Feather - Swan Maidens Retold by Demelza Carlton

Feather - Swan Maidens Retold by Demelza Carlton

Author:Demelza Carlton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-09-04T00:00:00+00:00


FIFTEEN

Swanhild followed the Queen to the top of the tower, hearing the shuffle of the other swans' footsteps on the stairs below her. She wished she hadn't eaten so much, but if she was to escape tonight, best that she go with a full belly, for it wasn't as though swans could carry packs when they flew.

A chest sat in the shadows of the battlements, which the Queen knelt to unlock, before throwing the lid open to reveal...feathers.

No, not just feathers, Swanhild realised as the Queen lifted the first layer up high, but feathered cloaks, so artfully fashioned that when the Queen gave it a shake, it flared out and looked like wings in flight.

Surely she couldn't mean for them to don these cloaks and actually fly...

"My godmother fashioned these for me, each a little larger as I grew, until I reached the height I am now. They are all imbued with magic, transforming the wearer into a swan for as long as the full moon is in the sky. But should sunlight touch even a single feather, the entire cloak will erupt into flame, burning the wearer and sending them plummeting to earth and a painful death." The Queen gave the cloak one last shake, before sweeping it around the shoulders of the smallest swan child. She fastened the bone button at the child's throat, then stepped back. "There!"

There, indeed. The cloaked child flapped her arms, once, twice, three times, and they were no longer arms but wings, her neck stretching, stretching, as before Swanhild's eyes, the child turned back into a swan.

Swanhild wanted to weep. The bird looked so pathetically grateful to be herself again, but it was only for a night. By dawn tomorrow, they'd all be back to being children again, at the mercy of the mad Queen.

But for one night...she might go home to Mirroten, and at least see Raphael again.

"Wearing one of these cloaks, you may fly where you wish while the moon is in the sky, but you must return here to this tower before dawn, or you will die a fiery death. Do you understand?" the Queen said.

Swanhild nodded, and the others did, too.

"And when you return, you will be good little children, and make King Bela believe you are truly his daughters. If you behave yourselves, I will allow you to fly on the night of the next full moon, just like tonight, but only if you can convince the King. Can you do that?"

Swanhild doubted it. Anyone with eyes to see would surely notice that there was something odd about these children who did not speak or behave like anything but scared savages. And yet...if they did not agree, the others would surely die, and she would never see Raphael again...

"Yes, Your Majesty," Swanhild said.

"Yes, Mother," the Queen corrected.

Swanhild swallowed. If this was the Queen's price...so be it. "Yes, Mother."

She helped the Queen dress the others, until only she remained, with the largest cloak of them all. It was too



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