We are the dragon. We do not lie down to die. Some tiny fraction of the fear in her receded.
“Zoya, you know we’re here if you need us.”
“But your power—”
“I can still pick up a rifle. I was a soldier before I was a Saint.”
I like this one. She’s unafraid. Juris’ whisper, an echo of Zoya’s own grudging thoughts about the orphan girl she’d once resented and despised. The dragon’s laugh rumbled through her. Loss has made her bold. If only I could say the same of you.
Zoya sighed. “That’s all well and good,” she said. “But how am I going to tell the king?”
18
NIKOLAI
THE DINNER WAS LONG but merry, and Nikolai’s chef outdid himself by serving at least seven different foods in jelly. Makhi and her retainers left when the dancing began—and once the treaty was signed. Whether she would keep to the agreement they’d made was in Tamar’s, Ehri’s, and Mayu’s hands now.
“You’re welcome to stay,” Nikolai said as the queen’s horses and carriage were brought around to take them out to the airfield.
“I’ve performed as much as I’m able this night,” Makhi replied. “I even managed to hold down that hideous meal. Now I need to see just how much damage my sister has done.”
Before Makhi climbed into her carriage, she gestured to Nikolai, clearly wishing to speak away from her ministers.
“Something happened in Ahmrat Jen. Some kind of blight. There were similar incidents near Bhez Ju and Paar.”
“They call it Kilyklava, the vampire. The same thing has happened in Ravka.”
“I know. But I have to wonder if those occurrences were simply cover for the deployment of some new Ravkan weapon.”
“This isn’t a weapon,” said Nikolai. “Not one any of us know how to wield. The blight has struck in the Wandering Isle, Fjerda, and Novyi Zem.”
She paused, taking that in. “The shadows, the dead soil that follows in the wake of this blight. All of it is reminiscent of the Fold.”
“It is.”
“There is talk of the return of the Darkling, the Starless One.”
“I’ve heard the same talk.”
“And what will you do if he has found a way to return?”
If only Nikolai knew. But he doubted strap him to a big thornbush and try to send him to hell once and for all would incite much confidence.
“First I need to best the wolf at my door. Then we’ll see what nightmares lurk in the dark.”
“You will share any intelligence you gather.”
“I will.”
“And if you find out who’s responsible…” Her words broke apart, and Nikolai understood that it had not just been land lost in this blight. For the queen, this was very personal. “I will be the one to punish him.”
But who was the villain? The Darkling had created the Fold, but Nikolai and Zoya and Yuri had all played a part in bringing him back. What had Zoya said? We’re all monsters now.
Nikolai could only offer a half-truth. “If that becomes clear, vengeance will be yours to take.”
“I look forward to it.” Makhi stepped into the coach. “You may be surprised at how long I can hold a grudge.”
“A pity you didn’t meet General Nazyalensky. I think you two would have found plenty to talk about.”
The carriage door closed, and in a cloud of dust and hoofbeats, the Shu retinue was gone.
Nikolai returned to the ballroom, where the musicians had struck up a lively tune. Queen Makhi had stayed at the wedding only as a show of strength, so she wouldn’t be seen running off after the treaty was signed.
It felt strange to drink and dine and toast without Tamar there, knowing she was in danger, that if this all went wrong, she might never return to Ravka. Nadia had wished David and Genya well, then retired early, too worried about the woman she loved to enjoy the party. Tolya said he had made his peace with being separated from his twin, but Nikolai could see the melancholy on his face. Despite his intimidating size, Tolya was the shyer of the twins, the killer who should have been a scholar, if fate had ordered their lives differently.
“Where did David go?” he asked as Genya, smiling and rosy-cheeked from dancing, threw herself down in a chair and drank deeply from her wineglass. She seemed to glow in her golden gown, her eyepatch embroidered with rubies.
“We were in the middle of a dance when he muttered something about nose cones and vanished. It was very romantic.”
“David danced?”
“I know! He whispered the count beneath his breath and stepped on my toes more than the floor.” Her grin could have lit the entire ballroom. “I’ve never had more fun. And to think I had a queen at my wedding.”
“And a king,” Nikolai said with false indignation.
She waved him off. “You’re old news. Her gown was just divine.”
“I’m fairly sure she wanted to murder us all.”
“That’s just what weddings are like. When can we hope to hear from Tamar?”
“We received word of their arrival and their meeting with Makhi’s ministers. Beyond that…”
Who knew what lay ahead of them? A hope for alliance. A chance at peace.
By midnight, the party had begun to wind down, noblemen stumbling blearily to their carriages, Grisha meandering back to the Little Palace, singing and laughing. The candles were extinguished and Nikolai retired to his quarters to look over the correspondence that had arrived with that afternoon’s messenger. He would have liked nothing better than to go to bed and call the day a success, but his plans had only just begun to come together, and there was still so much to do.
The sitting room felt empty and too silent. He was used to spending this time with Zoya, talking through the day’s events. When there were two of them to face their battles, it didn’t feel so overwhelming, and tonight that feeling was worse than usual. It wasn’t just that they’d thrust themselves into the unknown with this false wedding and their play to win the Shu to their side. The demon had almost broken free today. Nikolai had nearly lost control, and he still wasn’t sure what had caused it or if it might happen again. He’d managed to leash the cursed thing, but he’d felt like he’d had one hand on the reins all night. He was almost afraid to fall asleep. Maybe it was safer not to.
He rang for tea. He’d spend the night working.
It was Tolya who brought the tray. He’d abandoned his red kefta and changed back into his olive drab uniform. “I can’t sleep.”
“We could play cards,” suggested Nikolai.
“I’ve been working on a new poem—”
“Or we could shoot ourselves out of a cannon.”
Tolya’s glower was ferocious. “A bit of culture wouldn’t hurt you.”
“I have no objection to culture. I’ll have you know I’ve fallen asleep at some of the very best ballets. Pour a cup for yourself.” As Tolya poured, Nikolai asked, “Tolya, Tamar found the girl of her dreams. How is it you’re still alone?”
Tolya shrugged his huge shoulders. “I have my faith, my books. I’ve never wanted more.”
“Were you in love with Alina?”