– I saw him, and I don't mind calling him brother. Go to sleep…

The girl smiled serenely, inhaling the frosty freshness and winking at the stars peeking under the awning.

"The bottomless sky is good,"– she thought.

A thin boy of about seven years old stood by a fresh grave, which was mercilessly covered by the falling snow. Suddenly he was seized with a fit of coughing. He fell to his knees, and the white canvas was stained with drops of blood. Someone put a clean handkerchief to his lips and hugged him. After a few moments, the chest sounds subsided. The child was reclining on the woman's lap, looking into the warm eyes.

– Who are you? – he asked.

– I'm a friend of your great-grandfather.

The boy rested for a while longer and then roughly broke away from the embrace.

– We didn't have any friends.

Anna ran a hand over her face and stared at the child, whose desperate blue eyes were filled with hope. She reached into her gym bag and pulled out a pink apple that seemed to cheer up this snowy, cold morning.

– Take it, – she said, handing it to the baby.

He stood there for a moment, thinking, then came over and held out an almost transparent hand. My name is Anna. I'm going away on business right now, but I'll be back soon and we'll talk about everything. In the meantime, eat the fruit, and you will feel better.

The boy bit into an apple. Anna stared at him for a few more minutes, then left without looking back.

Robin and Arthur stood outside the chapel, looking up at the gray sky and breathing in the crisp, frosty air. The bright pink horizon heralded the imminent arrival of the sun. Edward approached them quietly. All three were dressed in black suits and wrapped in dark cloaks. The bear and the Falcon pulled their long hair back into tails. Raven's black, ragged locks reached only to his shoulders and fell in a picturesque disarray across his forehead and cheeks.

– Where is this lady? – Arthur asked. – Women are women, nothing can be trusted.

– Let's go to the stable. Order her to be sent for, – the monarch said to the footman.

A mournful funeral bell rang in the air.

– Someone died? – Edward asked.

– Yes, the head of the palace chancery, – Red Arthur yawned.

Near the stable, the warriors saw Anna standing at the entrance. She curtsied.

– Good morning, my lady, – Robin replied with a bow, as did his entourage, and moved closer to her.
– Allow me to ask you an immodest question, madame.

– I allow it, Your Majesty, but I warn you that I do not answer all such questions.

Raven chuckled and reached out long, thin fingers to touch her hair. Anna didn't move or even change her position. Gazing into her eyes, he pulled a straw out of his hair.

– Did you sleep in the stables?

– Yes, – the Countess replied matter-of-factly.

Raven clearly hadn't expected this answer:

– Are you crazy? Spend the night here, practically under the open sky, without protection?!

– I have a reliable protector, Your Majesty. He was with me all night.

– And who is he? – the head of state tried to put maximum contempt into his voice.

– You can see it right now.

All three of them looked in the direction indicated. A bay horse pranced along the road. This wonderful creature could not contain its own irrepressible energy. He kicked and whinnied, one brown eye squinting out from under his long bangs.

– That's a wild Liis stallion, – Arthur choked. – They can't be tamed. The strongest and toughest horses, the smartest.

– Well, why not, – said the Countess's melodious voice. – You just need to find an approach to everyone.

– If I touch him, he won't trample me? – The head of the Bear clan asked enthusiastically.

Anna went to the young man, took him by the hand and led him to the horse, which was already snorting with displeasure.

– Flame, let him, – the girl said.

The stallion snorted again, but this time less aggressively, and Anna brought the duke's hand to the horse. Arthur couldn't hide his delight as he stared at the horse.

– You came here in it?

– Yes.

– They are three times faster than normal horses.

– More than that, actually, – the Countess said. And the Flame is the leader, as long as none of the tribesmen can compete with it.

She mounted the horse, which was not even reined in, with surprising ease,and thus once again surprised her companions.

– The Flame knows the way very well, Your Majesty. If you'll excuse me, I'll go first.

The King frowned, but did not object. Soon, the four horsemen disappeared over the horizon.