And the dog recognized you, Ella, the chieftain said thoughtfully, and I wont say that he is kind to others.
She just smiled at him widely, and they went into the house, climbed upstairs from the crate, and found themselves in an upper room, there were benches on each side of the room, with deer skins on them, the windows were closed with a bubble, and the sun lit up the upper room, but not too much. The hostess began to put food on the table, Arpad and Ella took off their outer clothing, remaining in linen, which was wearing fur sleeveless jackets, but did not sit down yet. Finally, a woman came up, leading the hands of three children, two girls, five and seven years old, and a boy of twelve.
Me Elysia is called, -she was called a girl, can be Helen or Ella. I am a guest here, sister Ulla and bowed to the belt.
My name is Rosa, girls Zarya and Lika, and the boy, and he grabbed my mother by the sleeve of her dress, Wolf.
Ella smiled at the children, crouched down and saw that the Wolf was very lame.
What about the Wolf, the mothers face became gloomy, the leg hurt something, limping.
Lets see, top, gray flank, Elya turned to him, and ruffled his head, where there were several curls, and the boy laughed, sit on the bench next to him.
Well, said the boy, and he was shy, hid his face in his palms, but his fingers opened, his eyes glittered, he peered.
Ella concentrated, began to feel her foot, first ran the pillows over her lower legs, then checked her knee and thigh, went down again on the lower leg, and on her calf, under the knee, she felt a seal.
He fell hard?
Yes, about two years ago, a prankster climbed, somewhere, fell and limped.
Warm the water, bring clean cloths, I have my own knife. You want, I will do everything now, and I will stop the blood.
Agreed, said the mother quietly, and the father nodded his head too.
You will stop limping, and in a day everything will heal with you, Volchok. Be patient, are you already an adult?
Yes, and the boy nodded his head, I am twelve years old already.
Dew quickly boiled water, brought a large vessel, poured warm water in it, put the boy on a small chair, put his legs into the water, and his son clung like a tick to his mothers hand. Arpad, meanwhile, carried Lika and Zarya into a room nearby. Elya rolled up her sleeves, rinsed her hands, carefully examined the impact site, and quickly cut through the skin, the child only had time to shake, the witches washed the wound, applied good herbs, shook water and blood from the boys leg with another cloth, took out her feet. Sage put her hands on the wound, tried to concentrate until she was warm in her hands, and so she held her hands until she felt that everything was fine. Arpad returned, and sat down next to the bench. Elya removed her fingers from the wound, lowered her trouser leg to the boy, smoothed his trouser leg, and gave it to her mother, who took her son by the hand.
Well, like a wolf, does your leg hurt anymore?
At first it was hot, but my leg no longer hurts, thank you, witch, and he looked at her seriously, like an adult, I will use you, and the boy I tried to bend and straighten my leg and laughed mother, look, and Elya again became all white, and shakes it and clutched at his chin with both hands.
And indeed, Elissias face turned pale, her circles under her eyes showed up again, she could barely stand.
Ill sit for a while, she smiled, although it came out quite crookedly at her, and she fell on her left side, well, that Arpad managed to catch her. Dew took away her son, returned alone and brought a dipper of honey, which she put on the table, and sat down next to the witch. Elia opened her eyes hard, and murmured:
I got tired of something The dedication was not yet strong and not enough
Sing and eat, and the pies are ready for fish, and venison with lingonberries, and she moved the plate to El, she had a frightened face and she pushed the clay bowl of meat away from her.
I dont eat And fish pies? She asked hopefully.
Yes, the woman said in surprise, and the meat is good, venison, stewed with lingonberries.
I dont eat meat, said the witch and bit off a large piece of cake, and smiled, delicious!
Here, take it again, and then got tired, and he treated my brother, and my son. The top is now not a poor limp. But then, after all, he had been at home for two years. Thank you, good soul.
And thank you for your brother, you took care of him for six years, and washed down the cake with a large gulp of kvass, and began to take the second pie. With the second dealt as quickly, and with the third, and then the fourth.
Thank you, very tasty treat. I even felt better, I did not eat for three days, I could not.
Thank you, you see the gods brought you here, so how to say if Ull was not sick, you would help us, and put her hand under her chin and shook her head.
Oh, and Elya clutched at her head, and I still promised friends to treat Ulla.
You will cure tomorrow, rest, and almost forget, Dew turned to her husband, the trials will soon begin, get dressed, its time.
Rosa, Ella asked, you have no leather pants and a shirt, but you need a strong belt.
I will bring it now.
Soon she brought a knapsack with pants and a shirt, her husbands, when her husband was still sixteen.
Elyssia was dressing slowly, trying not to lose consciousness, she had already ate, became much better, but she felt dizzy and most of all she was afraid to look down and bend down, so its good that she didnt take off her boots in the house. She grabbed a knapsack with mens clothes.
Harpard, take a bag of cakes for Eli, the wife handed the leather bag to her husband, tell me, then what was there, and she stood on her tiptoes and kissed her husband.
Ale held onto the railing and carefully walked down the stairs, then took another step, walked further down, dizzy again, she gulped convulsively, tried to breathe more often, and somehow let go. Then she carefully took a step, another, and it was much easier to go evenly. Finally they left the house, the witch swallowed her mouth with fresh air, caught her breath immediately, and Arpad went out, looked suspiciously at Elya.
Feel better?
Its okay, Elissia grinned, its time, its time to go already.
With them went a few chosen ones, they walked at a brisk pace, over the thick grass growing on the stones of the northern island. Grew and shrub, and low pines. The witch glanced around the warriors, all of these were strong and very tall middle-aged men, about thirty, no more, they did not wear beards, it means that none of them had survived until thirty-three. Vigilantes carried with them three fishing nets, with three more on their shoulders lay ropes coiled into the bay. They did not go for a long time, the meadow appeared enclosed by a palisade two elbows high. Nearby there were already a few chosen ones, and those who were being educated were jumbled with them, Ull towered over half his head, and he also laughed at something. Arpad went to the warriors and the boys.
What, are you ready? Go to the tent, change clothes. Now let the first bull in the pen. You, Ull, the last bull will pacify.
Okay, Ull looked back at his friends.
Here are the numbers, draw lots, and Arpad extended the ritual vessel with the bones to the young men.
Okay, Ull looked back at his friends.
Here are the numbers, draw lots, and Arpad extended the ritual vessel with the bones to the young men.
You, Ull, every last, Arius laughed, and pulled the first. He was the second to go to the pen.Then Gong, his turn became the third, Shirak to go first,
Talu the fifth, Guruh the fourth, Vour the sixth and Knut the seventh. The youths wore leather pants and shirts and the usual soft boots.
Katey, you are the eldest over catchers, who are with nets and who are distracting the bull in the meadow.
Savir, you start, climb the stakes and wait, you have to sit on the bull and hold onto six accounts. Do you understand? Did everyone understand?
I understood, chieftain, replied Sirac, and crawled through the fence into the meadow.
He stood quietly, and waited for the appearance of a bull, only clenched and unclenched fists. A bull appeared through the gate, spotted, large, with straight horns. The bull approached, sniffed, he was also interested, and so Savir ran away, threw his body over his big horned head and sat down at the withers, holding the horns, which was unwise, but quickly put his hands on the withers, and clung to it. The bull began to bend, trying to reach the rider, then threw the body to the side, but the lad was doing great, although he was fraying strongly, and every bull jump was given in each of his muscles, finally, he pulled the belt from his bosom to the withers of the animal, twisted it, and It was considered as a lesson completed, and the warriors ran up to them, distracting the bull, and, with a jump backwards, Savir left the test partner, found himself in a meadow, then quickly jumped the tail, and friends ran to him.
Fine, Sirac, Gong clapped him on the shoulder.
Just great, Ull spoke with burning eyes.
He started the next test, followed by another, and all the young men were tested. It is the turn of Ulla.
Come on Ull, surprise us, Arius slammed encouragingly on the shoulder of his friend, and he, with a mane no less than that of a horse from a harness, leaned his left hand on the tail and threw his body on the meadow of the lists. They let out the bull, he quite friendly wagged his tail. Ull clapped his hands, drawing the attention of the animal, he raised his huge head, and Ull took three steps, jumped, grabbed the bull by the horns on the fly, made a flip over the croup of the bull, and jumped over it, and landed on its feet for the bull, raising its arms up and turned to the viewers. The loud clapping of the audience was his reward, then the bull turned to him, and Ull made the second jump, jumping over the bull again. People were numb with delight. But it was not all, the young man ran up, and pushed off from the slippery side of the bull, and moved through this powerful body, so that the bull did not even have time to twitch, but then began to spin, trying to reach the brave lad, he twisted and jumped onto the withers of the beast, and pulled the belt, and put it on the neck of the giant, performing the task. On the neck of the bull, Ull did not linger, but made a back jump, stood on solid ground, and left the lists.
You surprised everyone, Ull, Arpad told him, now the soldiers who had passed the tests ran up to him, everyone tried to express enthusiasm and approval. The twin was able to surprise everyone.
Just great, said Vour, no one could.
Triumphant warriors gathered around Ulla, even enraptured warriors with nets came running around, who were supposed to hold the bull if the animal went berserk.
Change, and lets go celebrate, Arpad solemnly announced.
Nobody paid attention, when suddenly turning around Gnur shouted:
Who is there on the lists!
Everyone turned their heads, and saw that an unfamiliar young man, dressed in a leatherish clothing too big for him, jumps over the bull, performing the same jumps as Ull, the same most difficult and dangerous exercises. And through the horns forward, and jump through the body with the support on the hands. But the audience looked closely and was amazed, the young man had a long light braid, and this was not a young man, but a girl. Here she stopped jumping, and the bull stood rooted to the spot, just as if he tried to stand more evenly and did not move, so that the jumper would not suffer. The girl was also tired, went up to the bull, stroked him on the head (such a monster), then ran her hand to the side, and with a graceful gait went up to the fence, just as easily jumped it.
Sister? surprise and admiration was in the words and eyes of Ulls. He first ran up the Virgin, she was already breathing easily, a blush was burning on her cheeks, and it seemed that the adventure was only for her benefit.
You struck everybody, Ella, and put his hands on her shoulders, looking straight into her eyes, but this is still a dangerous thing, you could break your arms and legs.
You would have cured me, she answered jokingly, and laughed.
You cant do anything with you anyway, the brother grinned, go, change clothes, we will wait for you.
Ella went briskly, and Ulle thought that the beauty had grown, but it would be difficult for the suitors to wait, everyone was afraid of her.
Lets wait a bit, she quickly, the young man turned to his friends.
Of course, Ulle, replied Sirac, the girls must be taken care of.
You did great, Ull, Arpad said to him, now you are King Shepherd. I dont think anyone will surpass you.
While they were talking like this, Elicia changed her clothes, came in and modestly sat aside. It is time to overexposure and youths, and now the warriors, who a month later were to return to their tribes on the coast of the icy sea. They changed their clothes, and stood next to the fencing of the lists; Arpad with Elicia and Katey and Pal approached them.
Now I can show you the Temple of the Gods, lets go. You are no longer servants, but those who have passed the test and proved their valor and skill.
Arpad with the warriors was ahead, followed by the young men, and they were closing the column of Ull and Elicia. It was keenly large, but the temple was not far, but it was hidden so cunningly that you did not immediately notice. He was surrounded by a low tyn, the entrance was covered with a beautiful carved gate on bronze hinges. They were met by a tall man, gray-haired in solemn robes. In his hands he held a staff, with a silver top in the form of a double helix.
He will be you, brave warriors, he greeted, come through.
And you be healthy, and Arpad bowed in a bow, and behind him were warriors and boys and a girl.
We walked behind the magician along the path, and saw a large wooden building with a gable roof, just to the side there was a house for the sorcerer. He opened the bolt on bronze-studded doors, and let visitors in, the room was small, against the far wall on a column of white stone there was a bronze image, a double helix, two elbows long, and one elbow high. From the inside, the temple was painted ocher in color, and lit by a dozen oil lamps with bronze mirrors behind them, so that inside it was quite light.
This is the image of Leto and Ilios, the earth goddess on the left, and the sun god on the right. Left helix image of Summer, right helix image of the Ilios.
The young men looked with all their eyes, how many stories they told each other about the gods, and now they have been shown the most sacred statue in reality. It was unforgettable.
Well, the sacred fire on Alatyr is mined on the island, and Elisha nodded her head, and I keep it with the ministers, and he showed an earthen vessel braided with a vine.