomed to giving orders, but unaccustomed to everyday conversations, Yuls did not know what to say. The carriage fell into silence again.
After some time, Adi said: “Ah.”
- So here it is, Witch Street.
Her face expressed surprise at the sight of something unfamiliar. A light lit up in the eyes of Adi Grimaldi, who was looking out the carriage window.
It was as if he had never really left the Palesa Palace.
- Yes.
“The streets here are full of white flowers.”
— The holiday period is coming soon. It's a May holiday.
- Oh, exactly.
At this time, the knights are usually released and go out all night on weekends. Adi had no company, and by nature he was not inclined to walk, so he always trained and stayed in the barracks.
— Are there holidays in Grimaldi too?
— Yes, but I never took part in them.
During the holidays, the mother went to the southern villa in a remote part of the property. As a child, she took Adrian with her, but when his health deteriorated, she and he constantly remained in the mansion.
During the day, Adrian was looked after by servants, and at night Adrina secretly made her way to him. Wrapped in soft bedding that she herself was not entitled to, Adrina and Adrian had long conversations. Mostly nothing.
“I will definitely get you out of here.”
Adrian said so. And as he promised, Adrina broke free from Grimaldi. Only Adrian himself could not escape. Adrina, who had put on his disguise, could not escape completely either.
- We have arrived.
Jules Woodpecker said this, and at the same moment the carriage stopped. Adi was the first to get out of the carriage. The carriage was too high for the Duke, and when he extended his hand, he himself descended to the ground with a dissatisfied look.
“Is this exactly where you were going?”
Adi asked in bewilderment. No wonder - this place did not fit in at all with the Duke of Woodpecker. They said that on Witch Street they sell all sorts of symbolic objects and other things.
“Fortune telling, that’s it...”
Although, if you think about it, maybe it suits him? Does such a high-ranking person as the Duke really believe such a thing? Adi couldn't understand, but it was none of his business.
One way or another, the Duke clearly had some business here, and fortune telling is a very personal thing, so it seemed inappropriate to accompany him inside. But then what about the security?
Adi looked at the sword on the Duke's belt. Too short for him, but a little long for a dagger. Will he be able to protect himself with this blade? Is there a possibility that someone inside poses a threat to the Duke?
— Do you come here often?
— I come every year.
Then, most likely, there is no particular danger. Perhaps the Duke knows even better what is going on inside.
—Wait outside?
Adi asked. Jules narrowed his eyes. He seemed to understand what was happening. If he went inside, the Duke would be embarrassed to speak frankly.
- Wait in the carriage, don’t tense up.
Even if you say so, knights are stubborn people, they will still wait outside. If they hear any sounds from inside, they will immediately run in. Although this will not be necessary. Yuls placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and lowered it.
“If I’m not back in an hour, you can come in.”
- Understood.
Adi replied.
* * *Incredibly dark room. In a place where no ray of light penetrates, it is difficult for the human eye to distinguish objects or a path. Unless an animal's eye can do it. But what was here was not human, so it could easily move in such darkness.
Jules Woodpecker could do it too. He didn't have animal eyes. It’s just that he visited this place for ten years in a row, and during these ten years absolutely nothing has changed here.
Even dirty fabric decorations, strange balls, objects on the floor. If anything changed, it was perhaps the location of the webs and insects. They were living beings, so it was inevitable.
He told Adi Grimaldi to come in if anything happened, but nothing happened. This space itself is such that what it does not want to enter cannot enter here.
Even if something happens, after so many visits, he will be able to escape from here with his eyes closed. Yuls knows these paths better than anyone except this creature himself.
- You came this year too.
The woman said. In ten years, not only the premises and the arrangement of furniture have not changed. Jules Woodpecker also hasn't changed one iota compared to that time.
The young man who had not matured looked at the girl who had also not matured, like himself.
- Yes, and you are still the same.
The woman smiled brightly. A view completely inappropriate for this dark space.
- Witch.
She is the last witch left in the kingdom of Dalcatir.