50 King of the Elements


    Rose decided to follow the river as long as she could.  She found no signs that Sadko had traveled this direction. The air near the river was nipping.  The soft fog floating above it in patches made her sad. The last morning she had traveled along this path Sadko’s laughter filled the air.  The world seemed rather desolate. The fog parted to reveal Fedor sitting amongst some reeds near the river under the shade of a tree.


    “Fedor, why do you sit in the mud? You will ruin your handsome attire.” Rose scuttled over some roots to get to him.


    “It is nice and cool.” Fedor sighed. “Though not cool enough. There is a power here that draws me and allows me to stay.” He blinked suddenly and stared right at her with a dazzling smile. “You think I am handsome? I wonder what I look like to you.”


    Rose smiled back unashamed, “Like a rich Prince sitting in mud.”


    Fedor laughed, “I am a King in my element. Why did you come here instead of following my Chill to the shrine?”Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    “This is where Sadko always comes when he is lost.” Rose looked down at her feet embarrassed, a little ashamed at her behavior toward his voice in the Chill before.


    “He is most definitely lost.” Fedor said with a sad smile. Rose did not catch his meaning, most mortals never did. In Rose’s case it was because she could not keep her mind on the present.


    “I wish I had a boat.” She sighed, peering down the river’s expanse.


    “I know where one floats. It doesn’t go anywhere.” Fedor’s face brightened.


    “Is it broken?” Rose asked, confused.


    “No, it is occupied.” Fedor pointed to the offshoot of a little stream indicating to follow it.


    “A gentle banick told me a young man who likes to steal hearts floats in it all day long. When you find him you will have found Sadko. You should go to him.”


    “Oh thank-you Fedor, this is excellent news!” Rose ran through him, with so little time in the day she could not waste anymore.


    Fedor grumbled to himself. He thought he had been straight forward to the little girl. That perhaps he had been better speaking to her than with her Mother.  He told her to follow the stream so that she would not. Apparently it did not matter what you told a human. They did whatever they wished. Perhaps they were just prone to run toward danger all the time. “You really should work on your language skills.” The reeds whistled to him. He swayed in agreement, glad to be among the very wisest of the earth.