Chapter 21 Fedor

Sadko awoke shivering and with a groan. His own bow was smacking his head lightly. His forehead bled and arrows rattled as he shifted. He found himself straddled across a log heading down river back toward Volhov. His vision blurred in and out.

A man was holding the other end of his bow and tapping him as he spoke. “Well you are alive. That is a wonder. I was certain that the river was where you were to meet your end. Perhaps I was mistaken.” Sadko saw behind him the man had the nerve to stand on the log. He used a long birch branch to steer it as easily as if it were a boat.

“Who are you?” Sadko rasped. The man sparkled with fine embroidered clothes and a well formed breastplate. His hair was spiky, and depending on how he moved his head it either appeared white, or tinted blue glistening with drops. His face looked chiseled from stone and yet he had the most congenial smile.

“Ah me you can see! How interesting, it must be your delirium. Normally only humans with the sight can see me. Or chosen heroes, something you passed up on I am afraid. I know for a fact you are not immortal. Your life pattern is unraveling.”

“What are you babbling about?” Sadko tried to sit up but the log started rolling and he gripped it out of fear.

“Fedor is what you may call me. I really do not understand you humans. You would rather have introductions than express gratitude.”

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“Fedor, Elena used to tell me stories of you when she was a child. She said you were the voice of Father Winter. She has not seen you for years.” Recollection was making Sadko’s feel even queasier as the log rocked.

“That is for lack of trying. No matter, I have given up being an ambassador. I seem to be very terrible with your language. In this season I am working as a bounty hunter for Lady Spring who is very angered by her stolen bounty.” Fedor sighed giving another push with his branch. “It is very difficult. I hunt an immortal hiding among mortals, protected by a demon controlling the soulless. Then of course there is the Kostchey who hunts me and wishes to steal my power.” Fedor shook his head with a smile when Sadko only stared at him blankly.

“Well there are rules I do not expect you to understand,” Fedor rolled his eyes. “Not in this state anyway, however, you do have enough heroes spark left inside to relay a message and bring me a delivery.”

“Heroes spark?” Sadko touched his face shocked to discover blood dripped down his cheek.

“You must not be modest! Why I watched you shoot straight through the trees and hit the mark not once but thrice! Pity Elena did not do as she was bid you most certainly would have won her. Of course you did panic when you heard a noise and fell into the river.” Fedor dropped the branch in the water. As he stepped across the log to Sadko it did not even waver. He seemed to glow of moonlight, the sky behind him was changing to the hue of a lavender morning.

“The sun is rising and soon I shall lose you so let us make this swift.” Fedor placed his hand over Sadko’s head giving it a tingling, numbing sensation. Fedor faded away. Sadko looked to see his bow was still over his shoulder, awkwardly tangled with his arrows and rapping the back of his head. The log hit the side of the bank and Sadko twisted and fumbled onto it. He began to run but the shaking of the world around him was making him dizzy. When he paused, in the bushes a set of bright eyes stared back at him. He collapsed to his knees shivering and wet and then all went dark.