PART 1 Lady of the Dead and Living

CHAPTER 1 Elena the Beautiful

The girl was engaged in an important matter, sorted out barley cereals for porridge. Separated the grains, and already prepared a cauldron with water, soak them for brew and a good stew. Grandfather Khor slowly prepared firewood for the house, chopping dry branches for kindling. Baba Zaya slowly weaved on the machine, inserting ducks into the row. Dressed smartly and well-groomed were both. Good linen clothes, fur sleeveless warm, so as not to be cold in the wind. Yes, and shoes, okay and sensible on everyone’s feet, everything was just right for the place.

Now the elderly could rejoice again, sadness left their house, their adopted daughter cured them both. The grandmother was sitting, and could not get enough of Elena.

“What would we do without you, granddaughter?” ‘an elderly but not old woman said.

“And I have more fun with you. It’s boring all alone, but one, – the girl suddenly said, – and my brother was missing something… It doesn’t seem like a long time! I was looking, looking… And where he is, angry, and I can’t understand.

– It will come, of course it will come, – an elderly woman put an affectionate hand on the girl’s shoulder, – but I don’t understand what’s wrong with me? Zaya smiled slyly and stroked her stomach.

Ella, or Elena, or Alyona, who called her, looked at Zaya’s face, at her hands, at the beating vein on her neck, put the finished business aside. Slowly rinsed her hands in a wooden shag, wiped on a towel. I sat down nearby, as if listening.

– You are not happy… Carried the child. You see, the Gods heard you, blessed you. Soon you will give birth.

– What about…

– So now everything in the house is in abundance and health, not offended. Is it right? And so, from Sargat they handed me over, and Ella put a heavy cat on the table.

She opened the ties, and he was full of small gold rings. Each weighing only two shares, but it was possible to get a cow on the bargain for one such ring, and a small calf for six. In each estate they kept the weeds tamed even more, and rode them on horseback. True, the moose got used to only one who fed them from childhood.

But, the forest giants were big helpers, they could carry their riders far through the forests. Strangers, here, rode horses, but with a grin they looked at such a Siberian, much stronger and bolder than a horse, and is not afraid of anyone. And, a year ago, Elena also got herself a calf. At first, he was funny, on thin legs he ran after the hostess, who watered him with milk from the nipple. But he grew rapidly, and turned into a mighty ruler of the forest. And on it Elena traveled on it to Sargat and even to Warta. Well, in Gandvik, of course, I went on a boat, along the Great River Ob.

– Yes, thank you daughter. Anyway, you, and my husband, my own daughter, and the woman kissed Elena on the white cheek.

It seems to be used to the fact that their pupil is cold, but here she seemed to be burned by frost. Zaya grabbed her stomach in fright, looked at the girl with fear. But she only raised her icy eyes to her and said:

– There is no evil from me, you know it yourself. Never has been and never will be. Especially for you, and you know it. And the baby will be born soon, in a month or a little later. You and Khorem will have a son, and not one… And then three more will be born. I know that for sure.

– Oh, how are you! With you, happiness came to our house, Elena!

“And I feel good with you, but calmly. You look, and I will find the missing brother!

– That’s right, so it will be! – the woman answered calmly, – But what did people run in? Is it not otherwise that the army returned home? Hey, Horai, look, what’s in there?

But the healer herself got up from the bench, looked at herself in the mirror, and was pleased with what she had done. She summed up her lips with a light, cheek-carrot decoction, blush on her cheekbones, and now, you can’t distinguish it from local people. And then, at first, the children shouted out of fear, hid behind their mother’s skirts, as they saw her white face, like snow. And then, unlike Elena, she looked like people from Oum.

– I’ll go to the outskirts, I’ll see… – the girl said decorously, – otherwise some kind of fuss.

She straightened a scarf on her head, twisted gold bracelets, in the form of snakes, which held the sleeves of an embroidered shirt. A necklace made of minted gold, a gift from Gandvik, also rang deafly. And a golden moon hung on the beauty’s braid. Everyone who did not know who she was would immediately identify the great witch by bracelets and embroidery on rich clothes.

As soon as she stood on the high porch, she looked around. No, no troops were visible. But everywhere the horsemen were dusting, the carts drove heavily loaded carts to the fortress. Whole families hurried there, with children and old people. However, the youths with shields and spears went to the rampart of the city, and gray-haired men, with copper weapons, hurried there. And here, and the copper beat swelled on the high tower of the fortress, warning everyone about the danger. The girl looked around, not yet understanding what was the matter? But, it became alarming in my heart.

– What happened? Elena shouted, not understanding.

– The Siberian army died, witch! We are under siege, from strangers! Now the only hope is for Varta and Gandvik! – shouted another very boy, with a bow in his hands, and two quivers full of arrows, behind his shoulders – it’s good that you are with us, Elena the Beautiful! With you and any wound is not terrible!

“Shut up, Jurey! ‘the elderly warrior cut him off, ‘don’t be angry with him, girl! We rely on your help! So nothing, hold on!

“I’m always with you! ‘she shouted back.

I felt how rage seemed to rise to her heart, to her head, and could no longer restrain herself. She hurriedly returned to the house, fell to her knees in front of Khorei and Zaya, who were sitting on the bench.

“You are my second parents,” she said clearly, “if anything was wrong, I’m sorry.” Apparently, I myself need to go… Into battle. I don’t know if I will return…

“What’s wrong with you, girl?” Have you started again? ‘the woman replied, covering her quivering lips with a handkerchief.

It was from what they are afraid. Elena’s face became blue-black from wild rage. Zaya saw such a girl only once, when, out of ignorance, dashing people attacked them on a long road. Yes, just saw her face, as in fear and ran away.

– I’ll go to the elder and Vedun, gather my army for permission. Those who are not afraid to follow me! And you, go to the fortress. Everything will be fine, do not hesitate!

She came out of the hut, straightened the dress and fucked, and whistled her sooo. The hornet ran up and bowed his horned head in front of the hostess. Elena jumped up on the moose, and galloped to the elder of the city. People in the streets were stacked, someone turned away, hid their face. The appearance of the witch already inspired horror, not reverence or respect there. It was horror, just wild horror that was now on the faces of the residents of the city of Ouma. The black face framed by silver hair of this rider could not but scare. The Unots did not dare to detain her dry, mighty Hornet, and so she rode into the courtyard of the estate and drove in. At once she dismounted at the high stairs leading to the residential.

– Hold it, – threw the reins of the bridle unota.

He only nodded hastily. The dog of the elder, Smooth, was not afraid alone, but rushed to flatter the girl, rubbed his lobbed head on her knee.

“And hello to you,” Elena ruffled his fur between his ears.

Calmly, like her own, she opened the carved door and entered without knocking into the tower of Elder Oakast. He sat on the lara, hanging his head, and mourning the fallen sons. Nearby sat and Vedun Rist, looked at the images of ancestors in the red corner of the tower, as if asking them for help. But they only looked at the descendants, without blinking or lowering the eyes cut out of wood. Only shadows played on skillfully executed faces, making them so similar to the living.

“There’s no time to talk, Elder. Let me beat the army of strangers the way I can. And, exactly, you won’t reproach me? Elena said sternly and without equivocals…

“How can you do that?”

“I’ll do it, and it’s my business. Well, what?

Rist was silent, did not understand what was the matter. He knew the considerable strength of the healer, but what she was going to do, he could not make money. And why did your face turn so blue? I didn’t ask, I thought maybe it was a matter of custom.

– Do Elena what you want, take what you need for the cause of the military!, – and the elder knocked with a staff, affirming his word.

– Don’t you need a guide, a witch? Rist asked respectfully.

“I am grateful for your care. But I’ll manage. And if I take helpers, then those who I need!

“As you wish, herbalist! But it is dangerous, our soldiers have already seen the travels of strangers.

– Nothing, do not interfere. Give me a full haze of oak oak!

– Take what you need, girl!

The giants were surprised to see Elena’s caravan. But, as Elder Oakast said, so be it. Two deer shook a strange load for Elena on the way. The soldiers who stood guard did not understand where their savior healer went?

CHAPTER 2 Empress of the Realm of the Dead

She walked for two days, along forest paths. Now she had all one thing, that day and that night. She did not know fatigue, like her reindeer in a team, dragging a difficult load, and the dry, as if gaining new strength, tirelessly walked along the path, on the border of the steppe and forest. The grass grew tall here, the girl could not admire such beauty. But here, as if it was burned from the inside. She got off her saddle and led her Hornet about. He did not resist, although he walked reluctantly, snorted everything and shook his head.

– And I don’t care about this place, dry. But you see, I’m going… ‘she said quietly.

But now, the girl smelled an expletive field. And how not to smell it? Crows in the sky curl, foxes bark, and wolves howl. The mountains were piled up, many, many dead bodies. The girl sent her dry gallop, and galloped for a short time, and found herself at the scene of the battle. The killed giants lay here, robbed and undressed. The witch drove away the raven with one sign of her fingers, and a black flock rose up, covering the sun with its wings. Elena closed her eyes a little, looked around… She walked along and across, sighed heavily and shouted in a terrible voice Elena the Beautiful, again showing herself on the ground:

– Get up!

There was a terrible cry, reflected from the hills and forests, and as if running into the distance, along the river valley.

They said later that out of fear then the bulls were squatting on their hind legs, the wolves were crammed into the distant oak forests, and only the crows were curling over the girl’s army, because they smelled the dead. But, they flew away, because

the corpse stench blew away like a wind, and the smell of meadow flowers spread over this field, as if death itself was running from this place.

And what happened was that no one had seen for many thousands of years. The dead giants rose, silently looked at each other, as if they did not understand how they got here. The brother looked at his brother, at each other, the warrior-governor. The king himself, Duptun, stepped forward. He knelt before the savior, and held out his crown, a golden hoop about twelve rays. And everyone knelt.

“Go home to Oum and Sargat, and tell me that I am now fighting for this land. She was given to my lot! Elena raised her hands above her.