Palashka, see him off, and come back!
The hay girl left with the unnamed man, and Sophia stayed behind to think… The princess knew what her name meant, and she was very proud. Faith, Hope, Love, and above them – Sophia, that is, Knowledge. And she tried to do everything wisely. But now? Savvatiy, the Archangel Cathedral, a sack, a stone coffin… And nothing else could have happened, except for the secret burial of my brother, Petrusha… So that’s how it all happened, the boyars and Natalya Kirillovna’s son were leaving… First my brother Ivan, and then NGO… And what to think? We must do it, but secretly. And first, we must find out for ourselves what and how…
Secrets of the crypt of the ancient cathedral
– Today Pelageya sent Dormidont and Ustyana, my serfs, to me, – the princess immediately blurted out as soon as the hay girl returned.
– But it’s late, mother.
– Never mind, Pelageya. They’ll get some sleep later, we can’t delay!
Sophia felt that she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep today. So why delay? Afraid of darkness and basements? She wasn’t particularly afraid of such things. But she had to KNOW, and know for sure. And then, God willing, her time will come, and she will pay back the boyars… She will drag the whole filthy pack to the chopping block, and will not harm anyone. They will answer for their father and for their brothers, Fyodor and Peter. The dogs have seen enough of Poland, they have lost the fear of God.She could only eat a small piece of gingerbread now, she could only feel her face burning. She looked in the mirror, a Venetian work, and wanted to slap herself on the cheeks, she barely restrained herself and whitened her forehead, cheeks and chin. She always wanted to do this when she wanted to hide what she really felt. She thought about it and took the ring with poison, Not for the serfs, but for herself, if they caught her in the underground hall. And she took the stiletto with her, prepared a dark cape, and finally sat down in the chair to wait for her people.
She had to wait a long time. She almost dozed off, sitting on the pillow. But then both young men came in, two grabs on different matters. They were supposed to execute both of them, but the princess saved the right people. And she did not want blood to be spilled, and she received considerable benefit. Now the forgiven thieves and robbers ran a hardware store in Moscow and repaired locks.
– Good health, princess-mother, – muttered Dormidont, holding his hat in his hand.
Sophia deigned to look at both of them. And that’s it! They are dressed well, like wealthy townspeople, caftans and boots, beautiful belts. And you can’t tell what both of them have been doing recently!
– I need a service from you. I’ll pay you five rubles.
– Without murder? – Ustyan asked hopefully, – we have prayed for our sins…
– To pick the lock, go to the church basement, and fill the coffin lid. No big deal.
– We are always ready to serve, our benefactress!
– We are going right now, through the underground passage. To the Archangel Cathedral…
– We are indebted to you for the rest of our lives. We will go there too, we will not be afraid. We have the tackle with us, we can open any lock. And we took a small crowbar too, – Ustyan added.
– Well, then, let’s go…
Dead Peter Alexeevich
Pelageya walked ahead, one of the servants who knew which of the doors of the Novodevichy Convent led to the Kremlin dungeon. The passages connected all the palaces and monasteries into one whole, the main thing was not to get lost among the branches of these tangled stone galleries. But Sophia knew them very well, and could not get lost. But, she would have to go far…
The hay girl opened the lock of the heavy door with a forged key, and with difficulty opened the entrance. The hinges creaked with strain.
– Oil it later, – the princess said grumpily.
– I will do it, mother!
– Although no, leave it like that, – a new order was given.
Dormidont grinned, but quickly hid the smile in his thick beard. Ustyan managed to remain silent, and even raised the painted lantern higher.
– Come down, why are you frozen? – the princess ordered again.
A steep staircase made of slabs of white, although already blackened stone led down. The ceiling was barely a fathom, vaulted. Cobwebs and caked dust were woven from the stones.The spider’s threads glittered silver in the light of the lanterns.
The serfs’ footsteps were muffled by their wooden heels, but the iron heels of their goat shoes clinked, and quite loudly. Sophia winced in annoyance that she had not thought of it…
– Mother, I have a piece of linen, wrap your shoes to protect yourself from sin,: Ustyan whispered.
The woman did not argue, and there was no need to refuse such sensible advice. Now her steps became silent too. So the three of them walked along this underground road.
At one of the turns they heard the clatter of boots. The serfs hastily hid their lanterns under the hems of their caftans. Oppressive darkness fell upon them and seemed to surround the princess and her people. They stood like that for a long time, waiting for the steps to die down. Ustyan looked out into the gallery, but saw neither light nor strangers.
– That’s it, you can go, – whispered the dashing man.
It was hard, after all, the air was heavy, sultry. Sophia was in a hurry, and almost mixed up the doors, but then returned to the right place.
– Here, that door, – she uttered the almost cherished words.
The princess brought the lantern to the keyhole. Fyodor began to work, picking up the master keys from his bunch. The job was done neatly. Sophia illuminated the crypt, and began to look for the right sarcophagus. She searched for a long time, but then remembered the location of the graves. Finally, she found it, a long sarcophagus made of limestone, and without a single inscription.
– Here, – the princess said quietly, – lift the lid, but be careful.
Sophia noticed how the two ear-cutters exchanged glances, but remained silent. They knew her tough character. Ustyan took out his crowbar, and Dormidont his. A tricky thing, reminiscent of the letter G, with one end flattened.And it was necessary for them to open doors and break locks. They lifted the lid from both sides, only sighed heavily, but removed it.
Sophia crossed herself with her right hand, and in her left she continued to hold the lantern. The coffin smelled of incense and fragrances, she carefully removed the shroud from the dead man’s face. On the forehead, as expected, were wafers with prayers, the jaw was tied with a silk scarf. The dead man’s eyes were sunken, but a noticeable birthmark on the left cheek was still there. Sophia closed her eyes, crossed herself, her heart was beating fast – fast.
It was her dead brother Peter Alekseevich. The Tsar and Grand Duke of All Rus’ lay in his deathbed, awaiting the trumpets of the Archangels.
She came to her senses with difficulty, and motioned to close the coffin. Dormidont and Ustyan worked quickly, but they almost dragged the princess back on themselves. The woman could not come to her senses. Already at the door to the dungeon, she whispered with difficulty to the frightened Palashka:
– Give each of you three chervonets from my money…
Conspiracy
– Why didn’t you bring the brew! – Sophia screamed, beside herself with rage, – you weak fool! Oh, my God! How long have I been lying there without strength?
– It’s only been three hours, mother… – Palashka whispered, frightened, –