В«Is it really that he must choose the way ofВ evil?В» said the first lady. В«But if he wants toВ survive, he will have toВ renounce his nobility and his mortal family. Forget that he himself was once mortal.В»
В«Prince will take care ofВ opening apart before the elect ofВ the fate the gate ofВ the Empire,В» was an answer.
В«Keep silence,В» the first girl whispered. В«Even inВ the forest it is impossible toВ disclose our secrets. InВ addition, the gates inВ the magic world can be anywhere and at the same time remain invisible for our eyes.В»
Her friend nodded silently, postponed her tangle and began toВ sprawl lace frills on the dress.
В«And this country flourishes,В» she decided toВ translate the conversation toВ another direction. В«Any king would like toВ have such fertile lands, and even gold mines inВ addition. Sometimes it seems toВ me that the gnomes themselves violate their own laws and help this mortal toВ produce emeralds and other treasures.В»
В«Dwarfs are trying inВ vain. At the expense ofВ mines grow rich only the retinue ofВ the king and residents ofВ cities, and dissatisfaction is growing inВ the provinces.В»
В«But the king holds aВ strong army and does not give the ambitious neighbors toВ invade his territory. Now, if his advisers were less corrupt and more intelligent. They never even asked the younger prince about his opinion, and he is smarter than all ofВ them. Whether he is aВ king, then he would lead aВ more skillful policy than his father rather than.В»
IВ moved closer toВ the window. Under the sole ofВ my boot, the dry branch cried. The girls were fixed. One ofВ them looked into the window and noticed me. Anger broke out inВ her eyes.
IВ hurriedly moved away from the window and opened the door. IВ wanted toВ apologize toВ the ladies and ask if they did not know another road leading toВ the castle, but there were no longer them inВ the hut. Only moths circled over the candle flame. The light danced on the wick aВ few more moments, and then went out, as if someone blew it. IВ did not have anything, how toВ return toВ the place where IВ left the horse. Even the most desperate adventure seeker does not want toВ spend the night inВ the hut, where creatures like ghosts live.
ToВ my surprise, the milled trees were broken, freeing the roadway. Now IВ could safely return toВ the castle. The light ofВ the moon made my way through the lush crowns ofВ firs and felt on an uneven path. Before the edge ofВ the forest, IВ got safely, only sometimes inВ silence IВ was heard aВ slight fluttering ofВ the wings ofВ the moth.
Hunt on the wildВ boar
Until the very beginning of winter, life at the royal court flowed calmly. The visits of ambassadors and the council meetings were replaced by noisy feasts. Passing along the halls and the galleries, I often caught admiring looks of people. Only Florian and Claude avoided meetings with me after a secret conversation with a midnight guest. In their eyes, I often noticed fear. How could I cause their fright? It was worth looking into the mirror, and I saw my beautiful twin there. Oval face looked very young, gold curls were always shone too bright, but I tagged them on the back of a black ribbon. That’s just huge blue eyes sometimes light up with a cruel, steel gloss, as if from the depths of the mirror I was looking at me not naive, blonde young man, and the evil angel, dressed in the clothes of the royal son.
Once from the tower’s window, I saw a messenger who was rushing to the castle. According to coat of arms embroidered on his clothes, I guessed that he serves one of the barons. There must be something terrible, once the servant of one of the royal vassals rushes here at full speed. Maybe the robbers attacked the baron or peasants rebelled against their master, and the needed a rapid help.
IВ was waiting for me toВ be brought into aВ throne hall. According toВ custom, the younger princes, although they did not have the right toВ vote, but were toВ be present at the meeting ofВ ambassadors and receptions. Without waiting for invitations, IВ myself went toВ the throne room. Passing byВ the room, where the Royal Council was usually held, IВ heard excited voices. Before me came scraps ofВ poisonous phrases and ordinary stockings. Advisors led aВ fierce dispute.
The door was open. I looked in the opening. Around the huge round table, were advisors. Florian, with a bored look, lifted a heavy curtain and stared out the window. He would read Knight’s poems, and not prepare to take the weight of the crown. Claude was much more interested in what was happening and even tried to ask the messenger. The king listened carefully to everyone. I saw the wrinkle on his high forehead, thoughtfulness and wisdom in the eyes, gray in blond strands. Here he is a sample of royalty. Looking at him, I thought that the real monarch could not have a young face, as it turned out later, I was brutally mistaken. Wisdom and monstrous force can be covered with eternal beauty. And beauty, in turn, is only a cover for the villains of the dragon.
The king raised his hand, calling present toВ silence, then with aВ composure, worthy ofВ aВ admiration, began toВ ask questions. The answers were unnecessarily polite and excited. As far as IВ understood, the messenger was sent byВ one ofВ the barons whose possessions bordered with the royal. There was inВ the forests ofВ this feudal, aВ creature which the frightened messenger was used toВ denote byВ one word В«deathВ». And as it turned out later, this very death wanders inВ more often inВ the image ofВ the wild boar, which helps the evil spirit.
В«Several peasants died,В» the messenger continued. В«And the rest are afraid toВ move away from their dwellings. After all, anyone can be the next victim.В»
«As far as I know, the Baron is one of the best hunters,» the king’s calm voice was heard. «Did he try to kill this creature?
«Your Majesty, can I, simple mortal, join the fight with… them?» The messenger thought for a long time before he spoke the last word. Whom did he mean? Why was he afraid to talk about «them»? Does one wild boar can harm the possession of the rich feudal? Maybe all the trouble is in the superstition of the peasants and in the habit everything to dramatize. I used to treat everything calmer and rely on the fight against evil only on my own strength. Let others hope for conspiracies from evil forces and amulets, and only a living being, nor the Spirit, will be able to hurt me. Before death, it will take time to read a prayer, but for now I wanted to fight with a sword.
В«If the situation is exactly the case, then none ofВ the knights will decide toВ help your unfortunate vassal,В» the first minister said carefully, turning toВ the king.
В«IВ will decide,В» IВ responded, boldly crossing the threshold. The messenger sighed with relief. Only Florian reacted toВ my statement skeptically.
В«How are you going toВ kill this wild boar? Keeping all your charm?В» he asked coldly. He wanted toВ say something else, but he preferred toВ keep silent, as if decided not toВ disclose the secret.
В«Your highness, it would be better for you toВ stay at the court, because the ball is scheduled for tomorrow,В» the first minister addressed me more diplomatically.
«Yes, right, a great cavalier has to dance with ladies. He doesn’t wander on big roads,» one of the advisers supported him.
Such aВ tone was hurt me. Does the royal sons inВ this country are considered only another decoration ofВ ballroom halls, not knights?
В«Better stay at home,В» Claude advisedВ me.
«And wait until the evil spirit also goes to our forests,» I grinned in response. – Do you think I am not enough to own such a weapon as a sword? In your opinion, I do not get courage and accuracy in shooting, gentlemen?:
Such questions were aВ sick prick. After all, everyone was aware ofВ my victories on numerous competitions and tournaments.
В«Your courage borders with the recklessness?В» whispered toВ me Claude, so quietly so that no others heard. В«Leave the astrologers be on their duty and toВ deal with the dark evil.В»
«Do you want to throw these people in trouble?» said I as quietly he. «If someone needs my help, then I can’t just turn away, like all these proud diplomats, which filled the hall of the Council.
Claude wondered over my words. InВ the azure eyes flashed something like understanding and hopes.
В«You can die,В» he warned.
В«Like every knight, going toВ fight,В» IВ replied fearlessly and asked louder, turning toВ the king. В«Will you let me go toВ the way immediately?В»
The king alone nodded with such aВ sorrowful expression ofВ the face, as if he had given permission toВ my funeral.
В«With you will go six ofВ my best knights and your brother,В» the king threw such aВ piercing look at Claude that the protest words immediately froze on the mouth ofВ the latter. IВ involuntarily thought that these two binds some kind ofВ mystery that their decision did not depend on the fear ofВ my life, but that one ofВ the relatives should follow me all the time. ButВ why?
It was necessary toВ go toВ the path not toВ slow down until the king changed his decision. IВ returned toВ my chambers only toВ capture aВ fur cape. Winter was cold. InВ the fireplaces ofВ the castle, the day and night flared fire, and snowflakes were spinning outside the windows. On the stairs, IВ ran into aВ court astrologer. His long fingers clung toВ my sleeve. Evil black eyes with red streaks studied my face as if trying toВ find footprints on it. The astrologer released me and slowly went up the stairs.
В«Edwin, are you going or staying?В» IВ heard the displeased voice ofВ Claude. He was already going on the road. Several knights from those who are afraid ofВ only the royal wrath, and not demons, were on the horses inВ the courtyard ofВ the castle. The groom brought from the stables the horses for me and Claude. We had aВ long way toВ go. Soon the gate ofВ the castle with noise slammed behind us. The messenger rushed ahead, pointing toВ us the road through aВ snowy forest.
Each ofВ us prepared toВ meet with danger. We have already crossed the line ofВ royal possessions. The forest around became gloomy, landscapes with incentive, and heaven was dragged with gray clouds. So soon snowfall will begin. There was no twittering ofВ birds, there was no coarse red squirrels who flooded the surrounding forests. It seemed toВ me that the nature was extinct, and dry spiny trees were only aВ temporary housing for spirits, united inВ the coronal trunks. Magic can both disagree inВ nature and transform it, tales guided us. This forest was turned into aВ sullen earthly evil. As soon as we drove into the thicket, as IВ felt an insurmountable fear, as if someone squeezed my heart with an ice hand. Surely, each ofВ my accomplices felt the same thing, but no one dared toВ confess toВ another that the atmosphere ofВ the forest was oppressed.
В«Soon we will reach the meadow, there the wild boar will hunt every night,В» the messenger said. В«We need toВ get there before sunset and surround the meadow.В»
В«So, this wild boar hunts only at night?В» IВ asked.
В«He came from his lair as soon as the sun comes,В» the messenger nodded.
В«Where is the lair?В» IВ asked.
В«Nobody knows. Most likely, not far from the gorge. But it is unlikely that you will find nearby at least one bold-sprit, which will dare toВ go there.В»
В«Must be, Goblins settled there,В» IВ joked and wanted toВ laugh, but suddenly very close, over our heads there was all the same annoying knock, as if the woodpecker would beat the drum fraction on the tree trunk.
IВ raised my head, but did not see the birds, only some tiny creature, only distantly similar toВ the child inВ the scarlet velvet cape settled on the top ofВ theВ oak.
В«Rather, look upstairs,В» IВ asked Claude.
He also looked at the tree, but no one was sitting on a bitch. Didn’t it seem to me? I must have spent too much time in the saddle and I am very tired.
В«What is the tree so much different from others?В» Claude was surprised.
В«It seemed toВ me that IВ saw aВ thrush there.В»
В«You have never seen aВ thrush before or wanted toВ put one ofВ them into aВ cage. Forgive, but IВ am afraid that we will not be allowed toВ bring anyone more canary.В»
Hung away from the tree, Claude decided toВ refer toВ the messenger.
The messenger on horseback ahead of us disappeared in an unknown direction, the road ahead was empty. Dust did not flow over the earth, it means that no one was joined by a gallop on it. I looked around to look at our knights, but there was no more of them next to us. If they decided to turn back, the forest would now be shocking from the knock of horses’ hoofs, but there was silence around. Could our knights fail through the Earth, but as otherwise they can explain their disappearance.
В«Where are our companions?В» IВ looked around, but IВ did not see aВ trace ofВ the presence ofВ people anywhere.
Claude was amazed and frightened no less than me, but his pride did not allow him to show his fear. He was, as always, restrained and cold-blooded – a sample of mentor and elder brother.
В«You could not ride aВ little behind,В» Claude said it with such aВ cold tone, as if IВ was not fit toВ go side byВ side with him or represented aВ danger toВ anyone who remained alone.В»
Such aВ request seemed toВ me offensive and nevertheless IВ hold the horse, passing my brother forward. Do IВ really do not deserve trust? Claude marked noticeably and looked at me as if he was afraid ofВ attacks on my part. What aВ change happened toВ him after the night visiting. Since then, he never talked with me alone.
«Edwin, you stick to me like a shadow, the distance between the horsemen should be observed,» fear heard in my brother’s voice. I noticed that he somehow nervously squeezes the samples at his chest, as if he was afraid of attacks on the sideways.
IВ made my horse go slower toВ retard from Claude at least aВ few steps, but my horse was not used toВ such slowness. He loved toВ rush inВ the steppes at the speed ofВ the wind, and not drag aВ slow step. Even tired, he rushed forward.
Noticing that IВ catch him, Claude snatched the sword, but instead ofВ turning aВ sparkling blade toВ me, he only raised it up and showed me aВ cruciform top ofВ aВ sword. Is Claude thought that the devil himself goes next toВ him inВ my appearance.
В«You are not afraid?В» he asked inВ surprise.
В«Do you want me toВ crossed my sword with yours instead ofВ killing aВ wild boar?В» IВ answered the question at the question.
В«OfВ course not,В» Claude hastily removed the sword.
He did not even apologize for his strange behavior. Then we drove inВ complete silence.
В«Edwin,В» My brother turned uncertainly. В«IВ have long wanted toВ ask you aВ question. You never felt next the presence ofВ some evil. Maybe sometimes you felt that inВ you there is something dark and dangerous?В»
В«What?В» IВ did not believe my ears. В«You could not explain inВ the moment! You consider me dangerous.В»
«No – no,» he hastily objected. «I said it just like that. Did it happen to think about you? From you the endless light comes, and not darkness. It was necessary just better to look at you before listening to slanders.»
В«Who could say something bad about me?В» IВ was surprised.
В«There will always be evil tongues,В» he answered calmly and added with aВ tagged grin. В«You see, the devil is accepted toВ attribute aristocratic origins.В»
«Oh, well, then we are both approaching this category,» I sincerely laughed, but Claude didn’t even smile, just nodded.
It will be dark soon,В» IВ spurred aВ horse. В«It is necessary, as soon as possible, get toВ the glade, about which the messenger said.В»
But it was not possible toВ find the ill-fated glade. Darkness found us on the forest road. After aВ long hour ofВ the ride, IВ understood with horror that we got lost inВ this dead, dried forest. The air heavily got very cold, and IВ flopped up toВ my cape. Past we ran some little creature. The horse ofВ Claude frightened and stood on the sill, getting ready toВ reset the saddle. My horse was also frightened, but IВ kept the reins firmly. IВ shouted that Claude was tightly held inВ the saddle, but it was already too late, the horse dropped the rider and inВ gallop rushed away, inВ the darkness ofВ the forest.
Fortunately, my brother was not injured and could go. He was lucky that he was separated byВ several bruises. Then we went on foot, leading my horse. It was still scared, but did not dare toВ disobeyВ me.
В«Look, this is the place,В» Claude pointed with his hand forward. IВ took out the arrow from quiver and charged the crossbow. InВ the snow, aВ chain ofВ traces ofВ some large animal was really stretched. So we were late, and the wild boar was already gone toВ the hunt. If this huge creature went toВ the village, then the peasants will not last. After all, they will not even try toВ defend themselves, thinking that they are doomed toВ defeat inВ the fight against evil spirits.
Claude took the sword from the sheath – the only weapon that he left after his horse’s escape. I was first going to experience my accuracy. If there is some truth in the winning words, then the wild boar will return to its lair through this glade. From here on the horizon protrude the outline of the mountains. There must be somewhere there is an ominous gorge.
Snow flakes were spinning in the air. The winter cold penetrated to the bones. From the forest side I heard noise, sounds of movements, crunching dry branches. After a few hours it will break. The wild boar returns to his refuge. I first noticed it and realized why the locals were so afraid of him. More than predatory and frightening beast I have not had to see. Its barbed wool, a stupid muzzle and sharp fangs could make an unpleasant impression, but feverishly glittered red eyes, indeed, attached to it like a militant demon. Without thinking, I released the first arrow and got a beast to the ridge. Wild roar swayed above the clearing. Claude took a combat position, and I reached out for the second arrow. I will not miss anymore and get right in the animal’s heart. But I did not have time to recharge the cross, the wild boar rushed to me and fell to the ground. I felt the back on the ice cold of the frozen earth, and my face burned to the hot poisonous breath. The boar slowed, as if someone had forbidden him to break my throat, as if someone was invisible and domineered told him to leave me.
I felt a heavy carcass fell away from my chest. The wild boar chose another sacrifice, and even the sword of Claude could not save him from deadly fangs. I quickly rose from the ground, snatched the sword out of the sheath. The weapon seemed to me light and useless. Claude’s sword was reversed in half. How it happened, I did not notice. The monster wanted to beat him to last, like a minute ago.
В«Step aside!В» IВ shouted Claude.
He obediently jumped toВ the nearest tree. No one has yet escaped from the battlefield with such ease. And inВ me, on the contrary, aВ predator, aВ gloomy, fierce creature with two black wings, woke up. IВ swamped with aВ sword and hit the beast along the neck. The first time the sword only slid over aВ thick skin, splashed aВ thin trickle ofВ blood, but from the second strike IВ managed toВ cut off the head ofВ aВ wild beast. IВ was tired ofВ falling on the ground next toВ the decapitated carcass. It was hard for me toВ breathe after the struggle, after two blows that took all the forces with me. And at the same time IВ was sure that my strength is not enough toВ kill such aВ beast. IВ almost felt that inВ the last moment someone invisible grabbed my hand and helped put aВ decisive blow.
Claude approached my horse, took out aВ flask with wine from the saddle bag and handed me. Above the gloomy silhouette ofВ the mountains cut the first rays ofВ dawn. The night passed, as inВ hell. And the morning revived the former beauty ofВ the faded forest.
В«You fulfilled your promise!В» Claude said this phrase solemnly and with respect. Does one heroic act really transformed me inВ his eyes.
On the other hand, we were inВ aВ distress. On one frightened horse, you will not go far together. IВ suggested Claude toВ take my horse and go for help at the next village.
В«Yes, the baron should know that you saved him from this beast,В» Claude kicked with his boot aВ heavy carcass. В«IВ hope that inВ honor ofВ the hero, at least aВ feast will arrange.В»
«I would be glad just with a good dinner in the tavern and buying two rapid horses. I hope you won’t get lost, looking for a village and do not make me wait a long time.»
InВ fact, IВ was pleased with any pretext toВ get rid ofВ Claude and alone go toВ the gorge, thereby proving that there was no evil inВ the vicinity. According toВ the old knightly custom, IВ cut out aВ tongue from the mouth, so that inВ case ofВ the appearance ofВ impostors toВ prove that the winner am IВ and no one else.
IВ rose from the ground and shuddered from the surprise. Directly inВ front ofВ me stood aВ tall, static gentleman, from his head toВ the legs he was inВ black. Even the lower part ofВ the face was tied with aВ black, silk scarf. Only eyes glittered, shimmering aВ multitude ofВ mixes under the fields ofВ hats with aВ gold buckle.
В«Good morning, my prince,В» aВ stranger greetedВ me.
В«You worked nicely!В» He pointed toВ the defeated beast.
В«IВ just performed my duty,В» IВ answered briefly, byВ tone ofВ my voice you could toВ understand that IВ do not want toВ join the conversation.
В«Yes, ofВ course, your duty is take care ofВ the good ofВ loyal subjects. After all, you will soon become aВ king. The throne ofВ this country belongs only toВ you.
– What about my older brothers? «I stared in surprise at a stranger, really he accepted me for the senior prince.
В«IВ said that this country will either belong toВ you or lie inВ the ruins,В» is patiently, as toВ aВ stupid student, began toВ explain the stranger. В«The king will be either chosen one or no one will take this place.В»
В«What do you have inВ mind?В»
В«And why do you need this poor kingdom,В» the stranger continued.
ToВ think only, he called one ofВ the richest countries inВ the world the poor kingdom.
В«Why do you need these people with their eternal discontent and fear? Why do you need toВ have aВ power close toВ your sunset? After all, the magic empire is waiting for you!В»
He laughed calling, turned away from me and headed for the forest.
В«Stand!В» IВ shouted, but he already was disappeared.
IВ heard the ringing ofВ the bells. AВ rich, silver sleigh was rolled through the glade. It stopped next toВ me. AВ little man, more like aВ gnome, jumped out ofВ the sleigh, removed from the head aВ hat decorated with colored feathers and bowed toВ me. Horses impatiently beat the ground with their hooves. Two charming ladies were sitting inВ aВ sleigh.
