Swan Prince

The Swan Prince
By: Delilah deSora
Chapter 10

**

True to the man’s words with the setting of the sun came great gusts of wind that sent the shutters not latched properly to banging fiercely against the walls. The rain came soon thereafter and sounded as though it was determined to force its way indoors through the great stonewalls. A chill came with it and the servants went to huddle in the kitchens while the lords and ladies gathered by great braziers set up in the halls.

Odel begged leave from the impromptu gathering, citing an ache in his head, glad for the emptiness of the halls as he gathered the stolen tool and crept through the darkness to the servant’s door that lead to the garden. When he saw how strongly the rain fell he nearly hesitated but his hand touched the metal tool and returned a measure of courage to his heart.

The stables, atypically, were empty for no flames were allowed withheirheir wooden halls but no overseer was cruel enough to let those under him freeze in the damp buildings. Odel moved as swiftly as he could, peering in all the stalls until he finally came across the creature he looked for. Black eyes watched him silently as he struggled to open the gate with frozen fingers. Finally it swung open and he stumbled inside, tripping over a bale of hay. Shivering with the chill he set to work.

By the second shoe his hands were already starting to blister and his knuckles were black and blue from impacting the iron shoes when they came lose. When he came to the third shoe his hand slipped an cut cut himself deeply. The wound made it harder to remove the final shoe for his blood made the metal hard to hold but he dared not stop.

As he was loosening the final nail there wasremeremendous sound that shook the entire the stable and sent the horses into a fit of terror. The creature he worked upon shuddered but held still. It wasn’t until the fourth shoe fell to the floor with a clatter that Odel heard the voices jusyondyond the stall. With his heart suddenly feeling as though it were beating in his throat he hid the tool and shoes beneath the hay.

Gripping the horse’s leg to pull himself to his feet he crept to the open door, peering past it. Part of the far wall was missing and in its place laid the remains of one of the ancient trees that sheltered the stable from the harsh sun. Swallowing his fear Odel urged the stallion out of the stall. The creature moved attentively but the moment it saw freedom its ears perked and its gait quickened.

Odel was close behind and nearly ran into the stallion when it suddenly stopped. The man he had met that day, Andre, before start tht them in surprise, the light in his hand casting long sws aws as he froze in midmotion, the latch of the lantern hovering over the rod designed for it to hang from.

The stallion threw its head back, screaming a challenge as it reared, kicking the man back before barreling past him into the dark storm. Odel attempted to follow but a strong hand caught the back of his cloak and nearly pulled him off of his feet. With a cry of fear he struggled against the hold, small hands beating against the arms that wrapped about him. There a gra growl from above him and the breath left his body when he was slammed back against an unyielding wall.

Andre stepped closer, pinning him with his own body as Odel gasped for breath. A hand cupped between his legs, pressing painfully against him and Odel squirmed, trying to be free of that touch. The man said something to him with a gruff laugh but in his fear Odel could not make out the words.

There came a new source of light that revealed the stable master who stared at them both with suspicious eyes. Odel shuddered as he took in his twisted clothes and the closeness of his body to that of his captor. Andre began to deny any wrongdoing but the stable master ignored him.

Booted feet striking wood drew Odel’s attention back to the entrance as guards came, probably thinking to help with the screaming horses but the moment they noticed him and he saw recognition flicker on the face of their captain he knew that all would not be well.

**

The stable boy that he’d been caught with claimed that he’d been trying to steal a horse. The captain of the guard didn’t believe him and told Odel as much as he sat quietly before the man’s desk. After all, what use would he have for a horse? The captain made it quite clear what he believed had happened and, if his heart hadn’t quelled with fear, Odel would have blushed at the insinuations and questions the captain put to him.

He gave no answer either way for he couldn’t decide which would be the worse crime to be accused of. Horse theft could be punished by death but admitting to sneaking out to the stable to meet a lover could be punished even more severely. King Boreal had made that abundantly clear to him the day he’d arrived. He couldn’t decide which was worse, being punished as a horse thief or being sent home with the knowledge that he’d failed to protect his brother and, ultimately, his kingdom.

Needing time to think Odel kept his peace and finally the captain became irritated with his silence and sent him away. He was taken not to the prince’s rooms but to another room where he was allowed a change of clothes before the door was slammed shut and he heard the turn of the lock on the other side.

Trembling, both from fear and from cold, he climbed into the hard bed and tried to sleep, wondering how the horse faired in the storm outdoors.

**

Boreal was a still, silent figure behind his desk, eyes fixed upon the servants that stumbled over one another to tell their tales. One clutched a blanket she’d claimed been stained while another held a cape that Ryhan knew belonged to neither of his charges. The stable boy had sworn time and again that he’d had no dealings with the prince’s companion, that the boy had been trying to steal a horse and he’d stopped him but in light of the evidence even Ryhan, who had been inclined to believe that Odel would steal a horse to return home over being stupid enough to find a lover, was beginning to doubt his earlier beliefs.

Finally the maids began to repeat only what they’d stated already and Boreal sent them away. Slipping from his place by the windows where his only companion had been a small black bird that watched them as though it understood their words, Ryhan took up the discarded cloak, turning the ancient fabric in his hands.

“I cannot believe this of him, my lord.” He said quietly. “The evidence is damning but . . . I cannot believe he would endanger his position like this. Besides, how would he have met this stable boy in the first place?”

Boreal was silent a moment more before snorting. “The boy was in and out of the castle the entire time we were gone.”

Ryhan shook his head. “The sheet was found before we left and I can assure you that neither the prince nor he had spent any time with him.”

“Then he had another lover before!”

Again Ryhan shook his head, letting the cloak fall away. “I cannot believe this of him,” he repeated, “I cannot believe the prince would allow such a thing. I cannot explain the cloak but . . . Odel wa to to go home, we both know this. Perhaps being here alone was too much for him. Perhaps he was taken by a moment’s insanity and felt he had to break free so he tried to take a horse. That I can believe, my lord.”

Boreal remained silent in the face of his words, his grey eyes distant with thought. Finally the man shifted, a bitter smile crossing his face as he stood. “Ride back to Ptenli. Intercept Kent’s return and tell him I want him to go . . . I don’t care just keep him on the road until tomorrow evening!”

Ryhan shivered slightly. When the messenger had arrived he and the king had returned straight away, leaving the prince in charge of finishing up the matters. That he was to keep Kent away for a bit longer . . .

“What have you decided?” He asked, hating the tremor in his voice.

Boreal shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Both offenses warrant the same punishment and I’m afraid my son has yet to learn the necessity of swift and proper punishment. Nor has he the stomach for such a thing. Now go.”

Ryhan hesitated at the doorway, the question still on his lips when Boreal’s attention returned to him.

“Send for my master of the hunt . . . and the head of my kennel.”

Ryhan shuddered and turned his back to his king.

**

Odel sat stiffly, keeping his eyes downcast as the king moved about him. Part of him was grateful that Kent wasn’t present for he feared seeing the disappointment on his lover’s face but another part was saddened. He dearly wished to try to explain to Kent, to affirm that he hadn’t been trying to escape nor had he found another to give his affection to.

Finally Boreal turned and approached him.

“Well, boy? Not that it matters but which was it?”

Odel shivered. “I stole the horse, my lord.” He whispered.

Boreal grunted. “Oh? Then what of this?”

Something was flung into his lap and with shaking hands Odel lifted it up. He had completely forgotten about the cloak he had hidden and it surprised him to see it now. “I . . . I don’t understand.”

Boreal grabbed his hair forcing his head up. “Where did you get it?”

Odel winced in pain but Boreal’s grip would not be broken. “I found it, my lord.”

Grey eyes narrowed. “Where?”

“In the forest.”

The king’s face formed into a dark frown. “Where in the forest?”

Odel trembled but met the man’s gaze evenly. “By the lake. I took it from Atol.”

Boreal bared his teeth in anger, flinging him to the floor. Odel winced as his bandaged hand straightened, undoubtedly tearing the wound.

“There is no Atol!” Boreal screamed.

Odel stared up at him, surprised by the power of the words. With a snarl Boreal struck him. Crying out he reached up to touch the side of his face, tasting blood in his mouth.

Audibly drawing ragged breaths Odel saw Boreal force himself to calm, his hands folded behind his back as he paced furiously.

“I do not know why this lie persists!” The king fumed, “There has never been an Atol! It must be his mother’s madness that makes him continue with this foolishness!” He whirled upon him and Odel shrank back. “I brought you here to make him forget such things! To force him to grow out of these childish illusions his mind concocts! How dare you act as though they are fact!”

Odel shook his head. “You can try to force him to think otherwise, to see things the way you do but Atol is as real to him as I to you, my lord! Atol influences everything he does! You do not help him by telling him that he doesn’t exist! You think that I do not fully understand what is going on but I do! I have seen it with my own eyes! I know the secret you would keep from your people’s ears. I have seen it!”

“You know nothing!” Boreal’s hand rose for another strike but at the last minute he regained control of himself. His chest heaved as he called for the guards. “Say what you like, little boy,” Boreal hissed as he waited for his call to be answer, “You failed me. You let yourself be caught up in my son’s madness and I have no use for such mistakes. Ryhan thinks you were trying to steal a horse, I believe otherwise. Either way your time here is finished. The next time I see you it will be the last.”

**

Kent shifted uncomfortably in his saddle, trying to ignore the exhaustion in his limbs. It felt as though he hadn’t slept at all the night before though he had no memory of waking after he’d seen his father and Ryhan off during the late afternoon. It didn’t help that he could feel Atol’s thoughts weighing on his mind. The sorcerer seemed disturbed by something and he could practically feel him thinking.

Ryhan as well was unusually disturbed, his face locked in a look of deep contemplation. He’d returned with word that someone had attempted to steal a horse from the stables and that his father wished him to pay a visit to the town hall to make sure the taxes were all accounted for.

It irritated him to have to wait another day before returning but it was an order from his father the king and he couldn’t very well refuse.

“Did you see Odel?” Kent asked.

Ryhan glanced at him sharply but turned away before he c det determine the strange look t hat crossed his face. “No, my prince.”

Kent sighed. “I hope he is well. We were gone longer than I expected.”

Ryhan’s hands fid wid with his reigns, something so foreign to the older man’s usual perfect stillness that Kent couldn’t help but notice.

“Is there something wrong? You’ve been ill at ease since you returned.”

Ryhan’s eyes were fixed straight ahead but a small frown pulled at his lips. Kent was about to let the topic drop when Ryhan finally spoke.

“Do you think Odel would take a lover?” He asked.

Kent blinked in surprise, a sliver of fear making him sit a bit straighter. “What do you mean?”

Ryhan shrugged. “If he had a chance do you think he would take a lover?”

Kent shook his head. “No. Even if he wanted to I don’t think he would.”

“Why not?”

“Because he’d be too afraid of being sent home. Odel lives every day with the terror that my father will find something wrong with him and demand an exchange between he and his brother.”

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ryhan glance at him in surprise. “You know of that?”

Kent nodded. “I learned of it when his brother came.”

Ryhan was silent, considering. “So you don’t think he would risk that, even if he found someone he wished to be with?”

“No. His love for his brother goes beyond any love he would seek himself, I think. Odel is like that. He’d take all the suffering in the world upon himself just so that the rest of us could be happy. He hasn’t a selfish thought in his head.”

Kent smiled slightly but his smile faded away when Ryhan reached out and caught his horse’s reigns. Before he could ask the older man leaned towards him, his voice low.

“You have to go back to the castle, my prince. I think . . . I think . . .” Ryhan stuttered to a stop and Kent saw the silent curse that crossed his lips.

“You think what?” He demanded, his heart suddenly skipping a beat as he sensed a lie. “It wasn’t about a horse theft was it?”

Ryhan’s eyes opened and Kent saw what he needed to know. With a shout he dug heelseels into his horse’s flanks and the creature broke free of the line, racing for home.

**

Odel’s breath wheezed in his lungs but it was impossible for him to find a better position. The hard saddle dug into his chest and stomach as he dangled from it. A strong hand pushing into the small of his back where his bound hands were was the only thing keeping him from falling as the horse followed the gathering to the clearing by the woods. Dogs snapped at his face and it was a struggle to keep fear from clouding his mind.

Despite his efforts the only thing he could think of was what had happened to the man the last time the king had declared this kind of sport as a fitting form of punishment. He was frightened and cold and no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t think of a way to break free.

They came to a halt and Odel thrashed as he was dragged from the horse’s back. There was laughter as he was flung against another bound form. Andre snarled and used his superior size to shove him away. Their hands were cut free and Odel tried to shrink away as the hunter came forward. Hands caught him and held him still as blood was smeared on his shirt. At his side Andre was professing his innocence.

One look at Boreal’s cold eyes told Odel it was useless.

There was no pronouncement this time, only a dark smile. “Run, boy.” Boreal snarled.

Odel ran.

**

Kent stumbled through the corridors of the castle, shouting for Odel when he came upon his rooms. Only silence greeted him there. Fear made his heart beat faster and it took him precious minutes to find a servant in the halls. She told him that there was a public execution occurring but could tell him no more than that. He had ridden through the town square and so knew that it wasn’t there. He struggled with himself, trying to think of where else such a thing could occur.

The sudden howling of dogs made his heart nearly stop.

Whirling on his heel a wave of dizziness drove him to the ground. Clutching his head he tried to nt hnt himself btol tol struggled against him, trying to force him to his will. With a groan of pain he felt his vision darken.

**

The dogs had gone for Andre.

Odel ran, his bare feet being torn on rocks and twigs as he fled past the boundary between field and forest. Behind him he could hear the man’s screams but he tried to convince himself that the snapping of bones was really the snapping of twigs under his feet. It was the only way he could keep from throwing up.

One of the dogs comecome after him but a snake in the grass had startled it, sending it back to its pack. Andre’s cries were growing weaker and Odel knew it wouldn’t be long until they came after him. He could hear Boreal’s shouts and the cries of the dogs as the hunters tried to distract them from their meal and send them after him.

His only thought was to make it to the lake. The lake was neutral ground. He didn’t know if the dogs would know that but it was the only hope he had. He had seen simple animals there and they had been aware of the no kill law. Part of him wanted to call to Atol but he knew Atol wouldn’t come. Kent was gone and he was Atol’s only link to the outside world. Atol would not know he was in danger. Atol would not be at the lake to save him.

There was a snarl from behind and the sound of hooves striking the ground. He heard the shouted encouragements from the hunters and knew that the dogs had given up on their old prey and scented the new. Among the human voices he heard the king’s.

The cold air was nearly as painful in his lungs as the wounds on his feet but on he ran.

A particularly sharp rock cut deeply into his foot, sending him tumbling to the ground. His hands scrambled for a hold but fell into nothingness, sending him sprawling. Panting for breath he stared down the steep edge of the rise, at the sharp rocks nearly ten man-heights below. With a sickening lurch he realized he’d aed hed himself be trapped.

The dark form of the pack leader lunged for him but before the dog’s teeth could sink into his flesh a brown horse wedged its way in between them, sharp hooves driving the starving dog back.

Odel pulled his legs against his chest as the stallion he’d freed danced back and forth, threatening the growing number of dogs and keeping them at bay as they considered this powerful new creature. He suddenly arched and screamed as his back began to burn. It startled the animals before him as he reached back, trying to determine what had attacked him.

There was derisive snort from his side. He turned and nearly cried out in relief at the dark figure before him but then his eyes fell upon the dagger in the sorcerer’s hands.

Atol tossed the dagger on the ground before him. “Make your choice.”

Odel hesitantly touched the weapon. “I don’t understand.”

Atol’s eyes darkened and Odel shuddered as the marks upon his back began to burn again. “You can give yourself to the dogs or you can give yourself to me. The fang or the blade.”

One of the dogs lunged at the horse but was felled with a sharp kick. The dogs fell upon the fallen member, tearing it apart. Odel shuddered, the dagger clutched in his hands as he struggled to shut out the sounds of death.

Atol, however, watched the dogs. “The forest is cruel but it is honest.” His eyes turned back to the young man before him. “The blade will hurt less than the fang but your . . . salvation, as you humans like to call it, will be longer in coming.”

Odel stared down at the dagger.

Atol’s head snapped up, a frown pulling at his lips. “Hurry boy, he is coming! Make your choice!”

Drawing a deep breath Odel’s hands tightened about the weapon and he drove it into his flesh with a whispered goodbye to the family he knew he’d never see again. The wound from the dagger, curiously, didn’t hurt but his back suddenly felt as though it was tearing along the marks Atol had carved into his skin. He shrieked and arched, his sight changing as he body began to shrink and twist.

His last human thought was given to wondering why Atol had suddenly collapsed, a hand clutched to his head, and then the smell of predators overwhelmed him and the sky called.