" "Will you take me with you?
" "The prince? To the hidden assassins' guild? No way. Besides, Dad probably won't let you." After an hour of conversation, he noticed that the boy was wise for his age, but still sometimes asked ordinary, childish questions.
"You're right. Dad won't let me. Besides, he has a lot on his mind. So many kingdom matters to attend to, so he won't be able to watch over me or worry about me.
" "And has... Hasn't your dad been sick lately?"
"No. I haven't noticed his health worsening. Except for the evening when he drank some of that new wine. " "Wine?" "Could the baron have wanted to cause the king's sudden death?" "Yes, the elves have come up with something again. That new wine is a powerful head-scratcher. That's what Damm said. I mean, the officer. Of the Guard.
"
Dad swayed a bit, said nonsense, sang. And he drank as much as he always did for dinner. Right after we finished eating, Mom and I left. She told us not to tell anyone. "Won't you tell her I told you?" the boy said with a slight look of terror in his eyes. "She'll be angry. You know, I don't want to say outright that Dad got a little drunk. You understand, he's the king." He said proudly.
"I understand, I understand. That damned elf wine! Heheh. Elves... So wise, and they didn't warn the king that the wine was stronger." "But he's not a baron. So how can a king die if he's in good health?" "
Yes. Elves. I don't understand why people don't like them. They're more powerful than us, but they don't attack us. They're peaceful. I'd like to have them as allies.
" "So you'll be a good king. What's your name, exactly?"
"Golthred. But for now they call me Golti. It's my great-grandfather's name. Actually, it'll be: Golthred II Fratherberg. A family name from my ancestors. I mean, from my father. And what's your name?
" "Me? They call me Night Wolf.
" "But that's just your nickname. Right? And your real name?
" "What do you need them for?
" "As a prince, I won't address a subject by his criminal name! Besides, I prefer the name...
" "Sigh... You want to rip all my secrets from me at once, you imperious rascal. Well, let me lose. But could you not tell anyone? If anyone asks, I'm Night Wolf. And my name is Wolven.
" "It's like Wolf!
" "Yes. Like wolf.
" "And your surname?
" "Surname... I don't know my surname. Apparently, my mother didn't tell it to the teacher.
" "And you don't remember?
" "No. I came to the Night Wolf school as a small child. Three, maybe four years old."
"You were younger than me.
" "Yes. But it's late. Go to sleep.
" "I don't want to. If I go to sleep, I'll never see you again.
" "And that's how it should be.
" "But I don't want to!
" "Don't scream. Quiet.
" "Then at least wait until morning. Okay?
" "But then maybe they'll catch me.
" "They won't. I won't let them.
" "Okay. Go to sleep." He sat on the floor next to the bed. He wanted to wait until the Prince fell asleep and then sneak out. But sleep interrupted him...
* * *
In the morning, he was awakened by a light blow to the face with an open hand. Five soldiers surrounded him. Golti was sitting on the bed. One of the soldiers drew his sword and aimed it at his chest. The Prince got off the bed and approached them.
"Damm, don't you understand?
" "What? That man sneaked into your room, Prince. He probably wanted to kill you.
" "Yes?" And that's why he talked to me for an hour like a friend, and then kept an eye on me until sleep overcame him. You, on the other hand, drank until late, keeping me awake! - So that's why the boy caught him! The soldiers' drinking kept him awake. So the Wolf didn't make any mistake, except hesitate. - Is Father supposed to find out about this? It's not the first time!
- But Prince, how on earth are we supposed to believe you talked to him and that he was keeping an eye on you?
- What's my name? - He directed this question at Wolven.
- Golthred II Fratherberg. My great-grandfather's name. But usually everyone calls you Golti.
- He could have learned that from any servant girl! - The boy approached the soldier and whispered something in his ear. After a moment, the soldier asked, - And what's your name, stranger?
- Night Wolf. That's what everyone calls me.
"Damm, see? He's my friend." The soldier, however, still held his sword pointed at Wolven's chest. The prince pushed his sword away and stood between him and Wolf.
"Prince!
" "Sheathe your sword, Damm!" The soldier immediately obeyed. "Now send for the servants. He wants to get dressed." The soldier named Damm left. The rest did the same, closing the door behind them.
"You handled them quite well!"
"You know, a few years of practice and you're skilled," the boy said proudly.
"And now I'm running.
" "What?!
You don't think your father will keep me alive?
" "Why would he kill you?
" "Because I wanted to kill you?" Fear crossed the boy's face, then sadness. "It's not that I wanted to, it was just my mission. But now I don't want to. Tell your father and that Damm that I was supposed to kill you. But I didn't." So let them not worry about me, but about those who come after me. And I think they will be. Father should also be careful what he eats and drinks. And who he talks to. Because he doesn't know the day or the hour..." They stood in silence for a moment. "Well then! Whoever gets in the way, gets in the time." At that moment, the maids and two soldiers entered. "Well, let's kill the birds!" But Golti wasn't concerned. He smiled mischievously and followed both maids to the dressing room. When the dressing room door closed, both soldiers drew daggers from their belts.
"So you're giving me a chance to escape?" The soldiers looked at each other. Then at him. As if he were crazy. "Surely you don't think you'll beat a professional with daggers?" At that same moment, the dressing room door opened, and a half-dressed prince stood there.
"Don't even think about it! Don't even think about it! Don't even think about it!" The soldiers looked at the prince with indifference, then with anger, and left the room.
"See? This won't end until they reach their destination.
" "We'll see." The prince finished dressing and was getting ready to leave the room. "I wonder what's for breakfast today?
" "Besides a scolding from father? Probably scrambled eggs with bacon and tomato salad." One of the servants said. "My nose usually doesn't deceive me.
" "Yes, Berka. My nose usually doesn't deceive you. When it comes to food, of course. "
The servants left without closing the door behind them.
"I... I don't think I feel like eating breakfast... You know, when I think about how your father will react, I lose my appetite.
" "Don't tell me you're craving a good scrambled egg with cracklings! My mouth is watering. Come on.
" "But...
" "Don't worry, we'll sort it out," the boy said and left. The wolf followed him.
- As my teacher used to say: "Don't be so forward, or you'll be left behind!"
- But confidence never hurts.
- But at a time like this, courage can be called stupidity, walking towards certain death.
"Haven't you heard that a fool is always lucky?
" "Damn it, who taught you to cut yourself off like that?
" "You know, I often argue with my father." They looked at each other and both started laughing. No one could question the king's words. This offense was sometimes punishable by death. And here, a little boy was doing it quite often, as he claimed.
"How old are you?" asked the Wolf.
"Six, what?
" "Because... You're quite tall for your age.
" "Yes, I've heard that before. That's why my father changed a few regulations, for example, when it came to learning to fight, shoot, and learn from books.
" "What do you mean?
" "From the 'Rule of Age' to the 'Rule of Height and Age'."
"That doesn't mean anything to me. What does that mean?
" "Before, you had to be a certain age to learn to fight. Now you need a certain age or height.
" "Oh, I don't remember how tall or old I was when I started learning to fight. I was too weak for a sword back then. Every two blows, it would fall to the ground. I started with a dagger.
"We're almost there." They walked down a high, cross-vaulted corridor. Every few meters, a painting of some king hung on the wall. At the end of the corridor, they could see large, double doors, which, Golti said, were made entirely of rosewood. A third of the way down the corridor from the door, the paintings ended. Hunting trophies filled the empty spaces. The heads of several stags and a wolf baring its fangs were attached to beautifully decorated boards.
"Dad says our portraits will hang here someday.
" "What do you have to do to be hung here?" Wolf joked. "Because to be hanged in the market square, all you have to do is kill in self-defense.
" "Sigh... You see, you have to be of royal blood here," the boy said with a serious face.
"Hey, you ruined the whole joke.
" "You know..." I spoke to Dad once—"They had already reached the door, so they had to stop to finish their conversation—"and he told me he didn't like sentencing people to death. But it's necessary." Because everyone will save themselves by saying they killed in self-defense. And it's not as funny as you think. But Nocny was no longer laughing. He was staring at the door.
"And what will your father say about attempted murder?
" "We'll see," Golti said, pushing the door open.
The prince entered the hall with a light heart. There was a long table, seating at least twelve. The chairs were upholstered in red suede. Platters and jugs were already set on the table. At the head of the table sat a man who didn't look like a king at all, though he certainly was. He didn't look angry either. He was deadly serious. That meant he had made his decision.
Wolven slowly walked into the hall. He heard the door close behind him.
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