Bloody Revenge

by Darrell Guidry

  breasts, spoke veins. - He was not roused many years. Who

  from you hit it with a spear? You?. Or your brother?.

  Anyway, for it there could not be a speech about revenge any more. To revenge

  to that to whom talked, ate in half flat cake, together shed blood?

  To the one who, there was a business interceded for you? To which you saved

  life?. It can become the stranger only. But not to revenge.

  Aptakhar moved a hand stump:

  - I and healthy could not cope with you, and now and even less so... But you

  remember that in Galirada I have a son!

  To which will not cope with me too, the Wolfhound, but aloud it thought

  did not say.

  - Do as you wish, - he told Aptakhar and left, without having added more

  words.

  Once, when the world was purer and better present, at venn was found

  custom: the soldier who killed other soldier in an honest duel went to mother

  fallen also kneelt before it. He was blamed before the donator

  lives also asked for its sort, took up the place of the killed... Long ago those passed

  times, the world, and not to the best changed. About what it was ready to cry

  all fires the calcinated fighter? About the brother whom very long time ago killed

  the twelve-year-old boy defending the house?. Or, maybe, about

  forever the twinning lost for it?.

  Fortress was not small, and Vinitar managed to lodge Luchezarovichey and

  ratnik separately that were an eyesore the friend the friend less. Both that and that

  were out for blood, but to the Guard of the Northern Gate of murder within the walls of its lock were

  absolutely to anything.

  It is small - Ghosn Deksha and Aptakhar feasted at Trekhrogy on the Island of Apples, and,

  crippled in fight, folded the starshinsky belts. Leader,

  the tested corporal damage, cannot bring more good luck to those who for

  follows them. Soldiers of all three groups made the decision at the Obstacle and

  together put over themselves Ertan. The benefit the wound did not threaten it any more

  to health and life. And the one who would tell that twenty six men have not enough

  honor to obey the maid, risked to run on twenty six swords.

  Except soldiers and servants, lived in the lock much different workman

  Luda: bronnik, shchitnik, archers, shornik, smiths, all and not

  you will list. They served not only Vinitar's people (though them, of course,

  first of all), but also mimoyezzhy merchants. Who knows, will appear soon for

  settlements, the new settlement will rise walls. Galiradtsa found усмаря soon and

  by sharing the cost ordered for Ertan a starshinsky belt in gilded metal plates.

  The belt had to be by all means from skin of a wild tour, and from cut off

  directly on hunting when the animal already got a mortal wound, but yet not

  died.

  - Such, speak, help to give birth, - someone from solvenn told,

  when surrounded Ertan. - You, the maid, consider!

  Soldiers laughed loudly, and the velkhinka showed white teeth and answered

  obscene curse.

  At Dungorm who nearly hosted an awful execution from hands of robbers

  considerably increased in a gray hair beard. However he expressed desire

  to head group and to accompany galiradets home. First, it

  maintenance was demanded by Vinitar's honor. These people made for it that

  could and did not spare themselves, defending his bride. As after that

  to send them, the few number and weakened from wounds, one through dangerous and

  unfriendly edges? And secondly, having remained face to face, Luchezarova

  team and ratnik till the evening would cut drinks each other. It

  Vinitar could not allow too.

  - I know all of them, my Koons, and they know me, - Dungorm told him. -

  I think, I will be able to stop them. But also, they for certain will become

  to have legal proceedings before Gods and the knes. I believe, in that court it would appear

  the person third-party and impartial, besides notable is reasonably useful

  sorts, which...

  - Directly impartial, - Vinitar grinned. - Tell better

  it is honest that you are afraid for the friend a vein and you want to help him

  to justify oneself.

  -... which would state events, being guided only by the truth, but not

  feeling, - with sensitive advantage Dungorm terminated. - Even if at me

  also there was an opinion on the one who should be thanked for rescue of madam,

  that not on the basis of attachments! And blood I to anybody at them, except

  knesa, I will not concede!.

  - Be your way, the friend, - gave up Vinitar. - Just and it is so hard for me

  it was necessary without your reasonable council while you went. And you only

  returned - and again you abandon me!

  The wolfhound and Ertan still lived in one room, and this neighbourhood

  served as inexhaustible food for a mock. Ertan laughed the matter off,

  The wolfhound just was silent. In comparison with it the velkhinka was almost absolutely

  it is healthy. It exercised already both hands, being active two wooden swords

  at the same time. And at full speed ran for the doctor when a vein twisted

  cough. There was it now often, and every time it rested in bed on

  in the afternoon, hardly overcoming durnotny weakness. It dreamed dreams: that

  Kan-Kendarat, girl Olenyushka, Tilorn with Niilit. The doctor - not old

  still сегван, bald, precisely seaside boulder, - used its cervine moss,

  the leaf of cloudberries kindled by fat and powder from dried up a medvedok. To

  the luscious and sweet syrup seeming to the Wolfhound still relied powder

  more oppositely than the medicine. It did not feed special hopes for recovery,

  however resignedly swallowed of everything that was brought to it by the doctor. It was much

  it is surprised when cough ceased to kill him, and wounds began gradually

  to drag on. And to eat a porridge bowl, it was not required any more

  to force itself.

  After all the doctor told the mister once:

  - My Koons, I know, you are going to allow to go home galiradets. Without

  doubts to solve about it to you, but I would advise to detain a vein

  here.

  Vinitar quietly asked:

  - Why?

  - It is sick, - the doctor answered. - It can not sustain the road. - And

  added for persuasiveness: - Still I think that madam will be delighted to it,

  when comes back from mountaineers. I heard, madam herself chose a vein in

  bodyguards and never with it it was dissatisfied...

  - And what speaks itself veins? - Vinitar asked.

  - He wants to go, my Koons.

  The guard of the Northern Gate indifferently shrugged shoulders and spoke:

  - Well so let goes.

  The river which the Wolfhound made out from a fortification was called

  Girlim. In language of one of the mountain tribes living nearby, but not so

  sticking to a privacy as ichendara, it meant the Singing Stream. Girlim

  really originated from glacial streams, and down, on the plain,

  ran surprisingly talkative falls. Whether the stone in those places was

  special breed, whether stream were split up very successfully - nobody for certain

  did not know. Only Girlim, jumping down ledges of a rocky wall, in most

  business did not roar, did not roar, and modulatingly sang. Someone called it miracle.
<
br />   Mountaineers considered the Singing Stream monastery of the Highest Forces and believed that Gods and

  Goddesses loudly laughed there, rejoicing to embraces of each other. Two hundred more years

  back mountain priests began to guess every spring to which of spirits

  there was not enough stream the beloved or the beloved. Depending on

  signs the river got the girl or the young guy. But here it happened

  Gurtsatovo invasion, and the Singing Stream, unlike Nespyashchikh-v-Nedrakh,

  helped nothing to the children. After this sacrifice stopped

  at once and forever. But from the different countries curious began to come

  the travelers ready it is generous to pay for an admiring by miracle. Mountaineers soon

  thought that it was more favorable to receive guests, than to humour indifferent

  river. And they built the whole village appointed for at a former sanctuary

  visitors. And Gods and Goddesses indifferently continued to laugh and

  to play in falls. It was not to people the slightest business! And on those who

  for you it is indifferent, there is no need and to take offense.

  Slightly lower on a current where Girlim managed to accept in himself

  other streams and small rivers and to become the good deep river, lived

  east velkh. Velkh brought down the wood, and every year by fall in creeks

  several sound rafts waited for the hour. In the fall here always

  plentifully rains dropped out. Girlim was blown up and flowed black water, and then

  rafts went to a way. The flood allowed to pass thresholds, near

  which in dry time to pass were not from dashing people. With rafts, in

  relative safety, merchants and wandering liked to travel

  handicraftsmen. Clever Vinitar, having become the Guard of the Northern Gate, offered

  to velkha protection. Velkh were soldiers though where, but small

  the tribe not from a hand to contradict the powerful neighbor. And Vinitar managed

  to behave so that not to offend men of courage.

  Already the second year on rafts together with local were alloyed down

  To Girlim the merchants who purposely arrived from Velimor. All will have enough place: and

  to galiradets, and group which sent with them the Guard of the Northern Gate.

  - And you go?. - Ertan was surprised to the decision of the Wolfhound. - And as

  knesinka without you? She, in my opinion, trusted you most...

  The warrior got gradually used to a starshinsky belt, in her habit appeared

  authoritativeness. And - as it strange at first sight - something is distinct

  maternal, absolutely not peculiar to it before. Wolfhound

  was surprised when noticed it. But then thought and understood. Male leader

  it becomes inevitable to the people like the father. If, of course, it standing

  leader. Because thinks and cares for them as the father about sons. Therefore,

  that to the soldiers who left the families it is bad without parental caress. And still

  because truly strong only the family is able to be.

  Here and the woman on merits and advantage chosen as the leader becomes

  to the soldiers mother.

  Nevertheless the Wolfhound wanted to discuss nothing even with Ertan.

  You will tell the word - and you will not get to anywhere, it is necessary to spread everything. About,

  about a knesinka and about Vinitare. And what to less people will know about blood

  to hostility of the Wolfhound with Vinitar and about the despair which nearly pushed a knesinka

  in embraces at all not to the groom, those it better. Including for most

  Ertan.

  The wolfhound scratched the hip which is deeply ripped up by an arrow through a bandage and

  told a velkhinka:

  - Without me it will be easier for madam here, than with me.

  The gray-eyed leader opened there was a mouth to try to find out that yes

  why... but looked at the Wolfhound, changed the mind and gave up.

  Day of departure came...

  All property acquired by the Wolfhound still found room in thin

  knapsack. And still at the bottom of the old patched bag

  the treasure was stored: a hammer, whose oak handle remembered a hand of his father,

  smith Mezhamir. When near the Obstacle the Wolfhound rushed to the fight promising

  to become for it the last, it nearly upokoit a fatherly hammer at the bottom

  abysses. Than again to get to angry people, would serve better

  Nespyashchim-v-Nedrakh in their smithy. Now veins he was grateful whether to a case,

  whether the unknown force which held it.

  The right hand of the Wolfhound broken above an elbow still lay in a popular print.

  She did not want to heal in any way and was ill mercilessly. It fastened a sword for

  back, having arranged it so that to touch left. It, however, was not

  it is sure that if something happens will manage to swing properly. Forces hardly

  was enough to walk along fortifications. Well, to Galirad still was

  time...

  The wolfhound took off a raincoat from a wooden hook and hung up it through a shoulder.

  It seems, quite recently the gray suede raincoat was brand new, beautiful and

  pure. The wolfhound perfectly remembered how he first tried not to put even

  it down to the ground. Was afraid to soil. Since then noble gray suede were in time

  to popyatnat splashes of dirt, a spark of road fires, begin to flow a rain... and blood,

  of course. The workmen living in fortress on conscience cleaned a raincoat, but

  the most part of spots was ineradicable.

  - Forgot nothing? - Ertan asked and, having bent down, glanced under both

  benches. The wolfhound looked at her flexible, strong back intercepted in

  waists a wide belt with brilliant metal plates. What pleasure is simple

  to look how the beautiful living person moves, and in particular the woman.

  - Went! - Ertan told.

  Serko and Snowflake stood in one of serf stables together with

  other horses. The white mare very much missed the hostess and always

  lasted towards to the Wolfhound, hoping that after him will come and

  knesinka. But the knesinka all did not appear. And now it was necessary to the Snowflake

  to say goodbye both to the Wolfhound, and to the gray friend horse with whom it

  ran side by side from Galirad. Anything! On the beauty a mare already

  shirokogrudy gold Sanaygau was lost in contemplation. Was lost in contemplation, neighed tenderly

  and it is invocatory. To let them to each other - that nice will turn out

  zherebyatka...

  The snowflake understood that came to say goodbye to it. When Wolfhound

  kissed her on a warm nose and wanted to depart, she grasped it teeth for

  and long did not release a sleeve.

  Rafts lay in the backwater, ready to get out to a current and to go

  on a current down. Rafts were huge, length nearly in rearrows. On

  one, the most spacious, tents were already stretched and there were board

  barns, it is right, not empty, - on this raft dealers went from upper courses.

  Galiradtsam took away two others, it is less. Velimorsky protection was divided

  in three, that, there is wrong, to protect all three rafts, and galiradets -

  also from each other.

  The road purposely laid from fortress came to an end at the water, so

  that loading was begun immediately. Horses sniffed and askanced, timidly

  squatting on hind legs. As soundly there were log spryazhena, rafts

  seemed to them unreliable in
comparison with the firm earth. However trust to

  to riders overcame, and horses one by one entered on wide

  staircases.

  - I am a Guard of the Northern Gate and I do not dare to neglect assigned to me

  debt, - Vinitar when left fortress publicly declared. -

  Instead of me to Galirad there will go my envoy, noble Dungorm. It

  will tell the father of my bride that I still remain her groom and not

  I am going to compose from myself obligations which assumed, intending to become

  son-in-law of a worthy knes. I already sent to Galirad a pigeon with the message.

  There it is told about the regrettable misfortune which comprehended the bride honor on

  threshold of my house. Noble Dungorm will also carry with himself detailed

  the letter where with all accuracy available to me the event is stated. I

  I hope, it will help the sovereign Gluzd to establish the full truth to what

  he, undoubtedly, will aspire. I also hope that I soon will be able

  to send it a message about happy return of his daughter and about that meeting,

  which will be rendered to madam a knesinka in my house.

  All saw how Dungorm, respectfully bowing, accepted at him leather

  penalchik with the letter. For certain this letter contained someone's

  destinies. The wolfhound thought at once, hunting on the road would not begin behind him

  home. Then decided that will not begin. Those whom Luchezar could send on

  this hunting, at the roots exhausted at the Obstacle. And to act openly the boyar

  it is unlikely will decide...

  Dungorm chose that raft on which ratnik, and there were proved

  lifted its banner. Vinitar himself threw into the river of a black rooster, asking

  for travelers of the safe road. Plotogona removed staircases,

  untied ropes and leaned on strong poles, taking away heavy rafts from

  designate coast. At an exit from the backwater picked up them, carrying away with itself,

  powerful current of Girlim. Rafts creaked, rocked, between logs

  water got. Serko whom the Wolfhound indisputably forced to lie,

  shuddered and plaintively askanced at the owner. Habitual helmsmen harmoniously

  turned long oars, bringing rafts to a current. Muddy dark

  the stream lapped and frostily rolled, uncontrollably aspiring down, to

  to the far sea, trees along coast stood knee-deep in water.