Day Watch

"Because we are people. People who are Others, but still people. And we don't become genuine Others right away."

Gesar nodded. "You're right again, Anton. You have to live a complete human life, eighty years or a hundred, lose your family and all your loved ones who are human, see how ridiculous the politicians are, building their empires to last a thousand years, and the philosophers, creating their eternal truths for one or two generations… that's when you become an Other. But while you live your first, human life, you're still a human being. Even if you can enter the Twilight, cast spells, and read the reality lines… You're still a human being, Anton. And so is Svetlana. And Tiger Cub and Andrei were human beings. And your human side is where the Darkness catches you out. Your weaknesses, your emotions."

"Is love really a weakness?"

"If you have love in you, it's a strength. But if you are in love, it's a weakness."

"We can't do it any other way yet."

"Yes, you can, Anton. It's hard for you, but you can…" Gesar looked into his eyes. "Well, are you still angry with me?"

"No. I believe you tried… your best."

"Yes, I tried. And I pulled it off-that's the amazing thing."

"Tiger Cub and Andrei dead, Svetlana powerless-and you say you pulled it off?" Anton exclaimed indignantly.

"Yes. Because all the other options were far worse. And surprising as it may seem, what's happened doesn't simply play into the hands of Zabulon and his mangy curs." Gesar smiled. A cold, ironic smile. A very disturbing, suggestive smile.

"That still won't do Svetlana any good…" Anton began. Then he stopped, because Gesar shook his head.

"It's not finished yet, Anton. In fact, it's only just begun."

The chief of the Night Watch poured them each a second mug of beer, took a sip, and leaned back in his armchair.

"Boris Ignatievich…"

"Anton, I understand everything. You're tired. I'm tired too, we're all tired, we're full of bitterness, pain, anguish. But we're at war, and this war's a very long way from over yet. If you want to withdraw from it-then go. Live as an ordinary Light One. But while you're in the Watch… you are in the Watch, Anton?"

"Yes!"

"Well, that's excellent. Do you like the beer?"

"Yes," Anton muttered.

"Well, that's excellent too. Because you're flying to the homeland of this divine beverage. To Prague."

"When?" Anton asked stupidly.

"Tomorrow morning. Or rather, afternoon. The morning flight will be postponed until six in the evening and you'll take another flight with a stopover in Prague."

"Why?"

"You know that the European office of the Inquisition has moved from Berne to Prague?"

"Yes, of course. Because of Fafnir's Talon, the artifact that those idiots stole…"

"Precisely. Even without that, the Inquisition has a tradition of changing its location every fifty or a hundred years, and it was a very serious embarrassment for the Berne Watches. Anyway, they've settled in now and finally got around to considering our case."

"So that's why I got this present… Igor?"

"Yes. He's already there. We've lodged an official complaint, claiming that the Dark Ones organized a deliberate provocation and Alisa Do

Andrei snorted at the absurdity of the accusation-recruiting a witch! As if a Dark One could ever stop being Dark. Frighten her, force her to collaborate, bribe her or blackmail her-all that was possible. But to recruit a witch…

"Well then, the Tribunal will decide who was to blame and what degree of responsibility Igor bears. The lad challenged Alisa to an officially registered duel, so the Watch has nothing to answer for. But if the Inquisition accuses him of exceeding the limits of force required for self-defense or deliberate provocation-there's only one outcome for him. Into the Twilight. He's only half-alive as it is… and he doesn't even seem to want to fight. But we need Igor, Anton. You have no idea just how badly we need him!"

"Boris Ignatievich, what really happened down there?"

"Really? I don't know. We didn't arrange any provocations, you can trust me on that. I sent Igor on vacation because the lad had drained himself completely. Do you know how good working in a young Pioneer Camp is for restoring your powers? Smiling children's faces, happy laughter, cheerful voices…" Gesar's voice warmed so much that Anton was almost expecting the serious boss of the Night Watch to lick his lips and start purring at any moment. But Gesar broke off and then continued: "Either our accusation is just, and then there's a chance of saving Igor. Or everything that happened was just a tragic coincidence…

in that case, there's nothing the Inquisition can accuse us of, but Igor won't survive the whole business. He's punishing himself for the death of that boy… and Alisa."

"What does Alisa matter?"

"He really did fall in love with her… yet another half-baked Other." Gesar watched as the expression on Anton's face changed and nodded. "Yes, he fell in love, no doubt about it. So, you're going to Prague. As our representative at the Tribunal. Defender and prosecutor in the same person. I'll give you all the necessary documentation in a moment."

"Ah… but…" Anton was confused. "I don't have any experience."

"Nobody has. But you'll acquire it. My heart tells me that as things develop there are going to be more and more of these… legal conflicts. Instead of honest battle and open combat. And don't you look so worried-I'll probably come to Prague when the session starts. Possibly even with Olga and Svetlana."

"Why bring Svetlana?"

"Maybe we'll be able to prove that Svetlana lost her powers because of a provocation by the Dark Ones and receive permission to restore her."

"How?"

"The same way we did with Igor. The problem isn't that Svetlana can't restore her powers rapidly, in just a few months. She can. The problem is that I can obtain permission for healing a second- or third-level magician, but restoring the powers of a Great Enchantress is an extreme case. To do that, we need direct permission from the Inquisition. And not the Moscow branch- it has to be the European office at least." Gesar raised his mug and smiled. "Prosit, Anton. Let's drink to your success."

"Boris Ignatievich, even now you're still not telling me everything!" Anton almost shouted.

"No, I'm not. Although I've already told you more than I ought to. But if you really want to lie awake all night with insomnia…" Gesar thought carefully. "Then add up together everything that's happened over the last year: the Chalk of Destiny, the death of Alisa Do

"But there isn't a single thread co

"Then sleep well," Gesar said with a smile.

Late December is a time of frivolity and bustling activity. A time of frantic preparation for the holidays, a time for presents and drinking champagne with colleagues, even during the working day. A time of brilliant illuminations in the streets, a time for New Year tree bazaars. With the approach of Christmas and the New Year, even the eternal confrontation between the Others dies down, and Light Ones and Dark Ones suddenly slip into a short-lived dreamy state and sometimes even feel like forgiving their rivals their old offenses. The less serious and deeply felt ones, that is.

Edgar, the Dark magician, was late for a daily operational briefing for the first time since he had moved to the Russian capital from Estonia. The reason was trivial, but any self-respecting magician would have been ashamed to admit it.