Story 27. Double regret.
"Ashka…"
Silence.
"Ashka!"
Silence.
"Say something…"
Silence. The cell was dark and quiet. There was a night sky in the narrow window in the recess. So strangely beautiful and unapproachable. His eyes got used to the darkness and distinguished the light shapes of the things around. Walls, floor, ceiling, straw everywhere… And a spot of the silhouette in the furthest corner.
"Ashka, I know you're not sleeping".
The silhouette in the furthest corner sniffed, still sitting in the same position.
"If you keep mumbling, I'll have to agree", - her voice sounded tired and aloof. But still Gryvon found himself smiling. At least, she was speaking for the first time in some previous hours. That was a success.
"What happened? – The young man asked. - You don't want to talk to me?"
Silence. Oh, here it is, again.
"Ashka?"
"Gryvon, can you vanish or at least sit here, silent?" – the woman asked. Now her voice sounded not just aloof, but also displeased.
"All right, all right, whatever you want, - he raised both his hands, - just tell me, what's the matter?"
"That's a stupid question. Look around – that's the matter, - Ashka said, - isn't it enough?"
It was. The contrast of the morning he'd spent in the village, and the evening when they went to the dungeon, was effective and seized them with a surprise. A stunning humiliating surprise. But there was something else…
"Gryvon, you run slowly", - Ashka said, as if she could read his thoughts.
"What?" – The young man gave a start, creeping up slowly. In the darkness he could see she'd turned her had and was watching him.
"You run slowly, - the woman repeated, - if you decided to betray me and save your skin, you'd better run faster. And look around also".
"So that's it…, - Gryvon sighed, - Ashka, I've already said it was an incident. I don't know how it happened. Well, yes… If you need to here it I was a coward, it wasn't the best thing I've ever done…"
Pause.
"Sorry for that".
Silence. Looking into the darkness, Gryvon saw only the line of her arms, embracing her knees. But he felt she was looking at him too.
"Ashka?"
"All right, - she scolded, - escape for escape. Let's think we are even…"
"Are you serious?'
"Should I change my mind?"
"No", - Gryvon said quickly, smiling. Good thing, he couldn't be seen in the darkness, or else he wouldn't get away with just some caustic comments.
"Then don't ask stupid questions, - Ashka said, - and bloody hell, keep silent, at last!"
She turned away from him. At first Gryvon had been going to obey, but his curiosity showed itself not in time. "Bloody hell…" What does it mean? What is this hell?
"Ashka?"
"What now?" – The woman asked sternly, looking at him again.
"Where did you pick up these words?" – Gryvon asked with confusion.
The dark silhouette laughed.
"In Paul's world, where else could I?"
"What is it like? – The young man, being on tiptoe with curiosity, crept up even closer. - Would you like to tell?"
The pause became too long, putting the possible continuation of their talk too far. Thinking Ashka was in no mood for speaking, Gryvon was going to come back to his place. But then he froze.
"It is strange indeed, - the woman started, - Riana had said Paul's world is huge… She'd been right. Perhaps the whole country of ours could be located there, - she sighed, almost drawing the line, - one should get used to this world, Gryvon. But it is possible to live there".
"And what about those computers Paul had described? Did you see them?"
"You're like second Correon, - Ashka said sarcastically, - he was also interested in computers while questioning me alone".
"Oh really? Wait… What do you mean with "alone"? – The young man was suddenly caught by the phrase. - Weren't all the members of the Council there?'
"They were at first, - Ashka clarified, - and then Correon decided to talk to me face to face…"
Pause.
"So what?"
"He asked me questions, this is what! – Ashka exclaimed and added quieter. - He also said he felt sorry".
"What?" – Gryvon asked, thinking he heard it wrong.
"You got it perfectly, - the woman put the hair back from her face, - before I was led there, Correon had been telling about some law. And then he sent Lukan and Marna off…, - she laughed, - it was almost touching. He said he felt sorry about everything happening this particular way. And that he'd wished he could do it back".
Pause. Gryvon didn't hope to be lucky, but anyway, he crept up closer and sat next to Ashka. Strange, but she wasn't annoyed by this fact.
"What's done is done", - I said. And added that his regrets are too late, - the woman said quietly, - for a year".
She kept silent. He also said nothing. There were too many toughts and too much time until the morning comes… one could hardly say Gryvon didn't have any gear at all, no. At the same time, when he told his father he didn't care, it wasn't an exaggeration. Now, when they had a battle won and a war lost, he was even happy. Happy that he had been useful, even for not very long. Happy that Correon, after being in the Wastelands, concluded something, even if it was too late. Happy that Ashka was next to him and wasn't angry anymore. Happy that everything was over…
There was much time until the morning comes. Sitting on stiff straw, with his back against the cold stone wall, Gryvon was waiting. Waiting for the Council decision, which was to set their future…