Hunters right there, having forgotten about everything, started collecting gold, filling the pockets with it. Even Rolf with black-bearded, having forgotten about recent anger of the prince, grabbled on a grass with greedy gloss in eyes. Here had no time for orders of mister! Sound ducats at prince Gaston were obviously found infrequently.
But the young man did not even look at them. It did not cramp the delighted eyes from the person Fei who in anger seemed to finer.
- Of course, of course, fallow deer your, Beautiful Lady! You forgive, for the sake of the Creator that I appeared before you in such unattractive light. But we can correct it, and immediately! - suddenly prince Gaston quickened, having jumped from knees, - he did not wait for when the lady gives it the handle as it was ordered by etiquette, for a kiss. - If you deign to visit my modest monastery here, nearby, you will see the real prince, the real knight, the real man … In its true light!
And prince Gaston took several steps forward, having carefully taken in the not on age big, "bear" palms the thin handle of the Fairy. The fairy was stupefied with such impudence, but did not give a sign that becomes angry. Of course, she could easily, one wave of thought defeat this impudent boy, but did not make it. His behavior was so unusual, so … - the Fairy could not even be at loss for words for the description of the feelings - that she just could not refuse to it. Never so treated it to Prinze. And Prinze - especially. He a little bit was rather afraid of it, probably … In any case he never told such words to it, it without demand did not take a hand and in general was very absolutely another.
And the Fairy for a moment wanted to be such! There was a wish to be the Beautiful Lady whom the gallant gentleman who sees off her for the handle in the carriage looks after, at a table which kisses it hands, speaks on "you" …
About all this she read in the childhood in books about kings and knights of antiquity and always represented herself as someone's ladylove. But then the millennia of the week, responsible leading work covered all these pink dreams with some dark screen. And when Prinze appeared … It was such defenseless, it covered with wounds then and when recovered, such shy and modest that the Fairy just could not behave differently. It seemed to it that if she does not behave so, Prinze will escape from it surely somewhere or will get to some trouble or … Yes you never know can happen to it (and happened, eventually)! And here - the severe, strong, athletically put young man, on a horse, with a sword, speaks on "you", without being afraid of it, Fairies Keepers Predela of the 3rd rank, fearlessly takes by hand, invites to himself …
… And the Fairy did not sustain:
- Well, your Highness, I agree. We all the same should spend the night somewhere, a decline soon. Under a roof nevertheless it is better, than in the open air … - and, having sharply turned to Animals, imperatively told:
- So, the Kitten, process a wound on one side of a fallow deer and let's it installation go immediately to us, to sector No. 3, there it will be forever in safety from hunters. A puppy, prepare things for transportation, we go to this noble knight on a visit!
The puppy and Kitten puzzly exchanged glances, but did not dare to contradict. The kitten got from one of trunks a flakonchik with the white, instantly healing and anesthetizing ointment, and was engaged in a fallow deer. And the Puppy right there conjured raising of feiny trunks in air and mentally ordered them to be built in a harmonous caravan.
But the Fairy noticed nothing any more. She forgot about Animals, about a fallow deer and even - oh, horror! - about Prinze as soon as Gaston took it under the handle and carefully led to the horse. She with enthusiasm listened to its distinguished chatter of high society - something about features of poetry of "The song about Roland", about how there the duel of the legendary king with a dragon Hmagy and rescue of the princess Alvin from captivity is perfectly represented.
The fairy, of course, reading about Roland Drevnem in the childhood was simply fascinated by such interesting subject for conversation, it was so admired by feats of this noble knight, friend of their Knowledge. Gaston so fascinatingly told that she entirely went to conversation with it and did not even notice how they reached a beautiful white horse. Was not in time she and an eye to blink as it right there took it on hands and put directly on the place, and itself got onto a substitute horse who was hasty brought by the bridle to it by red-bearded Rolf.
- Oh, forgive, the lady that I serve you this pathetic horse! Unfortunately, we have here at present no gold carriage which you, undoubtedly, are worthy, but assure you when we arrive to my modest hall, everything will be differently …
The fairy just thawed from such words and such address, and already did not take offense at Gaston at all and to think forgot that she wanted to send on him a swarm of hornets half an hour ago. She only charmingly smiled, but managed to tell nothing. Gaston surely took her horse by the bridle and touched reins of the, for a moment without stopping conversation, without giving her any chance to answer. After them a chain the horse suite, and behind - sad dogs who did not wait for an award for the works stretched.
Puppy, having mentally attached the movement of a caravan of chests to the Fairy, hurried to catch up with her and to jump on a saddle behind, having captured the pads her waist. At the same time it could not keep from threateningly not to roar towards Gaston - a pier, will not deceive me, zveroyed, try to touch the hostess! But neither the Fairy, nor Gaston of attention to it, of course, turned …
Behind all the offended Kitten trudged. It did not get the place in this horse train at all. So far it processed wounds of a fallow deer until it adjusted consciousness of a fallow deer on the small shining ball which had to see her to possession of the Fairy where that will be in safety, the train already left far forward and so nobody suggested to get onto a horse to it. The kitten even shed a few tears for offense, but restrained - the hostess more important! He rushed after the cavalcade which almost was behind turn. Having reached one of the chests floating by air, dexterously, catlike, jumped on its cover and so proceeded behind all procession.
4.
The way to the lock was and really short. Whether the lock really settled down nearby, whether Gaston and Fei's conversation was so fascinating that it seemed to both of them that they reached as that too quickly. Gaston appeared not only the gallant gentleman, but also the remarkable interlocutor. He surprisingly well knew Tselestiya's history, classical literature, including a huge set of the knightly epos, had knowledge of area of that, rather big for the person, as for fairies.
In comparison with Prinze, Gaston seemed just the erudite. The prince knew only fairy tales, and mostly own composition and that only about a grass, animals, birdies and all in such spirit. Gaston could tell history of any great knight or king of Dark Centuries in all details, to tell about all monsters of that era, their weak and strong places, about great ladies of that time. It is no wonder that the Fairy listened to it very attentively and could not come off this pleasant occupation in any way, entirely plunging into the pictures painted by it in her imagination. Even the Puppy ceased to grin and though he pretended to be sleeping or yawning from time to time, but, nevertheless, in increasing frequency raised the right trailing plush ear better to hear the story.
- … I will only not understand one, my fair lady, - suddenly, having told the next story, prince Gaston quietly spoke, - why you, fairies, such beautiful, such charming and by sight such fragile creations - looking at you, I can imagine also all your sort because all of you are, as far as I understand, sisters … And so, I do not understand why you do not take to yourself in marriage normal men - knights, kings, soldiers? Why your husbands more probably on these here plush Animals? - Gaston pointed to the Puppy so that offense nearly fell down from a horse, and then began to roar again and even showed it the sharp teeth. - Really you do not like real men?
The fairy reddened to roots a hair. Before her eyes at once there was Prinze's image: silent, quiet, eternally pensively looking somewhere afar, for the line of the horizon, with a bli
ssful smile on thin lips, something about singing about a grass and the leverets jumping on it. It became for some reason a pity for it for it, that it appeared among "abnormal" and "artificial".
Its cheeks flashed, eyes angrily sparkled, and sponges contracted in a thread for offense:
- Your Highness, do not bury! You remember with whom you speak?! I will not allow you to encroach on bases of a way of life of Community to which I belong. You know what for similar talk if I inform on them to "STING", expects you …
- … a lulling to slip for three years with compulsory re-education from three to seven months, - Gaston killed it, having writhed a sour mine on a face, and waved a hand from disappointment. - I know, I know, ladies, me already gave the course "General Theory of the Sacred Principles of the Order and Prosperity" and I know all these articles by heart. It is not necessary to frighten me by them. I am not my pathetic brother … I am a soldier and the knight, you will not intimidate me! However, the lady, I asked you confidentially as the charming woman who as I see, likes society of real men, but not as the associate …
- I appreciate your courage and your trust, the prince, - being already softened and becoming again more and more womanly, the Fairy told. - Frankness for frankness - only because you made positive impression on me. We, fairies, are only corporally similar to you, people, and that not in everything as you can see, your Highness, - passing to habitual tone of the teacher, she said, and defiantly touched absolutely hairless graceful handle transparent, sparkling in beams of the midday sun, wings behind the back. - We - absolutely other race which was created by the Creator for introduction of the Sacred Principles of the Order and Prosperity in this world. For this reason we also have to be not such as terrestrial women. We love men too. I, for example, have a husband and two remarkable kids, and I do not consider him "artificial" or "abnormal" though he also does not run with a sword as you. Judge why to me the husband with a sword if I can protect myself? And not only - but also the husband, and you, and all your city! And husbands, I repeat, we love - we protect them, we care for them, we sponsor them … It is difficult for fairies without husbands … Well, and if you, your Highness, once again call my husband "artificial" or "abnormal", I will call you on a duel and for couple of moments I will show you that, in that case, and you too - "artificial" because I will beat out this your piece of iron from you from hands one click of these here of the thin female fingers … - and the Fairy, having crookedly grinned, clicked them. At the very same time the sword of prince Gaston became slowly, by itself to creep out of a sheath. It is a little more, and she absolutely would leave them, having left, thus, the owner unarmed. But Gaston, having reddened for anger, with a force thrust it back in blow of the pood fist.
- The powerful argument … - was gloomy muttered by him and became silent.
5.
It is unknown how many their silence would last if the forest footpath did not turn sharply aside, and, propetlyav in dense thickets of a hazel grove, did not bring travelers in a coppice out of seldom growing thin pines. Behind a coppice, steps to a pyatist, on the high hill, the majestic ancient stone castle seemed.
- My patrimonial nest - Kronburg that our way means "the fortress of the prince". I ask to love and favor, the beautiful lady, - indifferently, prince Gaston gallantly told. And soon horse hoofs already began to knock on the real drawbridge lowered on the real ditch.
On the way prince Gaston told that by ancient tradition when the successor of a throne is 17 years old, the king of Avalon transfers to it to possession of Kronburg with all adjacent lands and local army. It becomes in order that future king in practice learned to operate the real people, the real army.
- However, - at the same time he sadly sighed, - if the first is carried out and still - I have under the beginning rather large number of people and I really learn to operate them - then here with army tugovato …
The fairy interrogatively looked at it.
- First, under the contract on Guardianship between the Commonwealth of sovereign kingdoms and Community of fairies, I can personally have at myself no more than hundred lightarmed servants, without artillery and all other. My father - is three times more, and other kings in general on only twenty people of palace protection with ceremonial stupid halberds on hands! Swords, a spear, left onions and arbalests only to Avalon - and that only because my once nice ancestor king Roland Drevny was a friend and the ally of their Knowledge … - in a voice of prince Gaston notes of bitterness, offense and even somewhere in depth the suppressed tears were felt.
- And secondly?
- And, secondly, to be at war all the same there is nobody. Wars are forbidden, there are no robbers, there are no conspirators and rebels - too, there are no monsters … Here and to have to vent all the fighting heat on tournaments yes on hunting - though it to us was left. And they are tournaments only by the stupid weapon, and hunting - one deer and 10 hares or partridges a week! - prince Gaston's voice sharply broke, and he gloomy became silent.
Meanwhile horses passed through a drawbridge. Guards at gate - the handsome brought-up tall men in the real chain armors and steel helmets polished to mirror gloss, in white raincoats with the red lions standing on racks. Soldiers solemnly lifted halberds, allowing to pass the horse train, and saluted them before the prince and his Lady. Looked rather effectively. Eyes at the Fairy lit up from admiration:
- Oh, Creator, real lifting gate, real chain armors, real helmets and halberds!. Just as in the fairy tale! - also clapped the hands from delight as the little girl. - It is a pity, I with myself did not take the memorable crystal! So would keep something for memory …
- Yes, here all present, - prince Gaston confirmed. - Kronburg and Avalon - the only cities of the Commonwealth which remained almost without changes. We had both ancient fortifications, and drawbridges, and an armor, and swords … All present. Ancient traditions are observed at us sacredly. By the way, fairies even included two of these cities in the Red List of monuments of cultural heritage of Tselestiya, there they were given the status of "cities museums", - the prince again bitterly grinned. - Now we became a live relic which is subject to preservation EVEN under laws of Community of fairies as the dried butterfly under glass.
Meanwhile the train moved already on the main city street. It was same, as at Rikkareda - the eldest son of the king Roland Drevnego, the become first crown prince of the kingdom for the sake of which, actually, and constructed Kronburg. The narrow curve small street paved by the real stone with narrow sidewalks. Square lodges with a red tile roof and pipes from a multi-colored brick. Accurate bright platbands and flowers in pots, on each window sill - different.
The fairy was all eyes on this ancient modest beauty. But not only it.
It also became a subject of general curiosity. Women in caps and multi-colored silk scarfs, in long skirts and not really; men in the jackets fastened in the archaic way - by means of laces - and the same trousers, in wooden or leather boots and hats with feathers, stopped in the middle of the street and were all eyes on the passing Fairy and even showed on it fingers.
Women, of course, right there began to condemn her - what indecently short tunic, a flowing hair - as it is possible! What obscenity! Where the crown prince looks?! Men, on the contrary, noted brilliant beauty of the guest - such beauty what light did not see before! Here to us such queen!
The crowd gathered such that could not simply be passed. It was necessary to do to city guards "road" by halberds, and even fists that the train could pass freely.
"Yes, now about any incognito out of the question, - the Fairy sadly thought, having had a snack on a sponge, - and all because of my foolish game in "the great lady" … However, the case for such game drops out not every day! Yes, perhaps, will also carry by. Even "STING" not often favors the human cities checks, and therefore Kronburga will be able to learn about my visit not at once".
Meanwhile the procession passed the main street and directly rose to the lock of the prince which was settli
ng down in the downtown. The lock was separated from it by the quite high wall from gray monolithic stone blocks. It had the separate gate and a drawbridge, the guards and the banner on a flagstaff of the main tower.
And then they drove in a courtyard of the lock and numerous servants in liveries of white-red color right there ran up to horses. Prince Gaston easily jumped out of a saddle and dexterously lowered the Fairy on the earth, having taken it one hand for thallium, and another - for legs then led the beautiful guest in the halls.
The puppy had to jump off most. He somersaulted headfirst and nearly got under hoofs of a horse. (Slava Sozdatelyu, that the head - plush - is not sick-). And then quickly ran for the hostess: "it is impossible to leave its one in paws of it zveroubiyets!" The kitten remained to guard baggage of the Fairy - "we know these people! Then a floor of things you will not get! As gold all poraskhvatal, grabbers!"
Having entered the lock, the prince right there asked:
- The bath for the lady is ready? Dinner?
- Yes, your Highness, the messenger warned us. The dinner will be in half an hour.
- It is good. So, the lady, a bath is ready. You, probably, got tired from the trip?
- I thank, your Highness, you are very kind. It will just not prevent me …
The bath in the lock was not worse, than in Fane a lodge. Wooden, from the pine boards smelling of fragrant pitch, hot with fragrant coniferous water - it is a pleasure! And brooms were good there - birch. Moreover with the whole bucket of ice kvass which could be poured on the heated stones, for a smell and heat than the Fairy loving a bath more hotly willingly used.
Unconquered Sun Page 18
