The world is developing in a spiral. This truth is as old and true as the Universe itself. With each new turn, stepping back a little, he is reborn with a new force, as if wishing to take revenge for a forced retreat. And again blood is shed, the clang of iron is heard, the groans of the dying. But the World lives and rejoices in its new victory over itself.

NEW HOST

The wind increased. Wailing terribly, he swayed the tops of the age-old trees with frenzy, causing them to creak plaintively, as if complaining to the Gods about their fate. At each outburst, faded yellow foliage rose up and long circled above the ground. Through the thick crowns from the blackened sky began to drizzle a fine cold rain.

Livia collapsed on wet grass in exhaustion. There was no strength to go further. Barely holding her breath, she put her ear to the ground, listening to distant sounds. Her pursuers fell behind, and the girl was glad of it. But she knew that success was temporary. Now they will understand everything and continue to drive their prey further to the Old Marshes. And from there she would not be able to get out, as no one else had succeeded, who at least once by stupidity or out of curiosity, or maybe, like her, wandered into these dead spots. The heart of a slave beat with redoubled strength, breathing became confused.

“This is the end,” Livia moaned, “I will soon be caught up, and everything will be over.

The slave knew what awaited her. There was no hope of a quick and easy death. The girl knew very well the cruelty of her master and understood that he would not deny himself the pleasure of making fun of a slave. Livia imagined this terrible picture: sitting in her famous armchair, covered with black velvet, the owner would watch as Kull, his faithful slave, tormented the unfortunate, not paying attention to yelling and pleading for mercy.

Staggering from fatigue, Livia rose from the ground. From a long run, his legs became wadded, his whole body seemed to be filled with lead, his head was spinning from nervous tension and fatigue. Hunger made itself felt. The girl took a couple more steps, but again began to settle on the ground.

At the cost of incredible effort, she lifted her head and forced herself to crawl over the hazel bush, where she took refuge under his low crown to rest and calm down for a few minutes. Curled up like a stray dog, the slave closed her eyes, but at once shook herself. Having fallen asleep, she would not hear the approaching pursuit, and she would be grabbed without much effort, laughing at her.

The runaway leaned against a prickly, covered with small shells the trunk of an old oak tree and froze. But her eyes themselves began to stick together, and the slave had to shake her head from time to time in order to ward off the annoying slumber.

To fatigue and hunger do not overcame her at all, Livia began to remember how she managed to get out of the castle.

- As if someone deliberately led me to escape, forced, prompted, - she thought, - At first, the owner shouted at me and hit me in the face. The cheek is still burning with fire, as if it was scalded with boiling water. Then came Kull. The owner ordered me to be taken to the torture chamber. Why am I not scared? Perhaps I didn’t care what they did to me? No, I did not want to die, but almost no one left the dungeon alive.

What happened next? Kull grabbed my hair and tied my hands behind my back. No, he did not connect, but this vile freak Claro. Still giggling, that now I will be really punished for my obstinacy. Kull gave him a squad and ordered to shut up. He jumped to the side, muttering something and squinting at me with his piggy eyes. What a nasty mug he has!

Climbing behind us on his crooked legs, Claro accompanied him to the chamber, but Kull, turning his huge eyes, did not let him in, but threw him into a corner and locked the door in front of the freak. Then...

The girl thought. As if someone purposely erased all the memories from her mind.Really, the slave lost feelings? No, it could not be. Livia well remembers that Kull put it on the wall, but did not chain it and crucify it on the frame for punishing the whip. Having picked up a whip, he hit the girl several times on the shoulders and stomach. But Livia did not feel pain, although there were traces of beatings on her body.

“Shout and pray for mercy,” the slave whispered in her ear and suddenly smiled, exposing his huge white teeth.

The slave woman looked at the executioner in bewilderment and started screaming and crying, to Kull, again taking a whip in her hands, began to lash ... the wall and the pole, while never hit the girl.

“Scream,” he repeated, heading for the pillar, “Louder and more complaining for everyone to believe.”

When her voice was completely hoarse, Kull hoisted the slave on his shoulder and carried him out of the basement. Livia saw Claro’s cunning face peeking around the corner. This bastard must have been standing at the door all the time, listening to what was going on behind the thick walls of the chamber, in order to report back to the lord. They Kull never got along, and wanted to throw the Negro freak and take his place.

The owner ordered to take the slave to the hut and put on a chain. Kull put the girl on an armful of straw, but did not attach the chain to the collar. He also ordered some yard girl to bring something from the food, and when she left, he leaned toward the slave and whispered:

- Pretend that you are very bad. And at night I'll come and get you out of here.

“But other slaves will sleep here,” Livia exclaimed.

“I'll take care of this,” the slave winked and quickly left.

The night was cold and windy. All slaves were taken to another room. When it was midnight, Kull snuck into the hut and woke the slave. Beckoning her with his hand, he led the girl out into the courtyard and opened a narrow gate hidden in the thickets of ivy, which was thickly wrapped around the castle wall.

“Run,” he ordered in thick bass. “Maybe you can save yourself.” There will be a chase, but you try to leave.

Livia crawled out of her shelter. The wind did not subside, the rain intensified. Having gathered more air in her chest, the girl took a few steps. But her body did not want to obey the mind. His legs gave way again, and before his eyes multicolored circles jumped. The girl began to settle again on the ground.

Suddenly, someone's strong hands grabbed her and pulled the horse to the withers. The slave was only able to open her mouth in amazement, but she didn’t have enough courage to cry. With difficulty turning her head, she saw a stranger behind her back. A wide-brimmed hat was pulled over the very eyebrows, and a woolen scarf wound around the neck covered the lower part of the face.

Her unexpected rescuer hit his heels, and a black stallion overgrown at a gallop along a barely distinguishable path. Livia instinctively leaned back and pressed her back to her wide chest, while the rider grabbed the girl with one hand across her torso and covered her with a thick cloak.

- Who are you, mister? - a little breath, asked a slave.

“Your new master,” the stranger answered calmly. “If you don't mind.”

“But this is impossible,” Livia moaned, “you are stealing me.” You...

- Shut up, slave, - calmly answered the rider, - We need as soon as possible and as far as possible to get out of here.

The girl did not argue. In the end, it was in her interest. The rider pulled the bridle, and they quickly disappeared into the saving forest more often.

The rain stopped, the wind gradually subsided. A fire crackled on a small clearing, surrounded on all sides by a dense wall of dense bushes, and from the pot hanging over the fire came the intoxicating smell of meat.

Livia, clasping her knees with her hands, sat by the fire and squinted at her savior, trying to guess who he was and why she picked it up and helped to hide from her pursuers. The new owner, as she managed to notice, was tall and slim. He was young and handsome, but his long hair, falling on his shoulders, cast a deadly gray hair, which could not be combined with a clear gaze blue, like the spring sky, eyes.

The girl tried several times to talk to the young man, but she could only find out his name, which the slave really liked. The name of the young man is Horn.But where he comes from and what he does is still a mystery for Libya. On ...