The Shining Falcon

Maria was there before his eyes, Maria and Vasilissa. And he heard, faintly but clearly, Maria's patient, weary voice.

«Lissa, dear, listen to me. I was only gathering forest herbs, not communing with demons!»

«Don't jest!»

«Lissa, it's not evil out there! The forest is really very beautiful and — "

«And filled with pagan rites and sorcerers—ha, yes! Sorcerers like your Finn, appearing out of nowhere, disappearing into nowhere!»

«He wasn't a sorcerer, and you know it. Lissa, he saved our father's life, remember?»

«And what did he take in exchange, eh? Your virtue?»

«Is quite intact," the young woman snapped impatiently. «Finn took nothing from me but gratitude.»

«But where did he go? Answer me that, Maria! If he was so very innocent, why did he disappear as though— yes, as though by magic!»

Maria winced. But she said, calmly enough, «I'm sure there's some perfectly reasonable explanation for — "

«Stop it! I don't want to hear about him anymore! He's gone now, Heaven be praised! He's gone, and you're safe, and—and— Pray, Maria! Pray you never see him again! Maria, I love you! I—I don't want to see you doomed!»

«Lissa, really — "

«No! Remember this: magic is evil, evil, Maria! And all who practice it are damned!»

Argue with her, Finist silently urged. Akh, Maria, say something to defend me!

But she said not a word. Finist sighed, and lost his hold on the image. He found himself staring bleakly down at his own reflection once more.

«You fool," he told himself softly, «oh, you fool, to give your heart at last, but to someone who can't ever return your love, someone for whom you and your magic must always be of the Darkness.» Slowly he got to his feet, stretching stiff muscles. «You'll never know this, Maria, but I wish you joy and ever joy.»

With that, the prince resolutely turned his back on his own hope for joy, and began the long flight home.

Chapter XX

The Forest

«This can't be happening! It can't be happening!»

The dazed Alexei had been repeating that over and over through that nightmarish midnight ride back to the estate‑Danilo's estate once more.

Damn him. It was always Danilo.

Alexei glanced at the soldiers who'd been sent to escort him. They were all studiously bland of face, trying their best to ignore his ravings. Damn you all, too! thought Alexei savagely. This wasn't the end, not yet! He'd be back, he always landed on his feet, and then—oh, then, Danilo beware!

They'd reached the main house. «You, Sasha!» Alexei commanded imperiously. «See that my horse is made ready! And‑Did you hear me, man? Move!»

«Oh, I think not.» Sasha had plainly already heard the news of his banishment. Look at the man, fairly smirking at him, not moving a muscle. The insolence was more than Alexei's overwrought nerves could endure.

«How dare you!» he shrieked. «Obey me! I am your master!»

«Never that," replied Sasha coolly. «Certainly not now. Traitor.»

Shaking with fury, Alexei raised a hand to strike him, but Sasha calmly stepped back, just out of reach, leaving the young man staggering to regain his balance. «Tsk," said Sasha. «You never should have betrayed Master Danilo, now, should you?»

«Curse you, I — "

«Aren't you wasting time? Don't you think you'd better be out of here and away as soon as possible? That is, of course, assuming you really want to reach the border and safety before those three little days are up.»

That sent a chill through Alexei. He glanced in sudden unease at the impassive soldiers who were waiting to make sure he left, and turned away from the coolly smiling Sasha, wishing the man dead, desperately trying to plan what he'd need take with him. Clothes, of course, and gold. He would take as much of Danilo's gold as he could find.

It wasn't much. The servants, curse their treacherous souls, had simply hidden almost everything of value. And there was no time to worry about it. The dawn was almost here, and he'd have to be on the road and riding as soon as possible to clear the border before it was too late. Alexei shot another quick glance at the guards, and what he saw in their hard eyes made him shudder. If it's not already too late! Oh God, if they let me clear it! I'm going to have to escape them, and survive as well. The young man thought in sudden fierce determination, I will survive. Come what may, I will survive!

Svyatoslav hadn't been able to return to sleep, not with his mind racing as it was. Alone in his bedchamber, he sat and mulled over the bizarre events of the night.