Dragon’s Empire – 1. Curse of the younger Prince. Natalie Yacobson

did not allow him to show his fear. He was, as always, restrained and cold-blooded – a sample of mentor and elder brother.

      «You could not ride a little behind,» Claude said it with such a cold tone, as if I was not fit to go side by side with him or represented a danger to anyone who remained alone.»

      Such a request seemed to me offensive and nevertheless I hold the horse, passing my brother forward. Do I really do not deserve trust? Claude marked noticeably and looked at me as if he was afraid of attacks on my part. What a change happened to him after the night visiting. Since then, he never talked with me alone.

      «Edwin, you stick to me like a shadow, the distance between the horsemen should be observed,» fear heard in my brother’s voice. I noticed that he somehow nervously squeezes the samples at his chest, as if he was afraid of attacks on the sideways.

      I made my horse go slower to retard from Claude at least a few steps, but my horse was not used to such slowness. He loved to rush in the steppes at the speed of the wind, and not drag a slow step. Even tired, he rushed forward.

      Noticing that I catch him, Claude snatched the sword, but instead of turning a sparkling blade to me, he only raised it up and showed me a cruciform top of a sword. Is Claude thought that the devil himself goes next to him in my appearance.

      «You are not afraid?» he asked in surprise.

      «Do you want me to crossed my sword with yours instead of killing a wild boar?» I answered the question at the question.

      «Of course not,» Claude hastily removed the sword.

      He did not even apologize for his strange behavior. Then we drove in complete silence.

      «Edwin,» My brother turned uncertainly. «I have long wanted to ask you a question. You never felt next the presence of some evil. Maybe sometimes you felt that in you there is something dark and dangerous?»

      «What?» I did not believe my ears. «You could not explain in the moment! You consider me dangerous.»

      «No – no,» he hastily objected. «I said it just like that. Did it happen to think about you? From you the endless light comes, and not darkness. It was necessary just better to look at you before listening to slanders.»

      «Who could say something bad about me?» I was surprised.

      «There will always be evil tongues,» he answered calmly and added with a tagged grin. «You see, the devil is accepted to attribute aristocratic origins.»

      «Oh, well, then we are both approaching this category,» I sincerely laughed, but Claude didn’t even smile, just nodded.

      It will be dark soon,» I spurred a horse. «It is necessary, as soon as possible, get to the glade, about which the messenger said.»

      But it was not possible to find the ill-fated glade. Darkness found us on the forest road. After a long hour of the ride, I understood with horror that we got lost in this dead, dried forest. The air heavily got very cold, and I flopped up to my cape. Past we ran some little creature. The horse of Claude frightened and stood on the sill, getting ready to reset the saddle. My horse was also frightened, but I kept the reins firmly. I shouted that Claude was tightly held in the saddle, but it was already too late, the horse dropped the rider and in gallop rushed away, in the darkness of the forest.

      Fortunately, my brother was not injured and could go. He was lucky that he was separated by several bruises. Then we went on foot, leading my horse. It was still scared, but did not dare to disobey me.

      «Look, this is the place,» Claude pointed with his hand forward. I took out the arrow from quiver and charged the crossbow. In the snow, a chain of traces of some large animal was really stretched. So we were late, and the wild boar was already gone to the hunt. If this huge creature went to the village, then the peasants will not last. After all, they will not even try to defend themselves, thinking that they are doomed to defeat in the fight against evil spirits.

      Claude took the sword from the sheath – the only weapon that he left after his horse’s escape. I was first going to experience my accuracy. If there is some truth in the winning words, then the wild boar will return to its lair through this glade. From here on the horizon protrude the outline of the mountains. There must be somewhere there is an ominous gorge.

      Snow flakes were spinning in the air. The winter cold penetrated to the bones. From the forest side I heard noise, sounds of movements, crunching dry branches. After a few hours it will break. The wild boar returns to his refuge. I first noticed it and realized why the locals were so afraid of him. More than predatory and frightening beast I have not had to see. Its barbed wool, a stupid muzzle and sharp fangs could make an unpleasant impression, but feverishly glittered red eyes, indeed, attached to it like a militant demon. Without thinking, I released the first arrow and got a beast to the ridge. Wild roar swayed above the clearing. Claude took a combat position, and I reached out for the second arrow. I will not miss anymore and get right in the animal’s heart. But I did not have time to recharge the cross, the wild boar rushed to me and fell to the ground. I felt the back on the ice cold of the frozen earth, and my face burned to the hot poisonous breath. The boar slowed, as if someone had forbidden him to break my throat, as if someone was invisible and domineered told him to leave me.

      I felt a heavy carcass fell away from my chest. The wild boar chose another sacrifice, and even the sword of Claude could not save him from deadly fangs. I quickly rose from the ground, snatched the sword out of the sheath. The weapon seemed to me light and useless. Claude’s sword was reversed in half. How it happened, I did not notice. The monster wanted to beat him to last, like a minute ago.

      «Step aside!» I shouted Claude.

      He obediently jumped to the nearest tree. No one has yet escaped from the battlefield with such ease. And in me, on the contrary, a predator, a gloomy, fierce creature with two black wings, woke up. I swamped with a sword and hit the beast along the neck. The first time the sword only slid over a thick skin, splashed a thin trickle of blood, but from the second strike I managed to cut off the head of a wild beast. I was tired of falling on the ground next to the decapitated carcass. It was hard for me to breathe after the struggle, after two blows that took all the forces with me. And at the same time I was sure that my strength is not enough to kill such a beast. I almost felt that in the last moment someone invisible grabbed my hand and helped put a decisive blow.

      Claude approached my horse, took out a flask with wine from the saddle bag and handed me. Above the gloomy silhouette of the mountains cut the first rays of dawn. The night passed, as in hell. And the morning revived the former beauty of the faded forest.

      «You fulfilled your promise!» Claude said this phrase solemnly and with respect. Does one heroic act really transformed me in his eyes.

      On the other hand, we were in a distress. On one frightened horse, you will not go far together. I suggested Claude to take my horse and go for help at the next village.

      «Yes, the baron should know that you saved him from this beast,» Claude kicked with his boot a heavy carcass. «I hope that in honor of the hero, at least a feast will arrange.»

      «I would be glad just with a good dinner in the tavern and buying two rapid horses. I hope you won’t get lost, looking for a village and do not make me wait a long time.»

      In fact, I was pleased with any pretext to get rid of Claude and alone go to the gorge, thereby proving that there was no evil in the vicinity. According to the old knightly custom, I cut out a tongue from the mouth, so that in case of the appearance of impostors to prove that the winner am I and no one else.

      I rose from the ground and shuddered from the surprise. Directly in front of me stood a tall, static gentleman, from his head to the legs he was in black. Even the lower part of the face was tied with a black, silk scarf. Only eyes glittered, shimmering a multitude of mixes under the fields of hats