Flight of the Five Swans
Fate Chapter 30

Ayden

Ayden’sface broke into a smile at Svana’s acceptance of their hospitality. Despite her not having anywhere else to go,he had still half expected her to refuse their offer—and that was the very lastthing that he wanted. He cleared histhroat.

“As that is now settled…” he said,shooting a half-questioning glance at his father to make sure that the king hadno more questions that he wanted to ask of their new guest. King Naaman shook his head and gestured toseveral of his advisors to approach. Ayden and Svana were forgotten for the moment.

Ayden stepped closer to the silentgirl, speaking for her ears alone. “I am sorry about that whole…charade.” He told her. “But it is necessary. It is Ithcarian custom, so it isnecessary. For now, at least.”

Svana shrugged, then looked at himwith a hopeful expression. She made asmall gesture with her hands that resembled wings, and Ayden understoodimmediately. She was asking after herswans. He possibly should have beensurprised, but he wasn’t. Not in theslightest.

“They’ll be in the gardens. I’ll bring you to them now.” Ayden said,taking Svana’s arm and leading her out of the receiving room.

Once out of the stodgy room, Aydenallowed his voice to gain the comfortable playfulness that he had adopted withher over the last several days. “I’msure they’ll be delighted to see youat least, if not me. Though I think theyare starting to like me a bit.” Heshrugged, his face impish. “Or tolerateme. Same thing, right?”

For a moment, Ayden thought thatSvana might actually burst out laughing at his weak joke. She clapped one hand over her mouth as if shewere trying to stifle any sound that might emerge, and her eyes were brimming withmirth. Ayden felt rather pleased, thoughalso a bit mystified as to why she would need to cover her mouth. If Svana was unable to speak, shouldn’t thatmean that she couldn’t laugh either—at least, not audibly? Ayden shrugged off the question asunimportant at the moment, though it bore thinking about for the future. He simply did not know enough about hercondition to be positive about what she could and couldn’t do.

Svana positively lit up when theystepped into the palace gardens, which were a veritable work of art—and asource of deep pride to Ayden’s entire family. For centuries, Ithcarian rulers had been cultivating different speciesof flora from around the world; the collection of plants in the royal gardenswas unmatched by any in the surrounding kingdoms. Yet despite the beauty around him, Aydenfound it hard to tear his eyes away from Svana’s face. He found it more enjoyable to witness her enjoyment in seeing the gardens forthe first time with entirely new eyes. She seemed to recognize the incredible significance of their extensivecollection, and her awe was boundless. Her smoky gray eyes shone in wonder, and an excited flush lent an extracolor to her cheeks.

Ayden found the sight mostdistracting—far more distracting than the plants could ever be.

But if Svana seemed in awe of thepalace gardens, she was positively overcome at the sight of her pet swans. The moment that the pond came into view,Ayden saw her eyes flood with tears, and she rushed forward towards the whitefigures of her beloved birds. The thinmaterial of her skirts swished around her ankles as she all but ran the lastthirty meters to the water’s edge. Aydenjogged to catch up with her and was glad that he had, simply to witness thesight of their reunion. Svana’s swansimmediately rushed to greet her the moment they noticed her approaching thepond, and Ayden was touched—and a little surprised—at the seeming intensity ofthe emotions that the birds displayed. Not for the first time, he recognized something almost human in their reactions.

Svana’s joy at their reunion waspalpable, though Ayden did not think that they had been separated from thebirds for longer than an hour at the most. Still, tears streamed down the mute girl’s cheeks, and she touched thebirds’ heads and wings as though she were afraid they might disappear at anymoment from under her fingers.

Again, Ayden found it hard to tearhis eyes away from the sheer happiness shining out of Svana’s face. Clearly, there was something about her swansthat pierced through all of the protective barriers that Svana haderected. He was pleased to be present towitness this initial crumbling of the barriers around her, and he determined tosee her open up even more—to him, as well as her swans.

Ayden stepped closer towards the pond,approaching the strange grouping slowly and cautiously. The last thing he wanted at this point wasyet another swan bite to the kneecaps. Not only were both of his legs still quite sore enough from previousbites, but Ayden also wanted to avoid marring the poignant reunion betweenSvana and her birds.

Drawing level with Svana, he spokesoftly. “See?” he told her, crouchingdown beside her. “I told you they wouldbe glad to see you.”

Svana looked at him, her heart inher eyes. Then she glanced down, andAyden noticed for the first time that she still held the slate and chalk thathis father had provided for her in the receiving room. He felt of thrill of excitement. At last, they might actually be able tocommunicate. Svana scrawled on theslate, and then held it up so that Ayden could read the words she had writtenthere.

Thankyou Ayden.

Ayden met her eyes once more andinclined his head. “You’re welcome.” Hesaid simply.

Svana turned back to caress herswans once more, and Ayden glanced at the birds as well. He recognized the swan sitting nearest him asthe one that had listened so intently when he had played the rhaita the lastcouple of nights. She was the smallestbird of the bunch, and had a peculiar way of cocking her head so that she appearedperpetually curious. This was also thesame swan, Ayden was sure, that had taken to riding on Undertow’s rump whenthey had still been walking the path.

On a whim, Ayden reached out a handand placed it gently on the smallest bird’s back, stroking the soft feathers inthe same manner that Svana often did. Svana herself froze in shock at the sight, and the other birds seemedalmost as surprised as she was. Aydenfelt the swan shiver under his palm, and he made ready to jerk his hand awayshould the bird seem inclined to attack him with her beak. But she didn’t.

Instead, the swan nestled closer toAyden. She bumped at him gently with herhead, as though requesting that he kindly continue his ministrations. Ayden complied, feeling a distinct sense ofawe and triumph. It was a small victory,this sign of acceptance.

But it was a victory all the same.