Bloody Revenge

by Darrell Guidry

  - You are, perhaps, a Wolfhound? - asked сегван. Some time of veins

  squinted on it against light, estimating whether it was worth answering. At last

  decided what costed, and grumbled:

  - Perhaps and I...

  - I will beat you though on swords though at daggers points though so! - without spending

  in vain time, desperate small took occasion by the forelock. - I will protect

  knesinka instead of you because I battle better!

  It was the call. Joined the adolescent who approached together with segvany

  the second, then the third. There were brothers Dashing. Two young people approached

  the hero also stopped slightly at some distance, pretending as if occurring at

  porch did not interest them at all.

  - How to call, the man of courage? - slowly the Wolfhound spoke.

  - At first beat, - that answered derisively, - to ask then

  you will become.

  The wolfhound leaned a back against a smooth rack of a porch, settling

  more conveniently.

  - Yes you are a coward in any way! - it is pleased told it сегван. - Хегг gobble up

  your guts! The truth is told: veins the good fellow against sheep, and against

  the standing fighter...

  The wolfhound did not answer and did not move, and the disappointed audience

  understood that he did not intend to get up.

  - You, has to be, not a bit you are not able, - continued сегван, but any more not

  tensely, as first, and with clearly distinguishable contempt. Having pulled out

  from a sheath a sword, it promptly twirled it in air, dexterously intercepting

  and throwing from a hand in a hand.

  - And here so you can? And so?!

  - I can, - the Wolfhound indifferently told. He perfectly understood, than was

  the uninvited guest is busy. So often behave before a duel, trying

  to confuse the rival, and itself to make the most smaller red-hot. To be confused

  The wolfhound did not gather at all. To fight - too. This guy,

  probably, was where as it is quite good in a fight if survived still,

  with its habit. It is quite good, but is not clever. Otherwise would listen more attentively,

  what was told in the city about a knesinka and its bodyguards and came

  to get acquainted in an amicable way. In any case, would not consider that a knesinka

  I will be glad to employ it instead of the person who just saved it life.

  No, the Wolfhound thought. When I was engaged approximately in the same, than you

  now, I behaved in a different way. And still I understood that the daughter of the governor

  the cities are not the tradeswoman who is afraid of thieves.

  "At first Beat" meanwhile with knock drove a sword back in a sheath and

  snatched out the shining fighting knife nearly in length three spans. The wolfhound knew,

  that island and coastal segvana at times preferred them even to swords. And

  owned them...

  - And so you can?!.

  The guy dexterously threw a knife to himself for a back, and that rose over the left shoulder,

  precisely to lay down a handle in the held-up palm.

  - Did not try, - the Wolfhound told. - And what for?

  - And here why!.

  It suddenly cavorted on a half-step forward, low bending down, and the Wolfhound

  managed to think: the knife, truly, will whistle in it now if a carving on a wall

  marongovy, beautiful, did not spoil... but what was going to do

  сегван, he did not happen to learn. Because the Mouse, already angered,

  it was finally convinced: with the Wolfhound were going to attack them. It

  furiously cried and fearlessly rushed to the offender, once again

  having forgotten that the whip of the supervisor Volk once took away from it ability

  to fly. As well as the fact that the wizard Tilorn returned this ability to it.

  Mouse simply waved wings and it was said to a segvan directly...

  Also departed.

  And suddenly thought that FLIES.

  He marked to bite the person for a nose, but from surprise missed and

  scratched to it a cheek. The war-call was replaced by horror cries. Absurdly

  кувырнувшись in air, the small animal was thrown by a fluffy lump back to

  To wolfhound also whisked for a bosom.

  All flight took a moment. Segvan to whom suddenly rushed in a face

  something black, heart-rendingly shouting and spitefully clicking teeth, the knife dropped and

  started back, was late throwing up palms. Having stumbled, he lost

  balance, waved hands and awkwardly sat down down to the ground.

  The adolescents and young heroes who gathered at a porch amicably burst

  laughter. To the one who was glory to seek, such laughter is worse than fighting arrows.

  Segvan jumped, without restraint looking around. The wolfhound hoped that he at him will be enough

  mind to overcome itself and to laugh together with all. Was not enough. Guy

  raked up the dropped knife and at full speed rushed for gate. Not to happen to it

  the bodyguard of a knesinka not to happen.

  The wolfhound extended because of a bosom of the tousled, shown Mysh and

  highly threw it on a palm. Mysh on a habit plaintively began to squeal, but

  then developed wings and landed with advantage.

  - There now, long ago so, - the Wolfhound told it. - Everything, will be enough

  to feign ignorance!

  They stood on a coastal glade, again only now near

  not one Wolfhound, but all three bodyguards was a knesinka. Venn

  undertook to teach the young ruler to fight back, and at the same time

  trained also brothers Dashing. Besides was to whom to look around, so far

  two others rolled each other on the dried pine needles and is sick

  to the sticking cones...

  The brave knesinka brought men's ports at the bottom of a saddle bag,

  dressed them behind a bush and demanded that it was not spared:

  - Really will not begin to be sorry...

  - And titmouses will jump, madam? - Likhoslav asked. That's it, thought

  Wolfhound.

  - The nurse will see, will get noisy... - Likhobor told.

  - Yes she knows! - removing from the head a silver nimbus and by an example

  Wolfhound tying a forehead a wide band, the knesinka told them.

  Veins looked at it, gentle, house, corpulent, standing in ridiculous

  men's trousers between two strong, lean, angry guys in a fight, and

  to itit was gloomy. Why, for the 100-th time he wondered, strong

  appropriates some rights only because it is strong? At force is

  one sacred right - to protect that who is weaker. Woman, child,

  cripple... Answer, a fair Eye of Gods what the world where wise is

  and kind it is necessary to study cruelty? Where the woman created to caress and

  to give birth, is going to kill and cripple? Just because without it

  not for long abyss?.

  The wolfhound managed to train already all three in cunning skill to fall in any

  the party, not расшибаясь and without breaking itself hand-legged, and then at once

  to jump, without sighing and without holding the beaten-off sides. The turn most came

  simple reception.

  - Hold me by a hand, madam, - he told. - No, not this, another.

  Hold more strong, you attack. Or I have a knife, and you caught. Here so.

  Knesinka grasped it higher than a wrist and began to hold. Wolfhound

  otshagnut sideways, slightly tightened a brush, sat down, dive
d, and a knesinka hand

  in an impossible wayit was unscrewed. All this veins, science for the sake of,

  did very slowly and carefully, but "attacking" only and

  remained what to gasp and to be filled up clumsily. It was called

  "Gratitude to Earth". Knesinka rose to the feet, biting lips and frowning.

  - Now you drop me, madam, - the Wolfhound told. Brothers Dashing,

  standing nearby, tried to repeat their movements.

  Elen Gluzdovna moved the hand clamped in it palms, and confusedly

  murmured:

  - Yes I you will not get moving forward...

  - You will shift, the monarchess, - the Wolfhound promised. Also added: - You are less

  me, you more conveniently.

  As well as in what party to recede, the knesinka understood from the third or with

  fourth time. Then used the second hand, but pushed it not

  from above, as it was necessary, and from below. The wolfhound corrected and advised not

  to hurry, to watch at once hands and legs. Knesinka tried to dive,

  but too early, and it easily held it:

  - With it wait a moment, not that will be overturned.

  Eventually she made everything correctly and with all the heart broke out to it a hand,

  stacking on the earth. The twins accustomed to fights comprehended reception

  much before it and already dragged one another on a glade, only

  know shook off the dry needles sticking to the sweaty shining backs.

  The wolfhound several times allowed a knesinka of to tumble down, then called up

  Likhobora, and the girl charged to Likhoslav. And almost at once understood that

  hurried. The first pancake left a lump. The adult guy was much stronger

  knesinka, here only did not learn to proportion puny strength: young

  the ruler hissed through clenched teeth and began to rub furiously rumpled

  brush. Likhoslav was frightened, started lifting it. Knesinka sat down, and from

  an eye by itself tears rushed. It wiped them about a trouser-leg and is angry

  sniffed. Itself would be glad to stop, but could not. Wolfhound

  perfectly remembered himself the boy and knew what is it. Offense of a body, for

  that about anything punished by unexpected pain. So happens when you wash

  floor, you want to become straight and rashly you fight the head about the God's Palm. Still it

  knew that most of all now the knesinka wanted to throw everything, to sit down on

  the horse also to skip away home. There, where the bench laid by down waits

  feather-bed. And a pan with dates and the washed raisin for a soul uslazhdeniye. And

  -legged nobody strives to tear off hands... Why torments to accept, let

  men of each other broke. To it - to care for itself, it - on a garden with flowers

  overseas slowly to walk...

  Three men squated around and just in case

  kept mum, and that to bodyguards it was necessary also to look around on

  to the parties, one Wolfhound remembered.

  Knesinka got up, resolutely blew the nose and that there were forces seized

  healthy hand in Likhoslav's wrist:

  - Give!

  - Monarchess... - the adolescent was afraid. The wolfhound interfered:

  - Give, Likhoslav, only... with all the might - with me one.

  To the youth always hunting to boast rather hardly got ability it is, rather

  to use science, especially military... The wolfhound was more senior than brothers

  only years, maybe, on three, but, thinking so, felt nearly

  grandfather to boys. Likhoslav with lateness, but nevertheless thought that

  here, as well as on swords, there are enough sharp fighting blades, at first not at once

  play about wooden. And in memory it zatverditsya, and you will not kill anybody...

  It krutanutsya, rinut a knesinka and laid it in a prickly grass, but on this

  time - with approximate care. Still vein time in a fight to pull will come.

  Then they traded places, the knesinka shmyaknut the guy's winter crop on the head

  more than also stamped a leg:

  - Do not can to give in!

  When went home, the Wolfhound noticed that she protected the left hand. It

  thought, as usual, hardly looking for words, and, only when

  ahead already the city wall loomed, at last asked:

  - Whether it is necessary work yourself so, madam? Not you us, we to store you

  uryazhatsya...

  Words it found nevertheless not the most reasonable. Having hardly uttered, itself understood

  also began to wait for it: it oserditsya now and will tell - without you, say, I know,

  what is necessary to me that is not necessary. Knesinka shifted eyebrows and began to correct

  silver обручья, though crimson spots of the bruises which began to appear and

  were so reliably hidden by sleeves.

  - I am the leader's daughter, - the girl told. - If I undertook, I should not

  to recede.

  The leader's daughter, the Wolfhound thought. The most sad that turned out at it

  surprisingly well. Truly speak: what leaders, all will undertake at

  them it is argued better, than at ordinary people. Perhaps therefore it is argued that

  the good leader remembers on whom good luck of the people keeps. Here and to daughters of leaders

  is not present equal neither in beauty, nor in dexterity, nor in mind. In firmness

  sincere...

  And still said as if the knesinka of Elen was a face and a body real mother.

  Mother warrior. Here also think: to good it? Or not to good?.

  The summer approached an outcome, and in the city even more often said that

  the sovereign Gluzd supposedly very soon will return. Wolfhound not really

  was curious where he left, but nevertheless learned: кнес spent summer in

  to the big and powerful country Velimor, agreeing about trade there and,

  happen that, about military help. No, not that somebody threatened

  To Galiradu or, especially, mighty Velimor. Just solvenna wanted

  to secure with a kind arrangement of the strong and aggressive neighbor. That

  to Velimor, and to him, truly, friendship of strong northern was not indifferent

  powers. Because as all knew well, Galirad to nobody themselves hitherto

  in offense did not give...

  In Velimore Volkodav did not happen and knew this country more by hearsay.

  She lay as spoke, in the heart of Castle mountains, and order there

  only a few roads, all as one passing twisting deaf gorges.

  Also these gorges had one general property. At some distance from

  rock entrance absolutely blocked them, being closed over the heads. All who were

  in Velimore, unanimously claimed what in these stone tunnels was

  surprisingly uncomfortably. It is much worse, than in usual tesnina or even

  caves. It was worth leaving, however, from under the continuous arch on this or that

  the party - and the nasty feeling vanished completely...

  But that did not exhaust velimorsky miracles. Are high and hardly passable

  there were snow-covered ranges of Castle mountains - not without reason solvenna removed it

  the name whether from "lock", whether from "lock", - but are also not that that

  at all it was impossible to overcome them. There were fearless rock-climbers,

  which climbed up unapproachable steep slopes and even crossed all mountain

  edge, getting from the country of solvenn straight to Narlak. And so: those who

  neglected guiding gorges, preferring other roads, did not find

  between ridges of any signs of the big and rich
country. That is

  in general anything, except magnificent meadows, dazzling snow at tops

  yes not numerous mountain tribes which were ruthlessly cut with each other.

  By the way, about any Velimore inhabitants of internal valleys slykhy

  did not hear.

  The same who, pulling in the head in shoulders, passed under the pressing arches

  rocks, told about the cities surrounded with giant stone walls

  about magnificent palaces, rich trade and about myriads of slaves, day and

  night increasing prosperity of the power...

  When velimorets were asked in what here business, they are usually

  laughed and answered supposedly Gods store their country, without allowing

  unknown and bad people. Therefore someone else called Velimor Oprichnoy

  Country, that is special, separate, not similar. Velimortsam it

  the name not especially was pleasant, they preferred to call the country

  Undercover.

  But the most surprising, according to the Wolfhound, consisted in another. To it

  he was necessary to deal with natives of the Undercover Power, and once with

  by amazement it was convinced: radical, only to it the inherent people in

  Velimore a joy was not. There lived segvana, velkh, narlak, halisunets,

  solvenna and goodness knows whom else, but was not uniform language, custom and

  beliefs. Exactly like found once and occupied the empty earth

  natives of all tribes living around...

  If who asked the Wolfhound, he could tell that his people

  long since with great mistrust treated Castle mountains and everything that

  proceeded from there. Venna called these mountains Iron and claimed as if

  them as the iron lock, God Grozy locked once Dark Gods and everyone

  evil spirits, having prohibited to be shown to the day world. Solvenna remembered too

  something from ancient legends. "Oprichnik" in their language was the word at all not

  flatter. Tribespeople of the Wolfhound were expressed even more disrespectfully. Called

  Oprichnik, it Undercover, country - Pitch. That, generally, in old times

  too simply meant - "lying to naosobiyets, EXCEPT"...

  Over those who believed in it, people competent and educated amicably

  laughed.

  As well as the Wolfhound expected, terribly it were not pleasant to the boyar Krugu

  infinite absences of a young knesinka. And that to tell, whether seen business!