Текст книги "Eric (СИ)"

Автор книги: Марина Шпак

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– This is not forgotten. Go on, why do you say that?

Ok. Just think about it, their spiritual master teaches you to be hypocritical in order to hide your true desires. He saw that there is no one to protect you, and you yourself, in the end, give in, or you will be taken by force. And in the village the uttermost horror will begin. And this man chose the easiest way, he decided to kill you, supporting the stupid offer of the peasant. Instead of calling him in order and putting it in its place. And these people behave as they did: they were like a herd of dogs – they did not dare even to give votes alone, but they got so bold as they crowded together. And so they are brought up from birth – in humility and veneration of the one who never gave a helping hand, and in general – only eats for both cheeks. Therefore, they should cheat by buying crumbs from the owners table. They are slaves, who since childhood have been killed by willpower.

Morrigan looked at him in horrified eyes.

" What, you think they were born like that? "Remember everything that surrounded you all this life. How everyone was talking and what they were actually doing. If their God is so omnipotent, then why should his faithful servants need money, lands, armies to solve their difficulties? You never thought, why the hell did we all surrender to God? What will he do with us? Where is he to the whole heap of the people that has been born and made strong, will it be? In barrels, pick it up and put it in a pantry for a rainy day? Thinking? Clever. But how convenient, when the people you control, consider themselves slaves. Yes, alas, not by your slaves. But it's even better, because you are the official representative of their owner, so he gives all the joys and hardships to them, not you. You just manage his property at his request. Do you think why your rulers are so closely friends with the church? Just the same in the gums of each other kiss.

"What about the Mohammedans? " – her face was confused with surprise, confusion and fear.

– And what about them? The same eggs, only in the profile. And they are at war with each other, because they are competitors.

"I'm afraid. "You so correctly say that my soul is already bursting with doubt. You, as if, are completely alien to this world, but at the same time it is so organically intertwined with it, literally feeling, feeling, seeing through it. As a foreign grain, that took root, having taken root. Why did you come to this world? Are you really the same Antichrist scared of the holy fathers?

" For them, yes, I'm probably Antichrist. " He laughed. "You ask why I came? "Are not you afraid to hear the answer?

No. Even though you are at least a devil, I will still be true to you. Even if it is a road to eternal torment in the Underworld.

" But how will you turn this world over? "You're just a man! One man against the whole world!

– One person against the whole world one person You can not even imagine how much this is! – Erik stood a short pause, looked into her eyes, that they were completely frightened and confused. "Tell me, now do you understand why I can not accept your offer? "

" I understand everything. "Do not worry, I will not distract you further on such stupid questions – Her eyes were full of sadness and sadness.

"But you, I hope, will remain and will you serve me? "

" Of course, my lord "But surely you will always have such a position?

" I do not know. "Now I'm just starting my hard way. Eric grinned and turned to the window. "Do not pant. " Look – you're just a little bit and you will cry. Do you think I'm made of iron and just scoff? Wake up, beauty! I am also a man, only more stubborn, smart, consistent and efficient than most around. So, are you clear or have more questions?

" It's all clear. "Forgive me for my stupidity and weakness.

Ok. I hope you guessed that you need to keep quiet about our conversation?

Of course.

Excellent! And now for the cause! We need to get out here and clean it up properly. I do not want to live in mud.

In the evening, Eric, accompanied by Valentino, went for a walk around the city. It turns out that he and his brother were from here. Eric walked around the city and was surprised at how rapidly he differs from those he had seen before. There were still a lot of wooden houses in it, but small stone buildings flashed here and there, and in general, development was felt, albeit chaotic. Towards evening, seeing, next to St. Mark's Basilica, a cozy tavern, they decided to look there, and sit for a while – listen to people's conversations. What was Eric's surprise when, literally at the entrance, he came across a table, behind which sat his old acquaintance – Rudolph. He also saw him, recognized him and invited him to sit down in a polite gesture.

– What are your destinies? Like our old cunning, is he? " – Erik was pleased with the meeting, although he knew about its danger.

"And to you," he smiled. "The things that brought me here will be a complete surprise for you. "

– I escaped from the castle. Here he captured his son, and fled. He left everything.

" You intrigue me. "Tell me – what happened? Just give it from the very beginning, otherwise I'm horrified as to what happened in the castle after my departure.

" At first, when you heard about the flight, Karl loudly laughed and called you a coward. After drinking in honor of his victory, he went to enjoy this event Bert. There, completely lost his vigilance from fun and alcohol, began to rape her. But this time he was unlucky. Someone tossed a kitchen knife to her, so that she cut off all male dignity. How the cow licked her tongue. And he, instead of wresting the instrument of his castration from her hands, began to yell in a wild voice. Bertha though half-alive was, but broken all, but did not lose her head and began to beat him on the face and neck. I cut my left eye, practically cut off my left cheek, cut off my right ear and tore off part of my nose. I would have beaten to death, if the guard had not arrived. He worked out clearly – with one blow of an ax, he took off her hand with a knife, and cut off his head with a second blow. How your uncle survived – no one knows. They were preparing to bury him, but he did not introduce himself. And then and at all – the amendment went. As oklemalsya, summoned me and sent to your search. He ordered to kill at any cost, since it was you who threw a knife to Bertha.

"What a clever uncle. " Eric smiled.

– Yes, everyone understood this, not only him. There was simply no one else. – Well. Sent, it means he was looking for me, and at the very mind he began to tighten his veil. That guard, that he had beaten off your mother, told me to quit for slowness. I took a walk, including by your grace, quite well. I return to the castle, and there even on the gate no one stands. I look – on the old oak, that near the dungeon grows, a lot of people are hung – servants, combatants. I go to him, I pass your letter and message that you have departed to the Holy Land. He gritted his teeth, but thanked him. We lived for some time, as they walked around scorched earth. As that is not in his – for weapons grabs and beats. And he began to run away from him. By the spring of last year, in the entire castle, two dozen people would not have accumulated. And around the neighborhood a cadaveric smell is such that people turn around. And two months ago I decided to remember my youth with my wife. I flirt with her, I caress her, she laughs. But nothing happened, only to undress the steel, Karl runs in with a sword in his hands. I saw her in my nightgown, and how she rubbed her head. And cut it to the breast. Then I could not stand it. I beat him in the ear, and brush it, so that the sword will drop. He committed in a fury turns and on me went, yelling that he would kill. I did not dare to check, I grabbed a candle and stuck it in my eye. Yes, well, from the heart. He collapsed unconscious. And I quickly dress and my son. That night we galloped off. We've been sitting here since, waiting for the fleet to go to the Holy Land to go there and look for happiness.

In general, we sat and talked heart to heart. Since Rudolph escaped with almost no means, Eric gave him a dozen denarii, and then offered to think about serving him. Immediately agree, he did not, he wanted to think everything over and discuss with his son. On that and dispersed, having previously agreed that they would meet tomorrow morning in the same place.

The next two days passed in rather pleasant conversations and discussions of the action plan. It turned out that our old friend was well acquainted with the commander of the local courtyard of the Templars by a certain Pierre de Chamond. On the third day, in the morning, the whole procession went to visit this gentleman. The task of the former uncle's associate was to recommend the young baron to the commander and be the guarantor of his personality. The task of the others is to fulfill the function of the retinue of the noble lord. The meeting began, surprisingly, very cool. As it turned out later, Monsieur was already well aware of the rather strange, if not to say more, behavior of the lord of the stronghold von Lenzburg, and therefore all his thoughts were circling around the desire to maintain a balance between courtesy and unwillingness to conduct any business with Karl. But everything changed when, finally, he ceased to cute talk about everything except the case, reported on why they came and outlined the situation. The situation was as follows. Beloved uncle of this guest, lies in his bed at death, and must die from day to day. And especially it was stressed that his recovery, not only is not planned, but completely out of the question. After his death, flax passes by right of inheritance to Eric, as he is generally the only one of the whole family who will soon survive. But the young baron does not have any desire to grow bedsore on the pope, sitting up his pants in the castle. Therefore, he would like to transfer all the grounds together with the castle, that they belong to the leen in the management of the Order of the Knights Templar, and – he offers quite broad powers, right up to the reorganization of the castle. Of course, not for free. In return, he asks to keep a standing account in the order bank, notifying all the branches, to which to translate each year, on the first day of the winter solstice, the equivalent of 5% of the annual income received from the loan in silver coins. On each transaction of arrival or expense, immediately inform all offices by means of letters. Replenishment of this account is allowed by any means with an on-site assessment, entering into the register and indicating the final receiving amount in silver. The specified register is sent together with the notification of the conduct of the transaction in all branches of the bank. . Eric made himself the first in the history of a permanent settlement account, with a very convenient form of replenishment. But the withdrawal of cash had to go exclusively in silver. For the measure of the standard was taken Viennese brand of silver. The funds were to be issued at the first demand within the balance of the account. If the required amount in the office was not, then the time was specified in which the funds could be delivered. All operations are free of charge. The proposal was so interesting to Pierre that, on his part, he proposed to add to the agreement another point where it was noted that Eric von Lenzburg had the right to stop along with his retinue at any courtyard of the Order of Residence. All that day our hero spent in the work on the conclusion of the treaty and came to bed only when it was already getting dark. In his hands, he had a copy of the contract and an extract of the first incoming operation – he transferred 15 marks of silver to the Templars account, leaving only three stamps in dinars and obols, for running operations. Also, he agreed to transfer 500 cuts of wool fabric to the account balance, but the assessment was postponed until tomorrow. Eric was terribly pleased, he literally shone, because his actions, finally, began to acquire a solid scale. However, in this case there was a small problem – it was necessary to bury the uncle, and he, unfortunately, was still alive. It was necessary to do something, and it was urgent. The worst thing was that he himself had to stay in Venice and meet with various famous people to save the iron alibi.

The solution of such a difficult problem came suddenly and from there, from where it was impossible to expect. Walking in the morning with Morrigan and Valentino around the city and looking thoughtfully at the floating products of the life of the local population, our Baron noticed a curious scene. A small scuffle was going on in the square near the church of San Giacomo di Rialto. Unknown to him, the warrior in chain mail armor with a pair of armed servants fought off a group of guys of gangster appearance, who pinched him, though completely unorganized, but they were many, and they were strong. Local residents hid in the alleys and watched the battle. Looking closer, Eric noticed that one of the bandits kept their distance and shouted something to the others, trying to guide them. Having ordered the girl to retreat back, and the Italian – to get behind that column and to be on the alert, he took off the crossbow from the shoulder strap, cocked it, loaded it with a bolt, aimed and fired. His shot coincided with a blow that cut through the throat of the servant that held the defenses on the warrior's left shoulder, causing the bandits to glow with joy and did not notice at all how their commander fell, having only a part of his head in the presence. Seeing this state of affairs, the baron grunted and began recharging. At the same time choosing the position is more comfortable. After twenty seconds, the bolt blown the head of that unwieldy target that stood in the furthest, back row. Unlike his opponents, the warrior noticed the shots and began to try his best to divert attention to himself. This gave its result – eight corpses with spaced heads adorned the paved ground near the cathedral. But the battle continued and four more bandits fought with our brave "drone", but already alone, as his second servant, lying on the pavement, was examining his own back. As you guessed, in those days such a trick can be done only with a severed head. Eric, after the third shot, located behind a small pile of baskets of food, kept a kind of incognito, because the bandits, although they realized that they shoot at him, but could not yet understand where. A couple of minutes later it was over, and the baron went to get acquainted. The unfamiliar warrior was breathing heavily and sweating all over. Seeing that it was over, he practically collapsed to the ground. The square was still empty, as people were afraid to go to the battlefield. We did not look at a suitable man with a crossbow, and only when he stopped three paces from him, said: "Antonio. " In general – an hour later they were four together sitting in a small cozy tavern. It turned out that our new acquaintance was engaged in a wide variety of cases, which are not always passionately hungry for promulgation. Although, first of all, his income came from a privateer business. Privateering was, of course, not in the form that manifested itself later, in the 16th century in the Caribbean. The fact is that our sailor and his team plundered and drowned ships of specific traders by order and guidance of other traders. Sometimes accompanied by merchant ships. Sometimes they robbed the coast. Nothing special The case though very profitable, but very risky. True, recently there was a disaster – their ship flew to the rocks. So now he and about half of his team of fifty nice and friendly people do not know what to put themselves to. So it was necessary to compete with other factions, representatives of one of which literally one hour ago wanted to kill him. And with every word Antonio said, Eric's eyes flared. Here it is, the solution to the problem! This is a great chance to use. And so, when he finished his sad story, the Baron suggested that he correct his condition by plundering a small castle and killing a man who survived from his mind. He, of course, thought that they were laughing at him. However, after he was given the entire layout of the situation in the stronghold von Lenzburg, they told how best to approach him and so on. In short, the evening the team of privateers moved with mighty cavalry gait to visit Uncle Karl, and our baron went to the nephew of de Chamond, where a small meeting was being held. According to his calculations in three days, his beloved, adored uncle will heroically die, reflecting the attack of the robbers on the family castle.

Five days later came the news from Antonio. They were brought by the village headman of the nearest village to the castle, who reported that on the night of August 22, the stronghold of von Lenzburg was attacked. The baron and four, already elderly and completely unhealthy, a retinue, stood up for her defense. And the servants, having learned about the attack, immediately fled, not wanting to fight. Therefore, the attacking robbers let them through without problems, so as not to be distracted by them. Despite the heroic resistance of the defenders, who acted as one against the robbers, they failed to repel not only the attack, but even kill anyone, as they were simply shot from crossbows on the threshold of the dungeon. Also, the elder said that the robbers, having collected some of the movable property in the castle, collected the carts and left in an unknown direction. To the general joy of the peasants, the robbers did not go around the villages, and burned nothing. With this man, Eric went to Pierre. He listened attentively to the report with a very serious face, but only as the headman stopped, laughed, embraced our baron and said that he was a good girl and all that. Next was a week, during which Eric and Rudolph engaged in a fascinating process of settling formal cases with the deceased. The cases were, however, mostly with our hero, who wanted to show the general public a bit of pathos. Therefore, he not only personally participated in the funeral of his uncle, but also found the severely damaged remains of Bertha, who were left to rot under the fortress wall, and solemnly buried her. And after a big subbotnik was held in the family crypt, at the entrance to which, de Chamond promised to keep the honorary post. All cases are settled, all contracts are signed, it's time to move on. However, our hero stopped something, he for some reason wanted to stay in Venice, as if he was looking for something.

Another week passed and autumn came. To pull on there was no sense, because in winter to go by sea is not the best solution. And because Eric spit on his feelings and went to the Templars to negotiate a transfer with their next ship to Greece. In a past life, he was never there, as circumstances hampered, and so here he really wanted to go there. But, alas, not everything goes according to his plans. Two days before the sailing, Antonio's half-dead came to him and, in fact, in his arms, lost consciousness. He was badly beaten and sometimes injured by something piercing and cutting. Here it was – his foreboding. The next day after his appearance, the militant sailor recovered, although he was still very weak. It was completely impossible to leave him here and leave, as new circumstances of the incident arose, and ignoring such things is very dangerous. Therefore, he immediately informed Pierre of the impossibility of sailing. The situation for the pirates was very sad, and this very sadness was the detachment accompanying Thibault III, Count Champagne. On the second day after the night storming and looting of the castle, the convoy of Antonio collided on the road, along which they retreated towards Genoa, with a detachment of knights. Something managed to figure out only their leader. I tried to collect the guys for defense, but it was too late – he ran away by a miracle. His horse was wounded and a few miles later fell. And he himself was not in the best shape. Why they attacked the convoy, which from the side looked like a trade caravan, it was unclear. They broke their heads for a while, they thought. Everything was done unclear. However, it was evening, and our hero went to visit de Chamon, for a small evening gathering. The guests arrived and he collected the nearest circle of communication. These guests were Thibaut and his company. During the meal, he proudly talked about how he chopped a huge gang of robbers into one and a half hundred people, which was carrying a baggage of stolen things. Hearing the threefold increase in the number of people Antonio, our hero was surprised – rounded his eyes and whistled. But the Earl interpreted the cause of surprise in his own way, and therefore – in detail described what a hot fight was with this mob of robbers. And when it came to that, from where our noble Tibo found out that the gangsters were in front of him, it turned out to be a completely funny thing – at first he attacked, everyone who tried to fight – interrupted, and interrogated and surrendered – he was interrogated and hung. And now, on the basis of the result of the interrogation, he concluded that he had beaten the robbers. Amazing luck – his thirst for profit completely inadvertently received a moral justification. In general, they talked for a long time, animatedly discussing the details of this event. About the attack on the family castle and its looting the baron, of course, did not mention. In general, of all those present that evening in the big hall of the farmstead, only two people understood what kind of detachment it was and whose property was captured by de Champagne. But Pierre, well aware of the situation, enjoyed the piquancy of the situation, and so the whole evening with a barely perceptible smile watched Eric, only occasionally inserting phrases. The very same young baron decided to play a little, but for the Templar it was completely unclear what kind of game and for what. The meaning of the game was that von Lenzburg encouraged the bragging of Thibaut. Pierre was particularly amused when the baron expressed his sincere admiration for his courage and skill, for the earl himself had killed a dozen. In general, it would be strange to expect a different reaction from the young nobleman, if not for one detail. The commander of the Venetian farmstead and Jean de Ra had a rather active correspondence, and therefore, in rather interesting detail, he heard about the promising young man.

When everyone began to disperse, de Chamond went to Eric and, putting his hand on his shoulder, said quietly:

"Why did not you claim property? "

" Because I do not have the resources to beat him. "Or do you think that our beloved count will give it of his own free will?

"Let's say Listen, what's the whole game for? "

Game

"I've heard a lot about you and I think that a dozen chopped commoners will not impress a man like you. " He smiled slyly and winked.

aboutPierre! You are wrong. I am completely inexperienced in this matter.

– I'm scared to think what will happen if you get experience. Yes, do not worry you, we are on the same side, if only because not only the order, but personally I am grateful to you for the elegant removal of this scoundrel de Mortel.

– The Duke tried to enlighten me. He was deeply shocked by the way you carefully and accurately arranged everything. He also had absolutely nothing to have at hand a man who leads such an unpleasant game for him. You probably still do not know, but his agents also went to secret negotiations between Baudouin and Philip II.

– And he had these investigations to what?

"So you confirm your involvement in the death of de Mortel? "

"Dear Pierre, we are all involved in the deaths of these people, by someone acting, by someone inaction," Eric's face expressed naivety, and his eyes were honest.

" Do not worry, dear baron. "Such information is known only to a limited number of people, and they do not consider you an enemy. But still, at least hint, why do you need this game with the old Tibo. After all, he sincerely believes that you are impressed with his successes.

"And you will agree – it's just wonderful," he winked wickedly.

"But be careful, you can not forgive his death. "

– By the will of the Lord we are all mortal, but not necessarily from someone's hand. Do not worry, I even had no thoughts to kill him, all the more – he is the leader of the crusade.

"Then what are you up to? "

Yes. . Nothing, I was just amused by his reaction.

– Eric, I'm speaking seriously – be careful and weigh your decisions. You are being watched.

– Observe? Who could need my humble person?

" Baron, do not be modest, quite respectable people have already noticed you, and they agree that you are not so simple. "I'm sorry, but I can not tell you more. So think about my words before you act. And that you will act – I am completely sure.

Ok. Good night, my dear Pierre.

– Goodnight.

Waking up the next morning, Eric took on the fact that he began to deploy an agent network, using the services of brothers, sent to the subordination of Antonio, and already worked out the scheme with the children that Morrigan took up. In parallel, he loaded Rudolph with the collection of information through his acquaintances, many of whom were associated with noble families and knew quite often very naughty details. Having finished giving orders, he lay down on the bench, and began to analyze the situation, at the same time remembering all the information known to him. The most unpleasant news for him was that he was interested in one of the influential people who look at him with a completely unclear goal. Such things were not at all part of his plans, for he had not wanted to advertise the fact of his existence for at least a couple of years. Less unpleasant, but very curious was that of his trick with Baudouin was aware. In this case, it turns out a curious layout – either he has a spy in the team, or he is constantly watched, or the result turned out to be the fruit of calculation. The first option is excluded, since Morrigan is not only devoted to him, but also loves him so much that he can give life without hesitation. Such people serve very faithfully, especially if you keep them for a short distance, but do not allow it quite close. A Drevlyanin is too direct a man, he will not deliberately do any information sinks, but he will not blurt out on drunkness, for he does not drink. That is, does not drink at all. The second variant with constant external supervision too is extremely improbable. Who is interested in a young nobleman who runs away from his uncle who cut off all his family during the struggle for flax? After Vienna – perhaps before it – is very unlikely. Yes, and he did not see the outside surveillance, although he has been walking cautiously since the time they were grazed during the incident with the knights. There remains only the third option. And this leads to completely sad thoughts about the existence of some kind of analytical center and an implicit level of the political game. Why on earth did they pay attention to him in this center? He is an ordinary petty nobleman. True, if you think about it, there is a very substantial package of oddities in behavior. I wanted to become a knight in glittering armor and made myself a completely unsuitable armor kit for this time. Bonehead He would have started all sorts of things like gunpowder and lead azide to invent and use to demand their ambitions. Or his completely incomprehensible decision to go to the pupils to the blacksmith? He – a noble nobleman and learns from some commoner? Well, they can still close their eyes, saying that the tailgate got under the tail, so he decided to do the dirty work himself. However, if he was observed during his studies, they would obviously be surprised that he was not so much learning to forge as he was learning to forge an unsuitable instrument for him. A very surprising thing, especially in light of his age and a strange order for a blacksmith's tool, much of which was done by his personal drawings and the same Gottfried in the blacksmith was absent. And money. A whole pile of money, which quite unexpectedly arose from him. How does a gentleman without a lap accidentally receive a lot of money? The options are few and almost all of them are associated with looting and robbery. Simply charming! If there are no problems with robberies and robbery, as this is absolutely normal behavior for the nobles of the present, and only the ease, accuracy and age are alarming, then the rest is a problem. He had already allocated time for a conversation about a past life, and Rudolph told him everything he had been doing before the assassination. The most lousy thing is that neither Latin nor any other languages he studied. From Latin he knew only Signum Crucis and then, stammering. And here – freely and without difficulty expresses, and, sometimes quite unusually – ornate and elegant. In the style of ancient, pre-Christian inscriptions, which can sometimes be found in Rome. He did not know other things and did not study other things. He was not taught to read, he could not read. I studied military affairs without much zeal. Most of the time he spent first in the stables, he loved riding very much, and then ran after the young servants. Yes, yes, gentlemen. You will be surprised – he knew the female body at the age of 13. And all the following year was celebrated as scheduled according to the schedule for almost all young girls. He developed physically well, which is now noticeable, and after surviving a dozen years, he looked like he was all 16-18, he had a very strong body since childhood. And this quality remained for him. Now he rarely gave less than 20, but he was only seventeen. In general – strong, cheerful, mischievous, but absolutely impenetrable dense. Rudolph suggested that this was a divine intervention, for the changes were simply terrific. It turns out that he was, by all appearances, a completely different person, just a superficially poured copy. Well, he screwed up! Erika shivered from the pungent smell of the glued flippers.