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drew the young woman back when she would have flung herself at von Rothbart’s feet to grovel and beg. “Do not hope for mercy from this sorcerer, for he has no heart to feel such emotions,” she said as coldly as von Rothbart himself.
    Von Rothbart’s expression did not change in the least. “The better to avoid the temptation of faithless women,” he replied, with a mocking bow. “How else could I be a proper guardian for such as you? It would have been better for Adam had he been created without a heart; he would never have given in to the entreaties of Eve. But it was not only to remind you of your proper punishment that I gathered you this evening.”
    Odette drew herself up proudly, and stepped forward with her arms spread slightly, as if to protect the maidens behind her. She knew what von Rothbart meant, and so did Odile. “If you expect us to repent, why is it that you pledge to hold us until death?” she demanded. “What reason would we have for anything but mourning for what is lost and railing against you? Even God does not demand punishment beyond repentance!”
    Von Rothbart eyed her with speculation; Odile was taken aback. She had not expected such a spirited retort from Odette, who seemed to have lost interest in everything of late. Perhaps she had not been sulking on her little island, but thinking.
    â€œAn interesting line of reasoning, if entirely feminine,” he said at last, and watched her keenly. “Very well, Swan Queen; are you willing to hazard all on your repentance and redemption? For your flock as well as yourself?”
    Odette looked suspicious. “I trust no wager of yours, sorcerer.”
    He made a motion to dismiss her insult. “Listen, before you bandy words about. The spell that holds you all is linked to you, the leader. If you can capture the faith of a man who knows you as you are, and hold him as well, then the spell upon you all will be broken and you will all be free.” He spread his hands wide in a gesture of generosity. “That, by the by, has always been the case. But he must be utterly true to you, and swear to no other.”
    â€œDare you to swear to the truth of this, Baron von Rothbart?” Odette cried, eyes blazing. “Nay, do not swear upon the word of God, for I do not trust such an oath from you. Swear it upon your name, your power!”
    â€œI swear that it is true, upon my name and power,” he said, almost benignly. “He must know what you are, and what you have done to deserve your state, and still remain faithful to you through any temptation.”
    â€œAnd how long must this blessed condition hold before the spell is broken?” she replied, with no trust in her voice. “A year? Ten? A hundred?”
    â€œYou wrong me, Odette,” von Rothbart retorted. “I am stung! I impose no such impossible conditions. One month, from full moon to full moon, that is all. One tiny month, and you win the freedom of not only yourself, but of all your flock. And tomorrow, when we seek a change of scene, you will even have opportunity for your quest.”
    Odette stepped back, silent, too suspicious to be anything but alarmed, though the buzz of conversation among her fellows was a mixture of alarm and excitement.
    Odile’s reaction, however, was of excitement unmixed with any tinge of alarm. It had been a very long time since the last hunt that von Rothbart had undergone where he had brought the flock with him. And if the flock came, so would Odile.
    â€œTomorrow we fly, Queen of the Swans,” Von Rothbart told her, still with a touch of mockery in his voice. “So when the sun sets, be prepared.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    W OLFGANG, Siegfried’s tutor, had a private chamber of his very own by virtue of his importance to the royal family. This was where Siegfried and one or more of his friends often gathered after dinner. Wolfgang had access to the palace wine cellars,