“All my life I have been looking for someone like you,” Gant ran a hand through her hair, “Even if Perlat did not give freedom, I would still take you to the place where we would be happy.” Would you agree to be my wife?

“But now I am free,” the woman grinned, but immediately added, “And I agree, my dear.”

Dariya pressed herself against Gant’s broad chest, breathing in the smell of his body, listening to the beat of his heart, feeling the movement of his blood. The nature yearning for man's caress craved for the love that this beautiful and proud woman was deprived of. Even Perlat, bringing her to her bedroom, could not, and could not, give what her nature longed for.

The brave leader of the robbers and murderers now looked like a meek lamb, caught in the paws of a leopard, but how sweet were these embraces, this smell. Gant froze, afraid to move. But what if he opens his eyes and again he sees these familiar faces before disgust, he smells the fresh fumes from someone's throat. No, it's better not to open your eyes. Let him dream about it, but how sweet and pleasant this dream is! Oh Gods!!!

A leg of the chair flew out of the open window. A huge vase followed. Less than a minute later, a young man flew out into the yard and flopped down on the grass.

- Well, what, jerk! - in the window seemed broken in the blood, but happy face of the graph, - You'll know who to argue with. I'll let out your guts, suckers!

The horn raised its head and burst into a ringing boyish laugh. Pulling his knees up to his stomach, he straightened up sharply and rose to his feet in one leap. Lazar's eyes widened in surprise. He climbed onto the balcony and jumped down, swinging his sword.

“It seems our young man has new strength,” grunted Gant.

“He will cope,” Dariya said confidently, throwing her sword at Horn.

He deftly caught him and described an intricate loop in the air. The count roared like a ferocious beast that smelled blood, and rushed to the attack. But Horn was on the alert. Bouncing back, he struck a slash with a slash, and the opponent's shirt turned crimson. Lazar was forced to retreat. But the young man did not think to give him a break. He attacked, striking blow after blow, driving the enemy into a corner.

Feeling that he would soon be pressed against the wall, Sebastian made a desperate attempt to escape from the trap. Grabbing his sword with both hands, he raised it over his head, thereby fully opening. The horn took a step forward, and when the opponent's blade began to fall, he quickly threw his weapon into his left hand and struck a strong and accurate blow to the chest.

The count froze for a moment and opened his fingers. The weapon fell out of the hands.

“I once told you,” Gorn grabbed his brother by the throat, “What you have to pay for everything.” Today is the day of payment.

Sharply pulling the sword out of Lazar’s chest, the young man released the weakening body, which slowly began to crawl along the wall to the ground. Spitting and wiping sweat from his face, Horn went to his friends, without even turning around, to look at his brother for the last time.

Lazar's hand stretched to his belt.

- Watch out! - shouted Darius, but Gorn already heard the whistle of the dagger.

As wound up by someone's hand, he turned around his axis and managed to intercept the knife thrown at him. Using the inertia of his own body, the young man abruptly straightened his hand, and the blade, flashing in the rays of the setting sun, came right in between the eyes of Sebastian.

He jerked, opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something at parting, and went limp, dropping his chin on his chest.

“It's over,” Horn breathed, “To a dog is doggy death.”

- What now? Gant asked.

- What's up with the princess? - Gorn looked around, - Is she whole?

- Who? - exclaimed Darius, and her eyes widened.

- Did you manage to save Livia? - the young man stared at his friends.

“She took Kull,” Gant grumbled, “To Blue Lake.”

- Glory to the gods! - breathed out Horn, - Then we should go on the road. Are you with me?

“You and I will not go,” Gant said. “Dariya and I have a different path.”

- So, the "king" kept his word, - smiled the young man.

- No more slave. There is no more ferocious gladiator Dorne-Satan. Now there is a loving and affectionate wife of an old tramp. There is Darius, and I am very happy about this.

“I'm glad too,” smiled Horn.

“And I propose to spend this evening with the one-eyed Flyn,” the woman intervened, “Cyclops” and “Shark” kindly agreed to deliver our belongings there. And at the same time, you, Mr. Lazar Jr., will tell us who Libya is and why you tried so hard to save her.

“There is no master anymore,” the young man assumed a majestic pose, “There is your loyal friend Horn.”

“On this occasion, it would not hurt to drink ale,” remarked Gant, “Are we going?”

PRINCESS LIVIA

“This story began when I managed to get out of that gutter into which the people of Sebastian had so rashly threw me, having considered dead. Having a little healing and gaining strength, I set off in search of my brother. My father always told me that a man always collects debts, otherwise he will lose his face.

I traveled the world, visited different areas, saw hunger and ruin left by this senseless war that claimed so many lives and caused suffering. And one day, while sitting in a dirty tavern, I accidentally heard a conversation between two peasants. They complained of ruin, hunger. And then one of them, slamming a friend on the shoulder, said the following:

- Do not be sad! Think better that our princess is worse. After all, she was captured and turned into a slave. And the person who took possession of her is a vile and cruel type.

I plucked up the audacity, sat down with these guys and asked them in detail about what had happened. They resisted for a long time, repudiated, but after the third ale, they relented and laid out everything they knew.

And it was like that. This land was ruled by a wise and peace-loving governor. Perhaps for this reason in the capital he was disliked, and sometimes laughed, calling him soft and sometimes a coward. But, nevertheless, his possessions were rich, and people lived in prosperity and tranquility. He did not intervene in fights for power, as his neighbors did, did not pull the veins from the people, did not arrange reprisals. The citizens respected him, although there were those who needed to be kept in check.

When the war broke out, the ruler of these wealthy lands refused to send his people to the slaughter, thinking that trouble would pass him by. Indeed, there were no battles and raids in these areas. But once a gangster and a robber invaded its boundaries. Can you guess who it was?

“Your brother,” blurted Gant.

- Exactly. Sebastian, like a vulture, followed the army and raked up everything that remained valuable after the raids. And then there is such luck: rich lands, untouched by the war. But he did not openly attack. Leaving his army, by that time considerable, on the border, he calmly arrived with a small detachment to the court, ostensibly with a friendly visit.

The duke received him with all the honors, took him and his people the best rooms of his palace, entertained and treated the guest in every possible way. And he presented his daughter, Princess Livia - the only heiress. The gods did not send the sons to the duke, so the girl should inherit all the wealth of the noble family.

The count immediately realized that, having taken possession of Libya, he would become the ruler of these rich lands. And Sebastian began to act. He did not lag behind the princess even a step, everywhere he accompanied her, courted her, rendered signs of attention. But Livia only answered him with reserve, not giving a reason to hope for reciprocity.

And once she noticed how Lazar cracked down on his servant. And the girl in tears ran to her father and told him everything. The duke was upset by his guest’s behavior and asked him to leave his domain immediately.

The earl quietly listened to the ruler and asked for another day for charges. And he sent his messenger to the place of deployment of troops. Then he quietly left the palace, but settled in the nearest grove and waited for his armada to fit.

“Did this Duke have his own army?” - asked Darius in surprise.

- It was, but small and poorly armed. In addition, after many years of calm and a full life, the soldiers lost their martial arts skills. So, Lazar was not difficult to seize these lands.

On a quiet night, when everyone was asleep in the castle of the Duke, and the guard was only for appearance, Sebastian with his retinue, which consisted of notorious bandits, broke into the fortress, where he perpetrated this massacre. The duke and his wife, who was expecting a child, were killed with a special cruelty in the spirit of Lazar. But Libya managed to get out of the palace and take refuge in the nearest village.

But even in such a prosperous society there will always be scum. Some peasant, hoping to save his own skin, betrayed a girl. Princess grabbed and led to the graph. Sebastian did not even offer her the conditions of salvation. He just made her his slave. In front of all the people, her bare, chained, with a collar, beaten by the guards, along with other beauties, drove the count after the army.

I do not even dare to assume that Sebastian fell in love with her. He never loved anyone. Lazar was simply incapable of such feelings. The lands were plundered, and the inhabitants turned into miserable slaves.

I then decided to find Libya, and through her go out to my brother and get even with him. Here is the case. In the forest, I picked up a runaway slave whose name was written on the collar.

“But any woman can have that name,” Gant remarked.

- Right. But I visited that castle and saw a beautiful portrait of a princess. So, I knew what a girl looked like.

“Why didn't she tell you the whole truth herself, but she invented a fairy tale about the daughter of a merchant and some strange debt for which she suffered?”

“I don’t know,” Gorn lit his pipe, “But it no longer matters.”

“But I think she loved you,” Darius put in her word.

- Frankly, I also fell in love with Libya. But she is the daughter of the Duke, and I am nobody. The title means nothing. I have neither home nor money. And after recent events, my person in general can be outlawed.

- And if you go with us? - suddenly suggested Gant, glancing at Darius, - find a quiet place and live the rest of the days in happiness and love.

“I would be glad,” Horn sighed. “But will Libya agree?” I think she will want to return to her home. And rightly so.

Glimpses of the first dawn appeared in the sky. New day was coming. Friends came out of the tavern. Their farewell was short, and soon all three disappeared in the predawn haze. Each waited their own way. What it will be, now depended on themselves.

EPILOGUE

Horn was right. He was declared a criminal, accusing him of encroaching on power and treason, and began to hunt. Libya offered to take refuge in the former possessions of his father. But Lazar Jr. refused, citing the fact that someone would give him away anyway.

They went to the Western lands, but at the border they were stopped by a detachment of soldiers sent in search. They had to hide. For several months, the Horn and its beautiful companion circled through impassable swamps, impassable thicket, moving away from their pursuers, and, finally, good luck smiled at them. Crossing the border, they reached the shores of the Ocean, where they boarded a merchant ship. No one else has ever heard of them.

Without any difficulties, Gant and Darius reached the Northern Rocks and the ever-raging sea. They settled in a quiet place among the stones and lived their lives in happiness, as expected.

Kull and Medea chose the Southern latitudes. The giant soon became a recognized leader and was elected ruler. After his death, the little Negro took into her tenacious handles the rule of all the tribes that inhabited the hot south. Medea was respected and revered as the Goddess, and after her death, the noble subjects erected in her honor and her husband’s memory a huge temple, where they trebled magnificent celebrations every year and lauded eulogies.

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