OLD FRIEND

The sun had already disappeared behind the treetops when the rider and his companion rode to the edge of the forest. There was no wind. The wet grass from the rain sparkled in the rays of the evening dawn. Livia greedily inhaled the fresh clean air, filled with pine needles and lush greens.

“How beautiful,” she whispered faintly.

- What? - grumbled Gorn, carefully looking around the road.

“Forest, grass, air,” the girl freed her hand and made a circle, “There, in the barracks, I did not see all of this. And the air was filled with sweat and rot. Even in the owner's house there was mold everywhere. I...

“Hush,” the young man squeezed the slave’s mouth with her palm. “Someone is coming here.”

The horn quickly turned the horse, and the travelers disappeared into the thickets of hazel. Soon on the road appeared four horsemen. They moved slowly, peering into the thicket, now and then, throwing short phrases. Out of all four, one was most likely the leader. His muscular torso towered above the rest like a rock. Shaved huge head tightly sat on a thick short neck. Long, like a gorilla, hands squeezed the reins of a horse. His chocolate skin was shiny in the rays of the setting sun, and naked, despite the cold weather, the torso spoke eloquently of the giant's remarkable strength.

Livia involuntarily pressed against Horn's chest and covered her face with her hands.

“This is Kull,” she whispered.

“I know,” the young man answered quietly, “I have special accounts with this man.”

Riders, meanwhile, stopped and began to deliberate. Kull, getting up on the stirrups, vigilantly peered into the thicket. His wide nostrils swelled, drawing in smells, and the whites of his huge bulging eyes rotated like a wild beast.

The horn, having thrust the girl to the ground, silently pulled a blade out of its sheath. Whispering something to the horse, he leaned toward his mane and gave spurs. The stallion, having published a short whistle, made a huge leap and after a moment was on the edge. There was a clink of metal, and two riders flew out of their saddles and tumbled to the ground, unable to figure out what had happened.

Livia closed her eyes in fear, but her curiosity was stronger. Peering out from behind the branches, she saw that Kulla’s third satellite was writhing on the ground in agony. Horn, meanwhile, swinging his sword, attacked the giant, pushing it towards the precipice.

Unaccustomed to hand-to-hand fighting, Kull clumsily reflected the enemy's blows with a huge club, but soon he made a mistake and was knocked out of the saddle. He fell to the ground with a crash, belching curses and holding his cut shoulder with his hand. Gorn jumped off his horse and stopped in front of the Negro, ready to kill him at any moment.

“So it’s not dead,” Kull snapped, breathing heavily, “And we hoped you had been feeding the worms for a long time.”

“You, I see, are also still alive,” the young man replied with a grin. “And you serve your master just as faithfully.”

- I serve! Roared Kull, trying to get up.

A strong blow to the head again threw him to the ground. The club flew out of her hands and rolled away to the side. Horn, taking a couple of steps, put a sword to the opponent's throat.

“That's what, Kull,” the young man said calmly, “If you want to live a little longer, then listen to my advice.”

- What do you want? - the thug fiercely rotated with bloodshot eyes.

“Ride to your stinking owner and say hello from me.” And do not forget to tell him that the girl who escaped from him, and for which he sent you and this pack of brainless dogs, I have, and I do not intend to give it to me.

“The count for such words will tear me into belts,” Kull snapped.

“This does not concern me,” grin Horn, “Understand yourself.”

“But I don’t envy you either,” curled up in a feigned smile at his dark face, the big man retorted, “The count will send you chase and not untie him until he returns his girlfriend and ruins you.”

“And this is not your sadness, Kull,” the young man laughed. “It’s useless to just catch me with someone else’s hands.” So tell that bastard.

Having said this, Horn whistled shortly, beckoning his horse. Jumping into the saddle, he picked up the bridle of one of the horses, nibbling the grass next to the fallen horsemen, and headed for the edge, where, wrapping in a raincoat, Libya was waiting. Having put her foot in the stirrup, she gracefully sat in the saddle, and soon the mist swallowed them up.

“Sir,” Livia touched her master on the shoulder.

“Speak,” said Horn.

“I wanted to ask,” she began timidly, “How do you know Kulla?”

“It's a long story,” the young man replied sadly. “And not as fun as you might think.”

“I understand,” she bowed her head.

- Okay, do not pout, - the young man waved his hand, - On the halt, I will tell. And now hurry. The sun is setting. I would not want to look for a place to sleep in the dark.

They plunged into the forest and wandered through the thicket for another hour. Finally, the horses carried them to a cozy area formed by several slabs of granite that went into the transparent surface of the lake. Twilight was thickening, and the water seemed black.

“Strange,” grin Horn.

- What, sir? - the slave was guarded.

“This lake is called Blue,” he explained. “And the water in it is as black as a crow's wing.”

- Night already, - the girl shrugged her shoulders, - In the morning everything will clear up.

Leaping off the horse, she picked up the pot and ran to the shore, gracefully sowing her slender legs and shaking her hips. In the light of the full moon, Horn saw her hair flying, how flexible her body was, how light movements were.

- So, I was not mistaken, - he thought.

Livia laid down the firewood and made a fire. Soon, the cereal in the pot began to gurgle, and Gorn began to tell:

- War is over. I had to go home. But I didn’t have a house, and my friends and I set off to wander around the world in search of shelter. We wanted to find some quiet village and settle there. None of us was a blonde man. We knew how to cultivate the land, hunt, fish. There were good masters among us who could feed themselves and others with their craft.

But our dreams collapsed in an instant, when we became aware that the dogs of some count were chasing us. What we annoy him, I do not know. Only one night we were attacked when we stopped for the night in one war-ravaged village. Even not a village, but a farm. Five yards, no more.

There were only seven of us, and there are at least a hundred of them. But we bravely entered the battle. I saw my comrades die, but not one of them retreated. Everyone died except for me and another soldier. When it became clear that we could not be saved, I ordered him to leave, and he himself accepted the onslaught of enemies.

I got caught. While deciding what to do with me, I heard how several times these villains mentioned the name of Lazar. Then I realized which graph was chasing us. In the morning, a black man entered the shed where I was thrown. He was so huge that he stood in the shed, bent over, and his appearance was so fierce that even my skin leaped into goosebumps.

I was dragged outside, and this bastard took up his duties. He beat me, he burned with hot iron. And all the while asking some ridiculous questions. I did not understand what he needed from me. These mockeries and torture continued until the evening, but I could not understand their meaning.

And then I lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes, I saw that I was lying in a gutter. Probably, my torturers decided that I gave up the ghost, and left it to the wolves. But I survived. He survived and swore revenge for himself and my comrades.

There on the farm, I healed the wounds, got some clothes and food. In the same place he buried his friends and performed a three-day party on them. The headman of the neighboring village told me that all these lands had captured Lazar during the war, and now they are his property along with all the inhabitants.He told me about the atrocities that their master creates, and advised me to go far away. Even gave it to ... Read more →