The Shining Falcon

«Damn!» That escaped Danilo before he could stop it, but it was quite heartfelt. Just because Svyatoslav seemed to need less and less sleep as he aged, he expected his counselors to be the same! Danilo bit his lip to keep from saying something in front of Sasha that he'd regret. Dammit all! Surely Svyatoslav must realize that these early morning meetings never accomplished anything, not with all the boyars sitting around blinking sleepily at each other! And to be summoned now, with Maria missing—

«I can't go, not now! Tell the messenger— No, wait.» Danilo gave an angry sigh as he realized: I don't have a choice. If I don't go, Svyatoslav will certainly wonder about my loyalty again.

«Sasha," Danilo said bluntly, «my daughter has… disappeared.»

The servant glanced hastily at Vasilissa, then exclaimed incredulously, «What, young mistress Maria?»

«She has. I suspect she may be trying to reach Kirtesk.»

«Kirtesk? But—that's a long way to go! And for a young lady, alone — "

«I know, man, I know!» Danilo hesitated a moment. «I'd hoped to be supervising this myself, but…» He shrugged helplessly. «You'll have to be in charge, Sasha. Send out as many men as you trust to search.»

«Of course.» Sasha bowed, then paused just long enough to give Danilo a quick, sympathetic smile. «We'll find her, master," he said gently. «All will be well, don't fear.»

«Thank you. Go now. While I," the boyar added wryly, «go to attend my Prince.»

Danilo sat with the other boyars in Svyatoslav's small audience chamber, and nodded when it seemed he should, and agreed with whatever the others said, and couldn't keep his thoughts from his daughter, his poor Maria, alone in the middle of—of— God, if only he hadn't been so harsh with her. He had driven her away! And yet, what else could he have done but— ' 'Boyar! Boyar Danilo!''

He came back to himself with a shock. «Ah, my Prince,

«You.» The regal sweep of arm took in the other counselors. «Leave us. You.» He pointed directly at Danilo. «Stay.» As soon as they were alone, Svyatoslav frowned. «What is all this about?»

«My… Prince?»

«This mooning and dreaming. Were I a gambling man, I'd wager you haven't heard one word in twenty that we've been saying!»

«I… Forgive me, my Prince.»

«Not till you confess! What troubles you?»

Danilo had meant to give some vague, pacifying reply: an aching head, a poor night's sleep. But instead, he heard himself blurting, «My daughter is gone. My Maria has— has run — "

«Has run away, eh?» Svyatoslav shook his head. «There it is: children are always betraying one.»

How would you know? Danilo thought savagely. You never sired any.

But he wisely kept silent, and the prince, with surprising gentleness, said, «Come, tell me. It shall go no further than this room. What is it? Has the girl a lover?»

«Yes— No‑I mean, her virtue is‑is intact; I trust Maria's sense that much. But she… swears she's in love.»

«With someone at court? If he's unwed, surely there's no problem to arranging — "

«No problem," Danilo said bitterly. «She's chosen to love a sorcerer! Prince Finist of Kirtesk — "

He stopped short, realizing to his horror that he'd been about to condemn royalty to royalty. But Svyatoslav, unheeding, murmured, «So that's it! 'Justice,' bah! I knew he was after more than that! Why, he used me!» The prince stared at Danilo with such sudden intensity that the boyar had to fight the impulse to squirm. «So, Danilo. It seems we have a common bond between us.»

«My Prince?»

«We've both been betrayed by those we love.»

It was on the tip of Danilo's tongue to gasp out a ridiculous You love Finist? But he bit that hastily back, real‑izing just in time that Svyatoslav could only be referring to his treacherous cousin, the exiled Prince Rostislav.

«So!» the prince continued. «I will never see my cousin again, not while we both live. But your daughter, at least, shall be found.»

«My Prince?» Danilo repeated, abandoning any hope of following the man's train of thought. «I don't understand — "

«Why, it's simple!» Svyatoslav's smile was almost beatific. «I will send my own guards to search for her. No, no, get up, man! Don't thank me till it's all over. And don't fear, boyar, Maria Danilovna will be found. Her betrayal shall be ended!»

Chapter XXXIV

Fever Dreams