Chapter 25 Golden Goose

In the loft of the barn Gretel’s head hung upside down, her beautiful hair flowing downward matching only the lightest colored straw. She watched with a bored expression as her brother fed the geese below. “This is stupid why can I not go back into the woods? What are we waiting for?”

“I am awaiting an opportunity and an advantage.” Hansel lifted a handful of seed up to his dove which had just flown down to his shoulder. “I feel somehow like we were drawn to this place. I must follow my instincts.” He observed the ugly hatchling closely.

“What of my instincts? Or the message that certainly came from Frost.” Gretel rolled over and looked at him annoyed.

“Yes, let us think about that.” Hansel cast the rest of the seed away to the dove’s dismay.

“Well obviously he wants us to destroy the garden, find the stones and find the lake.” Gretel examined her nails after putting up three fingers.

“I wonder if the order is right. Remember people who are touched often get confused.” Hansel noted and Gretel had to agree most prophecies ended badly because the bearer had not gotten to the point soon enough.

“Well I am sure her garden is well guarded with spells. We cannot even find her chicken hut in the woods.” Gretel’s whittling using her nail on the flat board beneath turned into a carved design that matched the chairs in the kitchen.

“There you go with the woods again. It is the lake we are supposed to find not Izboushka her malevolent pet hata. She probably has them both covered with mirages.” Hansel was a little put off by her constant impulsiveness without weighing consequences.

“Mirages, oh Brother I did not think of that. We are going to have to make her cast a huge spell in order to weaken the false view. I would hate to think this is all just one big ugly trick.” Gretel blew the wooden chips from her nails.

“True, who is to say one of us will even be near it when the magic wavers. We would probably have to split up and not forget The Frost may be seeking allegiance from us only temporarily as it is doubtful he has forgiven.”

Hansel stroked his dove’s neck until it flapped and flew up to the rafters. A noise and a deep shadow cast through the doorway made Hansel jump behind some barrels and Gretel bury herself quickly in straw. The smell of mint filled the air, the very essence of Father Winter. The Frost had come for them.

Rose entered the barn timidly. The dove flew down circling her with loud coos.

“Hello,” she whispered. Perhaps because she knew its owner was near, or because the coming dusk made her nervous. “I brought you a present.”

She pulled the nest out from the basket, in many ways they resembled one another. She climbed up onto the top of the entry frame with an expertise that was surprising given her size and placed the nest above it. She let herself drop and landed agile but was still shaking off the impact.

“I know you are here.” Rose dared speak a little louder. “You do not need to be afraid. Sadko is down eating dinner with the rest of the village.”

Hansel decided it would still be too risky a time to reveal himself, knowing Gretel was cursing him under her breath. It was one thing to meet this girl by accident out in the open. This was their safe haven. Besides, she had no real proof that he was there. His dove flew over to the top of the barrels. “Traitor,” He whispered when Rose’s line of sight soon followed. He moved around so she still could not see him.

“Come out, I know you're there.” She heard his movements in the straw nonetheless.

He spoke in a gentle yet forceful manner. “Go away, you're going to get me caught. Besides, you are not allowed to visit Sadko anymore.”

“I suppose Sadko knows you are here stealing his clothes and sleeping with his geese.” Rose said wickedly.

“Why that…” Gretel growled slowly, staying hidden herself.

“Do you have more pets?” Rose looked up at the loft concerned and Hansel stepped out. He grabbed his dove, perching it on his finger. The movement was deft and smoothly he swerved the bird past her eyes to distract her.

“Just her, she is sad because she lost her mate.” The dove opened its wings wide in assistance.

“Did the Lueda Yedka get him?” Rose whispered wide eyed as they followed the bird.

“Who told you that?” Hansel got in her face rather quickly. Rose stepped back with balled up little fists, ready to fight. “You did clod! You said a demon hunted you that smelled like ashes!”

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a haystack tremble. His sister was going to clobber him good after this little tryst. All the talks he had given her about being reckless. He stepped back placing the dove on his shoulder. “Right, sorry. Just do not shout okay?”

“I just wanted to bring you some food so you would not have to wait until the sun went down to steal it.” Rose took his hand and led him over to the basket. Her brazenness surprised him. She seemed to fear nothing. When she lifted the handkerchief the aroma of mint was strong.

“I was practicing making pirog. These did not turn out so well. I figured you might want them. If you do not, I will also bring some food from the table.”

“My thanks,” he gave a little bow. “You are going to be missed, you should return.” Hansel stooped down and grabbed out her burned pirogs and nothing else. Her mother had baked his foot unwittingly. He would not touch anything she made. Plus there was a curse on the rest of the food. He could smell it like a bad stench. She was looking up at him expectantly. He winced and bit into one. “Yum I like mint.” He made a show of it. Well at least his breath would smell sweet for days now.

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“They think I am using the troth to clean up after making a mess in the kitchen. Actually there was a big flour spill.” She sat down cross legged and embarrassed. “So you really like it?”

His hackles were up. He saw that she had a keen interest in him. An interest he by no means wanted to cultivate.

“Well to tell you the truth, I do not like that much mint. Why did you put so much in? It burns my nose.” Hansel was relieved to put up his hand to rub it.

Rose sighed, her eyes completely lost intrigue. “Well I guess that means you are not Fedor. I thought maybe you worked for Father Winter.”

“You thought I was the Frost?!” Hansel laughed.

“No, Fedor, the voice of Father Winter!” Rose picked out a roll and he watched the taint disappear from it before she placed it in her mouth. Some kind of blessing was on her perhaps?

“Guess it is better that you are not. Those really were not my best pirog.” She chewed out her frustration.

“Sorry to disappoint you.” He smirked, she ate like his sister. “I try my best not to lie if I can help it.”

“You said you could help me get rid of the Old Jack, really its Father Winter that commands him so I thought..” once again Rose sighed.

“Well I am an albino. I can see why my appearance might seem strange to you.” Hansel decided that no one was coming after her as yet so he sat down and began eating with true vigor.

“What is an albino?” Rose’s arched brow accented her curiosity.Hansel shrugged just shrugged. He did not want to talk about it. He already seemed to be having trouble telling her too much.

“Well you look half starved. I have never seen a boy thinner than I. You see all the other boys around here are...” She cupped her cheek with one hand. As she tilted her head and looked at him.

“Fat,” Hansel finished with a gulp and a smile.

“Younger than I,” Rose shook her head but smiled at his honest insult.

“Of course, the Lueda Yedka put a curse on this land. Everyone around here is supposed to get nice and fat. Boys cannot grow to manhood; she eats them.” Hansel was speaking wickedly until there was a hiss from the haystack above.

“What was that?” Hansel took Rose’s wrist when her head was turning sharply.

“Just rats,” He bit a chunk of the bread out of her hand. She turned beat red when her face turned back because he was still holding her wrist and she was confused.

“What? It looked better when you were eating it.” He swallowed with an impertinent air and threw her hand back at her. She rolled her eyes and stood up and began throwing bits of bread in the nest. “Do you think he will like it?” Rose gestured to the dove.

“She is what she remembers.” Hansel said annoyed,

“Oh right well?” Rose jerked her head towards the nest to get an answer.

“I suppose, why do you not look at your own bird?” Hansel yawned so she would go away if he pretended to want a nap after eating.

“Yes my bird!” Rose spun around excitedly realizing all the little goslings had hatched. Hers was very ugly in shape and beak, obviously not a gosling at all.

“It has the loveliest gold sheen on its feathers.” Rose wasn’t just looking with a proud mother’s eyes clearly she was capable of seeing auras and that was a matter of importance.

“I already fed it so do not bother.” Hansel warned as she crouched down to watch her little darling.

“How did you know it was mine?” Rose knew it looked different yet her name was not written on it.

“Sadko has called it yours every morning he has come in here.” Hansel stood and peaked through a loose slat realizing the man could soon come back at any moment.

“He remembers nothing of the argument with my Father. He suffered many injuries to the head. He could be playing down below as we speak.” Rose looked at his nervous stance. “Tell him you are here. He is really kind. He has always wanted a son like my Father.” At her words Hansel shook his head defiantly.

Rose shrugged and reassured him. “Anyway, we still have a deal. You teach me how to get rid of the Old Jack and I will not tell anyone you are here.”

Hansel considered scaling opportunities with the dangers. On the one hand he had here the witch’s most prized possession. At any moment she had the mouth to give him away. He could kill her and get revenge in a very swift manner, or perhaps a trade? Foolishly, the Lueda Yedka would be too clever to negotiate with. She would just find a way to seize them. On the other hand if the girl was loyal they could have a spy on the inside; someone that the Lueda Yedka would never expect to turn on her. The little girl was never in danger of being harmed physically at least.

“Very well I did promise. Meet me out in the fields tomorrow in the morning after lessons with your Father and before your Babushka comes. Go before you are discovered missing.” He handed her the basket back to encourage the departure.

Rose still stubbornly would not budge. “Were you born a Prince to order others around so? Or perhaps you think I am one of your trained pets?”

Hansel growled as she looked upon her gosling stroking its soft feathers with her finger. “Are you still hungry, oh great master?” she said with exasperation as her hand went back into her basket. She had not been looking at him and thought it was his stomach. She threw a tomato at him. He caught it reflexively and launched it right back. It splattered on her dress.

“At least I am not as spoiled as a headman’s daughter.” He almost caught another when he saw his sister’s finger come up in warning so instead he let the fruit hit his head. He had realized he had made a mistake, just then. If she started to witness his abilities all trust gained would be lost.

As Rose watched the launched slime slide down his face she clutched her stomach giggling. As her cheeks grew red this time his stomach growled for real. He got down at his haunches and pounced. Rose rolled out of the way surprisingly fast. She dumped the basket over his head. Whatever contents rolled down over him he caught and began to catapult at her. She liked this game even better, dodging this way and laughing even when she got hit. None of the other children had played active games like this with her before.

What she did not realize was Hansel was no longer playing. Her running was making him salivate. She was clever too, weaving in and out of the hay stacks as he followed, making his excitement heighten. He made another leap at her from behind when surprisingly she used his own move. She grabbed his wrist and outstretched arm and used his own momentum to flip him over onto his back into the hay.

“That’s a headman’s daughter for you!” She laughed merrily, grabbing her empty basket and running outside. “See you tomorrow!”

Her basket hit the frame on the way out and the little nest fell upside down on the ground. The dove landed near pushing it aside behind a beam. It was only interested in the bread next to it.

Hansel’s canines grew thick and his eyes glowed, he moved to get up and chase her just as two arms interlocked him from behind. How his sister had moved undetected to the bottom level he had no idea nor did he care. Only her strength was capable of holding him back during this crucial time of change.

“Patience brother, I saw your mind as it was clear and this was not its intention. The sun weakens you with its setting while the moon pulls at you with its rising. Many a night you have saved me from taking the life of that bachelor. Think how much worse this would be. She wears a cloak of protection that would surely lead you to its maker once you intended her true harm. Think you wretched, starving beast of her silver clasp which would burn you as soon as you went for her throat.”

Hansel breathed until he was calm. Even the geese had all gathered and cowered in a corner away from him. Of course he would not be so foolish. If Sadko complained of animals eating his stock the hunter would be upon them. Irritably he picked up a half smashed pirog and chewed. It was burnt and that helped, it reminded him of some of the witches he had eaten before. He turned to see his sister deep in thought. Unlike him the moon always seemed to heighten her mind. Seeing his curious stare she smiled.

“I was just thinking,” she stretched out and lay back in the hay, “how much I have always admired cloaks.”