The Shining Falcon

«You never learn, do you? I don't want you. "

«You will.»

He leaned slowly towards her, eyes hot. And Maria slapped him. It wasn't as hard a blow as she'd have liked, what with the table so awkwardly between them, but she made a point. Alexei released her with a hiss, face gone cold and deadly.

«That was a foolish thing, Maria. So now, my dear, you want the truth? I do want you. Oh no, not from any overblown sense of the romantic. But, as I said, you're a clever woman. Figure it out.»

«I won't play games with you.»

He sighed. «So be it. You know I'm still in disgrace with our most unforgiving prince. Without a court position, my fortune is fading rapidly. I barely have enough gold left to maintain this house in proper style.»

The chill, calculating passion in his eyes frightened her. As coldly as she could manage, Maria spat, «What's this? Am I supposed to pity you?»

«My dear, I hardly care. Your father might have helped to restore my place in Svyatoslav's good graces. But he refused me. This time he isn't going to be so hasty.»

«You can't actually be planning to hold me for ransom!»

«Oh, no. My intentions are quite honorable.» He added with deliberate malice—revenge on her for her blow — «I would have preferred your pretty, pliable sister, but she is already as good as wed. That left only you.»

Maria stared at him in disbelief. «You can't be meaning to marry me!»

«Can't I?»

«But there are dozens of unmarried women. Go to them!»

Alexei shook his head gently. «No. Your father alone has both the wealth sufficient to replenish mine and the social rank high enough to bolster my … sadly sagging reputation. And there's a certain lovely justice in my becoming his son‑in-law, don't you agree?» His smile hardened. «Think, girl. We're alone. There's no one to help you. One way or another, Maria, I do mean to have you. One way or another, there will be a wedding.»

She refused to let him see her fear. Unable to meet his gaze, she moved quickly to the room's one window, staring blankly out, mind racing with panic—

Until she noticed the garden below. Soft earth… and it wasn't so far to the ground, not so far at all, and the wall beyond it looked quite scalable… She remembered her younger days, scandalizing the household with her tree climbing…

But then Alexei was at her side, putting his hands possessively on her shoulders, and Maria pulled away, returning to the table.

«There will be no wedding," she said firmly.

«Come, let's be civilized.» Alexei moved smoothly to her side. «You'll have to marry someone. And who's to say the man your father picks won't be old, or ugly, or cruel? I'm still young, and I know you don't find me uncomely, and as your husband, I'll treat you kindly enough. And when I'm your father's son‑in-law," continued Alexei blithely, «why, he'll treat me kindly as well, and we'll all live happily forevermore, just like folk in a minstrel's tale.»

«No! Alexei, this is ridiculous. Let me go. Let me go, and I won't say anything about — "

«Oh no, my dear.»

With that, he lunged at her. Maria didn't wait to learn what he intended. With one quick twist of the wrist, she neatly flipped the contents of her winecup full in his face. Alexei gasped, clawing the stinging wine out of his eyes, but Maria was up and away, out the window before she had a chance to think twice about it, hanging by her hands for an instant, then letting go, falling, landing in a breathless but undamaged heap. Back in the house, Alexei was swearing in a choked voice, but he hadn't called to his guards, not yet—

«Maria!»

It was a horrified gasp. Maria scrambled to her feet to find Vasilissa staring at her, a rather rumpled and red-faced Vasilissa, and with her an equally disconcerted Afron, tall and golden and weak of chin. Maria caught her breath enough to say sharply, «We're leaving. Now.»

«But where—how‑Maria! Wait!» Lissa grabbed her by the arm, whispering frantically, «You can't tell Father where we were!»

Maria glared, jerking her arm free, ready to spit out some furious reply. But the childlike panic she saw in those big eyes made her bite back what she was going to say and mutter instead, «I wasn't planning to.»

«But what on earth are you doing here?» Vasilissa, shaky with relief, was struggling to slide back into proper aristocracy. «Alone, with a man — "

«I wasn't the only one! And this is hardly the time or place for a—a chat!» Maria whirled to the two men at the gates. «Guards! Open those gates! Stand aside!»

It was her father's tone of voice. And it worked. Startled, the guards obeyed. But then they were looking uneasily past her, and Maria spun about to see Alexei, winestains darkening the front of his clothing, anger darkening his pale face. «Good day, my lord," said Maria hastily, and virtually dragged her sister out to safety, praying Alexei wouldn't try to stop them.

But Alexei made not the slightest move to stop them. As Maria and Vasilissa and the sheepish Afron hurried off, Alexei merely stood, as though turned to stone.