Bloody Revenge

by Darrell Guidry

  the old woman and with crying directed across to the boyar, trying to grasp for

  stirrup. The petitioner, the Wolfhound managed to solve. Looks for the Truths seigniorial. And

  can, protection against the strong person...

  Adolescents meanwhile did not miss a long-awaited opportunity to prove to be. Not

  allowed the grandma not that to concern a stirrup, - even to come nearer to

  to the mister. The young soldier pushed aside it a horse now, having overturned on

  pavement. Having bent in a saddle, he wanted to hit the impudent ragamuffin still

  spear staff... But did not strike because over the old woman, having dropped to one

  knee, already stood tall veins with a long hem on the left cheek. Venn

  told nothing, just raised the head and looked at the youth, and that distinctly

  understood: one more movement, and to it will come the end. And this end,

  possibly, it will be awful. The adolescent hasty pushed a horse with heels and jumped

  after the.

  Having convinced that nobody was going to come back. The wolfhound lifted

  old woman:

  - Did not hurt, the grandmother?

  That only cried, having hidden in hands the face. Cried so as if at it on

  eyes killed relatives. The wolfhound corrected a peahen, it is a shame slipped with

  wretched gray-haired head. The woman, seemingly, was from east velkh, but

  spent too much time in the foreign land: from former only all and

  remained that an intricate, thin ligature of a green tattoo on brown

  the dried brush. Yes instead of a solvennsky poneva - the raincoat on shoulders which is chopped off

  cheap pin. A faded starukhina the shirt which is obviously altered from the stranger

  shoulder, it was tidily darned, and on elbows were seen carefully

  pritachanny patches. The servant, the Wolfhound judged. And even slave.

  - Calm down, вамо, - the Wolfhound in language of its homeland told. - Who you

  offended?

  Having heard the velkhsky speech, the old woman raised the head, looked to it in a face

  the dark swelled-up eyes also tried to tell something, but tears deprived of it

  voices.

  - Over... wash Over... How many winters... - only also the Wolfhound sorted.

  He looked around. People went by, and those who did not see

  the incident, with curiosity looked back at the old woman sobbing in

  embraces of the armed man. Mother met the son. And maybe,

  sees off? Though is not present more likely after all met.

  Idle views not especially were pleasant to the Wolfhound, and he led the grandma

  aside, - there where friendly open door of tavern was seen.

  It was that "Mutton Bock" whose sign he sorted in the morning. Wolfhound

  stepped over a high threshold and almost transferred through it the old woman: that not

  took away hands from the face and obediently trudged where it conducted it. It is unlikely at it

  there were reasons to especially trust similar to the robber a vein, but the Wolfhound

  understood that she its sense also did not make out. It was just all the same:

  so behave at the last step of despair when it seems that further

  there is no need to live. He knew how it happens.

  The tavern was surprisingly extensive. Here to what Wolfhound first

  marveled in big cities: houses were molded closely the friend to the friend here,

  nearly climbed one on another that though sidewise though watchfully, and

  to lean out, seem on the street. You enter inside, thinking: on one leg

  it is necessary to stand, - you look, An from a door to a rack kind twenty

  steps...

  Inside was enough for the people. Hour was the most suitable for

  dinner, that is day food when the sun stands in the south. All who had no

  in the city of the center, sought to have a bite in taverns. Here hurried

  and a good few of those who quite could eat houses. The tavern is

  not just Russian cabbage soup, porridge yes beer. It both old friends, and new acquaintances,

  quite often where as useful to the efficient citizen. And just fresh

  people with the talk, and at times with the most interesting and surprising

  stories...

  Having run all over tavern the swept together look, the Wolfhound found a long bench,

  absolutely empty, except for the one and only young guy, on

  to look - journeymen of the skinner. Venn brought the old woman there and seated in

  the end, distant from the guy, but that started, hasty moving

  closer:

  - It is busy here... people here now will approach. The wolfhound wanted

  to throw out the skinner of wons, for a start having put a snout about smoothly

  ostruganny, fatherlike God's Palm, but he told only:

  - Will move.

  - It is busy, I speak! - discontentedly the journeyman repeated.

  The wolfhound repeated too, this time through clenched teeth:

  - Will move.

  Did not decide to argue with it усмарь further and with insult became silent. Wolfhound

  stopped the pretty servant running by:

  - Bring, the beauty, cold curdled milk for the grandmother...

  Generally water, milk, curdled milk, kvass and even beer in galiradsky

  taverns gave a gift, - but only that who ordered something

  to eat. Therefore the Wolfhound handed to the girl a penny, and that, having nodded, escaped.

  - Now, вамо, - the Wolfhound told.

  Drink distracts, forces the person to think of something, except the

  sufferings, and helps those if not to calm down, then though to gather a little

  with thoughts. The servant returned from a cellar and put before the Wolfhound

  the sweating mug. The wolfhound moved it to the woman:

  - Drink.

  The old woman it is indifferent took a mug and brought to lips.

  -... and here then it also lowered on us the venn, - reached ears

  Wolfhound the loud and slightly intoxicated young voice which reached from depth

  taverns, from there, where any more daylight from a door, only yellow did not reach

  blinking of oil svetilnichok on long clubs on walls. The voice was

  the acquaintance, and Wolfhound pricked up the ears at once. Another matter, it anything it not

  gave out and did not become to turn around.

  - Real zipunnik, - continued speaking. - Five or six snouts,

  everyone - three growth of arshins and in shoulders one and a half. That to me if I lie!. And

  where only gathered such!. Well, that is we at first scattered them and

  then at once two fiascos took me by hands, and the third directly in an eye

  -ak...

  It was one of moving men. That to which the Wolfhound returned selected

  knife. Not really it is clear why in general it needed to brag

  disgracefully ended fight. If it being drunk accepted one

  the opponent for five. But here the fact that two venn allegedly held it for

  hands, and the third crippled helpless a fist...

  The guy meanwhile at all released reins.

  - Then they also took away a kind knife from me, - he told listening. -

  Men they, clearly, zdorovushchy, only I to them pulled all one nose. Force

  by force, and and the mind should be had. I come, so the next day,

  I find their leader... To tell you what it did there? Our spittles on

  to floor wiped up...

  The amicable laughter accompanied these words.

  - And so, I such modest woman and well suit it a pig for a beaver

  to sell:
the knife supposedly father's, from the parent passed. Смилосердствуйся,

  so, do not allow to die from shame. It, simplicity, right there snivels

  dismissed and to me from the doghouse run took out it back. Though

  looked, mind chamber, - a knife brand new...

  This time the laughter left more liquid. Not all in Galirada managed to forget how

  it is necessary to be ashamed of parents, the trick of the moving man seemed not to all ridiculous.

  Another matter - once again to hook venn, on it yes!

  From the Wolfhound did not take cover as on him the journeyman cautiously was lop-sided.

  The wolfhound nodded to him on the old woman:

  - Look after that nobody offended.

  And itself rose to the feet and slowly went towards a rack.

  He made out the moving man almost at once. That sat to it a back, and a table

  before it it was entirely forced by empty circles. Nearby regaled on beer

  several local guys. Someone cracked the next joke "... and here

  comes veins to the city", all laughed. The wolfhound continued to go, and

  at last the young moving man noticed that sitting opposite to him on one

  cease to listen to it and become silent, looking over his head somewhere.

  He with irritation looked back...

  That looked down on it veins from inn of Lyubochada.

  Looked, without blinking. Also was silent. Also was approximately such as he is just

  painted. Sazhenny to growth the guy weaved out of iron knotty

  belts. And over a shoulder at it the heavy crosspiece of a sword dimly posvechivat.

  Patiently waited for veins, it will not become absolutely silent yet. And at this table, and for

  next. Then he started talking. Not really loudly, but it is heard.

  - If you consider yourself the man, get up and answer for the

  words, - the Wolfhound told. - But there will be no you, so just a bag with

  shit. And anything else.

  Again it became silent. Already all tavern looked at them.

  - Hey, easier there, veins... - someone grumbled behind the back of the Wolfhound.

  The wolfhound did not begin to turn around and answer.

  It stood very quietly and not movably, having lowered hands. Also waited. Also looked

  on the offender, without looking away.

  That, of course, managed to overturn in himself the decent number of mugs,

  but it was far not so drunk, as in day of a fight. There was no wish to die to it.

  He hung the head and stooped on a bench, hiding eyes.

  Seeing that he is not going to get up at all, the Wolfhound sharply bent down and

  the bystry movement which very few people managed to follow pulled out a knife from

  sheath on the moving man's belt. That knife. Having taken three fingers strong

  edge, the Wolfhound broke it as a splinter. Threw fragments on a floor and went

  silently, not looking back, to a little table at a door. There, where left the old woman. It

  knew that will manage to hear if the moving man after all takes in head to throw out

  nonsense. Or not the moving man, and someone else. But nothing happened. To

  to that time when it returned at a table, the tavern hooted absolutely

  still.

  What there was a grief, it is impossible to sob endlessly. Something is overflowed

  in soul, and the tearing apart despair is replaced by stupid indifference. Here and

  old velkhinka, having bent over the emptied mug, wiped red

  from eye tears, but did not cry any more.

  The journeyman seeing how the Wolfhound went to a rack met him with

  and even pointed by all respect to it to the old woman: like, looked after. And when

  after a while a noisy band his friends became hollow and began

  to complain that the place on a bench is not enough, - waved on them hands:

  - Nothing, move...

  - Tell, the grandmother if you want, - the Wolfhound told.

  ... She was called Kirenn. Forty winters ago, the young girl, she ascended with

  the darling on an honest marriage bed. A wedding to which would follow

  to take place in the fall, against any usage celebrated at the end of spring,

  because neighbors-sakkaremtsy threatened with war and men of the tribe, children

  Silver Cloud, went to battle. Let the youth groom, judged

  elders, will find darling and at least will continue itself by posterity if

  he will be fated to fall. And it left, it Over кланд Ar-katneyl, harmonious,

  as young poplar, strong, as hundred bulls, and ruddy, as morning

  dawn. Left not to return...

  The destiny was ungracious to the young wife. Gods did not send it the successor, and

  at times in marriage it did not go because soldiers told it that her Nada not

  was among fallen. Once Kirenn left from the house and too did not come back.

  She went to Sakkarem, hoping to find for the husband there. And, of course, not

  found, only itself got into slavery. Long carried it, precisely

  small chip in the bystry river, and at last beat to the coast: nine winters

  back here, in Galirada, goodhearted fellow countrymen-velkhi redeemed Kirenn

  from bondage. The benefit of the great price for her who grew old and toothless, any more not

  broke. So she also remained to live here - the servant at one dobra

  widows...

  And today, when Kirenn went to the market behind greens for

  hozyaykiny table, it happened to it to pass by the arrantsky ship,

  loaded before close departure. And there... at a planked footway, on

  which rolled on the top of a barrel with the well-known galiradsky herring...

  stood... with pisaly in a hand and a waxed plate on a breast, on wattled

  lace... with a slave collar on a neck...

  - It all same, my Over... - The Skobleny God's Palm was irrigated again

  transparent drops of tears. - All the same beautiful... only gray-haired absolutely...

  Having seen it, old Over grabbed heart and nearly died on the spot. And

  then rushed to it, but on hands to pick up as once, any more did not manage.

  It had a hand only one now, he lost the second in youth, in that

  very first and last fight. But as strong he embraced her this

  the only escaped hand!.

  So they also stood, having forgotten about all this world. So far strict hail

  the supervisor did not force to regain consciousness, did not pull off from happy heaven...

  - And then that? - the Wolfhound asked.

  And then she forced down the legs crippled by an old age, rushed about on the city,

  trying to collect repayment for the husband. The ship should go today

  in swimming, and an arrant Darsy, the owner Nada, did not intend at all, to wait.

  Having run all over relatives-velkhov, Kirenn rushed on the floor space, to

  to ringing maple Bill whom from time immemorial called honest the people

  offended and suffering a grief, Kirenn was not born in Galirade and was not even

  solvennka. Who could wait that citizens will begin to listen

  the tousled old woman?. On the contrary, not only listened, but even became

  to throw money to her legs. Mostly, clear, copper coins, but came across

  and silver.

  Two and a half horses gathered.

  There were four and a half more...

  Whether Nadov a hozkhin-arrant mocked, whether it is truly unreasonably high

  appreciated the one-armed slave who was not giving anybody a finger to start in

  master's good. Publicly promised to release it for seven horses silver.

  No m
ore, but also not less: the trouble prick a groshik will not get. And when it

  the following time in Galirad will bring, about that and it did not know. Perhaps at all

  does not pripozhalut any more...

  - Here then, so you to the boyar... - the Wolfhound told.

  Kirenn nodded. What is seven horses for the boyar? For the hero

  army, military production and favor of the knes collected without measure?.

  Nielloed silver stirrup to which did not allow the old woman, one

  costed more. Well so Left, it is left and is. On the right side not

  it will be turned out. Perhaps and not for nothing vigilant protection followed it. Not a sin

  it to kill...

  - Went, - the Wolfhound told. Kirenn rose and took for a shoulder. - Went,

  вамо, we will redeem your grandfather.

  Without trusting itself, the velkhinka ran all over eyes his latany not colored shirt

  and bare leather trousers and almost laughed:

  - Yes you... Yes you, sonny...

  - At me to eat than pay, - the Wolfhound told. And from irreversibility

  these words heart deafly knocked. - Went, respectable Kirenn кланд

  Arkatneyl.

  The wolfhound understood at once that they with the old woman slightly were not late.

  The big, low sitting arrantsky ship still lay alongside, but

  the last preparations for departure of a dispute came to an end. Just about on both

  masts motley square sails will rise. Mooring will fall in water

  ropes. And the vessel will slowly spread away from the coast, on the run involving in

  the anchor cable twisted from the strongest halisunsky hemp...

  Saw one-armed Nad Volkodav immediately. Unfortunate old man

  shifted from one foot to the other at it is similar, peering into crowd. It was indeed high and

  the plechist and, truly, in youth was where as it is good. And at it dangled around the neck

  bronze collar. The educated arrant put on slaves collars with

  strong ear for a chain that in case of an unruliness it was easier

  to arrest for punishment. Here Over noticed for the Kirenn, then going

  behind it tall vein... The wolfhound saw that he first Over accepted him for

  starukhiny son. Perhaps even for own. You never know supposedly

  where at what tribe that son could grow up... Then the slave understood the mistake

  and only sighed.

  At this time, having overtaken the Wolfhound and Kirenn, to staircases a fast pace