The Shining Falcon

«Well, he came flying back maybe a month, a month and a half ago, with gashes all over him. His cousin is tending him, the Lady Ljuba — "

«Ljuba!» That was the name of Finist's dangerous kinswoman. Dear God, when Alexei was raving about the woman «with Power, true Power," that could only have been Ljuba, too! That means she knows about me! That means—she wants me dead!

Maria froze in stunned horror at the realization. Sorcery, aimed directly at her… But if Ljuba had been able to strike her down, surely the woman wouldn't have needed the dubious aid of a madman. Surely that meant Maria was safe, as long as she stayed in the protection of the forest.

But I can't stay here forever! Her journey cross‑country had plainly used up at least a month already. I've got to get to Finist! What am I going to do?

«Maria?» Marfa asked warily. «Are you all right?»

«I—Oh, yes, of course. Please, go on.»

«Well, uh, the Lady Ljuba is something of a sorceress herself, but whatever she's doing isn't working too well, because Prince Finist is supposed to be…I'm sorry, but he's supposed to be burning up with fever, and no one knows for sure if he's going to live.»

«No, that can't be — "

«Uh… there's more. The Lady Ljuba is his Regent, since he's too sick to rule. And she…» Marfa hesitated, looking about warily. «She's not like our Prince; she's a real tyrant. And she's gotten herself betrothed to Prince Finist—but he said some sort of spell, and now she can't marry him until—until she manages to wash the bloodstains out of his caftan—easy, now! Don't faint!»

«I'm not about to faint," Maria said grimly. «Marfa, you and your people love the prince, don't you?»

«Saints above, yes! Stefan and I in particular! He-he saved us, you see, saved us from something that—well, never mind. We'd do anything for him, anything.» She hesitated, then added defiantly, «Not like for that… treacherous Lady! She's got to be treacherous! If she were so good, why'd our Prince put such a spell on her, eh?» Her eyes were suddenly very serious. «You love him, don't you? Not as subjects love their ruler, no, as—as woman loves man. Please, don't try to deny it. It's clear as sunlight on your face. So. I'm not asking who you really are, name or rank or anything. But if I were you, I wouldn't risk going straight to Kirtesk, not with that jealous sorceress waiting.»

«What other choice do I have? Marfa, it's true, I do love him. And the thought of Finist in such terrible peril — "

«Whoa, now. I'm not saying you should just give up.»

«What are you suggesting?»

«Did you ever hear of Prince Vasili? No? He's Prince Finist's uncle. And though he went into a monastery years ago‑I guess so he wouldn't confuse the line of succession or something like that‑it's said the royal magic runs in his veins, too. Go to him; he's a kind, saintly man. Who knows? Maybe he'll have some sort of counterspell that'll make the lady just» — she made a shooing gesture — «slink away.»

Maria hesitated. How wonderful it would be to be able to turn to someone magical for help… «But if he's a monk — "

«Well, as a monk, he'd be sworn to combat evil, wouldn't he? Surely he can help you—and our Prince!»

«Akh, but it's been so long already. And Kirtesk is so close.»

«Not as close as all that. Look you, it takes a good fortnight to get to Kirtesk from here, and that's riding, not walking. It takes only a week maybe, not much more, to get to the monastery. We'll lend you a horse, I promise.

And if the magician‑monk can help you, you haven't wasted any time at all, have you?»

«Marfa, I—Thank you!»

«Don't be thanking me just yet, not till all is well. But when it is‑do be reminding our Prince of Marfa and Stefan… Stefan, the—the wolf. Oh, but you can't be meaning to leave right away!»

«I can.» Maria's hand went to the silver necklace. «If Finist is as ill as you say, I can't afford to wait another moment.»

Chapter XLlll

The Regent

Ljuba lay staring up at the canopy of her bed, too worn, too weary for sleep even though her body ached for rest.

Finist, why didn't I realize what you were going to do? How could I have so sorely underestimated your strength?

That spell! That impossible, ridiculous, unbreakable spell! She'd tried, tried with every counterspell she knew, with every soap and powder and potion at her command, but the magic held fast, the bloodstains remained set in the silken fabric, she remained Regent but not ruler.