Motionless figures of riders some time were seen in a distance,
then disappeared behind turn of the river.
The cheerful sorcerer told fortunes to you
Till a century not to know losses.
Across do not tell a mot to you,
And you will tell - you will not be glad.
Wealth and daring - pledge удач,
And you both are rich, and dared.
And under legs someone got - cry!
When you for whom felt sorry?
Courage husband's, maiden beauty,
Hardly wished - yours!
But nevertheless the braid found on a stone:
To you I met.
To you not to get on with me good,
As usual between people.
In a coffin I saw your silver,
And force - it seems break!
There will be no mercy or a draw,
You will not click hired servants:
With you we will be judged by couple of swords
Honestly that in force of hands.
The wealth and the power remained outside:
Now be answerable.
To which of us, you or me,
Heaven will leave life?
In a sacred circle only Truth in honor
And a sword - her herald.
From this circle of two ways
Not to be. The carrion crows shouts.
15. 15. TRUTH OF GODS
The travel on rafts began quietly and peacefully. Mighty Girlim
smoothly rushed between the coast which are filled up crude, friable, unreliable still
snow. Deeply below there were thresholds, all summer showing from water
granite teeth. Passing such places, plotogona with habitual vigilance
peered into the wood blackening on coast. In the summer when it is inevitable
it was necessary to unload lod and to drag them, shifting skating rinks,
here it was possible to run on the dashing bands eager for foreign good.
Especially robbers during a time of segvansky resettlement, before fights were ferocious
at Three Hills when was not about in the country. Gratitude to Gods, from those
time a lot of things were changed, likhode were calmed down by a part, a part put
the heads under swords of kind people. And at thresholds strong began to grow
towns. The people lodged in towns: a half - soldiers with leaders,
other half - workers, assistants to the guests who arrived on dragged. And in
the offense will not be given, and lod will transfer nearly on hands. Only pay.
Passing such towns, plotogona notified on themselves a horn, greeting
waved a hand. From coast answered, though without special enthusiasm.
Exchange of courtesies of the little costs if all the same your services without
needs, so, and money will not pay.
In two places there were skilled arrows which, having attached to arrows,
threw on rafts of the letter to Galirad. Good deed!
Nobody encroached on travelers. The stinking Obstacle absorbed,
it seems, the last who could be dangerous to such big group.
Passes some more years, and Girlim from a dangerous track will become knurled
bolshaky. What changes, borne to this country the union will be
Velimor and solvennsky power?.
When Girlim reached at last Sveta’si's Mother and softly splashed out her
on knees rafts together with people and horses, travelers began to glance on
coast at all without fear. And to dream of fast return home.
The wolfhound felt to nobody especially not necessary. With it it is more nearby
there were no boys needing manuals madam whom
they together protected. Leaving Galirad, he, is remembered, expected anything.
That it will be finished off on the road of the murderer, sent to madam. That it,
having recognized for the deadly enemy, Vinitar will kill or orders to kill... Only one
and in a dream could not dream it. That its debt of the bodyguard will break
quite so.
He turned over in the mind the actions and acts and it seems did not find
mistakes, oversight. He made everything for madam what he was capable of.
Besides it was for certain better for it at ichendar, than at hated
groom. What gnawed it?. He could not understand. He knew only,
that it all the same would have soul not on the place even if it
safely transferred a knesinka from hands to hands to Vinitar. Which besides,
as he understood now, had to the Cannibal the son by birth, but at all not
on spirit. Perhaps having learned his love, the knesinka would find happiness of a marriage
and at all forgot the maiden hobby?. All so but to watch it in
eyes when it would grab his hands again, asking one look:
to defense...
Really it to it for the fact that killed the Cannibal in the middle of night, without having given to sterveets
duel?.
The wolfhound roamed about a raft, tried to warm up the body crippled by wounds
and gloomy thought that Gods after all left it a hole. And not
in time first already. Could lock it in Lyudoyedov's cellar of the lock - not
locked. And at the Obstacle kept to it life. And before the final choice:
whom to betray, a knesinka or itself? - too after all did not put. Means,
not up to the end were undeceived in it, so still to Them it was for some reason necessary.
Here only, what for?.
For the second night after an entry in Sveta’s the Wolfhound, as always, settled
under canvas bed curtains, at a warm side of Serk who is wrapped up in a body cloth.
The kind horse was first frightened the black water murmuring near the ear
then, encouraged by presence of the owner, calmed down and got used. Or perhaps
just exorcized blood; horses of its breed of a segvana were carried from olden days on
the ships from the island on the island and even for the sea...
The wolfhound leaned against the cozy, gradually rising Serk's side,
pulled more deeply a fur hood that did not cool wind. Also thought about
the fact that the sore hand, seemingly, again will not allow it to sleep properly.
The broken bones ached all the time, sometimes so that though jump in water with
raft. Yes. Abrupt hills rolled a sivka. Earlier on me everything began to live as on
to dog. Not that became, not that. The wolfhound caught himself on what is strong
hopes for Tilorn and Niilit waiting for it in Galirada. Still he was in time
to decide that the hand will not allow it to sleep now at all. He reconciled with this
thought. And imperceptibly fell asleep.
Of course, he was woken by the unintentional movement which caused soon
pain. Whether itself moved, whether Serko. The wolfhound opened eyes and
looked at Dungorm's tent. It was separated from it by fifteen
steps. The Nedremanny instinct of the bodyguard forced to run all over eyes
soft hillocks here and there near a tent. It soldiers-velimortsy slept,
taking refuge from styly wind who under blankets, who in a sleeping bag.
The dog is a dog, gloomily told himself veins. Any more and there is no hostess, and I all
I guard.
He listened to sleepy breath of a stallion and again thought of that how many
anything saw his raincoat. There is enough that from a solemn attire
to become just clothes. Then once again opened eyes, looked on
tent... and instantly pricked up the ears. At a dog, which it
half considered, wool, and black lips began to rise on a nape
sp
read in the parties, silently baring canines. On a raft all slept, except
several patrol yes the plotogon which were slowly active long oars
until both ends. Night sight a vein, and multiplied on was required
considerable good luck to catch the imperceptible movement of one of fur
hillocks, Dungorm who slightly moved towards the marching dwelling.
Mouse, hiding in heat under a raincoat, immediately felt how
the owner strained, and poked out outside an inquisitive nose. Wolfhound carefully
moved a healthy hand and covered a small animal with a palm. Mysh comprehended
the habitual signal also hid. The hand of the Wolfhound spread further - to
to belt, to a sheath of a fighting knife.
The person who was pretending to be sleeping moved again, for a half-span
drew near a tent, and the Wolfhound began to think feverishly. It
got used to assume the worst and managed to decide instantly that on a raft
one more wormed way from among worshipping Moeran to Death. But if so -
what will that undertake? Will try to kill Dungorm? Slightly will cut
the tent corner will also light up the tiny incensory filled at an opening
potion without taste and a smell capable to warn?. Will let in a hole
the polecat trained to gnaw through sleeping a throat?. A wolfhound it is even vague
remembered that at one of velimorets was at itself small
favourite.... Or will just approach an entrance and will leave on strip logs
bonding of the poison killing even through clothes, even through thick soles
boot?.
Or perhaps this person is not guilty of anything at all and just looks for
secluded town inaccessible to rushes of cold wind?
The wolfhound looked how the rare snowflakes falling on logs flew.
No, not that. Wind blew absolutely on the other hand.
Veins extended a knife from a sheath, intercepted it for a throw and began to wait.
It was necessary, probably, to jump and try to take the murderer alive, but it
he could not afford now. Hardly prolonged wounds through two steps
would lay it on the spot. And you will cry, you will give the alarm - and it seems try
then prove something. Admirers of Death just were also famous for the fact that
nobody could suspect of them murderers, caught red-handed yet. Means,
it was necessary only to wait. And to pray that was not too late.
Time hung heavy. The person that drew near a tent for
the vershok, for a long time faded in an immovability. He was able to wait too. Wolfhound
did not lower from it eyes. When the unknown appeared in the poluarshena from a corner
tents, from under a fur blanket appeared hands and carefully stretched
forward. Venn whom the murderer at this moment could not see, sharply
rose and sat down, and in frosty air the thrown knife whistled. Wolfhound
to the last feared to finish with not guilty. Heavy knife,
capable to split a skull, only nailed to logs one of
the lasting hands. And having only heard a deaf sound of the stuck edge,
The wolfhound cried. Cried in all throat, calling guard. It is in advance
knew in what the sharp movement and this shout will cost him. And precisely. Under
edges as if several arrows at once were thrust, in eyes blurred
blackness. But business was made. The found murderer already half not so
it is terrible. And will want to justify itself, let will explain that he started
in the middle of night near Dungorm's tent. Not by force, eventually
The wolfhound dragged it there.
The scared Serko rose on legs. The wolfhound lost a support and it is heavy
it was tumbled down backwards, broken by a fit of coughing.
He vaguely heard noise of a general alarm, footfall, shouts and neighing
horses, and then splash as if in water something heavy fell down. Later,
when he recovered the breath, he was told: the person subwounded by him pulled out a knife
from logs and own body and, without hesitating moments, ran across on
edge of a raft, there, where the coast was closer. Plunged into the dark night water and
floated. Soldiers shot to it following, and someone swore as if he heard how
the arrow is stuck in flesh. But nobody could tell with confidence that
it was become with the murderer. Whether really it was found in the dark by casual
arrows, or ice water took away forces, or after all met saving
the coast - remained to unknown.
Still after that Mysh with shrill cries drove some time on
to raft of a small small animal, flexible and toothy, already put on in white
winter fur coat. Caress hid, being hammered into cracks and under a flooring,
rose a spring, trying to get the winged foe. Mysh not
ventured to grapple with the furious little predator, capable as
it is known, to get into an ear to an elk and to bite all over him to death. It it is simple
persistently hung at caress over the head and heart-rendingly shouted. So far at last that
flexible jump did not jump on an extreme log of a raft and did not departure after
the owner, in a snake way coiling in black water, rough from falling
snow...
People on a raft went as lost. Especially Dungorm: night
the murderer, as it became clear, was concealed among his velimorets. In the morning they
missed one soldier, not the beginner in group. All knew it,
all rejoiced to cheerful stories which he was the great master
to tell.
All knew also his favourite caress. Someone even began to askance on
Wolfhound. But then began to remember the missing and remembered that close
as happens at soldiers, with it nobody drove friendship. Nobody was with it in
to bath: he always washed one, explaining it with custom of the people. And at
caress there was a frightening usage at night to run on bodies sleeping,
to tickle a neck muzzle...
- To whom to trust now?. - Dungorm asked, and his voice shivered.
Duplicity of the soldier whom he knew not the first year shook noble
the narlaka is more than death threat. Even it is more, than terrible test at
Obstacles when it was going to be broken off horses.
Having conferred, velimorets were removed in the end of a raft. There they became on
turns to strip to the skin. Companions examined thrown off clothes from
tops to toe, searching for the secret Sign of Fire which is turned out on a body
inside out. At anybody nothing was found.
The wolfhound some time gloomy roamed about a raft, then approached to
to the warrior Ertan also asked her:
- Punch me, please, in a stomach. Only slowly.
Also rose before it, for something having closed eyes. Ertan shrugged shoulders,
coughed, and her fist smoothly directed up and forward. Fists at
velkhinka were, clear, it is twice less men's. But, as claimed
in time them to try, because of the trifle they only beat twice more angrily and
more painfully. A wolfhound, without opening eyes, turned on tiptoe, passing
the girl's hand by. The left palm caught up with the clenched fist Ertan and
clasped it. The wolfhound otshagnut aside and turned the caught wrist
to.
- Ah you.! - the leader admired, dodging and falling on
knee. - It again yours... how there called?
- Caen-kiro, - the Wolfhound reminded. - Yes rules the world love.
- Such love... хм! - Ertan grum
bled. It seemed a vein
feminity embodiment. Such its people saw the Goddesses. Women's
power and female tenderness. Terrible daring and the attracting beauty.
- You would not hurry, - Ertan advised. - Recover at first.
The wolfhound answered:
- He will begin to wait until I recover.
- It, it who? - the warrior asked. The wolfhound directly looked with it in
also told eyes:
- Luchezar. To whom else.
- You think, it you?.
- Perhaps is also not present, - sighed veins. - But it is necessary to know on what I now
it am good.
Ertan frowned. The wolfhound knew: it was not talkative. It only
asked:
- And narrowed eyes what for?
Veins shrugged shoulders rather one left shoulder because right
to move it was sick.
- It so, - he told. - Just in case suddenly I will go blind as
Deksha. I with my predatory ugly face in testomesa will hardly be taken.
That night, in deaf hour, by rafts Lyudoyedov's ruins rushed
lock. In several days snow on coast began to vanish, and in
air blew softly by sea. And here at dawn at the left for a while
the familiar creek, and behind it, over a berezhok, - a glade in the middle opened
pine wood. Here in the irretrievable solar summer the knesinka studied itself
to protect. Now day was engaged foggy and cloudy, and passed still
considerable time before wooden towers of capital ahead loomed
Galirada.
Knes Gluzd Nesmeyanovich accompanied with boyars and the people himself left
to meet disgracefully come back embassy. Светынь near the mouth
spread nearly on one and a half versts and flowed slowly, majestically.
The wolfhound saw how there was near the coast a forward raft, and
кнес embraced sostupivshy from it Luchezara as the father embraces the beloved son
after long separation. Suspicious a vein it seemed a little
strange. Vinitar himself said that he sent the message to a knes with a pigeon.
The Wolfhound, of course, did not read that letter, but guessed that young
Koons in him excessively did not eulogize Luchezar. It is necessary to think, solved veins,
Left carried with itself pigeons too and too wrote the letter to a knes. And that
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