Day nine

Lim opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. Unusual, even, not made of stone and dampness, but made of wood, and even painted with paint. He didn't know where he was, but it was definitely not the lair of monsters where he was a prisoner.

He moved and noticed in surprise that he was lying in a soft bed covered with blankets. He never slept in such a place.

He raised his head and looked around. The room was warm and bright, and in the corner, leaning on his sword, Rake slept. His face was pale, but there were no traces of the wounds he received in the battle with the creature.

Lim was confused. What's going on here? How did he end up here? The last thing he remembered was how Rake jumped out of the cave into the water with him.

Rake suddenly opened his eyes and straightened up, and his gaze immediately focused on Lima.

- You woke up, baby, - said Rake, his voice hoarse from sleep. - I thought you drowned.

Lim looked at him, trying to figure out where they were.

- When we fell into the water, - Rake continued, as if reading Lim's thoughts, - you lost consciousness. I barely had time to get you ashore. - He was silent, as if gathering his thoughts. - I don't know how long I went on. It must be a long time. But I couldn't leave you here and ended up with this house.

Lim looked at Reik and didn't understand anything, but Rake seemed calm.

- We were met by the owner of this house, - Rake explained, - he helped us. Fed me, changed your clothes while you were sleeping. A kind man.

At that moment, the door opened, and two girls entered the room. They looked like sisters, with long blond hair, big blue eyes, and the same dresses embroidered with flowers. One of the girls was slightly taller than the other, and her hair was braided, while the other's hair was loose.

- Dad said you woke up, - said the girl with a scythe, and her voice was sonorous and gentle. - My name is Lyra, and this is my sister Kila.

A girl with her hair down smiled at Lima.

- Welcome! - said Kila, and her smile was as radiant as her eyes.

Lim looked at the girls and smiled slightly, he still couldn't believe that he was here, in this warm and cozy house, surrounded by kind people.

- Let's go downstairs, - said Lira, with a radiant smile, - Dad cooked breakfast, you must be hungry.

Kila nodded, her eyes shone with anticipation, and the two of them began to leave the room, inviting them with her. Rake got out of bed and followed the girls, Lim followed, still a little shy, but curiosity pushed him forward.

When they went down the wooden stairs, the girls kept behind Lim, they looked at him with curiosity and interest, their eyes sparkled.

- You're so small, - Kila said, touching his hand, - are you strong?

Lim, not knowing how to answer, only smiled slightly and shrugged his shoulders, he could not speak.

- Why are you so silent? - Lyra asked, tilting her head to the side, - Are you scared?

Lim just shrugged his shoulders again, he didn't know how to explain to them that he couldn't speak. He was already beginning to feel awkward, when suddenly, Rake stopped and turned to the girls.

- He can't speak, - said Rake, his voice was soft but hard, - he's dumb.

Lyra and Kila fell silent, as if stunned by what they heard. Their faces expressed sadness and disappointment.

- Oh, - Lira whispered, - Sorry.

- We didn't know, - added Kila, - We just wanted to talk to him.

Rake just nodded, and they continued on their way. Finally, they reached a spacious kitchen, where a man was sitting at the table. He had a strong physique, with long gray hair bandaged at the back of his head, and his face was crossed by a scar that stretched from the temple to the chin, touching the left eye. Despite this, his face expressed kindness and warmth.

- Glad to see you downstairs, - said the man, smiling friendly, - Sit down, breakfast is ready. And tell me, kid, didn't my daughters annoy you on the way? - He looked at Lim with kindness.

Lim shook his head negatively, and a slight smile appeared on the man's face.

- Okay, - he said, - My name is Vinor, and I'm the master of this house. Once I was also a monster hunter, like your friend, but I gave up this dangerous craft after saving these two pranksters," he said, stroking Lyra and Kila on the head, "They were small when I found them, and since then they have become my daughters. Now I try to provide them with everything they need so that they can survive in this cruel world, if I am gone. Therefore, if they train with weapons.

Breakfast was abundant and delicious, and Lim ate with pleasure, feeling his strength coming back to him. Rake didn't refuse to eat either, and they both felt much better than in a dark cave.

Winor, watching them, smiled softly and broke the silence.

- Where are you going, if it's not a secret? - he asked, his voice was calm, but he felt cautious. - Traveling through the forest is a very dangerous activity.

Rake sighed and put down his spoon.

- We're going to the castle," Rake replied, his voice becoming serious. - To Lord.

Vinor frowned, and his face became steer.

- Why do you need to Lord? - Vinor asked, and there were hints of anxiety in his voice. - It's a dangerous thing.

Rake looked at Lim, who looked at them wary, and replied:

- He... took something that didn't belong to him. And we have to return it.

Winor listened carefully, his eyes were stied to Reik's face, and Lim felt that the man suspected something.

- I got it, - Vinor said after a long pause, - I advise you to give it up. Lord is a very powerful man, and he will stop at nothing to get what he needs. He has a lot of guards and allies, and if you catch his eye, you won't get out alive.

Rake shook his head, his eyes burning with determination.

- We have to go anyway, - said Rake, - It's our duty.

Winor sighed, seeing that they would not give up their intention.

- Okay, - said Vinor, - Then I'll at least tell you how to get to the castle more safely.

Vinor unfolded the map on the table and pointed to the route.

- You'd better go through these mountains, - said Vinor, - There's less danger there, but the road will be long and difficult. Avoid swampy places, and do not fight with animals, it is better to avoid them.

The castle is located on the top of the mountain, but it is well guarded.

He looked up and looked at Reik, his eyes were sad.

- As for Lord himself, - said Vinor, - few people know anything about him, except that he has great strength and cruelty. He has been living in the castle for many years, and none of those who dared to contradict him came back.

Vinor fell silent, his words made Lim shudder, he was afraid for Reik, for himself.

- That's all I can say, - Winor finished, - Be careful.

I suggest you stay here for this day and rest," Vinor said, breaking the silence, "You are tired after your journey and you need to gain strength before going on.

Rake thought, then nodded.

- Okay, - said Rake, - We'll stay.

Lyra and Kila shone with joy.

- Hooray! - Lyra exclaimed, clapping her hands. - Then we'll show him our dolls!

Lyra and Kila immediately jumped up to Lima and, without waiting for his answer, took him by the hands and dragged him behind them. Lim, without having time to say a word (and he did not know how to do it), was involved in the game.

He felt a little awkward, but the smile on the girls' faces did not allow him to resist.

They took him to another room where their toys were lying. The dolls were different: old and new, big and small, and all of them were dressed in bright outfits. The girls began to sort through their treasures, put them in their places and hummed something cheerfully.

Lim, of course, never played with dolls, but watching the girls, he felt safe. For the first time in a long time, he felt like a child.

At that time, Rake and Vinor stayed in the kitchen, and the conversation became more serious.

- You look like an experienced fighter, - said Vinor, - but force does not always decide the outcome of the battle.

Rake looked at him, not understanding what he was looking for.

- I offer you a training duel, - Vinor suggested, - You'll see what else you should learn.

Rake grinned. He was confident in his abilities, and he was not afraid of any duel.

- Okay, - Rake replied, - But be ready for defeat.

They went out into the yard, took their swords and stood in the battle rack. When they started fighting, Lim, leaving the girls with their toys, watched them from the window.

He saw Rake attack Vinor, how his sword cuts through the air, and how Vinor skillfully dodges his blows. Rake was strong, he was fast, but Vinor was more experienced. Vinor didn't attack, he just defended himself, and it was his mistake.

Rake attacked again and again, but Vinor, like a shadow, dodged all his blows, he was not in a hurry, all his movements were honed, and Rake made a mistake.

Wenor took advantage of the moment and, with a quick movement, disarmed Reik, putting the tip of his sword to his throat.

Rake was breathing heavily, he realized that he had lost, and his pride was infringed.

- I don't underestimate your strength," said Vinor, removing his sword, "but not only strength is important in battle, but also experience and speed.

Rake nodded, admitting his defeat. He realized that Vinor was right, and that he still had a lot to learn.

After finishing the training duel, Rake and Vinor stood, breathing heavily. Rake was still trying to digest his defeat when a howl came from the forest. It was loud and long, and there was not only animal rage in it, but also something sinister.

Vinor immediately tensed up, and his eyes narrowed.

- These are them, - said Vinor, his voice was dry and serious, - Black dogs.

Rake looked at him, not understanding what he was talking about.

A black dog came out of the forest. He was huge, with black hair that was torn in all directions, and his eyes were burning with red fire. His teeth were sharp and long, and saliva was dripping from his mouth. He walked slowly, as if tracking down the prey.

- It's always like this, - said Vinor, smiling hoarsely, - when I think of resting, they come to visit me.

Rake grabbed his sword, ready for battle, but Vinor raised his hand, stopping him.

- Go away, - said Vinor, - I'll break the bones now.

Rake retreated, watching Vinor, who put out his sword in front of him and froze like a statue, waiting for an attack.

The dog kept approaching, but suddenly stopped and growled. And then other black dogs began to appear from the forest like shadows, there were a lot of them, and their red eyes burned in the dark like coals.

Vinor, with a loud scream, rushed forward, towards the pack, his sword cut through the air at breakneck speed, and the blades cut off the heads of the creatures, as if they were not animals, but weeds. His movements were lightning-fast and accurate, and he did not give the pack the slightest chance.

Lim, holding his breath, watched the fight. He has never seen such a battle, he has seen how the blood of the creatures splashes in all directions, how the heads roll on the ground, and how the beasts fall dead with a growl. Vinor was like a whirlwind carrying death, and the pack could do nothing about it.

It was all over in a matter of seconds. The heads of black dogs were lying on the ground, and the surviving creatures, whining with horror, rushed back into the forest, hiding in the dark.

Vinor, breathing heavily, lowered his sword, his face was harsh and focused, as if he had just finished his usual work.

Rake stood aside, in amazement, he couldn't believe what he had just seen. He was strong, but he understood that he was still very far from such power and experience.