Читать книгу Immortals. Twin princesses, Ella and Elle. Black Wings of the Night - Сергей Соловьёв, Ар'лан ис'Дрекхэм - Страница 7

Suddenly the circle of bugle cut the frozen silence of the village. Even the news of a forest fire, the horror of these places, was not so by ear. Piercing, as if evil, this sound tormented the hearing of every Hanza, because it meant the most difficult thing that could happen in these remote places… This voice seemed to reflect from the roofs of houses, from the huge trees of impenetrable thickets and lean copses spread around. And the trumpeter turned on the ass of his plow, as if not everyone heard. And that’s right, there were a few inhabitants here. In these places, where people lived much less than bears in the forest.

But, then the turquoise himself opened his mouth. He gained air in his lungs, and shouted to the whole district.

— War! Ordered to gather an army, and go to Varta. Trouble came to us again! Please, good people! Elder Palak calls for one man from every smoke! And Likon will be the eldest over yours!

The messenger finished his speech, nodded to the trumpeter, and both, hitting the sides of their plows, went to another village. There were a lot of them here, in the suburbs of beautiful Warta.

Two guys who were passing nearby ran to different ends of the village, carrying such news to others. The noise rose, homon, and then, for ten years there was no big war, For a long time the Hanza did not leave these places on distant campaigns.

***

— Well, all the wife, collect bags for me on the road, — Radko calmly said

“I’ll put it all down now,” Mlada replied.

I saw how my husband checks three bales with arrows, each tip, each plumage. Then, and a spare bow. The usual one, with the bowstring removed, hid it in bulk. Old, still grandfather’s leather armor, with sewn bone plates. I tried it on, pulling up the straps. Next to the table he put a helmet, assembled in the same way, made of thick leather, with bone plates. I tried like a shield-wing sitting on my hand, which each Hanza threw behind his back when firing from bows. The shield bent like a bird’s wing, and a rib was inserted outside, then the shield became stiff, and was suitable for hand-to-hand combat.

At the table sat the sons, Arpad and Zaley, came running from the pack, said goodbye. They behaved decorously, kept quiet while Mlada and Yolka gathered their father on a long journey.

— Well, — finally, Radko said, looking around his supplies, adjusting the thin tops of his boots, — everything is ready, I have to leave, with everyone. It’s all right at home. You, now, Arpad, as the eldest, which means everything is on you until I return. You know the order. There are a lot of stocks, grain and meat in the cellar, everything is fine with us. Live together, according to the Covenants. And it’s time for me on the road.

He hugged each of his sons, kissed his wife. He went to the Christmas tree, stroked his daughter’s hair, took her hand, and said:

— You’re smart beyond your years, I hope so. And I will return from the campaign, and you will go to Alatyr, as Krasa said. And Priya herself, the Chosen One from Warta, also hangs, she even sent me news. I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you, I thought I would say in the spring…

— Father… — The Elle just threw up her hands and covered her face.

“All right. Let’s sit down on the track, “Radko said calmly.

He noticed how confused his daughter was, his wife was attached, his sons were diligently making serious faces. It was quite calm in his heart, at home everything was as it should, as the father of the family decided. Finally, he got up, sighed and grabbed his camp belongings. I felt a difficult burden, but I knew that his dry would easily lift and not like that. And, rattling his armor, he went out into the yard, skillfully fastened his entire belongings with belts, stroked Rogach, treating his old friend with a carrot. The sons opened the gate, and the horseman drove out of the outskirts, where other soldiers were already gathering. The senior of their detachment, Likon, raised a flag above him so that everyone could see who his fellow countrymen were going to in battle and on a campaign. Radko never turned around, did not look at Mlada, who was standing at the fence, and waving his handkerchief for good luck.