It seems that, and Argos did not meet a rival like Tan. It was evident that intermittent swallowing of air had replaced his calm, moderate breathing. Tan stared into his eyes, he stared back. Faint memories of the past appeared in Athanasius's head, and after the prince's rough attack with the sword and then the body, Tan fell to the ground, being on his knee. It was as if a horse had hit him. Her breath caught. Moisture and coldness settled in his lungs. Tan could not resist and had to clear his throat. Argos walked around him in circles, and no trace of his smile remained. Then, with a vicious grin, he raised his sword and slashed with superhuman speed, aiming at the head. The people gasped! No one would have been able to react. No one. But Tan, managed to give the body movement forward, and dived under the right arm of Argos, while pushing off the ground with his foot. He aimed his left fist at his jaw. Argos tried to dodge, but Athanasius was so quick that he was able to hit the prince and hit on a tangent. However, this was enough for Argos to lose his balance and fall, dropping his sword.

The rain began to drizzle. Athanasius glanced at the royal box. King Orme was darker than the night. There was such rage in his eyes that it seemed that he could kill at a distance. His gaze slowly moved from his son to his rival. The same damn look, Tan thought.

Argos noticed that Tan was completely infatuated with his father. He quickly raised his sword and struck as quickly as he could. Tan only managed to substitute his sword. The blow was so powerful that the vibration of the collision of the swords raced throughout the body. Then another blow, and another. On the final blow, Tan put his sword mechanically, without even seeing it. There was a clang, and Athanasius's sword shattered.

The music stopped. The entire amphitheater fell silent. There was silence. The rain began to pour in full force.

– Ufffff, gasped Argos, not taking his eyes off Thane. They looked at each other for a while, then Argos spoke: – Do you think this is the end? he said with hatred. – You're wrong! After these words, he threw his sword aside. “You disgraced me in front of my father. Get up motherfucker! Tan barely got up, leaning on his knee, seeing off his comrade on the last journey, the fragments of which were strewn across the circle.

Quickly closing the distance, the prince struck with his right then left hand. Tan staggered backward, covering his head with his hands. At that moment, two severe blows to the body flew to him. Tan counterattacked, but in vain. A barrage of blows rained down his face and body. Each blow felt like a hammer blow. My head was buzzing. My ears were ringing. In the eyes of an impenetrable veil. Only a few seconds separated Tana from unconsciousness. He swayed like a leaf in the wind, but still standing. Blood ran down his battered face. Everything seemed to freeze and at that moment, Tan received a blow to the head with an insane force.

He fell, no longer to the ground, but into the arms of darkness, and only the sound of erupting water from heaven connected him with reality!

Tan barely opened his eyes. The light was blinding to him. He grimaced in pain. And even the very contraction of the muscles on the face caused pain. He groaned slightly. How his face hurt.

Seeing that Tan woke up, the hospital's nurse immediately ran up to him and, putting her hands on her shoulders, quietly but affirmatively said: "You cannot get up, Mr. Mirra." You have a severe concussion, as well as a dislocated lower jaw, bruised ribs and kidneys. Tan made a heart-rending sound again.

– Where I am? He asked with a shiver in his swollen lips.

– You're in the hospital. You were brought here after the battle. Do you remember?

Tan was silent as if trying to remember what had happened in the past couple of days. He tried to collect all the books on the shelves in his library of the mind, which was smashed by Prince Argos. Then he sat up. His head was spinning.

“He’s stubborn,” said the sister, and forcibly pushed him back to the hospital bed. You only make it worse.

– I have to talk to General Swann, with the last of his strength Tan mumbled, after which he lost consciousness.

***

His father was sitting at a table in a huge oak armchair. On his right hand stood a servant, head bowed. And his back was guarded by two armed soldiers, the best of the best in their field. Dinner was already served with various dishes and treats. In the middle of the table there was a beautiful composition of berries and fruits, around which jugs of wine were dancing in an intricate pattern. Most of the candles were extinguished. Twilight has always been his father's companion. Flames leapt from a nearby fireplace, and the crackling of a burning tree echoed from the high walls of the castle. It was a hunting room with various trophies hanging on the wall. The muzzles of the slain beasts with glass eyes looked down on the arriving guest.

– Leave us! The king ordered and in one second they were left alone. He wiped his lips with a napkin, tossing it casually on the table. Then he got up and walked over to his son. Anger was what filled his eyes. Coming close and not looking away, he punched Argos' face with the back of his hand. From the blow on the prince's face, the skin turned red and a small bleeding scratch formed from the ring.

Argos opened his mouth, but before he could utter a word, Orm interrupted him: "I don't need any excuses from you now," he bellowed. Then he turned away and walked over to the fireplace, looking at the fire for a while.

–How could this have happened? without taking his eyes off the bewitching beauty of the flame, he asked.

– With all due respect, father, one way or another, I won! I showed them all what is the strongest race on earth!

– Anyway?! Turning slowly, he asked. An ordinary man, with ordinary weapons and ordinary protection, almost kicked your royal ass! You were wearing "Isar", your mother! And you dare to say something !?

– He is very well trained and strong. He's fast. I've never seen this. This warrior was in no way inferior to me.

– Oh, I didn't even notice! Orm said with undisguised irony, then turning away, he again drowned in his thoughts, absorbed in the sight of burning wood in the fireplace.

– Father?

– Yes?!

– Why did he look at you like that during the fight?

“That's interesting to me too,” said the king. Who are you, Athanasius Mirra? he asked the flame.

Argos was about to leave. But after a pause, he turned back to his father. “When will you be able to fully trust me, Father?

– I trust you.

– Then tell me what is in the tower of the west wing at the very top?

– Soon you will find out about everything, I promise you. Until then, that's all! You are free.

***

– Good morning, Athanasius!

– Hi, General! he mumbled barely audibly.

– You look lousy.

– I feel even worse.

– Hmm, who would have thought that Prince Argos is so good. The general sat down next to Athanasius's bed.

–“It's not just him,” Tan replied.

– What are you talking about?

– His armor …

– And what happened to him?

– I hit him. He beat with all his might. No armor could stand that.

– What do you mean by that?

– I don’t know yet.

– What do you mean, “I don’t know yet” !? AND?! Swann got angry. All! The page is turned over. The story is over. He won, the general said with annoyance!

– It's him.

– Who is he"?

“King Orme, this is the bastard who slaughtered the people of my village.

– Stop it, Athanasius. You're delirious. You got it a lot, it's understandable, but you can't …