Hunted(29)

So the king allowed Ivan to try. True, Ivan was not as strong as his brothers, but he was clever and resourceful. He stayed awake all night and did not touch a drop of wine, and so when the Firebird came he was ready. The bird was quicker than he, however, and so Ivan was only able to catch a single feather from the bird’s tail.

The king sent his sons out into the world to catch the Firebird, and again Ivan had to beg to go. When his father finally relented, Ivan set out alone and came to a crossroads with a sign. Whoever took one path would learn hunger and cold, whoever took the second would survive but his horse would die, and whoever took the third would die, but his horse would live. Ivan chose the second path, and soon a huge gray wolf came out of the forest and ate his horse, forcing Ivan to walk. But Ivan was determined, and walked until he fell over with exhaustion.

The wolf took pity on him and offered to carry him on his back, and together they found the kingdom where the Firebird lived in a golden cage. The wolf warned him not to take the cage, but Ivan was greedy and took both, setting off alarm bells throughout the castle. The ruler of that kingdom caught Ivan and, after hearing his story, said that he could have the Firebird if he would bring him the horse with the golden mane.

And so the gray wolf carried him farther still until they came to the next kingdom, where the horse with the golden mane lived, wearing a beautiful golden bridle. Again the wolf warned him to take the horse without the golden bridle, but Ivan did not listen, and again he was captured. This ruler listened to his story and said that he would let Ivan have the horse if he would agree to capture Yelena the Beautiful, a princess in yet another kingdom, and bring her back to him.

And so the gray wolf brought him to the next kingdom, and warned him not to fall in love with Yelena when he carried her off. Again Ivan did not listen, and when they returned to the second kingdom, Ivan begged the wolf to help him. The wolf agreed to take the form of Yelena to be given to the king, and so Ivan took the horse and kept the woman he loved. The wolf escaped the king and accompanied Ivan, Yelena, and the horse back to the first kingdom, where Ivan again persuaded the wolf to change shapes. Ivan pulled the same trick exchanging the wolf in the horse’s form for the Firebird, and again the wolf escaped and met up with him later.

And so Ivan returned to his kingdom with Yelena, the horse, and the Firebird. He and the wolf parted ways, but when he lay down to sleep, his brothers found him. They had been confounded by the very first crossroads and so had done nothing. Jealous of their youngest brother’s success, they killed Ivan in his sleep and cut his body into pieces. They agreed that one would marry Yelena, and the other would exchange the Firebird for half their father’s kingdom.

But again the wolf felt sorry for Ivan, and so with the help of the water of life, he restored Ivan’s body. Ivan awoke in time to ride once more on the wolf’s back to stop the wedding and regain his share of the kingdom, while the wolf ate his treacherous brothers whole.

After the last words of the story, Yeva fingered the newly shaven shaft of the half-made arrow, listening for signs of life from her companion. He was even quieter than usual; Yeva thought he must be able to hear her heart pounding.

“So it is a happy ending for Ivan?”

Yeva nodded. “He kept the horse and Yelena and the Firebird, and inherited his father’s kingdom as well.”

“Why did you not tell me this story in the beginning?”

Yeva’s fingers closed around the arrow shaft. “It is the most popular, but it’s one of my least favorites,” she admitted. “It doesn’t end right.”

“Why?”

She hesitated, trying to think of a way to explain. “Fairy tales are about lessons. Those who are virtuous and true are rewarded, while those who are wicked and greedy are punished. Ivan is said to be clever and resourceful but in this story he seems only greedy and careless. The wolf warns him over and over and Ivan never listens. And yet, Ivan never gets punished. The wolf helps him every time, and neither he nor the wolf have to pay for what they’ve done. In the end Ivan gets everything he wants and lives happily ever after.”

Silence from her companion, though Yeva could hear the soft, rich sound of his breathing not far from her elbow. “You may call me Ivan,” he said finally, surprising her.

“Because of that story?”

“Because your Ivan is not a hero.”

Yeva turned toward the sound of the voice, arrow craft forgotten. She reached out toward where she guessed his hand or arm might be, fingers closing around fur.

“What are you doing?” The fur pulled away from her abruptly.

Her heart pounded against her barely healed ribs. “I was going to take your hand.”

“No.” The snarl had returned, but it no longer made her want to scramble back in fear.

“I would never betray you. I want only to see your face.”

“You promised,” came the voice, low and dangerous. “You gave me your word.”

Yeva reached up for the blindfold anyway, only to have her arm knocked back so forcefully that it tingled, numb at her side. “I don’t care,” she said. “I’ve come to care for you, Ivan, or whoever you may be. I want to see your face.”

She reached up again and this time something huge flung itself at her, knocking her back onto the ground. Her head struck hard enough to stun her, despite the carpet to cushion it. The knotted silk gave way under the blow.