Page 9 of Feathered Thief

“Thank you so much for coming,” she said, her voice soft.

“Oh, just go on,” Geoffroi ordered, giving Kazik a solid bunt in the back with his nose.

He stepped forward, extending one hand to Helena. She took it, and he gazed into eyes the exact color of the summer sky. “I hope . . . I mean, I want you to come soon and stay at our castle again soon,” he blurted, nodding. “Again. Come.”

Helena didn’t seem to notice any possible redundancy. “Will you teach me archery?” she asked, and a dimple appeared in her cheek.

“I-I would like that. Very much. Please! I will teach you. Yes.” He babbled on, but she didn’t mind that either.

“Ahem,” Geoffroi reminded them. “This is all very sweet. However . . .”

“Right. It’s a long way back.” Still staring at Helena, Kazik walked up to Geoffroi, gripped a hank of his flowing mane—and vaulted up to his back without a scramble.

Was she impressed?

She was. He glimpsed stars in her eyes.

“Goodbye,” she said.

“Don’t forget me.” He meant much more than that.

“I won’t.” She smiled and blew him a kiss.

He was still recovering when Geoffroi bolted, leaving both Kazik’s heart and Castle Valga far behind.

Not until they entered the pocket world did Kazik remember to ask Helena about the toy horse he’d charmed. But there would be another time. Soon, he hoped.

3

CHANGES AND ARCHERY

Madame Euzebia must have performed some magic, Helena thought, because her Papa brought her back to Mnisztwo Castle for a visit only two months after Kazik’s impromptu visit to Castle Valga. She had recently grown out of every garment she possessed and now had an updated wardrobe. She was still growing taller—would it never end?—but she wasn’t quite so skinny anymore. She couldn’t see herself all at once in the glass in the guest room, but she thought—she hoped—Kazik would like her simple brown kirtle over a fresh white chemise.

Sometimes she really missed having a mother to talk with about boys and clothes and things. Even her oldnianiahad recently retired—not that the woman had ever been a confidante.If Mama had lived,Helena thought,what would she think of Kazik?

She hadn’t seen him yet, but that wasn’t surprising since she and Papa had arrived late last night. According to Ludmila, the boys and young men rose early to train and practice mock-battles on the meadow and other exercise fields, then made merry in the evenings if they weren’t too worn out to socialize.

Helena had never realized that young men traveled from all over Wroclaw each summer for mandatory military training. Most were housed in military quarters located well south of Mnisztwo Castle. Only the archery drills took place within easy walking distance of the castle, and Helena eagerly joined Jadwiga and Ludmila on the terrace overlooking the ranges. After listening to the sisters’ chatter, she had a sinking feeling Kazik wouldn’t be spending much time with her during this visit.

He might not even wish to. Many things could change in a very short time.

The Plock Castle sisters seemed far more sophisticated and knowledgeable to Helena, even though Jadwiga was near her age and Ludmila a year younger.

“Look!” Jadwiga exclaimed. “The men are sparring with practice swords! They must have run out of room at the training grounds. Czwarty says the bunkhouses are overflowing this year. So many men of fighting age.” The girl seemed pleased to be a sought-after source of information, and Helena was equally happy to be informed. However, hearing her old playmates described as men was a bit jarring.

The older Plock Castle brothers were easy to pick out in the ranks because of their large size, and Kazik stood out because he was small. He was quite possibly the shortest swordsman on the field, yet when the boys matched up and sparred, he wielded his training sword with confidence. His strikes were quick and accurate. She found herself twitching, her muscles trying to mirror his moves, and she felt short of breath. The other girls were equally enthralled, so Helena felt free to enjoy watching Kazik and taking pride in his skills. He focused on fighting and never once looked up toward the terrace, but she didn’t mind. Not-getting-killed was a useful skill for a young man to develop.

The sisters chatted so constantly while they watched that Helena never had to ask a question. She now knew thatJadwiga’s entire family had arrived at Mnisztwo a week ago. “We’ve had a glorious time getting to know young men from all over the duchy,” she said with a giggle.

“So many handsome men!” Ludmila, who was not yet thirteen, sighed in ecstasy, wrinkling her nose. But then she heaved a woeful sigh. “Mama makes us watch the monsters every morning!”

Although Helena had often regretted her lack of siblings, she acknowledged the sisters’ plight. Wherever the three younger princes of Plock Castle went, chaos followed.

“Lucjan kicks anyone who tries to discipline him.” Jadwiga sighed heavily. “Mama says he’ll grow out of it, but I’m not so sure.”

“Well, your older brothers don’t kick, so that might give you some hope for the future,” Helena observed.

Ludmila chuckled, and even Jadwiga admitted, “A faint hope, but it’s something.”

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