Page 49 of Feathered Thief

“Did the fox send you here?” The voice spoke inside Lenka’s head, rich and musical.

Of course! How had she forgotten so quickly? Without a thought, she answered in the same way. “Yes, he told me I must bring you to him.”

“But I long to be free.”

Empathy and sudden confusion blurred Lenka’s intentions. Never once had she considered that the bird might resent her captivity. And what if the fox intended harm to her?

“Why are you caged? And why must I leave you in this ugly wooden cage instead of moving you into that work of art?” She pointed at the exquisite gold-filigree cage that stood on a nearby table.

The bird tilted her head but didn’t answer.

King Gustik would want the entire package of golden treasure. But why should he possess the golden bird? He would keep her captive for his own pleasure and prestige. Maybe even pluck her feathers to sell! She turned to study the golden cage more closely and noticed four golden apples lined up on its floor. Now that she saw them, their sweet scent soothed her.

“So, this is where you brought them,” she realized. But if the bird was imprisoned here, how had she flown all the way to Trinec and back each night to steal apples?

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To bring you here.”

“Me? Why?” she asked again.

“I can open any cage and fly away, yet always I must return to my prison in any form it takes.”

Lenka couldn’t seem to stop gaping open-mouthed at the bird. “But . . . but why?” she managed to ask, helplessly waving her hands at the cages. “Why did you go to all that trouble to steal apples that might bring me here?”

“Because I trust you to do what is right.”

Lenka had no idea what anything meant. When she tried to remember the bird’s instructions from that night in the garden, the instructions she knew so well, only the fox’s orders remained in her head.

But she did know that the golden bird should never be trapped. It wasn’t right.

Setting her jaw, Lenka marched up to the bird’s cage, jerked its door open, and stepped back. Scorning the fox’s rules, she spoke aloud: “You are a sentient soul who should never be enslaved or imprisoned for your beauty or magic. Be free!”

As she spoke, something new and powerful filled her voice. Was it . . . magic?

Silence and stillness reigned for an endless moment.

Then the golden bird burst into song more glorious than anything Lenka’s ears had ever heard before and nearly exploded from her prison in a brilliant shower of golden light. In the next moment, she slipped through one of the cruciform windows in the tower and was gone.

Both cagesandthe four golden apples vanished as if they had never existed.

Lenka hurried to the window, but she couldn’t see the bird anywhere.

The fox will kill me!

Even so, she would do it again if she had the chance. Truth and mercy prevailed!

Solara—the name popped into her head—was now truly free.

But heavy boots pounded up the tower stairs. The golden bird might be free, but the Baron of Chelm Castle would surely be furious about the loss of his treasure.

Meanwhile, at Castle Valga . . .

Years dragged past.Fiveof them!

With neither sign nor word from Bogumil.

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