- I brought a novice who went to my students for five springs. Now her training is over, and I speak my word for her. Lesana of the Ostrikova clan is ready to accept the belt of a warrior from the hands of the head of the Citadel. The krefs looked at each other. Ned looked at Kleskh from under his brows, gloomy as a thundercloud. It seemed that a little more and start throwing lightning. - So, the belt ... - said the caretaker and thunder could be heard in his voice. - A belt for a worthless girl. Where were you? For three years - neither hearing nor spirit - only sent quitrent money with occasions. Yes, even magpies flew several times with notes, where they learned to look. Only by your magpies, not a single novice could be obtained! And now he appeared, when they didn’t even look forward to waiting, the belt demands! Lesana's mentor answered evenly. - I, the head, do not have a great day to wait for me. And I don't need a belt. My belt is with me, - Kleskh pointed with his eyes
When lilac twilight spread over the fortress and hung in the corners like grayish shadows, Lesana was finally girded and released from the chambers of the dejected leader. Instead of a student's dress, the amulet was now wearing the clothes of a warrior, belted with a wide heavy belt, which, surprisingly well, grabbed her thin waist. In unusual attire, the girl still felt uncomfortable. It seemed that the novelty of a black shirt made of good quality linen, a leather top with short sleeves, pants, and the belt itself was too noticeable. The thought flashed through my head that five student springs flew by somehow too quickly. It seems like yesterday she dreamed of unlearning and returning home, but now she has unlearned, and will go home tomorrow. Somehow there? Mother and father would see, cuddle the young. Although ... who is there to squeeze, everyone has already grown. Styoshka is seventeen this year. And what is Styoshka like now? Stoyana Svet Yurdonovna. Elke, that is, Elavi,
And then the caretaker laid siege to himself. Again he is angry with Kleskh. Again he is blamed. As if all the troubles of the Citadel are from him alone. No, not from him. Or not from him alone. Trouble is a great many. Only now, Lesana's kref teases everyone tirelessly, does not obey the word of the elder, goes against the will. And maybe right? Maybe, indeed, youth and strength tell him a different truth? The one that Ned, with his stagnant mind, can no longer hear? Wants, wants Kleskh, lascivious bastard, power! It is eager to lay a hand on the Citadel, to establish its own rules here. Just mindless. Mad. By the stubbornness of the young! Heaps things up, let him come to power. He'll screw up, he'll put everyone under attack. But the head pulled himself up again, realizing that Kleskh was perhaps the only one who would be a fortress and learn to protect more than the apple of his eye. And if not? Will not if? If he loves to amuse himself with power?"How are you?" whispered the
The bloom turned out well - the first month of summer! Amazingly good. Warm, nice. Rainy days can be counted on the fingers. The current one was completely feast for the eyes. It has been pouring rain since morning. He beat down the dust, blackened out the mighty logs of the tyna and the hewn roofs of the huts, left shining puddles along the paths. And then the sun came out. Grace!Silence still reigned in the yards of the village, but the smoke of the hearths was already stretching over the settlement - soon the hunters would return from fishing, the youth would come from the reeds, the children from the forest. Then the village will come to life: silence will crumble into voices, laughter, squeals, screams and joyful barking of dogs.Summer days are long and bright. Night barely steps on the threshold, barely spreads its black wings over the world, and the morning dawn is already breathing down her neck. It would always be like this...Grandfather Vron, leaning on a strong stick, de
Winter this year was cold and snowy. In the morning, while you clear the path from the house to the gate, you will get stuck. And the cold is so breath-taking!Lesana was returning from the well with two full buckets, the water in which had already begun to seize with ice. A sharp wind blew in his face, making it difficult to look, burning his cheeks.- Let me help you.And the buckets, which had just been so heavy, suddenly became weightless. The girl looked back, with difficulty opening her frozen eyelashes.A tall, broad-shouldered fellow in a sheepskin coat seized the burden and smiled. His face was round and snub-nosed. The best face in the world! Lesana blushed. Miruta has long sunk into her heart. And he liked her. And in the spring, perhaps, he will come with matchmakers. No, not “maybe”, it will definitely come! From this thought, the soul became warm, warm, and even the burning wind could not cool the burning of the sweet flame.They walked in silence. Yes, and what to talk
The hard face, overgrown with prickly bristles, was devoid of any expression, and in the eyes ... in the eyes of the dead wasteland. Lesana had never seen such a heavy look before. It did not reflect any feelings, no spark of fun, no curiosity, no fatigue. Nothing. And there were eyes, expressionless looking from under black straight eyebrows, as gray as a cloudy winter sky. And just as cold. And the right cheek of the kref was disfigured by a white welt of an uneven scar.The gaze of the guard glided over the faces of those who entered, and suddenly stopped at Lesan. In the reverent silence, a low voice sounded:- Come on.The girl was numb with horror. It seemed to her at that moment that the kref could read minds and would now shame her in front of everyone that she dared to think about the expression of his eyes and the ugliness of his face.- How many springs do you have?The unfortunate woman was silent, unable to squeeze out a sound.- Are you mute?Lesana shook her head in fea
The man froze near the tree, which was not reached by the faint light of the burnt out fire. The tall man looked intently and beckoned the victim to him.As if enchanted, Lesana took a step forward, but froze when she met an invisible barrier. Something prevented me from moving on. And green, like swamp lights, eyes flickered, attracted ...Only then did the girl remember: blood! The charmed ore of the guardian is what does not let her go beyond the outlined circle. The werewolf knew this. But he needed food, and he was looking for a way to get it. And the victim could not resist the inviting gaze, enveloping, attractive, promising ... Therefore, she leaned over and hastily scratched the ground with her nails, seized by the last spring frost. The barrier separating people from the inhabitant of the night collapsed.Lesana stepped out of the safe circle into the darkness, reaching out to the man. Oh, how she longed to touch him! To snuggle up with your whole body, to inhale the smell,
Chapter 3The last day of the journey was unseasonably warm. The sun warmed so gently, as if the month of the melter had been replaced not even by green and to, but immediately by the color of the shadow. The retinues seemed as hot as sheepskin coats, and the future learners threw them off with relief, secretly glad that they did not see their mothers, who would certainly begin to scold. The Krefffs didn’t care, but Lesana and Ailisha, taking advantage of the fact that none of the village gossips would cackle over their ears, took off their headscarves and even slightly loosened their braids.Tamir, no, no, cast furtive glances at his companions, involuntarily comparing them with each other. What, it would seem, is different: now a girl and then a girl - two arms each, two legs each, a pigtail. But if Lesana - ruddy rich, soft, like a loaf just pulled out of the oven - aroused warm curiosity in the soul of a young baker, then a shy doctor with a gentle blush that illuminates swarthy s