Chapter 31
The Gilded Cage
The five of us walked into Martha’s mansion. She led us into the drawing room where we’d assembled the night before, only now the fireplace wasn’t on, which made the space look much less inviting.
Lisa and I sat next to each other, facing Martha, while Harry remained standing in the corner.
Grayson positioned himself next to Martha’s feet, lying on top of the bearskin.
He closed his eyes, and had I not known how important this conversation was to him, I would have been certain he’d gone to sleep.
“Before we start”—Martha placed her hands on her lap—“I’d like to make sure everyone here is aware that once the Firebird arrives, things will be completely different. The creature is unpredictable and could get violent.”
“Violent?” Harry arched his eyebrows.
“Potentially, yes,” Martha said. “And no, Grayson, before you ask, you can’t just gently bite it to teach it how to behave.”
“That’s too bad,” Grayson snarled. “I was about to offer.”
“My sweet little boy,” Martha said to the wolf affectionately. “I know you’re just trying to help, but the bird has to remain intact so that Ivan can take it to Baba Yaga. And that reminds me of one more thing.”
Martha rose from her seat and walked over to a cabinet in the corner of the room. “We’ll need this.” She produced a golden cage and placed it on the carpet, right next to the wolf. He scrunched his nose and smelled it.
The cage was two feet wide and stood nearly three feet tall. Its bars curved gracefully out, forming a dome at the top, where a tiny golden rooster was perched. Light played across the rooster’s surface, and it turned slightly, like a miniature weathervane.
“What a pretty cage,” Lisa exclaimed as she rose from her seat and walked over to examine it. She flicked the rooster with her finger, and, as she did, the cage creaked and its door popped open.
“Careful, Lisa, I was just going to warn you about the mechanics. The rooster hides the lock. Come here, Ivan, try it out.” The Mistress called me over, and I inspected it up close. The golden rooster was tiny but realistic, the metalwork spectacular.
“Where did you get such a beautiful cage?” Lisa asked, moving back to her seat.
“In my family, we used it to keep canaries. I come from generations of miners, you see.” A dreamy smile crossed Martha’s face.
“You know the expression, don’t you? Canaries in a mine?
Well, we kept lots of them, pretty little birds.
They saved many of our men. Our family mines never had an accident.
And when we retired the canaries, we kept them in this cage.
It used to stand right in the middle of the living room.
I remember my grandmother would let me feed the birds. ”
“So it’s true? They really kept canaries in the mines? I’d always thought it was just a myth.” Lisa crossed her arms.
“Oh, no, not at all. The birds are much more sensitive to danger than men and could detect poisonous gases much quicker.”
“How interesting. I had no idea you were connected to mining,” Lisa noted. “So, is that why you wanted Ivan to help you with that gold mine, the one in the desert?”
As Lisa asked the question, I noticed Martha’s eyes darting in my direction, a reminder of my earlier indiscretion. I rotated the rooster so that it faced backward and the cage closed with a click, and I felt my stomach flip.
The cage, the rubies were all tools that would help me, but they would also expedite my departure from Virginia.
“I’ll explain everything when it’s time,” Martha responded curtly. “Now, I remember you already have a canvas bag to cover the cage?”
“Yes,” I said, sitting down next to Lisa. I took her hand in mine, and the proximity to her comforted me. Whatever was to come, at least at that moment I was with the woman I loved.
“So, Ivan will carry the cage and the canvas bag, and we’ll set it right by the peacocks, right?” Lisa asked.
“Don’t forget the gloves. The bird is hot and can burn Ivan’s hands,” Harry chimed in. He’d been standing so quietly in the corner that I’d almost forgotten about the little horse.
“Oh yes, of course, the mittens.” Lisa blushed, and I remembered how she’d lent me her ex-husband’s gloves.
“And I can distract the peacocks,” Harry offered. “You’ll need to make sure they aren’t in your way.”
“Good point, Harry. Thank you for the reminder.” The Mistress gave the humpbacked horse a look of approval.
Encouraged, Harry continued, “So then, I’ll go there early to keep the peacocks occupied.”
Grayson yawned, revealing his sharp fangs, then placed his head on his paws, as if to settle for a nap.
“I’ll come with you, Harry,” Lisa said. “So you aren’t with them all alone.”
“So, Lisa and Harry will go first to distract the peacocks. Then, Ivan can arrange the rubies and the feather, since he’s the only one who can touch it without a problem.
And Grayson, I hope you’re paying attention”—the Mistress addressed the wolf, whose ears immediately perked up—“you’ll set the cage and wait for the right moment.
As soon as Ivan captures the bird, you’ll run up to him with the cage so he can place the Firebird inside and cover it with the canvas bag. ”
“Yes, Mistress,” Grayson growled.
“I suggest we meet at Fernwood five days from today, the night of the full moon, and that night we’ll capture the bird.”
“And then what will happen after?” Lisa squeezed my hand so hard, I almost yelled out in pain.
“Ivan will take the bird back to Baba Yaga,” Martha said coldly.
“So he’ll go back through the portal? In the bathhouse? That’s incredibly dangerous.”
“Lisa, please don’t worry, it’ll be all right. I’ve done this once, it’s easy.” I reached to kiss Lisa on the cheek.
“How can you say that? You’re going to Zorya, and we don’t even know how you’ll come back. It could take a very long time, Vanya.”
“I believe we’ve gone over this already.
Ivan has no choice but to return, since he made a promise to Baba Yaga, and if he breaks that promise, his life would be in danger.
” The Mistress drummed her fingers on the side table.
“Believe me, I would much rather he didn’t have to travel to Zorya and stayed here to help me with my quest.”
“Yes, of course,” Lisa responded. I noticed her eyes had filled with tears and wished I could reassure her.
“Mistress—” Grayson opened his jaws wide, as if to yawn, revealing his sharp fangs. “You haven’t changed your mind?”
“Changed my mind about?” Martha’s green eyes settled on him. I could almost feel the hairs on Grayson’s back stand up, and I wondered how she’d managed to tame this formidable animal.
“I would like to accompany Ivan to Zorya,” Grayson barked.
“Yes, of course. But you and I need to discuss who will serve me while you’re away.”
“Yes, Mistress. I can accompany you to the kennel to help you find a replacement.”
“No one can replace you, Grayson. But I do need a guard dog.”
“Yes, Mistress. We can go tomorrow, and I’ll make sure to teach it everything before I leave.” Grayson sat up.
“Very well, then.” Martha rose from her seat, straightening her dress, and I noticed it had bluish undertones, with the emerald-green sparkles blending into a deep, almost dark purple hue. Its colors reminded me of peacock feathers, and I shuddered at the similarity.
“So, it’s settled. We’ll go back to Fernwood today, then,” Lisa said.
“I’m ready,” Harry neighed, straightening up.
“Can’t wait to see how the three of you fly off,” Grayson said. His tone was playful and not unkind, and I noticed a barely perceptible smile cross Harry’s face.
A horse and a wolf had become friends. Just another magical thing that happened in Virginia.
“Vanya, how about we go back to the Seven Birches to lock up and make sure everything is in order?” Lisa asked me. Her hand was still in mine, and I brought it to my lips, kissing it.
“Yes, my love.”