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QUESTIONS AND QUESTS

K ing Gustik could not deny that Lenka had identified the thief, so her position as apple-tree caretaker in the king’s private garden was safe, to Papa Hrabik’s relief. However, the golden bird’s plume alone convinced His Majesty that such a creature must permanently reside in his magical gardens.

Crown Prince Marek claimed the honor of bringing back the stolen apples and the bird, and he seemed focused on the project. Two days later, for what had to be the dozenth time, he visited the garden to question Lenka. “You’re sure it flew east?”

“Yes, into the sunrise, and perhaps a bit north,” she said. Again.

The prince grunted. “And how large was the bird?”

“It was the size of a raven. No, more like a pheasant. Maybe a peacock? I know it has a sharp beak and a long tail. And it flies.”

“Useless,” he griped while turning away.

She had to admit he was correct regarding her attention to detail, but no one seemed to notice that two nights had passed without a single golden apple disappearing. Only Papa Hrabik gave her credit for identifying the thief and deterring its raids.

With surprisingly little fanfare, Prince Marek set off on horseback the next morning.

He and his party of cronies followed the northeast road toward the barony of Lómza, where the bird was rumored to live.

Personal servants, several pack horses, and a unit of heavily armed guards rounded out his treasure-hunting party.

A week passed, then another, with no sign of Crown Prince Marek and no word from or about him.

But rumors of adventurers from other lands seeking a golden bird in southern Wroc?aw began to reach the palace. Lenka could only imagine the rage emanating from Bolislaus Castle. King Gustik had to be furious, and he could fairly blame no one but his heir.

Prince Dominik dropped by the cottage one evening.

Papa invited him inside, and the men sat together at the table while Lenka puttered about, dusting where no dust existed.

A prince, in the gardener’s cottage? She and Papa exchanged wondering glances.

Prince Dominik even accepted her meager offering of Papa’s home brew and a loaf still warm from the oven.

As soon as basic conversation ended, the prince revealed his purpose: “Can either of you tell me anything more about the golden bird?”

Papa simply looked at Lenka, and the prince followed his gaze. Feeling incredibly awkward, she blurted, “I was told to give the feather to the—um, to the king. Follow the rising sun, and guidance will come. Let truth and mercy prevail.”

Prince Dominik frowned, nodding. “The bird told you this?”

“Yes, Your Highness. That was her advice.”

He sighed. “Please call me Dominik.”

“Yes, Prince Dominik.”

His lips twitched in a smile. “Thank you.” He looked at Papa, then at her, and stated, “You are good people. Salt of the earth. I don’t meet many.”

Papa and Lenka jumped to their feet and followed the prince to the open doorway, where he turned back to say, “May God be with all in this house.”

Papa closed the door. “I believe he will find the bird if he chooses to try.”

“Do you think he will try?”

A sad little smile curled his lips. “No, but I wish he would.”

Another week passed, and while everyone in the palace tiptoed as if on eggshells to avoid drawing the king’s attention and wrath, Prince Dominik disappeared during the night along with food, weapons, and two horses.

According to Papa, castle gossip claimed that Prince Dominik had taken up the quest without his father’s permission, and small wagers under the table abounded.

Two days later, Lenka received a summons from King Gustik. Neither surprised nor frightened, she immediately located Papa Hrabik in the magic herb garden. “The king sent for me. Shall I go straight to the palace?”

Papa’s eyes went very wide. “Wash yourself and dress in your best, then enter the palace through the front door. Explain how you’ve been summoned by the king and be sure to curtsy and keep your gaze lowered in his presence. Oh, and always address him as Your Majesty or Sire, even if he complains.”

All that preparation gave opportunity to think of everything that might go wrong, so she was shivering in her shoes by the time a manservant she’d never met before escorted her to the throne room.

But as it turned out, the servant led her past the empty throne and into a small anteroom where King Gustik and several lords turned to stare at her.

At the king’s urging, she shared what she knew about the golden bird and the quest. A great deal of arguing and bluster followed. By the time the king dismissed her, only his final instructions remained in her mind.

She headed straight to the garden and reported to her tree. “The king says I must bring back your missing apples, the bird, and the two lost princes,” she whispered as if anyone might overhear.

Bird friend.

“I don’t think that bird approves of me.” But she smiled a little and patted the tree’s rough bark. “Even if she’s judgy, maybe she’ll let me capture her for your sake.”

Love protect.

A heartening thought, but rather vague. “Whose love protects whom?” Cryptic comments were of little use, and Lenka was under no illusion regarding her quest’s potential for success.

Love free .

“So people say, but it also requires everything,” Lenka observed.

The golden bird obviously didn’t think much of her, and why the King of Trinec imagined that his two sons might listen to orders passed on by a gardener girl, much less drop their plans and return to Bolislaus Castle with her, was a complete mystery.

Lenka kind. Free.

“I’m glad you think so.” Her tone was flat. “Free” hardly described her situation.

Lenka loved. Safe.

The tree’s words made no sense, yet they danced inside Lenka’s head like music as she headed down the hill. Was she going insane? Or maybe she was already there since, as far as she knew, no one else had ever heard a tree talk.

When she approached the cottage, Papa Hrabik hurried to meet her. “Tell me everything.”

Hearing the protective note in his voice, Lenka choked up.

Papa helped her inside and made her sit down and draw several deep breaths, all the while patting her hand.

Finally, she regained control enough to break the news: “I’m ordered by the king to search for and return the missing princes, the four stolen apples, and the golden bird. ”

Papa shook his head. “You? A young woman alone?”

“Yes. According to the king’s counselors, that one golden feather is a priceless treasure. King Gustik wants the whole bird now. The two princes haven’t returned, and today the counselors decided I’m the most likely person to succeed.”

“What nonsense!” Papa said. “What greed!”

“They’re providing everything I should need for this quest. You won’t believe this, but the king’s council offered me a squad of soldiers.”

“No!” Papa Hrabik sounded shocked.

“I turned them down.”

“I should think so! A young woman, traveling alone with all those men?” The lines on his forehead deepened.

“I’m tall and skinny; I can pass as a boy, I think.

” She spoke quickly. “The king’s people gave me a map, money for food and lodging, and men’s travel clothing.

I’m good with a bow, and I’m not too bad with a small sword since you trained me to defend myself.

I promise I’ll seek magical help if I need it. ”

“In these troubled times, few are willing to help a stranger.” Papa shook his head. “A pretty girl like you needs a bodyguard.”

“Pretty?” she echoed, her face growing warm. Papa had never mentioned her appearance before.

“Some can see through any disguise,” he said. “You’d best use your wits.”

She nodded. “My apple tree seemed pleased about my upcoming journey.”

Papa’s pale eyes studied her for a long minute, then he nodded. “Mama always knew this time would come, and she would never forgive me—I would never forgive myself!—if I didn’t go with you. I’ll be your manservant.”

Lenka’s eyes burned, and she swallowed hard. “You would leave the garden and this cottage and everything . . . for me?”

“Everything. It’s you I love, my girl, not a bunch of plants.”

So, it was settled, whether she agreed or not. And her heart felt so much lighter!

When she visited her tree one more time to explain about her quest, the tree exuded joy, not sadness. Find bird. Find you.

Maybe that really was her quest: to find herself.

A flash of her archery dream heated her cheeks. She was a fool to even think it, but just maybe she would find him too.

Lenka and Papa Hrabik set out on foot early the next morning, carrying their packs, weapons, and a shared sense of adventure. How frightened she would have been to set off on her own! But with Papa walking alongside her like a faithful shepherd dog, she could let her spirit soar.

They passed farms and traveled through forests.

When necessary, they stopped in villages, mostly to refill their waterskins at the village pumps.

Unlike Lenka, Papa had a sense of direction, but he still asked questions to make sure of their path.

When their provisions ran low, they purchased a pasty or a loaf.

People were friendly enough and didn’t seem to see through Lenka’s disguise as a young nobleman.

They had stopped at village inns the first two nights, but the human population thinned as their path climbed.

Lenka was pretty sure she wouldn’t have survived in the mountains without Papa to build fires, snare game, discourage possible bandits with his brawn and intimidating glare, and otherwise live off the land.

Lenka wasn’t entirely useless: she shot several rabbits, a few squirrels, and a brace of partridges along the way.

When rain plagued them, Papa somehow always found dry kindling to roast their wild game.

They also picked a great many hedgerow blackberries, raspberries, and bilberries, and occasionally plums and cherries from abandoned orchards.

On the tenth day, after a long slog up a narrow road to the next village, they entered an inn and traded some field-dressed game for pasties and a fresh loaf of bread with butter—a welcome change to their diet.

With her height, her naturally low-pitched voice, the quality clothing, and her bow and quiver, Lenka passed as Lech Nowak, a young man of good family and modest means.

Papa was “his” manservant. But sometimes she forgot to behave like a man of the world instead of a nervous girl.

“Lech” received a few irritated looks, but mostly “he and his servant” avoided notice.

The days seemed to drag, and Lenka felt as if she might never be clean again. But one morning they entered yet another small village, and Papa asked a man, “How far are we from the border with Wroc?aw?”

“I’d say not far enough,” he retorted.

“I have business there,” Lenka explained, trying to sound confident and male. “But I’m not altogether sure of the way.”

The man scowled. “At one time, the next village up the track marked the border.” He shook his head.

“But few who go there come back. A curse has swallowed up the land. Year after year, foolish striplings like you trek into Wroc?aw in hope of finding enchanted treasure and a princess to marry. Utter nonsense at best, and right deadly at worst.”

Lenka couldn’t disguise her surprise. Not even a month had passed since Prince Dominik set out. “How many years have people been treasure hunting?” She kept her voice low.

“I can’t say, exactly.” His brows rose in expectation.

She fished out a coin to press into his palm.

He examined it briefly, then answered, “Come to think on it, I believe it’s nigh unto five years since treasure hunters started coming this way thick and fast. That first frenzy died out, but more dreamers are always headed here.

” One of his intimidating brows lowered at Lenka. “Do you fancy yourself to be a prince?”

“No.” She indicated Papa and herself. “We are servants of King Gustik of Trinec, sent on his business.”

Five years was roughly how long ago she and the golden-apple tree first appeared in the king’s garden. Could they somehow be connected to this treasure-hunt mystery?

“Well, you speak fancy like a king’s servant, but I’ll deem you and your weapons are harmless. You’re as skinny as a starved stork, and your ‘muscle’ here”—he indicated Papa—“is past his prime.” He chuckled at his own wit, and Lenka preserved a pleasant expression with heroic effort.

“Do you remember two princes who’ve passed through here recently?” she asked.

He gave her a rueful smile. “Two in the past month or so, both headed northeast to Lómza. To my knowledge, not one of the treasure hunters has ever returned this way.”

Exactly what Lenka needed to know. She thanked the gruff yet honest man, and they continued toward the distant high mountains. Once outside the village, she said, “That was encouraging.”

“Was it, now?” Papa sounded dubious.

Two days later, Lenka huddled beneath a tree, clenching her teeth to keep them from chattering.

Her cloak and clothing were soaked through, and her feet were like blocks of ice in her boots.

At least she couldn’t feel the blisters anymore, and her tears warmed her cheeks for a moment or two.

Her sense of adventure had dwindled to extinction, and aside from the narrow road they’d been following through the forest, they hadn’t glimpsed even a hint of civilization in days.

“We must be near the border by now,” she sobbed to herself.

She knew she was behaving like a baby, but she simply couldn’t take another step.

Papa was scouting ahead for a place to shelter.

As soon as he left, she’d wanted him back.

She would never have made it this far—or even survived—without him. That much she knew.

On the far side of a stream, a fallow deer with two fawns approached to drink. She might have enjoyed watching the pretty creatures if she hadn’t been so hungry and half frozen.

Suddenly the doe flung up her head, staring past Lenka. The fawns instantly dropped to the forest floor.

“Papa?” she whispered.

No answer. With an eerie sense of being watched, she drew her feet beneath her, turning to scan the area while awkwardly stringing her bow.

“I mean you no harm.” A whiny sort of voice reached her ears. “You should keep your bow strung and dry if you hope to protect yourself with it.”

“Who are you? Where are you?” she asked, drawing an arrow from her quiver.

“Nearly at your feet. Kindly do not kill me. I’m here to offer help.”