you have been my master for a long time. You sent me to this arena, and I fought, amusing rich viewers. And you got money for my victories. But you were not enough, and you sent me to death again and again, until one day I almost died. Then you sold me to Perlat as a boring toy, and you took a stronger fighter to yourself. But I beat him, and you were left with nothing.

- Shut your mouth, slave! - "The Black King" jumped up from his seat, drawing his sword.

Dorn threw Horn's dagger and stood next to the young man in a fighting stance, preparing to repel the attack. "Kings" instantly jumped up from their seats and rushed to the outsiders. But Horn and the gladiator already waited for them.

Cleverly dodging the attacker's attack, the young man slashed a dagger in the throat. The gangster wheezed, and from the wound a fountain of brown blood sounded. Catching his sword, Horn himself went on the attack, and soon another of the "kings" writhed on the stone slabs of the arena.

Dorn had also managed to get rid of two opponents by then, but the third managed to wound a woman in the shoulder. The warrior stepped back, holding the wound with her hand.

- Stay where you are! - breathing heavily, she shouted to Horn, - This is my fight.

“You’re injured,” the young man wanted to cover his partner with her body, but she pushed him in the side, freeing herself to attack, “If I am destined to die, then it’s better with a weapon in my hands, as is customary in my people!”

The battle began with a new force. The "black king" masterfully owned a weapon, but Dorn did not even think of retreating. The old arena was filled with the sound of crossed blades, sparks poured in sheaves, illuminating a huge room no worse than torches placed in niches. Opponents circled on the old plates, making fraudulent movements, deftly avoided attacks, attacked and quickly retreated. Horn, who had never seen a woman fight, was amazed at her skill and courage.

Finally, having made a mistake, the “king” momentarily froze, opening up to the strike, and Dorna’s sword pierced the enemy’s chest through and through. He cried softly and began to settle on the ground, dropping his graceful weapon from his hand. The woman moved a couple of steps away, keeping her eyes on the defeated enemy, but for some reason she kept her blade ready.

Horn immediately understood why his partner did not lower her weapon. The enemy with a lightning movement of his hand threw a throwing knife at her. Only an excellent reaction saved Dorn. Having deviated from the throw, she repulsed the attack and, without hesitating for a second, with a quick sweep of the king took the head off. The disfigured body of the gangster fell to the floor, shuddering from the death throes of convulsions.

“There are no more“ kings, ”the horn breathed, smiling rather.

“You are mistaken,” the woman wiped sweat from her brow. “These were not“ kings. ”

- Then who? - the young man was surprised.

- Comedians. Dressed up, - Red-haired warrior wearily sank on the side of the arena.

“That's right, Dorn-Satan,” a large figure appeared from the dark aisle at the end of the hall.

The man walked toward the woman and the young man with wide sweeping steps, loudly beating off the rhythm of the heels of high heavy boots. He was wearing a burgundy shirt and narrow suede pants. His blond long hair fluttered when walking, as if the wind blew them. When he came closer, Gorn noticed luminous blue eyes, which looked at the guests attentively, but without any anger.

The young man did not notice the weapon in the man. Apparently, it was not. Sitting down on the middle chair, he, slowly, poured himself a full glass of wine from that crystal decanter, which Horn had recently admired, and with a gesture he invited to the table.

- Sit down, gentlemen, - somehow he said casually, - Let's talk about the case. You came to ask for help, didn't you?

- Can I believe you? Asked Horn, sitting down beside him.

- You can, - the man smiled, - And what is left for you?

“So,” the young man opened his mouth.

“I heard everything,” the “king” interrupted him, “There is no need to repeat.

- And what will be your answer? - The horn internally tensed.

- There will be both people and weapons, - the man tore off a piece of lamb and began to slowly chew on the meat, - Only one condition.

“Just one?” - Hemmed a young man.

- Yes. You take your little girl, you figure out with Sebastian how you want, and we get the castle and all its contents, including servants and slaves. Except, perhaps, this freak Claro and Kull. Do with them what you wish.

“Kull is my ally,” Gorn said solemnly, “And there will be plenty to find out with Claro.

“Then we agreed,” the “king” yawned with his whole huge mouth, “Yes, that's another thing.”

He quickly came out from behind the table, removed the scrape from the headless body, and sheathed the sword that lay beside it.

“Dorn,” he called, “I give you this blade.” You deserve it. For your life, do not be afraid. I will talk with Perlat, he will give you freedom. Or maybe you will go to my guard?

- I have enough blood, - the woman shook her head, - I will go with them, and there be that there will be.

- As you know, - the man sat back at the table, - you are taken a short way straight to the Gantt cave.

Accompanied by six horners, Horn and Dorn still reached the cave, after dark, where the thugs handed them over to the guard Gant. The night was quiet, only here and there the chorus of cicadas was heard, but the hooting of an eagle owl. The young man saw that the warrior’s shoulder with every movement responded with terrible pain, but her eyes sparkled with happiness. And he knew the reason.

The woman went quietly to the nook where Medea slept. Soon from there came a cry of joy, then a moan and a quiet whisper. The black woman began to heal her friend, whispering something under her breath, and Dorn quietly retold to her the events of that night.

“So soon you will be free?” - admiringly looking at the woman, asked Mi.

“Rather,” Dorna shook her head.

The warrior's red hair fell over her shoulders. She gently hugged the little black woman and cuddled to her. Their lips met and unexpectedly for both merged into one long hot kiss. Clothes slipped on the earthen floor, and two naked figures, intertwined in an intricate embrace, froze on a stove bench.

STORM

Livia barely opened her eyes. Bright light made the girl close his eyes. For the time spent in the dungeon, she lost the habit of such lighting, and now the flame from even a small torch caused a hurt in her eyes. She tried to move and was surprised to find that the chains had been removed from her feet, and a plug was removed from her mouth.

- How does a slave feel? - over the ear sounded the voice of the count, - I see your new owner does not care about you very much. I didn't even leave water, let alone food.

“Yes, sir,” Libya answered quietly.

“And I came to you with a proposal,” Lazar grabbed the girl by the hair and sharply lifted her head, “Do you want to know which one?”

“Yes, sir,” the slave said again, struggling to hold back tears.

“The sentence is,” the count released the slave, “You will write a letter to your jerk.” In it, you will explain to him that your situation is not so sad that they punished you for escaping poorly and that you decided to stay in my house. And he can fail on all four sides. And so that I threw out of my bad head the thought that I owed him something. In return, I will return you to the house. I will even make you a senior over all the servants in the house. And over Claro. You can repay him for all the bullying. I will not mind if you even kill this freak. Clear? I look forward to hearing.

“Sir,” Libya whispered, gasping for tears, “But who am I to listen to me?”

- You? - the count laughed, - He loves you.

- And if he does not fulfill the requirements?

- And that's how you ask! - exclaimed Sebastian, - Think, slave, rather. I do not have much time. Or call Claro?

- No, I beg you, sir, - the girl hid in a corner, - He will kill me.

“Of course,” Lazar agreed, “I gave him to you for that.”

Livia already wanted to say that she would never betray Horna, but suddenly the door to the dungeon opened wide and a frightened guard ran into the dungeon. The clothes on him were loose in such a ... Read more →