Полная версия
— Where did you get it? I see that it’s not yours? — she said, wiping off the tattooed body of the knight with a towel — did you find something? So her twin sister remained. I noticed an acorn-sized birthmark on Yeli’s right forearm. You took one of the two, knight, broke the family, separated the sisters.
— Fight was, picked it up in bushes. There were no parents nearby, — he made excuses, — Do not leave the girl?
Really… And before his eyes again stood the picture of that day, that quick fight. And I could not remember noticing a Hanza family with children. And he, it turns out, separated the twins? It turned out badly, as Immortal thought…
— Blimey… — the witch continued to speak quietly, with a smile, — Surprised, right word… Fallen, and saved the child? ‘she chuckled.
— That’s how it happened… — and Kashchey sighed, and rubbed his right side, — I, here, hung on a bronze stake read, fifty years… And Alma saved, was not afraid of death, did not ask for anything in return… Since then I have given the Covenant, I do not leave anyone without help…
— It’s a pity, I didn’t know before, — and the witch stroked his cheek, and then kissed him, — okay, we must dress and go to the house. And then it’s time for us to dine.
Tivda dressed himself and helped the hostess. He watched her adjust her clothes in front of the copper mirror. Finally, they went back, the witch first, and the knight a little behind and from the side, as if looking after the beauty. Rose she on the high porch, opened the door, pulling at the carved, skillfully worked, ring.
— Come in or something, dear guest… said the woman, and bowed to him according to custom.
— Thank you, mistress — and the diva bowed his head back, took off his hat and went inside.
It was dark in the canopy, and Tivda did not distinguish this, he saw it in the dark, no worse than another in the light of the sun. And Gaida lit an oil lamp from smolders in a copper vessel of hemp rope, and went up the steep stairs to the upper room, to the living room. Here, on the bench, Spruce sat and did not get bored with the cats. I definitely didn’t get bored — I frolicked, and fluffy animals took care of her, didn’t scratch, didn’t bite. But they were not allowed to leave either.
— Sit at the table, — said Gaida, defending herself to Ella, — everything is ready.
She nodded in a completely adult way, and sat on the bench at the table. The witch opened a large box, and took out a carved box. Slowly, slowly put this thing, like a big treasure, on a wide table. She prepared and laid an embroidered towel. Finally, she took out a suede bag from the box, shook it three times, but shook her head and put it back.
— No, it won’t be okay, — the witch said to herself, — Listen to me, Ella… — I turned to the girl, — At all, take the bag, and shake, shake well. Here, wisely, you have to do, there is no need to rush…
The girl did what the witch demanded. I didn’t argue, I just looked around at Kashchei, apparently, I was already expecting bad things for myself. Gaida closed her eyes, began to swing on the bench, quietly humming something to herself. Then, for a long time she created hustles, beckoned. And Spruce put in front of her a bag with alchiks covered with runes.
I saw and more than once Tivda these signs, the oldest among the giants. But rarely they write, only sacred hymns. Runes are the connection of mortals with the Gods, so the Gods speak to people, giving strength to fortune-tellers. And those interpret what Veles says. After all, it was he, Elena’s brother, who gave people runo signs.
Well, Gaida opened her eyes, and began to take out three bones at a time, and put them on a towel. I finished three counts, only then I dared to breathe. Three times three, the most sacred volshba. Tivda knew it.
The witch began to read, in holy verse:
— The finder should stay here…
Skills and strength to gain…
But in evil yes difficult hour
It’s time for her to fight…
Gaida quickly said this, immediately hid the bones in a bag, soaked her sweaty forehead with a handkerchief. I fed myself a full bucket of kvass, and instantly drained it.
— Like this… Heard the will? Deal with it… And she will be fourteen years old, I will send a girl to Alatyr, to gain intelligence. And here I will teach you everything I know. Okay, and now you need to eat. Is everything ready! I sensed yesterday that guests should be expected!
And she began to lay out treats on the table. Pies, spiritual baked meat, barley porridge generously flavored with onions. In the middle was a large reaper with apple brew, just giving off a wonderful smell. For Eli, Gaida finely cut the meat and put it in a small area, arming the girl with a comfortable spoon. She began to eat, smiled slyly, looking at the witch and diva, cheerfully chatting her legs. In general, she was completely happy and calm.
Tivda, felt hungry, and paid tribute to both meat and excellent pies, did not disregard porridge. I drank an apple drink, felt that I was full. He got up, stroked the girl’s shoulder, and calmly said:
— Well, Ella, I gotta go. And you, stay with Gaida…
But here the usually calm girl frowned, and clung to the sleeve of the knight’s jacket, so tightly, and unexpectedly said, almost shouted:
“Where are you going?” I’m with you!
Immortal is directly stunned. He looked at the child, as if recognizing him anew.
“You can’t talk. She was silent all the way, — the knight said quietly.
“I didn’t want to and didn’t say,” the girl stubbornly said, “but here you are leaving me.” And my parents left me! Nobody wants me! she burst into tears.
The witch stroked the child on the head for a long time, calmed down, then kissed the pink cheek. The spruce still, buried, hugged the woman by the neck. Well, Tivda sighed with relief, and began to equip himself. Bag on the chest, dagger and clove to the belt, and wings behind the back, and everything was ready. On the porch came Gaida, with Spruce in her arms.
— Goodbye, witch! ‘he shouted, adjusting the luggage on his chest.
— See you, div! ‘the hostess replied.
And Ella also waved her little pen. Kashchei grinned, waved both of his wings, and jumped into the sky. A few flaps of the wings and he was already high. Then he made a circle over the estate, turned over a couple of times in the air, and flew to the river, where his brothers were already waiting for him.
PART 1 Krasa’s Apprentice — The Traveller
CHAPTER 1 A family living on the outskirts
An ordinary day on the estate and began as usual. The sun had just risen, rolled out from behind a distant forest in the east, and the villagers were all on their feet, in an important matter. There was nothing unusual, everything went according to the once and for all established routine. Who has a rope creaking at the well, the owners collect water in tubs, and who melts the stove, if not in the house, so in the summer kitchen, calculating housewives take up cooking, prepare food for their households. Men, they do their own thing. Some feed is given, or cows are driven to the village herd, where the shepherd Atmai is already tapping the whip on his red boot, waiting for all the cows and gobies to gather. The village was rich, which means that there were plenty of animals.
Radko drove his sheep out of the yard, from a large barn made of pine logs. He led this herd, as usual, an old goat, and his charges were quite obedient to him. Especially, with the help of a couple of master dogs, wisely and really, helping the owner. Sheep walked almost in formation, crowded together, sometimes bleated loudly. Their thick, but unstable herd, came out of the gate, to the outskirts. The goat, proudly carrying formidable horns on his head, led the wards from the village. And then, the herd itself knew the way, to the grazing that belonged to their village according to custom, and according to the Truth of Warta.
And Radko’s wife, Mlada, set about the dough that had been set since yesterday. She took off the towel from the tub, straightened the high-raised dough with her fingers.
— Look and learn, Elle, how good bread comes out. Now, the stove will trample, and let’s start putting loaves in the vent with you. And from the remaining good pies we bake. Have you already prepared the filling?
“So of course, Mother! said the girl, nodding her head, so that the tight braid swung.
The woman looked happily at her child. And then she got ugly as a beauty. High and fine, with a heavy, slightly reddish oblique. Yes, and the Sun blessed, generously showering the girl’s face with freckles.
— My clever… What did you do without you… Your brothers, Arpad da Zaley, of course, but there, in a community house, they disappear, instruct them.
— Why so? Could live with us. And we are better, and more fun.
“As is customary. And in two years, they will cut off their hair, and they will be able to acquire their own household. Zalya will help us like the youngest, but you, you go, and we will marry you.
“I don’t want to get married. Here, I study in the evenings with the mentor Dirka, an herbalist, as she will become. A good thing, and necessary. And then I saw a dream, mother, — and the girl looked into Mlada’s eyes, — her missing sister… She is alive, for sure… And where she is, so Elena the Beatiful did not indicate, I myself must find the missing…
— So we were looking, looking… — the woman whispered sadly, hanging her hands, — and Rasta Gorazdovich was asked if he had seen anything? Or himself, or his unots from the caravan. On that day, strangers attacked, and we rushed to run. And our wagon turned over, I pulled you out, my father dragged me… The wheels were lifted, the wagon was turned over, the bags were in place, but your sisters, no… So she disappeared… Radko and I are to blame, but what can we do? — and the woman cried, wiping her tears with her sleeve.
— Don’t, don’t cry… The main thing is that she is alive, for sure. And so, you see, and find a sister…
“Where are you going to find her?” All this happened far, behind Oum. And we are in Warth now. Read, with a thousand miles from those places, if not more… Well, we cried, let’s bake bread and pies, otherwise the hungry father will return from the field… But look, without Krasa, do not engage in witchcraft yourself, you will make yourself bad, but you will put trouble on us!
— Well, well, mother, — the girl answered a little frightened, taking up work.
Soon, two heavy baking sheets went to the furnace, heavily loaded with caravans. Around there was a smell incomparable, exciting, exciting, attractive, bread…
Even Zubok came running, the house keeper, waving his tail cheerfully. I lay down nearby, sticking out my red tongue, as if I wanted to ask: “What are you doing here, mistress? What is such a smell throughout the estate?”
Mlada smiled, pulled out fresh bones, put them in an old sherby bowl, and put them in front of the dog. He gratefully wagged his tail, and began to treat.
— Well, you can go to your Beauty. Come back in the evening, we’ll have dinner together, “Mlada said slowly.
— Thank you, Mother!
And the Christmas tree rushed to dress until the strict mother changed her mind. She took with her a suma woven from a bast, put bread in it on the road, and her favorite wooden cup, drink water.
CHAPTER 2 Witch’s Chambers
The tree walked quickly, but looked under her feet. And then, in bast shoes, you always need to walk carefully, otherwise you can pin your leg with a bitch. And it hurts, and it’s a shame, you need to look at your feet. And it was not far to go from their village, to the witch’s estate, only two miles. It is possible along the river, but back, against the current, I did not want to rest so hard with a pole, it’s easier, to walk on my own two. Indeed, it would be better to dry, but she did not have her own elk, only she had a secret, this handsome Faithful clicked. My father drove cattle on it to the pasture.
Well, the girl went like that, leaning on the staff. Sometimes, she removed thick branches from her face with a long stick, or, she rustled lying branches or bushes, trying to scare the snakes. She did not want to kill forest inhabitants, but she did not want to be bitten either. So it was already once that a viper bit her in the leg. Nothing, survived, although the ankle was swollen, and she saw such visions — words cannot describe, no one would have believed. She never told anyone. Why? If you say, mother and father will swear, they will not be released into the forest, so sit in the house, wool strands. No, the girl knew how, but she did not like such a thing. Dull hurts, slow, leisurely. But now, she snuck through the dense bushes of hazel, and ended up at the witch’s estate, decorated with cow skulls hanging on the stakes of a solid fence. I also noticed a dog running up to the gate and merrily twirling its tail. She opened it herself, hearing how much the willow hinges creaked, pulling the door to the entrance bars.
— Well, hello Druzhok, — the girl greeted, ruffling the wool on the head of a hefty dog, — here, to you, — and handed him a piece of bread.
He instantly swallowed, and without chewing, with dignity led the guest to the porch of the house, and even pushed him to the seedling with his nose. The tree smiled, straightened the hem, and knocked on the door.
“Come in already,” came a deaf voice outside the door.
The girl pulled on the door ring, opening the entrance. The loops, already old, from the lashes of wild grapes, creaked mercilessly, but the guest has long been accustomed to this. In the canopy, on the wall, a small lamp hung on the wall, slightly illuminating the dark room. Here, Elle hung up her travel cloak, but left her paws so as not to trample in the house. And she dressed wooden sandals lying here. A simple thing, from a board, but with two leather straps that support the foot. They dressed the same shoes in the bathhouse so as not to get burned.
— Here I am! said the girl loudly, going into the basement.
It was not dark, yet two windows let enough light through the frames, with copper bindings with pieces of mica. Here stood in the corner a stove, built of stones on clay mortar, and oak shelves on the walls, with pots and pots laid out on them, and bundles of herbs. The table was also not free. And his mistress was sitting at home, rubbing the potion in a stone mortar with a pestle.
— Good day, beauty! said the witch amiably.
“And to you, Krasa!
It is unclear who called the herbalist that name. She was chrome and humpback, with one hand shorter than the other. But, was trained by good mentors, and used her potions sick well, so many recovered. But, no one except Elle wanted to study with a witch, so the girl was her only student.
— Here, here and pies, and the hitches baked you. And with poppy seeds, and apples and honey. Try… — the herbalist said with a smile, putting a wooden bowl with a treat in front of the guest.
The girl did not refuse, tried delicious cookies, pleased the hostess. She knew that Kras was very happy with her, and she loves to pamper her student. Washed down with a tasty berry brew flavored with mint.
“It’s time to get down to business,” the witch said her usual saying.
And she began to show and tell the girl again about the secret power of herbs, how to treat them. Simple drugs, like crushed willow bark, or dried raspberries, suitable for removing heat. Lily of the valley and valerian root, well suited for a tired heart, an infusion of burdock, for the treatment of the liver. Honey and plantain leaf, for the treatment of cuts and wounds.
Behind the whole thing, a persistent knock on the door distracted both. The dog also barked, as if warning the hostess about those who had come. Krasa sighed with displeasure, rinsed her hands in the washbasin, wiped it with a clean rag, and went to open the door. The tree remained with the herbs, and kept order. I knew that Ryzhik, a domestic ferret, could drop in and arrange his order in the canopy, turning all the plates and pots upside down. Yes, actually, he was already here, instead of greeting, poking his nose into Elle’s leg. But the girl did not sleep either, quickly took him in her arms, distracting. And she released a ferret rushing around the yard, doing business, catching mice.
— Good day, Krasa, — said the visitor, — here, she brought her daughter, look, fly her, do mercy! And I, here, brought the hotel, — put the basket on the doorstep.
“Let him come, I’ll see,” the witch replied amiably.
— Stasya, come here, — the woman called the girl.
She approached reluctantly, frightened by the sight of a hunchback. And then, after all, they talked a lot about Beauty in the village, and Elle heard these stories.
That they say, it can jinx, and curse. And at night, they say, flies in the sky, on the floor. To be honest, Yolka then asked her mother to send her to witch training. I saw in a dream that it flies in the sky, looks down at forests, fields… True, it does not fly itself, but carries its winged knight. And then she herself wanted to rise into the sky, what if the witch teaches? Let not on the wings, but on the dais.
And Stasya came up, and Krasa sat down sick on a bench near the house, in the light. She beckoned to Elle with her finger, she was reluctant to take a couple of steps.
— So what do you say, girl? — the witch whispered, grabbing her student’s hand, — look how she taught you… Do not look with your head, but with your heart…
And now the witch’s voice was heavy, heavy, as if pulling along, dragging and dragging, twisting. The tree closed its eyes, trying to concentrate. She blinked several times, but, now, she caught that mood, the right state…
And I saw something else… Stasya’s sad, pale face, and a black strip of thick viscous fog on her chest. The student looked at the mentor, and whispered quietly:
— I see everything… She needs a breast collection. Drink this infusion, and also In three months everything will pass. But, it is impossible for her, it will be bad.
— That’s right… And let the infusion of willow bark drink for two weeks, — added the hunchback with a satisfied voice
— Thank you Krasa, and you Elle, — the woman bowed, — health to both of you!
The afflicted are gone. But, they left, others came. Here, Krasa herself was engaged in a festering cut at the owner of the family. And the Christmas tree only helped. The witch worked for a long time, and then, washing her hands in a trough, she said displeased:
— Here, it became bad as Alma left… And at least how strict was the Dead Princess, but so many sick were not with her. Mistress, it happened, will lay hands, and that’s it, man came to life, although he stood at the very gate of the Kingdom of Death…
“Well, didn’t Alma cure you?” — the girl did not understand, — did not descend, did she pass by?
“So I hit my back a year later, as Alma fell asleep,” Krasa answered sadly, “you see, I was unlucky,” and dabbed a bitter tear with a handkerchief, suddenly rolling off my eyelash.
— You look, and I will cure you… I can, make no mistake!
— You don’t say! — and Krasa covered Elle’s mouth with her palms, — Elena the Beautiful will hear more, may she give you full measure, and give you what you ask… What good was Alma? Read, as hunchbacked as I am, no happiness, no joy. Except, perhaps, the power of the great… Well, from that strength the Princess had
No good. So Elena served, consider, one hundred and fifty years… But, the warrior was, where before her Ilse the First-Called!
Elle listened to this, wide-eyed, and almost open her mouth. After all, Krasa said something completely different about the Dead Princess, unlike what the storyteller Gorazd hung from their village when he sang at feasts. Not stories about the exploits and long campaigns of the lady and her invincible army. And about how hard it was for the Princess to carry this burden, unbearable for anyone else. And she dragged it on herself, and for more than one year…
— Okay, stop being sad! Let’s go and eat some pies, but let’s get down to business again! — Kras returned her pupil from thought.
The girl immediately thought to lose heart. The tree nodded, and carried a heavy basket inside the house. The hunchback walked behind, sighed, and looked longingly at her student, and at her sick hands and feet.
CHAPTER 3 Elder Oum
“What else is there?” ‘the dozen man who was sitting in the carved chair muttered with displeasure.
And in order to disperse the darkness in the upper room, rays inserted into bronze stands burned in the corners. And at each ray there was a bronze sucker with water, at which embers and ash fell. Oil lamps are birched, and candles are even more empty. They said behind the eyes that the elder was greedy, oh and greedy. But, nevertheless, he was sensible as the owner of the estate, he took care of the fire, the most difficult and terrible thing that could happen even in a solid house assembled from huge logs. Everyone knew that even a small unnoticed corner could cause great, or even irreparable trouble, deprive an entire family. But it was so warm here in winter, and cool now, in hot summers.
After all, the owner of the house was very busy now, slowly knitting knots to send a message to other important people. He even adjusted the hanging sleeves of his shirt, hiding them under his golden wrists, no matter what got in the way. Rather, it is to say, exactly one husband who was more than many in the whole district, and even in all Siberia, in all Russia. Therefore, he performed everything carefully, there could be no mistakes. He checked again, running his dexterous fingers through the message. Then, folded a cunning belief into a great depth, melted the wax, and sealed it with his seal. Finally, he sighed wearily, and knocked on the door with his staff, and looked back at the wall, already a little as if painted with ocher paint. Somehow it immediately became more fun in the soul, and the hand itself reached for the bucket with kvass.
The man looked into the corner, from where everything was heard a dull and monotonous creak. On the toy skate, the lad was swinging, slowly, but also without stopping this action. Savir sighed, frowned, came close, raised his hand… And stroked his shaved head, with a few blonde locks hanging down his slender neck.
— Yes, Father, — said the young man, credibly raising his huge blue eyes to his father.
— Everything is fine, Rata, everything is fine… ‘the elder of the Great Ouma muttered.
He turned away, but sighed again in sadness. And then, everything is fine in the house. And his wife, Astya, gave him four children — weather. I loved, Sarta, I live, and now… Rata was born… He was good-looking himself, but his mind failed. How many did not take him even to Gandvik, and to the witch Gaida in the White Mountains, nothing helped. So his youngest remained, by reason, as a five-year-old child. Moreover, he got a small hat, wears it without taking it off, and even sleeps in it. Earlier, Savir hoped everything, a new Dead Princess is born, and will heal his child, who is mournful with his head. But, eight years have passed, hope has gone somewhere, dissolved, melted like snow in the spring. True, Savir Katovich loved the youngest, and he seemed to be helping him. He will sit down like this, smile, and then the head passes, and all the alarms disappear. Therefore, I wanted to hit Ratu, so as not to distract, but then stroked him, for good luck. And then, once again let the unot know, pulled the leather strap, and the bell rang deafly.
