Hello again! Sorry it took a a little while to update, I promise I'll try and get chapters out on a more regular basis. Sundays are my best days to update, so I'll aim for those. For the most part, in this chapter, any foreign language that pops up is immediately translated, but if something is unclear, just let me know in a review and I'll fix it.
Also, if there are any Russian speakers out there reading this, I'd really appreciate some feedback on how I'm using your language.
Enjoy!
Chapter 16: One: Flight
Wind whispered high in the sky through the black night. Faint lights in the villages down below glowed a soft yellow as the last of the villagers made their way into their homes to rest. Far off in the distance stood a large castle alone in a large cove that was a few miles inland. The waters were calm, as the wind and current swept up gentle eddies. There was a single bridge that lead to the front gates; a fairly advantageous position, well guarded from ground and sea attacks. However, judging by the placement of each guard, covert air infiltration would be relatively simple. Swiftness and stealth were two things in which Zeleny the cikavac prided himself.
The massive avian creature fast approached the castle, a mere speck from his vantage point, but obviously grandiose. He folded his wings to his sides, tilting forward until he was in a free-fall. Wind gushed through the feathers on top of his head and pressed them down to his skull as he pulled his neck closer to his body, slicing through the thin air. He fell, speed increasing every second; soon enough he would be at the castle. Until now, he had flown slowly and leisurely, conserving his strength. When he flew at a regular pace, he nearly matched the speed of the fastest pegasus in all the lands, but when he flew at his top speed, he was almost twice as fast; and that's just when he used his own wing power. When he dove into a free-fall he was like an arrow slung from a recurve bow.
When he came to the outskirts of the town around the castle, he opened up his wings slowly, allowing himself to decelerate. He then pivoted his wings up, catching a gust of wind that took him high into the air. He circled the castle thrice before slowing down enough to look for a suitable place to land. Guards were posted at every entrance to the castle, and all of the windows that were large enough for him to fit through were closed. A low growl emanated from his throat as he scrutinized the castle, studying the guards' movements. After doing one more loop around, he came to perch on the highest tower where a lightning rod was placed. Zeleny kept his eyes scanning the guards' routes where they were patrolling and took note of when blind spots would appear.
The cikavac stretched his wings and silently glided down closer to where the two guards were marching back and forth. Hidden in the shadow of one of the towers, he dug his claws into the cement pillar. If he had not been instructed to remain as inconspicuous as possible, he would have grabbed one of the guards and thrown him off the balcony to make for a distraction, that way, he would have had two less sets of eyes searching for anomalies. However, it was of utmost importance that his presence remained completely unnoticed.
Zeleny made a break for it when the guard turned back toward the castle. He released his claws from the cement and circled around the back of the castle, looking carefully in each dark window. The faint glow of candlelight suddenly illuminated one of the windows as he passed, to reveal a young girl with mousy brown hair and a blue nightgown. He perched on a nearby tower and watched her as she paced around the room. There was a faint blue light emanating from near her chest. The Amulet of Avalor. Though he had been spying on the girl for some time now, he never quite got over the power he could feel emanating from the object. He also came to know that when the amulet glowed blue, it was a way for the bond between amulet and wielder to grow stronger; Vasilia had told him that they had to weaken the bond just enough so that she would be able to receive it when the time came. There were a number of times he had successfully prevented her from going, and he could tell by the way the slight change in the girl's behavior that the time was approaching. So long as he prevented her from answering this last call of the amulet, Vasilia would have her prize. The massive bird swooped down toward her window and plunged his steel-like talons into the cement a few feet above it, making a loud thudding crack. As he planned, the startled little girl came to her window, disregarding the call of the amulet, and opened it up as she looked for what caused the noise. Zeleny put on his most charming smile and cleared his throat of its normal growl before swooping down to hover in front of the little girl.
"Privetstviye, Printsessa." He said bowing his head.
The girl let out a startled scream and recoiled from her window.
"Prostite. I apologize, I did not mean to startle you." He said, his deep voice smooth, like rich dark chocolate.
"Who—who are you?" she asked taking a timid step toward the massive jet-black bird.
"Izvinite! How rude of me, I am Zeleny the cikavac at your service. My dear friend, Wormwood told me of your ability to speak to animals, but I had to see it for myself. I apologize that I have arrived so late, but I was in the area and was just stopping by to see my old friend when he spoke of you. I was so astounded that I flew up here straight away. Sorry for the scare."
"Oh, i-it's ok." Sofia stuttered as unconscious fear gripped her heart.
"Oh dear, it seems I have given you quite a fright. I'm afraid it is this form, you see. I was cursed by a sorceress to only inspire fear in the hearts of those who are near to me. A truly dreadful sentence for a bird like me who only wishes to give people the desires of their hearts. Would you mind if I perched on your windowsill? I have had a terribly long flight, and my wings are aching."
"Of course." Sofia said nodding shakily.
Zeleny smiled and perched on the sill, gracefully furling up his wings. He cleared his throat once again to prepare his eloquent delivery of a cleverly crafted lie. "You see, I was part of a family of Zapros stado—wishing birds, if you will—one hundred strong, of all sorts of colors. Each bird with a particular set of wishes they could fulfill. I was of the leader of the Beloye ptitsy, the ivory birds, which would heal people from injuries, grant them peace, and cleanse them from evil spells if I saw them in need. However, one day, a little more than three months ago, Vasilia the Sorceress took me, and many of my brethren from our tree and locked us in cages in hopes of making us grant her wishes. Without our tree to recharge us, we grew weak, and Vasilia destroyed my brothers and cursed me to roam in this form, a cikavac. I pleaded with her to have mercy on me, and she graciously did, saying that if I was able to find the cure for the curse in three months, I would return to my brethren. But if not, I would remain a cikavac forever. I fled immediately and found my dear friend, Annissa the Amiable, and she told me there was an amulet powerful enough to break my curse before the time is up. True, I do have terribly awesome power, as I now have the power to grant all wishes. But whenever I am near people, they flee from me, and I am unable to grant their wishes. It has made for a most lonely existence indeed. And I long to return to my hundred brethren in our tree."
Sofia stayed nearly frozen stiff, but managed to find compassion for this frightening creature. "Ss-so, you really don't like to ss-scare people?"
"'Tis true, dear Printsessa. But this curse. If only there were a way to lift this dreaded curse from my weary wings." The cikavac moped.
Sofia stepped toward the creature, though she could hardly feel her legs, and looked at him sadly at him. "I-I'm sorry. Th-there must be s-some way. I-is there anything I can d-do to help?"
Zeleny looked at her with expertly crafted false hope. "You would help me?"
"Of-Of course, any friend of W-Wormwood's is a f-friend of mine." She managed to squeak out.
"Oh, dear Printsessa Sofia, I am very grateful for your assistance. Da nu! Is that the fabled Amulet of Avalor?" marveled the cikavac, eyeing the delicate chain around her neck.
Sofia instinctively put her hand around the amulet. "Y-yes."
"Oh! Ya spasen! I am saved! Perhaps if you could lend me your amulet's powers, my curse might be broken!"
"I'm not s-supposed to take it off." Sofia said, furrowing her brow.
"Oh, dear one. You need not take it off. There are many mysteries about the amulet still, but its power is greater than you know. I would just need you to accompany me on a short trip, to an enchantress who would be able to use some of the restorative magic inside the amulet to set me free from this curse. It need never leave your neck." Said the bird, placing a wing over his chest in deceptive honesty.
Sofia thought for a moment. "H-how long would I be gone?"
"Oh, no more than a day. It is quite the quick trip."
"A whole day? I-I can't leave for that long, Mom and Dad would wonder where I've gone!"
Zeleny feigned despair. "Oh, I see. I really hoped we could leave now. You see, at noon the day after tomorrow, I'm afraid this curse will become permanent. It is a half a day's flight to Ledstrana, and if I hurried, I could have you back before suppertime tomorrow. But I understand. I was a fool to think someone would help me." He unfurled his massive wings, preparing to take off, when Sofia called after him.
"Wait!"
He turned around, looking at her with the saddest eyes he could muster.
"You said Ledstrana?"
"Da, printsessa. You know the cold country?"
"Well, not exactly, but my papa is from there. And his wife and two children, my siblings are there."
Zeleny gasped and mustered his most urgent and concerned voice. "Oh, dear! You! Of course! How could I have forgotten! Birk is your father, yes?"
Sofia jerked her head back in shock, and furrowed her eyebrows. "H-how do you know my papa?" she asked, panic beginning to rise.
"Oh, dear printsessa. I'm afraid I cannot tell you exactly, but that witch Vasilia has taken his wife and children! I saw them being taken to the dungeon after she cursed me!"
"What!" Sofia's terror rose to new heights. Now she was sure, there was no way she could stay here. She had to do something to help her family.
"Oh dear, I should not have opened my beak!"
"Th-there must be some way to save them!" Sofia exclaimed.
Zeleny nodded seriously. "Da, printsessa. The sorceress I will take you to can unlock the power of your amulet, so that she may be able to defeat Vasilia!"
Sofia furrowed her brow and bit the inside corner of her lip. "Then I have to go. W-wait right here. I-I'll be back."
A sinister smile spread across the cikavac's beak as he watched the gullibly compassionate girl run out of her bedroom.
In her dash out of her room, she bumped into her sister, Amber.
"Ouch! Sofia, are you okay?" asked the older girl.
"Oh, uh, yeah. I just—"
"You look like you've just seen a ghost. Are you sure you're alright? I heard you cry out a few minutes ago." Amber said touching her sister's forehead.
"Yes. Amber, I'm fine…" She had to let someone know why she was leaving. She at least had to tell her papa that they needed go to Ledstrana together. Zeleny said he was really short on time. It's not like she had very many options at this point. "Ok. Listen. I uh, I'm going to Ledstrana with my papa. Tonight." She half-lied.
Amber's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Tonight!? Sofia, what are you talking about? It's nearly ten!"
"I know. But there's something urgent that's come up, and we have to leave now." Sofia said quickly motioning for Amber to keep her voice down.
"Sofia, this sounds crazy, what could be so urgent?"
"Printsessa Sofia? We really must get going." Sofia whipped her head around in shock as Zeleny's smooth, dark voice came from behind the door.
"Sofia, who in the world is in your room this late?" Amber said putting one hand on her hip and the other motioning to the door.
"No one! Wait, you heard that?" Sofia asked, suddenly realizing her sister understood the animal as well.
"Of course I did. Now, you have to explain to me what's going on!" the older girl pushed passed her sister and tried to open the door, but Sofia got in her way. "Sofia! Open the door!" she demanded as the two girls struggled against each other.
"No! Wait! I c-can ex-plain." Sofia grunted. Her sister's new involvement in physical activities had made her a lot stronger; and though Sofia was still stronger all around, the fear she felt lingered and handicapped her.
"Really? Can you? Because I'd like- to hear what- you have- to say!" Just as Amber finished her labored sentence, she grasped the door handle and pushed with all of her strength. The two girls tumbled on the floor of Sofia's room in a heap as the door swung back towards them. Amber put her arm out to stop the door and got up off her sister, dusting herself off. "Honestly, Sofia. What in Enchancia has gotten into—" Amber froze. It was the bird from her dream. Her mouth trembled trying to form words, but all that came out was staggered breaths and nearly silent whimpers.
Sofia hastily got up as the muted fear that gripped her heart returned in full force. "Uh, Amber? T-this is Z-zeleny. He n-needs my help." she meant to speak plainly, but her voice came out as little more than a whisper.
"My word, to be in the presence of dve printsessy at the same time! Truly, it is an honor!" the cikavac put on his most charming smile, which truly was quite appealing. He was a handsome, albeit positively terrifying bird. The part that he inspired fear in the hearts of those who were near him was true, though he never thought of it as a curse. And he certainly could grant people's wishes, he merely chose to carry out the will of Vasilia alone, as she was the one who hatched him from his egg long ago.
"My deepest apologies, Printsessa Amber. It seems my curse has frightened the very breath from you. I assure you, this is not my intent. Dear Printsessa Sofia here has graciously agreed to accompany me to break this awful curse and free Mr. Balthazar's family. I appreciate you allowing her to come with me."
Sofia looked up at Zeleny and nodded resolutely, trying to keep from trembling. There was no time to waste; her family was in danger and she needed to leave now or Amber would tell Mom and Dad, then she'd be stuck. She would make sure to have Zeleny pick up Papa on the way. Sofia donned her long red cape and found herself able to move toward the bird, despite her terror.
Everything in Amber screamed to stop her sister form going near the dangerous bird. "S-S-S-S-Sofia, d-don't!" she murmured as loud as she could.
The shorter brunette turned around and took her sister's trembling hands in her own. "Amber, there's no time to explain, I have to go! Papa's family is in danger, and I can help them!"
Tears formed in Amber's eyes. Now that she was no longer staring at the massive avian creature, her voice began to return. "Sofia, how do you know what he says is even true? Isn't it too big of a coincidence?"
"Amber, the way I see it, how could all of these coincidences line up unless it were true?"
"No! You can't go! I'm not going to let you go!" Amber whispered a scream.
The cikavac peered at the blonde from behind Sofia and looked her dead in the eyes. The world around her disappeared, and all she could see were the two ruby orbs of his eyes, piercing through her as the deep, rumbling voice she heard in her dream spoke. "Printsessa Amber, if we are to stop the rebirth of Kashchey, then you must let Sofia come with me."
Amber's head swirled back to reality, the room came back into view, and Sofia's worried face was looking expectantly at her. "Amber? I know it's scary, but I have no other choice. I have to go."
Amber tried to speak, to scream, to move. She couldn't. She just stood there trembling in the gaze of the cikavac unable to even hold on to her beloved sister's hands. Sofia slipped her hands out of her grip and walked over to the giant bird who was nearly twice the smaller girl's height. He turned around and allowed the young girl to climb up onto his back. Amber felt the use of her limbs return for a brief second as she reached out toward her sister in a last-ditch attempt to keep her from leaving; but the bird took off with a single immense beat of his wings. The gust of wind it generated was so strong that it knocked her over, and she fell onto her seat on the hard tile floor. She scrambled up and ran to the window, ignoring the sharp pain that went up her spine. She watched through bleary tears as her little sister and the massive bird flew off at an unbelievable pace.
"SOFIAAAAA!" The scream was bloodcurdling. It rang throughout the whole castle, penetrating the silence of the peaceful houses nearest the castle like the echo of a distant ghost. A few lights turned on at the disturbance, and some men came out of their houses to see where the sound came from. They then returned back to their homes after a short while when the silence of the night returned. Amber watched as the flying black figure skyrocket upward and away, high into the sky until it vanished.
