that he was playing the wrong game with him and wanted to tell his master about it, but the magician stopped him with a boastful gesture:


"And what if I gave you what you ask for?" at last he had found a weak point in this rock of man.The rock turned quickly and stared almost pale as death:


"You can..."


“Yes, I can,” interrupted the wizard, “make Korona submissive to you!” Dorakil stared at the floor. How had Avaluhn managed to read his mind. The young princess had caught his eye for a long time, but until now he hadn't found the opportunity to ask her and now that she was with Avenur, everything was just cold soup anyway.


"And what do you ask in return?" he suddenly asked inquiringly and with a dangerous undertone in his voice.


"Almost nothing ... actually just that you don't mention my betrayal here!" when that was all, Dorakil wanted to consent and therefore nodded eagerly:


“Well, that could be arranged!” The wizard laughed and, while the guard fled, stepped to the gnome, named Amunis.


With a small key he opened the bells and said:


"When the king comes down to you tomorrow, you will call for him, and then he will leave again," Amunis understood his job so far, "then you will secretly follow him and in the din of the battle that your master and I will instigate then you have to kill him.If you have fled, you will receive further instructions from one of our night riders. He will be waiting for you in Sauverstu! It looks like a small, green bird, but it has a deep black soul and I am sure you will find out its secret soon enough! "The gnome quickly shook his head and mumbled:


"And what if he notices something?"


"He won't," the magician reassured him with a short gesture, "I'll put a spell on him ... but that doesn't count! Here, I'll slide your dagger under the hay. This idiot from Wächter has it for me given! "He giggled and with a small twist of his staff disappeared into a cloud of smoke, which quickly wound its way through the corridors and closed the door behind it.




The next day, the two lovers, Avenur Candur and Korona Efmadul, got up a little later than usual. The wine was still firmly in their bones. They had arranged to meet at the church square at ten o'clock, but it was already eleven o'clock and so they both got dressed.No one suspected that the other would be too late and therefore hurried all the more.


Avenur quickly pulled on his uniform, ranger cloak, chain mail, suede pants, and iron-shod leather boots, and rushed down the stairs into the courtyard. The morning air was cool and there was still snow in some places. The sun made him look like little ice crystals and the light stung the bodyguard in the eyes. He closed the wooden door and bolted it behind him, then took his first steps into the morning. The birds chirped happily and so trilled their songs. Avenur 's breath formed little clouds in the air and he pulled the hood of the cloak over his head. The okka-colored pavement with the glittering stones in between was wet and the water was also dripping from the roofs and branches. The trees had long since formed new buds and were just unfolding their spring blossoms. He stepped under an archway and came to the part of the city with the fountain in the middle.Some people have already fetched water from him, but it seemed as if it was full of ice. It was a round well with a small, dark roof and a crank to which the rope with the bucket was attached. The sky was only crossed by a few clouds and it seemed like it was going to be a beautiful day. He turned straight into the next alley and finally stood in front of the church square. The church was a large structure with two towers, a blue roof and pointed arches. Many decorations such as the statues of little devils or angels were carved on the church. Figures of saints or flowers stood around the church and the weathercock turned again.


Now the bells were ringing. It was twelve o'clock. The sound of the bells was a very special melody for Avenur, because he loved rocking back and forth so much; as a child he had often hiked and gone to sea, because that was part of the training of a boy to be a knight. The growling of his stomach reminded him that it was noon and that he had missed breakfast.It would have been better if he had bought a couple of rolls from Becker. He briefly weighed the prospects again and had just decided to buy a loaf of bread when the princess came running towards him with fluttering hair.


"Have you waited a long time for me?" she asked out of breath. He would have loved to say:


"Yes, for two hours!" but aloud he said:


“I only just arrived there, too!” She laughed and he benefited from her good mood. Maybe, he thought, it'll get a promotion as well.


"We're going to have a picnic!" Korona explained, "Outside, in front of the castle walls, that's my favorite place!"


"Good idea!" the bodyguard agreed, “I'm really hungry!” His explanation was reinforced by the fact that he stroked his stomach.


While they went to the stable to get horses, they talked about all sorts of things that still had to be discussed. There was also a lot of business involved, for example that Gerd couldn't see when they were together.

Later they rode out together on the great meadow landscape of Arabathill ...