Tense muscles, reduced by an uncomfortable posture, responded with sharp pain, blood, as if with needles, making its way through the veins until it bypassed all the limbs entirely, establishing normal circulation. Almost moaning, Claude restrained himself, he would not bring them joy from the pain he experienced. And his hands were already twisted behind his back, not allowing him to move away properly, things were no better for his comrades. Alita's light groan did not pity anyone, there were quite a few beautiful women in these casemates. It was not even hidden from her comrades what greasy looks the men threw at her, but they did not succumb to charm. Another chance to break free failed. Claude didn't know why Alita's charm didn't make the same impression on the guards as it did on him. Perhaps they had protection from this kind of influence, because they constantly dealt with non-humans, and perhaps love for Rolk, so influenced her herself, that a woman was not ready to charm othe
Claude now really did not care, his body ached and was almost not felt by him. With each oozing drop of blood, he felt how his muscles stiffened, how a nasty cold creeped up, threatening to cool his hot heart, which was still stubbornly beating against everyone and everything. He had never been afraid of death, but serving the emperor was even worse. Deiza screamed from somewhere on the side, the executioner took up a new victim. And for some reason, her cries turned out to be more painful for him than anything he had to endure himself. The heart trembled treacherously, from the anticipation of new cries, and the envoy of the emperor had already taken a step away from him. It had to be decided. Oh, how he did not want to accept their conditions, agreeing to them, he lost not only freedom, he sold his soul to the devil that was hiding in the human form of the emperor. But he could no longer listen to her crying.- Stop! - Claude shouted a little louder than a whisper, wanting to stop t
- As you have already been told, you are entering the service of the emperor, there is one thing that he wants to entrust to you, and only for this reason such as you have been spared life.- They could not cripple at the same time.“You, nonhuman, all nonhumans must die. It's a sin to complain about you, so everything heals quickly. And besides, you would hardly have agreed so easily. You nonhumans have no concept of honor and responsibility to the ruler.“A ruler who destroys people like me?”- And he does it right. But now is not about that. Here you go, now it's yours.With these words, she pulled out of her pocket a small strap with a pendant in the form of a star with five rays in a halo of sparks that were extinguished in the water. Without giving him a chance to protest, narrow palms, hardened from private swordsmanship, snapped the lock around his neck. A narrow pendant tightly gripped the throat, breath stopped, from the outburst of indignation quickly grew into anger. This
- What did you do there? the guy threw angrily, hoping to distract her from contemplating his face, since he had nothing else to hide with.- Wind. hat. Carried away. I wanted to get it and broke it, - the girl stammeringly answered.- It's good that everything worked out.Catching his breath, Claude stood up, standing a head taller than Naina, and already turned around to leave. Bathing was forgotten. What will happen now?! Have you seen him?! Did you know about him?“Claude… you?! - she said excitedly, the fear that gripped her began to gradually let go of her victim, and she even decided to grab him by the sleeve, stopping him. - Thanks. Hand...your hand.- Nothing, everything will pass. I went. Claude muttered and rushed back into the thickets of the forest, trying to reach the house as soon as possible. Feeling how the palm goes numb, covered with sticky blood, terrible drops falling to the ground. He ran through the thickets without looking at the road, without even noticing how
As Leatrix announced to him that as soon as he could walk, she would present him to the emperor and then he would hear his task, and until then he was left in the dark about what he might need from him.When Claude was able to confidently stand on his feet, another two weeks passed, during which time he managed to get stronger and relax, looking forward to the opportunity to get up from this already disgusted bed. Despite the time spent together, he was never able to talk to Berkhard, and he did not become closer to Leatrice either. The woman continued to perceive him as a forced evil, not worthy of her attention. His hands itched, and his body languished from forced inactivity. His active nature was eager to do at least something, but he was not allowed, and when asked to free his hands, he was advised not to be arrogant. When Berkhard allowed him to get up, Claude almost jumped for joy, but was forced to sink onto the bed with a groan, muscles that had barely fused over time refused
— Claude! - a joyful cry reached the ear and he was almost knocked down by two happy teenagers, clasping the taken aback mercenary from both sides.The cane, which fell out of his hands, fell with a ringing thud on the parquet, where it remained lying.- Alive. Daisyra muttered happily, rubbing tears down her face, although, as the young man noticed, her hands were also bandaged, but they obeyed her better than his. This pleased, so the executioner did not work hard on her, he managed to do it.- Alive, kitty. - Ronk joyfully embraced him, holding under the elbow, staggering Claude, whose legs still let him down, unable to withstand the weight of two happy children. - You look shabby.- I feel the same way. - Claude did not argue, he decided not to mention the bandages that braided his entire body.“We were worried,” Alita, waiting for her turn, kissed him, slowly releasing him from her embrace.He was squeezed and hugged, and Claude stood and happily looked at his fri
When they finally set out on a campaign, everyone perked up for a long time looking forward to this event. The horses proudly walked, carrying riders, and Nel moved especially briskly, delighted with the long-awaited meeting with the owner.Their small detachment moved slowly through the streets of the capital, led by Claude and Leatrice, slightly protruding forward. Then there were Caer with Daisyra and a girl they did not know, the envoy of the emperor. In general, it was a strange person who avoided Claude and Daisy, and now and then throwing frightened, wary glances in their direction. She looked no more than twenty-two years old, but Claude could have been mistaken, since the woman was very petite, and the huge glasses that covered half of her face, because of the wide rim, which big blue eyes looked out, only knocked down. Thick blond hair fell in a thick braid on her back, and even the taken ones reached her waist. She was dressed in a simple way, in a field jacket and trousers
- We'd love to meet you. The man chuckled sarcastically as he stirred the fire. The hood was lowered, revealing his cat eyes to everyone present.Are you all nonhumans? Ayana suddenly decided on the question, not taking her frightened gaze off Claude's face.- Not at all. Rolk and Kaer, ordinary people.- But why? ... - she did not have time to finish her thought, interrupted by Caer.- We are friends! - the guy shouted, indignant at such a division and not yet accustomed to this side of life. To which the girl only threw a strange indescribable look at him, clearly remaining unconvinced.“Now that we are more or less familiar, Leatrice, can you tell me where we are heading and why exactly?”“You don't need to know that.- If I ask, then it is necessary. I have to imagine what we are looking for and where, in order to understand what danger may await us.To which Leata thoughtfully turned the blade of grass and threw it into the fire, looked at Claude.“We are heading to the south of