Bloody Revenge

by Darrell Guidry

The cough which struck from within made him silent, then dumped on

  knees. The caustic stench made the business. For some instant in eyes

  turned black, then he felt that it is lifted. The wolfhound wanted

  to escape, having managed to think that it was the useless bodyguard,

  and still, how much he did not manage to teach brothers Dashing... Anything:

  it appeared, it nevertheless inspired the most important in them. Twins made what

  their mentor, if he only could, would not allow them at all. They

  silently picked up it, hitched up from knees and run rushed forward. Wolfhound

  felt blood in a mouth, and the attack almost right there came to an end. So always happened

  since for the first time broke through it blood in day of return of a knes. Still

  through several steps the Wolfhound could stand. It shook strong

  fingers of brothers also wiped blood. A sleeve, not a palm that then did not begin

  to slip out a sword. Knesinka turned around to it, eyes at her all the time

  there were mad persons.

  - Forward!. - the Wolfhound on twins began to roar. - Business was forgotten!.

  Somewhere behind the Snowflake plaintively began to neigh. Then furious shout rose,

  horses began to squeal, the clang and a knocking of blades was heard. These are velimorets,

  remained to cover withdrawal, at last met with robbers in the neighbor

  to fight. Also perished one by one.

  Meanwhile the speshenny robbers who are invisibly dissolved between rocks

  began to postrelivat. They did not show the face, firing went hinged.

  The arrows falling from height did not punch chain armors, but the body which is not covered

  armor, polosovat ruthlessly. Over the knesinka head now

  there was a board. The girl immediately attracted to herself the nurse. Iron

  the board okovka with a gnash hit against stones.

  After a fit of coughing the Wolfhound for some reason at all ceased to feel

  sulphurous stench, and the Obstacle opened before it unexpectedly.

  Randomly heated up boulders receded from edge a little, and

  can, purposely were dumped by someone down. They formed small

  the platform on which galiradets crowded. Far-away country of the platform

  broke in a chasm. From there, slowly curling, yellowish crept out

  fog. Through fog the opposite coast, just the same was visible

  rocky and unfriendly. Haygal did not exaggerate: to it was not

  less than fifty steps. Also the bridge was found. Easy, unsteady suspension bridge

  on black hair ropes, the bridge made from thin, unreliable

  in appearance plates. A little more than a half of arshin width that it was possible to pass

  only in single file...

  Below, under the bridge, huge depth yawned. Still anybody on

  to the will did not go down there to learn whether the Obstacle has a bottom. And

  even less so nobody rose back. And from above watched mountains, eternal,

  indifferent mountains in cloudy caps, in bluish raincoats anybody not

  trevozhimy glaciers. And the sky because of fog seeming to green.

  The bridge promised rescue, but ratnik did not decide to pass it, and terrible

  depth of an abyss was here at anything. From that coast already arrived

  prevention. It and stuck out in a board of the soldier who dared to be put to

  to crossing. The short, thick, heavy arrow bolt which is released from

  self-arrow. Galiradtsa tried to speak from ichendara, but those to the answer

  did not condescend.

  The wolfhound quickly looked around and, of course, at once saw that,

  what most of all was afraid of. The rock ledge hanging over an abyss. If

  there robbers with onions will get out, they effortlessly will shoot any,

  appeared on the bridge. And even ropes will cut with arrows. Marksman

  and their, of course, would manage to drive from the rock. But for this purpose

  it would be required to come from under protection of boulders to the open place. And

  both for certain perfectly was exposed to fire from ten different parties...

  - Give, the grandmother, - old Haygal's Wolfhound told. - Call the,

  speak with them... - Also nodded to the closest soldier from solvenn holding

  on call long leather board: - See off!

  - Nanny... - the knesinka of Elen reached for the old woman. Wolfhound

  held it and put among themselves and the rock. Brothers Dashing immediately

  settled on each side. Knesinka nestled on a back of the Wolfhound and is silent

  began to cry.

  Meanwhile Haygal left with shchitonosets to the bridge and stopped at one

  from boulders for which ropes fastened. Put the put hands to

  to mouth - and stridently cried. The wolfhound almost did not understand language, only

  the separate words obtained at Haygal. He did not happen to meet

  ichendar in mines where he also learned almost all languages known to it.

  Some time behind the Obstacle were silent. The wolfhound tensely listened.

  Then, to its great simplification, the sharp male voice was distributed,

  shouting in reply. Haygal listened, shortly promised something

  to tribespeople also came back to the hostess.

  - Bleach, the baby that I passed to them one, - suffering and being blamed,

  she reported to a knesinka. - Order that I brought your amulet. Will look,

  like, then will solve...

  With what pleasure she would send the girl to that coast, and

  remained to scratch to robbers of an eye!

  Knesinka resolutely dipped a hand under suite and, having peeled unusual

  fingers about chain armor iron, pulled out a flat shabby leather sack.

  The sack departed down to the ground at once. On a long thong there was a suspension bracket from

  integral, nearly in a half of palm, a transparent greenish stone. Wolfhound

  as trained eye of the miner immediately recognized chrysolite. Flat stone

  the skillful carving decorated: the snow cat of Urgau who grabbed in a duel with

  eagle. Haygal twisted a thong a loop and tightened at herself on a wrist.

  Hasty embraced a knesinka...

  Deksha-Belogolovy already placed shooters, explaining to them that the nurse

  madam had to reach that coast under any circumstances and

  at any cost. Guys gloomy nodded, lifting boards on the left hand. As all

  the shooters respecting themselves, they were capable to hit neatly into the purpose and with freight

  on a hand. And powerful solvennsky onions with horn cornices for certain not

  conceded to predatory.

  Haygal and her guide run crossed the open area and stepped on

  bridge. The very narrow flooring threateningly began to hesitate under legs. From below, from

  the impenetrable curling haze, the deaf roar as if reached

  Nespyashchiye-V-Nedrakh boiled an enormous copper of a fetid soup. Wind,

  blowing from there, was warm, damp and sticky. Sometimes it broke off

  clouds of yellowish steam, were also shown acquired brilliant slime

  the stone canines which were sticking out of depth...

  Two almost reached the middle of the bridge when mad firing began.

  But began not as galiradets, including the Wolfhound expected. They

  thought that robbers will undertake the nurse and the soldier at it, and solvenna

  will notice it and will try to prevent them. Left differently. First volley

  ten in three arrows got to solvenna. That-what, and is unexpected

  robbers were able to attack from an ambush perfectly. Them
was much more, than

  solvenn, they also worked harmoniously. Thirty people at once jumped out

  on rocks on all region of the platform and at once lowered bowstrings. Someone from

  galiradets managed to shrink behind a board. Someone instantly answered and even

  сшиб the enemy shooter, but also itself was hit two vershoks of iron in a back

  on a long staff. Because I pound from a board a little on a hand when shoot slightly

  not from all directions. To someone cut off a bowstring from onions. Someone just fell and

  remained to lie...

  And here then arrows departed to two on the bridge.

  It was murder, prudent and cool. So cruel

  the boys only learned to own toy onions, happens,

  hunt hens in the yard. Here only young shchitonosets did not wish

  to die as the attached chicken. He was in alterations and fights and

  understood that to both not to escape. Arrows flew behind and sideways, and the guy

  covered old Haygal with both a board, and own body. Also continued to go,

  though from such distance even the sound chain armor could not protect from

  direct stroke.

  Galiradtsa could not watch indifferently from safe shelters that,

  as their friend perished. Furiously swearing, they jumped out on the open place

  also hit into the answer. And got under arrows,

  The tear-stained knesinka suddenly pulled off a grid from a face and rushed because of

  backs of bodyguards, shouting:

  - I here, here!. Kill me!.

  Heard it or not, and remained to nobody known. Wolfhound and

  brothers Dashing intercepted the monarchess, without having allowed it to make also a step.

  The soldier dying, stuck by arrows still went along the bridge, still covered

  old woman. To that coast remained steps fifteen when

  robbers thought to aim on legs. Several arrows with wide

  literally cut with tips the guy. It shatnutsya, falling on knees, and

  silently sank into a spacious crack between the top ropes and a flooring. And

  departed down, turning over and scattering hands that almost at once

  to be gone in the curling fog. Nobody heard agonal shout,

  blow about a bottom.

  Haygal looked back, looked down, gasped, threw up the hands...

  picked up a hem - and porsknut forward with surprising speed which

  it was impossible to assume in the crooked old woman. Did not expect similar and

  robbers. Several arrows split a board in that place where it only

  that stood. The others with squeal rushed at it behind the back, only one,

  the most successful, deranut the fluttering edge of a black shirt. Haygal

  reached the coast and it was thrown for a stone.

  - Baby!. Pass!. - she gave a vote a time later.

  - One I will not go!. - desperately the knesinka cried in reply.

  Still as you will go! - the Wolfhound was about to tell it. But knesinka

  to transport, to start with mountaineers negotiations on suite and wounded at once not

  left. Because horse robbers, having coped at last with group

  Dungorma, saddles left, took galiradets in a half ring and got on them

  because of stones. Hand-to-hand began.

  On the platform before the bridge still was not to lean out, and galiradets

  could not uryadit dense defense. Robbers attacked from all directions,

  so fight between rocks soon lost a system and an order, having been replaced

  fierce slaughter. Galiradtsa perished and felt that perish.

  Perhaps here they will hold on slightly longer, than would hold on on

  to the open plain. But it will not be possible to escape. As it would not be possible and there.

  Shooters jumped from a boulder on a boulder, at choice and almost with impunity killing

  everything on whom there were no white birch bark masks with cuts for a mouth and eyes.

  The wolfhound saw, how on one of rocks at the edge of the Obstacle where with onions

  and quivers two robbers settled, appeared Is small - Ghosn. One

  the shooter mighty вельх was laid blow of a sword, by the second, standing is slightly farther,

  quickly turned back and lowered a bowstring. The arrow fired in an emphasis, easily

  stitched both a chain armor, and a body under it, but It is small - Ghosn did not stop. Long

  the sword flashed once again, and the robber's head together with a mask and a helmet

  it was started turning in air, spraying the red beads of blood which were flying away

  precisely torn necklace. The beheaded body swayed and failed with

  stone. It is small - Ghosn was dropped by a sword and stooped, pressing hands to a breast. Shakily

  stepped aside, did not refrain on slippery from the settled evaporations of round

  to the stone top and silently went down, in a foggy nebyl of the Obstacle.

  The Wolfhound caught a glimpse of all this, watchfully, already being cut with five

  some bandits who ran into bodyguards because of rocks.

  To robbers it was not become stronger.

  Three soldiers too well knew the business. Not for nothing the Wolfhound to the seventh

  sweat sent twins on the yard of galiradsky Krom. All of them

  inquired about the real fight when there are a lot of the people. Now here

  experienced whether the truth was told them by the mentor. Will not guess any more how

  will behave IF. Time has come, - and children without thinking used

  the ability which is ruthlessly driven severe wine in flexible young bodies.

  The wolfhound thought that they quite would roll those five and

  together, without it. And even without swords, just barehanded. He looked back

  on a knesinka: the girl, that was forces squeezed a velkhsky dagger with

  gilded handle in the form of the little man. She did not leave it later

  fight in a sanctuary. She did not cry any more. To it it was terrible, still as

  terribly! But happen to fight, from it will not wait for shout and tears. It whom

  it is necessary will meet by this dagger. Will meet ineptly, but with desperate

  rage...

  Towards to bodyguards Aptakhar with one and a half tens broke through

  soldiers, generally segvan and solvenn. Behind their boards and backs

  Illad, Mangul with the boy and four servants took cover. Boy

  squeezed the picked-up knife in a fist.

  - It is necessary to the bridge, - the Wolfhound told Aptakhar. - To Knesink and these, whom

  let's manage.

  Segvan according to nodded, already estimating from what party to bypass

  the platform that noticed less Sagittariuses. Wolfhound bystry,

  the habitual movements undid on himself belts, pulled off popyatnanny

  blood the leather cover, pulled down then a chain armor and stretched to a knesinka:

  - Put on, madam.

  He told it so routinely and quietly that the knesinka understood: IN TOTAL.

  The LAST END came.

  - No!. - She tried to push away him a hand. Would try still

  to shift a boulder behind which they hid from shooters. - No!. You... you

  ...

  - Will not get to me, - the Wolfhound told, but the knesinka did not believe him,

  and then he simply seized her in an armful and by force put in a chain armor. -

  There is no time to persuade to me you, madam.

  To resist it was useless. Half-pood of steel blued rings, still

  keeping heat of his body, covered a knesinka, having overhung below knees. They

  noticeably bent down it to the earth, but together with its own silvery

  kolchuzhka
armor really turned out reliable. Perhaps will also preserve.

  - On the bridge keep more strong, madam, - the Wolfhound punished. - Two

  hands. Yes do not look down, there is no need.

  - Moved, a shaft to you in...! - Aptakhar bellowed. Soldiers are silent

  piled up boards and ran to the bridge, keeping in a live ring and servants, and

  the doctor with satellites, and the monarchess a knesinka. First it all

  looked back at the Wolfhound who remained in one gray sleeveless jacket

  through wet from sweat and the blood ornamented by stains. A pocket with

  the map and the book dangled at it on a breast. Then began to look back

  once: in a board which it held over the head began to be stuck

  arrows. Knesinka only got ready to look to herself under legs, - jumping on

  to osklizly cobble-stones, it was short to stumble. For some reason it is more

  was afraid to fall, than to please under an arrow. To run, having loaded on itself almost

  iron pood, it was inconvenient and heavy, but the body which is urged forward by fear and

  excitement, bore freight almost without strain. Unexpectedly soldiers moved

  more densely, the knesinka appeared between Likhoslav and Likhobor and saw at

  under legs instead of stones frighteningly thin and narrow levels of the bridge.

  Here and there in them feathery arrows stuck out...

  - Madam! Hold ropes! - Likhoslav going told over an ear

  behind it.

  Knesinka heard it, but did not understand: it is bewitched looked down, there

  where in the boiling fog enormous shadows slowly moved. Likhoslav selected

  the board, took her hands and put them on the thick shining hair ropes.

  If the knesinka of Elen just happened to travel local

  in places, she, perhaps, would linger before the similar bridge, gathering with

  spirit and trying-legged plates fragile in appearance. And that would think, not

  whether to become attached somehow a rope to ropes. Now a lack of time was about

  something to deliberate, cope with itself and to drive away fear. Astride and

  bottom singing arrows whistled, and everyone could claim the life. Knesinka

  convulsively began to mince forward, touching wadded hands on it is elastic

  to the tense ropes moving, slippery. Directly before it there was a back

  Likhobora, in a nape breathed Dashingly glories. Brothers marched in step, having closed boards and