Page 18 of Tiger's Tale
The kick from the goat had hurt his shin, but he couldn’t deny he’d had great luck in that he’d escaped from the dark forest with his life that first time. He wasn’t convinced he’d be as fortunate this time around. What he and his tsarevna needed was a miracle. Nikolai didn’t know for certain whether the force found in the trees bordered on the miraculous or the preternatural, but his intention was to harness that power to his advantage.
As he drew closer to the town, he began noticing that Pyrs was much worse than when he’d left it five years before. In fact, the town looked as if it had been abruptly abandoned. It had never been a large town, but the fat cottages that once had rosy glows in the windows and smoke coming from stone chimneys now appeared gaunt, with hollowed-out innards and creaking open-mouthed doors that barely hung on their hinges.
Hungry, golden-eyed animals now half-wild and half-domestic slunk and hid in dark shadows and crevices searching for something weak to ease the growling in their bellies. Overturned carts with ripped-open bags, boxes, and crates half filled with weeds and snow showed how long it had been since anyone had cared for anything in the now emptied streets.
Curious, Nik made his way cautiously to his old babushka’s home. He stood outside it for the better part of an hour, listening... waiting... watching for some sign that she still lived. But he heard nothing, except for the sound of the wind and the rustle of leaves.
Finally, he called out her name softly. Barely a sound.
“Babushka?” he said, a whisper that carried.
There was no reply.
“Escovina?” he tried.
Something snapped near the home, and he peered in that direction, but could see nothing. He was quiet for an hour. Unmoving. His time in the forest before had taught him how to be still. Another hour passed, and even then Nik didn’t stir. Finally, his patience paid off.
“She’s gone,” a familiar voice said.
The old tree spirit stepped away from the large fir near the old house and made himself visible. “I can see you’ve grown, lad. Kept up with the lessons I’ve taught you. Too bad you didn’t honor your promise.”
“I tried. He’s too powerful.”
“He’s grown even more so, I’m afraid.”
“Has he?”
The two stared at each other for several long moments, saying nothing.
“Why are you here?” the leshi asked. “You don’t mourn her.”
“No,” Nik admitted. “I need to enter the forest again.”
“Why?”
“I need his help.”
There was a hiss. “Help? He helps no one. Are you addled in the brain or simply possessed of an unctuous fervor?”
“Perhaps it is a bit of both. I must save my love.”
“There is no saving in what he does.” The tree spirit shifted his great head, considering him. “I’m surprised to hear you have found a love... that dear.”
Not bothering to remark on the last comment, Nik said, “I know he doesn’t use his power to assist others. To be clear, it is the mother of the one I love who must be saved. I care not about the means.”
There was a long moment of silence.
Nik was about to take his leave when the leshi said, “You mean to take him from this forest, then?”
“I do.”
“Then I will help you.”
“I’m not here to ask that.”
“Yes. You are. You would have asked her.”
“Yes. Passage through the swamp would have made it easier.”
