That was long ago, many centuries have passed since then, and people's memory passes from generation to generation the legend of the glorious and courageous beauty Theodora — the Queen Sogdijsky.Kindness, a clear mind and wisdom in public Affairs earned her people's love. The fame of the beauty of Theodora competed with Slava about the beautiful country on the shores of the Black sea, which she ran, and rich city Sugdea, where she lived in his Palace on the hillside.And the beauty of Theodora could charm anyone. She had delicate features, dark skin, deep black eyes and dark hair. In the motions of the flexible body felt the agility, strength and indefatigability. Many notable leaders wanted to call a beautiful maiden his wife. Some offered her their wealth, others the glory of the sword in battle, and others — youth, beauty, fourth — nobility kind. All rejected Theodore: she made a vow of celibacy, a lifetime to be independent and all its forces are directed to the benefit of his Kingdom.The favorite dwelling of the Queen was the castle on top of a cliff. With the eagle of the height of the upper castle Theodore admired the distant mountains, the coast, along which to the Bear mountain stretched its possessions, flowering valleys and city lying at the foot of the cliff. To the city were numerous roads, spread over the Harbor with ships. Saw Theodora as hurried to Soldeu caravans of camels loaded with goods, the wind brought to her the clank of anchor chains and the creaking of the ship's gear. In Sugdea on a huge market place trading met people from different countries. There were Russian merchants who called themselves Sugdea the Surozh and brought from Russia precious furs: ermine, a beaver. The Venetians with their galleys unloaded cloth, thin cloth, fruit and olive oil. From the southern steppes, from the banks of the Volga in Soldeu was bread, fish, eggs, wool. China, Turkestan, Arabia and India sent spices, gems, brocade and velvet, silk and Indigo, opium and incense, carpets and weapons.But often became stern face Theodora. Clouds have also gathered over a rich country in the North to the borders of her approaching Horde of Tartars, and in the East in the neighboring city Cafe settled cunning and treacherous Genoese. From Caffa, the Genoese prepared to strike at the blessed Sugdea. Worried about the Queen and discord released into the environment its close, the cause of which she was herself.Since his childhood Theodore grew up together with his two sons one of the local princes, twins and Heraclius Constantine, very similar to each other and face growth. She shared with the boys their fun and games, not inferior to them in anything: neither in running nor in the race on horseback, or in archery. With age children's attachment to Theodora moved in boys in love. The rivalry in love of the brothers quarreled.One day, left alone with Theodora, and Heraclius, nervously, told her:— Theodore, forget your harsh vow, let me call you my wife!But the girl said firmly to him:— Maiden fate, free, free, I made a vow not to change ever. And vow I will not refuse.— The Queen! — cried Heraclius.— No! Not her husband, and brother, I'll call you, ' replied the girl. — Know, Heraclius, that fierce death to me much dearer than the destiny of his wife. It is quite another in my heart.With these words, an angry Queen was gone. A rejected young man became gloomy and threatening and tore his anger and thirst for revenge. Time and again he told himself: “I will Remember, snake, you said that death is dearer to you. It is done all that you chose yourself, your fate is nigh.”Since then, Heraclius held his thought: or any price to obtain Theodora, and with it the power over the country, or the undoing of her. He often withdrew into the wild gorges and deep forests and had plans to remove the brother of the rival and to exercise their power-hungry dreams.The second brother Konstantin, in contrast, Heraclius, was kind and honest. Gently loving her, he remembered her vow and did not even think about the fact that she broke it, not looking for power; his desire was to be near his beloved and help her.Heraclius decided to betray. Once you get into the cafe, he persuaded the Genoese Consul to attack Soldeu, promising to help in the capture of the city. In payment for his treachery, the traitor demanded to give him Theodore.Soon, like a pack of vultures, under the walls Sugden gathered the black men of the Genoese. Two months lasted a bloody battle. At the head of the defenders of the city were Theodore and Constantine. Everywhere where there is the fearless Queen and her loyal companion, the soldiers with redoubled force fought off the onslaught of enemies.