- 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
- We must hurry! the woman stubbornly stubbornly almost fell out of the saddle herself. No matter how hardy they were, but such a pace was difficult for everyone, and especially for Ayana and Daisyra. Fairly lagging behind, but silently following.Claude did not know how long they would still ride at such a pace, as if all the demons of this world were chasing after them, when suddenly Ayana's horse, having stumbled on the next stone, began to slowly fall to the ground. He saw how desperately the girl clutched at the reins, trying to keep from falling and help her stand on her feet, but how could she compete with a strong animal. The horse suddenly jerked sharply, throwing the rider out of the saddle, and disappeared into the steppe. Stunned, not expecting this from her steed, the woman looked around dumbfounded, clutching her bruised side and barely holding back her tears, looking after the departing detachment.- Leata stop! - Unable to stand the mercenary shouted, sharply turning a
- You have to dig here. he said softly and leaned over the pile.The ground was soft, wet and heavy. It was easy to rake it, but constantly dipping your hands into its insides was not very pleasant. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted how two small hands joined nearby, but said nothing. The anger that arose in the first minutes of their fall did not go anywhere, demanding an exit. But he knew that if he fell for her, it would only get worse. She will either run away or shut up. "And why is she so afraid of nonhumans?!"Things went smoothly, the mound of land became smaller and smaller, dividing into two of its fellows, and the one that belonged to Claude grew twice as fast. The bite wound hurt, but he paid no attention to this, continuing to dig deeper and deeper into the ground, so that it began to seem that he would soon dig a tunnel himself no worse than the local krous. He didn't know how long they'd dug like this when his fingers suddenly found the fabric. Grasping the discove
Not though they got up from the ground and went on. Again they were surrounded by tunnels, tunnels, tunnels, pressing down on them with their tightness and darkness. Sometimes roots seeped through the earthen walls, making it clear that they were no longer far from the surface. It pleased, but not really. They never found a way out, but the chance to meet a krous on the contrary has greatly increased. However, Claude did not lose hope to miss him. After all, it was clearly clear that this part of the underground labyrinth was older, and it is possible that the owner no longer visits it.All this time, Ayana thoughtlessly wearily trudged behind, barely moving her legs and invariably lagging behind. Why did he even have to grab her by the hand, dragging her along with him. Why did she nervously twitch, but did not take her hand away. It was easier to walk that way. However, Claude understood that even this would not help them and they would have to stop for the night, and there was almo