this gift my experiments are worthless! The prince is especially valuable. He himself doesn’t realize it, but true enchantment flows in his veins. I risked everything to get it! I bribed an advisor to take the royal family across the desert. I persuaded the robbers to attack and kill Linder, taking his son prisoner. If this gets out, I’m done! But the game is worth the candle! The boy will give me real power. Therefore, we must find him at any cost! Guards!
Two soldiers entered.
– Take Big Tom to the dungeon. And don’t let him out until we find the boy.
***
The wolf followed in their footsteps, but did not dare to approach. Hunger pushed him forward, but attacking ten armed men was suicide. Travelers often saw green eyes sparkling in the reflection of the moon. The owl hummed his terrible lullaby.
We ate dried lamb with a crust of bread. A flask of water was passed around. After the slave dinners, this meal seemed like a feast. Louis was sent to fill a flask at a nearby stream. They did not dare to make a fire.
“The fire will be seen from afar,” Tam said. “We’ll have to get food tomorrow,” Tam said. “This won’t last us long.”
“I told you right away that I planned to set off on my own,” said Dorhand. “That’s why I took provisions for one person.”
They climbed onto the branches to sleep. The wolf lay down near one of the oak trees, waiting for one of the travelers to fall in their sleep.
– Dorkhand, drive him away! – said Lina. – I’m afraid of this wolf!
– Will he touch you on the branch? Come on sleep! Tomorrow there is a long difficult road ahead.
– Oh, if only we knew these lands better! – said Tam. “Then we could move at night to further break away from our pursuers.”
“No, we will not move at night,” said Dorhand. “It wasn’t enough for someone to break their leg.” Then it will be difficult.
As soon as dawn spilled crimson colors onto the gray skies, the travelers began to have breakfast to gain strength before the journey.
– Where is the wolf?
– Left to look for another victim.
They walked at a brisk pace, mostly in silence, only occasionally exchanging terse words. Curious dragonflies, huge dragonflies, flew up every now and then to inspect the uninvited guests. It smelled of myrtle and juniper. The hardworking woodpecker did not get tired of working, echoing his knocking sound around the area.
Tam stopped abruptly.
– Do you hear?
– What are you talking about? – asked Dorkhand.
“Quiet,” Tam put his ear to the damp ground. – People. On horseback. Try not to make noise or leave marks. Most likely, this is a pursuit of us.
– It’s good that they didn’t start a fire last night.
– Sooner or later we will have to light a fire. Supplies are running low. But eating raw meat is dangerous.
It didn’t take long for Tam’s words to be confirmed. As dusk fell on the age-old oak trees, the sound of hooves was heard.
– Fast! Take cover! – Dorkhand commanded.
In the twilight, from a distance one can discern the shine of the brand on the slave’s shoulder. Dorkhand himself felt the influence of the magic of the sign on his hand that Latrich left. It seems that whoever leads the movement of slaves has a portable source of power over the bearers of the brand, or the sorcerer himself has gone in search. It is unlikely! What could a squad of runaway slaves mean to a lord? Or does it still mean something?..
Dorhand did not have time to fully think this thought through. An emotionless voice sounded very close:
– I see them.
One of the slaves hit him on the shoulder, right in the place where the brand was red.
“What if we just peel the skin off this place? Maybe this will remove the spell cast by the sorcerer? – thought Dorkhand.
Tam cut off three heads of his pursuers with one blow. But several crossbow bolts hit his chest. He sank to the ground.
– No-no! – the boy shouted to the whole area. Tears flowed from the eyes. The last time he experienced this was three years ago, when bandits killed his father. Will your whole life be filled only with losses?
– Dorhand, I am very glad that I was with you these days!
He closed his eyes. Forever. Dorkhand grabbed the blade, with anger in his eyes, and tried to attack the nearest pursuer. But Murray, the head of the detachment, shook his head.
– You are surrounded. There is no use in resisting. Either you all die, or go back to the owner.
Murray dismounted his mare.
– On knees!
Dorhand felt his hand burn from the inside in the place where the brand glowed bluish. He could not resist someone else’s will. He knelt down, and with him other slaves, including those in the pursuing squad.
– That is great! – Murray laughed, and Dorhand clenched his fists. A tear ran down my cheek.
***
When the fugitives were brought in, Latrich was chewing ham, drinking wine from a crystal goblet. The castle stank of dampness, the walls were covered with black mold. Cold. The dim, flickering light of the torches barely chased away the darkness. The sorcerer laughed.
– They couldn’t escape far, as I see.
He began to pace around the room, looking into each of the fugitives’ eyes. For a while, only the sound of his steps broke the silence.
– Bring Tom.
Murray went to prison. Latrich looked into Dorhand’s eyes.
– The struggle for freedom means someone’s death and blood, and most often not of enemies, but of relatives and friends. Sometimes, your own blood. And no romance or justice. I studied with Hallon from early childhood. Do you know him? One day I got tired of the taunts of a sorcerer, whom you may know as the King-Behind-the-Mountain. I also decided to run away, like you today. And he punished me severely, teaching me a lesson that I will not be able to forget for the rest of my life. He forced to kill the guard who missed the fugitives. I was seven years old then.
Tom was brought in. The big guy lost a fair amount of weight during the time Dorkhand was away. His face is bruised, a tooth is knocked out.
– Please, Latrich! I served you faithfully!
– Kill him! – said Latrich, and Dorhand, unable to resist the magic, headed towards the guard.
– Boy! Remember! I protected you! I gave you food that other slaves did not see.
Dorhand burst into tears. He loved this clumsy man with all his heart. But the enchanted brand will free the boy.
“Please don’t do this! I don’t want!”
“Kill him! Kill!”
A blow to the heart with a dagger – and warm scarlet blood poured into the boy’s hands. She splashed her face and shirt. Tom groaned and fell to the floor. So Dorkhand became a killer at the age of eleven.
– One day I will take revenge on you! – the boy whispered. – I will kill you, Latrich, I promise! And your magic won’t save you!
– No need for loud words. Every attempt you make to resist me will cost you dearly. Next time I’ll make you kill one of your friends. And maybe not just one. Do you want Lina dead? She’ll be next.
– Nooo! – Dorkhand shouted. – Please,