The Shining Falcon

Chapter XX The Forest

«This can't be happening! It can't be happening!»

The dazed Alexei had been repeating that over and over through that nightmarish midnight ride back to the estate‑Danilo's estate once more.

Damn him. It was always Danilo.

Alexei glanced at the soldiers who'd been sent to escort him. They were all studiously bland of face, trying their best to ignore his ravings. Damn you all, too! thought Alexei savagely. This wasn't the end, not yet! He'd be back, he always landed on his feet, and then—oh, then, Danilo beware!

They'd reached the main house. «You, Sasha!» Alexei commanded imperiously. «See that my horse is made ready! And‑Did you hear me, man? Move!»

«Oh, I think not.» Sasha had plainly already heard the news of his banishment. Look at the man, fairly smirking at him, not moving a muscle. The insolence was more than Alexei's overwrought nerves could endure.

«How dare you!» he shrieked. «Obey me! I am your master!»

«Never that," replied Sasha coolly. «Certainly not now. Traitor.»

Shaking with fury, Alexei raised a hand to strike him, but Sasha calmly stepped back, just out of reach, leaving the young man staggering to regain his balance. «Tsk," said Sasha. «You never should have betrayed Master Danilo, now, should you?»

«Curse you, I — "

«Aren't you wasting time? Don't you think you'd better be out of here and away as soon as possible? That is, of course, assuming you really want to reach the border and safety before those three little days are up.»

That sent a chill through Alexei. He glanced in sudden unease at the impassive soldiers who were waiting to make sure he left, and turned away from the coolly smiling Sasha, wishing the man dead, desperately trying to plan what he'd need take with him. Clothes, of course, and gold. He would take as much of Danilo's gold as he could find.

It wasn't much. The servants, curse their treacherous souls, had simply hidden almost everything of value. And there was no time to worry about it. The dawn was almost here, and he'd have to be on the road and riding as soon as possible to clear the border before it was too late. Alexei shot another quick glance at the guards, and what he saw in their hard eyes made him shudder. If it's not already too late! Oh God, if they let me clear it! I'm going to have to escape them, and survive as well. The young man thought in sudden fierce determination, I will survive. Come what may, I will survive!

Svyatoslav hadn't been able to return to sleep, not with his mind racing as it was. Alone in his bedchamber, he sat and mulled over the bizarre events of the night.

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!

Was he? Something was watching him; that was no superstitious fancy. Something inhuman, something hostile, was watching him. He knew it. Something was virtually breathing down his neck, playing with him, preparing to strike—

Alexei whirled in the saddle, staring back over his shoulder, half expecting to see the trees quietly closing in behind him.

Nothing.

Of course, nothing, he told himself angrily. Don't be a fool.

But the blood was surging in his ears, his heart pounding so sharply he thought it must burst… It was the forest pursuing him, the forest itself that didn't want him here…

With a startled snort, Alexei's horse almost fell out of underbrush onto a road, an undeniable road, and he could have kissed the beast. He didn't know where he was, he didn't know where the road led, but surely it had to get him out of the forest!

But which was the right way? The branches even overhung the road, and in this cursed sunless gloom, he couldn't even begin to judge direction. Gnawing on his lip, Alexei picked a direction at random, forcing his horse forward. The animal didn't seem very happy about his choice, its ears flicking nervously until he could have shouted at it to be still. Save for the clop of its hoofs on dirt and the continued surging of blood in his ears, there still wasn't a sound, not even the faintest stirring of wind in leaves. The sense of being watched, of riding ever deeper into nameless peril, grew till he could have screamed.

Suddenly Alexei's nerve broke. He whirled his horse about so sharply the animal reared in protest, then kicked it into a frenzied run—

Just as something heavy came hurtling down on him out of the trees. Alexei was sent flying from the saddle, landing on his back with an impact that knocked the breath from him. Dazed, he saw men peering down at him‑dirty, ragged, perfectly human robbers—but his attention was on his horse, galloping off with an eagerness that said it wasn't going to stop till it was safe in Stargorod. Galloping off with all his possessions and his hopes of getting out of the forest!

«No!» he gasped, and again, in rising panic, «No!» Oh, God, the thought of being trapped here forever — «Damn you!» It was a shriek. «You've stranded me. Damn you!»

Blazing with mindless rage and sheer terror, in that mad instant blaming these fools for everything that had gone wrong, Alexei sprang to his feet, sword in hand, and descended on the amazed robbers like a demon out of the old tales. He was dimly aware of knives flashing out, improvised clubs being raised, but just then he didn't care what weapons these peasants bore.

«Damn you!» he repeated, and when one of them, better-armed than the rest, dared to lunge at him with long knife raised, Alexei swung his blade, two-handed, and felt a savage surge of joy at the impact of steel on flesh. His victim fell, spouting blood, nearly decapitated, and the other robbers cried out angrily. The sound penetrated Alexei's killing rage, and he looked down at his ghastly handiwork in sudden horror. He'd never had to kill anyone before; not like this, not with his own hands. God, the mess of it, the ugly, reeking mess… But he didn't dare be sick, as his churning stomach was insisting, because these creatures would almost certainly murder him if he showed any weakness.

Yes, but why did they all seem more shocked now than angry? Surely they'd seen violent death before. Oh, fine, thought Alexei in sudden realization, that was their leader I just killed. And now they're going to kill me.

The fading of his killing frenzy had left him fairly shaking with reaction. Alexei thought of those dirty peasant hands tearing him limb from limb, and all at once wanted nothing so much as to beg their mercy. Not that he would ever dishonor himself like that! But right now, he had to think of something clever, and fast.

And to his amazement, Alexei heard himself saying, in a cold, casual voice, «The fool is dead.»

There was a muttering of anger from the robbers.

''Fool, I say!'' repeated Alexei sharply. ''Look at you— half-starved, ragged, filthy. Is that the sort of leader you admire, a man who couldn't even keep you fed, let alone show you riches?»

«What makes ye think ye're better?» came a grumble. «Ye, with yer fine city clothes and yer fine city words.»

Oh, God, now what? Alexei located the one who'd spoken, and started towards the man as boldly as he could, praying his weak‑limbed gait would be taken for brash swagger, letting his sword droop in his hand in what he hoped was a convincingly casual manner. Face to face with the man, trying not to breathe in the stench of him, Alexei simply stared, the unblinking stare of a boyar trained to cow servants. And to his great relief, he saw the robber blink and look angrily away. Alexei smiled. «That should be obvious," he said coolly.

«Ye a thief, then?» came someone's not-quite-hostile query.

«Some have called me that," Alexei answered carefully, wondering if he'd made the right answer. What if these scum felt some sort of professional jealousy? «What of it?» he added, fear sharpening his voice.

«Eh, no need to get hot about it!» They evidently thought he was about to go back into the bizarre fighting frenzy that had killed their leader. «No shame in bein' a thief.»

«A good one?» someone asked, and Alexei sneered.

«Do I look a failure, now? Do I?»

«If yer so fine a thief, what ye doin' runnin' for yer life?»

Alexei managed a reasonably casual shrug. «Misfortune.» He glanced at them slyly, feeling how hostility, bit by bit, was being replaced by curiosity. They're harboring no loyalty towards their late leader, realized Alexei. But why should they? The man was a failure‑I proved that by killing him. The young man smiled in suddenly restored self‑confidence. Did these peasant scum actually think they could get the better of him?

Alexei straightened as a sudden, fantastic idea struck him. After all, he'd need help to get out of this forest, particularly now that these fools had left him afoot and nearly penniless. Not one of these slow-witted creatures seemed eager to replace their late leader, so… «You see," said the young man carefully, «I did make one small mistake. I needed a band of good, skilled men behind me. I didn't have one at the time. But something tells me I just might have one now.» With a coolness that wasn't quite feigned any longer, Alexei pulled a golden ring from his finger and tossed it to the robbers, a boyar tossing a scrap to his dogs. And the dogs scrambled for it.

«Yes," repeated Alexei softly, watching them, «I do think I have a band behind me now.»

He waited a moment, but there were no arguments.

And so it goes, thought Alexei wryly. From boyar to leader of a scruffy bandit troop in one short day. God, what a ridiculous change. Oh, Danilo, what I owe you for this! But I'm still alive. And, he added savagely, I will have my revenge! Hear me, Danilo, wherever you are: I will have my revenge!