Queen Makhi’s cheeks were red with indignation. “A royal wedding. It said a royal wedding.”
“And here we are in the royal chapel.”
“Where is Princess Ehri? Is she imprisoned? Has the wedding already taken place?”
“Now what good would a quiet ceremony do me? And who would marvel at my glorious new suit?”
“Where is my sister?” she whispered furiously.
Vladim was finishing the ceremony. David leaned forward to kiss Genya. He smiled, taking that same auburn strand of hair between his fingers. The guests burst into applause.
Now it was Nikolai’s turn to speak.
“She is home, Your Highness. In Ahmrat Jen. In Shu Han.”
Makhi blinked slowly. “Home,” she repeated. “In Shu Han.”
“Yes,” said Nikolai. “She and a regiment of Grisha guards and First Army soldiers departed via airship two days ago along with Tamar Kir-Bataar.”
“Tamar Kir-Bataar is a mongrel and a traitor.”
“Mongrels and bastards make fine companions. She is also one of my most trusted advisers and friends, so I will respectfully ask you to watch your tongue. Princess Ehri will have landed and spoken to your other ministers by now.”
“My … my ministers? Are you mad?”
“She will tell them of the plot you hatched to assassinate me and have her killed for the sake of invading Ravka and starting a war with Fjerda—a war your subjects would never want without good reason, like the slaying of Princess Ehri Kir-Taban, beloved of the people. It must be galling to know how much your younger sister is adored.”
Makhi laughed, and Nikolai had to admire her poise. “You expect Ehri to make this case? Shy, retiring, sweet-natured Ehri? She will crumple under questioning. She is no politician, no ruler, and there is no way she can persuade—”
“She is in the company of Mayu Kir-Kaat.”
Queen Makhi was too practiced a politician to show her distress. Her eyes widened only slightly.
“Yes,” said Nikolai. “Your assassin lives. Mayu Kir-Kaat will corroborate Ehri’s story and explain the instructions you sent to your Tavgharad.”
“It was a line of poetry.”
“Even if your ministers do not know their verses, I imagine your court is full of learned men and women who will understand its meaning, just as your guards did, just as Mayu did.”
Makhi sniffed. “Let them make their case. Let them shout it to the heavens. I am the queen, and that cannot be changed or altered. Only a Taban queen can name a Taban queen.”
Nikolai almost felt bad for the blow he was about to deal. But this was for Ravka. And for Isaak too.
“Very true. But I believe your grandmother still lives, tending to her rosebushes at the Palace of the Thousand Stars. I’ve always wanted to see it for myself. She is still very much a Taban queen and can take her crown back with a single command.”
A second loud cheer went up from the crowd, and David and Genya began their trip down the aisle in a shower of quince blossoms, Tolya trailing behind them with a huge grin on his face and Genya’s train in his hands.
Nikolai applauded heartily, then watched as Tolya’s golden eyes met Queen Makhi’s furious gaze. The giant’s grin faded. He had given up his twin to thwart Makhi, and he did not look ready to forgive the sacrifice. As the wedding party passed, he whispered something in Shu that made Makhi practically snarl.
She regained her composure as they exited the chapel behind the happy couple. Surrounded once more by their guards and trailed by the bewildered Shu ministers, Nikolai and Makhi passed back into the woods on the path that would lead them to the Grand Palace. Nikolai paused there, beneath the trees. The sky was a hard gray. It looked like it might snow.
“What is it you want?” the queen inquired. “My sister has never sought the crown, and she is incapable of ruling.”
“I want a treaty, sealing the peace between Shu Han and Ravka and agreeing to the current border at Dva Stolba. Any act of war against Ravka will be considered an act of war against the Shu as well. And you will guarantee the rights of all Grisha.”
“The rights of…？”
Zoya and Tamar had worked to fashion the wording of the treaty themselves.
“You will close your secret bases where Grisha are being drugged to death in order to create khergud soldiers. You will stop the conscription of innocent people into these programs. You will guarantee the rights of Grisha among your citizens.”
“The khergud are a myth, anti-Shu propaganda. If—”
“We are not negotiating, Your Highness.”
“I could kill you where you stand. Your guards are no match for my Tavgharad.”
“Are you so sure?” said Tolya, coming up behind them. “My father once trained the Tavgharad. He taught me too.”
“It would certainly make for a lively reception,” said Nikolai.
Queen Makhi’s lips curled into a sneer. “I know well who your father was, Tolya Yul-Bataar. It seems treason is thick in your blood.”
Tolya’s voice was forged steel, the edge honed by years of anger. “Mayu Kir-Kaat and her brother will be brought back together. You will never separate kebben again.”
“You dare to command a Taban queen?”
“I have no queen, no king, and no country,” said Tolya. “I have only ever had what I believe.”
“Queen Makhi,” said Nikolai quietly, “please understand, I know that you will use all of your considerable cunning to maneuver back into power as soon as you return. But the intelligence Tamar’s sources have gathered, Mayu’s testimony, and Princess Ehri’s damnable popularity will not be easily denied. It isn’t Ravka’s place to decide who should rule Shu Han, and you said yourself that Ehri doesn’t want the crown. But if you don’t abide by the terms of our treaty, she’ll have the support she needs to take it.”
“There will be a civil war.”
“I know what that can do to a country, but you have the power to prevent it. Sign the treaty. Close the laboratories. It’s that simple. I will not have my Grisha hunted any longer, and we will be amicable neighbors if not friends.”
“Ehri would be a better puppet queen for Ravka than I.”
“She would. But I have no wish to be a puppeteer. It’s hard enough to rule one country, and a strong Shu Han allied with Ravka is the best possible deterrent to Fjerda’s ambitions.”
“I will consider it.”
“That’s not agreement,” said Tolya.
“It’s a beginning,” said Nikolai. “Dine with us. Do us that honor. Then we’ll have a look at the treaty.”
Makhi sniffed. “I hope your chef is more skilled than your architects.”
“And I hope you enjoy aspic.”
Nikolai’s gaze met Tolya’s as they followed Makhi back toward the palace. Tolya had risked his sister’s life to make this mission happen. Nadia had given up her wife’s presence in a time of war. Tamar, Mayu, and Ehri had all put their lives on the line for the opportunity to finally fashion an alliance with the Shu and change the world forever for Grisha. It was a wild leap, an audacious one, but they had agreed they were willing to take the risk for a chance at a different future.