The Shining Falcon

But then they moved forward to surround him, and he found himself facing soldiers who were trying with embarrassed shifts of eye not to meet his glance, but whose weapons were very close to hand. «What nonsense is this?» Danilo asked sharply. «Stand aside. Eh, stand aside!»

They did, but only to permit a stout, somber, richly robed man to approach.

«Gleb Igorevich!» Danilo hailed the prince's under-steward. «Gleb, what's the meaning of this?»

The under-steward wouldn't look directly at him, either. Instead, in a rushed mumble he read from a scroll:

«Danilo Yaroslavovich, boyar and member of the Inner Council of Svyatoslav, Prince by the Grace of God over Stargorod and — "

«Yes, yes, get to it, man! Tell me what all this is about!»

Gleb shot him a quick, uneasy glance. «It would seem, boyar," he began apologetically, «that our prince has accused you of high treason.»

The blood surged so painfully in Danilo's head that he staggered, his only thought a wild God, God, all the times I spoke so lightly of the prince's suspicious nature, all the times I boasted so smugly and never, never thought suspicion could ever fall on me‑I've done nothing wrong, nothing!

Gleb was watching him with more than a little sympathy, and Danilo knew he should say something, but all he could manage was a weak echo: «Treason…»

«Yes, my lord. You are herewith ordered to appear before the prince and his royal court to plead your case, and I'm commanded to see that you get there.»

«But—this is ridiculous! This is the most impossible, unbelievable— You know me, Gleb! You know I'd never — "

«Boyar, I'm sorry. Truly, I am. But…» Gleb's very stance said plainly, I don't dare say more, I don't want to risk my own neck. «I have my orders.»

Danilo fought to control himself. «Am I not to be allowed to know the specifics of this—this monstrous charge? Am I not to be allowed at least a chance to prepare my defense?»

Gleb sighed, studying the scroll. «No… it would seem not.» He gave the boyar a wry smile. «It appears to me that you must have made yourself some very nasty enemy. I… can only wish you luck.» His face went flatly formal. «And now, Boyar, will you come with me?»

* * *

Of course, Danilo had participated in many a royal court of law before this. But never like this! his mind screamed. Never as victim! And victim he too plainly was meant to be, ringed with guards like some common criminal, none of the assembled boyars—his friends, his colleagues‑daring so much as to look at him: cold-eyed Yelenko, Chief Steward and Royal Judge, waiting patiently to read the charges, and Prince Svyatoslav up on his throne watching the proceedings with all the softness and charity of a marble statue.

«Boyar Danilo Yaroslavovich," began Yelenko without preamble, «you come before the Throne accused of that most grievous of crimes, high treason against your sovereign lord — "

«How accused?» snapped Danilo. «Who dares accuse me?»

Yelenko looked reproachfully down his long nose at this interruption. But at a quick gesture from the prince, he intoned, «Let the accuser stand forth.»

«Alexei!» shouted Danilo. «My God, I should have known!»

Yelenko frowned. «The boyar will kindly refrain from comment.»

«Refrain! How can I refrain? If that—that scoundrel dares accuse me of any crime at all, he perjures himself in the eyes of Heaven and — "

«Boyar Danilo.» Yelenko's voice was chill. «Any further outburst and» — he glanced at his prince for confirmation — «and I fear, boyar or no, you must be gagged.»

Choking on his rage, Danilo subsided, glaring at Alexei, who was very much the picture of innocence, quietly clad, eyes modestly downcast. He hadn't shown by so much as the flicker of an eyelash that he'd heard the boyar.

«Alexei Sergeovich," continued Yelenko, «tell us now what words passed between yourself and Danilo Yaroslavovich.»

«I admit that I met with him with intentions of trying to better my position," Alexei began humbly. «But before I could speak more than a few words to the boyar, he dragged me into a private alcove.»

«Is this true?» Yelenko asked Danilo severely.

«Yes, but — "

«Continue, Alexei Sergeovich.»

«I—I hardly dare. It seems that the boyar … had been in communication with—with the exiled prince, our liege's banished cousin.»

«Now, that's an outright lie!» shouted Danilo. «My Prince, I swear by all that's holy, I've never had any dealings with Prince Rostislav!»

«Boyar," said Yelenko coldly, «this is your last warning. Be silent.» He turned to Alexei. «Continue.»

«Ah… the boyar told me Prince Rostislav was planning to return, planning to overthrow our rightful ruler. And he promised me advancement if I sided with him.»

«And did you agree?»

«I did not. We parted with angry words on both sides.»