The girl ran her hands over her face, as if trying to take the weariness out of it, and continued:

– This' brainless doll ' sacrificed her reputation and her life to save you and keep you as the head of the clan. Knowing in advance that the son, who was the meaning of life, would hate her…

Tears flickered in the Countess ' eyes, but only for a moment.

– What are you talking about? How do you know her?

He grabbed Anna by the shoulders and began to shake her, but she did not resist, just looked into his eyes from under the stray strands.

– I was put on the waiting list for the scaffold after her.

There was a pause.

We were kept here in the castle. In the cramped basement of the west wing of this building. There's a hiding place under a big rock, and I think it still contains her correspondence.

The Falcon recoiled from the Countess as if from a plague. The blood was pounding in his temples.

Anna seemed to peel away from the wall and stagger away down the gray corridor.

Robin was lying on the bed in his own bedroom, and Arthur was pacing up and down beside him.

– I understand the need for these strategies, so you don't have to spend the night with me tonight, dear, – the king said.

– And you won't be offended? – The head of the Bear clan asked in the same tone.

Robin was bending down to remove his boots when the door opened and Edward burst in. Arthur opened his mouth to make a joke, but when he saw the deathly pallor on his friend's face, he immediately closed it.

– I need the magic passwords for the basements in the west wing.

Robin glanced at it and removed the bracelet from his left wrist.

– Take this, any door will open when you touch it.

The falcon grabbed the thing and flew out into the corridor, not noticing that his friends followed him.

At the door to the basement, a clerk was waiting with a magic caller ID and two warriors, one of whom was the head of the royal guard.

Unable to withstand the touch of the bracelet, the heavy door opened, and stale air escaped from the basement. Edward lit the torches in the room and knocked over a heavy stone slab that lay on the floor. Groping in the cache he found, he pulled out a yellowed stack of papers. Opening the envelopes one by one, the Falcon handed them to the clerk, who checked the sheets and put them in a neat pile.

When the work was finished, the clerk said firmly:

– All submitted letters are authentic and correspond to the claimed authorship.

The gleam in Edward's green eyes became feverish. He nodded to the security chief, who came closer.

– Baron Ellard, Count Lees, and Count Terron are to be arrested immediately and brought to the palace. If they try to escape, execute them on the spot.

– But how is that possible? The nobles won't approve, – protested the head of the guard.

The Falcon, out of control, grabbed the soldier by the breast.

– You didn't understand the order? – King Robin's voice was soft and therefore even more menacing.

– No, I understand, – the warrior replied timidly.

– Do it, – Raven said, nodding toward the door.

He went over to the clerk and took the letters from him, looking through them quickly.

– That's right…

Arthur, who was standing nearby, also saw the contents of the papers.

– Ed, how are you?

– We'll start for the mountains at dawn, – the Falcon said firmly, and walked away.

Half asleep, Anna lay on the fragrant dry hay and looked at the friend who had come to her imagination.

– If you don't return within four days, I will follow you and tear down this stone crypt.

– It's all right, don't worry, Rogneda. I'll be home soon.

– Of course, I feel like you're doing well. Who do you talk to closely there? There are three clans in power, and I know their aspirations and thoughts. I hope they're smart enough to be diligent.

Anna groaned:

– You're home now and you can do whatever you want, and I have to go over the damn rocks tomorrow, so let's go to bed.

Rogda disappeared, and Ratmir appeared.

– Ra, where are you? – Anna whispered.

– Hello, dear, we decided to have a little rest here.

– I have important business to attend to." There's a boy-a great-grandson of a friend of mine-who needs help. Look at him. I want to accept him into our family. What do you think?

For ten minutes Anna seemed to be in a dream, until she heard her nephew's voice again.