Page 70 of Feathered Thief

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HEALING AND HAPPINESS

“Your Majesty, we have a proposal for you, sir.”

Helena and Kazik, who was back in Zyrardów for a quick visit, invaded King Ryszard’s private office.

“One proposal wasn’t enough?”

“Not that kind of proposal,Ojciec!” Helena rolled her eyes, smiling.

His Majesty chuckled. “Speak it, my son.”

Still nervous, Kazik made the plunge. “As you know, my father and grandfather were untrustworthy heads of state who abused their authority, draining the coffers for their own use, and using magic to coerce both their allies and their enemies. Since their fall, the Magic Council has placed their lands to the north under my authority, and my mother intends to bequeath the grand duchy of Ostrów, Mnisztwo Castle, and the military training facilities to me. I am making strides toward cancelling the old war debts and ending the vassalage entirely. My hope— No, myintentis for our two countries and the two other former vassal states to support, defend, and mutually strengthen each other under a free yet binding alliance.”

King Ryszard frowned in thought, nodding. “If you can organize the meeting and bring in a few World Council Mages asneutral arbiters, I am willing to host the event in late summer. Is there anything else?”

“Oh, yes!” Helena said. “We wish to marry here, just a small wedding in the chapel, and soon. The banns have been read, and I can wear Mama’s wedding gown. I’ve already tried it on, and my seamstress is adjusting it to fit me. Please, Papa? Kazik and I want to begin our life together before anything else happens to drag us apart!” Her blue eyes begged him.

Kazik blushed scarlet.

“Ah, so you’re springing this on both of us at once,” her father observed.

“Well, not entirely. We’ve discussed it.” Helena clasped her hands as if in supplication. “Kazik, if you ride Geoffroi, you could visit and invite everyone necessary and be back in two or three days. Just leave Iga here with me. We could be married a month from today. That gives people time to prepare and travel.”

Kazik considered her suggestion and found himself nodding. “I’ll do it, if Geoffroi’s willing. And I bet Solara will deliver invitations if you ask. Since you freed those two, they’re happy to do anything for you.”

“I’m sure my staff will be eager to please their princess,” the king said, “and Euzebia will certainly want to be part of the planning. There are guest rooms enough to spare in this icebox of a castle, and the servants will enjoy sprucing it up for a celebration.”

Everyone was extremely busy during the next few weeks. Helena and her father traveled through their kingdom, spreading news of the upcoming wedding while also speaking with their people, meeting in towns, and sharing ideas for improving the land and commerce. Investments in improving natural waterways, mining, and farming techniques were frequent topics of conversation.

Kazik and Geoffroi first visited the principality of Starogard. Knowing the place nearly as well as he knew his own home, he took a back road and dismounted Geoffroi while out of sight from Plock Castle, preferring not to create a stir by publicly returning on the stolen-and-now-free golden horse. He knew Czwarty and Twardo well enough to guess where he would find them: at one of their old haunts, a cave in a rocky hillside.

After a joyful reunion featuring so many backslaps that Kazik thought his shoulder might be out of joint, he explained (with many interruptions) all that had been happening during and since the five years of magical isolation. Most of Starogard’s people had been unaffected by the curse, so few had noticed when it ended. But when Kazik explained that the archduke and grand duke had been deposed and the Principality of Starogard and the other indebted lands were no longer vassal states, the brothers rejoiced.

Before he left, Kazik shared what he knew of Helena’s conversation with Lady Kornelia in Chelm Castle’s gaolhouse. By the time he finished, Czwarty had nearly paced a trench in the hillside, muttering to himself in fury. “My father and Jadwiga told me Kornelia planned to marryyouand that my only remaining choice was Princess Helena. But I always knew, deep down, that you and Helena would marry—you’re justrightfor each other, like Kornelia and me.”

He turned to his brother. “Saddle a horse for me? I’ve got to tell Mama where I’m going.”

“Before you go,” Kazik said, “I’ve got to tell you both that I’m marrying Princess Helena in three weeks at Castle Valga. You’re all invited.”

The brothers’ jaws dropped in unison. Slowly they looked at each other, then back at Kazik, who added, “And I’ll ride along with you to Chelm Castle. My job is to spread the word that the curse and the vassalage have ended.”

Twardo turned to Czwarty. “Go on and tell Mama. I’m coming too.” He then asked Kazik, “Do you have a horse?”

“Yes, he’s waiting back there.” He waved casually.

Once they reached the stables, Kazik helped saddle two horses while Twardo confided: “I’ve got to get away from the chaos here. When somebody stole the golden horse and set him free, I thought our parents might start a revolution . . . against each other! Anyway, maybe I can get Malgosia to look twice at me now that I’ve got a beard.” He stroked the patchy stubble with pride.

How those two had turned out to be such decent fellows was a mystery to Kazik . . . and he was grateful to have good friends.

They mounted up, and Kazik led the way to his horse, who pawed the ground and made a threatening squeal, saying, “Oh, it’s you two. Still planning to sell me for a fortune?”

“I didn’t know he could talk,” Czwarty blurted, going pale behind his thick beard.

“Whoa, didyousteal him?” Twardo asked. “Nobody here could ride that monster. He did whatever he wanted, and everyone just sort of followed his lead.”

“No human can steal me,” Geoffroi remarked in disgust. “I remained at your castle only because I was under a curse until Princess Helena declared me free.”

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