The Daughter of Wrath
Вдруг начала писать на языке народа Запада.
There was a maiden, maiden of high blood, blood of the greatest of the great, strongest of the strong, most merciless of merciless, Ilheg-khor the Undoer, the Ruiner, the Destroyer.
A brother she had, a twin brother whom she loved more dearly than those who live in a desert love water and those who live in cold love sunshine.
And there came a day when the land of Midday leant of the prophecy which foretold the coming of a great king of great blood.
The brother said to his sister, ‘Am I not of great blood? Surely, the prophecy is about our house resuming its lost power!’
‘Nay’, quoth the sister, ‘Does not the prophecy say the sign of the great king will be his killing the Black Pardus? Isn’t the Black Pardus the most valiant warrior alive? Cannot he see being blind, cannot he turn into a great black cat with many eyes on his fell which all move and blink and watch you fixedly? Oh dearest of the brothers, do not tempt fate!’
But he did not listen to her entreaties. He left the Broken Tower, the last refuge of their family, and went to the Mountain Abode where the Black Pardus dwelt among untold wealth which he acquired as he was both a powerful sorcerer and a renowned warrior.
And the brother challenged the Black Pardus who turned into a big cat with many eyes on his black fell. Those eyes gazed at the young man so fixedly that his right arm went limp, and he lost his blade. The Black Pardus slew him like a tomcat kills a vole and feasted on his flesh and blood before assuming a human form.
When the maiden knew of the death of her brother and its manner, she mourned for nine days. When the sun of the ninth day had set, she arose and girdled her waist because she was of high blood, blood of the greatest of the great, strongest of the strong, most merciless of merciless, Ilheg-khor the Undoer, the Ruiner, the Destroyer and she was taught blade-playing and sword-crossing her brother was taught.
Brooking no delay, the maiden came to the Mountain Abode, and the Black Pardus turned on her his blind eyes that could see better than yours or mine.
‘Who are thou, maiden, and why is your right hand on the hilt of the sword? Are thou of great blood and seeking to fulfill the prophecy and become a great queen?’
‘The former is true, the latter is not’, answered the maiden, ‘In sooth I am of high blood, blood of the greatest of the great, strongest of the strong, most merciless of merciless, Ilheg-khor the Undoer, the Ruiner, the Destroyer. You slew my brother and feasted on his flesh and blood, so I am here to take vengeance on you’.
The Black Pardus laughed.
‘Indeed I should let you defeat me to thwart the one who put the prophecy into the mouth of the prophet. But I do not want to be so cruel to you’.
They fought, and the Pardus cut off the maiden’s right hand.
‘This is a full measure of my mercy’, quoth the Black Pardus. ‘Now get back to your father’.
And the maiden did as she was told sore in body and heart.
None counted sunrises and sunsets, when with a new day a mighty prince came to the Broken Tower and talked to its master.
‘I am the richest of the rich, the wealthiest of the wealthy, the most prosperous of the prosperous. My lands are wide, my soldiers are numerous, and my chariots are loud, while your only treasures are the blood in your veins and your daughter. Give me the latter and I will let you keep the former’.
‘Who art thou?’
Вообще, не так все было, это был первый набросок, сейчас я уже все перепридумала. Но сойдет за один из вариантов истории Дочери Гнева - в исполнении не особо осведомленного наблюдателя.
Это не "Тень Востока" даже, а глубокий бэкграунд к ней, который надо было доглючить.
There was a maiden, maiden of high blood, blood of the greatest of the great, strongest of the strong, most merciless of merciless, Ilheg-khor the Undoer, the Ruiner, the Destroyer.
A brother she had, a twin brother whom she loved more dearly than those who live in a desert love water and those who live in cold love sunshine.
And there came a day when the land of Midday leant of the prophecy which foretold the coming of a great king of great blood.
The brother said to his sister, ‘Am I not of great blood? Surely, the prophecy is about our house resuming its lost power!’
‘Nay’, quoth the sister, ‘Does not the prophecy say the sign of the great king will be his killing the Black Pardus? Isn’t the Black Pardus the most valiant warrior alive? Cannot he see being blind, cannot he turn into a great black cat with many eyes on his fell which all move and blink and watch you fixedly? Oh dearest of the brothers, do not tempt fate!’
But he did not listen to her entreaties. He left the Broken Tower, the last refuge of their family, and went to the Mountain Abode where the Black Pardus dwelt among untold wealth which he acquired as he was both a powerful sorcerer and a renowned warrior.
And the brother challenged the Black Pardus who turned into a big cat with many eyes on his black fell. Those eyes gazed at the young man so fixedly that his right arm went limp, and he lost his blade. The Black Pardus slew him like a tomcat kills a vole and feasted on his flesh and blood before assuming a human form.
When the maiden knew of the death of her brother and its manner, she mourned for nine days. When the sun of the ninth day had set, she arose and girdled her waist because she was of high blood, blood of the greatest of the great, strongest of the strong, most merciless of merciless, Ilheg-khor the Undoer, the Ruiner, the Destroyer and she was taught blade-playing and sword-crossing her brother was taught.
Brooking no delay, the maiden came to the Mountain Abode, and the Black Pardus turned on her his blind eyes that could see better than yours or mine.
‘Who are thou, maiden, and why is your right hand on the hilt of the sword? Are thou of great blood and seeking to fulfill the prophecy and become a great queen?’
‘The former is true, the latter is not’, answered the maiden, ‘In sooth I am of high blood, blood of the greatest of the great, strongest of the strong, most merciless of merciless, Ilheg-khor the Undoer, the Ruiner, the Destroyer. You slew my brother and feasted on his flesh and blood, so I am here to take vengeance on you’.
The Black Pardus laughed.
‘Indeed I should let you defeat me to thwart the one who put the prophecy into the mouth of the prophet. But I do not want to be so cruel to you’.
They fought, and the Pardus cut off the maiden’s right hand.
‘This is a full measure of my mercy’, quoth the Black Pardus. ‘Now get back to your father’.
And the maiden did as she was told sore in body and heart.
None counted sunrises and sunsets, when with a new day a mighty prince came to the Broken Tower and talked to its master.
‘I am the richest of the rich, the wealthiest of the wealthy, the most prosperous of the prosperous. My lands are wide, my soldiers are numerous, and my chariots are loud, while your only treasures are the blood in your veins and your daughter. Give me the latter and I will let you keep the former’.
‘Who art thou?’
Вообще, не так все было, это был первый набросок, сейчас я уже все перепридумала. Но сойдет за один из вариантов истории Дочери Гнева - в исполнении не особо осведомленного наблюдателя.
Это не "Тень Востока" даже, а глубокий бэкграунд к ней, который надо было доглючить.