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– He is very well trained and strong. He's fast. I've never seen this. This warrior was in no way inferior to me.
– Oh, I didn't even notice! Orm said with undisguised irony, then turning away, he again drowned in his thoughts, absorbed in the sight of burning wood in the fireplace.
– Father?
– Yes?!
– Why did he look at you like that during the fight?
“That's interesting to me too,” said the king. Who are you, Athanasius Mirra? he asked the flame.
Argos was about to leave. But after a pause, he turned back to his father. “When will you be able to fully trust me, Father?
– I trust you.
– Then tell me what is in the tower of the west wing at the very top?
– Soon you will find out about everything, I promise you. Until then, that's all! You are free.
***
– Good morning, Athanasius!
– Hi, General! he mumbled barely audibly.
– You look lousy.
– I feel even worse.
– Hmm, who would have thought that Prince Argos is so good. The general sat down next to Athanasius's bed.
–“It's not just him,” Tan replied.
– What are you talking about?
– His armor …
– And what happened to him?
– I hit him. He beat with all his might. No armor could stand that.
– What do you mean by that?
– I don’t know yet.
– What do you mean, “I don’t know yet” !? AND?! Swann got angry. All! The page is turned over. The story is over. He won, the general said with annoyance!
– It's him.
– Who is he"?
“King Orme, this is the bastard who slaughtered the people of my village.
– Stop it, Athanasius. You're delirious. You got it a lot, it's understandable, but you can't …
– General! Tan interrupted him. This face comes to me in dreams for 30 years. I know him by heart and will not confuse nickname with anyone else. It's him!
– Your mother! Swann said helplessly, lowering his eyes to the floor. And after a few seconds he said: Don't tell anyone about this, you hear! Nobody should know about our speech. The general whispered in a conspiratorial tone. Your words undermine twenty years of peace between our states, you understand that ?! – Rest for now. I need to consult.
***
Tan woke up as usual in the morning. There had been no news from Swann for a couple of days. During this time, his body got stronger. As the hospital attendants said, good heredity, everything heals quickly like a dog. However, the Tan was still moving with caution, without sudden movements. The bruised ribs made themselves felt. He was in a separate room. General Swann took care of this, therefore, the nightmares that tormented his soul at night and his early awakening did not disturb anyone. Approaching the window opening and opening it, he looked at the sleeping city. All these days, only one thought occupied his head: – Retribution will find everyone.
At that moment, he heard someone sneak up to the door of his room. Athanasius, despite the pain, like a cat, silently approached the door and stood next to it, pressing himself against the wall. The door opened slightly and a figure of a man in a dark cloak and a hood on his head entered the room. Without hesitation, he rushed at him, grabbing his clothes, but immediately got a trip and they both fell to the floor. The hood fell off my head. Beneath him was the same maid from the duke's house.
– You?! Athanasius was surprised. What are you doing here!?
– They want to talk to you. This is urgent. She answered with excitement in her voice.
– About what!? Who are you? What's going on here?
After a little delay, she said with regret: – General Swann is dead.
He did not immediately understand the meaning of her words. – What?
– My name is Una, and we have no time. They're coming for you!
And as soon as she uttered these words, suddenly they heard the clatter of hooves and a rude male speech outside the window. Athanasius quietly crept to the window and, looking out of the corner, began to inspect the area near the hospital. There were ten well-equipped fighters. Their eldest waved his arms and showed various directions, where one soldier later fled. With the others, he went to the hospital entrance.
Tan realized that most likely the girl was not joking, and if this was not an idiotic coincidence, he was the target of the soldiers.
– Why do they need me?
“While I’m here to explain to you, they will both capture us.
Tan could not help but agree with this statement. He walked quickly to the corner where his clothes lay. Unfortunately, the combat uniforms were sent to Pisky Efa, which Athanasius remembered with annoyance. Therefore, he put on his pants and boots, put on a white woolen shirt and left the room. Una followed him. In the corridor below one could already hear the noise and clatter of soldiers' boots. He immediately grabbed her by the forearm, pulling her towards the door of his room. Running back, he slammed the door, forcing it with a heavy wooden cabinet. Then he jumped to the window and looked down. Everything was quiet. They were on the second floor, so it was not difficult for them to go downstairs.
As he descended, he appreciated how cleverly Unya had succeeded. It was lucky that there was an apple orchard on the hospital grounds, and they could sneak from tree to tree unnoticed. Suddenly, Athanasius grabbed Una by the shoulders and pulled him over, hiding behind a tree. As it turned out, one of the soldiers was on duty in the corner of the building. Tan's brain began to actively seek a solution to the problem, but what happened next caught him by surprise. Una threw off his hands and with the words "Help" rushed towards the guards.
– That devil, thought Tan, gritting his teeth.
Then he heard a noise and, looking out from behind a tree, saw a soldier lying on the ground. Athanasius looked at her in surprise, but she just grinned.
– Why are you frozen? Hurry!
He didn't need to repeat it twice. He ran up to the guy who was lying on the ground and picked up his sword, which he had already managed to take out after hearing Una's cry. Apparently she hit him from behind, smart …
She dived into a narrow street, Tan behind her. But they had already been spotted, and the pursuit began. They ran along the ragged walls of houses and debris lying along the road. Rats scattered in different directions at the sight of strangers at such an early hour. Following this, they heard the sound of whistles, signaling troublemakers. Tan knew that reinforcements would now be arriving in this area and that it was necessary to get out of it as soon as possible. The side was very sore, his chest was squeezing, his strength was leaving him. He had to stop.
“We need to hide,” he said.
– No, we need to run and quickly, said Una.
“We won't have time to run a couple of streets before they spot us, believe me,” he said with a breath in his voice.
– What to do?! There was excitement in her eyes.
He looked around, and suddenly realized that the houses around them were familiar to him. His feet were already walking along this cobbled street, and his nose breathed in the local smell.
***
The door flew open, and the first thing Athanasius saw was a long and well-polished sword.
– Hi Byrd! Pronounced Tan.
But the interlocutor was silent and only looked at him with an incredulous look.
– We have nowhere else to go, I'm sorry.
After a little hesitation, he fully opened the door, with a mute gesture, inviting them to enter. They immediately ran into the house.
Nothing has changed in the room since his last visit. Tan leaned against the wall to keep from falling. As soon as he caught his breath, he raised his head and, looking at Byrd, said: – Thank you. Most likely, you saved our lives.
Without answering, Byrd went into another room and after a while returned with two mugs of water in his hands, somewhere hiding his sword.
After drinking greedily, Tan wiped the cold water droplets from his lips with his sleeve.
– And so, maybe you can finally explain what the hell is going on here ?! Tan turned to Una. – Why did these soldiers need me? What are they? What about General Swann?
– These are the duke's men! They received an order to bring you to him, and if this fails, then kill.
“You’re also working for him, right?
– I got a job as a servant in his estate to watch and observe.
– For Erhard?
– Behind the origin of the birth of a new union! Extremely powerful. A union that will drown the earth in blood, and here you and I cannot prevent this.
– What happened to the general? Tan asked quietly.
– Erhard killed him. The general arrived late at night to the duke, alone. I overheard their conversation. He argued that King Orme is not a benefactor, as he presents himself, but the instigator of that bloody war, the end of which we all celebrate. Erhard tried to explain to him that it was simply impossible, but Swann stood his ground. He hesitated, she continued to tell: – Then he told him your story and that he trusts you as himself, and if Erhard does not want to hear, then perhaps the other members of the council will listen to him. With these owls, he signed both you and himself a death warrant. After that, the general turned away to leave, but the duke thrust a knife into his neck.
– So you just stood there and watched it ?! He turned to her with disgust.
– Trust me, if I could do something, I would do it. His house is packed with soldiers. If I tried, I would have overtaken to take into account the general, and you would have lived a little longer.
He understood this. He also understood that it was he who was to blame for the death of his closest friend, who was only trying to do the right thing by entering into open conflict with the duke. From what a real storm broke out in Tan's soul, out of powerlessness, anger and incredible melancholy. Una saw it in his eyes. She went to Athanasius, placing her mug, with half-drunk water, next to him. She gently laid her hand on his shoulder and said quietly: “Retribution will find everyone. At that moment, a noise was heard outside the door. Bert ran to the door, opening it slightly and peering into the opening. Cursing from what he saw, he immediately closed it back. Turning towards Tana and Una, he said:
– Bastards are searching houses! Faster here. He drew back the carpet on the floor. Under it was a wooden hatch cover leading to the cellar. – Get in and see yourself quiet.
From the chase, Tan's side hurt so much that he barely went downstairs. Una thanked old man Bert in a whisper and followed Tan into the cellar.
Suddenly the door rattled, in a tone that could not be delayed. For some time, Bert needed to lay the carpet back, after which he obediently obeyed the soldiers.
From below, through the cracks between the boards, it was difficult to see anything. But by the shadows and voices, Tan determined that four people had entered the house.
– How can I be of help to the guards of His Majesty and our peace, Byrd said with mock courtesy.
– We are looking for fugitive killers who are hiding in nearby houses, said one of the soldiers, and immediately proceeded to inspect the room. Most likely an officer, Tan thought.
– I did not see anyone, sir, heard Tan Byrd's voice.
– Do you live alone? He continued.
– Yes, sir, one! It's just me in the house!
Silence fell again, broken only by the steps of the officer. Then he stopped abruptly and after a while asked: – Where are these mugs of water?
Tan and Una looked at each other and held their breath …
– Sir, I am a sewing company, and these circles are left after yesterday's clients, Bert said.
Then, the officer took one of the mugs, brought it to his nose, inhaled, and then sipped it.
– Arrest him! Search the house, quickly!
After his orders, the officer turned to the old man and said through clenched teeth: – Where are they?
– Who? Bert was indignant.
– You think I'm an idiot ?! The water in the mug is icy. You just poured it. Answer me or I'll rip your belly open! The officer threatened. You will still be alive for a while, and then I will feed you your guts, if you don’t tell me everything I want to know!
The old man was held by two, one more began to run around the rooms and examine them. Tan knew he needed help, but he was useless now. Due to injury, his defense would simply not be effective.
– I'm losing my patience, old man! The sound of steel stripping was heard. Then Bert said, “I'm sorry gentlemen, really sorry.
And then there was a crash from the fall of the body to the floor, fuss, fuss, screams and moans from incredible pain began. Blows, falls, more bumps.
It was unbearable for Athanasius to sit and watch the murder of the man who had just saved his life. Realizing that this was most likely the end, he abruptly got up, climbed the steps and tried to open the cellar!
– What are you doing? Una asked in a whisper.
The lid was latched on the back. The fight from above continued, and this indicated that Bert was still alive. With a growl, the Tan began to beat the wooden hatch with his elbow. The boards cracked, but didn't give in. Once again, he tried to strike, but stumbled and fell, rolling down the stairs to the ground. Suddenly he realized that the fussing above had stopped. – I didn't have time, it was spinning in his head. They heard the rug pull back. Then Tan realized that he had given away their location while trying to get out. The lock opened and light burst into the dark closet. To his great surprise, Bert's face was looking at him. He was bleeding from his nose and mouth.
– Come up. He said in a tired voice.
Tan and Una exchanged glances. Then she stood up abruptly and helped Athanasius to his feet. All four soldiers were lying on the floor, some of them no longer breathing. Bert, like the room, was covered in their blood. Athanasius looked around, then his gaze fell on the old man.
