Light Warriors. Vlad Vas

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СКАЧАТЬ out of the king’s eastern possessions. It may well have been the same invaders who attacked you, my dear lady,» he added gently, even flirtatiously, with a twinkle in his eye and a smile, but only with the right side of his mouth.

      – So I was going where you were going,» she said quietly.

      – Apparently so. You’re lucky we have the day off, that’s why we wandered so far from the castle and decided to go hunting,» Geoffrey said again with his usual unemotional look.

      – Yes, thank you very much! But you could have killed me! – she answered, raising her voice a little.

      – You could have… But I was aiming for the tree,» he said in the same tone, to which she only stared intensely into his eyes, trying her best to show her great dislike.

      – All right, come on, take it easy,» Richard said during the heated pause. – Give me your hand and get on your horse and ride to the place where you were attacked and see if any of your companions are still alive.

      – Okay, but the attackers were, as I said, about fifty people,» said Adelaide warily.

      – Thank you for your concern, but we’ll take a look from the outside first! – he replied. – We are not suicidal! – he added with a chuckle, and they set off on horseback. Geoffrey rode behind, and Adelaide rode with Richard, hugging him from behind.

      – Show us which way to go! – Jeffrey’s voice sounded a few seconds later.

      – Let’s go! – Adelaide answered. – Follow us, there’s a big burnt oak tree about ten minutes away, and that’s where it happened,» she said, then turned to Richard.

      – As far as I remember, yes!» he answered smiling. – But do not worry, in general, he is very kind at heart, as well as a fair and honest man, just outside dry and angry, and the time is such that he is not up to fun yet.

      – Yes, I understand. These are indeed harsh times,» Adelaide said with sympathy and regret in her voice. – We came here for help, because recently our kingdom was attacked by evil warriors, the castle was besieged for three days. Fortunately, our troops were able to fight back, but unfortunately, many of the defenders are now worm food, the same fate befell those who were with me today.

      We were warned of the danger approaching from the northern countries and that war, darkness and plague had already engulfed the Scandinavian countries, the Iberian states. Only a small portion of the central lands are holding on,» she continued the story. – There were practically no means of survival there, that’s why this kind of games began – migrations in search of easy profits in other states, everyone became by himself and for himself, and animal instincts prevail over any laws of morality and morality.

      Our whole army was at a religious feast, a church service, when the raid took place, so we were taken by surprise and suffered a large number of casualties – soldiers and innocent civilian victims. I would like to believe that things will get better soon, that the Vikings will not return, that we will unite with friendly neighbors and coexist peacefully as before… Although who knows what’s going on at home now, maybe it’s just at this very moment that new attacks on my father’s castle follow and things are still much more tragic… – She ended with tears rolling from her eyes, and there was anxiety and genuine concern in her trembling voice.

      – I am sure that everything will work out and be fine, just like before, in peacetime, and maybe even better! The main thing is to believe and strive for it! – Richard said encouragingly, when suddenly Jeffrey’s whistle was heard.

      They turned around, Geoffrey signaling for them to stop and wait for him while he climbed a low mountain next to a stunted ancient oak tree, which he also indicated with a silent gesture, and surveyed the present surroundings. To which they nodded in unison and obeyed their instructions without question.

      Geoffrey tied the reins to a tree and headed up the hill on foot. Slowly retracing his steps, picking up his crossbow and keeping his finger on the trigger, he prepared himself for the shot and for all sorts of unfavorable scenarios when encountering his enemies.

      When he got to the top, he found a safe place behind a massive rock where he had a clear view of the battlefield, and there he made himself comfortable. But after a while he put the crossbow away, making sure he didn’t need it, since there were no living people down there and the dead couldn’t do anything to him anymore.

      Before his eyes opened a terrible picture: carriages and dead horses, pierced by lit arrows, were ablaze, German soldiers and women who were on their way to Philip II were beheaded and hung from branches by one leg, and all their upper body parts, that is, their heads with open mouths and eyes, in which fear was still reflected, were placed on spears stuck in the ground.

      One of the heads Jeff saw belonged to a young girl. Apparently it was a maid, and at that very moment her eye was pecking out a raven sitting on top of her. The sight made the knight insanely ill, so he hurried back, for he could see no more of this decomposing creature. Richard and Adelaide dismounted and went to a secluded spot so as not to be seen by outsiders.

      – It’s too quiet in this forest,“ Richard said, looking around, „I don’t like it…

      – And you’re right not to like it,» Jeffrey’s voice was heard. – I haven’t seen so much cruelty and inhumanity in a long time, though, to be precise, I’ve never seen such a mess before… – He made a wry smile on his face as he continued. – We have no business there. We have to get out of here, as soon as possible.

      – What’s out there? Is there anyone left alive? – Adelaide asked, staring hopefully into Geoffrey’s eyes, pleading.

      – I’m sorry, but there are no survivors, and you don’t want to see what’s left out there… – he answered, climbing on his horse, trying not to meet her gaze. – And I think we need to get out of here soon, because I’m afraid we can’t handle those beasts alone.

      – My sincerest condolences, Adelaide… – Richard said, empathetically. – But we’d really better get on to the castle. If he says things are bad, I have no doubt that we really must hurry, for we have seen many things… – He continued, putting his hand on her shoulder, and she hugged him tightly as the tears streamed down her cheeks.

      – Get on your horse and let’s ride! – Geoffrey said in a slightly irritated and commanding tone. – We haven’t time for that now; they’re somewhere near!

      – Wait a minute!» answered Richard. – We’ll be on our way soon! – He added, and at the same moment a crow flew up, cawing and flapping its wings, followed by the clatter of over a hundred hooves.

      – Not even a minute now… – Jeffrey spoke too calmly. – Climb up now – and get out of here if you still want to live! – He shouted now, and only then did Richard release Adelaide from his embrace, mount her, take her firmly by the arm and help her up. They hurried away deep into the forest, to get away from the place and get lost among the creatures of nature.

      The Chase

      There was a sense of tension in the air. The presence of the enemy was becoming more and more palpable. The brothers drove their horses to the limit, rushing through the most overgrown places, trying to evade the intruders, bursting through dense bushes, scratching their СКАЧАТЬ