Chapter 13.

The temples stood next to each other, like shops at a bazaar. If you want, choose which god to ask for patronage. Here you have a goddess of love, here you have a god of war, here you have... in short, choose gods for any taste.

In the center was the temple of the creator god, the largest, the most beautiful, with a gilded dome and a statue at the entrance. It depicted a huge man, similar to Zheresar, with the same beard and broad face. Ned grinned - how much this main god resembled the doctor - it was simply amazing.

Ned hesitated - to which god to go and bow? He decided - after all, to Kualtuk. The God of War is the best patron for him, if the newly-minted sergeant is going to continue his army career.

The temple of the god of war was red-brown, like dried blood. On the walls there were drawings depicting the various stages of the warriors' stay in this world and the afterlife - here they are going to attack, and here the messengers of the god of war, the warlike maidens, are carrying them to heaven. And the faces of these maidens are so pleased, as if they are about to make a soup or porridge with meat from the fallen warriors. The warriors are all beautiful, inspired, and lie in the arms of the maidens as if they are about to go to bed with them.

However, beautiful maidens are an integral part of the afterlife of true warriors. Someone must make the fallen soldier happy in the afterlife, right? Feasts, beautiful maidens, battles, songs – that is the warrior's reward for worshiping the god of war and heroic death in battle.

Ned wasn't particularly religious - he didn't have to stand at the altars and pray to the gods for luck and prosperity. He was simply not allowed into the chapels that were in the village. Or rather, the chapel - it was one for all the gods of the pantheon.

By the way, the god of water and the goddess of love were in the greatest "demand" in the village prayer house. The whole life of fishermen and pearl divers was spent at sea, and love... love is eternal. Wherever people live. Kualtuka was not particularly favored in the Black Ravine.

As for Ned, well, yes, he prayed to the gods one after another, sitting somewhere under an oak tree and finishing a piece of bread. But there was no use in these prayers. Life was as shitty as it was, even though he prayed fervently and often as a child. And then he cooled off to religion and began to wonder - maybe there are no gods at all? Why don't they hear him? He's not a bad boy at all, why do they respond to the same Brank or the headman, but not to him? Finally, he came to the conclusion - the wrong place. Apparently, prayers reach the gods better in specially designated places. For example, in city temples, where they are given money. Like shopkeepers.

Ned walked past the temple attendant, who was sadly polishing the shiny brass doors, to the statue of the god of war, standing near the altar and fumigated by wisps of incense smoke, took out three pieces of silver he had prepared in advance and placed them in the offering bowl. Then he bowed to the statue of Qualtuk and said quietly:

- Thank you, great Kualtuk, for sending me the spirit of Narda! If it weren't for her, I would be dead now! Thank you! Help me further on my warrior's path!

Ned blinked, and it seemed to him that the statue of Qualtuk looked at him and smiled slightly. But most likely it was just an optical illusion, the air distorted by the heat of the censers with coals on which fragrant resins were laid. But Ned really wanted the god of war to notice him and give him a sign, and after a minute he convinced himself that the statue really was smiling.

Having bowed to Kualtuk, Ned went to the temple of the goddess of love. Who, if not she, was supposed to help Ned in his future love adventures? Tell anyone - they will laugh: a man who has killed more than a dozen opponents, is still a virgin and cannot communicate with a woman without a blush on his cheeks! Let the goddess of love give him manliness and help him find ... hmm ... find what?

This was where Ned had a problem. Love? Why did he need love? He wasn't planning on committing to family yet. And what kind of family man was he, at seventeen or eighteen?

To be honest, Ned himself didn't know how old he was. Seventeen or eighteen – that would be more accurate. How old was he when they found him? About a year old? Maybe younger? Maybe older? And he lived in the village for seventeen years. That's how old he was. What difference did it make? Ned's body was older than many adults, but his mind… it depends. In terms of love passions, he was at the level of a child.

The goddess of love was dressed rather frivolously - an unknown sculptor depicted her as a young girl, dressed in clothes that were open as she walked, revealing her slender legs. Her shirt did not reach her navel, and everyone who worshiped could see the seductive belly of the deity, suggesting motherhood and the marital bed.

Girls and women who wanted to have a child stroked the belly of the statue during prayer, and because of that the stone sculpture in this place shone, polished by thousands, tens of thousands of women's hands during the entire existence of this statue. Who came up with the custom of stroking the belly of the goddess of love, when it appeared - no one knew. But the custom existed not only in this provincial town, but also in other cities, and even in the capital.

Ned didn't know about it, he only left an offering - one piece of silver. (Enough! He doesn't expect much love!)

Satisfied and hopeful, he left the temple of Selera, looked around... and decided to visit Dinas as well. Who knows what's ahead - why miss the opportunity to reach the creator god? Especially since he looks like Zheresar. And the healer is a good man. So, the creator god is most likely a decent, kind god.

Two more pieces of silver. "That's how you'll leave your entire salary here!" thought Ned and hurried away from the square of the gods before he had the idea of ​​making another offering.

Ned found the temple of the water god, got his bearings using the statue of Prayon as his starting point, and set off in the direction that Zheresar had once pointed out. Sure enough, a few minutes later Ned was standing in front of a small house with green shutters, on which hung a sign with a needle and a roll of fabric drawn on it.

The caption read: "Embroidery and sewing of women's underwear."

Ned froze in confusion - what did embroidery have to do with it? And anyway - how could he just go into a shop where they ordered women's underwear? And what if someone thought he was a man-lover? That this very underwear was meant for him?

The thought took his breath away – that was all he needed! Then he calmed down and began to think more sensibly: firstly, who said that he was going into the shop to order underwear for himself? Maybe he had a mistress who liked beautiful embroidered panties! And secondly… to hell with them all!

Ned gritted his teeth and stepped resolutely to the door. He pulled the polished brass handle and found himself in a large room hung with lace. In it, near the window, at a large table covered with pieces of fabric and thread, sat two women - one older, the other very young.

Pretty - not beauties like Elsa, or her daughter, or like the salesgirl in the candy store, but pretty enough - in the village where Ned grew up, they would definitely pass for beauties.

They looked at Ned without surprise, assessing him from top to bottom, and the eldest asked kindly:

- What does the young man want? To order lingerie for his girlfriend? We have the best lingerie in the area!

Ned froze – how to say it? "I want a woman?!" What if the doctor was wrong and these were ordinary seamstresses? Well, even if he was wrong, what would they do to him? Kill him, or what?

"I… I… from Zheresar," he finally squeezed out and looked expectantly at the women. They looked at each other, then the elder one clarified in a deep, chest voice:

- Do you want to be with a woman?

To be honest, Ned had always wanted this. His young, healthy body demanded its due, and there was nothing he could do about it. But to say it out loud, and as calmly as this woman…

- Uh-uh-uh... hmm... y-yes! - Ned blurted out and blushed deeply.

"Funny boy. I would love to roll around with him. For once a nice client came, all the old bastards. Too bad I won't be able to get into bed with him. I wonder if Zheresar told him the price? Does he have any money?"

"And how much do your services cost?" Ned squeezed out.

"Gold for three hours," the woman explained softly. "Are you able to pay that amount?"

"Maybe I should give him a discount? Some people would even do it for free... and even pay extra, just to get such a guy into bed! Some people should be charged double... It's a shame I won't be able to be with him..."

"Yes, I can," Ned nodded, swallowing convulsively, and taking the prepared gold coin out of his pocket, he put it on the table. The woman immediately swiped the coin away so that Ned didn't even notice where it had gone.

- Osara, go with the young man. - The woman nodded to the girl, who was watching the negotiations with interest, and she stood up willingly, approaching the passage into the house, curtained with a thick curtain. - Actually, it is customary for us to agree on a meeting in advance, we could have been busy, but you are lucky. My daughter will serve you properly, at the highest level. Perhaps you wanted to come with both of us at once? Sorry, I can't yet…

"It's nothing, it's nothing," Ned stammered, purple as a boiled crab. "One is enough for me."

"Well, go ahead and follow her," the woman nodded and suddenly winked: "Everyone here is one of us, don't be shy, everyone has their first time!"

"Looks like a virgin! A rare guest these days!"

Ned followed the girl down the hall and found himself in a large room with a copper bath in the corner, a large thick carpet in the middle of the room, and a bed in the corner that was five times the size of his bachelor bed. The windows overlooking the enclosed courtyard had translucent curtains, so the room was quite dark. The girl pulled back the curtains and it became much lighter.

Turning to Ned, she began to unbutton her dress:

- Take off your clothes, what are you waiting for? Time is running out. Now you'll take a bath, I'll wash you, and then we'll make love. Come on, take off your uniform!

The girl slipped out of her dress, quickly threw off her lace panties, remaining completely naked, and, without embarrassment, approached Ned, adjusting her hair on her head, from which her small breasts rose upward. Ned froze, unable to take a step and clutching the button of his uniform as if he was afraid that it would fall off and fall to the floor.

The girl came very close, smiled in his face and began to unceremoniously unbutton his uniform, literally tearing the guy's hands from the lapels, twirling him like a doll. Having taken off his uniform and shirt, she pushed Ned to the bed, threw him on his back and deftly, expertly, pulled off his boots, socks, untied the ties on his trousers and pulled them off the guy in one movement. He tried to grab hold of his new, almost unworn army shorts, but they instantly followed his pants.

The girl looked appraisingly at Ned, who was trying to cover himself with his hands, and, nodding her head in satisfaction, said:

- Well, quite decent. I expected something like that. A virgin, huh? I can feel it when you come for the first time. So embarrassed, so cute! - She laughed, harmlessly and cheerfully, and Ned began to relax a little. He sat up in bed, reflexively covering his "manpower", but the girl playfully slapped his hand, saying:

- Don't you dare cover it up! You have something to be proud of, so let's not talk such nonsense! You're visiting a woman, so you have to take her wishes into account. I want to look at you. It's better for me this way, I'm in the mood for it. You want to get as much as possible from a love session, right? So, keep that in mind for the future - if a woman feels good, then it will be sweeter for you. Let's go here. Get into the bath. Yeah... stand like this - I'm going to bathe you now! - The girl went to the wall and opened the tap on the pipe. Warm water flowed out of it, a sharp contrast to the icy water Ned was used to washing with at the base. He put his head under the stream, and the girl began to soap his body, cooing something at the same time, not stopping for a second:

- Like this... we'll wash here and here... oh... it's warm? Yeah... we have a big tank on the roof, we always have warm water. We can't wash with ice water! It's horrible to wash with ice water! We'll rub you... you'll shine like your boots! The main thing is that the birds don't carry you off - you'll be so shiny!

"So… it's clean here… no signs of illness… let's see here… yeah… also clean. Smells good, the guy is clean. And since he hasn't been with women, it means he hasn't picked up anything. I'll still have to inject the ointment inside – just in case. It can't get any worse. And I'm not going to give birth to his child! Although… I would agree. But why does he need a whore? Besides, Zarsad has been asking me to marry him for a long time. So what? He's a decent man… only a bit old, his economy is barely getting going, and that's after ointments, medicines and hard work with his tongue. So what are these little soldiers for? You can live with Zarsad, and have fun with a soldier from time to time. They'll be happy. And everyone is happy. And it's still funny – so courageous, handsome, grown up and so innocent. A real child! I'm already seventeen… how long have I been doing this? Four… no – five years. Enough already. If the mother wants, let her continue. Yes, I will still agree to Zarsad's proposal."

"Let me dry you off well." The girl rubbed Ned dry with a terry towel that smelled of herbs and incense and pulled him onto the bed…

* * *

– Don't be embarrassed. Now you'll rest and we'll do it again. Did you like it? I bet you didn't even have time to understand, huh? Rest. Let me caress you for now, give you a massage… what strong muscles you have! Really made of steel! You squeezed me so hard – I thought my ribs would crack. Be more careful – we women are tender, fragile creatures… what if you crush me? Who will love you then? You have to be more gentle… touch here… and here… yeah… more… more… like this, like this. Look, this is how it should be… I'll teach you – all women will remember you for the rest of their lives!

* * *

Ned left the women when evening had already begun to fall on the quieting city. The sun was creeping behind the mountain, and the shadows grew in black paths, covering the houses, the streets, warning that their time would soon come.

The guy walked along the pavement and thought – what has changed? Now he knows what carnal pleasures are. So what? Has he become more courageous? Or stronger? However, he has acquired knowledge. Probably, it was worth gold. Or maybe it wasn't? Oh well! At least now he can say that he was with a woman and knows what IT looks like.

Osara was gentle with him, very skillful, but... Ned constantly listened to her thoughts. And the girl did not forget herself for a moment. Outwardly, she feigned passion, sometimes she really enjoyed it, Ned felt it, mentally she even praised him for his enthusiasm and tirelessness, but... there was no passion! How was all this different from self-gratification?

No, it was different in general - it took a long time and absorbed the gold coin. And that's all?

Ned felt slightly cheated. Well, yes – THIS had to be done. He needed it, he couldn't feel like a full-fledged man without trying a woman. But… Ned expected something more impressive from the process itself, something bright, stunning, something to make sparks fly in his eyes! However – everything was measured, everything was certain, predictable: "Your time is up! Finish it!"

No, he did not regret the lost time and the spent gold. Money? Where to put it? He could not even spend this money – he simply did not know how. He did not even remember how much was left in his account in the corps treasury. Time? Where to put it? He had gone to visit, spent time with a woman – now where? To the hateful barracks? His friends were either on maneuvers or washing, getting ready for dinner and sleep, and he… he seemed to have fallen out of a pod and could not find a new place for himself in this life. No longer a soldier, but not yet an officer.

Was it good with Osara? Yes… it was. At first it was simply wonderful, then – calm and sweet. Towards the end Osara hinted: "If you paid for three hours, it doesn't mean you have to use her for all three hours non-stop! You need to take a break, otherwise you'll get weak." And she thought to herself: " You've worn me out! Oh Serena! Now I'll feel like everything inside me is aching for 24 hours! The guy is strong! But that's enough, okay? It's a pity my mother is not here, it would be easier for both of us now. I would take a break, and she would take the rap – my mother loves young stallions."

Ned didn't turn off his extra-sensitive perception - he was learning. He absorbed everything like a sponge. This whole world, all the sensations, all the thoughts he heard from those around him. Like with Zheresar - when he saw and heard everything the doctor's children were thinking, and couldn't help but speak out. But why? It wouldn't stop the boys, and it looked like Ned had made enemies now. Did he need that? The last thing he wanted was to make enemies.

However, the process of making enemies was easy and effortless for him. Why did it happen that way? Ned didn't think about it. It was the will of the gods, and that's all! Apparently, that was his fate...

- Hey, wait! What's your name?! Ned! Stop, I tell you! - Ned turned around and saw a group of guys catching up with him, in the front ranks of which he recognized both sons of Zheresar. And his cheekbones tightened with melancholy - what, did they really decide to get even for the scandal in which Ned took part? The demon pulled his tongue, made him take and spill everything he spied in the thoughts of the guys! Just remembered about them - and here! And what to do? He will not kill the guys or maim? But if they attack him - what will he do?

- Well, here we meet... a hero! - the elder one grinned, looming over Ned with all his mass. - You say you went against the sword with bare hands? You beat and defeated everyone? And how dare you beat me?

"I won't fight you," Ned answered calmly, surrounded by guys on all sides.

- Why? Are you a coward? Pathetic coward! - Hagen laughed. - Boys, have you seen that? This is what the army is made of! And daddy doesn't want to train me to be an officer! I would have beaten that scum, I would have taught them how to fight! He came to our house and started bragging about what a great fighter he is! He humiliated us! And if I make you fight, will you do it? If I spit in your face?

- Hag, maybe we shouldn't, huh? - asked Naskar. - He'll complain to his father, and he'll yell. Do we need that? Why should we ruin our mood because of some stray puppy? And if you beat him, there'll be such a scandal, such a scandal - I can't even imagine! Father will throw him out of the house!

- I've already suffered because of this freak! My mother won't talk to me now! What a bastard! Guys, let's give him a little beating, that's all? Just for the sake of order, so he knows who's boss here! Listen, puppy, I'm going to...

- What's going on here? Hagen! Naskar! Efor! Holtz! What are you doing here? - A short man in dark, loose clothing looked sternly at the guys, and they immediately cowered under his gaze. - All against one? Did I teach you that? Did I tell you that a crowd attack on an unarmed, unprepared person is the highest valor? You disappoint me. I'm already starting to regret accepting you into the school. Why are you pestering the sergeant? What do you want from him?

- Forgive me, Master! - Hagen was embarrassed. - This guy was our guest today and humiliated me in front of my parents. He interfered in a family matter, ridiculed us and boasted that he fought a sword with his bare hands today! And killed his opponent, a master of swordsmanship! How is that? We got angry and scared him a little. But we didn't touch him! But surely you have to punish for lying, for bragging?

- Hmm... in general, lying is not good, yes. But he is a young guy and perhaps does not understand that lying sometimes leads to a very bad result. Bad people need to be punished, and he is not bad, just lost! Right, Sergeant? You did not want to offend anyone with your lies, you just wanted to raise the prestige of the corps you serve in, right?

- No. I didn't mean to raise anything, - Ned shrugged, - I was asked, I answered. That's all. I don't want to fight those guys. I don't respect them for their empty talk, but I respect their father very much. And their mother. They are the best people I've ever seen in my life. And it's a shame those guys didn't grow up like them.

- Again?! You bastard!.. - Hagen raised his hand to strike, but the man stopped him with a sharp shout:

- Stop! Stop immediately! One more movement without my permission, and you will never appear within the walls of the Andug school again!

"Forgive me, master," Hagen turned pale and bowed to the man, "I won't do it again!"

The man looked closely and sternly into the face of the unfamiliar sergeant. He thought: "What is happening in life?! He looks like a decent guy – clean, well-groomed, correct! And a lie! A lie has permeated this man's entire being! And what will happen to him next? How will he live? The first big lie – and it immediately led to such a result! If it weren't for me, they would have definitely beaten him up. Hagen is becoming difficult to manage, and his brother is following his lead. And this is despite the fact that they are the leaders and the best students in my school! It's sad, very sad. And what is better – such wild but honest ones, or such a quiet one, deceitful, dull and calm, like a pack horse?"

But out loud he said:

- Shame on you for lying, Sergeant! You are disgracing your uniform, the uniform of the glorious Marine Corps of the Kingdom of Zamar! Shame on you! Let him pass, let him go. And let no one follow in his footsteps. - The man frowned and looked with disgust at the tall, broad-shouldered guy who was staring at him with a fixed gaze.

The boys stepped aside to let Ned pass, he took two steps along the pavement and suddenly turned around and asked coldly:

- And why did you assume that I was lying? In general, why did you dare to make incorrect assumptions based on the false words of these people?

The man froze and even went slightly speechless from this turn of events. He looked at the guy for a second, then shook his head disdainfully:

- How mired in lies you are! Go away! Go away this minute! Otherwise I will hit you myself! I hate lies! I hate liars! Get out of here!

"This is a public street," Ned said, "and you can't turn me away. And if you hit me, you'll get hit back. And you'll get it in the neck, I warn you."

Suddenly the boys started laughing – loudly, passionately, turning into hysterical neighing. Hagen slapped his thighs and said:

- He! He'll answer! The Master! I can't! Hold me, I'll die laughing! Oh, I'll just die! Listen, why did we really attack him? He's crazy!

The master smiled slightly and raised his hand, demanding silence:

- So you're going to give me an answer? That's funny. Sorry, son, but... I think you're exaggerating your powers. "You weirdo! I've dedicated my whole life to martial arts! Since the cradle! And you're saying that to me? Maybe you really are crazy?" Go, before you really get into trouble. That's it, this conversation is over.

- No, it is not finished! - Ned stubbornly bowed his head, like a bull who wants to gore his enemy. - You insulted me, insulted my uniform, insulted the corps in which I serve! Apologize! You behaved like an unreasonable child, accusing me of something I did not do, listening to young fools. (Hey, watch your language! - someone shouted from behind.) I demand an apology!

Ned himself didn't know what had upset him so much. He didn't care about these guys. Who knew how many times he'd met such youngsters in his life, wanting to assert themselves at the expense of others, weaker, from their point of view, people? He didn't care about them - he left, and that was it. But the master... as Ned understood, this was their martial arts teacher. And having read his thoughts, he learned - the master was a good man. Straightforward, hard as a steel blade. And Ned felt terribly sorry that such a person would consider him a liar, insignificant and not worth attention.

And Ned was surprised at how easily he began to communicate with people. His vocabulary, once limited to the words needed in the village, had expanded incredibly, and Ned spoke as if it were not he, but someone else – educated, experienced, able to speak and do things for which he would answer. Always answer. Answer in such a way that no one would dare to offend him.

A black, cold rage rose up inside Ned, a rage he knew before, the way he felt when he was about to kill his next enemy. The two feelings, respect and hatred, mingled in Ned's soul, merging into a contradictory tangle that tore his mind apart. And he gave free rein to his rage, telling the master everything he thought, regardless of the consequences.

- You demand an apology? - the master asked coldly, deliberately, and looked closely at the strange guy's face. - Are you ready to answer for your words? You claim that you were able to defeat the sword master with your bare hands? Are you ready to prove it?

"Ready." Ned's mouth curled up and he looked hard at the master's face. "Will you apologize if I prove it?"

- Yes. I will apologize. And I will make all my students apologize, - the master sneered contemptuously. - I suggest we follow him to my school, it is one block from here. You and I will go to the training ground... No! One of my students will go to the training ground, and you will try to stand against the swordsman for at least a minute. If you can, I will ask for your forgiveness. If not, I will whip you like a dumb donkey! Agreed?

"No," Ned chuckled, "I don't agree."

The guys behind him started making noise and laughing, the master turned away with a disgusted grimace, and Ned continued:

- I will only go against you. And if you lose, apologize, and I will hit you three times with a whip for behaving like an unreasonable child! Do you agree to such conditions? If I lose, you will do what you wanted. So, is it weak?

- How are you talking to the master? - Hagen shouted. - Shut your mouth, you mangy dog!

- Quiet! Alright, so be it! - the master answered coldly. - Follow me. And all of you - if you want. By the way, you will be witnesses that this man volunteered to go to battle. So that later there will be no talk that he was attacked by treacherous townspeople.

A block later, the whole honest company found themselves at a long, one-story building made of red brick. There was no sign or any signs indicating that the building belonged to any kind of activity.

A door unlocked by a large copper key, and door handles polished by many hands. Inside is a large hall. In the semi-darkness of the twilight, it is not visible what is hanging on the walls, the outlines of weapons of various types are guessed, pictures depicting fighters in various fighting poses are white, there are benches and fighting poles for training.

- Hagen, lanterns. All that is there. Into the yard. One lantern - here!

The master's speech was clipped, harsh, like that of a man accustomed to giving commands. Ned thought that he looked a lot like Sergeant Drankon, as wise with age, as hard as if he had been carved from an old tree root so hard that axes bounced off.

The master approached the wall, lost in the gloom of the evening shadows, took one sword without a scabbard from the wall, and nodded his head:

- Went!

Ned followed and probed the master's thoughts. He thought:

"A strange guy. Either he's crazy, or… No, it can't be! For a boy his age to have such skills is impossible! And if it's true? What if I lose? Tiraz, don't make yourself laugh! Who will you lose to? This puppy? It's impossible, it's ridiculous! Well, what if? If?! Then I'll do what we agreed on. There are no options. Why did you arrange all this? Why do you need all this? Because it's right. If he's lying, he'll be punished. And the students will learn a lesson – lying is punishable. If the guy is SUCH a master – which I'm not at all sure of – everyone will learn a lesson. Both he and my students. And me. Just don't cripple him… a blunt sword, of course. This isn't a mortal fight. But you can kill with a blunt one. And also – you shouldn't humiliate the guy too much. It seems to me that he has a backbone. Look how he rose up for the honor of the uniform – that's good, that's right. And also – something is wrong. He is completely confident in his abilities. It's strange. And very, very interesting!"

The wide courtyard, enclosed by the walls of the building, was flooded with light from large lanterns. Apparently the boys had stolen everything from the school here. Ned grinned - for some reason he always had to fight by lantern light. As if such things required the cover of night.

- Are you satisfied with the lighting? Do you need anything for the fight? To go to the toilet, to drink, to undress?

"Take off your clothes and shoes," Ned replied immediately, "and warm up first. I need some time to get ready."

- Good. You can change in the locker room or put your things here, on the bench. - The master pointed to one of the wide benches along the wall of the building. - Don't worry, no one will touch anything here. Everyone, be quiet! Not a sound! And in the meantime, I'll warm up too...

Ned calmly unbuttoned his uniform, took it off and, carefully folding it, placed it on the bench. He took the contents out of his pants pockets - money, the key to the room, and placed them next to him. He took a purse of coins from his belt - he took twenty gold coins with him, just in case. Well, as much as he could fit - that's what he took. He left the rest in the room, throwing it on the bed. Although there were already less than twenty gold coins left - he left one gold coin with the women, and spent part of the second on gifts.

The guys sitting on the benches watched his actions with interest and thought: "What a bastard! Look at how much money! And sergeants earn pretty well! If such a moron gets so much, I, with my abilities, will get far! No, I definitely need to join the army!"

Ned chuckled under his breath at these boyish thoughts, then turned off his perception of thoughts. It would distract him from the fight and from preparation for the fight. And he knew for sure that the success of his duel depended on this "warm-up". Master Tiraz was not a stoned Shentel! This one was a terrible weapon. Ned knew this for sure. But at the same time, he knew that he could and should compete with him. Why - he did not know yet. But he had to.

Ned threw off his boots, thought for a moment, and pulled off his uniform trousers – so that there would be no restriction of movement. The guys rustled in surprise, discussing what had happened, then someone laughed, but immediately fell silent, crushed by the master's heavy gaze. He watched the preparations with approval, noting that so far the guy was doing everything that was needed. If you want to win, there should be no trifles!

Ned took off his shirt, too, leaving himself in a pair of linen shorts, rather loose and not hindering his movements. Then he went out onto the platform, which was used for training on days when it did not rain.

It was a flat stone surface, paved with slabs, through which in places thin grass grew, mercilessly eradicated by the students, but still climbing towards the sun and freedom.

Ned stood on the platform and, forgetting about everyone around him, began a ritual dance.

He bent low to the ground, shimmering like mercury, jumping and freezing in unimaginable poses, turning off his consciousness and surrendering to what was stored in his brain. Ned felt how energy called "tsu", the energy of the Universe, the energy of strength and joy, was pouring into him through many invisible pores and channels. He was filling with it, like a vessel that had not seen this intoxicating drink for a long time, the power was pouring into Ned like a mountain stream, like a sea tide, filling his muscles with power.

The students watched Ned, their mouths open, his body glistening in the light of the lanterns, beads of sweat seeping from his pores, and the scars, previously invisible, revealed and visible like a grid drawn on Ned by a mad artist.

Master Tiraz looked at Ned with wide eyes. He even stopped his warm-up to watch the stranger, and did not regret it. Something strange was happening: the master, who, as he thought, knew everything in the world about martial arts, did NOT KNOW what Ned was doing! No, he understood that he was absorbing the power of tsu, pumped up by special exercises, but this style of his connection with tsu was completely unfamiliar to Tiraz, and he, shocked, watched the guy, already regretting that he had treated him so roughly.

It was obvious from everything – this was a Master. No one else could perform all these transitions, dives, punches and kicks with such precision, with such skill. All the movements were verified to perfection – nothing superfluous, none of the sweepingness typical of young students – even promising ones, but not very long in training – no, every movement was verified to its smallest stage, to the very point at which the body once again froze in an unthinkable pose.

Finally Ned finished his exercises and stood before the master, his hands at his sides:

- I'm ready!

The Master nodded his head, without approaching Ned, stood in a fighting stance and said:

– The fight will be over if one or both opponents are unable to continue. Or if one of the opponents declares that he surrenders. Let's begin!

The master walked forward with short, sideways steps towards the calmly standing guy, and suddenly he let out a loud hiss, which made several guys on the bench shudder, and, bending low to the ground, assumed a strange pose that an ordinary person could not imitate. His arms twisted, reminiscent of a tangle of snakes, flew in the air, as if striking with poisonous teeth, and his body moved, flowing from pose to pose.

"Oh gods! Where from?! How? The Snake Style? Lost and forgotten! " the master immediately understood. " Who are you, boy?"

But there was no time to think - unless, of course, he wanted to get a whip on the back.

Tiraz entered combat mode, and his sword flashed like a swallow, trying to sting this "snake" writhing and instantly moving in space. The sword slid between the "heads" of the "snakes", trying to cut them off, but each time they gently pulled the blade aside, and it either clicked on the slabs of the platform, or stuck into emptiness, finding only disappointment and annoyance instead of a living body, whose blood it dreamed of drinking.

The master accelerated his movement to the maximum. His sword merged into a glittering fan strip and suddenly – bang! – flew out of the hand of the man, frozen motionless as a statue.

No one, not even he himself, had time to notice the instantaneous blow to a point on the forearm and another blow to the neck area. These were not even blows, these were pinpoint touches with two fingers.

"Snake bite" - that was the name of these touches, through which the power of tsu gushed into the enemy with incredible speed and force, affecting the body and paralyzing his muscles. If Ned wanted, he could kill Master Tiraz. Or cripple him. Or... in general, do whatever he needed. And he would not be able to counter with anything. The one who was once Ned was as much higher than Master Tiraz in skill as Master Tiraz towered over his students.

The sword, flying out of the master's hand, flashed through the air and struck the bench next to the guys, who were dumbfounded by what they had seen, with such force that, despite the roundness of the blade, it pierced the piece of wood and broke off a large splinter from it.

Ned walked up to Hagen, looked into his face with his black, sunken eyes and asked quietly:

- Are you satisfied? Or do you want some more proof?

"Sorry," the guy said hoarsely, coughing as if a bag of dust had gotten into his throat, "forgive us! Honestly, I'm sorry!"

Ned looked into the boy's eyes again, then nodded his head in satisfaction and, going up to the motionless master, made a series of pinpoint touches on different parts of the body. The last one was in the temple area.

Tiraz sank down on Ned's outstretched arms, who carefully picked him up and carried him to the bench. The master was convulsively gasping for air and coughing, recovering from paralysis - the entire time he stood paralyzed, his respiratory system did not work. He was suffocating, realizing that he was about to die. The muscles, cramped, did not obey, a little more, and Tiraz would have died of suffocation.

The master left after about five minutes. His face turned from pale to red, his hands stopped shaking, and all his muscles returned to normal.

Tiraz rose to his feet and looked at Ned, who was gathering his things and wondering how he could wash himself off – he didn't want to put on a clean new uniform on his sweaty body. Then he went into the building, appeared a few seconds later and, walking firmly towards Ned, fell to his knees, pressing his forehead to the stones of the platform. Then, to the deathly silence of the students, he said:

- Master! Forgive me for my presumption! Forgive me for being unworthily rude to you and not believing your words! You have the right to whip me! I deserve it! Take it!

Tiraz held a black leather whip, about a meter long, woven from thin threads, on his outstretched hands. He sometimes used it to chase away lazy students, but now he himself was about to be punished.

Ned took the whip, twirled it in his hands, then threw it aside with a grin:

- Oh, stop it. Stand up, please. Better tell me where I can wash myself, I smell like a goat. Are there showers here?

Tiraz rose from his knees, sighed imperceptibly – it was still unpleasant when you were beaten with a whip, even if it was for good reason, then he said:

- Let's go, I'll see you out. I'll give you a towel and soap. And you, bastards, guard your clothes and money! And don't go anywhere - I'll talk to you.

After taking Ned to the showers, the master returned, stood in front of the students, looked silently at Hagen, then asked, pushing out the words with difficulty:

- Did you see it?

"We saw it!" the students answered in disarray.

- What did you see?

- Well... he fought in a strange way. I've never seen such a style. I've never heard of such a style, - Hagen shrugged. - It was strange... and beautiful. He was... like a snake!

"It's the Snake style," the master explained dryly, "an ancient, forgotten style. That's not what I'm asking. What did you see? Nascar?"

- We saw how arrogance was punished. And we learned that no matter how confident a person is in his powers, there will always be something that can defeat him. And that you can't offend a stranger. He may turn out to be a great master. Is that right, Master Tiraz?

- So. Well done, Naskar. And to you - this! - Tiraz lashed the whip several times hard across Hagen's back and shoulders. - This is for your rudeness! This is for your boorishness! This is for your arrogance and stupidity! And this - he lashed him crosswise so that Hagen shook with pain - is for me! For dragging me into trouble, and I almost died! Do you understand that I was on the verge of death? If the master had not removed my paralysis, I would have suffocated and died before your eyes! And it serves me right. I deserved it. You are a young fool, and I... I am a master. I should have felt it, foreseen it. But I could not see a great master in a simple lad! And now - humiliation, shame, disgrace! Remember this day forever, hammer it into your head - this is what will happen to anyone who makes a similar mistake. And it may end differently than today! He could have killed you in the street in seconds, instantly taking your souls out! Do you know why he didn't do it? Say thank you to your father and mother, you idiot! For their sake, he didn't touch you and endured your mockery. And he refused to beat me with a whip out of respect for me that I don't deserve, and I will beat myself! – Tiraz lashed himself hard on the back several times. Then he began to whip everyone in a row – right, left!

- All of them, all of them deserved it! You - because you didn't stop those blockheads, I - because I neglected to educate my students. All of them are guilty! And they were punished. And now remember this forever. Will you remember, Hagen?

- Of course I remember when my whole back is itchy, teacher! - he boomed resentfully. - I bet you're covered in scars now!

"That's good, that's right," Tiraz chuckled, watching Ned come out of the shower. "Stand up and greet the Master! It's time to ask for forgiveness, you idiots!"