Reflection of the night
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– I understand the need for these strategies, so you don't have to spend the night with me tonight, dear, – the king said.
– And you won't be offended? – The head of the Bear clan asked in the same tone.
Robin was bending down to remove his boots when the door opened and Edward burst in. Arthur opened his mouth to make a joke, but when he saw the deathly pallor on his friend's face, he immediately closed it.
– I need the magic passwords for the basements in the west wing.
Robin glanced at it and removed the bracelet from his left wrist.
– Take this, any door will open when you touch it.
The falcon grabbed the thing and flew out into the corridor, not noticing that his friends followed him.
At the door to the basement, a clerk was waiting with a magic caller ID and two warriors, one of whom was the head of the royal guard.
Unable to withstand the touch of the bracelet, the heavy door opened, and stale air escaped from the basement. Edward lit the torches in the room and knocked over a heavy stone slab that lay on the floor. Groping in the cache he found, he pulled out a yellowed stack of papers. Opening the envelopes one by one, the Falcon handed them to the clerk, who checked the sheets and put them in a neat pile.
When the work was finished, the clerk said firmly:
– All submitted letters are authentic and correspond to the claimed authorship.
The gleam in Edward's green eyes became feverish. He nodded to the security chief, who came closer.
– Baron Ellard, Count Lees, and Count Terron are to be arrested immediately and brought to the palace. If they try to escape, execute them on the spot.
– But how is that possible? The nobles won't approve, – protested the head of the guard.
The Falcon, out of control, grabbed the soldier by the breast.
– You didn't understand the order? – King Robin's voice was soft and therefore even more menacing.
– No, I understand, – the warrior replied timidly.
– Do it, – Raven said, nodding toward the door.
He went over to the clerk and took the letters from him, looking through them quickly.
– That's right…
Arthur, who was standing nearby, also saw the contents of the papers.
– Ed, how are you?
– We'll start for the mountains at dawn, – the Falcon said firmly, and walked away.
Half asleep, Anna lay on the fragrant dry hay and looked at the friend who had come to her imagination.
– If you don't return within four days, I will follow you and tear down this stone crypt.
– It's all right, don't worry, Rogneda. I'll be home soon.
– Of course, I feel like you're doing well. Who do you talk to closely there? There are three clans in power, and I know their aspirations and thoughts. I hope they're smart enough to be diligent.
Anna groaned:
– You're home now and you can do whatever you want, and I have to go over the damn rocks tomorrow, so let's go to bed.
Rogda disappeared, and Ratmir appeared.
– Ra, where are you? – Anna whispered.
– Hello, dear, we decided to have a little rest here.
– I have important business to attend to." There's a boy-a great-grandson of a friend of mine-who needs help. Look at him. I want to accept him into our family. What do you think?
For ten minutes Anna seemed to be in a dream, until she heard her nephew's voice again.
– I saw him, and I don't mind calling him brother. Go to sleep…
The girl smiled serenely, inhaling the frosty freshness and winking at the stars peeking under the awning.
"The bottomless sky is good,"– she thought.
A thin boy of about seven years old stood by a fresh grave, which was mercilessly covered by the falling snow. Suddenly he was seized with a fit of coughing. He fell to his knees, and the white canvas was stained with drops of blood. Someone put a clean handkerchief to his lips and hugged him. After a few moments, the chest sounds subsided. The child was reclining on the woman's lap, looking into the warm eyes.
– Who are you? – he asked.
– I'm a friend of your great-grandfather.
The boy rested for a while longer and then roughly broke away from the embrace.
– We didn't have any friends.
Anna ran a hand over her face and stared at the child, whose desperate blue eyes were filled with hope. She reached into her gym bag and pulled out a pink apple that seemed to cheer up this snowy, cold morning.
– Take it, – she said, handing it to the baby.
He stood there for a moment, thinking, then came over and held out an almost transparent hand. My name is Anna. I'm going away on business right now, but I'll be back soon and we'll talk about everything. In the meantime, eat the fruit, and you will feel better.
The boy bit into an apple. Anna stared at him for a few more minutes, then left without looking back.
Robin and Arthur stood outside the chapel, looking up at the gray sky and breathing in the crisp, frosty air. The bright pink horizon heralded the imminent arrival of the sun. Edward approached them quietly. All three were dressed in black suits and wrapped in dark cloaks. The bear and the Falcon pulled their long hair back into tails. Raven's black, ragged locks reached only to his shoulders and fell in a picturesque disarray across his forehead and cheeks.
– Where is this lady? – Arthur asked. – Women are women, nothing can be trusted.
– Let's go to the stable. Order her to be sent for, – the monarch said to the footman.
A mournful funeral bell rang in the air.
– Someone died? – Edward asked.
– Yes, the head of the palace chancery, – Red Arthur yawned.
Near the stable, the warriors saw Anna standing at the entrance. She curtsied.
– Good morning, my lady, – Robin replied with a bow, as did his entourage, and moved closer to her.
– Allow me to ask you an immodest question, madame.