– No, we need to run and quickly, said Una.
“We won't have time to run a couple of streets before they spot us, believe me,” he said with a breath in his voice.
– What to do?! There was excitement in her eyes.
He looked around, and suddenly realized that the houses around them were familiar to him. His feet were already walking along this cobbled street, and his nose breathed in the local smell.
***
The door flew open, and the first thing Athanasius saw was a long and well-polished sword.
– Hi Byrd! Pronounced Tan.
But the interlocutor was silent and only looked at him with an incredulous look.
– We have nowhere else to go, I'm sorry.
After a little hesitation, he fully opened the door, with a mute gesture, inviting them to enter. They immediately ran into the house.
Nothing has changed in the room since his last visit. Tan leaned against the wall to keep from falling. As soon as he caught his breath, he raised his head and, looking at Byrd, said: – Thank you. Most likely, you saved our lives.
Without answering, Byrd went into another room and after a while returned with two mugs of water in his hands, somewhere hiding his sword.
After drinking greedily, Tan wiped the cold water droplets from his lips with his sleeve.
– And so, maybe you can finally explain what the hell is going on here ?! Tan turned to Una. – Why did these soldiers need me? What are they? What about General Swann?
– These are the duke's men! They received an order to bring you to him, and if this fails, then kill.
“You’re also working for him, right?
– I got a job as a servant in his estate to watch and observe.
– For Erhard?
– Behind the origin of the birth of a new union! Extremely powerful. A union that will drown the earth in blood, and here you and I cannot prevent this.
– What happened to the general? Tan asked quietly.
– Erhard killed him. The general arrived late at night to the duke, alone. I overheard their conversation. He argued that King Orme is not a benefactor, as he presents himself, but the instigator of that bloody war, the end of which we all celebrate. Erhard tried to explain to him that it was simply impossible, but Swann stood his ground. He hesitated, she continued to tell: – Then he told him your story and that he trusts you as himself, and if Erhard does not want to hear, then perhaps the other members of the council will listen to him. With these owls, he signed both you and himself a death warrant. After that, the general turned away to leave, but the duke thrust a knife into his neck.
– So you just stood there and watched it ?! He turned to her with disgust.
– Trust me, if I could do something, I would do it. His house is packed with soldiers. If I tried, I would have overtaken to take into account the general, and you would have lived a little longer.
He understood this. He also understood that it was he who was to blame for the death of his closest friend, who was only trying to do the right thing by entering into open conflict with the duke. From what a real storm broke out in Tan's soul, out of powerlessness, anger and incredible melancholy. Una saw it in his eyes. She went to Athanasius, placing her mug, with half-drunk water, next to him. She gently laid her hand on his shoulder and said quietly: “Retribution will find everyone. At that moment, a noise was heard outside the door. Bert ran to the door, opening it slightly and peering into the opening. Cursing from what he saw, he immediately closed it back. Turning towards Tana and Una, he said:
