Jus jurandis
Opening her eyes, Tanais saw through the fog, bending over her figure of a girl in translucent dark cape. Feeling unusual weakness throughout the body, sarmatka tried to get up, but she held her gently on the shoulder and said in a hushed voice:
- You can not move. You lost a lot of blood, and for some time you have to spend in bed. My father allowed me to look after you. My name Aletheia.
- Is that you tied me?
- Yes.
- What for? I do not want to live …
- My father would like to help you, but without your consent he can not do anything.
- You think I need it gold? Is it my lost friends will return and his father? And without them, my life has lost all meaning …
Taking her hand in her, Aletheia spoke soft, sincere, confidential tone:
- The father offered you gold, wanting you to try ... If you began to bargain, he would have simply ordered Nomos kick you out of the gate, like a stray dog ... But you rejected the gold, then you are still not as hopeless as you seem at first sight. When the father once again call for you, turn to him with lyuboyu request. He will not deny you anything. Just do not ask him about the possibility for man.
- What, in that case, I ask him? - Smiled weakly Tanais.
- Ask for the impossible. For only the impossible and should ask God.
- Your father, of course, a very rich and powerful ruler, but he is not a god …
- You must be a lot of gods saw in my life, - grinned Aletheia.
- There are only two Sarmatian deities - Wind and Sword. But they can see anyone who has eyes.
- Strange Gods you ... How can you believe in them? After all, there's nothing fickle than the wind, and nothing is more dangerous than the sword.
- Wind - the cause of life. Sword - the cause of death. What could be more important for a man than life and death?
- Are you afraid of death?
- I do not know ... I somehow never thought about it ... I always thought that I would live as long as you wish ... Maybe even forever ... Yes, I would like to ask you .. . How did you know that I'm a girl?
- In my bedchamber is an ancient statue of Artemis, the huntress. Since childhood, I dreamed of a friend, in all like her, and when I saw you, I thought that my wish finally fulfilled ... And you had a girlfriend?
- Only friends.
- I offer you my friendship.
Aletheia filled the golden cups transparent ruby wine and one of them has filed Tanais.
- This wine is like the blood that flows in our veins. I want to drink it together with you.
- We do not …
Tanais held out her hand, fumbled on the table beside the bed fruit knife and swift movement revealing the vein, dripped a few drops in both the Cup.
- Now you.
Trying not to fade when a blood, Aletheia sliced thin pink finger, and red blood mixed with a red wine.
Looking into each other's eyes, girl cups drained to the dregs, and Tanais said:
- It's a terrible oath. Its give each other warriors before battle, and allow only death can from it. There is nothing that could do for his Sarmatian krovniki.
The doors opened, and in walked a man chambers tall and athletic, which Tanais did not recognize the very guard who would not let her into the city.
- Princess, my Lord and your father calls to his captive.
- She's not a prisoner here as a guest.
- It does not change the fact. The owner wants to talk to her, whoever she was - and is already turning to the Tanais, the man added dryly. - Follow me.
When they came out of the bedchamber, Nomos looked around and quickly whispered:
- Do not trust too much nor Master, nor his daughter. They like to fool people.
- I did something asked you? - Haughty eyes narrowed Tanais. - I'm a slave country, who dared to discuss a host behind it, were punished by whipping, and then tied to the tail of a wild mare and let her gallop.
- Do not get excited. Listen to me. The hosts' garden grows the tree of good and evil. Its fruits give to those who eat of them, superhuman strength and power. Therefore owner forbade me to eat them. But you something that he did not forbid. I brought you one fruit. Eat it, and she will become a god. The owner and you do not need to be, because you will be able to know and all that he knows and can.
- I don’t eat anything stolen.
- See, that someday you would not have to regret his decision to …
He led her into a vast luxuriously decorated hall and telling to wait one left.
Some time sarmatka studied the situation, examined all sorts of rarities and curiosities that are filled with an abundance of room, but eventually became bored and impatient pacing the distance from wall to wall. Suddenly the corner of her eye she saw some movement on one of the pictures depicting the battle of the Centaurs Lapiths, and trying not to give himself away, became sly look closely to her, and soon all became clear to her. Eyes are one of the centaurs intently watched her, wherever she was heading.
- Not too compatible with the royal dignity peek around the corner? - Loudly she asked, turning to face the centaur. - Why are you hiding? Are you afraid of me?
- If I was so envious as they say about me, I would envy your conceit, - emerging from behind the curtain, Khan said with a smile and sat on the stand in the center of the hall a golden throne.
- Why are you peeping?
- I would like to look at your face when you think that you are all alone.
- And what did you see?
- What I saw, I will not say, but I liked it.
- Why are you calling me?
- You dare not less than perfect. It is worthy of praise.
- Least of all, the king, I'd like to earn your praise.
- Your insolence is equal only to your beauty. But do not forget that your life is in my hands.
- My life, O king, as well as yours is in the hands of the gods.
The menacing grin flashed in the narrow lips lord.
- It is not difficult to verify. Now I order the executioner to cut off your head, and let thy gods will protect you if they can.
- You're, like an ax in the hands of the executioner, is only an instrument of Divine Providence. And if my head is destined to fall, so the fact was the supreme will.
- You're smart not less than the bold and beautiful. Are there too many advantages for a girl?
- King, I know of only one pure manhood. Guess what?
- I'm not going to listen to your insolence. Go away.
- Forgive me, O king. Woe darkened my mind, and I know a bad. I came to ask you a favor.
- What?
- I lost my home, friends, father, the meaning of life ... It was all taken away from me at once, and everyone is convinced that the way it should be, and it's forever ... everyone except me ... I'm I do not believe that the way it should be. It should not be! And do not be! If not on the ground of such power and authority that could bring back all taken away, and then I do not want to live in such a world! Or give me all that you took or take into the bargain, and my life. She told me to nothing without that which was taken away from me.
- You're asking the impossible ... You think I'm God?
- Good God, or the devil, I equally indifferent. I want my friends and my father. Who will give them to me, and that would be my only God.
Tanais with hope looked at Khan, but he was in no hurry to answer.
- Why are you silent? You can not do it? Then you are not God! You sneaky and deceitful imposter!
The bubbling anger, Khan rose, but when he spoke, his voice was calm, though muffled.
- I would be ashamed to give into the hands of the executioner as a valiant knight. And I will grant you mercy unheard. You will die. But die as befits a brave warrior - in arms, and not on the block, and in the tournament. Most of my warriors will come to you in the fight at dawn tomorrow. Go and pray to their gods, so they gave you an easy and glorious death.
- The father agreed to help you? - Asked Aletheia, Tanais barely crossed the threshold of the bedroom.
- No ... but he gave me the grace, which I never dreamed ... - sarmatka said through clenched teeth.
- What is it? - Anxiously looking at the face of a friend grieved, said Khan's daughter.
- In the morning I have to fight in the tournament with the best warriors of your father.
- It is certain death ... - pale, murmured Aletheia.
- Best possible for a warrior.
- You want me to help you escape?
- I never ran away from danger, I am not going to continue.
- Then I can only pray for your victory …
- In my country, we loved the bear hound dogs, jumbo such a calf value Molosser dogs ... And I do not recall a single case, to bear left ... Bear Dogs win, not because they are stronger, but because there are more ...