The Shining Falcon

Finist. The magician-prince had actually been here. But had he been telling the truth? Was that sorcerer really interested only in justice? Or had he been plotting something? Trying to find a way to use Svyatoslav? Looking for a chance to invade—no, that was impossible, there was too much wild land between Kirtesk and Stargorod. An army couldn't get through, and even a sorcerer couldn't hope to take an entire city all by himself!

But why was he so interested in Danilo? Was the boyar a spy? No, no, that didn't make any sense, either!

The prince sighed, confused and frustrated. Could he trust Danilo? Of course; it was madness to think otherwise. But just the same, he'd test the man. He'd set a watch on him, and at the first sign of betrayal—

Alexei had betrayed him; at least there was no doubt about that. Alexei had made him look like some ridiculous weak‑minded old man!

Svyatoslav winced. The only other who'd betrayed him so blatantly had been Rostislav, treacherous Rostislav who had nearly had his throne and his life. Overwhelmed by memory, the prince snatched up the goblet from his bedside table and hurled it across the room in anguish and rage. That time, the traitor had escaped him. And now he'd been forced by law to let Alexei go, too!

But if Alexei didn't leave his lands in time… Svyatoslav smiled thinly.

I've lost Rostislav. But Alexei, I will at least have your life!

He'd tried outracing them. He'd tried simply telling them, «It's quite all right, you can tell your royal master I'm well on my way.» But the cursed guards had stuck with him faithfully. Alexei glanced at the weapons hanging at their saddle bows, so well-worn, so close to hand, and winced. Would they never give up? Ahead of him now, the road twisted, skirting the wall of forest—

The forest? Alexei looked at his unwelcome escort again, more closely. The men were uneasy—and more than uneasy. The superstitious fools were actually afraid of the forest!

And aren't you? wondered a malicious little inner voice. After all, didn't you lose men to it?

«Nonsense!» he muttered. «These damned guards probably killed them, that's what.»

All right, no time for hesitation. The road wasn't going to get much closer to the trees, and there was the hint of a path trailing into the forest.

With a wild cry, Alexei spurred his horse into the sea of trees. Behind him, he could hear startled shouts, but then, almost as though he'd plunged into a sea indeed, all noise was shut off behind him. Alexei forced his frightened mount on along the dangerous, narrow path, frantically ducking and dodging branches that seemed determined to sweep him from the saddle. There, now, there was some kind of wide-trunked tree whose branches drooped to form a perfect screen. Alexei hastily reined in his horse, pulling the reluctant animal under the shield of branches with him, hand ready to close over the horse's nose to keep it from whinnying. Heart racing, Alexei stood listening frantically to the crashes of mounted soldiers following him.

«I don't see him, sir," said one. «The forest being what it is, I think we've lost him.»

The desperate Alexei prayed, Yes, yes, you've lost me, go away!

And to his heartfelt relief, he heard, «Bah, our orders weren't to follow him in here. Let the forest take care of him!»

They were leaving, they were actually leaving, and he was safe.

Too safe: safe from a way out of the forest.

Somewhere amid all this heavy greenness there were roads, Alexei knew, roads that would lead him to some nice, civilized city where he'd never have to see another tree. But he'd been riding for what seemed like days, and for all he knew, he'd been going in one great circle. Give the horse its head? No chance! If he did that, the fool beast would almost certainly take him right back to Danilo's estate.

The trees grew thick together on either side of the overgrown path he was following, forcing him to keep twisting in the saddle to avoid having a hip or thigh bruised against rough bark. Leaves hung heavily on the wide-spread branches, motionless in the still air, screening out the sky. Somewhere up there, Alexei knew, the sun must still be shining. Down here, it was perpetual dim green twilight. Where were the birds? Birdsong to break the stillness would have been a joy. But he guessed that whatever birds there were had been frightened away by his presence. Silence shrouded him, without even the familiar clop of hoof to relieve it; the horse was picking its delicate way over muffling layers of damp, rotting leaves. The overripe stench of them made him gag and raise a screening hand to his face. God, for a breeze!

What was that? A quick, sharp rattle of a sound—he could have sworn he heard a laugh‑Dammit, I'm getting as bad as those dolts of soldiers!