Bloody Revenge

by Darrell Guidry

  - And that to you till the morning a red squeak will be let out!. - grinning,

  Avdika growled. - Luchezarova adolescents agreed!

  - It was heard by the girl-chernavka, - Attalik told. - I banished once

  Kanaona, when that... In a word, she would not begin to deceive me. Them there

  decently, and they are very evil.

  Nobody in Varokh's house went to bed yet. The old master already stood in

  doors, leaning on a shoulder the granddaughter. Tilorn stood nearby. It considerably got stronger,

  hair at it grew and did not look indecently short any more.

  Gradually reached all that to them suggested to throw gained,

  works and blood the earned homeliness and to run it is unknown where. In

  night, in prewinter darkness. Carrying away with itself how many hands will take...

  - On gate now Bravlin with children, - still without looking in

  eyes to the Wolfhound, were muttered by Aptakhar. - Will release.

  - Neighbors... - having coughed, muffled from suddenly pulled hard misfortune

  by voice Varokh spoke. - To click... Spolokh to beat... People will help...

  And you, guards...

  - We, guards!. - having spat, imitated Avdik. - The half-cities for knives

  will grab, it is necessary to us? The wolfhound thoughtfully said:

  - If they need one I...

  - You shut up! - And Aptakhar added a strong curse,

  having for the first time addressed directly it. - With whom veins it will be moved, one trouble

  from it, and a pribytka - louses yes of a flea! They need you!. Perhaps it is also necessary -

  to begin that was from whom! I to their pobola know you!. There is no mind,

  though listen that clever people advise! It is told, you carry away bums

  while the going is good!.

  Its voice was strained. Aptakhar suddenly promptly turned a back and

  furiously blew the nose in two fingers.

  Varokh truly had reliable neighbors. Did not give an abyss when

  they with the grandson remained orphans, having lost a family. And even when arrived with

  pigeon the well-known letter of Luchezar and on the city the whisper as if spread

  prigrety the master the tramp-venn sold to robbers madam, -

  ulichansky did not believe. Also did not allow to the house of possible offenders.

  To thank them intestine war? Fight with army?.

  The wolfhound did not begin to ask where he looks кнес and why the boyar Krut

  will not stop an indecency. Too much anything fell down a knes now

  grief. Not a miracle if it was shut together with fur of wine and did not order close

  to approach to the door. It is abrupt?. Who knows to the gray-bearded hero, if from

  Krom truly an iznik of tens - another Luchezarovy bandits. And even

  in fortress did not spend the night. Not on noses it recalculates them there. Now,

  when any more Luchezar is absent, It is cool, undoubtedly, will cope with his good fellows.

  But also it is business not for one day. So far... To rise by force on force?

  Perhaps.

  At the Wolfhound painfully jammed heart when Niilit began absurdly

  to rush about on the house, in the eyes turning from full of mild advantage

  the young hostess in to death the frightened little girl. It grabbed that one,

  that for another, without understanding that to take with itself in the road what not to take.

  That spoon covered seemed it the most necessary subject

  brilliant metal. Niilit picked up it in kitchen and did not let go.

  Evrikh to whom, it is visible, it was necessary more than once from where to get away,

  efficiently turned warm clothes and a blanket. He, appears, was in time

  to buy a sound leather bag. And very first that he put in it,

  there was a linking of the chubby, here and there soiled with brown spots books. Wolfhound

  paid attention that misfortune, appear, pressed down it not so cruelly,

  as the others. Evrikh as if would gather, having left the hospitable house,

  to get over under other shelter, not less generous and warm.

  Old Varokh the shivering hands shifted in a workshop

  the left unfinished quivers and sheath and could not think in any way that is with them

  to do. Become silent the Plover followed the grandfather on heels, and the dog span at all

  under legs and plaintively whined.

  The Wolfhound had especially especially nothing to collect. Thin zaplechny

  the bag which arrived with it on a raft and lay not sorted yet. Only

  to put on and...

  - I to you brought a chain armor, - Attalik told. The wolfhound nearly noticed

  in reply that in three months that became a man. But refrained. With the man

  it is necessary to talk and arrive as it worthy his courage. And

  in total.

  It somehow pushed a sore hand in a kolchuzhny sleeve and already atop

  armor attracted it to a body. The chain armor was segvansky, not such at all,

  what were pleasant to it. However to a presented horse, as we know, in teeth not

  look. The wolfhound fastened a sword for a back and began to think where to them

  to move if Bravlin really lets out them for gate. And about that,

  who, except it, will manage to master its onions. Here if was

  self-arrows...

  Attalik's people brought with themselves two horses. Niilit settled behind the back

  Tilorn, has Zuyko of villages to the grandfather. The house, a home irreparably left in

  the past, as if the pier left by the ship.

  Even in the evening Niilit promised to bring together the Wolfhound in a cellar, to show it,

  as wooden shelves which it ironed in the summer were filled

  pots and kadochka with supplies for the winter...

  Avdika ran on neighbors, woke fallen down and explained that to what.

  At first neighbors were indignantly promised to get up on Luchezarovichy the whole world.

  Then - to hide at itself Varokh and the others until everything settles. And

  at last - to look after the workshop which was left without owner. On a measure

  as they realized that that it should deal with army, everyone

  from which barehanded effortlessly would scatter ten simple citizens with

  axes and pitchfork, their determination thawed as snow at a fire. It to you not with

  same ulichansky to understand. These will gobble up and will not leave stones.

  The wolfhound silently listened to uncombed dozing men and thought of that,

  that on their place, probably, would behave differently. Possibly, he would lay down

  kostm, but villains would manage to drive worthy people out of the city only

  through its corpse. Because to concede to the evil - means to increase greatly in the world

  lie and to avert even more from it Light Gods. For what in general

  to live if you allow that near you offended the neighbor?.

  Any person is inclined with ease to argue what he would undertake

  on the place of others. The wolfhound quite understood it. Justice

  justice whether only much for it you navoyut if you have a wife,

  heels of children and old parents... Without speaking already about the house and economy,

  grandfathers great-grandfathers acquired... Here you will think before seriously

  to intercede. Moreover for strangers, generally, people. To present itself in

  similar situation the Wolfhound just did not undertake. Conducting Serk in an occasion, it

  approached Varokh and told:

  - One loss to you from me, the master.

  He would not be surprised and did
not take offense if that burst in desperate

  abuse, and that at all tears or tried to whack it a crutch. But old

  сегван only became straight in a saddle.

  - I regret for that that two nice swords not live in my sheath, -

  he answered the Wolfhound. - That, which Koons Vinitar from Zhadoby two

  made. And the second which you Luchezara removed the head.

  The wolfhound smiled:

  - Let's settle somewhere, at once I will ask you to it new to make.

  Both had no idea where it will happen to spend the night in

  following time.

  Gate really had with the guys a foreman Bravlin.

  The Wolfhound remembered some of good fellows on summer. Bravlin was already

  it is warned. He did not begin to ask on anything either fugitives, or five

  guides. Bravlin nodded the - hefty policemen lifted from massive

  ears a bar, heavy, wet from the dropped-out snow, also slightly opened a shutter of gate.

  Bravlin only once, and that for a moment, looked in eyes to the Wolfhound.

  Probably, it was a shame to it.

  - Happily, Bravlin, - passing gate, told veins.

  - Luchezarovich if go, we their already pomuryzhy, - the foreman promised.

  - And will force to pass, somehow not that we will show the way...

  The wolfhound stopped Serk, looked on большак, and heart at it

  fell. Perhaps Bravlin will also manage to podzaderzhat a pursuit, but here from a trace

  it will not be possible to bring down her. Around new-fallen snow lay. In the city, where

  on it from everywhere breathed heat and kneaded legs of passersby, almost everything was in time

  to thaw. Here, at liberty, equal fluffy extensively stretched

  veil. Here on such snow hunters also exhaust the game lifted from

  dens.

  The wolfhound looked back to the city which became to strangers. Aptakhar did not reduce from him

  an eye, and eyes at the old soldier suspiciously shone. Avdika gloomy

  looked to the earth.

  - Easy it is expensive to you, Aptakhar, - the Wolfhound said goodbye. - And you,

  Avdika.

  It on-segvansk’s saluted Attalik a sword, having pulled out it from a sheath and

  having brought a handle to a forehead. The young man started and hasty answered the same.

  - Still we will meet, veins! - Avdika told. To a wolfhound was once

  to deliberate that put young сегван in these words. Whether

  kind wish, whether threat. Gate began to be closed.

  The wolfhound did not doubt at all that to find the road to rescue

  will provide to it. But, as soon as halves of gate, Evry were closed

  resolutely touched a horse:

  - Went! I know where.

  Wolfhound at whom on such things memory worked instantly,

  at once asked:

  - You, apparently, said in the summer as if you know the right place...

  The young arrant surely nodded.

  - Yes, it at the Foggy Rock. If we keep up there, us already nobody not

  will get,

  There was a strong wish to believe in it. However Evrikh - from him will be become - could

  to bring them it is valid to the reliable place, and could also to ordinary

  to the cave which seemed to it the reliable shelter.

  - And what there? - suspiciously asked veins, without hurrying to let a horse

  at a gallop.

  Evrikh sighed, shrugged shoulders and just answered:

  - There the Gate to my world.

  - As!. You too?. - Tilorn, and the Wolfhound choked now

  remembered the rumors going about the Foggy Rock. And opinion of magicians,

  found there force, definitely not angry, it is rather - strange.

  - So, - he told. - Conduct. - And, when horses already went at a trot, asked:

  - And why you think that we will not be got there?

  Evrikh smiled with pride of devoted.

  - You see - he explained, jumping up in a saddle in a step to a horse step, -

  Gate passes not anything. Material shape they remind

  the foggy cloudlet, and the person unworthy just will leave on the other hand,

  even without having noticed that there was something, except simple fog. Worthy

  will cross border and will get into our world.

  The wolfhound gloomy inquired:

  - At you there what, Saints live? Evrikh even laughed:

  - No, of course! At us everything happens: both fights, and pokrazh, and unfortunate

  love. But here if you intend to take the girl by force or

  to finish off the rival... I want to tell if you are internally

  it is ready... once you will just get lost two steps away from the house and will leave

  our world, that without having noticed. It will appear here... - Evrikh thought and

  added: - Or still where it is worse.

  The wolfhound suddenly took offense for the earth which Evrikh was ready

  to announce nearly a cesspool, a haven of the villains rejected it

  world. That is there was enough shit here, of course. But and beauty, and

  dobra!.

  -... Well, arrant too, - meanwhile Evrikh with enthusiasm told. -

  And a segvana and who is only not present. All tribes! Our scientists believe that in

  extreme antiquity when people sinned less, the world was uniform. Then

  Gods of the Heavenly Mountain divided it to protect just. Priests

  Twin gods were suspected, in my opinion, from where I am. I, however, not

  I understand why they would be needs the mystery of the Gate? All of them equally could not

  to pass. Nobody can be sure in advance that he will pass. To people of it

  the world prelapsarian life and purity of thoughts is seldom peculiar...

  The righteous person was found out, the Wolfhound angrily thought. Also asked:

  - You will be let back? Perhaps you here at us it

  it was gathered...

  The young scientist heatedly answered:

  - There are people much better me, the barbarian, but I, at least, not

  created the evils and did not shed blood!

  After these words awkward silence set in. Then Plover,

  nestling on the grandfather's back, it is squeezed sobbed.

  - Grandfather... I did not obey you... - the Wolfhound sorted.

  Niilit in despair turned back to a vein, and he thought, growing cold what

  sins could, to be at a similar being?. Then remembered belief of its people.

  Niilit assumed that men saw its nakedness. She put on in

  the man's clothes, It and now, for the sake of flight top, was dressed in

  wide trousers...

  The wolfhound suddenly fiercely became angry and on this the just world is lousy, and on

  Evrikh, and on the Gate which unknown guards here now will become

  to coolly weigh to which of fugitives to escape to whom - to perish under

  swords of Luchezarovy good fellows. Three years ago, in the frosty winter in northern

  Narlake, them with Mother Kendarat did not let in the village to spend the night. As

  then it became clear, the sect of admirers of God Ognya lived in the village. These

  people wished to be pure in the most laudable way before the God. And

  who could be charged that two wanderers in the middle of the night knocked in

  door, fishes did not taste this day?.

  Aloud the Wolfhound, of course, did not tell anything. He understood that Evrikh,

  arguing about worthy and unworthy, spoke first of all about it,

  killed in the life there are a lot of enemies. And not that blood of people it seems

  The cannibal or Luchezara so weighed his conscience. It
was just clear as

  God's day that to it to the kind world it is not necessary and to be put. Yes. Try it

  approach the Gate, those, perhaps, will not pass also the others. That from now on

  sorted whom to contact.

  Lots suddenly assumed a dignified air in a saddle. Gray-haired beard, which Wolfhound

  it was once promised to it to tear off, blew night wind. He told:

  - Here that, gramote... Take away the maid and the lad and blow in this Heggova

  hole, where it there. And I the lived.

  At a hip at it the segvansky fighting knife nearly in three spans hung

  length. Terrible weapon. If well you own it, also the sword is not necessary.

  The wolfhound, however, never saw that the old man with it practised. Well

  you never know what he did not see. He mentally wondered what such

  the unfortunate grandfather could have sins? And if as was found, really

  good deeds did not atone for the sins yet?.

  - Grandfather!. - howled the Plover and so seized Varokh's raincoat what to tear off

  it should with meat.

  Mouse, not loving snow and cold, sat out at the Wolfhound in the bosom.

  Having felt tension between people, it jumped out outside and with violent shout

  it was swept up over the heads. Horses stopped: nobody was torn to go

  forward. Perhaps here really it was full of sinners. But friends

  did not get used to throw any of them.

  - Yes well you, in the business! - by the crying voice Evrikh told. - To me,

  perhaps, with you to die to remain?.

  And foolish there would be an end, was thought a vein. After such drudgeries.

  After treachery of the relatives who sold the niece in slavery. Later

  iron cage in the cellar at the Cannibal. After captivity at priests and loss

  sons... It is so dull to Bot to die at walls of the city which decided to redeem

  the rest our heads?. Already tomorrow galiradets, probably, will take in hand

  Luchezarovichey. But each other to look in the face hardly vozmonut. Only

  to us will be already all the same. And Evrikh, the fool, naplet it is unknown what, and

  now out of foolish pride will take in head to remain with us to death...

  - Here what, - was resolutely spoken by Tilorn. - We will go to look for the Gate

  in total together. And together we will try to pass them. Do not despair, the master Varokh. And

  the granddaughter in vain do not frighten.

  The old man murmured something in a beard and pushed with heels of a horse. Be that