Right hand. Prince of Darkness. Dmitry Nazarov
at me, frowning. He leaned back, putting his fingers to his forehead. As you can see, the picture in the brain took shape quickly, and his face brightened.
– And you seem to be right, – he finally said.
– Looks like it, – I mimicked. I can’t even remember the last time I was wrong. You were not yet born at that time.
– Listen, who are you anyway? – The guy squinted suspiciously.
Looks like the picture turned out even better than I expected.
– Your savior, – I stated the obvious. You could say it’s a guardian angel. Then I burst out laughing again, imagining how real angels grind their teeth, if, of course, one of them heard me.
– That’s right, – Eitan chuckled, dismissing his suspicions out of gratitude. In any case, for the time being. – But what is your name, anyway?
– Call me Arafel. And you are Eitan, I already understood that.
He nodded, frowning and still holding his head. Suddenly it seemed to dawn on him.
– Wait, what is it, a girl abducted me from the wedding?
His shoulders began to shake slightly.
– You can say that.
This time we laughed together. Eitan’s eyes grew more and more unhealthy. A sharp removal of the curse – what else, in a good way, would you call a love spell? – a specific thing, a bit like alcohol intoxication and may well lead a person into a state of euphoria.
I looked back. The last of the pursuers fell noticeably behind. The wind, amused, distinctly conveyed their abuse to us.
– Oh, you black-haired whore! – no one calmed down. – So that you are sick all your life, so that your life is short, so that the angels of the door to the heavenly chamber slam shut in front of you!
If the first two wishes only made me giggle, then the last one really pissed me off. Angels? Yes, so that I myself put myself in them? There was a hunt! But if I need it for some reason, which one of them will stop me, I would like to know? Furrowed brows drew together at the bridge of his nose; thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance. My eyes narrowed and opened wide again, and a curse flew towards the foul language. Of course, his offense will not be so difficult to live, but he will break his leg or arm, that’s for sure.
Eitan didn’t notice anything, except he looked up, trying to understand where the storm was coming from. I did not see any clouds in the sunset sky and turned around again, estimating how far we had gone from the chase.
– Wow! Well, you have a horse! he whistled.
– The best in the kingdom! – I proudly assured, not indulging in clarifications regarding the true nature of the steed.
– The wind is whistling in your ears! And maybe even faster? Eitan asked excitedly.
– Easily!
And with my permission, the rashtang rushed at full speed. The pursuers finally disappeared from sight, and we did not meet others who wanted to travel late. So we managed to fully enjoy the crazy ride, yelling at the top of our lungs. And no one saw how unnaturally fast the chariot rushes, and most importantly, how from time to time it literally flies without touching the ground with its wheels…
Chapter 3
We stopped in the middle of the night, when even it became difficult for me to keep my balance in a furious jump, and my companion did yawn at the top of his mouth. He was still supported by the effect of a sharply lifted curse, while I basically needed sleep, as well as food, much less than real people. Still, the human body needed rest, so I had to ask the rashtang to stop.
– I hope you don’t mind camping out for the night, – I warned my companion as I jumped off the chariot. -Because even if you’re against it, I can’t offer better. There is not a single inn for miles around here.
– Anything but the wedding night, – Eitan assured, following my example.
– Ha! I thought men had a different attitude towards their wedding night. However, you are right about something, – I noticed, unharnessing the rashtanga.
This occupation took some time, and then the contented entity disappeared into the darkness.
– Aren’t you afraid that you will run far away?
Eitan, frowning, peered into the night, but, of course, he did not see the silhouette of a horse.
– He will come back, – I confidently dismissed, and, without thinking twice, lay down right on the grass.
Dark clouds floated across the dark sky. Nevertheless, they were perfectly visible, because darkness is different for darkness, and its shades are innumerable, even if the human eye is not always able to recognize the difference.
A piece of sky was obscured by a poorly lit silhouette, the grass rustled. Eitan lay down nearby, head to head, but at an angle so that we only touched with our hair. Both were silent, looking at the stars and the abyss that contained them, and I myself did not notice how my eyes closed.
I woke up two hours later: the body did not need a long rest. There was no one around, but the ear caught a soothing crackle. Raising myself on my elbow, the first thing I saw in the distance was a small fire, and then Eitan, who was squatting and stirring firewood with a long stick. I stood up and brushed myself off, walking closer.
– Cold? She asked the first thing that came to mind.
I wasn’t cold myself, but that didn’t mean much. I could not find any other reason for the night vigil by the fire.
My companion shook his head, threw his stick into the fire, and sat down, clasping his knees with his hands. I settled in nearby.
– How does this… potion work? – Eitan asked, looking at the fire. How much would she give me?
– I can’t read minds. It wasn’t sarcasm, just a statement of fact. I did not have the ability to telepathy. Much can be understood by human actions, facial expressions and gestures, but this is different. It’s better to ask her. – The recent fiance grimaced and frankly skeptical. “Without the potion, the effect wears off rather quickly, so I think she would have served it to you for a few more days.” In general, the question is what she wanted more: the status of a spouse or “big and pure” love. She would have achieved the first one today, so she could stop with the potion at least immediately. Well, would you understand that you gave a blunder, but what’s the point? The marriage would take place, as they say, before the Prince of Light and the people. But if she wanted love, then she could give you a longer drink.
– For the rest of your life?
I saw him wince. Either he still froze, or the second option frightened him much more than an unpleasant insight immediately after the wedding.
– Though for the rest of my life, – I firmly confirmed, but I considered it possible to add a spoonful of honey to the barrel of tar: “But not for long.
– Why is this? He was surprised and looked at me anyway.
– Well, you see… How to put it mildly… The love potion works, of course, not bad, but it is extremely unhealthy for the human body. A few days – nonsense, weeks – tolerable, but for a few months you would give your soul. Prince or prince, I don’t know, you