It's hard for me to remember and talk about it, Varlam. I'll continue to the end, but I want you to know. I’m telling you the story of Adramelech and what I saw is terrible.
Varlam thought and was silent.
The teacher got up and looked out the window, in spite of Varlam he sighed out and uttered.
- You are my relative, the son of my brother in the third family. And your mother is his wife.
Varlam opened his eyes wide.
- Why didn't I know?
- I did not make friends with your father. But I feel that my end is near ... The king has died and now there is nothing to stop the neighbor, the enemy of Zekhar.
Brial offended him and he vowed revenge.
-What kind of offense?
-King Brial believed that the slogans and spies of King Zekhar killed Kenor.
-But the people said that he died from excessive drunkenness and debauchery? Varlam said.
-Your late king sent a very disturbing letter to his enemy. Answered by the teacher
But I will talk about this later, I will tell you everything properly.
- Eh, I watched you, you are hardworking, unlike my close nephews. I myself have no children or a wife. I am different.
But it doesn't matter ... I want to leave you some of the savings so that you would leave our city today.
- Run? Varlam bowed his head
- But why?
-When I finish you will understand everything.
- You will have enough to open your shop.
The old man sat down in the wicker chair again and spoke.
- On my doorstep were two soldiers, one looked at me sternly, sincerely and childishly. Another much older was impassive in his face
- Where is Mr. Kenor?
- He deigned to sleep in the stable, I gave him fresh wine.
I escorted the prince's personal guard to the stable.
I decided to wait outside and breathe in the fresh air after the rain, my garden smelled of a wonderful damp scent, but only near the stables I smelled rot and not the scent of my flowers.
- He is not here! The guard said in a shrill voice.
- Look in that direction, and I will go there, probably sleeping somewhere from the corrals.
I decided to help, provide my services, entering the stable, I found myself in the darkness
The sunlight was small and dim in this weather, but it still squeezed through the dusty window.
The squeal was strong, convulsive, the scream coming from the far right corner of the stable.
I hurry to the place from where the already half-hearted scream can be heard.
On the floor in the corner, I found a young soldier who was hysterical, bellowing and sobbing. The eyes were wide open.
- What a squeal! Are you an old man? Keep the woman here? Ahhh, is this my brave ward, that the spider was scared or his own shadow? The old guard spoke, laughing he came closer with a luminous lamp in his hand.
Well?
- He's scared. I said and looked into the far dark corner. A shiver went through my body.
- Get up, puppy! I still wipe the snot after you?
- Mister guard, I said to the senior guard.
Maybe Kenor is sleeping in that far corner and his snoring scared this boy.
Without hesitation, the guard straightened his helmet and went to the far dark corner. The light from his lompada followed him.
I watched the soldier walk into the far corner and froze.
I responded and he does not turn around. Deciding to approach, he slowly approached and asked.
"Was Kenor there?"
Yes Varlam, Kenor was indeed in that dark corner.
A jug of wine was spilled, and hay and blood were scattered, like clothes
The head of Prince Kenor lay peacefully and calmly, wide open the eyelids from which mucus was flowing, the eyes in them I did not see only darkness.
The body was tortured and I saw bites all over his body.
Did they eat it? Asked the guard. I didn't understand exactly who he was asking and from whom he was expecting an answer.
You are an old teacher under arrest. The guard said stammering.
I saw that I had stepped on something soft and decided to look and found Kenor's bitten off member under my heel. I fainted.
I woke up already in the palace.
I opened my eyes and saw a large red peacock. High ceiling decoration.
My head was spinning, I was trying to figure out where I was. They brought a decoction to my lips, made me drink.
The court doctor was working on me.
You, the wise teacher in the master's chambers. Calm and kind voice. I recognized an old friend.
He helped me to get up and I heard Breal's voice. My heart froze.
- He has already come to his senses.
The stern, loud voice of the king sowed fear, horror in me!
-Oh Varlam, I thought about the worst, suddenly I will be accused of murdering the prince, what if those two guards say terrible things about me!
I was interrogated. Counselor Jeharim.
I told everything that I remembered.
The tsar paced the hall.
And he looked at me with a piercing ferocious look. The blood ran cold in my veins.
I cried and said that I was to blame.
- I know who did it! I know who did this to my heir! Bring Kenor's bodyguard!
-Alive!
The door was opened by servants and my old acquaintances entered.
The two guards are as pale as a fish.
-Who killed my son!
King Breal asked menacingly.
We told everything we knew about the sovereign..the old guard replied curtly.
- Answer otherwise I will feed you to the dogs!
The young soldier fell to his knees in fear and began to mumble.
- Oh, sovereign ... I'm not guilty ... the prince said that he was being pursued, that his enemies wanted to kill him ... I don't know.
- Let's go away
The king commanded.
Counselor Jeharim approached the ruler. And he whispered something in his ear.
- Leave me alone with the teacher.
I was waiting in the wings for my fate.
As soon as all the servants left and the adviser closed the door, the king got up and came up to me and looked into my eyes.
“I have known you for too many years and you have been faithful to me.
- Yes, my king. I answered in a whisper. He continued.
- I know who killed my son, those animals will pay for it.
I didn't understand what he was talking about.
- This vile serpent Zekhar send assassins. His spy was recently caught.
But now let the punishment await. I am quick in my revenge.
- My king, may I say?
- Speak
- I think it was not your enemy Zekhar who did it, but your son Adramelech.
- You're an old scoundrel in your mind! You think about what you are talking to me!
Get out of sight, I'll see you, my order will be executed!
I got up and walked to the door this is the last time I saw the pale face of my ruler.
What happened then teacher?
Oh Varlam, our king sent a letter to Zekhar threatening revenge and he killed his ambassador and his spy. He inflicted terrible torture on both of them.
Did you see Adramelech that day?
No, I have not.
And the rest you know Varlam.
After the death of Brial, his enemy has a way to our city.
There will be a war.
That is why Varlam today you must leave for the east.
The teacher got up, went to a wooden cabinet with drawers, took out a pouch from there and handed it to Varlam.
- Here, keep here should be enough to continue a not poor existence. I promised your mother.
Now, while the road is open, go.
- Will you stay here? Varlam did not want to leave the old man alone, he even wanted to take him with him.
- Yes, I'll stay here. If you ever return to the city, then find my youngest nephew he lives in a house with a blue bird.
He raises carrier pigeons.
Varlam say goodbye to the teacher. He hit the road. I did everything exactly as the old sage said. Varlam boarded a floating ship and went east to the kingdom of Shubat.
Varlam worked tirelessly, found his own tableware shop and got married.
Two seasons have passed.
Varlam heard that in the kingdom of Byblos there was confusion and the overthrow of the ruler. But he never heard of the war.
Curiosity forced Varlam to go back. But, he did not plan to stay in the kingdom of Byblos .. he did not want the terrible Adramelech to be his king.
Why awful? After all, Varlam was not sure that it was he who killed Kenor ... but what the teacher told about him was enough to hate the prince.
Varlam arrived in the city, he was different, other flags hung on large stone walls and pillars.
The houses were painted green and there were a lot of people in the market. The city seemed to be flourishing.
Varlam found a house with a blue bird that was carved from wood on the door. He knocked and the door was opened by a teenager.
You are for a carrier pigeon, now I will call my father and the boy closed the door.
The door opened again and a large man stepped out.
- I wish you good health and many years to come, sir. Varlam said.
I'm looking for teacher Efariil. I'm his friend.
- He died two years ago.
- What happened? Varlam was saddened by so much sad and unexpected news.
My name is Victarion, I am his youngest nephew, my uncle said that you would come.
Come to my house and be my guest.
Varlam went into a cozy house and was offered wine. Apparently Victarion was a hospitable host, he also introduced Varlam to his son and wife.
When the guest asked to tell what happened, Victarion asked to go out into the garden and sit in the air.
The idea was not bad, it was hot in the house.
When the two men sat down on a long stone bench in the garden, Victarion did not think long and began to tell.
Two years ago, the neighboring kingdom with their king Zekhar enslaved our city. The troops of King Adramelech could not withstand the siege and the enemies entered the palace.
The army did not touch civilians and townspeople, did not even rob. The target of the invaders was the palace.
- Executed Adramelech in the square.
-Some of the townspeople were present at the square and saw him for the first time. Yes, and I also saw the face of the new king for the first time.
-Adramelech was beautiful, so handsome that women fainted and men screamed and roared, and I was also against his execution, I was fascinated by his appearance. he stood and looked at the crowd and at his executioners. Indifference was on his face.
-How was he executed? asked Varlam.
They cut off his head, and instead of it they attached the head of a donkey or a horse, put it astride a stallion and tied a peacock's tail to the saddle, and so Adramelech rode the streets for three days. Not who did not dare to confront the new king, they feared the same fate.
The advisers were simply executed. And the sister of Adramelech was given in marriage to another kingdom, having received a lot of gold for her.
-Your new king is cheating, said Varlam.
Well, the teacher! What about him ?
- My uncle could not stand the execution, he was in the square and could not come to terms with fate. He fell ill and died on the third day. After all, he was old as a dry oak. Not young, after all. The gods took him away.
- Varlam thanked the owner for the hospitality and left, immediately left the city.
Varlam never saw the white walls of the Kingdom of Byblos again.