Laszlo opened the door to the hut, and raked the coals up in the hearth. He placed a few logs on top, and in short order, a cheerful blaze was crackling within.

“There we are. Now it will be much more comfortable in here. Sinta has her pallet over there, I have my cot, and Risa and Katira have hers. It’ll be much better in here after a few minutes,” he said.

Katira leapt from Risa’s shoulder to the table and sat. “Would you like to talk now, Mr. Syvin?” she asked.

“My dear, it has been a rather eventful day, and while I would love to chat with you, I can feel my strength fading. I think we should all take a rest, and see what the morning brings,” he replied.

“Of course. Rest would do us all some good. I will see you in the morning,” Katira replied, leaping to the floor.

They each got into their own bed, and were all fast asleep in moments. The next morning, Risa woke up, and rekindled the hearth fire. Silently, she walked out of the hut, and gathered snow for tea.

Upon opening the door, she was surprised to see Laszlo and Sinta in conversation at the table.

“...could expand the hut? I own much of the land around it, and with three people, I daresay the building would go much faster,” Laszlo said

“In a moment, Laszlo. Hello, Risa! What have you got there?” Sinta asked.

“Just some snow for tea. What are you two talking about?” Risa asked, her eyes flitting between the pair.

“Uh, well… I was just asking Miss Sinta here how she would like to proceed,” Laszlo replied, his voice somewhat shaky.

“Proceed with what, Mr. Laszlo?” Risa asked innocently.

As Laszlo stammered, lost for words, Sinta spoke up for him. “How I would like to proceed with making this house bigger. As a place where we could all live.”

“Oh? That sounds nice. A bigger house would be good, especially if Katira is to stay inside, too. I like the idea,” Risa said, placing the kettle of snow over the hearth.

“Well. That was surprisingly easy. Are you sure, Little One? You wouldn’t mind living here with me?” Laszlo said softly.

“Yep! You’re a nice guy, Mr. Laszlo. You treat me like I’m an important person, and you are willing to get to know Katira, and Miss Sinta likes you, too!” she said, plopping down onto her cot.

“That’s because you are an important person, Risa. Not just to me, but to Laszlo and Sinta, too,” Katira said.

Risa smiled and held her bear close. This seemed like it was going to be so much better than living at home with her mom.

*********

The expansions on the house were finished by the beginning of summer. When it was revealed that Laszlo would be expanding his meager house to make room for Sinta and Risa, the entirety of Blek pitched in to clear land and expand the old priest’s house. When only two rooms instead of three were added, more cheers erupted from the villagers as it became evident that Laszlo and Sinta were courting.

Life in Blek fell into a routine of happy normalcy. Laszlo taught Risa all he knew of Svarog and His domain, while Sinta continued to hunt and help support the village. After a few years, it was obvious that while Laszlo and Sinta weren’t going to be expecting a child, they had all they needed or wanted in Risa. Indeed, the pair loved and doted on her just as much as they would have were she their own flesh and blood. Life continued apace until Laszlo suddenly fell ill one spring day, ten years after Risa came to him.

**********

“Papa? Are you okay?” Risa asked, rushing to his side.

Laszlo braced himself on her stronger shoulder, as she helped him to his bed. Sinta was out on a hunt with several of the other villagers. She would return by week’s end, so for now, all he had was his daughter, Risa, to help and assist him.

“I’m fine, child. Just tired. That’s all. I’m just a tired old man,” he said, his voice thin and frail. He looked around, and reclined in his bed.

“Be that as it may, I’m going to make you some soup. Stay put,” Risa commanded.

Laszlo wheezed a laugh. Such a good, strong young woman. Just like he had hoped. He sighed softly as he watched her leave his room.

“Katira? I know you’re nearby. Could you come here, please?” he asked to the air.

Hearing the padding of tiny bear feet, Laszlo looked around until he spied the little bear beside the bed.

“Yes, Laszlo? Are you well?” she asked, concern evident in her voice.

“No, my dear. I am not well. I’m dying. I hope to last the weekend, as I would love to see my wife one last time before I go. But that’s not why I wanted to see you. Come up here, please?” he said.

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Katira clambered up the bed as quickly as she could, and swiftly moved to his side. “Yes?”

“I have a confession, and I need to tell you before anyone else knows. Are you willing to keep it a secret until after I’m gone?” he asked the small bear.

“Why me, Laszlo? Why not tell your wife? Why not tell Risa?” she asked in reply, her paws on his frail hand.

“Because if you don’t like what I have to say, I would like for you to send me off sooner rather than later. That’s why. It’s a damning thing. Something I’ve held onto for ten years, Katira,” he said.

She thought for a moment, and nodded, coming to a conclusion. “Okay, then. I will keep your secret until after you’ve passed, and only then will I possibly reveal it,” she replied.

“It was me,” he blurted, tears rolling down his lined face. “It was because of me that Risa was taken to Postojna. I had been hiring what I thought were concerned citizens to take orphaned girls from the streets and bring them to me so I could find them a home. Some truly were concerned citizens. I’d been doing it for a decade before Risa came to me. I thought that her mother had hired someone to bring her here, at first, but I didn’t find out just who she was until after the first day. The children were always well-cared for, and never hurt. I found them families to be with. People who couldn’t have children of their own. I thought Risa was going to simply be another of her line. I’d dunk her in the river, and she would go home. I never expected to fall in love, and I expected even less coming to love her as my own. I’m the reason, Katira. I’m why she was taken by the “bad men”, and that you were attacked. I’m so sorry,” he said, tears streaming down his face.

Katira stared at this man she had come to care for and admire in disbelief. “Why?” she asked, her voice a harsh whisper.

Laszlo sniffled and took a shaky breath. “Twenty years ago, I asked a seeress why I hadn’t been blessed with a wife and child. She gave me an answer in a riddle. She told me this: “When the buck’s bright gaze falls upon the river of life, secrets sealed in virgin blood shall stir. The dance of shadow and blood shall illuminate the path to truth.” And when I had an orphan with me, on the full moon of Stag, I performed a ritual similar to the one I did with Risa that night ten years ago. The child was always cared for and adopted out to loving homes. I never thought that Barklin and Malak were as bad as I later discovered they were. I never put thought to what they did with the two they brought me. The girls came from all over. Parents die all the time, I thought. I would be doing them a favor by placing them in loving homes. A bit of blood was all I ever desired in return.

“I’ve been holding this within for too long, and it’s eaten at me. I’m sorry for being such a terrible person, Katira. I can’t even beg for your mercy. I’ve done terrible things to you and your child, and I await my punishment,” he said quietly.

Katira gazed sadly at the man. “You have attempted to do good by caring for orphans, but you went about it in a terrible way. The men who took our child were, by all rights, terrible people. Had you instead been simply patient, Svarog may well have placed Sinta in your path regardless.

“But humans are, I have found, an impatient lot. Probably due to their relatively short lives. I am disappointed, Laszlo. I wish you had seen fit to tell us of this earlier in our time together. As it is, I cannot change the past. What I can do, is keep your secret until you have gone, and will decide then if I will tell the others,” she said calmly.

“Thank you, my friend. Thank you,” Laszlo said softly.

“Risa has something of a secret, too. I will inform her that the time to reveal it is here,” Katira said, and leapt from the bed.

She scurried to Risa’s side, where she found her writing something on a scroll, tending to a fresh wound on her left thumb.

“Risa? We must talk,” Katira said to her child.

“Yes?” Risa answered, never looking up from her work.

“You must tell him. And tell him now. I will not say why, but I’m telling you that he needs to know now.” Katira said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Risa looked up from her notes, spying the bear on the floor. Slowly, she put down her brush. “Yes, ma’am.”

Risa stood and walked to her father’s room. Laszlo was lying there, his cheeks wet from tears. Softly, she padded into his room and sat on the side of his bed. She lay a gentle hand on his head and slowly stroked his hair.

“Hi, Papa. How are you feeling?” she asked quietly.

Laszlo opened his rheumy eyes, seeing his daughter. “Hey. I’ll be right as rain in a few days. Don’t you worry,” he said.

“I’ve got something I need to tell you, Papa. Do you remember the night of the ritual?” she asked. Laszlo nodded. “Remember when I told you of Zachariah and Wolf? Then I showed you his scrolls? And how you forbade me from doing anything like that?” she asked.

“Yes… what have you been doing, child?” Laszlo asked gently.

“I couldn’t help it, Papa! It just called to me, over and over and over. I’ve tried to leave it alone, but watching the shadows that spring from my blood when it touches certain things, it…it’s beautiful, Papa. It’s how I hid from Katira and Sinta that night. It was Svarog’s light that showed them where I was. I’ve been making a list of everything that my blood interacts with, and how strongly. I’ve even made liquids like what Zachariah did! And it helps my cuts heal so much faster, too. Maybe… maybe it could help you?” she asked, clutching Laszlo’s hand to her chest.

“I don’t want you to die, daddy. Not yet. I have so many things I want to do with you. I want you to be there if I ever get married, to see your grandchild. To see my first ritual as a priest of Svarog. Please don’t go?” she begged, tears streaming down her face.

With his other hand, Laszlo reached up and cupped her cheek. “My sweet child. I know. I know you’ve been experimenting. You’ve been soaking up knowledge like the dry earth soaks up the rains. I knew it was only a matter of time before you went and created your own knowledge. I am sad that you didn’t think to talk to me about it, but I am not mad, child. No. Use the workshop, instead of the kitchen, next time. That’s all I ask.

“As for the rest? No, I don’t think that is wise. I have made my peace with Death. It comes as it comes. I only want to see Sinta once more before I go. I’ll be able to hang on until then, I am sure,” he said gently.

“But,” Risa began, but Laszlo covered her lips with a shaking finger. Risa took his liver spotted hand and kissed it. “As you say, Papa. I must check on the soup. Please excuse me,” she said, and rose from the bed.