Swan Lake

by K. M. Shea

  Alexsei rubbed his chin. “That matches what little I’ve seen of him.”

  “There is a drawback to his belief that he is a genius, however,” Odette continued.

  “What is it?”

  “If he believes he has been slighted—something his ego cannot handle—there’s a good chance he will feel driven to do something big to remind everyone of his own self-importance.”

  “Like the wyvern.”

  “Like the wyvern,” she agreed. “As you may recall from his ranting in the dungeon, it is likely he created it as a way to get back at his wife—not that he will send it to destroy her, but that he hopes to make her jealous.”

  Alexsei narrowed his eyes as he studied Odette—mimicking his mother’s earlier scrutiny. “You think he will do something more than the wyvern?”

  Odette pushed her plate away from her. “I don’t know.” And that, more than the wyvern itself, frightens me. For four years she had made it her business to know everything possible about Rothbart. “The wyvern caught me off guard, but it made me realize I have no way of knowing what other plans he has kept hidden.”

  Alexsei nodded and stared down at the table for several long moments. When he lifted his chin again, his easygoing smile was back in place. “I imagine you would like to return to Swan Lake soon?”

  Odette considered swiping a few rolls for some of her smugglers. “Yes.”

  “I’ll send word to the stables to have mounts prepared for us. You know how to ride?”

  Odette nodded. “I grew up on a farm.”

  “Excellent.” Alexsei cast his eyes down. “I’ll see if I can find a pair of boots for you as well.”

  Odette tucked her bare feet under her chair. “Thank you.”

  Alexsei beamed. “It should be I who is thanking you.”

  Odette shook her head, but said nothing. I haven’t done anything worth thanks. After Zina and me, twenty one people were cursed with our spell, Rothbart made a wyvern, and I allowed a prince to find out about us. No, I haven’t done a single thing worth thanks.

  Chapter 7

  The Wyvern

  Odette whistled a third time, letting the smuggler on watch duty know she was entering the camp—with company. Alexsei followed her through the forest, dodging scratchy pine branches and moss-covered boulders.

  She had tried dissuading the prince from following her, but he had insisted on seeing her all the way home. Royals.

  They pushed through the last layer of trees, popping out by one of the sandy stretches of shore. Water lapped at the land, and the moon was bright in the sky. The barest hints of dawn warmed the eastern horizon to a dark shade of purple; it would be more than an hour before the sun rose.

  Odette stretched her arms above her head. I need to grab my daggers. She glanced at Alexsei, who was watching her, his brow wrinkled with worry. Guessing at what was worrying him, she sighed. “I must admit, though I would never have submitted had you asked me, it was wise to tell Empress Sonya.”

  The tension left Alexsei’s shoulders, and he smiled. “I’m glad. Mother is an excellent empress. Given time, she and Father will create a plan.”

  Odette tried to make the corners of her mouth turn up, but she couldn’t. Their Imperial Majesties may be good rulers, but Lord and Lady Enchanters they are not—and an Enchanter is what we need if we wish to fight Rothbart on equal terms.

  Alexsei’s eyes gained a sad light to them. “I meant what I said earlier, Odette. I promise I will help you break your spell.”

  Odette bowed. “While I thank you for your offer, I must warn you, Your Highness, it is not wise to make promises you might not be able to keep.”

  “But I will keep it.”

  Odette tipped her head back to study the star-studded sky so she didn’t have to see the hurt that lined his expression. “You will try to keep it, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to. When your parents rally the necessary forces to face Rothbart, their focus will be on eradicating him—not restraining him.”

  “They will make it a priority to capture him.” Alexsei took several long strides towards her. He reached out, as if to rest his hands on her shoulders, then thought better of it. “My parents will not kill Rothbart and force you to live like this for the rest of your life.”

  She rubbed her forehead. I should have just agreed and kept my disbelief to myself. He is surprisingly distressed. “I appreciate the thought, Alexsei,” she said finally.

  He leaned back. “You still don’t believe me.”

  “It doesn’t matter what I believe—it won’t change the future. Thank you for seeing me back, but you should return to Tsona now. The empress will worry.”

  Alexsei sighed and let his head hang for a moment. “As you wish.” He straightened his posture and flashed his usual friendly grin. “Be safe, Odette.”

  “You too, Alexsei.” Odette watched him return to the forest and swerve through the trees, starting down the path that would take him back to his horses. She shook her head and ambled down the shoreline, making for the smugglers’ camp.

  “Welcome back,” Misha said as he and Nadia stepped out of the gloom.

  “Thanks.”

  “Where did His Highness take you?” Misha glanced curiously in the direction from which she had come and followed her as she stomped towards the fire.

  “Tsona, to meet his mother.”

  Misha erupted in coughs, but Nadia only cocked her head. “He proposed?”

  Odette wrinkled her forehead. “What? No. He decided to tell his mother about us smugglers.”

  Nadia peered at her, the light from the campfire casting an orange glow on her face. “And you let him?”

  “Well, the wyvern changed things,” Odette said. “Our guarding the lake won’t be enough if Rothbart decides to release that monster. The emperor and empress deserved to be warned.”

  Nadia nodded.

  Misha recollected himself. “I see. It was a wise move on your end.”

  “Did anything happen while I was gone?”

  “A representative from the Verglas Assassins’ Guild visited. I believe he has a new job for us, but he made it very clear he would speak only to you,” Misha said.

  Odette shivered. “Darn it.”

  “What is it?” Nadia asked.

  “I’m disappointed they already have a new job for us. It’s rather unusual,” Odette said.

  “Indeed. They usually wait several months between our jobs,” Misha said.

  Odette kicked a rock. “I wish they wouldn’t insist they can only speak to me, either. It makes me nervous.”

  “They respect you,” Nadia said.

  “Yes, but why?” Odette asked.

  Misha shrugged. “You are our leader. Why wouldn’t you be worthy of respect?”

  “I don’t know. It just bothers me they use us at all.” Odette waved to Pyotr, Dima, Iosif, and Gala. Iosif and Gala gazed so rapturously at each other they didn’t notice.

  Dima bowled them over as he ran to Odette. “I got a new head for my collection.” The boy held up the stone head he must have finally succeeded in wrenching from the crumbling statue by the pavilion. “But I like the gargoyles better so I want to go back to Rothbart’s but Pyotr told me I couldn’t even if I went in as a cygnet why are baby swans called cygnets instead of swanlings like ducklings?”

  She was still considering the severed stone head when she heard Gleb. “Odette?”

  She ruffled Dima’s hair and nodded at the head. “Make sure you store that before dawn.” She slipped her hands into the pockets of her trousers and kicked another rock as she crossed the shore to join Gleb, who was staring at Rothbart’s stronghold. It was a black shadow, barely visible if not for the purple-colored eastern horizon.

  “Do you hear that?” he asked.

  Above Dima’s excited chatter and Iosif and Gala’s cooing, hissing growls rolled across the lake.

  “The wyvern,” Odette said.

  The wyvern roared with enough strength to knock several
rocks loose from the castle. Rothbart shouted, and the creature hissed. In the dim light, Odette saw its silhouette as it burst out of the castle, its wings pumping. It circled higher and higher above the castle, testing its wings, but she didn’t miss the way its head swiveled. She had seen hawks perform the move a thousand times. The wyvern was searching for prey.

  Unfortunately, depending how keen its senses were, it was likely to pick up a familiar scent: her.

  Gleb’s sharp exhale whistled. “By magic and mercy, that thing’s a monster.”

  Odette turned on her heels and ran towards the other smugglers. “Douse the fire, move to the woods—signal for the others to do so as well.”

  Gala screamed.

  Odette reached her and slapped her hand over her mouth. “Do you want it to hear you? Use your head, and don’t raise a racket!” She shoved Gala towards the woods and tossed a bucket of water over one of the fires while Misha doused the other. With the light out, it took Odette several seconds for her eyes—used to a night light—to adjust to the darkness.

  Nadia threw Odette her thigh bandolier and her boot daggers. When Odette had them strapped into place, Nadia tossed her the rest of her dagger collection.

  Odette drew one of her boot daggers, finding no comfort in the cold metal. “Misha, tell Zina to run to Tsona Palace. She needs to warn them the wyvern is loose. Nadia, alert all the Lake Guard.” She hesitated, thinking through her tactics. “Sorry, no—just get Kira and Feofan. We’re forming a rearguard. Gala—stop grabbing things and run!”

  Odette whipped around. The wyvern—recognizing her scent or hearing Gala’s scream—tore across the lake, headed for their camp.

  It folded its wings tight to its body and dove, unfurling them just before it hit the ground. The creature reached for her with its hind legs—like an eagle stretching to grab a fish from the lake.

  She darted underneath it, just missing its grasp. “Back! Back! To the woods!”

  The wyvern landed. With its curved talons—several inches long and terrifyingly sharp—the beast snatched up a tent and ripped it apart. Splinters and scraps of cloth flew everywhere.

  Odette and Nadia backed into the forest and watched the wyvern destroy their camp. Whatever it didn’t rip to pieces, it spat green goo at, melting it. In the blink of an eye, all their tents were gone, as was a white rowboat they had dragged on shore.

  Odette followed its projected path of destruction as it clawed apart a stew pot. It would eventually descend upon the casks holding the ètonse philtre.

  “Misha, Nadia,” Odette beckoned for them and pointed at the white boats that held the casks.

  Nadia hissed—as close to swearing as she came—but Misha swore up and down like Odette. “If it contaminates the lake with that stuff, we’ll all be dancing until we die,” he said.

  Odette placed her hands on her forehead, as if she could slow her thoughts. Misha is right—contamination is a real worry, but so are our clients. If they don’t get that draught, will they be able to survive? Odette scrunched her face and tried weighing it out. She glanced at the wyvern—now disemboweling a travel pack. I can’t do it. I can’t abandon them to their curse.

  Odette drew several daggers and spun them around her fingers. “Nadia, spot me.”

  “You can’t seriously believe you can fight that thing!” Misha hissed.

  “I can’t let it destroy that shipment,” Odette said.

  “Forget about the shipment!” Misha snapped. “Our clients will understand! You’re good, Odette, and the spell strengthens you, but you can’t take on a wyvern alone!”

  Nadia hefted her spear. “She won’t be alone.” Kira and Feofan of the Lake Guard flocked behind Nadia and nodded.

  “You don’t have to do this,” Odette said.

  “Neither do you, but we will,” Kira said.

  “Nata and Naum will guard everyone else,” Feofan added.

  Odette nodded, and her heart lifted. “We don’t have to kill it. If we can drive it off, that will be enough.”

  “We have less than an hour until the sun rises. You think the five of us can impede a wyvern enough to drive it off?” Misha asked.

  “Four of us,” Odette corrected.

  “Five. I’m coming with you,” Misha said.

  “No, you aren’t.” Odette raised a hand to forestall his complaints. “I need you to lead everyone else farther into the woods and make sure Zina makes it to Tsona.”

  Misha looked murderous.

  Odette placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’re the only one who can do this.”

  “That’s a lie. Gleb could!”

  “He can’t,” Odette said gently. “He has the brains for it, but you have the necessary vitality. Watch them for me, Misha. I’m counting on you.”

  Misha growled under his breath but nodded.

  “Good. Go!” Odette pushed him after the smugglers, then she turned her attention to her three fellow fighters. They had to move fast—the wyvern was drawing closer and closer to the boats. “I’ll draw its attention. You three attack it from the side and back. We want to push it out over the lake. If it flies above the forest, it might catch scent of the others. It spits acid, uses its back legs to grasp and tail to smash.”

  “Any weak points?” Feofan whirled his two war axes in circles.

  Odette bit her lip. “The eyes, and maybe the wings.”

  Kira loaded a bolt into her crossbow. “Understood.”

  “Good. Let’s go.” Odette stole from the forest and repositioned her daggers between her fingers as she stalked closer to the wyvern.

  It was almost on the boats, so she used one of the piercing bird whistles Odile had taught her. When the wyvern glared in her direction, she waggled her butt and shouted. “Ugly, aren’t you hungry? Come and get it!”

  The wyvern snarled and clumsily ran across the shore—looking a bit like a chicken. Although the image was fun, Odette’s heart pounded in her throat, nearly choking her. She led it away from the boats and towards the stone pavilion. It lunged. She jumped the pavilion railing.

  The wyvern crammed its head and upper body in after her, and snapped as she skidded across the stone floor. The wings squeezed in, tried to scoop her back towards the wyvern, but she jumped out the opposite side.

  The creature hissed in rage. It had to scramble backwards with its legs to wrench its upper body out of the pavilion, earning Odette a few precious moments. She hurled a dagger at one of its eyes, but it caught the weapon in its teeth and shattered it like a stick.

  “Kira, you’ll have to be the one to blind it. I can’t throw my daggers fast enough,” Odette shouted. She rolled to the side, avoiding the wyvern as it lunged for her.

  Enraged, the monster pumped its wings, raising clouds of dust and sand that stung Odette’s eyes and got grit in her clothes, hair, and teeth.

  It took to the skies, circling them like a vulture, then folded its wings around its body and dove.

  Odette held her ground as long as she dared, then she darted for the safety of the pavilion.

  Feofan threw one of his axes at the monster’s wings after it unfurled them. It smashed into the leathery skin of its wing and dropped. “Odette, Nadia, try its wings. My axes are more for blunt force than piercing.”

  Nadia threw a spear at the wyvern, punching a hole through its wings. It shook its wing to dislodge the spear and roared in pain when the spear ripped a bigger hole as it came out.

  Crouched behind the pavilion, Kira took a shot at its eyes. She missed, and the arrow bounced harmlessly off the wyvern’s forehead.

  The wyvern roared and swept its tail in a circle. Feofan drew back, but Nadia was forced to retreat back to the lake.

  The wyvern turned for her. Odette whistled and threw a dagger for its throat. She struck it, but, like Kira’s attempt, it bounced off.

  It drew the wyvern’s attention, however. The monster turned back towards Odette and spat.

  Odette clutched her daggers to keep them from sliding between her
sweaty fingers, and jumped backwards to avoid the spit. She succeeded, but the rocks she landed on rolled from underneath her boots.

  She tumbled to the ground.

  Chortling, the wyvern flapped its wings and jumped closer.

  “Odette!” Nadia shouted.

  Odette scrambled to get to her feet but failed. It was almost on top of her.

  Feofan threw an axe that lodged in the wyvern’s leg, but the monster paid no attention to it or to the arrows hitting its face and eye ridge.

  Kira lined up a shot for its beady eyes.

  Mouth gaping open, it lunged for Odette, only to take the sharp edge of a sword to the nose.

  Alexsei had come tearing out of the woods and skidded to a stop between Odette and the wyvern, hitting it in the prime of a sword swing.

  The unexpected pain was enough to make the wyvern take a hopping step backwards.

  “Can you stand?” Alexsei asked. He must have heard the wyvern and come back.

  I’m going to kill him if he doesn’t die from the wyvern! “Yes.” Odette hopped to her feet and adjusted her grip on her daggers. “You should have gone on to Tsona to warn the empress!” She threw a dagger at the wyvern’s wings. It sliced through the wing, but it didn’t make as big a hole as Nadia’s spear.

  “I met Misha on my way here; he told me Zina was already on her way.”

  So I need to kill Misha as well. Odette threw another dagger at the wyvern’s face. It snapped at the weapon.

  “Odette, it doesn’t like its face being hit,” Nadia called.

  “So I’ve noticed. Concentrate on ripping its wings with your spears. Feofan and Kira, focus fire on its head with me!” Odette twirled her few remaining daggers and slapped them back in place. A good sized rock wasn’t far away. She snatched it up and threw it, hitting the creature in the eye. She snorted in disbelief. “Oh, sure, now—when I don’t use an edged weapon—I hit him!”

  Nadia speared the wyvern’s open wing, and Kira shot a bolt at its face, making it hiss.

  It took to the sky—pumping more laboriously, thanks to the holes in its wing.