Stars are reflected in your eyes. Volume 4. "Book of Flame" Chapter 1

 

Continuation of the events of the first volume.

Returning in the evening from his next assignment, Kai drove into the tent to Bartholomew, as had promised. During this time, they practically did not see each other, constantly either he or his group were on assignments. Only when they met at the headquarters, Bartholomew each time friendly patting Kai on the shoulder invited him to their tent, to sit in the evening, to have a drink, and to chat.

He didn't want to get drunk today but wanted to see all the guys - Pepper, Torpedo, Ivan, and Frol, to listen to their news, to learn about life.

Going into their tent, he found all the guys except Frol. They perked up with his arrival, immediately pulled to the table, especially since they were just about to have supper. Torpedo and Pepper were cooking in the kitchen, it smelled of fried onions and meat.

Bartholomew began to ask Kai about his recent raids into the mountains with other groups, then he told about how they had regularly traveled for the second week to patrol the road in the valley area, where it was not very calm.

Ivan supplemented the dry story of Bartholomew with various funny details, Pepper and Torpedo, sometimes looking out of the kitchen, told about the events that had happened to them.

Kai immediately drew attention to the absence of Frol, but at first, did not attach any importance to this. When Frol did not appear for half an hour, he became worried but did not raise this topic in front of everyone, only casually clarified when he would finally come. Torpedo, not attaching importance to his question, replied that Frol should have returned long ago, but apparently delayed.

He immediately felt that something was wrong, but, not having a firm conviction in his premonitions, he did not want to tell the guys about it. Fortunately, his phone rang, and, referring to an important conversation, he left the tent.

Lieutenant Ivchenko called, who reminded the guy that the colonel was waiting for him in the office tomorrow at nine. Having heard this, he did not return to the tent but went to his jeep.

Arriving at the thieves' barracks, Kai asked the guards if Sebastian was here and he received a not very affirmative answer and at the same time an invitation to wait for him with them. With peripheral vision, he saw that the car was beginning to be surrounded - he did not like this state of affairs. Kai did not want to find out the reason for such actions now, he just sharply pressed the gas and, without giving anyone a chance to come to his senses, left.

It was clear that something was happening. Frol was gone. Sebastian and his men were absent. Kai didn't want to put these two facts together, assuring himself that they were just coincidences.

Now he was trying to think logically where there could be quiet, secluded places in the garrison, and immediately remembered that the unfinished barracks building, which was abandoned and located in the farthest part from residential buildings, fit the description. There was usually no one there even during the day, and even more so in the dark.

He turned the jeep around and drove to the building. Coming closer, he turned off the headlights and reduced the speed to a minimum, trying to remain unnoticed. Going inside the building, he heard voices and noise and also saw the light from the headlights of cars. He realized that the cars were parked at the back of the building, and judging by the voices, it was quite lively there.

Kai quickly followed the noise, wandering in the dark corridors and rooms. It seemed to him that his approach was detected, and he was not too hiding. This was no longer necessary.

Finally, he went out into the corridor overlooking the courtyard, and saw exactly what he expected: Sebastian's people, led by himself and Sher, stood in a semicircle, in the center stood Frol with handcuffs in his arms.

"Kai, I'm always glad to see you," Sebastian said, turning his head towards Kai, "but now you'd better leave."

"No need to arrange to lynch. Let him go."

Kai walked forward and saw that the grate of the gate blocking his way out was padlocked. Footsteps and the creak of a door were heard from behind. He rushed back, but did not have time - the door closed, the key turned, and he was locked in this space.

Having tugged at the door, which had just been locked, he returned to the grate, tugged at it, and realized that it could not be opened. Through the bars, he could see everything, but he could not do anything.

Kai pulled out a pistol. All this time, Sebastian and the others watched him throw.

"If you shoot, everyone will come here. You're going to court all the guys. After all, we kidnapped an officer," Sebastian looked eloquently at Frol.

"In any case, you will end up under the tribunal if you harm him," Kai held a pistol in his hand until he dared to use it.

"Nobody can prove it. His word without witnesses means nothing," Sebastian nodded at Frol, "unless, of course, you confirm it."

Kai shot an angry look at Sebastian.

"Do you think I’m capable of this?"

"So, enough empty arguments!" Sher stepped up to Frol and hit him with a fist in the solar plexus with a swing, Frol bent in half and hung in the arms of the boys holding him. "Here, nit, get for everything."

Then Sher began to strike blow after blow. Two guys were holding Frol by the hands cuffed behind his back. Now he was like a punching bag to Sher.

"Enough!" Kai shook the grate, "Sebastian!"

Sebastian stood with a blank face, watching how Cher beat Frol brutally.

Kai understood that he would not open the door with a pistol anyway, but the shooting would definitely attract the attention of everyone here. And this was not only the abduction of an officer, this was already a beating of an officer. For this, and the execution can be. So he didn't know what to do now.

He tugged at the grate in vain, but when he saw that Frol was thrown to the ground and was being kicked, he turned away and slid down his back on it, sitting down on the floor. He knew too well how painful such blows.

Sebastian saw Kai sitting by the grate and how he covered his ears with his hands, but restrained himself, did not do anything.

***

It became quiet, Kai heard it even through the palms pressed to his ears. He removed his hands, stood up slowly, turned. There, in the yard, Frol was lying, there were no cars and the guys, everyone left. He went to the door, which he had entered, it turned out to be open.

Wasted no time, he rushed to the jeep and, having gone around the building, drove it into the backyard. It was good that Frol was a tough guy and even after all this he practically got into Kai's car himself, he only supported him. He couldn't have lifted it himself.

By the nature of the injuries, Frol Kai understood that he needed to be taken to the doctor in the hospital. As much as he wanted to hush up this story, human health is more important.

His fears were justified. The doctor immediately determined that Frol had two broken ribs and badly repulsed internal organs.

While Frol was being bandaged, all the authorities came to the hospital, since the doctor immediately reported on this emergency. Kai did not resist this, realizing the seriousness of the situation.

The colonel arrived with two of his assistants and Lieutenant Ivchenko. They walked past Kai into the ward, were there for a long time, then went out into the corridor.

"Stand up!" the colonel's voice sounded cold and harsh.

Kai stood at attention.

"Who did this?" looking into the eyes of Kai, asked Pyotr Ivanovich.

Kai guessed that Frol hadn't said who had beat him. Why? Probably he didn't want everyone to think that he was a weakling and ratted those with whom he could not cope with the force.

"I've found Frol in the backyard of the unfinished barracks and brought him to the hospital. I have nothing more to add."

"So you don’t want to talk? Are you covering these freaks?! I know who was sharpening his teeth against Frol! Well, nothing, I'll get to them."

All were silent. Pyotr Ivanovich approached Kai.

"Impudent boy! Do you think you're inviolable here?! Do you think everything is allowed to you?! I'm fed up with your antics and your behavior! I’ll find justice for you!"

Pyotr Ivanovich several times walked past Kai, who did not utter a word.

"Surrender the weapon. You're under arrest. You will dig the trenches; it will be good for you. You've become too arrogant."

Pyotr Ivanovich turned to Lieutenant Ivchenko:

"Place the prisoner in a punishment cell, tomorrow under escort - take him to forced labor. And do so every day, until I say that's enough!"

The colonel and his assistants walked down the corridor towards the exit.

Lieutenant Ivchenko called the guards, took the pistol and his waist belt from Kai's hands, and, with a vile smile, showed him to the exit.

He was taken to solitary confinement. He was no stranger to spending the night in such. Crouched in a fetal position on the hard bed, he fell asleep.

Early in the morning, Kai was raised and escorted through the entire garrison to forced labor. In the distant part of the garrison, defensive trenches were dug. They gave a shovel, and he got down to business.

Sometimes physical labor, especially so monotonous as throwing the earth from place to place, brought peace of mind and inner harmony. Therefore, until lunchtime, he was in a state of immersion in nirvana, not noticing neither the scorching rays of the sun, nor the heat, nor the fact that his palms were bloody from the rough handle of a shovel.

***

Sebastian had been thinking all morning about Kai, about how he had just had been sitting with his face turned away yesterday, covering his ears so as not to hear the sound of the beating. Then Sebastian wanted so much to approach him because he understood why Kai was covering his ears - he knew these blows too well, he remembered them on his body. Sebastian had a conscience, but he couldn't act differently yesterday. His people needed to feel his power and strength. He could not be so human as Kai.

Sher with a puzzled face quickly entered the room where he was sitting with the bros.

"Kai was arrested yesterday at the hospital. He brought Frol there. Frol has several broken ribs."

"Enough about Frol! What's with Kai ?!" Sebastian interrupted him.

"All the authorities came to the hospital. Then Kai was put alone for the night, and in the morning he was taken to dig trenches. He is digging them there now."

"He shielded us. He took it all upon himself," Sebastian said grimly.

"How do you know?" Sher looked at Sebastian.

"If he had said about us, they would have taken us all yesterday. We would sit in solitary confinement instead of him," Sebastian nervously walked around the room. "He shielded us. What else have you learned? How long should he dig?"

"Nothing concrete. They say that yesterday the colonel yelled at him so hard that the walls were shaking. In short, as long as daddy does not have a change of heart, Kai will dig."

"Who is there of our people?"

"There are a lot of ours, they wanted not to let him dig, but in the morning there was a big brass there. They say that after dinner everyone will leave, then our boys won't let Kai dig. He will sit and rest. They'll dig for him."

"Who is there from the leaders now?"

"It seems nobody already," Sher answered.

"Then let's go to him."

Sebastian went to the exit, the guys followed him.

Sher once again contacted his people, and they confirmed that everyone from the leadership had already gone. They calmly drove up to the place where the earthworks were being carried out and got out of the cars.

The shovel had already been taken away from Kai. Although he did not want to give, he saw that it was pointless to argue - the bros would not let him dig anymore, they would do everything for him themselves.

He sat in the shade, keeping hands parallel to the ground, palms down.

Sebastian quickly walked over and grabbed Kai's hands, turned his palms over - they were ripped off and bleeding.

"It always happens. I always rip off my palms as soon as I start digging," Kai said apologetically when he saw Sebastian’s upset face.

"Your hands are not intended for this," Sebastian turned to the frozen boys. "Why are you standing? Bring a first-aid kit from the car and water."

Kai tried to resist, but Sebastian himself washed his palms and, having treated him with an antiseptic, began to bandage him.

"Sorry about yesterday," Sebastian said without looking up and continuing to bandage Kai's hands.

"For what? You didn't beat me."

"I saw how you covered your ears ..."

"Yes, unpleasant memories appear when I hear these sounds of blows."

"What term are you assigned here?"

"I do not know. The colonel was very angry yesterday."

Sebastian finally finished with Kai's hands:

"Do you want to smoke?"

"Yes."

He brought the flame of a lighter to Kai's cigarette.

"Guys, fetch food!" he gave orders, despite Kai's protest. "You will eat. Or do you want to sip the official gruel, which you are supposed to?"

Kai shook his head. Even without feeling the taste, but seeing what the penalty boxers were fed with, he lost all desire to eat it.

"You shouldn't have done that with Frol."

Kai couldn't help but say that.

"It was not in vain. We have taught a freak a lesson!" Sher snapped proudly.

"You've taught me a lesson, Frol is now resting in the hospital ward."

"It's my own fault. Why did you get involved?"

"What if he died there from the beatings? After all, everyone knows who beat him anyway," Kai shook the ash off his cigarette.

Sher didn’t have anything to say. Sebastian was also silent, then he remembered the main:

"Prokhor still can't get through to you all this time."

"Yes, I have seen that he called. But you know that all this time there are constant trips. I couldn't talk there, but after returning I did not remember about his call, fell asleep. Well, tell me what he says - how is he?" Kai's eyes lit up with the memories of his friend.

"I'll tell you, but first about the main thing: he expands his business and wants to send his representatives here, or rather, to Kamrat. These are, like, his people. The main is called Lavr, and there are still guys with him. In general, I am here, Lavr is in Kamrat, Prokhor is in Moscow. The network is getting better. Regular deliveries. Well, you are the key one in everything - you understand yourself."

Kai looked at Sebastian.

"Yes, of course, they have time to play with all this, to establish a network, to supply. And lately, I have only been running around on the outskirts, shootings, shaking on an APC, sitting in ambushes and again swallowing dust ..."

Kai did not like all these Prokhor's things, but he could not contradict his friend.

"Come on, tell me in more detail," Kai leaned against the earthen embankment, realizing that it was still necessary to delve into these muddled up: what, where who, and how would deliver.

Sebastian stayed with him until evening. First, he spoke in detail about what Prokhor had said. Then they brought food, he made sure that Kai ate. Then they began to discuss and adjust Prokhor's plan for couriers since Prokhor planned all this from Moscow, and only Kai knew the features of the local traditions.

In the evening, Sebastian and the guys left, as the authorities could return.

Kai was taken back under guard. Another night he spent on a hard bed in a solitary confinement cell. The next morning, everything was repeated exactly as on the previous day. In the first half of the day, he strenuously dug trenches, as his superiors stood nearby and watched the execution of the colonel's order, then the superiors left, but Sebastian and his guys arrived.

Sebastian immediately came with a first-aid kit and, pushing Kai onto the bench, began to carefully unbind the bandages with dried blood and dirt from his hands. Kai silently watched this touching action. After bandaging his hands, he was fed and given a drink.

He spent the rest of the day in their company, they called Prokhor and continued to correct his plan, the crossing points of couriers, hiding places, and paths along which they would go.

This went on for five days. On the sixth, instead of escorting Kai to earthworks, he was taken to the colonel's office.

Pyotr Ivanovich was sitting at the table with a stern face with his assistants - Lieutenant Colonel Prokhorov and Major Batulin. Lieutenant Ivchenko reported on his arrival, looking at Kai's pitiful look with satisfaction. The colonel and the rest of those present in the office also gazed with a squeamish look at his dirty uniforms soaked in dust and sweat.

"You’re lucky," the colonel finally spoke up, "an urgent task from the center, you’ll get the details from Bartholomew. You will work with his team. Departure is in half an hour."

The colonel turned to Lieutenant Ivchenko:

"Give him back his personal weapon," the colonel turned back to Kai, "but if I had my way, you would have been digging trenches all your life."

"Can I go?" Kai asked calmly.

Even in such a dirty, shabby look, he looked elegant and beautiful. It seemed that the dirt only further emphasizes youthful beauty.

"You are free," the colonel answered dryly and only now saw his bandaged hands. "What with the hands? Oh yes, you are a gentle creature, digging trenches is not a princely business."

"Can I go?" Kai remained calm listening to this.

"Yes."

Pyotr Ivanovich in his heart treated Kai well and even pitied him, but Kai's constant antics, his disobedience to the rules, a complete lack of discipline - all this disgusted the colonel, and, moreover, he could not allow himself to behave like that in his submission. He must maintain power here, which was why he acted so harshly with Kai - the guy gave him no choice in the matter.

Yes, he would have forced him all his life to digging trenches for his self-confidence, for how he puts himself above the rules, and for how he behaves and hides behind people from the center. What was there for him to do? Only such methods somehow put Kai in his place, although not for long.

***

Realizing that time was running out, Kai asked for a lift, stopping a passing car. At home, he immediately rushed to his laptop, opened a secret encrypted file, read his task: to slay the next leader from the group. He would have to do this while Bartholomew's group would be fighting with them. How he would do it, he would think over on the road. Now there was no time.

On the way sitting in Bartholomew's armored personnel carrier, he listened to the part of the assignment that was given to the group, since only he knew about the secret part. The road was long. They arrived in the evening and began to wait for the night to move on under its cover.

This operation took several days. The grouping was constantly moving. The locations for the attack were unsuccessful, because of this, the group followed them, masking their presence and keeping a considerable distance from them.

They moved during the day, went out on reconnaissance at night and monitored their movement until morning, and then again returned to their armored personnel carriers and followed the tracks. In between, they ate and slept in turns.

All this time, Bartholomew and his guys were formal and dry with Kai. Kai realized that this was after the incident with Frol, who was still in the hospital. And he also understood that they knew who beat Frol and knew about Kai's friendship with these people. They did not understand why Kai chose the latter between Frol and thugs. After all, if Kai had testified, those guilty of beating the officer would have been punished. They knew that Kai had said nothing and that he was digging trenches for it. Bartholomew and the guys were offended for such a choice of a friend. But now there was work, and no one began to find out, keeping the distance.

It was hard for Kai to see this, but he could not explain anything to them and, moreover, expect understanding from them. Therefore, he also turned to them only strictly on the case, although it was very difficult when such close people turned away from you like that.

At first, Kai wanted to talk about what had happened, but then, seeing the cold faces of the guys, he decided that this conversation would lead nowhere.

During the next stop, he changed the dirty bandages on his hands to clean ones. Without bandages, his hands were constantly bleeding, dust and dirt penetrated the wounds.

Everyone saw his torment, but no one came to help. Kai was offended for such an attitude towards himself, on the other hand, he understood them. After all, Frol was now in the hospital, the guilty had not been punished, Kai was covering them. How else should they relate to him?

He turned away and began to stare into the distance, forcing himself to think only of the task.

***

One night they saw that the group's camp was located very well for their plan, they returned to the APCs for a night attack.

The plan of action was quickly adjusted: from one side of the gorge, the armored personnel carrier of Bartholomew enters, from the other the armored personnel carrier of the Torpedo, cutting off any attempts to escape, and Ivan's armored personnel carrier drives into a well-located hill, where Kai will be, and from there they pour fire on everyone who is in the camp. The plan was simple; the main thing was that the area was conducive to its execution.

Kai was happy with everything, except that in the panic that would arise in the camp, he could miss the one he should kill. Therefore, he decided to go there before they heard the noise of the armored personnel carriers, and then he would have time to catch in a rifle scope the one he needed.

He slipped out of the APC, grabbing a sniper rifle, and moved along the path, which he had noted in advance, towards the enemy camp. He heard the noise of approaching armored personnel carriers, realizing that the guys did not look for him and wait.

He aimed the optics at the tents, suggesting that the main leaders should be in the largest, in the center of the camp. The noise of the armored personnel carriers caused a commotion in the camp, then voices and commands for the defense began to be heard. It was evident that night guests were not expected. The one, Kai needed, ran out of the main tent. He stopped, peering into the darkness, Kai pulled the trigger. The man fell. Judging by the bustle around him, the shot was a good one.

Panic arose in the camp, and here, finally, armored personnel carriers opened fire on all this chaos.

Kai lay in the same place and shot those who ran in his direction. He saw that a small part of the group went into the mountains along another path, but this did not concern Kai. He completed his task.

Then everything was quiet.

He returned to Ivan's armored personnel carrier. The man looked at him strangely but said nothing. They reached their group.

Bartholomew, seeing Kai, grabbed him by the collar of his uniform:

"Who are you, bitch, working for? You set us all up now! After all, it was you who shot even before we reached the points! You dumped in advance! Are you holding us for idiots ?!"

"I thought that an extra firing point would not hurt. It was too late to agree on this. Everything is right, the task is completed, we can return."

Kai knew he was wrong, but what could he explain? Now he was only trying to smooth over the conflict. Bartholomew shook him roughly again.

Kai closed his eyes, expecting a blow. Bartholomew saw this, froze, and then, releasing Kai, moved away from him.

"Let me at least hit him in the face," advancing on Kai, said Pepper, "if you cannot do it."

"Leave him alone. I've said set aside!" Bartholomew commanded. "We are back, all into cars!"

Pepper spat angrily next to Kai, turned around, and walked into his APC.

They drove back quickly, practically without spending the night only stopped for a couple of hours for rest.

Kai's presence was ignored by everyone. He endured it stoically, knowing they were right.

Returning to the garrison, everyone went to report to the colonel. He silently listened to everything. Now Bartholomew did not spare Kai, he said everything as it was. The colonel was silent. Then he thanked everyone for their good work. He let everyone go to rest, only Kai was unfriendly asked to stay.

Kai remained in the office under the colonel's gaze and the gaze of his assistants.

"Do you play your game?" looking into Kai's eyes, said Pyotr Ivanovich. "Look, don't overplay. If my guys perish, I'll strangle you with my own hands."

The colonel turned sharply and sat down in his chair.

"Why are you standing? You are free. If it weren't for those who are covering you, right now I would have strangled you. And so I can only say that you have a week of leave. This is not from me. It's from the center. You can go."

Kai left, still hearing the colonel's voice and his accusatory speech, and here his phone rang. He pressed the answer button on the machine without even glancing at who was calling.

"My sweet, hello," a voice sounded. " I want to see you. Will you give me such a gift?"

"Arshad, is it you?" Kai had not yet fully recovered from everything that happened.

"Someone else calls you sweet? Of course, it's me. You can rest with me. I want to fly somewhere, so I thought it would be more fun with my friends. For several days. Can you?"

"Yes," Kai did not attach any meaning to the word with friends, now he generally still poorly perceived everything.

"Well, that's good. You make me very happy with this answer. I am waiting for you in Kamrat at the Riviera Plaza Hotel, when will you arrive?"

Kai realized that he didn't even have time to come to his senses, to comprehend everything. But on the other hand - why? It's so good that Arshad called. Now he needed to leave here, change the setting.

"I'm leaving now," he replied.

The rose of a desert. Volume 3. "Book of Flame" Chapter 3

Kai was awakened by the noise in the palace. From the window listening to the screams he saw that everyone was fussing, walking, running. From separate phrases, it became clear that this chaos in their calm, measured life was caused by the arrival of Sheikh Arshad. He stood at the window and thought that, probably, in vain he had not tried to escape from here, knowing that this meeting would be followed by uncertainty.

Although, all this time he thought about escape and even planned it. But everything was not easy here. In his room, there were forged twisted lattices everywhere on the windows; it was clearly pointless to saw them with a nail file. Guards were always guarding his chambers. Everywhere he was accompanied by guards and servants. Even walking accompanied by Maksud, Kai remained under guard. He saw helicopters on the roof of the building, but Maksud never took him in that direction, although he conducted a tour of part of the palace, showing its luxury and splendor.

When Kai tried to force Maksud to lead him in the direction of the building with helicopters, Maksud, being quite intelligent, understood everything at once and also tacitly rejected his request.

During this time, of course, Kai studied the part of the palace where he was allowed to be, he even knew where the so-called "night half" is located, where the concubines lived. Access to them was strictly prohibited. They also had their own garden for walking, completely isolated from prying eyes.

All in all, Kai's escape plan was dim. He knew approximately the location of garages and stables. After getting in there, taking a horse or a car, to try to break through the locked gate was very foolish.

He would not get there unnoticed. Even if he got there, even if he miraculously broke through the gate - where would he go? In an open area from a helicopter, he would be instantly found and returned.

So he needed to capture the helicopter. But this was real either in complete chaos, as it was during the palace coup, or with a detailed escape plan. And this turned out to be unreal, he could not even come close to them to find out where the keys were from them, where the fuel was, and how they were guarded. But most importantly, Kai was not ready to kill the people around him, and he could only try to escape. These people, they did nothing wrong to him, they served the Sheikh, so why would he then unleash a massacre with them? Kai knew he was trapped in his conscience.

Now, listening to the noise and screams, he may have regretted that after all, at least he had not just climbed over the wall and walked from here, and now what awaited him? What verdict would the Sheikh give him?

Excited Maksud rushed into his room. He informed about the arrival of Sheikh Arshad and entrusted him to the care of his servants, very much asking Kai not to show off on this day and take everything for granted, since he personally did not have time to be with him now, he should be near Arshad.

Kai did not "show off", realizing that for all his disobedience, Maksud would be punished. During this time, he became very friendly with Maksud, who turned out to be an educated and interesting person, albeit a cunning one. But Kai liked him.

Therefore, he stoically endured all beauty procedures, ate everything that was brought. He allowed to dress him up. He endured the coloring and decoration. All this dressing took quite a long time.

***

Arshad was not in his palace for a long time and therefore spent the first half of the day in common affairs, listening to reports from Gifar and Maksud, who, in addition to Kai, still had the whole harem on his shoulders and many problems associated with this. At the end of all the reports, Arshad remembered the prisoner.

"Well, what about the prisoner? Let them lead him. We need to decide something with him. However, for his audacity, he should rot in prison, but he fought gloriously and saved my life," Arshad fell silent, seeing the mysterious smiles on the faces of Maksud and Gifar. "So ... I don't know something? Why are you smiling like March male cats? Does this concern the prisoner?"

"Yes, Great Arshad," Maksud purred.

"Well, that's enough! We're not at an official reception right now, let's go without the Great Ones and everything else. So what don't I  know about the prisoner? And stop smiling like that!"

"You don’t know much about him, but you’d better see everything yourself," Maksud purred again. "I’ll just tell you the main thing that you should know. This is a very educated young man with excellent manners of behavior, with knowledge of etiquette and everything that an intelligent person should know."

Seeing the surprise on Arshad's face, Maksud continued.

"He knows many languages, spends most of his time in your library, reads a lot in different languages. Do you remember that there, on the upper shelf, on the right, there is such an old book? He is already finishing it. During this time, he has read a couple of German classics in the original, French literature of the seventeenth century and regularly reads in Latin - medical volumes, which are at the bottom on the left, well, and other things, you can ask him yourself," Maksud was pleased with the effect of his speech. Arshad sat and, not breathing, looked at him. "Well, there is another thing. You remember - he perfectly wields a sword. Gifar now takes the Art of Combat Mastery from him every day. But the bruises on him make me very sad."

"I'm not interested in this, it's about bruises," seeing the strange smiles on their faces, Arshad flared up. "What is it! I do not mind, or rather, it’s even very good that this prisoner is at least somewhat useful."

"By the way, do you remember what he looks like?" Maksud radiated an enigmatic smile.

Arshad breathed in, drank the water carefully placed in front of him by Gifar, who also enjoyed this scene.

"I remember - a thin ragged arrogant draggle-tail who dared to look into my eyes," then he added thoughtfully, "he has emerald eyes ..."

"Well, then, well, you'll recognize him," Maksud finished his speech. "Maybe we will invite him to our dinner?"

At first, Arshad had no idea of ​​admitting some prisoner from the desert to his table, but all this strange behavior of his friends and what he had heard about this prisoner intrigued him, and he nodded in agreement. Maksud did not give him time to recover, immediately called the servants and ordered to set dinner on an open veranda under the shade of vines for four people and bring the prisoner to the table.

When Arshad, accompanied by Maksud and Gifar, entered the veranda, Kai was already waiting for them there. The servants had brought him, and now he thoughtfully considered the view from the balcony to the exotic garden. At the sound of footsteps, he turned around.

Arshad took several steps in his direction and froze.

"Who is he?…"

In a strange voice, Arshad either asked or said.

"Our prisoner," Maksud replied calmly, enjoying the unfolding action.

Gifar also watched this with interest, realizing that quite recently he also looked exactly like Arshad.

"How do you do, Sheikh Arshad," Kai slightly bowed his head in greeting. He did not become silent and pretend to be an evil beech. Such roles are suitable for girls, not for him.

"How do you do," Arshad fell silent, then said again, more confidently. "Hello. What's your name?"

"Is it important?"

"Well, now I know for sure that it is you, only that impudent ragamuffin at the plane could answer that way."

Arshad approached Kai, now he was not angry, he examined him - or rather, devoured him with his eyes.

Kai did not quite understand this look on himself, no one had ever looked at him like that. Men usually look at girls with such looks when they want ... Kai shrank, drove this thought out of his head, forbade himself to finish mentally this sentence.

Arshad by that time was going the third circle around him.

Maksud saw that it was necessary to save the situation. He knew how hot-tempered his captive was, and he did not like such attention to himself, there could be a conflict. Maksud quickly approached them.

"Great Sheikh Arshad, do honor to your savior, invite him to the table."

Arshad shuddered at the voice of Maksud, came to his senses, and remembered that no one had canceled the role of the owner of the palace. He quickly grabbed Kai around the waist and led him to the table.

Everyone was confused here.

Gifar's jaw dropped. Maksud froze in place, and Kai was thinking whether to hit the Sheikh in the face for the position of his hand on his hips or not ...

In such thoughts, Arshad brought him to his chair and carefully sat him down, then sat down in his rightful place opposite Kai. Maksud sat next to Kai, and Gifar - next to Maksud. The dishes were brought with food.

Only Gifar and Maksud were eating at the table. Arshad was absorbing Kai with his eyes, occasionally bringing pieces of food to his mouth, and Kai was moving the food in the plate with a fork, constantly bumping into Arshad's gaze.

Maksud again saw that it was necessary to save the situation at lunch.

"O Great Arshad, forgive your guest for eating so little," Maksud began theatrically.

"Maksud, that's enough," Arshad grunted angrily at another word about his greatness, then the meaning of the words reached Arshad, "and why does our guest eat so little?" he turned to those present.

"Our guest does not perceive the flavor of the food. Your doctors examined him. It is, indeed, a nervous illness, a consequence of a hard life," Maksud again theatrically recited, "therefore I have to carefully monitor his diet, otherwise he forgets to eat altogether," he said in his usual tone.

Arshad came to his senses. He hadn't expected to hear that.

"Eat," he said, looking at Kai, "please don’t offend me."

Kai smiled and began to eat. Arshad was also distracted by his plate, forcing himself not to take his eyes off the food, although more than anything in the world now he wanted to look at him ...

The wine was poured into goblets. Arshad watched through half-closed eyelids as his guest with thin fingers touched the silver goblet, slid along its surface, touching it slightly, then squeezed and smoothly, in elusive grace, brought it to his lips, taking a sip, put it back on the table, and lips retained their gloss moisture of red wine ...

Arshad felt that everything swam before his eyes, a wave of excitement went through his body and began to concentrate on his awakening dick. He quickly drank the water and forced himself to calm down. He had never felt this way. Never, even being a green teenager, he did not get turned on like that, sitting at a table and dripping saliva and desire. This began to anger him, but when faced with the green lights in the eyes of this young man, he realized that he could not be angry with him.

Lunch passed in a daze. Maksud constantly created the background of a lively conversation, Gifar helped him in this. Kai answered in a very cultured and restrained manner, while Arshad was silent. The shock was too strong, he was overwhelmed too hard, he fought too hard with himself to regain his calmness and suppress the wave of animal desire that covered him. It was all too strong. He was not ready for this.

When Maksud said that their guest was being escorted to his chambers, Arshad did not object. He watched him go, remaining seated at the table.

"You're not happy, are you? Have I deserved your anger?" Maksud was already worried, looking at the strange state of Arshad.

"Well, what have you to do with it!" Arshad blurted out irritably. "I can't understand myself ..." already softening, he answered, "once again repeat what you've said about him."

Maksud patiently repeated everything that he had said earlier about Kai, only he began to enumerate the books that he read in even more detail.

"You said about training. Are you training tomorrow?" Arshad turned to Gifar.

"Yes - at ten."

"Very good, train as usual, I'll come to see."

Arshad's face changed again, he pondered and, not looking at Maksud, asked:

"Did the doctors examine him?"

"Yes, he is completely healthy."

"You know, I’m not asking about that."

"He has never slept with men. He's a virgin."

Arshad's fingers drummed on the table. Then he got up and silently retired to his chambers. Gifar and Maksud followed him, meaningfully exchanging glances behind him.

Already in the evening Maksud, as usual, went to Arshad to clarify whom he would like to see in the chambers of love today.

"A fragile short boy, let him be curly."

For some reason, Maksud was not even surprised, he bowed with an imperturbable face and left.

When Arshad entered the chambers for love, there was a young man of twenty or twenty-two years old, thin, short. Arshad quickly approached him, then stopped, realizing that it was not him...

This guy was not so graceful, the face was different, although handsome; he had curly hair, though it was a perm, and dyed black; the eyes were green, but he saw that they were just lenses.

"Fake," Arshad breathed in disappointment.

The young man was not taken aback, caught the moment of his confusion, and knelt in front of him.

Arshad ran his hand through his hair, felt curly locks, closed his eyes, and saw his eyes, shining like emeralds.

"Yes, you can… touch me," Arshad said with a hesitant breath, felt his fingers on his aroused flesh, remembered his thin fingers hugging a goblet of wine, and sweet pain passed through his body.

All night, he caressed his hair, hugged and pressed him to himself. Deceiving himself that this was the one he wanted so badly.

Why did Arshad not demand him that night? This prisoner touched something in him that now stopped him from wanting to possess him. He decided to wait. For his sake, he agreed to a fake. Arshad was angry with himself, with his actions, until he understood why he behaved this way. After all, he always took what he wanted, and now he deviated from his rule.

***

Kai felt strange that day. This look of Arshad pursued him everywhere, not allowing him to focus on books, then haunted and resurfaced in memory while he was kept in baths and smeared with oils. Even playing the console, he saw in front of him those burning eyes piercing right through him.

Before going to bed, Maksud came in, they chatted as usual, although Maksud noticed that Kai was sad and thoughtful.

"Maksud, please bring me something to sleep from your magical tinctures."

Kai understood that now it would be difficult for him to fall asleep, but he so wanted to fall asleep and forget everything.

"Of course, I'll bring it now, your dream will be beautiful, no sorrows will touch you."

Maksud smiled as usual and left his chambers.

***

In the morning training with Gifar, Kai forgot about everything, as soon as he had felt the sword in his hand although with a blunt blade. All problems receded for a while.

Now they were practicing another combat technique with a lunge, sweep and roll over the back. Then he repeated the same technique with five of Gifar's warriors.

Then they began to repeat the previous combat techniques. Kai fought them one on one, then all together. He corrected them, explained, then they attacked him again or he attacked himself. At one of these moments, he felt someone's eyes on him and saw Arshad. Kai guessed that Arshad had been watching him for a long time, and before that he had felt his gaze on him, he was simply too carried away by the battle.

He continued training, but the joy of the lesson had already passed. Fortunately, their time came to an end. He was taken by Maksud to make beauty. Kai felt Arshad's gaze until he disappeared behind the doors of the palace.

At lunchtime, Arshad sat at the table with Gifar and Maksud. He ordered Maksud not to bring the prisoner, realizing that he did not yet know how to behave. He was completely confused. What he saw today on the parade ground for fights impressed him. Yes, this prisoner was excellent with a sword and fighting technique. He was flexible, plastic, and it took the breath away. Arshad was watching and could not take his eyes off. He caught every movement of the guy, how he fell and stood up at the same second, how he moved softly like a cat and how sharp his lunges were when he struck. Arshad was not ready for such a contrast in one person. He was at a loss.

"Maksud, after dinner in the garden, when I will smoke a hookah, invite our guest, I want to talk to him."

Maksud bowed his head respectfully.

After dinner, Arshad usually went into the garden to a huge bower covered with carpets, on which there were low sofas with numerous pillows. Here he reclined with a hookah. There were always vases with fruits, oriental sweets, and drinks on the table in front of him. Although according to his faith it was impossible to drink wine, he sometimes allowed himself to sip a glass of the red one.

The bower was winded with vines, flowers were fragrant around, light curtains of transparent chiffon descended on the sides of the columns.

Arshad in thought was inhaling the sweet smoke from the hookah, through half-closed eyelids he saw him.

When Kai climbed the steps and froze, Arshad gestured to a low sofa with pillows opposite. Kai sat down on the sofa and leaned against the pillows.

Arshad offered his guest wines and sweets. Kai thanked him, took a sip of wine, did not touch sweets and fruits.

Then Arshad continued the conversation on general topics: nature, weather, palace life, politics, war, art, and others. His mysterious guest, as Maksud had warned, was well educated in all spheres, answered everything within the framework of small talk - nothing superfluous, and, at the same time, he could not be reproached for lack of communication.

Arshad saw that the young man was ideal in behavior and education. He never once admitted disrespect in answers, showing natural tact and subtle knowledge of etiquette. All this infuriated Arshad! He needed something else, but he understood that during the conversation he had not been able to break through the framework of the diplomatic dialogue. Arshad went over all the topics, but he could not destroy this invisible wall between them. And then he realized that he had underestimated his captive. Despite his age, his education, and his experience, he lost to him.

Arshad took a drag on his hookah again and, listening to another diplomatic answer from his guest, watched as he ran his beautiful thin fingers over the cold steel of the goblet, squeezed them slightly, and brought this goblet to his lips incredibly gracefully. A small sip of wine and the goblet was placed on the table, and the lips shine a little with moisture.

Arshad lowered his eyes, again feeling that a warm wave, running through his body, was concentrated in the lower abdomen.

As though through the fog he heard a voice, shuddered, looked up, and saw that a servant was standing beside him and, probably, had already been trying to draw his attention to himself for several minutes.

He waved his hand.

The servant, as always, began with a lengthy listing of Arshad's merits. He was not ready to listen to all this now.

"What do you want to say?" he interrupted the servant.

"Great Arshad, you've asked to report to you about the arrival of the stallion you have acquired, named North Star. We have big problems with it. The horse is very aggressive. Our best riders can't handle it! Give us more time, perhaps in two weeks, we will be able to pacify his character. I hope this news did not darken your day, and your anger will not overtake us ..."

Then the servant again began to enumerate all the merits of the great Sheikh.

Arshad listened deeply to all this and accidentally glanced at the face of his guest. And here he was pierced like lightning. He saw a completely different face of his guest. Instead of the indifferently calm, now the face of the young man sitting opposite him shone, green eyes sparkled and burned, listening to every word from the servant's lips. And Arshad understood - was it really something that could destroy this wall?! Did he find the key to him?

Arshad chuckled, then said indifferently.

"I want to go and look at this stallion," he looked at the guest. "Will you keep me company?"

"Yes!" Kai exclaimed too emotionally and stood up, then, recollecting himself, sat back down. But Arshad already understood everything - he won!

He stood up with a sly smile and showed with his hand that he was inviting his guest to join him.

Walking along the paths of the garden to the stable building, they talked to each other like two people who had found each other with a common passion - it was horses. Arshad was a fan of horses, he could talk about them for hours, and now he saw that this young man was just like him. They talked excitedly, interrupting each other, arguing, discussing ...

Horses are a boundless, immense world. And, starting to talk about the complexity of the character of one horse, they gradually moved on to general issues of riding horses with specific examples from the personal experience of one and the other then talked about horse breeds, feeding, and grooming. They mentioned forging, horseshoes. Men discussed the issue of saddles and who preferred which ones, moved on to the issue of accustoming the horse to the saddle, and so, in a heated discussion, they reached the parade ground, where this rebellious stallion was fetched.

The horse was gorgeous, black, thin-legged, with the eyes of a wild beast and flaring nostrils. It was held on both sides by grooms on long ropes. The horse kicked its legs, snorted, and clattering its teeth tried to bite the people who were holding it back. The man who worked with it tried for a very long time to approach the horse. The horse did not admit anyone, it turned around to the approaching one with its backside and waved his hind legs away. All this was dangerous, the animal was aggressive and posed a threat to people.

"Arshad, let me sit on it!" Kai barely restrained himself not to cling to Arshad's hand when he saw such a beautiful horse.

"Well ... if you want ..." Arshad did not expect such a request and answered, not fully thinking about its meaning.

This permission was enough for Kai, he quickly threw off a robe, remaining in wide trousers and a shirt tied with a wide silk belt, quickly crawled under the fences of the parade ground, and ran to the grooms holding the horse. He said something to them, and then, after waiting for a second, while the horse, having beaten off with its hind legs, had not yet grouped itself, jumped into the saddle. The grooms let go of the ropes, which were threaded into the snaffle rings and have now slipped out of them.

The stallion felt freedom and immediately reared up.

Arshad regretted his rash decision, seeing that it was very dangerous, and he needed this young man alive and well. But it was too late!

Then he just stood and watched everything that was happening.

The horse, dropping to four legs, tried to grab its rider by the leg, but Kai foresaw this, did not give it a reason to turn its head and bite his leg. The stallion began to rage, also realizing that it could not reach the rider's leg. It galloped along the parade ground, raising clouds of sand, bucked, braked sharply, spun, but the rider sat on it like a "glove". The stallion reared up again and, not calculating its strength, began to fall on its back. Everything turned into ice inside Arshad.

Feeling that the horse under him lost its balance and was falling on its back, Kai pushed off from him and, without releasing the reins, jumped to the ground. The horse fell, quickly turned on its side, and began to get up, and at that moment Kai again jumped into the saddle.

Getting up from the ground and feeling that the rider was on it again, the stallion continued its attempts to throw him off itself. For another twenty minutes, it rode, bucked, kicked up, tried to reach the rider's leg, twirled, wheezed, and snorted with anger. Two more times it rolled over onto its back, but the rider returned to the saddle, and everything was repeated again. Finally, the horse ran out of steam. And then Kai began to urge him on. He did not give the stallion a chance to rest. He made him gallop around the parade ground circle after circle, and gradually the horse resigned itself and already began to listen to its rider, obeying him, fulfilling his wishes to turn in one direction or the other, stop and gallop again, go to step or again to gallop. For such obedience, Kai let the lathering and sweaty animal change its gallop to a step, patted it on the neck, and let go of the reins. The stallion exhaled and, with the air of a submissive lamb, walked towards Arshad and the waiting grooms.

Kai calmly jumped off it, patted it on the neck again, stroked its face, and gave the occasion to the grooms, who took it to have a clean up after such a jump.

Arshad exhaled when he finally saw that Kai got off this crazy horse.

"Tomorrow it's necessary to ride it, but I think it won't behave like that," Kai said quite calmly, going up to Arshad.

"You are very good in the saddle."

"I have been riding horses since childhood. I had to tame more violent ones," Kai laughed.

Arshad smiled too. Here it was - his victory! He even laughed, but how sincere! How handsome he was when this smile was on his face!

"Let's go - I'll show you my stable!"

Arshad made a gesture towards the stable.

"Great! Let's go to!"

Almost jumping, overtaking Arshad, Kai went with him.

Once inside the stable, they forgot about time and reality. Arshad with delight and pride showed Kai his horses, and Kai competently discussed each with Arshad. Then they reviewed the horse equipment, fodder, utility rooms, and everything related to the life of the stable. Arshad was delighted. He had no one to talk about this with, or rather, formally everyone was ready to listen to him, but he understood that this topic was of no interest to anyone. Another thing was his mysterious prisoner, who listened with delight to everything, climbed all the nooks, discussed all the topics, and was ready to listen and talk about it endlessly, just like himself.

During this occupation, Maksud found them, who had already been told about the heroic ride of a wild stallion by a handsome young man, now the whole palace was talking about this, naturally embellishing this story with more and more terrible and incredible details.

Maksud was already preparing for the most terrible, therefore, seeing Kai, he rushed to him, grabbed him by the shoulders, set him in front of him, and, walking around him four times, exclaimed:

"Glory to the Almighty - you are safe and sound!"

Kai had already forgotten what he was talking about.

"What has happened?"

"Well, the whole palace talks only about how you tamed this crazy stallion ... Oh, forgive me, Great Arshad, I was very worried about the health of our guest!"

"You know, Maksud, I was also very worried about his health when I saw him on this horse," Arshad laughed.

"So, was it really so serious?"

Kai smiled at the frightened face of Maksud.

"Yes, very seriously," he became sad, "I even have lost an earring and erased lipstick."

Arshad burst out laughing, and Maksud blossomed, finally seeing that everything was going as well as possible!

With tremendous efforts, Maksud finally managed to take Kai out of the stable, and then only because Arshad remembered that they had been waiting for him for a long time on business in the meeting room.

"I'm waiting for you for dinner!" leaving, threw Arshad to Kai.

Maksud nodded understandingly and, taking Kai by the shoulders, with an effort led him out of the stable to make beauty. Kai was indignant all the way, telling Maksud how he made him tired with his bathrooms, massages, rubbing with oils, and all this bullshit. That he could clean the horse instead and do more interesting things in the stable. Maksud listened to everything, smiled, and dragged Kai with him towards the bathhouse.

***

This dinner was strikingly different from their first meeting at the table. Kai and Arshad talked incessantly like old friends. Naturally, their topics of conversation were about horses. Maksud and Gifar ate in silence and were sincerely happy that the two had found each other.

By the end of dinner, Arshad remembered what he wanted to tell Kai:

"We’ll go falconry early tomorrow."

"Will you take me with you?" Kai did not believe what he had heard.

"Of course! Who else will I go with then?"

"Will you give me the North Star?"

"It's still unreliable ..."

"Well, please," by the way with which eyes Kai looked at Arshad, the Sheikh realized that he was ready to give him everything that he didn’t ask.

"Okay," Arshad smiled, "maybe you will tell me what your name is?"

Kai averted his eyes in embarrassment.

"Call me as you want."

Arshad saw, he would not tell him his name. His gaze fell on a fruit bowl containing sand roses for aesthetics. This amazing miracle of nature, which is created by winds, sun, and sand - a desert rose.

"The rose of a desert," said Arshad. "I will call you the rose of a desert," he picked up a rose made of sand from a bowl of fruit.

Kai flushed, wanted to argue, then restrained himself, realizing that it could be worse. And, in general, it was his own fault that he did not say his name.

"Are you offended?"

"No, but I hoped the name would be different."

"Tell me your name ... are you silent? Then I will call you the rose of a desert. Maksud, Gifar, have you heard the name of our handsome guest?"

They nodded in agreement. Kai did not take offense at this, Arshad's tone was too friendly, he did not want to offend him with this name. Kai saw it.

The conversation at the table again returned to the topic of horses. They began to discuss the upcoming horse hunt with a falcon of the next day.

Kai did not like hunting, or rather, did not understand why it was necessary to kill animals when there was so much food? But hunting with a falcon was different. It was a duel between a raptorial bird and its prey. Here the person did not interfere but only waited and watched. Therefore, Kai considered that such a hunt did not contradict his principles and views on the humane treatment of animals. He had never been on such a hunt, but he had read a lot about it from old books and now he was glad to be there himself.

Returning after dinner to his chambers, accompanied by Maksud, the guy simply blew Maksud's mind out brain with these horses and everything connected with them.

Maksud had angelic patience, he listened, agreed with everything and after all the beauty procedures he happily gave Kai an evening herbal tincture for sleep. After that, seeing that Kai was falling asleep, he left the guy's chambers contentedly.

Despite all this, Maksud simply glowed from within with the understanding of what he saw. And he saw love ...

The rose of a desert. Volume 3. "Book of Flame" Chapter 2

 

In the morning a servant with a security guard came for Kai. He was politely invited to come with them. While they were leading him through the corridors and halls, he examined the furnishings of the palace in the daylight. Well, it was a fairy tale. It was a real oriental tale with an overabundance of luxury, wealth, and splendor in everything.

They came to a room like a bathhouse. There were several baths, plunge pools, jacuzzis, and steam rooms. This was the fiefdom of Maksud - just here they preened feathers to those who got in his way.

Maksud bowed to Kai, he had not seen him for a day and was already bored. Maksud was once again convinced that he was not mistaken and was right that his prisoner was unique.

He started small talk about nature-weather, leading Kai to one of the baths.

"This bath is for you; you will like it."

Kai understood that it was stupid to resist taking a bath, if it was necessary, he would be killed in any case, whether he wanted it or not. So what for to put on an act? He looked at Maksud.

"I will turn away," Maksud caught the embarrassment in his eyes.

Kai undressed and got into the bath. All this Maksud observed in the mirror opposite him. He did not discover anything new for himself, he just made sure once again that this young man was beautiful without clothes.

The bathroom was filled with a mixture of different tinctures and even oils. Kai got the pleasure of lying in it.

Maksud sat next to him and continued to entertain him with conversations about everything. Then Kai was brought a glass, he drank without hesitation and felt that it was a soft drug. The body became weightless, the world bloomed with rainbow colors. Lightness and emptiness formed in consciousness. He no longer resisted, and, most importantly, did not ask questions anymore, when he was moved from one bath to another, then wrapped in a robe, put in an armchair, where his arms and legs were tidied up, then put again in the bathroom, then there was a massage after which he fell asleep.

He woke up in a large bower in a fairy garden. All around he saw rose bushes that exuded a delicate scent, birds chirped in the tree branches. "This is probably what heaven looks like," Kai thought, recovering from the drug. He was lying in wide trousers, covered with a light blanket, on a soft mattress, surrounded by numerous pillows.

The servant and the guard came for him again. The servant helped to put on the robe and tie it with a belt, Kai was taken along the beautiful paths of the garden to another bower, a table was laid there, Maksud had already been sitting at it and offered to dine together.

Maksud again conducted a small talk about everything. Kai, as a scout, guessed the essence of everything that was happening. By the different dishes served at the table, Maksud tried to understand whether he knew etiquette and rules of conduct in society. For casually thrown phrases and questions - his level of education. Since Kai had no plan to make himself a redneck, he passed the Maksud exam with dignity. He saw it in his admiring eyes.

"Why are you eating so little?" Maksud was worried about this problem. Compared to the concubines, for whom Maksud was responsible, Kai ate just a little, and those beauties simply fressed and it was necessary to limit their food to keep their figures.

"I have problems with food, I do not feel its taste, it is nervous," Kai decided to warn about this right away. He was already tired of tables full of food

"Allow the doctor to examine you."

Kai nodded, again realizing that in his position it was better to agree.

"Maybe, after all, there is something from the food that you like?"

"Fish and vegetables."

"Ascetic food of a true warrior," Maksud smiled again, "among drinks, I understand, you like wine?"

"Yes, the red one."

Maksud smiled again, remembering the completely drunk jugs of wine. Then he waved his hand. A glass of wine was poured out to Kai. He drank. He looked at Maksud and named the brand of wine.

"Have I passed your exam?"

"Yes, you have. I can see that you are not stupid. Forgive me, but I must know how wide your knowledge is."

"In etiquette, education ..."

"Yes. You got me."

"You could just ask."

"If you don’t even say your name, how could I expect you to admit it?"

Kai knew that Maksud was right - he did not take offense at him for such testing.

"Will they always get me drunk before baths?"

"Wasn't that pleasant for you? Well, if you are calm about everything, they will not get you drunk. Do you agree?"

Kai smiled and nodded his head.

"Maybe you have some requests, wishes for me?"

Kai thought, looked at Maksud.

"Is there anything to read?"

Maksud raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"What do you want to read?" then he took thought. "Let's do this, let's go now to the library, and you will choose whatever you like."

Kai nodded.

After passing fabulous halls, stairs and corridors, they found themselves in a huge room filled to the ceiling with books. There were thousands of books in this library, and walking quickly past them and looking through the spines of titles, Kai saw that these were unique books. He forgot about everything, read aloud the names in Arabic, English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese ... Climbing the stairs, he chose three books and, going up to Maksud, saw that he was "frozen".

"Maksud, I've chosen, but I read quickly, and there is still so much more! Can I come here again tomorrow?"

Maksud was silent, took the books from Kai, looked at them completely distantly. One was in Japanese, there were some hieroglyphs, but, apparently, it was old, historical. The second one was in German, the third was in Latin.

Maqsud froze again, then inhaled air.

"Let's do this. You may settle down here," he pointed to a table with an armchair in the center of the library. "Read, security is at the exit, if you need them, call. In the evening they will take you for supper. And tomorrow... " Maksud had already come to his senses and smiled slyly, " first all the procedures for beauty, and then read as much as you want. Okay?"

"Agree. Thanks."

Kai went to the table and after a second went deep into the reading of the book.

Maksud forced himself to leave the library, realizing that he did not expect this at all. Well, he saw that a prisoner was with good manners, held himself well at the table, talked on any topic - that is, he was educated and brought up, but with all these advantages there was also knowledge of so many languages, and, most importantly, such a passion for books.

He would drive Arshad crazy, Maksud understood this already now. Arshad would not resist, and was it possible, and why?

Maksud knew that tomorrow he would have to drink Kai again so that the doctor examined him and took all the tests. He needed to know everything about him.

Everything!

***

The next day, after all the already planned procedures, Kai mentally called for himself soaking in the bathroom, since he was moved from one bath to another with different fillers, including oils and other odorous liquids. After all this, he trustingly drank the brought wine, remembering the words of Maksud that there would be no more drugs, and felt that he was sinking into sleep.

He woke up again in the bower in the garden. The sensations were strange, the whole body slightly tingled and itched. He checked himself with his hand and immediately jumped up, threw off the veil, and looked at himself, lying naked, covered only with a veil. Kai saw with horror that his already rare vegetation on his body was completely removed, and everywhere, even there, in the most intimate places. He passed his hand there and felt that he was not mistaken, everything was smooth and soft there. Then he touched his face. He hadn't grown anything on his face anyway, but now he realized that he wouldn't grow up anymore. And this was hardly a temporary hair removal. This was a laser or something more modern, he had heard about this, after which the hair does not grow at all, he accidentally learned about this from another girlfriend of Prokhor, who loudly shared these wonders of progress on the phone with her chatty friend.

Kai sat wrapped in a blanket and did not know whether to be upset about it. When your life is generally in an uncertain state and it is not clear whether you will remain alive or not, is it worth worrying about the absence of body hair? He did not idealize Arshad, even though he saved his life, Arshad was not obliged to save his life. This was not a movie about noble princes - this was life, politics, war. And Arshad would treat him exactly as it would be beneficial for him. Moreover, he still did not know who he was, and when he found out that he was a Russian, he could give Kai to Mahmud's gang in exchange for a profitable deal. Therefore, the sadness about the lost vegetation turned into general thoughts about the complete uncertainty in his life.

In such a sad state Maksud found Kai. Unlike him, Maksud was in a great mood, the doctors confirmed that Kai had never slept with men, that he was untouched, and the tests showed that he was completely healthy.

Looking at the sad Kai, Maksud guessed the reason for his sadness.

"Will you forgive me for this?" Maksud sat down next to him on the mattress.

"For what?" Kai looked at him. "For the hair?" he smiled, realizing that it sounded stupid.

"They are superfluous on such a beautiful body, a few more procedures - and they will never bother you. Would you mind doing this?"

"Have I got a choice? You’ll put me to sleep again."

"I'll give you a drink for sweet dreams," corrected Maksud. "Is that the only reason for your sadness?"

"Are you making a concubine out of me for Arshad?"

Maksud burst out laughing, through the tears that came out he sentenced:

"You are a boy; how can I make a concubine out of you? Then a boy-concubine."

"And what? Are there such boys?

Maksud stopped laughing, seeing that his mysterious prisoner was really genuinely surprised to hear about it.

"You did not know? Tell me, were you brought up in a monastery?"

Kai remained silent, feeling his lack of enlightenment in these matters.

Maksud took his hand in his.

"You have nothing to worry about. I'm just following Arshad's orders to take care of you in his absence. You see, Arshad appreciates beauty, he does not allow anyone around him to cast a pall over his eyes. He can afford such a whim. If he is not happy with your appearance, I will suffer."

"I don’t want you to get hurt because of me. Tell me, how can the hair on my legs cast a pall over his eyes?"

Maksud smiled. He missed this question and turn to another:

"If you don't want me to get hurt, can I ask you for one more little thing?"

"What else?" Kai was already lost in conjecture, what could cast a pall over Arshad's eyes.

"May I touch up your eyes?"

"Are you making a transvestite out of me?"

"Well, after all, you are not completely unenlightened in this matter," Maksud began to laugh again. "No, what are you talking about! Wait, listen, you've seen - here everyone's eyes are rimmed  with black eyeliner, this is the tradition of the East."

Yes, Maksud was right. Here even the guards had black eyeliner. Kai read about it in books, in the east, men always rimmed their eyes with soot.

"Okay," he grunted, realizing that they would still put him to sleep and make up his eyes anyway, so why resist? So far, this was not the worst suspicion that began to arise in his head.

Servants brought his clothes. Kai was no longer ashamed of Maksud, although he lowered his eyes, dressing, feeling that he was examining him. But Kai was unconscious so many times that he understood - probably, Maksud had examined him all long ago.

Kai also noticed that the clothes he put on became more luxurious and richer each time. And now they were harem pants embroidered with gold, a silk shirt also embroidered with gold, several thin robes on top, everything was tied around the waist with embroidered belts with hanging golden laces, low boots made of the softest leather were put on his feet.

They did not cut his hair, only tidied it up and constantly took care of it, applying all sorts of masks and oils, combing and rubbing with odorous liquids, so now it lay on his head in large curls of the color of a black wing, shimmering in the sun.

Then two servants came with boxes and a thin young man who took out all kinds of tubes of makeup from the boxes.

Kai stared in horror at the amount of makeup on the table.

"Maksud, you've only said to rim my eyes - and why is this all?"

"Sit down and trust. If something goes wrong, you simply will wash your face. Okay?"

Kai flopped into the armchair. The young man bent over him, lifted his chin, and, brushing the hair from his face, began his work. In the behavior, in the look and appearance of the young man, Kai felt a strangeness, and then the thought flashed through him that, probably, this young man was also a eunuch.

"He’s a eunuch, you don’t have to worry," Maksud saw that Kai was nervous about touching his face.

Kai felt sorry for this young man, although that one did not look unhappy, on the contrary - he did his job with enthusiasm, and it was clear that he liked it. Then he pulled away from Kai, managing to put something soft and smelling of strawberries on his lips.

Maksud let out a vague sigh and fell silent, looking at Kai. Then he came to his senses, went up to him, and brought a mirror to his face.

At first, Kai did not recognize the one who was looking at him from the gilded frame of glass and then realized that it was himself. His already huge eyes, framed by thick dark lashes, were now properly underlined and darkened with eyeliner and shadows, a tone darker than his skin. This created the effect of depth in the gaze and made the color of his eyes stand out. The light mascara lengthened the lashes even further, casting shadows over the shimmery sheen of the emeralds that now represented his eyes. The light tone evened out the skin, removing abrasions and bruises that had not yet been smoothed out. The eyebrows were perfectly lined, emphasizing their beautiful curve, the thin line of the lips gleamed in the transparent gel, the cheekbones stood out due to the transition of tones. All in all, the makeup was applied so skillfully that it seemed to lack. But it was, and it emphasized and strengthened Kai's natural beauty a hundredfold, allowing it to sparkle.

"Now you will always look like this," said Maksud in a strange voice, looking at him.

Kai understood that he needed to come to terms: while he did not know about his future fate, it was stupid to think about such trifles.

Then the week passed in the standard schedule: a huge number of beauty procedures, regular meals, and walking with Maksud in the garden with peacocks. Then there was lunch in his company, then sleep, and finally, as a bonus to everything, the opportunity to visit the library. Then again soaking in baths, massages, rubbing.

At his request, Maksud installed a game console in his room, first surprised by this, and then happily watching Kai play it before going to bed. His sleep was also monitored, not allowed to sit up for a game, first fed, then given medicinal drinks with the smell of herbs to drink, and he fell asleep like a baby, suspecting that these drinks clearly contain medicinal herbs for such a deep sleep.

There were two joys in his life now - reading in the library and playing the console. He decided to ask Maksud for it, realizing that such a life schedule was simply killing him. He was tired of these baths, massages, and everything that was done to him but did not resent it. He waited for Arshad to finally arrive and pronounce his verdict.

***

Gifar was the first to return, informed Maksud that Sheikh Arshad had sent him here to settle all matters here in connection with the past events, once again double-check all the people in the palace, and prepare for his return, being firmly convinced that a traitor had not lurked in the palace.

Gifar told all this to Maksud, then at the end of the conversation, he casually asked about the prisoner. Maksud smiled enigmatically. Gifar tensed. He knew Maksud too well, they were friends with him, under Arshad's rein they had nothing to share with each other. Gifar was engaged in all the security, Maksud did not pretend to this, and Maksud did all the leisure of Arshad, Gifar did not pretend to this, so they became friends and for many years remained in excellent relations, enjoying each other's company and understanding that there was one who would not betray.

"Maksud, what a smile? Is there anything I don't know? Has he run away?"

"No," Maksud purred. "He is here and ready to appear before the eyes of Arshad."

"Yes, Arshad wants to thank him and send him home, he does not need him here, he does not want to waste time on him, remembering his impudence and insolence."

"Okay," Maksud purred again, "he will thank him, but whether he sends him home - this is unlikely."

"What's wrong with him? " Gifar looked blankly at Maksud.

"With him everything is alright."

"Enough! Let him be brought here. Immediately!"

Gifar shouted angrily and gave the order to bring the prisoner to them on the terrace, where they were sitting on low sofas, waiting while the servants set the table for dinner.

Maksud did not oppose Gifar's wishes. He waited and looked at him, he now needed to see how Gifar would behave when he saw the captive.

Kai was brought in. He saw Maksud and immediately recognized Gifar sitting next to him, went up to them, and froze, seeing that Gifar's eyes would now crawl out of their sockets.

Gifar saw the approach of a short youth who stepped softly on the carpet. He was slender, wearing expensive clothes that emphasized his elegance, resin curls, and a face, looking at which Gifar was speechless.

"Who is it?" he said not in his own voice, getting up from the sofa. "Do we know each other?"

Kai amused it all. He laughed loudly and held out his hand to Gifar.

"We fought shoulder to shoulder, by the way, I did not thank you, you then closed me with a sword a couple of times. Thanks."

Gifar realized who was in front of him - it was that boy, a brazen, dirty, filthy ragamuffin at the plane, who then with sabers, beat off enemies from Arshad. And now he ...

Gifar stretched out his hand, as in a dream he felt a confident handshake, thin fingers, and a small hand.

Maksud saw that Gifar needed to be saved, otherwise, he would not come out of his stupor.

"My friends, the table is set, let's go and have lunch. Our prisoner still does not want to tell us his name, can you imagine, Gifar?" pushing Kai to the table, said Maksud to Gifar standing in a stupor. He finally woke up, went to the table, and drank a glass of wine in one gulp. Apparently, this returned him to his previous state.

A relaxed atmosphere reigned at dinner. Kai had already accustomed to the company of Maksud, and he generally considered Gifar a comrade-in-arms, a fellow soldier, so he chatted freely, answered questions, and told. Their conversations were neutral. Kai clearly followed the thread of the conversation and always, feeling leading questions, deftly walked away from them. Gifar understood this as well, although he began to talk throughout the dinner, continued to freeze regularly, looking at Kai. He saw his manners, his knowledge of etiquette, aristocratic movements, and the way he, despite his playful tone, avoided questions.

At the end of lunch, Maksud said that the prisoner would be taken to the library, where he regularly spent time reading. Kai got up, said goodbye, and went after the servants, in his heart grateful to Maksud that he did not send him to a child's sleep, but made changes to his life schedule.

Maksud again looked at the petrified Gifar and decided to deepen an impression by listing the books that the prisoner had read, and in what languages.

Gifar silently poured another glass of wine and drank it just as silently. Then he turned to Maksud.

"He will never let him go."

Maksud understood what Gifar was talking about.

"It's unknown. You see, this is not the version of a boy who will be seduced by the wealth of the palace and the values of luxury in life for the opportunity to be with Arshad. It's different here. I do not know how Arshad will be able to subdue him so that he will stay with him or at least stay for a while."

"He can get everything all by force."

"It will be stupid. I don't think Arshad will go for it. Then he will lose him forever."

"I also do not like such a plot, but at the sight of him, will Arshad resist? And how much will he cope with his desires?"

"Arshad is hot, but not stupid, and he is already over thirty, I think he will act wisely."

"I do not doubt the wisdom of our master."

Having exchanged such phrases, they no longer touched upon the slippery topic of the Sheikh's wisdom. Maksud turned the conversation in another direction.

"Are you satisfied with my work?"

"How did you descry him?"

"I saw him right away. Still there, by the plane. However, I did not expect that he is so handsome. And you, stupid, almost hit him with a whip."

"He was insolent and did not kneel before the Sheikh."

"Yes, he has a strong character."

"Maksud, I saw him fighting with swords. Let me take a couple of tricks from him, let me practice."

"Not! But not that! I know your training, then he will be covered with bruises and abrasions."

"Maksud, you've said yourself, this is not a boy, he is a warrior! It is interesting for me to talk to him, he has so many fighting techniques!"

"To chat? Well, you've swallowed your tongue at the sight of him today!"

"Well, I was not ready for that. Maksud, let me. Everything is in your presence. No injury. He will show a couple of lunges with swords and that's it. Maksud, please, my friend!"

Maksud was prim for a long time but realized that Gifar would not lag behind him with this fighting technique. And, taking from him a promise that he would take good care of the prisoner, and he would be present during their training, he agreed.

***

The next day Gifar went to the prisoner's chambers, knowing that he would find Maksud there too. He didn't want to postpone the possibility of a practice fight. Entering the chambers, he saw a wonderful picture - an angry prisoner threw scattered clothes at Maksud and everything that fell into his hand. Maksud laughed and caught these objects.

"Are you having fun?"

Kai froze, bowed to Gifar.

"Hello."

"Hello, by what did my friend make you so angry?"

Kai could not stand it and told everything as his heart had swelled with hurt and anger.

"Here, look!" he pointed to his hands, decorated with rings, then to the ears with clips with emeralds, then to the neck with threads of pearls.

"So what? It suits you very well."

"Are you turning me into a f*g? Kai blurted out and froze.

Gifar and Maksud laughed.

"Not. Why do you say that?" Gifar asked seriously.

"These outfits, constant baths, painted eyes, nails, and now jewelry! I'm already afraid to look at myself in the mirror!"

"You are a European, you have different traditions, I understand that, but here, in the Sheikh's palace, everything has been unchanged for centuries. Here men always rim their eyes, wear expensive beautiful outfits and jewelry. Am I f*g if I wear rings?"

Gifar raised his ringed hand.

"Sorry, I didn't want to offend anyone," Kai sat down helplessly on the bed. "I just don't know ... I don't understand what for all this is."

Gifar felt sorry for him, for the first time now he saw his real one. Not that impudent ragamuffin, not a brave warrior and not a beautiful young man, but a frightened boy who did not know his fate. Gifar caught himself thinking that he was not indifferent to the fate of this man and that he really wanted everything to come to his senses in his life. He had to endure a lot. It's good that at least he hadn't hit him with a whip then.

"You fought like that there then! Can you give me some lessons?" Kai uncomprehendingly raised his sad eyes to Gifar. "Maksud has now allowed to regularly conduct training swordsmanship, of course, if you do not mind."

Kai's eyes sparkled, he came to life, jumped up.

"Is it true?" he ran up to Maksud, hugged him. "Can I train with swords?" Then he rushed to Gifar, "Let's go quickly!"

Maqsud and Gifar saw that it was so important for this mysterious young man in this life. It was not beauty, luxury, or pampered conditions, but the opportunity to feel who he was, to become himself with a sword in hand. He was a warrior - that says it all.

***

Now hell came for Maksud, he watched with horror how Kai fought with swords every day, fell, got up, flew off, then rose again. Maksud had already stopped counting how many bruises he would find on his body. The main thing was that nothing would be chopped off. But when Kai cut himself several times, Maksud threw such a tantrum that the sharp swords were replaced with blunt ones.

Gifar was delighted, and so were his warriors. This prisoner really knew a lot and was capable. They understood each other perfectly. They listened to him, repeated the movements, showed their techniques. Their training took place in the morning, then Kai humbly followed Maksud and fell into his power - beauty, then lunch, then sleep, then the library - Kai won this right. Then there was an evening walk in a conversation with Maksud along the avenues of the garden. They were now regularly joined by Gifar, then - dinner. The three of them also began to have dinner, they were comfortable in each other's company. Then Kai was sent to his chambers, where he was allowed to play console a little, and then sleep. During this time, Maksud moved him to more luxurious apartments. In Kai's opinion, it was just a mini-palace: several rooms, a huge bed, a rich interior in the style of fabulous orient and modern technology: a plasma on the wall and computer game consoles. Everywhere there were carpets, cushions, sofas, silk, gold, and vases of fragrant flowers. It was just the dwelling of a princess. Kai was calm about such a situation, as he understood that there was no need to be indignant. It was necessary to understand at first what Arshad would decide. And then could understand what him to do.

And finally, Sheikh Arshad returned to the palace.