Bloody Revenge

by Darrell Guidry

  "It seems to know better to you, madam..."

  Powder locked blood and fell off a crust, having left a tidy wound. Woman

  greased it with some odorous black pitch, then it is surprisingly dexterous

  sewed up. More than four years later on this place was not really noticeable,

  thin, as a thread, a scar which did not prevent to move to a hand and not

  reminded of himself even before a bad weather.

  Having recovered the breath a little, the Wolfhound took away weapon of the killed and money,

  found in purses. Having dragged bodies from the road aside, it untied on

  both woven belts also began to fill up the dead with the earth and stones. Not in

  the first and not last time life forced to do it without ceremonies

  military clarification. But if it was possible to secure somehow itself from

  comings of vindictive souls, you should not have neglected it. At all

  the last business - to throw unburied a body of the enemy...

  "Where you went, the kid?" - the woman asked it.

  "At first in Sakkarem, madam", - the Wolfhound told.

  The stare of brown eyes ran all over it from head to foot.

  "AT FIRST in Sakkarem!. Well, полезай on a burro, I will see off you".

  The Wolfhound flatly refused to sit down on a burro.

  "You will fall down, - the woman predicted. - You will not pass two fields,

  you will fall down. I see, think, I will manage to pile up you in a saddle?"

  The wolfhound passed two fields. Then, as much. And still.

  "Means, you go AT FIRST to Sakkarem, - rocking on a back

  the tripping burro, his gray-haired companion argued. It was

  it is curious as Tilorn, and was also able to talk one for two,

  gradually extending from reticent a vein everything that interested it.

  And Mysh to it, in accuracy as to Tilorn, like full confidence at once. -

  You are not similar neither to the merchant, nor to the wandering workman, - continued

  it. - On... forgive, but you are not really similar to the soldier too. And who only

  guessed to send you, the kid, one and such silly through passes,

  on the dangerous road?"

  The wolfhound long was silent, then, having despaired to find the correct words,

  shook the head towards the snow tops burning in the pink sky:

  "There... people were. Different. Where relatives, told each other. Here...

  I want to visit about whom I know..."

  "There is where?" - the woman asked.

  "In Bright mountains, madam", - the Wolfhound told.

  She attentively looked at it, nodded and long went silently,

  considering something.

  "Whether you heard about Going After the Moon? - she started talking later.

  The wolfhound nodded, and it sniffed: - Then I do not understand at all that to you

  it was required to be put..."

  The riddle was resolved in several days when stone slopes

  seams on a shoulder a vein were replaced by hills and green Sakkarem's swamps, and

  did not threaten to disperse even at the sharp movement any more. Somehow in the evening, so far

  the kettle, the fragile little woman began to boil on a fire, laughing,

  ordered to seize to the Wolfhound her, to stab a knife or to strike. Everything that

  it is necessary, on its discretion. And without subcrushes.

  "As those two", - she explained.

  Veins, got used to catch the hands chained in a chain in the dark

  prompt rats, carefully stepped forward... He almost managed. It

  managed to touch a swarty wrinkled wrist slightly. And at once something

  it happened, he did not understand that. The earth overturned under legs,

  as if floor board trap. The wolfhound saw the of a foot, lifted up to

  to heaven, and only then the earth rose into place, having imperiously attracted to itself

  his body.

  "It was not hurt?" - the priestess Bogini Kan cheerfully asked....

  - At these priestesses is got to wander, - the Wolfhound told. - To treat,

  to learn... And that unarmed women came back home live, their Goddess

  granted to the schoolgirls Art. Caen-kiro veddaard of a lurgv... "Name

  Goddesses and rules the world Lyubov". Mother Kendarat began to talk some sense into me.

  It and in those bushes threw me now.

  Ertan looked at him distrustful up and down:

  - You? Old woman?. The wolfhound answered that he thought:

  - It is wise, and I am silly. If it appeared at you in Klyuchinke instead of

  me, it so would turn business that Luchezarova blockheads of a hand to it

  kissed and begged to forgive. And I that?. Only to break bones...

  Ertan hemmed:

  - Too sometimes it is useful...

  - Perhaps it is also useful, - the Wolfhound nodded. - Only Kan-Kendarat

  spoke: you will cripple the enemy, he will even more become embittered. And it is necessary that

  conscience woke up. She was able to do it. I - am not present. And it is also perfection.

  Ertan thoughtfully pomotat the head.

  - Priestess! - she murmured then. - Perfection!. On me, the head

  to tear off nevertheless more true!

  - On me, too, - the Wolfhound told. - Here therefore I would also not win

  Mother Kendarat.

  While went to the camp, Ertan asked all a vein about Caen-kiro, and it

  understood that not later than on the following halt it will have one more

  schoolgirl. Velkhinke was only not believed that by means of this art

  it is possible to overcome the person more largely and stronger than. And even several at once.

  Arguments of the Wolfhound did not make a special impression on it. Possibly,

  because, that it and without any tricks, one fist anyone could

  to do in.

  - And you it seems to a knesinka yes grasp it more strong by a hand, - with a smile

  advised veins. - You it three times stronger and is not known by her almost

  anything. But you will not hold.

  The wolfhound hurried in stanovishche back, as usual, being afraid, would not befall

  what in its absence. Upon return, however, it became clear that during a time

  was to save not madam, but two junior bodyguards - from

  the angered madam.

  There was what was expected by the Wolfhound: Elen Gluzdovna, yet not

  darkened, gathered for mushrooms, and brothers Dashing, for a laughing-stock

  Luchezarovicham, it was not let.

  - Wolfhound!. - nearly crying with powerless disappointment, she rushed to

  vein. But the Wolfhound shook the head.

  - They are right, the monarchess, - he spoke quietly. When he wanted in

  something to convince the angry person, he always spoke quietly. On it

  to observations, it forced to listen. And to listen, in the same

  time continuing to boil, difficult. - Place here deaf, unknown,

  and glory behind it bad, - the Wolfhound continued. - You never know who because of

  tree will rush.

  At a knesinka is even hotter crimson stains blossomed on cheeks:

  - And you are three on what?. Whether at force you will begin to hold me?.

  - Do not force to that better, madam, - without suggestion of a smile told

  Wolfhound. Thought and added: - Here we will arrive, you will be free me in three necks

  to push out and not to pay a money. For now we go, I will begin to protect you.

  At the words "here we will arrive" from a face of a knesinka, as if on magic,

  the angry flush ran away. Having thrown down to the ground the prepared basket, the girl


  disappeared in a tent. The nurse hurried after her. The wolfhound listened and

  soon distinguished the squeezed sobbing reaching from within. Knesinka

  cried.

  The wolfhound drearily thought of whether well he arrived, without having given it

  to amuse soul mushrooms. Also decided that after all it was right. Did not put

  to walk about on the woods when someone on you started hunting. And offense nevertheless

  not that to die from it.

  Still he thought that he more than once and not two, sitting at night, heard from

  knesinka tents just the same crying. For some reason to it it was always remembered at

  it as she grabbed his hand then in Galirada, in day of covering

  persons.

  A time later the Wolfhound sat at Aptakhar's fire and conducted

  conversation with ratnikami-segvana.

  - What you will do, Aptakhar, - he asked, - if now at night

  somebody will attack us?

  Segvan scratched a hand in the curly turning gray beard:

  - And from what you took, veins what will attack us? Someone from policemen

  more young, it is visible, naslyshanny about Aptakhar's adventures, laughed:

  - Again the bat worries? It managed to become something it seems

  family joke and many made laugh, but the Wolfhound did not smile. He told:

  - I do not want that attacked. But if suddenly?

  - If yes if, - Aptakhar grumbled. Having removed from fire, he stretched to it

  the big flat cake roasted on-segvansk’s with onions and cracklings. Then

  shrugged shoulders: - Let's begin to do that will be told.

  - And there will be nobody to tell? - the Wolfhound did not lag behind. - Here we sit here,

  and from the swamp got?.

  Luchezar, the first voivode of pokhodnik, truly behaved as if on

  to harmless walk near the city. Being bedded down, it never

  troubled itself detailed orders to whom where to run and what to do

  IF...

  - Yes well you by the night with such talk! - annoyancely waved away

  Aptakhar. - Decided to predict?. Tell me better about this velkhinka,

  Ertan. Perhaps to me to it to prisvatatsya? For the son, and?.

  The wolfhound grinned a mouth corner:

  - Присвататься it is possible, it would only not begin to you with it what

  to show receptions...

  This already precisely there was a family joke, and Aptakhar laughed loudly in everything

  throat.

  - We with Ertan, - ceasing to smile, the Wolfhound told, - here all

  thought how to protect madam if truly get.

  - You to heroes with it, - advised one of segvan. - We that!

  Not painfully we asked.

  - On heroes hope as on blue ice, - sighed veins. - Here that.

  We with it above the hill found an old sanctuary. Walls stone... Just

  in that party. Ertan of the velkh promised to arrange there... If

  at night who will rustle, I a knesinka by a hand цап and at once there.

  - And we will cover, - Aptakhar nodded. - I will expose Sagittariuses.

  - Still, - the Wolfhound told. - At the monarchess of the servant, the nurse and the doctor,

  and she will not throw them. One maids seven, and us, bodyguards, three...

  If on conscience, generally it to Aptakhar also followed it. In itself

  it also alone would pull out a knesinka from under a nose at any murderers. And

  dragged away in such thicket that there it even local natives never

  would find without dogs. And with dogs - and even less so. But it was worth presenting

  to the unfortunate little girls left in the middle of the wood on a fun to fierce

  to tyrants... scaredly and absurdly rushing about, perishing...

  The wolfhound looked how broad-shouldered smoothed moustaches

  handsome-segvany, as they impatiently fidgeted on the places at a fire, and

  understood that came since the necessary end. The monarchess had servants all as on

  selection nice, sharp-eyed and fun-loving. Matter of course, young soldiers all

  time was looked for a case to wink at girls, to be thrown by a joke and if

  will carry, and to give smacking kiss some in a rosy cheek. But still

  similar if occurred, then unless at a forest stream or in secluded

  corner of a klyuchinsky tyn. About that night without a break to stick out at a tent

  and to stir knesinka with servants in the face of the vigilant grandma, could not

  to be also speeches. But now!. Try who banish!. Senior

  the bodyguard allowed!

  The wolfhound returned to the marching dwelling of the madam and, having punished

  To Likhoslav to wake itself at sunset, got under the vehicle, muffled in

  the warm raincoat also immediately fell asleep. Dense soft fur heated and caressed a body.

  Happen need, the Wolfhound in the same way would sleep though naked: his life

  what only did not accustom to. But if there was an opportunity, veins preferred

  to sleep properly, in heat and a cosiness.

  He already dozed off when under the vehicle Mysh silently flew. Having twisted,

  the big-eared small animal hung up pads on some ledge of the bottom. To sleep to it

  there was no wish, but to anything who will decide to offend the Wolfhound, it is necessary at first

  to deal with it!

  Veins woke up when the Eye of Gods concerned the foggy horizon,

  being going to leave for Kayeransky bogs, for the islands which are hardly seen in the distance.

  Likhoslav and Likhobor in a whisper argued near the vehicle, discussing, it is time to awake

  or let the mentor will have a sleep a little more. Mysh raised the head and

  with irritation hissed on both. The wolfhound got out outside and shook from clothes

  blades. The small animal immediately flushed to him on a shoulder.

  Without fur raincoat it seemed cold at once. The wolfhound went to a round

  stanovishcha, noting about itself that many just in case led round the

  tents guarding circles. Tilorn, probably, now would explain

  to it and all curious, why people of the most different beliefs so unanimously

  relied on the preserving circle force. Very much could be, told himself

  Wolfhound that, having listened to explanations, the people would show not smaller

  unanimity, having agreed to give a dressing down to the scientist.

  Anyway, solvenna drew circles knives, segvana

  spread them stones, and velkh - ropes from a horsehair, and

  the difference on it came to an end. For the present did not darken, in a circle left

  pass. When all calm down and will go to sleep, passes will close. And it

  too all did equally so Tilorn - who knows! - perhaps, not

  strongly was also mistaken...

  The camp was stretched on a woody stone vzlobk freely and carelessly,

  people delivered tents to whom where it was more fallen in love.

  Badly. Very badly.

  The wolfhound once again looked at the sun which almost already sank into swamps and

  resolved about himself: to be to a trouble. He was not born the clairvoyant and events

  was not able to foresee. But a scent on danger, inherent in etched animals and

  to beaten convicts, yet never brought it.

  When it returned to a knesinka tent, there was crowded. Segvansk’sye

  policemen kept the word. Dozens of broad-shouldered fair-haired good fellows

  already entertained the servants who more got prettier from unexpected

  male attention. Near an entrance the doctor sat on the leather box

  Illad seeming
even more portly because of a fur sleeveless jacket. Halisunets with

  meaningful look examined a hand of a lanky segvan with the person,

  entirely stuck around by freckles. The hand was strong, very brawny,

  and, if the Wolfhound did not go blind yet, absolutely healthy. So palpation

  allegedly sore point occurred generally for the sake of the solvennsky girl,

  tremblingly expecting that the doctor pronounced a sentence to her new friend. Girl

  called Varey, and all agreed on what madam will find her good

  the husband, maybe, even not absolutely from simple. It is right, some

  the merchant or the young handicraftsman who early became the master. Varey, favourite

  knesinka, it was surprisingly similar to it both the person, and article. Here and now

  she dressed for the sake of dear visitors a beautiful dress which from the

  shoulder the monarchess presented to it. And will conceive to sew to a knesinka a new dress -

  will begin to try on it on Varey that once again not to disturb madam...

  Elen Gluzdovna together with Ertan settled down at a fire. Knesinka

  and the warrior played knives, and the Wolfhound paid attention: Ertan, judging

  on her face, won not with such overweight what expected

  in the beginning. Also the knesinka became angry - all it seemed to it as if the competitor

  gives in. Both girls sat directly on the earth, on-velkhski having drawn in

  the crossed legs. The old nurse, of course, could not endure similar

  outrage also plagued "baby" with a felt pillow,

  persuading to be kept. Knesinka envying excellent training Ertan

  stubborn waved away.

  There now and kindly, the Wolfhound told himself. All it is cheerful, nobody the friend on

  to the friend of empty fears does not cast. But happen bad - everyone knows,

  what to do.

  Mouse flew from his shoulder, wanted to sit down on a hand to a knesinka, but was frightened

  own impudence also flushed, having only touched with silky

  wing. Knesinka did not shudder, just raised eyes and looked on

  bodyguard.

  - The monarchess, - falling nearby on hunkers, the Wolfhound said in low tones. -

  I ask you, you will begin to lay down, do not undress. And still, make favor,

  put on a chain armor under suite.

  Elen Gluzdovna frowned and opened a mouth to object, but to the aid

  Ertan appeared in time:

  - Put on right now, a ban-riona. Then you will begin to brag, from