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– Who are you?
– My name is Grubert Ebiner.
Tan's mouth fell open in surprise. Wait a minute, that same Grubert Ebiner? War hero?
– He's the one, the old man croaked. But after reconciliation, they tried to forget everything that reminded of the war, including me. But damn it, it's nice to flex your fists sometimes. He smiled and immediately his legs buckled. Athanasius managed to catch him and slowly put him on the floor.
Tan's hand holding his back was covered in blood. Grubert's clothes were pulled up and on the back, under the clothes there was a puncture wound, from which blood flowed along with air bubbles.
“A lung pierced,” Athanasius told him in despair. Una began to say that he urgently needed to be taken to the hospital, but Grubert said: “It's all over for me, but I don't regret anything. In my heart I felt that I had to help you. In the back room there is an old tapestry on the wall, remove it, behind it there will be a door to a secret room. – Here, this is for you! Byrd ripped the chain with a small key from his neck and handed it to Athanasius. There you will find everything you need, good luck to both of you. After that, he peacefully closed his eyes that will never open again. Silence fell …
He swallowed hard, and then put his right hand to his chest, paying the last tribute to the great man. Then he got up and walked with a determined gait to the back room, where Grubert pointed. On the opposite wall from the entrance hung an antique tapestry depicting a battle scene. Tearing off the canvas, a small but thick metal door appeared before his eyes. He slipped the key into his mask and turned it surprisingly gently. Outside the door, sheer darkness reigned. Tan took the oil lamp and went inside. Una followed him carefully. When the light lit up the contents of the room, she said with undisguised surprise: – Yes, this can arm a whole squad.
The weapons room appeared before their eyes. On the walls and on the floor were placed: weapons, armor and shields, skillfully made, but wrapped in a large layer of dust. In the center of this room was a stone plinth. On it were: a brigantine, bracers and a scabbard with a sword. They were all done in the same style with lions. The way these items were made, it could be concluded that a lot of money was spent on their creation. “With gratitude from the king!” Read the inscription on the bronze tablet. They vegetated for a long time in this pitch darkness.
But their dream was over!
***
Putting on the armor of Grubert, he asked Unu to tighten the brigantine from the sides.
– You said that they want to talk to me?
– Right.
– Who?
– Master of the Order of the Children of the Midnight Star and one of the initiates.
– Initiates? Into what?
– Let's just say, after talking with him, your world will not be the same.
– Hmm, we'll see.
They both donned gray hooded capes and left the house.
Of all the abundance of weapons, Una took only a dagger with her.
Common people have already started pouring out into the streets. There were no soldiers in the vicinity, which could neither please.
– Where is your master waiting for us?
– In a place called Arna. North of Anamut.
– Long away?
– Two days' journey.
Tan said indignantly in two. – Out of the question.
– Why?
“I must avenge General Swann and Grubert.
– You still have such an opportunity. But first, you must speak to the master.
– What for?
– Because he will open your eyes! It is important!
***
When they entered, Tan could not even imagine that the old, shabby barn, from the inside, would look pretty passable.
– This is the place, in case of emergency, if there is an urgent need to get out of the city, said Una. She pushed the old chair away from the corner of the shed and began to tear the planks off the floor. When she finished, she reached into the niche that had formed and took out a bag of coins.
– And you are very organized!
– Thank you, my father taught me everything. And suddenly she met his gaze. There was silence. Embarrassed, Una lowered her eyes and continued: – I will go, arrange for the horses and a safe exit from the city, buy provisions and scout out the situation, while you lie down and rest. You will need strength.
Tan didn't mind. Moreover, most likely, a paper with his physiognomy and a sum of remuneration is already hanging on every pillar and house, and the herald is competing in eloquence to make him the last bastard. But instead of a bed, he sat down on a chair, placing it opposite the entrance and placing the scabbard with the sword on his lap. Then he closed his eyes. Una opened the door to get out, but then Atanasius said: – Thank you.
She stopped and looked at him. His eyes were still closed. Smiling, Una left, closing the door behind her and hanging the padlock.
***
He woke up, chilled to the bone. The sun did not break through the cracks between the boards, which meant it was night, Tan thought. Rising from the chair, he caught himself thinking that the pain in his side had practically passed, and he could move without much discomfort. But Una's absence worried him. He wildly wanted to eat, his stomach "rumbled" with displeasure. Tan lit a candle and tried to find food, but to no avail. But I found an excellent whetstone on the shelf. Faced with defeat, he decided to pass the time by sharpening his sword. The sword was glorious, Ancalite steel, a comfortable handle, perfectly balanced, it lay in the hand like a native.
On the street I heard someone talking and laughing. A group of people was approaching the barn. Athanasius abruptly stopped his work and began to listen attentively to what was happening on the street.
– Ahahahahahaha, if she told the truth, ahahahahahaha, I will make him kiss my boots! Said a rough voice.
– No, no, if he is really there, then I will lead him through the streets absolutely naked, ahahahahaha! – said a voice belonging to a young guy.
– Enough, you fools, be more serious – said the third. I doubt that he is sitting locked in a shed, waiting to be captured. She just gave herself some time. But at least we can profit from what is inside. Considering what she had with her, I hope she hid much more here.
“So it seems to be here,” said a gruff voice.
– It seems, answered the third. – Yunas, open the door.
– Yes! the guy said enthusiastically.
Tan, stepped back and hid behind an old canopy hanging on the wall.
A few seconds later three men entered the barn. They were the guards of the city gates. They had characteristic stripes on the right sleeve in the form of two towers. The one that was in charge was without armor at all.
– Which was required to prove, he said. The girl deceived us. Oh, and the boss won't like it. We do not waste time and get to work.
– Heh, a man with a thick beard on his face and a rough voice laughed, who began to rummage on a wooden shelf nailed to the wall. “I think she’ll lose another finger for that, and then Hort will give her to us.” Here I will show her a real man, he said with a laudatory smile.
After these words, his head split in two. Blood and brains splashed in all directions. It collapsed silently, taking the wooden shelf with it. The other two did not even have time to understand what happened. Athanasius trotted across the barn, knocking out the teeth of the young guy along the way with a blow of his hand. In two jumps, he was next to the third. He tried to remove the sword from its scabbard, but the sharp steel severed his hand and dug deeply to the side, cutting the body to the spine. He let out a shrill cry and immediately fell down dead. Tan turned and walked slowly towards the guy who was on all fours. His whole face was covered in blood. The pupils were dilated, and the eyes were chaotically looking for salvation.
– Where's she? growled Tan.
The guy's jaw was broken and his teeth were knocked out. He explained with difficulty that she was being held in custody at the northern gate of the city.
– How many Soldiers are there?
He showed seven fingers. Then he received another blow to the face, from which he lost consciousness. Tan quickly put on a gray hooded cloak and walked out.
***
It was raining outside the window …
– Well, well, well, Hort said affectionately, stroking Unu's head.
Her face was smashed, her clothes were torn and stained with blood. She pressed her hands chained to her chest. On the left, part of the little finger was cut off.
“If you told the truth and my guys bring him here, I promise I won't hurt you anymore. But for cutting one of the guards, I'm afraid I will have to hand you over to the law. However, if you cheated, and he is not there, then I am afraid that this night will seem to you the longest in your life. Here, drink! and he threw a glass of water in Unya's face. “In general, you are very beautiful,” said Hort. Then he thought a little and turned to his guard, who was also in the room and was working on the cut on his leg: – Go out and see that no one comes in, and for one thing, look, why the hell are these mediocrities making so much noise there. He, in turn, obediently got up and hobbled to the door. As the door closed, Hort walked over to the decanter of wine. Without haste, he poured himself a mug, and after draining it in one gulp, he began to unfasten the belt on his pants. “You know, I’ll probably do you a favor. For what you have done, you will be put in prison, and for a long time you will not see a man who can please you. But luckily for you, I'm ready to help you with this, he slowly moved towards her, going behind her. “It’s in your best interest to be good. After these words, he tore her clothes, exposing the delicate skin on her back.
At that moment the door banged.
“Damn it, I told you not to bother me!
But they continued to knock on the door.
– Well, that's it, someone is going to get it right now! Hort said irritatedly as he fastened his belt. As soon as he opened the door, he received a crushing blow to the bridge of his nose, from which he threw his hands up and fell flat on his back. He died even before his body touched the floor.
Una looked up, but the picture floated before her eyes. She saw a silhouette approaching her. Suddenly she felt a wet cloth covering her bare back.
– Here are the bastards, said a familiar voice and Una breathed a sigh of relief. Hold on to my neck, Tan said. After that, exhausted, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the exit. The bodies of dead soldiers lay everywhere, but she did not notice it. Una only looked at him.
It was raining outside the window …
Chapter 4 (Renegade)
The sun blinded her eyes. When she woke up, she caught a cool breath of wind with her nose. Una was riding a horse, leaning her elbows on something solid, and at first did not understand where she was. She jerked violently.
– Hush, Tan muttered, displeased with the disturbance of the calm rhythm of movement. – How do you feel?
She glanced at him, then at the left hand, which had been finished and bandaged. The jaw ached. Dried drops of blood tickled in my nose.
–Things are good! Where are we?
“We're going north,” he said quietly. You are hungry?
– Damn!
– That is great! I also need a little rest. It is very difficult to move in the rain at night.
They turned from a forest path to a small edge, in the center of which a centuries-old tree spread its branches.
“I think this is a great place,” he said with a slight smile. Then he jumped off his horse and helped Una down. Athanasius walked over to the second horse, which was tied behind. He took off a couple of sacks and went with them to the tree. Putting them down, he noticed that Una did not move from her place and guiltily stood there where he had just put her. He exhaled heavily, took a waterskin out of the bag, and walked over to her. – I bet you are thirsty, hold! holding it out to Unya. She took and hugged him to her chest.
– Forgive me! She said.
– For what?
“For telling them where are you?
– Listen, Tan began, if you were silent, they would continue to cut off your body parts. And in the end, you would still tell them everything. Sooner or later, everyone tells. This is the point, just some people do not have enough intelligence to understand this at the very beginning. But from the way you looked, I can conclude that you held yourself with dignity. He came closer to her. – Trust me, I told a lot. I saw huge and stern men who broke like chips. You are great and you have nothing to apologize for.
She burst into tears as she hugged him. He in turn tried to comfort her and gently ran his hand through her hair.
– And thanks for coming for me!
– Well, that's enough! We don't have much time! I suppose they have already gone after us. Although, we were lucky with the weather and they will not be able to attack the trail. They will have to send many people in different directions to find us. Therefore, we can afford a little rest. So, let's see what the server gate guard so kindly lent us.
Athanasius gathered everything in a hurry, knowing that he would hardly be able to acquire provisions along the way. In addition, he understood that in order to hide his tracks, he would have to go throughout the night. But he still managed to take something useful. From the bag he took out: a piece of bacon, blood sausage, crackers, some vegetables, and a bottle of wine.
To dry his clothes a little and keep warm, Tan decided to light a fire! He collected the fallen dry branches, took out from his bosom a small leather bag, in which lay: a chair, a little flint and dry rags. And after a very short time, they were enjoying the warmth emitted by the burning tree.
– And what is this order? What did you call him? He asked, simultaneously thrusting his dagger into the fire.
– Children of the Midnight Star. It has been calculating since ancient times and is intended for one purpose only.
– What is it?
She looked at him closely. “I have vowed never to divulge ancient knowledge. The only person who can reveal it to you is the master of the order.
– What is his name?
– His name is hidden from outsiders!
“Actually, I was hoping that during these days on the road, you would enlighten me, what the hell is going on here?
– Sorry but no!
– And if I don't want to?
– What don't you want?
“Maybe I don’t want to know anything! Maybe I don't need all this!
– Do you want the truth? Raising her voice in irritation, Una asked.
– This is what I want from you!
