Soon we were on our way again, and after some time spent in silence we saw the still sunlit valley and the lonely house hidden in it. When we reached the house, we dismounted and led our horses to the stables.

– There are so many artifacts stored in your house… Do you know the exact number? – I asked, feeling the rush of magic and aura of enchantment again, only this time I felt them several times stronger.

– Hmm… I honestly don't know, I've never counted. But I've decided that we definitely need to create a special scabbard for our sword. I'll see what I can do. – Evans shut our horses in the wide stalls, gave them water and oats, and then hid the Dead Man's Axe in a corner of the stable under a generous layer of straw. – Let it lie here for now. I don't want that weapon in my house.

We left the stable and walked to the front door of the house. I was looking forward to lying in the hot tub, resting after my horrible experience with Axe, and hoping that Evans would use his magic to make a nice, hearty dinner.

– Please," the healer said, opening the door in front of me, and I went in first.

He followed me in and immediately went to the room where he kept his artifacts.

– Would you like some tea? – I asked loudly, taking off my warm cloak and hanging it on the hook sticking out of the wall. – I can make some! I think I can handle this task, it's not…" I added as I entered the living room, but I was silenced by eight orange pairs of eyes, like Andrada's, staring back at me.

– Evans! – I hesitantly called out, and wanted to go to the artifact vault, to escape from the living room, not knowing if I was friends or enemies, but a second later the owner of the house appeared there with his hands bound with a magical chain and two big kids holding him under his arms.

– What a tidbit! – A handsome, velvety man's voice sounded behind me. – Such a beauty does not need the company of such a young man as this bastard. You, my beauty, are incredibly lucky: you will warm me with the warmth of your body, and in return you will receive favor and jewelry.

Such impudence in my address caused me a wave of indignation, and I turned sharply to the uninvited guests. My intuition told me that the scoundrel who dared to insult my honor was a handsome man with long purple hair dressed in a beautiful blue silk cloak. The fingers of his hands were adorned with numerous rings with sparkling stones, and a fancy gold necklace hung around his neck.

– You seem to have forgotten to ask, sir, whether the beauty wants to go to your bed! – I cast a disdainful glance at the impudent handsome man.

– Oh, my dear, I'm afraid you have no choice! – He laughed a deep, beautiful laugh, but then his face darkened. – Take her!

I was immediately grabbed under his arms and my wrists were bound with a magical chain. Although I frantically tried to break free from the steel vise, I was unable to get free. But, noticing that Evans had accepted his captivity completely coolly and calmly, I exclaimed unhappily:

– Evans! What's going on?

– Calm down, Sylvie, there's no need to make a scene," he answered me quietly.

"Sylvie? He's deliberately not saying my name in full, as if he's trying to hide my origins and identity from this overdressed blowhard!" – I realized, and obeyed my friend's advice.

– Release the girl: she has nothing to do with our feud," Evans said coldly to the purple-haired guest.

– So you know him! – A nervous chuckle escaped me.

– I told you, bastard, what would happen if you set foot on my kingdom's soil again," the insolent man said lazily, stretching out his words. – And your maiden will come with us. – He smiled predatorily. – Take them away!