First-called Ilsa. The First Dead Princess. Immortals

***

“Where is she?” Ilsa whispered again.

– Don’t worry, glory! Here, look, and tsaritsyn wings! You will immediately recognize them! You see how they shine in the sky! ‘asked Akast’s praise.

– Straight gold!

– So gold bottom and covered. I gilded the feathers. And how beautifully it turned out!

– Who is above you, Acast?” Yes, and there is no one, throughout the Ob, in the Urals, or even throughout Siberia! – Ilsa uttered without a fraction of a joke, – an unprecedented thing happened!

The craftsman was very happy to praise, and did not hide it. He bowed to the Slavic woman with pleasure, then adjusted his clothes in order to look stricter and more visible.

– Here comes the Queen!” Apta shouted.

And exactly, the wings shining with gold flashed near the hill, Elena made a circle, then, slapping her wings, removing speed, jumped to solid ground, hitting right next to Akast and Ilsa. She freed her hands, and the wings stuck out behind her back, like a swan, when he slides along the water surface.

Thunder and Sutei ran to Elena, thinking how to help. And then, from the ground to the sky, and then, again, walks along the green grass, as it was unprecedented! But no, Elena walked a calm step, her face was now piercingly white, not blackened. I was not frightened, the Queen was the nev of rage now, but just very happy.

– Thank you, craftsmen! Everything turned out, amazingly good. And in the sky, what it turned out… And I could not imagine and think! Elena said with joy.

– Just like a falcon! Thunder praised her.

Simple as that, he said, as it were, straight, without undertakings. Yes, the craftsman himself was of such a sharp, even desperate nature, for which everyone loved him.

– No, like a white swan… But, with golden wings! You can’t take your eyes off her… – said, like a storyteller, Sutei, – Here for sure. Neither take away, do not add!

Elena now gladly listened to praise. But she made a sign with her bent fingers to Sysoy. He knew a secret language, hustles, when they talk without opening their mouths. Nodded, and ran to grazing dry. He took a small bag and stood next to the Queen.

– Here, Acast, this is for your skill and diligence – and put the bag in the hand of the craftsman.

He immediately bent to the ground under such a weight, almost dropping the gift. He smiled dumbfounded, not thinking of hiding his joy. The immortals, pleased with this joke, burst out laughing.

– So what is it? ‘asked the craftsman

– You know, read, only one thing in the world has such a burden. Is the bag small?

– Thank you, Queen! A rich gift…

– I hope that you will go on a hike with us, with your assistants. Wings are not an easy thing, and you never know, you will have to fix it…

It was evident how delighted such words of Acasta were. It is clear that he did not want to get into satellites himself. And the invitation is another matter!

“I was going to ask for it myself, Elena. But, you said before. I’ll get together quickly, I’ll go with all the gear.

– True, you will need to get used to the sight of my Dead Warriors. Well, nothing, everything will work out. Okay… Now it’s the turn of my Chosen Ones… Who is the first?

They wanted everything, but Sysoy was the first to succeed. Not everyone did it, but this knight had it usual. No wonder I tried to be ahead of everyone from the deck. And now, he proudly watched Acast personally adjust the belt.

– Remember! The tension should be tight – and the craftsman corrected the belt, pulling it up and adjusting it properly – otherwise, in the air, at speed, he can simply snatch you out of this cunning device. Be careful, you, nevertheless, not a bird, but a man! – admonished Acastus, – and now, try the very edge of the wings, as bends? You see, there are black bronze blades in front. You can chop and cut enemies! This is your weapon!

– Nothing skillful, let’s manage! I remember how I made my first shuttle. That was the task! Not like now! And he didn’t turn over, he caught fish well on it, – Sysoy choked.

True, the knight shifted from foot to foot, spreading his wings. He looked uncertainly at the chest straps, then at the Queen.

– Well, if you’re ready, start. Remember how I took off! Push with your feet that there is strength! Elena recalled.

But, now I checked the sharpness of the blades on my wings with my finger, and having put my hands in the belts, I tried to bend. It really turned out, not bad. And where falcons and ravens have feathers, they had dagger points. Yes, the gun turned out to be terrible…

– Now, it will definitely take off! Tan stated.

– No, I was scared a little,” Apta could not stand it.

– Maybe better with a little bit? Khvylya suggested.

But while the conversations were going on, Sysoy immediately decided. From the spot he jumped high, immediately ten fathoms, and began to wave his wings. Strength, as they say, is not necessary, and he howled three hundred fathoms, so that he could barely see him.

***

– Okay, – Elena murmured, and she took to the sky.

Only she flew sensibly, without fuss, gaining height in circles, so she rose slower. I felt the wind whistling at altitude and my face cooling. She fluttered like a butterfly into a gap between two hanging white clouds. I myself was surprised – from the ground they seemed so dense, obvious, but here – just huge and thick clumps of impenetrable fog. And she noticed that her wings were a little wet, covered with raindrops. But, but she noticed Sysoy, who was making circles above the clouds, apparently slightly lost.

– Here I am, Vityaz! You just need to get used to it! “she shouted,” hold on to me, do as I do!

– Not far! “he shouted,” it’s beautiful how! And people, there are no more ants on top!

– Go ahead, we must go down below the clouds!

And she, slightly pressing the left wing, turned sharply, without losing sight of the ward. However, he grabbed everything at once, on the fly. And, held on to her, keeping up. They, in a couple, flew around the city, causing the enthusiastic cries of its inhabitants. Again, whole crowds poured out, wanting to see such a sight.

– Okay, we have to go back! Elena shouted to Vityaz.

He is not one hundred to challenge the order. And, after a couple of minutes, they had already landed on the hill. Elena folded her wings and approached the Immortals.

“Now I’ll go up with each one. Well, at the end of the day, let’s try to take off together, and act in concert. You just have to get used to it.

And, now the Queen led everyone in turn in the air. First Apta, followed by Tan, then Vaya, Khvylya. Tivda and Priya rose without incident.

It was evident how the Immortals liked it, this is new. Yes, they have now received wings, in addition to eternal life and incredible strength. All seven were painted, it was clear how happy and excited. The Unots began to arrange snacks. Nothing like that, deer corned beef, barley bread and kvass. Bilkar skillfully managed with the assistants, everything was done quickly. So, on the grass, everyone ate. Elena drank only honey. She herself looked both behind the deck and behind the craftsmen, so that there would be no quarrels. But no, everything worked out calmly.

After that, they ate, and Elena gave everyone a rest. She herself, without stopping, looked at the sky, no matter how the wind rose. But no, it only fanned slowly, the leaves on the branches only made a little noise, the grass bent a little, nothing foreshadowing a storm.

She herself always held on to the belts. But no, the chest did not cut, did not shy. Acast fit everything well. I got up, walked slowly. Then suddenly she stuck her hands in the mounts, checked how the fingers of her hands control the ends of the wing, how the bronze tinkles on them.

– Well, geese-swans? Rested? Now we are flying again. Come here!

– Now. Queen! – shouted Vaya, wearing her wings, – we go already.

Elena stood at a folding table on which a wooden dish with sand was set.

– Here, such a system in the sky. Or such.

She drew a wedge first, and then a line tilted to the side. Here she brought out all eight with a wooden stick, depicting in bold circles with signs of runes denoting the names of the Immortals

“So I’m not so fat,” Vaya suddenly said.

– Yes, even more fully, – Sysoy climbed in again.

“Stop it,” Elena said quietly, and her face suddenly turned black with rage.

But, the knight did not notice anything, or pretended not to notice. He moved away, poured himself kvass and drank. Eyes black as darkness watched Sysoy.

– Come back! – it was said by the Queen very sharply and evil, so that others backed away.

– Now I’ll finish it and come! Vityaz gave an answer.

Nobody argued with him. Simply, Elena waved her wing, and the sharpest bronze instantly cut off the head of the debater. The body stood at half a second on its feet, and collapsed to the ground, throwing out a whole stream of blood. The head now lay on the grass, eyes gawping at the sky.

– What? Tspritsa shouted not in her own voice, – forgot who I am for you? So I reminded! You- my Geese Swans! And I will sprinkle you with gold for your service, and I will turn your necks for disobedience, like goslings! Remember your vows too!

Ilsa only swallowed heavily, looking at this. The breathless body of the disobedient lay in front of her, did not breathe or move. The immortal was deader than the dead, at once his power, granted by the Mistress, went away. The immortals fell silent at once, fell silent. No one expected the punishment of bullets to be so quick and merciless. But, the daughter of the magician could not. No, I remembered that Sysoy had dragged her jewelry. And so, his punishment befell him. But the glorious woman did not want his death. No, I didn’t want to, that’s all.

– Queen, show now and condescension to the fallen, – she began, – forgive him his guilt, as I forgive.

– So he was guilty before you? – Elena asked and her lips twisted with a terrible grimace.

– Yes. Hurt me. But I don’t hold a grudge against him. Why multiply the bad on earth?

– Well, – and the blackness from the face of the Queen at once retreated, as if absorbed into the skin, – I will forgive him. For your sake, good, righteous soul. Let it continue to be so.

– What? asked, not understanding, Acast.

– What a man with a kind heart will not ask me, so he should be rewarded! Well, Tivda, take the head of this okhalnik, and put it in place!

The knight instantly grabbed his head by the bloody pigtail, and put it to his neck, pressing it firmly. It took a long time to wait. But now, first the dead man’s legs shrank, then his hands fell silent on the ground, and Sysoy’s eyes opened.

“Am I…” he said.

“I killed you. By my will, you returned from Goose Land. At Ilsa’s request. – broadcast with a rattle in her voice, as if the Queen was spinning with mill stones, – Decide. Or, you will follow my orders, or I will charge you into small parts, but I will throw you into the river. And then you will not come to life, you will not rise again!

“I will no longer oppose your will to go, Queen,” the knight sentenced, lowering his head low, “let go of my guilt!” Henceforth I will not oppose!

– Okay… So it will be. But know, if anything, I will keep my word! In the meantime, look at the drawing. So in battle we will keep the system! So, and most importantly, do not fly closer than three fathoms to each other, so as not to beat your wings. Follow every order I have. Did everyone understand?

The knights and Slavs were silent, fearing now even to open their mouths. They only nodded their heads, agreeing with the words of the Mistress. And Sysoy did not raise his eyes.

– Well, in the morning, then on a hike! There is nothing to delay. Takrat may come to his senses, run away. And we will not give him! Acast, and you hurry up with the wagon train. It’s time to return to us Oum, prepare.