the opened window and again sat down by Aptakhar.
   - Sometimes, - the same equal voice he spoke, - it seems to me,
   that my father would be living if you were still with him.
   The ceiling began to spin over the Wolfhound and began to fall slowly. Or perhaps
   this sky fell down to the ground. Venn closed eyes.
   Aptakhar obviously did not want to say about what, apparently, stood
   between it and young Koons's father.
   - I could not remain! - he told, having rumpled. - Forgive, Vinitar, but
   my honor already suffered. You will not believe, but nobody in army knows,
   that I at your father six years beer of saws. It was a shame to me to tell!
   Because then it should speak also about in what everything came to an end!
   Koons came about the room again: exactly like some force drove
   it up and down. He answered:
   - Not to me to condemn you and the more so my father, but everything could be
   otherwise.
   - That milksop killed my brother! - heatedly Aptakhar objected. - I
   to ithas the guts for garters!. What, unfairly? Fairly! So not,
   your father by all means needed to leave the bastard in live. On
   happiness, ha!. Good luck tested everything! Dogs, you see did not rush!.
   Vinitar thoughtfully repeated:
   - Everything could be differently.
   Aptakhar half was ashamed of own flash. He grumbled:
   - All right. Do not become angry, Koons. That gloomily grinned:
   - To me to become angry about you, the uncle Aptakhar! You grew up me. Here
   this hand which to you was chopped off for an ear frayed.
   The wolfhound felt that Vinitar stopped directly over it. Venn
   opened eyes, somehow razlepit lips and prosipet:
   - Found madam?.
   It seemed to it as if he uttered it rather loudly, but young
   Koons bent to his face, and he repeated:
   - Found madam?.
   This time Vinitar caught it. Also answered, having shaken the head:
   - No, did not find yet.
   They looked in eyes each other again, and now at the Wolfhound not
   remained the slightest doubts: Vinitar knew about him everything. Including
   and the fact that the Wolfhound guessed this his knowledge at once. Still the Wolfhound to
   to the village to the city thought that a knesinka and Vinitar if
   to put, their row, would reach in couple just lovely sight.
   - It... it is live, - somehow squeezed out veins. - It... on the bridge...
   - I know, - Vinitar told.
   - For the sake of Hramn's trousers which tore I will not tell where!!. - rejoiced
   Aptakhar, was late thought that veins to which it would be necessary long ago
   to die, regained consciousness and even started talking. - Vinitar, the sonny, help to get up!.
   Vinitar helped, and soon veins saw over himself both at once. The person, at
   which there were all reasons to kill him, the Wolfhound. And other person.
   Whom he would have to kill. It is too much cares for one soul,
   still plainly not installed back in a body. The wolfhound closed eyes, and the world
   again ceased to exist for it. Only now it was not drowsiness,
   and the usual dream bringing healing if not to spirit, so fleshes.
   "Mother, run! - The gray Dog of twelve years old picked up from the earth
   the thrown sulitsa also threw someone across to a young komes,
   jumped out because of a barn. - Mother, run!."
   The skilled soldier without looking, carelessly waved away the blood-stained sword.
   However the greenhorn was evasive. The sword whistled over the fair-haired head, not
   having caused to harm, the boy was thrown under a hand of a segvan, and thin, sharp
   the sting of a sulitsa was thrust to that in a face, just under an eyebrow.
   "Mother, run..."
   When the Wolfhound woke up, behind a window there was an evening again, and in the room with
   Ertan was him. Velkhinka held a wooden sword and, being bent from time to time from
   pains, at half strength warmed up the right hand. Left she protected so far.
   - I with Aptakhar exchanged, - she told the Wolfhound. - Hardly
   persuaded. Bothered to put bruises to assholes. The wolfhound whispered:
   - Found madam?.
   Ertan willingly told how Vinitar dispatched the people everywhere and
   tried to speak with mountaineers through the Obstacle. Ichendara very frostily
   answered it that the ruler who arrived from the North stays with the leader, and
   it, the groom who did not manage to oboronit properly the precious guest
   it is unworthy even to mention her name. About any terms of its return they not
   wished and hear.
   - How many I?. - the Wolfhound asked.
   - Today the ninth day, - Ertan told. - I to you already and hair
   braided as at you it is accepted... - Then with hope asked: - You, maybe,
   you want to eat, and? A milk lukewarm with a small loaf? Honey spoon?.
   Ninth day. Means if came which of the killed robbers, then
   and cleaned up.
   - To me to Koons... it is necessary to tell, - exhaled veins.
   Ertan attentively looked at it, nodded and went beyond a door.
   The wolfhound carried out it by eyes. The warrior recovered greatly. It still
   held the right shoulder above left because the wound pulled together with it a side, but
   it will pass soon. Will govern fighting horses again, to pull onions and
   to distribute slaps in the face immoderately to the ardent guys delighted with its beauty...
   Vinitar came in wet boots, with moisture drops on gold hair,
   collected in a tail on the top as carried island segvana. It is visible, Ertan
   found for it in the yard. Together with young Koons the servant who brought was
   on a wooden subnose big mug, piece of white loaf, oil and
   honey cup. From a mug there was a cozy house smell of fresh milk. Servant
   put a tray, bowed to the mister and left, having left blood
   enemies alone.
   Vinitar stood in the middle of the small room, having stuffed up hands for a back, and
   silently looked at the Wolfhound. The man lying before him looked so that
   more more beautiful in a coffin put. The doctor put to go for wounded, only
   was surprised to animal survivability a vein. One of arrows which got into a breast
   passed absolutely near heart. Fortunately, the arrow was armor-piercing. It
   the vein through, but a narrow cut tip of an extensive wound not pierced
   caused. The wolfhound looked at Vinitar deeply sunk down muddy
   gray-green eyes in black circles of bruises what are from strong
   blow to the head. And on a stomach at it the bat sat. The person with
   bat who was seen on Sveta’si shortly before...
   - You wanted to tell something to me, the bodyguard? - nothing without having given itself,
   Vinitar asked. He spoke on-vennski. He well knew this language.
   - You feed me at yourself in the house, - the Wolfhound told. He wanted to nod
   on a subnose with food, but once you moved, faintness poured again
   worse than any pain. He took rest, collecting the strength, and finished: - I
   killed Koons Vinitariya, your father.
   To the one who tries to be covered from revenge, taking communion one bread with
   the avenger, there is no need to be called the man.
   Vinitar listened to him, without having shown surprise, and nodded.
   - Yes, it so, - he told, having kept silent. - You killed him, and besides at night,
 &nbs
p; in what there is a little advantage. However you are not really similar to the robber...
   The wolfhound answered:
   - People called us Grey Dogs, Vinitar. Young Koons was self-controlled,
   as it befits the leader. He did not change countenance, only blue eyes
   darkened, precisely the ocean during bad weather. He long enough was silent, then
   spoke:
   - Means, those who advised the father were right to exterminate all of you to
   uniform.
   The wolfhound stubborn answered:
   - Can... those were right... who advised it... absolutely us not
   to touch.
   Vinitar for the first time raised the voice:
   - Not to you to judge my father! - Then added more quietly: - And not me.
   The wolfhound kept silent. He already pronounced the sentence to the Cannibal. Also executed.
   Segvan crossed the room and got up at a window. A wolfhound from the bench not
   saw it, but could imagine how that it is blind looks in wet twilight.
   At last Vinitar asked:
   - How the father died?
   The wolfhound wearily covered eyes.
   - He wanted to grab weapon... I nailed it a spear to a wall... It
   died when the lock burned.
   Leather boots sharply creaked - Vinitar turned back:
   - You did not give it a duel?
   - No.
   Both hard became silent. It was useless to ask the Grey Dog why
   it did not give a duel to the executioner some kind of. It was useless to remind
   To Vinitar, that the Cannibal of his father own tribe, island nicknamed
   segvana. Something was useless in general to speak. Blood feud
   talk do not make.
   - For you it is right, - the Wolfhound said in low tones at last. - At you a sword...
   Its own sword hung on a wall, in bed legs.
   Vinitar departed from a window and got up so that the Wolfhound could see it.
   - Consider, veins that this time you were lucky, - he spoke deafly.
   - You carried to me the bride, and Dungorm claims as if you not once
   protected it from murderers. Those who the bridge had with you extol you to
   heaven and unanimously swear that my bride would be in the Obstacle now
   or it is worse than that if not you. They speak, you to the last protected it and
   gave it the chain armor. Frankly speaking, I trust Aptakhar more, than
   to the boyar of a galiradsky knes. Aptakhar grew up me. He wanted to mix with
   you blood. I too expensive appreciate the honor after that to kill
   you as you deserve, at least even from revenge. Therefore you will eat
   my bread also you will leave my house live. But you know that we with you still
   let's meet.
   He turned away from the Wolfhound and left, without knock having realized for himself
   door. Almost at once the door revealed again, and Ertan returned to the room.
   The warrior sat down by the Wolfhound and began to give to drink to him milk through
   the dried-up duck neck because to raise the head it was not in
   state. The wolfhound took bread the left hand: right was broken, it
   just now tried to move it and with surprise found a popular print.
   Veins did not master everything that Ertan, and the girl tried to feed to it
   soaked the bread remains in milk for Mysh. Greedy small animal fixedly
   watched how she prepared for it a favourite delicacy. Then it is impatient
   sat down it directly on a hand, ran across on a tray and dipped a muzzle into a saucer.
   There passed three weeks. During this time at the Wolfhound not one time
   all ratnik visited: both solvenna, and velkh, and segvana. Did not appear
   only Aptakhar, and veins understood that Vinitar told everything to him. Wolfhound
   evenhe was grateful for it to a young segvan. The conversation with Aptakhar promised
   to be burdensome, he after all considered the foreman the friend. To
   recent time.
   In three weeks the Wolfhound, shaking from weakness and being in poor shape,
   was chosen to the yard of the lock and for the first time properly looked round around. Ertan and
   the doctor unanimously inspired in him that it too early slipped from a bench.
   The wolfhound also did not argue. Just it was not pleasant to it in fortress. All internal
   rooms were dry and warm: one were warmed with the centers or furnaces,
   others - by means of smartly laid chimneys. Nevertheless
   from everywhere the stone smell proceeded, and dog sense of smell of the Wolfhound caught
   it it is faultless. In the afternoon from it still it was possible to distract somehow. But on
   nights when nothing disturbed, a vein dreamed unbearable vaults.
   Did not put to live to the person, having heated up at itself over the head thousands of poods
   hostile stone! At all not that in a kind Vienna log hut which was put
   from huge logs of years so three hundred back, at living grandsons of the primogenitor
   Dog and which as much again will stay to itself and people on joy, without having acquired
   decay speck... There and air absolutely another, and Brownies in the subfield.
   There any illness will get rid at once. And here, any minute, from an agnail
   you will die.
   The lock of the Guard of the Northern Gate was skillfully cut in a steep slope. Courageous
   architects a part modeled its walls directly in rocks, a part put from them
   fragments. It seems, from a distance with some difficulty was to distinguish fortress against the background of
   the piling-up rocks; it was only gradually shown at approach,
   appearing in stone chaos severity of the finished outlines. Lock
   dominated over the mountain gorge, - one of that only a few that
   connected the country Velimor with the outside world. From walls it was well visible
   the black mouth passing, by hearsay, into a tunnel, having passed which
   the traveler saw over himself the sky of the Undercover Country.
   On other side, to the north, the vskholmlenny plain stretched. On
   to the plain the road disappearing in a dark-coniferous taiga curled. It was cold, and
   deciduous trees stood black and nude. For that time, so far the Wolfhound
   rested in bed on a bench, several storms, usual blew over fortress
   till falls in these parts. The rain and mad wind carried away everything from trees
   the leaves ready to fly, and ruthlessly peeled all that gathered
   still to hang for a while on branches. Snow will drop out soon.
   In the distance, at the horizon, dim gloss of water seemed to the Wolfhound.
   At first he and solved - it seemed, but then remembered the card. Belt
   pocket in which it kept it, cut someone's sword in fight, but
   the pocket was found, and Ertan carefully cleaned off from blood and the card, and
   birch bark book. And so, if to trust the card, to the north of fortress in most
   business the river flew. Inflow of the Shrine.
   Get into the boat or on a raft and travel to Galirad. If,
   of course, some robbers who built a nest at d not prishinut on the road
   thresholds.
   Ratniki, survived in fight at the bridge, recovered before the Wolfhound. In total,
   except Deksha. At the guy medicine with which his Illad supplied came to an end.
   The wound inflamed again, the inflammation was thrown on other eye, and was
   it seems that White-headed it was necessary to go blind. He also now saw
   surrounding as if in dense fog.
   - Here so!. - trying to summon up courage, he told the Wolfhound. - I will go to
>
   To Kornysh, baker... this is my former owner... I will again be employed dough
   to knead!
   The wolfhound wanted to advise him to compose verses, but changed the mind: to that,
   whom Gods blessed with the poetic gift, such councils are not required. However
   veins thought a little more and changed the mind again, having remembered as appreciate
   poets each particle of attention. And he told:
   - You compose songs. You have very good songs. From them and bread is better
   will be. Deksha squeezeed out a smile:
   - Yes...
   Also moved away, groping fingers a wall. A wolfhound, having remembered,
   held it by a hand:
   - You here that... when we return to the city... I have a friend, the doctor
   even purer than Illad. The scientist, hundred books read. If it is possible that
   to make, he will make.
   Deksha muffledly thanked and left, and the Wolfhound thought as
   behaved, be led up it here also slowly and to painfully lose sight.
   And in particular if in the middle of the become already habitual hopelessness suddenly
   the illusive hope begins to dawn. Venn even wondered, and whether not for nothing he
   in good time Dekshe about Tilorn told. You never know?. No, he solved then,
   not for nothing. We saw before such. Joke on own mutilation and in a mustache it seems not
   blow. And then suddenly jump from a high wall down.
   Aptakhar long did not show the face to him. It is visible, carefully avoided
   meetings. So far at last they did not face on covered from winds
   to lawn behind rocks where the Wolfhound came to look how studied
   velimorsky soldiers.
   Having noticed each other, both involuntarily moved back and long enough
   were silent. Be it someone else, not Aptakhar, the Wolfhound it is simple
   silently left, having once and for all ceased to notice it. But with this person
   something connected it.
   - Lived! - with bitterness Aptakhar told. - And I am with you, unbearable мурло,
   wanted to fraternize! Yes you do not cost a nail of my brother!.
   The wolfhound with surprise heard as its voice shivered. If it not
   so well Aptakhara knew, he would think that that hardly constrained tears.
   - I had an old-prestary great-grandfather, - slowly, feeling as he presses in
   
 
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