Fides implicita
Aletheia awake late at night in her bedchamber.
In the light of the pale moon window, and her silvery rays weak glare flashed on the bronze face of the beautiful statue, depicting Artemis in the hunt. With one hand the goddess held at shoulder level, a short spear, as if to throw it into the invisible target, and the other touches the curved horns of a young roe deer, timidly presses to her leg. One would have thought that served as a model for the sculptor Tanais, if not for the fact that the statue was cast in Greece for many centuries before the birth of the young sarmatki.
- What people dream terrible dreams sometimes ... - a trembling voice whispered Aletheia, holding her hand over her face wet with tears, but in the next moment she realized that the suit of Nomos, father's death and imprisonment of Tanais not dreamed her in a nightmare, and it happened reality.
Yanked from the bed, she opened the inlaid with gold leaf oak cupboard and rummaged for a long time in its depths, while among the rich and expensive outfits had found God knows how got there the poor and shabby dress of maid.
After changing clothes, she opened the casket of filigree work and took out a faceted bottle.
Overflow wine from a golden pitcher to another, winning and easier, she poured to the contents of the bottle, put it in a small bag some food and a dozen gold coins hidden in the folds of clothing dagger with ornate jeweled hilt and going to the wonderful statue, finger pressed on right eyes of deer .
Statue quietly moved aside, opening a hole in the floor hiding.
For a moment girl hesitated, then lit a candle, and bravely stepped on the first step leading down.
The dim glare of light reflected poorly on wet vaults. Steep spiral staircase went down and lost in the impenetrable darkness.
Trying to walk as quietly as possible, Aletheia step by step down the slippery steps until she was in a narrow corridor, at the end of which the weak light glimmered.
When she reached the corner, she cautiously peered around the corner.
Three guards craps by torchlight. In the room, separated from the guard-thick iron bars, on the bare floor serenely asleep Tanais. Her hands were massive chains shackled to the walled metal ring in the wall.
Putting her bag on the floor, arms akimbo and Aletheia coyly, holding on her shoulder a pitcher of wine, she wags gait came out of hiding place. Interrupting the game, the guards watched with interest for her approach.
- Would you like a drink, gentlemen? - Covering the end face of the shawl, Aletheia has put a pitcher of wine on the table and winked expressively.
- And what about love? - Pulling her waist to him, one of jailers smiled.
- All in good time, handsome, - pushing hugs his hand, Aletheia murmured sarcastically and filled the mug to the brim.
Volley pouring the contents of the cups in the dry throat, jailers minute later fell under the table.
After searching their pockets, Aletheia found a bunch of keys and unlocked lock, snake slipped into the camera.
Awakened ringing circuits Tanais opened her eyes and on her feet.
Girls opened shackles and came out of the camera. Pulling out of the slot torch and taking weapons from the deafening snoring guards Tanais resolutely headed for the exit, but Aletheia warning whispered:
- Outside the guard of four …
In sharp kick open the door, Tanais like hurricane broke out of the dungeon, and before the guards had time to do anything, the two of them have already said goodbye to life. The rest backed away in terror, and, grasping the hand of Aletheia, Tanais darted past them to the gates of the stables.
Recovered from the first confusion, the guards rushed in pursuit.
- You conclusions of horses, and I'll try to hold them off! - Tanais shouted and met pursuers by sword. After a short exchange of blows the two guards were wounded, but the aid them already are in a hurry anywhere warriors of park guards.
Tanais fought back as best she could, by many times exceed the enemy forces, but she felt that every minute is weakening and will soon overcome its enemies.
At that moment, when she was ready to say goodbye to a life behind a loud clatter of hooves, and leading in rein a second horse, Aletheia rode up to her.
A few steps Tanais was running beside the horse, adjusting to the pace of her, then grabbed the bow hand and jumped into the saddle.
Aletheia has sent the horse on the ivy-covered fence, and Tanais unhesitatingly followed her.
Overhangs the saddle, Aletheia groped in the dense thickets of the latch and pushed the bolt.
Begins at the gate a narrow street led girls to the marketplace, where, despite the early hour, is already in full swing trade.
Tilting trays, spilling mountains of vegetables and fruit, girl hurricane sped through the market, followed by the curses of the ruined traders.
Once outside the city, the horses sensed space and added progress, but despite the best efforts of the noble animals, the distance between the girls and chase relentlessly declined, and around the fugitives had already whistled arrows.
Shouting Aletheia, that she did not stop, Tanais jumped from horse, and set fire to the grass. Dry feather instantly broke out, and flames with great speed began to spread across the steppe.
Fortunately for fugitives, the wind was blowing towards them, and the wall of a roaring fire, covering more and more areas, cut off from the pursuit of girls.
Having caught up with Aletheia, Tanais sharply reined horse and with a flash of fun dazzling white in the face darkened with soot teeth, said:
- It seems, we are saved.
- I completely owe you by salvation, - Aletheia gently held her hand over beautiful face of girlfriends, wiping it off, sweat and soot.
- If you had not freed me from the dungeon, you would not have to risk your live.
- In this case, I would have lost much more than life, - the least objected Aletheia.
- There is a nearby town, where the two girls could easily get lost in the crowd? - Tanais changed the subject.
- A girl like you is not easy to get lost even in Athens. And to the nearest town for at least one day of journey. In Greek it is called — Maiden.
- Which side is he on?
Aletheia thoughtfully looked at rising over the horizon the morning light, and not too confidently pointed at some point on the horizon.
- It seems to be there …
And spurred his horses, the girls rushed in that direction it.