The Curse wasn't broken yet, but as he aided in navigation, the one that Cursed him had watched. Taking pity, while he slept, his body grew larger, more robust, the pain of the changes lasted mere moments. He was no longer the cursed Swan prince, he became Vigdis's War Eagle. Though he would need to learn to actually fight properly to continue to aid her.
@internutter/challenge-04894-m145-making-the-effort -- Anon Guest
[AN: Well this is going to be tricky, considering tomorrow's prompt. Did you know that swans are the birds most associated with Valkyries? They can fuck your entire shit up if you cross them. See: Don't Mess With the Swans by Professor Bird]
There was one disadvantage with being a swan in the frozen north. Swans didn't often fly there. Being a dazzlingly white bird on snowy ground was excellent camouflage, true, but on the wing? Not so much when the skys were near permanently grey or the forest was largely a dull, dark green.
The good news, such as it was, was that even a grounded swan could break an attacker's bones.
The bad news was that this was the fifth time some asshole had shot him out of the air. At least Vigdis knew some powerful healing potions and ritual magic. Prince Odilio was very grateful for all of it. Even when the healing potion contained extracts from some very interesting mushrooms.
Odilio was nested safely on the ground. Sheltered in Vigdis' tent. But, thanks to her latest potion, he was flying. Vigdis' chanting and the herbal smoke from her brazier became his world.
Floating. Gliding in a dream through the herbal swirls. Sometimes walking on the memory of human feet. Sometimes paddling in water with webbed ones. But always floating as if gravity had decided to ignore him.
The smoke parted during his dream, revealing the old deaf witch who had cursed him.
"Banged up again, is it?" she asked, looking him over as if he were an entertaining toy. "I could alter your curse. Make sure you fit your new home. Turn you into something that's a better fit."
"Why?" said Odilio. "I just got used to this body."
"You could be a hawk. Nobody shoots at hawks in this realm. You'd be far more useful to the woman."
"Her name is Vigdis," said Odilio. "And I'm certain she likes me the way I am. Well. My swan form. I'm very handy in battle. A hawk? Even a Dire Hawk... that would be too small to help as much as a Swan can."
"They are excellent hunting birds," wheedled the old witch.
"For hunting small game," clarified Odilio. "Vigdis hunts much larger game. Bears. Moose. Her enemies..." He left the thought of his enemies hanging unsaid in the air. "Thank you, but I would rather stay a swan until the curse ends."
"What curse?" said Vigdis.
Odilio blinked. He was back in reality and no longer feeling any pain. "I'm not a magical talking swan," he sighed. "I'm a cursed Human. Doomed to stay a swan until... someone loves me enough to break it."
Vigdis accepted this with her usual stoic acceptance. "I heard your dream talk. You were offered another body."
"A hunting hawk," said Odilio. "I told her that a swan is better at hurting your enemies. I... hope that decision is something you approve of."
"I like you being able to fight," said Vigdis. "Hawks can only bleed an enemy. You can break their legs or arms." She put out the lamps of the healing circle. "I have been working on something to help you remain unseen."
It was paint for his feathers, so he would blend in with the environment.
Odilio decided he would be proud to wear war paint into battle.
[Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on Unsplash]
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