– Then where did they live? – the girl kept asking. – Or do you keep there your winner’s trophies?
– Trophies?! – Koshei asked surprisingly, and Gorynych sniffed in the doorway.
– Right! You said that the knights rushed to you on their faithful horses to recapture the betrotheds. You are stronger, you have magic, so you were the winner ...
– It's a ridiculous conclusion. It's me who was the defeated. They left with a fair assurance that I lost the battle.
– And what about the beauties?
– They fell in love with the winners. It’s a natural selection. Women always choose the strongest. And the strong often pretend to be weak. There is some wisdom in it.
– But you were rescuing them! – Hope resented with all her heart without even noticing that she began speaking less formally with the elder, that was hardly admissible.
– Oblivion is the fate of anyone who does something for others… – Koschei smiled ironically, shifting his thoughtful gaze at his faithful friend and going deeper into his distant memories. Gorynych nodded his heads in agreement. Hope looked at him.
– Just imagine, – Gorynych drawled contentedly, enjoying the newly gained guest’s attention. – I’m flying around the territory…
Hope smiled, noting with the corner of her eye that Koshchei stopped noticing everyone around, so preoccupied he was with his thoughts. A deep wrinkle arose on his forehead – the evidence of his wisdom, talent and past troubles.
– Spreading my wings widely... – the dreamy look on his cute snout changed into another. Gorynych waved his wings at the doorstep, getting comfortable. – The forest and lake are spreading under me, birds are making the nests, and people are nesting funnily in their houses...
Then a neighboring head interjected:
– And they dare to claim themselves as the cleverest! The top of a food chain! But they took everything from beasts and birds. Nothing new!..
