The unexpected bodyguard was rarely spoken of. He behaved respectfully, but pulling a couple of long phrases out of him was a matter of incredible difficulty. For the most part, Mark answered in a single phrase and, as a rule, after some consideration. At first, Alec assumed that the strange bodyguard is a little silly, but then refused the idea. The silent Mark had a very sharp and tenacious look.
This man remained a mystery to Alexander. He looked as old as of Valentine, about thirty and over. Mark did not wear beards or mustaches, and long dark hair collected in the tail, like a gypsy or an artist from the theater. He always went somewhere, sometimes for the whole day. Alcus got used to it and therefore not particularly worried when Mark did not appear for a long time.
But this time it's really been too long. The Grand Duke's stomach was muttering with hunger, and most of all he wanted to flood the stove to warm tea and warm himself. But Alec didn't know how to do it and, to tell the truth, he was afraid to try it. Immediately on the mind came the horror babysitters about how stupid children died in the fire, carelessly opening the oven door.
It is better to wait for Mark.
When it got very dark outside, Alcus got off the window sill, hung the glass with a piece of dense fabric, as Mark taught him, and only then lit a candle.
A little light sparked the dusk, shining brightly. It was like trying to cheer up... Alexander brought his hands to him, absorbing in least a little, but still warm. He sat so little, and then found on the floor among the firewood a comfortable piece of bark, found the day before near the house, and began to unskillfully, but diligently sharpen it. Alcus was hoping that time would pass faster in an interesting activity... The bark was soft and supple. Alcus no longer remembered who and when told him that it was great to make boats out of such wreckage. The reddish-brown chips flew to the floor near the oven. Which was still cold...
Alcus didn't know if it was an hour, less or more, but his hands were completely frozen, and he went under his fur blanket when he blows out the candle.
In the morning, Alexander immediately realized that Mark had never returned.
Only a couple of raw eggs, a stale piece of bread and lard that Alcus hated, were left in the lounge where the food was kept. He looked with disgust at this meager set and sighed and took one egg. When Alcus tapped the edge of the chest, he carefully picked out the shell and looked at the liquid inside with doubt. My father said that raw eggs were even useful... Alcus clasped and tilted his head back and pulled the contents of the egg into himself.
At first, he thought he'd throw everything back, but his stomach squeezed, bubbled and reluctantly held his breakfast. It was as if he knew he wouldn't be better served. Alcus waved his head, curled, and quickly slipped a piece of bread into his mouth. He was almost stone, Mark, and brought it in three days ago. Then Alexander refused to eat fresh bread, but now he had no choice but to eat it. He gnawed at half a piece, drank it with cold water from his bucket, and then thought hard about it.
Everything turned out to be trouble for Mark. Either he got lost in the woods, or his peasants got caught stealing or someone else got caught... Of course, there was a possibility that the strangely strange bodyguard had fallen ill and was now lying somewhere in the neighboring village with the good people. Or maybe he got drunk in a pub.
In any case, Alexander was left alone. And this thought made him very uncomfortable.
There was a forest all around, unknown and strange. People, for sure, cannot be found for several miles around. Consider that there is no food left.
How long will he stay in this shack on one water?
Alcus went and wiped his hands soaked in fear of the hem of his jacket. It was the usual clothes in a boy-craftsman. Mark brought it along with cheap pants and boots in one of the first days. He hid the palace livery somewhere. Now Alexander looked like an ordinary commoner's son, which can be found in the city and in the village. But unlike the village guys, Alka had too light skin and too dark hair. He had seen peasant kids before - they all became dark as one by the end of the summer, as if they were dizzy, like doodles, and white-headed... Hair burned out in the sun over the summer.
After drinking more water, Alcus came out of the house. It was damp outside, but the rain had stopped. The sun was trying to look out through the uneven clouds. The prince looked back, trying to see the place in the woods (differently) than before. Which way could the nearest village be from him? What about a creek? After all, if you leave the hunting house, you have to have a stock of water or understand where to find it.
Continuation in the next part 39