“Still, I see no reason to let you live,” he said thoughtfully. It was dangerous to leave this woman at large, but I didn’t want to kill, in fact, an ordinary victim of human cruelty, but how can I believe her ?! - No need ... - Alita sobbed softly, she did not want to die at all. - I won't do it again. - I do not believe. - I swear. I swear on my life. Yours and your children! - Pfft… Alita, what are you talking about. Silence hung in the basement for several minutes, interrupted by the woman's light sobs, which suddenly stopped, and her face lit up in a smile. - Take me with you! - she suddenly blurted out, knocking the ground from under the feet of the mercenary, who did not expect such an offer. - Why are you me?! - I'm very helpful. And I can do a lot of things, - she threw a meaningful look at him. - Aren't you ashamed to offer yourself like that? the man chuckled. - Not. Why not, because I already told you that I like you. - You a
As soon as the light of the morning sun gently illuminated the room, touching the closed eyelids of the mercenary with its rays, he woke up. Over the past night, Claude had a wonderful rest and blissfully stretched, dressed. The brother and sister slept in the next room on the second floor, but he waited to wake them up. The dining room was also empty, even the snakes that habitually sprawled everywhere were absent today. As soon as the treacherous thought crept into his soul: “Alita, deceived him by running away while they were sleeping,” as light steps were heard behind him, forcing him to turn around. Near him stood Alita, and at the same time not Alita. The face of the woman in front of him belonged to the queen of snakes, but she was transformed beyond recognition. The features of the face have retained their attractive charm, but have lost their former brightness, and if earlier it fell into the soul, bursting like a fiery hurricane, now she charmed me with the soft steps of
- Simply, she promised what he wants, but it's too early for you to know about it, grow up for now. - She clicked on the nose of a curious girl and turned to Claude, cooing in a gentle voice. - Honey, you wait for me a little, I need to "talk" with my chosen one. From her words, Claude already winced, but he nodded in agreement. - But not to long. - We're coming soon. - And then she added very quietly, so that only Claude could hear, - this is the return of the use of charm, I must squander what I called for. Claude nodded in understanding, but said nothing. In fact, she was not obliged to explain herself to him, but Alita honestly fulfilled this oath, and he respectfully treated her words. The woman, having calmed down, went forward to meet the guard. What they were going to do, Claude did not want to know, but he guessed. He now had another concern. The absence of Anren at the gate caused bad premonitions, which he was afraid to voice out loud. Finding a secluded c
- Don't panic. Don't make a fuss, I came to talk! - Claude said in the very ear, closely clinging to the voluminous body, which did not prevent him from trembling, like a leaf in the wind. If you understand, nod and I'll let you go. Nodding obediently, the man exhaled heavily, showing no signs of resistance, so Claude, removing the blade, sank into the nearest chair, not waiting for the invitation of the mayor's right hand. Thorng, rather quickly moving away from the first shock, sank into a chair opposite and even pointed his finger towards the decanter, with contents unfamiliar to Claude, which the mercenary did not dare to drink. To which Thorng shrugged indifferently and poured himself a full glass. - Tell me where they took Andren, the old man from the gatehouse? And I won't believe that you don't know. Claude began confidently, having no doubt that Thorng knew perfectly well where to look for his grandfather. The man caressed his glass with a thoughtful look, drownin
- Old man, around here. We need to find a descent down, it will not be far from here. - He shared his discovery with his companions. - Did the potato tell you? - exclaimed Caer with a grin, looking into the room that Claude had just left. - Balda. - The mercenary threw it without malice. - Open your ears. With these words, Claude was already approaching the next door, he could not argue with the boy, and he had no desire to explain anything, after all, he did not pull them along. - Caer! - Deisa called to her brother in a whisper, trying to put all her indignation into her voice. “Let them figure it out themselves,” Claude threw, pulling the handle of the next door, which turned out to be the one leading to the kitchen. "Damn, what kind of nonsense is this!" he growled and turned back. The next door led them into a wide hall, as the mercenary understood, located opposite the central gate, from the middle of which a wide staircase ran up, leading, as Claude remembe
When the strength of five warriors remained circling around them, Claude glanced up the stairs at the foot of which their battle was taking place. Ivanos was still there, but he no longer looked so self-confident, his lips were tightly compressed, and his eyes followed their group with close attention, and something in this look Claude desperately did not like. He recognized that look, which the mayor had bestowed on him the first time they met, when he was testing his stability. Apparently then he realized that Claude is not quite a man. Intuition sounded a desperate alarm. Turning sharply in the direction of the only person in their squad, Claude barely managed to dodge the blade of Caer's knife, which passed a few millimeters from his neck, with an extinct look, looking straight ahead. "Not!" Claude snarled, dodging a second attack. He didn't want to kill the boy but it was difficult for him to be torn between him and the soldiers of the mayor. Deftly dodging the blade of one of
Leaning forward, Andren looked around excitedly.- Why did you come, son? Is that all Ivanos needs? - the grandfather asked the mercenary, not taking his burning eyes off his face. And there was so much happiness, joy, mixed with excitement and concern, in this look that Claude felt embarrassed that for a few minutes he doubted the sincerity of the old man.- Don't worry, old man. Ivanos will not touch you anymore, - the guy said in an unusually embarrassed way and opened the lock. No matter how touching their meeting was, they should have left this place as soon as possible. And Andren was already hugging him tightly in an unexpectedly strong embrace. Frozen for a few seconds, Claude disentangled himself from his hands and awkwardly retreated deep into the corridor, such an undisguised display of grandfather's feelings made him confused. So not fitting into his usual life.- What did you do with him, boy?A barely restrained chuckle came from Alita, the fact that an adult man was cal
Having thrown open the ancient wooden door, he rushed inside like a hurricane and grabbed his warm neck, drowning in a silky mane, enjoying the native smell of his friend. His friend. His Elusive. "Good boy. He came to Andren himself. He didn't disappear. His faithful companion. He also sent help. Why can't people be so reliable. Like you?!" - he whispered tenderly, affectionately sorting through the hairs, tickling behind the ears with a habitual gesture, stroking his head and shoulders. How he missed him. Claude didn't even realize how much he missed him. He didn't know how much time passed as they stood so close to each other. Yes, he didn't care. As if realizing that they needed to be alone, a mercenary with a horse, no one interrupted, even Andren, somehow quietly disappeared, returning to the house. For which Claude was grateful to him. As the mercenary was in no hurry to leave Permit, they still had to stay at Andren's for a couple of days, waiting for Caer to come to his sens