The young man, holding his breath, crawled to his quiver, with a slight wooden rustle, the arrow said goodbye to its friends and briefly greeted the curved bow. Of course, it was still far away to shoot, and it was pointless and stupid, because you don't know who else is there, maybe it's a good traveler or a lost deer.
"what other good travelers at this time," ahani immediately checked himself.
There was no fear, because the young man had long since passed out of boyhood, and he had been hunting with his father many times. It will soon be possible to grow a beard. Thinking so, the young man rubbed his chin, which was covered with a light down. The bow in his hands, which had beaten the old wolves many times, gave him confidence and calmness.
Meanwhile, the shadow approached and Ahani saw that it was a lone rider on a white horse. He rode slowly, swaying on his horse's back in a half-doze.
At the same time, a wolf howled in the distance. It was a powerful and drawling voice, the voice of a strong and experienced animal that called on its companions to unite for the hunt. And it was a good thing that this howl was still very far away, otherwise Ahani would not have known what to do with two misfortunes at the same time.
When the rider was close enough, Ahani rose to his full height and drew his bow.
- Stop! Who are you? — What is it? " he asked loudly, and the white horse that carried its tired rider snorted in alarm.
The rider, who had been dozing on the back of the mare, covered with a sheepskin, woke up abruptly and shook his head from side to side, looking around in puzzlement. Under the counter it is trimmed with Fox fur coat peeking out and glinting in the moonlight, the hilt of a long, thin sword. he pushed the hood back from his head and ahani saw a black-haired girl.
Her face was beautiful and pale like the moon, but her eyes were large and black, and her lips were plump and red as blood, clearly defined. The girl stared at the young man's face for a few moments, which so inappropriately interrupted her sleep, and from this look an unpleasant chill ran down Ahani's spine. Her lips curved into a charming smile.
"Greetings, warrior! she said melodiously. "I know your voice, aren't you Ahani, son of Daksha?
" she even raised herself on her horse in surprise. And Ahani was also taken aback and lowered his bow.
"It is, noble one," he said excitedly. "But how do you know me and my father?
" the black-haired rider had said. "My Name is anhra. Let me dismount and we'll sit down and I'll tell you everything.
With that, the girl swung gracefully from her horse to the ground, and before Ahani knew it, she was already climbing the hill to join him, taking her pack with her. When she reached the top, she untied the straps of her bag and took out a couple of pieces of dried meat, a large bunch of juicy greens, and a small skin.
With that, and a pleasant, open smile, she spread the food on her bag, setting it down on the ground near the boulder where Ahani had been sitting on guard, and motioned for the young man to join her.
Only now did Ahani see that the girl was somewhat older than he, but how much he could not determine — she looked very young, but her sword, self-confidence and manner of communication spoke of some life experience.
"Why are you frozen?" she laughed out loud. "Put down your bow — you won't need it!" Sit down and help yourself! And even better, try my herbal infusion!
With that, Anhra took a sip from her wineskin, closed her eyes blissfully, and after a few moments handed the container to Ahani. Then the young man relaxed, shook off his astonished stupor, and followed the advice of his dear guest.
He sat down carefully on the grass next to the open bag, took the leather skin from the girl's hand, and sniffed cautiously at it. the smell was pleasant and intoxicating. Then he took a careful sip.
The infusion was warming, tart and very tasty. A blissful warmth spread over his tongue, and then down his throat and stomach. And he felt so warm under the wolf cloak that he wanted to unbutton it.
— I see you liked it?" happily inquired of Angra. — Now you can eat!"
Ahani had never tasted such infusions before in his life, and he felt a little uneasy because his head was a little dizzy. Only then did he remember the homemade tortillas his mother had given him before he left. then he took them out of his bag and put them on the girl's.
"Help yourself, good guest!" Ahani said timidly.
"My name is Anhra —" the girl repeated with a smile, nibbling a piece of meat and chewing it carefully. — Two summers ago, we came to your village with my brother Martin. But a lot has happened in two summers, and I've changed a lot in those summers. And I didn't get out of my brother's cart that time, so you probably didn't see me.
ahani did remember how a party of horsemen had come to their village, led by a pale and tall man. He was then very interested in the beautiful weapons that were hung all these guests. and the unusual harness of their vicious steeds, sparkling in the sun with the many beautiful stones with which it was decorated.
The guests talked for a long time in Elder Vyasa's yurt, and Ahani's father and all the older men were there. And when the conversation was over, the guests left without smiles or goodbyes, and the men of the family themselves were serious. Ahani caught glimpses of his father's conversations with others, heard the words “Arias, unity, strength, king,” but could not quite make out what they were talking about.
Time passed, and the talk of strange visitors fell silent. The village went about its normal life-cultivating fields, grazing cows and horses, praying to the gods.
"What's wrong with you, Ahani?" Anhra asked with a sweet smile. "Do you remember my brother?"
Then the girl suddenly laughed loudly and melodiously, throwing back her head.
"I understand! she said through her laughter. — You haven't tasted soma yet, the stuff men drink!"
Ahani shook his head, and the ground rocked with his movement.
That sacred drink of soma, which Elder Vyasa prepared from herbs for all the older men of the clan, was not yet available to the young man. It was prepared only on those nights when the moon god Soma, after whom the drink was named, was not in the sky.
"Does soma look like this infusion of yours?" Have you tried it? Ahani was already struggling to remember the right words, and his tongue seemed to refuse to obey him.
"My infusion is a little similar," Anhra nodded.
— Why did you come alone?" Without a brother? Without men?