Bloody Revenge

by Darrell Guidry

to track. Stood, there was to himself an important boyar and suddenly, having howled, hard

  fell heavily facedown. Knesinka let out him at once and jumped.

  - Did not hurt, the uncle Krut?. - she asked, reddening.

  The wolfhound saw that to it it was awkward. Uncle after all. On a lap it

  once held, sang lullabies to the orphan. To lie brought down on the earth - the last

  business, but Right for some reason did not hurry to rise. Only rose on

  elbow and, pounding a wide sinewy wrist, looked from below up. On

  the confused knesinka, gloomy a vein, uncontrollably growing stout twins and

  on the old woman in a saddle. When their eyes met, the Striking Spear is quick

  put out the tongue at it.

  - I wanted that madam could stand for herself, - the Wolfhound told. -

  Even if to will kill all of us. Both me, and them, - he nodded on brothers, - and

  you...

  - And if so, there is nothing to screen me! - having looked back, interrupted

  knesinka of Elen. - Not you wanted something there, and I forced you!

  - Well, stub sivoborody? - the nurse took an interest. - Understood everything?

  Comprehended, than the girl played? Or still to explain?

  Right at last rose and, without answering, began to shake out hammered

  dust trousers. Knesinka bypassed it, trying to glance in eyes, - not

  whether took offense?

  Further, according to the Wolfhound, it was easy to foresee too. Boyar

  caught "daughter" the instant movement which she, seemingly, also did not see.

  Bent the young ruler through a knee and was accepted by fatherlike

  hand to award with weighty slaps it is below than a back... Wolfhound

  did not begin to interfere, of course.

  And in several days in fortress one more pigeon flied, and

  heralds carried a happy message on the city: кнес comes back, кнес

  home goes from Velimor. Moreover and the diploma it is lucky about love and consent with

  great southern neighbor. Rejoice, people!

  And people rejoiced.

  Day when кнес came back to the city, was given dank and gray.

  As in autumn mournful rain set in still the day before. From time to time the sky was tired

  to cry, but the heavy haze beginning from most did not vanish anywhere

  lands. Slow wind drove from the sea flat lazy waves, and almost on

  to water wet tousle of never-ending clouds crept. The city ruffled up and grew dull,

  even the green grass on roofs as though lost color. In such weather

  there was a wish to sit within four walls and to be engaged in something house,

  listening as crackles in the furnace. And to think without thinking of a mozgly twilight

  outside. Which, in all honesty, and you will not call in the afternoon. How many

  the Wolfhound remembered himself, to sit out during bad weather under a roof at him not

  never it turned out. At his place it was got: woman and cat

  manage in a log hut, the man and a dog - in the yard. And then it seven years not

  saw not that rain or snow - in general forgot how look the sky,

  sun and clouds. Last night, expecting long bad weather, the knesinka ordered

  to it to stay at home for the next day as also anywhere from fortress not

  gathered. But hardly uttered, as on the become limp bolshak, mercilessly

  spraying dirt, to the city the horse messenger rode and reported that on

  other day it was necessary to wait for a knes. And, of course, the daughter-knesinka gathered

  towards to the father. The wolfhound knew that she will be dissuaded, but she not

  will listen.

  When the clouds spraying the earth from impenetrable-black became

  bluish, he saddled Serk, pulled an unbending hood over the head

  dense rogozhny raincoat also went to Krom.

  It went on the dark deserted street, nobody, except rare policemen,

  without meeting, also thought: when they gather and will go to meet a knes,

  the corn cockle from the head should be cast away - whether from under it you will make out much! - and

  dampness will nevozbranno stick together hair, will begin to flow for a collar, impregnating

  shirt, leaving stains on a kind suede cover... Thanks though,

  the blued chain armor is not subject to a rzha...

  Only yesterday the exulting Tilorn showed it over what they with the master

  Nettle fought half of summer: iron spoon. Covered it brilliant as

  mirror, light metal film. Everything, except a handle tip, for

  which - better luck next time - a spoon was lowered in solution.

  - The Nettle will cover with it chain armors soon! - the scientist told, -

  You represent what price arrant will begin to jack up for the substances,

  if only find out?

  The spoon was solemnly presented Niilit, and the girl immediately

  tested it in business: began to stir the green Russian cabbage soup which was slowly boiling

  in a pot on a clay oven. The spoon was burned down, and Niilit wrapped up a shank

  rag. The wolfhound remembered that crystals which used the Nettle,

  had a reputation for a poison, and Tilorna asked whether it will be possible to eat after that Russian cabbage soup.

  As far as he knew, scientists remember such trifles not always.

  Tilorn only waved away. He endured not less about a thin covering,

  than a Wolfhound - for Mysh when to a small animal corrected a wing. Niilit

  worried both about a spoon, and about Tilorn, and about Russian cabbage soup. At it in the homeland of anything

  similar was not cooked, the recipe belonged to the Wolfhound, and Niilit in anything not

  it was sure. Curious the Plover (from which took terrible - you eat the earth! -

  oath to be silent about what was seen) dragged by the grandfather's hand, and with the grandfather was in

  kitchen and Evrikh helping to impregnate with the kindled wax leather

  preparations. From a shoulder a vein uneasy Mysh and with peep broke

  it was started turning under a ceiling... All family assembled. At last a spoon, without wiping,

  took from a pot and allowed to dry. Niilit washed away and scraped off from it

  sorrel remains...

  The wonderful covering began to sparkle indifferently. Tilorn picked up

  Niilit and broke with it into a dance beside the furnace.

  - Heroes such should do, - the Wolfhound advised. - Probably at once

  will forget to share to whom silver is to whom bone...

  ... And here it went to fortress under the sad rain seeming still

  more cold because of early hour, also thought about brilliant as spring ice

  laces, chain armors which the master Krapiva naplett soon. And, it is necessary

  to think, will vividly become famous. In such chain armors it is good to jump on the enemy,

  to slide an iron wave, directing horror naked abuses... A wolfhound for

  that would not begin to change for them the blued. As, however, and habitual

  wooden spoon - on this brilliant, which, without having turned in the end

  sleeves, you will not take in a hand, and the mouth burns down...

  It was not as in summer cold, and he put on under a chain armor two at once

  shirts, and between them - a woolen sleeveless jacket, secretly connected Niilit.

  The sleeveless jacket was from gray dog down. The wolfhound who did not get used to

  to gifts, at first became puzzled, then, having got accustomed, thawed.

  - It that you... did not cough any more, - terribly being confused, explained to him

  Niilit. Venn he is grateful embraced he
r, and then asked why she chose

  such color. He did not speak about the sort to anybody. Young needlewoman

  was confused even more:

  - Well... wolfhounds, they... gray such...

  Outlines of houses and towers began to appear gradually in the dark,

  when the stallion brought it in Krom. Knesinka had breakfast, and the Wolfhound on

  to habit located on a porch. He perfectly knew that vigilant

  the nurse all the same will not let it even in влазню. There is nothing, will tell, to trample down

  wet sapozhishcha on a beautiful and clean floor. The wolfhound began to think about

  the volume as they will go to meet a knes now, and suddenly remembered slyshanny

  from the boyar Krut: the sovereign supposedly first consisted at the dead

  rulers simple voivode...

  And that, he hemmed unexpectedly. Who will be charged that to it through

  hundred years kind galiradets will not begin to remember one of the former

  knes: at first supposedly was at a knesinka of that time simple, the bodyguard?.

  Mouse poked out a nose because of a bosom, smelled crude air and again hid

  in habitual heat - to fill up. Near a porch there was a spacious canopy,

  arranged purposely during bad weather to put horses. The wolfhound rubbed off

  he is grateful the sniffing Serk, crookedly grinning shameless, it is unknown

  from where the undertaken thought. The leg on a dish was not able to do a pesye to lie...

  Brothers Dashing quietly arose from round the corner and began to be stolen very quietly

  to it, being buried in deep darkness.

  - Morning is kind, - the Wolfhound quietly told them. From darkness reached

  conjoint sigh, and brothers approached, without being thawed any more.

  - How noticed?. - Likhoslav asked. Rare morning they did not set

  To wolfhound of this question. To approach secretly it was a hopeless invention,

  but persistent twins did not stop trying.

  - I see in the dark, - told veins.

  - You will teach? - at once Likhoslav asked. He was a senior from two and temper

  poboychy.

  Judicious Likhobor nudged the brother sideways:

  - You that, with it only to be born...

  - I in the mine learned, - the Wolfhound told. - Got used in the dark.

  To its horror, twins exchanged glances nearly with envy. Both were

  are dressed up. When they brought horses, those were cleaned so as if

  brothers should flaunt on them in the middle of the bargaining, but not to jump on

  dirt. The first time - always the first time that there tell. First love,

  first fight... the first trip in suite of a knesinka... You want, you do not want, -

  it will be remembered well.

  Bolshak on approaches to the city were going to pave for a long time and not

  wooden logs as it was accepted at solvenn, and a stone,

  on-narlakski. All agreed that the stone will be flattened out not soon under

  wheels of vehicles and the grounded hoofs of horses and will definitely not be

  every spring and every fall to creep away with the impassable swamp. Was not

  consent only in that to undo a coma on common cause a purse. And therefore

  good common cause, as usual, did not move a little.

  The road at first conducted along Sveta’si, then curtailed on the South, by Foggy

  The rock rolling in low clouds and horses went easier at once. On

  to velimorsky path still there went not much people, so,

  and dirt special here was not yet. So far. If everything goes as

  conceived кнес, the team and wise galiradsky aged men, - will become

  Galirad one more sea gate of Velimor. Then vehicles on this

  to the road will sweep one another forward. And, maybe, money will be found at last

  on a stone pavement. If only again something does not prevent...

  Knesinka Elen greedy looked forward, and the Wolfhound saw that she

  strongly worried. Just about the familiar banner - white will seem from fog

  the bird rushing on the scarlet field - and the father sovereign will press to heart

  the beauty the daughter from the very beginning of spring observing for it the city. That

  the reasonable knesinka trembled as if the boy before Dedication in

  men? Was afraid, кнес will not praise?. For what?.

  - You will see them, madam, do not jump at once forward, - warned her

  Wolfhound when got onto horses. - Only if you recognize the father

  for certain. You never know...

  - See, it raskomandovatsya, absolutely the shame lost!. - right there grumbled

  Haygal. The wolfhound did not begin to answer and that you will answer the harmful old woman, but

  the knesinka agreed unexpectedly humbly;

  - As you will tell...

  Together with it to meet the leader Luchezar went with the adolescents. Adolescents,

  sitting on strong and bystry horses, were scattered far forward on the road

  - to look out for the advanced riders of a knes. Luchezar went beside

  "sisters" and in the beginning all it was attached on the right, restricting a horse

  Wolfhound, but the knesinka ordered to take to him the place at the left and to disobey

  the boyar did not dare, though became angry. And the Wolfhound this time got up slightly

  ahead. It went, having cast away a dense rogozhny hood on a back and feeling,

  as under clothes dampness creeps away.

  He did not look back at twins whose horses rysit behind the Snowflake. And

  what to look back. Each of three before the last movement knew, how in

  case of what to arrive.

  Knesinka was silent, having shrunk under a raincoat from tannage, not

  passing a rain. As if goes to meet not the father of darling, it was thought

  To wolfhound, and... She waited for something from this meeting, something not especially

  joyful. Э, dawned on it suddenly but whether prosvatat its mnogodumny

  parent?. She undertook to inquire that as well as that with it at venn and

  whether happens that for unloved... It can climb up mind, only

  if most just about it is necessary. Well as is prosvatat! For somebody from

  deliberate husbands of Velimor, and догадай mercy Hostess Sudeb, that not

  was old, angry and opposite at all...

  The wolfhound grudged a knesinka which he not that to help out from this

  troubles - even reasonable could not console in the word. Still he thought of the one who

  to whom if everything is valid so to live will move. Knesinka in Velimor?

  Or the notable groom - to new relatives and new allies?. And, if

  will have to move to a knesinka whether she will wish to take it, the Wolfhound, with

  ? And what then to do to Tilorn, Niilit, Evrikh and the grandfather Varokh with

  grandson Zuyko?.

  Here so, he grinned about himself. Neither they without me, nor I without them.

  Family. My family...

  And here because of a gray veil of a rain, weakened by distance, but clear and

  ringing, reached a horn voice.

  Elen Gluzdovna, of course, in a moment forgot all promises and struck

  heels mare. A wolfhound, purposely for the sake of it keeping slightly ahead,

  intercepted reins. Also did not release even then when from a wet haze

  the uncombed adolescent came up:

  - Knes!. Knes goes, itself saw!. Yes already seemed...

  Through a veil of a rain it was indeed possible to make out silhouettes

  riders. Laughter, joyful voices was heard.

  - Catch up, the sister! - the boyar L
uchezar sent a stallion forward and skipped away

  on the grassy road.

  - You already hear the father's voice, madam? - the Wolfhound asked.

  Knesinka Elen only nodded in reply. She looked at the Wolfhound with

  some nearly despair. So, as if did not want that it is it

  released. Venn took away a hand from reins and told:

  - Let's go, madam.

  The snowflake under it danced, asked to jump after all.

  Knesinka decided, gave her vent, and a mare, having quickly taken from the place,

  departed forward.

  Probably, Elen Gluzdovna really was successful in mother. Low

  the broad-shouldered man who was fatherlike embracing her was a dark-hair and кудряв.

  The only thing that it had the general with the daughter, is gray, spring

  purity of an eye. Knesinka greedily cried and nestled on his breast,

  without caring at all that the leather raincoat swung open also a cold rain

  with might and main sprayed green cages of a poneva.

  -... And became unproductive, became unproductive, one stones! Without father in any way absolutely

  ceased to eat? I considered, only in Velimore of the beauty lean yes

  try to be pale, thought, ours it is cleverer... An and you there! - hiding

  shiver in a voice, tenderly uttered кнес. Then looked over the head

  daughters also met views the Wolfhound keeping a stone's throw away.

  Veins silently bowed to it. Sense Nesmeyanovich attentively inspected new

  the person and slightly shook the daughter for плечо:. - And it still who at you? Not

  I will remember it...

  - It, the relative, the Vienna bandit, - grinning, explained Left. - Yours

  the daughter is too kind, the sovereign: feeds with your bread spongers

  different...

  Knesinka threw up the head and stared at Luchezar. If it was talked

  not about the beautiful girl, the Wolfhound would tell that was watched by her furiously. And

  still. Probably, Luchezar plaid about the stupefying powder for a long time. In

  sensible mind people so do not behave. Do not make several times

  same mistakes.

  - This is my bodyguard! - by the ringing voice the knesinka of Elen told.

  - Really? - was surprised кнес. - Yes for whom you, except me, it is necessary that

  to guard you?. - Also specified by a hand to the Wolfhound: - All right, go with adolescents,

  veins. Then we will understand.