Page 8 of The Seventh Swan
He tore it apart like he had the swan feathers, until the black wool looked like a star-strewn sky.Only then at last did he sit to spin it into smooth, soft yarn that seemed black one moment and flickering with deep, hidden fire the next.
He spun all through the day and most of the night.After that, he fetched his knitting needles made of dragon bone and set to knitting.He poured his intent, thoughts of freedom and joy and love, willing the magic to take hold and bloom.
By the end of the third night, he was dizzy with exhaustion and hunger, but he only gathered his completed scarf and carried it with him to the pond.
Oskar was there, but instead of the weeping willow, he sat on a on low flat rock, nothing over his head except the last slivers of the waning moon.Soon there would be no moon at all, and then it would begin to fill again.
"Lord Oskar of the Pond."
Oskar scrambled to his feet and turned all at once, nearly toppling himself into the water."Sorcerer."
He had hoped to hear Oskar say his name, just once, but he had trusted Saveli to weave this magic, and demanding more would be selfish, and Saveli tried his hardest not to be selfish."As promised, my lord, here are your feathers returned a hundred fold.Wrap it around your neck and see if you find the results pleasing."
Hands trembling, Oskar took the beautiful scarf, black wool with flickering flames in its depths that smelled like wildflowers and bittersweet nightshade, and wrapped it around his neck as though to ward off the cold.
He gasped and shuddered and then suddenly there was no man, only a black swan with one gleaming silver wing.It cried out happily and glided effortlessly to the middle of the pond and then all around it.
Saveli watched until the swan at last took flight and was lost to the star-filled sky.
Returning to his room, he stripped off his clothes and crawled into bed and slept through an entire day and night.
When he finally rose, it was to see that Althaus and Celina and Agathe were abuzz with what he had done, their joy and thanks washing over him like a balm.Oskar had departed again, eager to see the world he'd lost, but he had left his remaining two feathers as a thank you.
It was more than Saveli had expected.He let them prepare him a feast in thanks, happily ate more of the coconut cake that he would miss when he returned home, and went to sleep again.When sunrise came, he packed his things and arranged for the trunk to be shipped, and pinned the swan feathers in his hair where the phoenix feather used to rest.
A bittersweet ache in his chest, he headed home, helplessly watching the sky for a black swan that never appeared.
He was in his greenhouse picking herbs when his nephew came running, crushing innocent basil and thyme in his haste."Uncle!Uncle!There's a bird here to see you!"
Saveli dropped his lemongrass and mint."What?"
"There's a big black bird in the fish pond!Mama says it's here to see you and to get you at once!"
It was hard to speak from the way his heart had jumped into his threat, but at least he managed."I guess I had best go see what the swan has to say, then."
Nearly six months had passed since he had watched Oskar fly away.It had taken him most of that time just to get home, pulled away by one problem after another.He'd been home not quite three weeks, though every single day felt like a burden, and the ache in his chest never eased, no matter how distracted he tried to keep himself.
When he reached the private garden where the children loved to play, and his family often sat to get away from the muchness of court life, it was to find everyone gone.He had thought his family would be crowded around, eager and nosy like always, but it was only him.
Him and a beautiful black swan with fire in its depths.
"Good afternoon, Lord Oskar of the Pond."
The swan honked reprovingly at him—and then Oskar stood there, big and beautiful and sorely missed.Bathed in sunlight, he was more captivating than ever, and the happiness in his eyes was the finest thing that Saveli had ever seen.
He handed over his midnight cloak, though Oskar seemed unbothered by his nudity and the winter chill."You did not tell me, Sorcerer, that the people in your story were royalty, and you a prince."
Saveli's mouth ticked up at one corner."Did I forget to mention that?"
Oskar narrowed his eyes and moved closer."You gave me your phoenix feather."
"You gave me your swan feathers.Magic requires sacrifice.You gave three pieces of your heart to the spell, and I gave one piece of mine."Then watched as all the other pieces flew away without even looking back."What brings you to my home, Lord of the Pond?Surely you must be Lord of the Lake by now."
"Lake?Sounds boring.I've seen countless lakes."Oskar scoffed and moved closer."I thought I might try for something more exciting, like a castle moat."
"Oh?"Saveli asked lightly, heart racing."I think there might be one of those lying around here."His teasing faded as Oskar drew closer still."You left."
"I thought you'd be there when I got back," Oskar said sadly."I thought you knew thatIwould be back.Then I realized that was wiser, you leaving and waiting, while I learned to live and be me again these past six months, so I was whole when I finally saw you again.Still, I thought you would be there, and I was angry at myself that you weren't."
