– With all due respect, father, one way or another, I won! I showed them all what is the strongest race on earth!
– Anyway?! Turning slowly, he asked. An ordinary man, with ordinary weapons and ordinary protection, almost kicked your royal ass! You were wearing "Isar", your mother! And you dare to say something !?
– He is very well trained and strong. He's fast. I've never seen this. This warrior was in no way inferior to me.
– Oh, I didn't even notice! Orm said with undisguised irony, then turning away, he again drowned in his thoughts, absorbed in the sight of burning wood in the fireplace.
– Father?
– Yes?!
– Why did he look at you like that during the fight?
“That's interesting to me too,” said the king. Who are you, Athanasius Mirra? he asked the flame.
Argos was about to leave. But after a pause, he turned back to his father. “When will you be able to fully trust me, Father?
– I trust you.
– Then tell me what is in the tower of the west wing at the very top?
– Soon you will find out about everything, I promise you. Until then, that's all! You are free.
***
– Good morning, Athanasius!
– Hi, General! he mumbled barely audibly.
– You look lousy.
– I feel even worse.
– Hmm, who would have thought that Prince Argos is so good. The general sat down next to Athanasius's bed.
–“It's not just him,” Tan replied.
– What are you talking about?
– His armor …
– And what happened to him?
– I hit him. He beat with all his might. No armor could stand that.
– What do you mean by that?
– I don’t know yet.
– What do you mean, “I don’t know yet” !? AND?! Swann got angry. All! The page is turned over. The story is over. He won, the general said with annoyance!
– It's him.
– Who is he"?
“King Orme, this is the bastard who slaughtered the people of my village.
– Stop it, Athanasius. You're delirious. You got it a lot, it's understandable, but you can't …
– General! Tan interrupted him. This face comes to me in dreams for 30 years. I know him by heart and will not confuse nickname with anyone else. It's him!
– Your mother! Swann said helplessly, lowering his eyes to the floor. And after a few seconds he said: Don't tell anyone about this, you hear! Nobody should know about our speech. The general whispered in a conspiratorial tone. Your words undermine twenty years of peace between our states, you understand that ?! – Rest for now. I need to consult.
***
Tan woke up as usual in the morning. There had been no news from Swann for a couple of days. During this time, his body got stronger. As the hospital attendants said, good heredity, everything heals quickly like a dog. However, the Tan was still moving with caution, without sudden movements. The bruised ribs made themselves felt. He was in a separate room. General Swann took care of this, therefore, the nightmares that tormented his soul at night and his early awakening did not disturb anyone. Approaching the window opening and opening it, he looked at the sleeping city. All these days, only one thought occupied his head: – Retribution will find everyone.
At that moment, he heard someone sneak up to the door of his room. Athanasius, despite the pain, like a cat, silently approached the door and stood next to it, pressing himself against the wall. The door opened slightly and a figure of a man in a dark cloak and a hood on his head entered the room. Without hesitation, he rushed at him, grabbing his clothes, but immediately got a trip and they both fell to the floor. The hood fell off my head. Beneath him was the same maid from the duke's house.
