Mistress Karislava looked at the cook with hatred, her hand, which used to play with the handle of a whip, could not hold back, swung... and came across Lord Darrell's hand. What Garpy saw in his face made her shudder and squeeze like mice in front of a tiger.
- Only in scarcity does the spirit of the novices gain purity and strength! - Harpy's effervescence.
- Please follow me," said the man in a very calm way, putting his hand down. It is so peaceful that Mistress Bronegoda is about to lose her feelings. She went to the exit, throwing herself over our shoulder," said Garpy, "and nobody gets away.
We didn't split up. We froze like sculptures in our shops, even afraid to breathe. The younger girls sniffed their nose thinly, not knowing what was going on and were going to cry. And afraid they'd be punished for it. Avdotya was pouring paint in the corner and nervously rubbing her apron.
I waited a little longer, and after a thieving look back, I diped a spoon in a bowl of bread. And I sighed. I cooled down, that's a pity...
The new phenomenon of the lord and abbess was even more impressive. The man looked calm, even relaxed, but Mistress... even I have never seen such outright hatred on Harpy's face! And the rest could see the whole range of negative emotions, from stunts and resentments to desperate rage.
But the most amazing thing was the baskets in the hands of the abbesses, who smelled so delicious and appetizing spirit that my hungry belly twisted in a knot.
And with the greatest shock, the novices saw the dishes on the tables that we had never seen before: thick slices of yellow, glowing cheese, rope-soaked rings of sausages, shmat of lard wrapped in thin parchment, stewed apples and crispy cucumbers, cold boiled potatoes, pieces of baked venison and something else... and that our foolish consciousness just could not comprehend. We froze over the food without even daring to touch the abundance.
The little girls couldn't stand it and still cried, staring at the table with hungry eyes and not knowing if it could be eaten or if it would fly from the abbesses. Lord Darrell looked at the weepers, and they were frightenedly silent as they choked.
With a strange bitterness, he put them in front of the girls in the heap.
- Eat up, we'll do without hot today," he said sharply. And nodded Avdottier, will you be able to prepare a full dinner for tonight? The food will be... provided to you.
- Of course, sir! - The cook looked at him in all his eyes. And all of us, too. The lord nodded briefly, without looking at anyone, threw the traditional "pleasant meal" and went out quickly.
We still looked at him afterwards, but the table smelled so exhilarating that all the lords of the world were forgotten and we rushed to the food. In passing I was glad that I had not had time to stuff my stomach with bread and visited that I could not eat for a week ahead.
* * *
I sat in a herbalist's den, enthusiastically talking about what happened in the refectory. Xenia and Danina charming harmoniously, shining eyes, but did not forget to float away the delights I brought.
- The prioresses will pay us back when the Lord gets out of Riverstein," Xenia said. She looked at her greasy fingers and licked them with a little thought.
- Or else," I nodded, she said. A delightfully full stomach responded with blissful satiety," she said, "all right! Firstly, it's worth it, and secondly...
Which, second of all, I didn't specify. Danina shouldn't know about it, and her friend already knew. It is not known what will happen to us next, the nebula of the future did not allow looking far ahead.
From the abundant food Xenia blushed, her eyes shone, and the pallor frightening me almost left her face. I sighed with relief. I hope the recovery will go faster now. For a while, I entertained both of them with a colorful story, then I noticed the eyelids sticking together at the girlfriend and she struggles to suppress her yawning. I was getting ready to go out. Danina reached out for me.
- What a lucky thing that this lord has appeared - quietly, mowing on the couch, so as not to wake the sleeping, said the herbalist, - now Xenia, for sure, will be on the mend ... because the disease does not want to let her go. Listen, Vetryana, I wanted to ask you something...
The grasshopper had faded, and I was inexplicably scared. I was scared, my throat squeezed, and I mumbled something shamefully about the class and ran away from the closet. And only when I got to the front door and felt that I couldn't breathe, I stopped.
My head is heavy, my body is humming. Something in my chest is twitching, pulling like lava ready to splash out. And it is heavy, and at the same time it gives a strange feeling of fullness, fullness.
Not realizing what's wrong with me, I pulled the door on myself and jumped out into the yard. Like I was, in a dress, without a hood and handkerchief, in light boots.
At first, the sunlight blinded me. After a recent bad weather, the sun was shining over Riverstein, a white snowball sprinkled the earth with a blanket, and from that the world around was no longer gray and black and became silver and pure. I froze in amazement, and then I walked along the wall of the building, squinting at the sun and snow.
Of course, I froze quickly. Still, it's foolish of me to jump out into the yard like that without getting dressed. I'm gonna fall down with a student's tail, science will be my thing. What was I so scared of, in the herbalist's room? Really... I was afraid of questions... questions that have no answer, which are not even spoken - it's scary... even to myself.
I was shivering. The breeze felt cold on the neck, hands, and climbed under my skirt. I stopped distractedly. I turned to the orphanage building. When did I get that far? I think it was just by the wall, and I'm standing almost at the stone border with the forest.
Riverstein was hovering over a dark pile, and in one of the windows I could clearly see the dark figure of the Lord. He seems to be watching me...
I wanted to hide. I wrapped my head in search of hiding. And then I got a little horse rust. Of course you did! Stables!
I turned around decisively and almost ran towards the sound.
We had an old horsemeat Marysya in the stables. She was "on the farm", to take one of the abbesses to the Wasteland, or to take a train with provisions. The mare was unusually easy-going and not stubborn, joyfully crumpled from the palms of bread, if lucky, and rotten apples also did not squeal.
The stable was met by the warmth and smell of lying hay. Marysya greeted me and rusted when she recognized me, shut her face in my side, looking for a treat.
- I'm sorry," I said, "I didn't think to visit you, so I took nothing.
The mare mowed suspiciously with her eyes, leaving no room for anything to be found in my apron. There was a demanding rust behind my back. I turned around and awoke in amazement. What a beauty! A horse, black, shiny, with a proudly curved neck and the arrogant look of black eyes. That must be the stallion of a capital lord! Normally, Marysya would spend time in proud solitude.
I didn't bravely approach the corral, looking at the animal.
- I wouldn't advise you to go near him," said Kairos behind my back. "He doesn't like strangers.
I turned around frightened. Is he watching me?
- But how... how did you get here so quickly? - I exhaled, I just saw you in the second floor window!
Lord Darrell shrugged his shoulders calmly.
- It seemed to you. I was in the neighborhood.
I was staring at him suspiciously. I was ready to give my hand to cut him off for seeing him in that window! And there's no one to confuse the figure of the Lord with, and I'm not complaining about his sight! But how could he have been in the stable so soon? From the second floor there was a winding staircase at the end of a long corridor, then we still have to go through the whole hall, go around the refectory, walk to the door... and through the whole yard to the very fence, near which there were covered corrals with horses!
Even if you run, you can't sleep that fast! And he didn't run, really!
Lord Darrell, ignoring my incredulity, came to the stallion and patted him
in the master's manner. The horse sobbed approvingly.
I couldn't help but come closer.
- That name, Kairos, does it mean something?
- It's a combination of two words, the man turned to me, "kai" to see, and "ross" to the enemy.
- Seeing enemies? - I wondered, um... why did you call him that? And in what language is that?
The lord looked thoughtfully.
- You know," he said suddenly, "I think you can pet him.
- Er, thank you, you're welcome!
The huge black stallion, despite its beauty, looked frankly dangerous. And he shouted at me with displeasure.
- I think you should! - Lord Darrell insisted with enthusiasm, come on, Vetrell, are you afraid?
Yes, I'm afraid! But I didn't want to admit it.
- It's just that I don't like horses very much," I tried to get away, "and then I'm in a hurry...
- Drop it, what's your hurry! - the lord has clearly blocked my way, pet this horse!
I was terrified to stare at him. Definitely the capital's curator, a madman. And the wickedness pulled me into this stable! I'll pet his scary horse just to get the lord off my back!
I hesitatingly stepped towards the corralman. Kairos looked at me skeptically with black and purple eyes. I looked at him, sighed, and gently ran my palm around his silk neck. The horse leaned surprisingly and reached out to my hand, clearly hinting that it could scratch between my ears!
I scratched it. What a wonderful animal after all! and horses I love, so lied in fright...
- Beautiful, - I whispered to the stallion, - wonderful, wonderful horse!
Kairos agreed, not forgetting to set his head up. She was jealously rusting out of her corral.
The Lord made a strange sound as if he had choked. I met him and turned to him.
- He was a good horse," I said sincerely. The Lord had kept an eye on me and whispered something under his nose.
Holy elders! Again!
- Why do you keep mumbling in there? - I couldn't help myself, and I was crazy about my impertinence. I know what you're saying, but it's a lord! He'll spread it all over the wall and he won't wince!
But what's said stopped muttering. He was just looking at me, squinting. And suddenly he laughed. I was even worried, not knowing how to react to it.
- Chickenpox, would you like to take a ride? On Kairos?
- Me? A ride? Oh... no! And then I... can't!
- I'll hold you! - He responded enthusiastically and harnessed the stallion.
- Lord Darrell! - in despair, I said, but I... I didn't even bring the hood!
- I'll give you my cloak," the curator said. I was exhausted, and bitterly thought that with the king's order, this insolent whiplash is now a lord in Riverstein, his word is the law, and even if the lord decided to bury me in the woods quietly, no one would make a sound in my defense.
The man looked back at me and slowed down. Then he shook his head resolutely, wrapped me silently in his fur coat, and jumped into the saddle. And jerked me in front of him, I didn't even have time to squeal. A stuck horse, sobbed short and flew out of the stable.
...what a thrill to fly! I lost track of time, did not understand where we are, something powerful and strong was beating in me, why I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time!
My first fear, when a powerful horse jumped over the fence and found himself on a snowy road, gaining speed, quickly passed. The stallion did not run," he flew, easily swinging over boulders and bushes, his hooves seemed not even to fall into the snow and leave no trace. We turned off the main road and now walked past the dark age-old pines, spires standing on the right, and a snowy field with dried sedge sticking out of the snow on the left.
I don't know at what point I laughed. The joy that swept over me was so sharp and alive! I could feel the strong muscles of the animal under my feet, its breath, the ferry coming out of the black nostrils, and I wanted it to jump even faster, even more powerful, even more crushing! And the horse responded as if it could feel my desires.
An inexpressible, delightful feeling of flight!
It was as if we were swirling along the edge of the field, and when the Lord pulled the reins to stop Kairos, I sighed a disappointment.
The Lord was in a hurry and gave me his hand in silence. Absolutely plague from the feelings that enveloped me during the race, I awkwardly fell off the horse, and only at the last moment grabbed the bow of the saddle so as not to fall down.
- Thank you," I exhaled joyfully in a man's face, "it was... wonderful!
The Lord answered me with such a fierce look that I recoiled.
- How did you do it? - He threw the evil, - what did you do to my horse? Who are you, wicked to take you away??
I choked.
- What are you talking about? Lord Darrell, you sat me down on Kairos yourself! And you demanded to pet him yourself! I wasn't going anywhere near him! I don't know what you're accusing me of now!
The lord's green eyes have gone mad.
- Kairos will never, you hear me, ever let you touch him... like you!!! And even more so, he will not... obey!
Like me??? What is that, I wonder? The poor and the wretched? Besides the will, my eyes were filled with tears, I was freezing, trying to drive them away.
- Of course, a poor orphan is not an even... your horse! - I said, "Well, I understand! I'll apologize to him at once! - and swinging my skirt, I bowed to the dazed stallion mowing at me in a deep roar. - Dear Kairos, please forgive my unworthy person for unwittingly insulting you in the form of my wretched person on your high-born groats! Believe me, such disgust will never happen again!
The horse has moved away from me carefully.
The lord's jaw is lopsided.
- What... what a farce this is," he shouted.
Understand, as you wish! What a farce... a farce! I turned around, and I sank in the snow to the faraway Riverstein. Then I grabbed it, came back, untied the ribbon of my cloak with my trembling fingers, threw it over the saddle, and went to the shelter again. How I walk that distance in one dress and light shoes, I didn't think. Angry tears squeezed my throat, streamed down my cheeks, and pounded, seized by the frost. I couldn't feel them, just rubbed my palm of my eyes because the fog prevented me from looking.
- Wait, Vetriana!
I didn't even think to turn around. I'd rather stiffen on the way, but I'm not going back!
- Wait, stop!
The strong fingers rested on the shoulder and something tight as a spring turned in the chest. I felt a bump in the air like a slammed door and turned around. Lord Darrell lay on his back five fathoms from me. I smiled maliciously. I slipped! That's what he needs.
In one jerk, the Lord turned over and jumped to his feet. It was stunning looking at me. I, gloomily, at him.
And then there was fatigue. So much that I couldn't help but sit in the snow. My legs trembled, my mouth dried up, the weakness of the wave passed over my body, making it naughty, cotton. And I'm so thirsty...
I reached for the snow, scooped a handful. It didn't even melt in my cold palms. I licked it. It's cold. I couldn't see the man approaching me, squatting, looking carefully in the face.
- Can you stand up? - He asked me frowningly.
I nodded uncertainly and, ignoring his hand, rose slowly. The Lord whistled quietly, and immediately the stallion was beside me, dancing with impatience. When I was put in the saddle, I could not find the strength to object. I felt so bad that the only thing I could think about was getting out of the saddle. I didn't get any joy from going back.
* * *
Fortunately, we got there fast. It was easier when we got to the shelter. And when we reached the stables, after swinging over the half-destroyed fence on the back of Riverstein, I felt much better. Even the ability to think came back. And I wondered, how did the Lord get so slipped that he flew off on five good fathoms?
In no small way, I asked him that question and told him. The man choked.
- You gotta
be kidding me.
- I was just asking," I stretched out the barrel and jumped out of the stables. I didn't like the look of the Lord that he gave me last.
In my room I slowly chewed a piece of black bread with cheese, which I had carefully hidden here. My return to the shared bedroom was kind of forgotten, and I was in no hurry to remind you. Loneliness did not frighten me, and even if it did, I would still prefer it to society such as Rogneda. Praise to the Blessed Mother, Lord Darrell was smart enough not to ride her stallion through the central entrance, but to go around! I imagined entering the gate, wrapped in the curator's expensive fur coat, and he almost hugged me from behind, and the hot paint of shame flooded my face. If anybody saw that... shame, then what a shame! They'll eat me alive and eat my bones! It's a shame...
Then I remembered laughing, clutching my back to him for balance and warmth, and I felt really bad! What was I thinking!
However, the Lord was surprisingly well aware of the secret paths of the area and the ruined places in the masonry fence. This is strange. Maybe he's been to these places before?
I remembered how confident he'd travelled through the field, but the places are wild, northern. And swamps full and lakes with dark, impenetrable water and deep fogs. The strangers never leave the main road, the worse in winter, when a treacherous snowball sweeps up the wetlands and lakes, in which it is so easy to bend.
And yet... how did it fly so far?
The food made me feel better, even though there was still a trembling weakness in me.
But I have to go to my evening classes. The angry abbesses are just waiting to get back at you, so you shouldn't be late.
The rest of the day went like fog. I did nothing but sit in the class, recording something thoughtlessly, stopped by Xena, who was asleep again, sat in the chapel. Danila didn't show up again. I was happy about it today. I couldn't keep up with the tedious conversations.
Even an amazing dinner: crumbly chips, roasted fish, and sweet herbal infusion with honey buns, I just ate silently, without joining in the rapturous jubilation. And soon, having washed myself with cold water, I pulled up a long hollow canvas shirt and climbed under the blanket. Even if the Call came back today, I wouldn't go anywhere," I thought gloomily because I had no strength.
The Wind of the North Page 11