Halya clenched her teeth so hard she thought her jaw would crack. God in heaven, what was he going to do?
Ivan stood up as a steady stream of boyars and nobles entered the room dressed in their regal attire. At a wave of his bejeweled finger in the air, the nobles and boyars sat, their eyes anxious and fearful. When all was quiet Ivan rose to his feet and shrugged his skeletal shoulders.
“We are now going to have a parade, which I will lead. Princess Halya will judge who is the finest. Following me will be the bears with the cart of women. After the cart, you’ll all fall into place and we’ll circle the hall. I will sing.” He clapped his hands loudly as he jumped from the dais and landed with a thump on the marble floor.
“Bring on the bears,” he cackled gleefully.
Halya sat rigidly in her chair as the bears, led by a trainer, entered the room. Merciful God, she prayed, whatever he plans to do, let him do it quickly before I collapse. Ashamed and humiliated for the naked women, she lowered her eyes and stared at the floor.
“Enough!” Ivan shouted. “The parade is now over.” Waving his arms wildly, and hopping about on one foot, then the other, he made his way to the cart. He eyed one woman lustfully and, reaching out, pinched a rosy-tipped breast till the woman screamed in pain. His eyes widened, and before she knew what was happening, he lifted her bodily from the cart and flung her in the face of the closest bear.
Halya retched as the bear clawed at the woman’s flesh, chewing into her shoulder, mutilating the pinkish-white skin.
When the woman’s screams had faded, Ivan pursed his mouth and looked around at the seated nobles and boyars. “You may each pick a woman and fornicate here, where I can watch you. This must be a memorable evening for the princess. I want her to leave with happy memories. When I am seated, you will commence with your lustful ways.”
Silence rang in Halya’s ears, as no man made a move to leave the table. The women cowered, their arms crossed over their naked breasts. She knew that the moment Ivan sat down the men would do as he said, and the women would gladly surrender themselves, fearful lest their end be the same as the dead woman’s. Her stomach heaved as first one man and then another got to his feet, eyes downcast.
Ivan squirmed in his chair, his eyes dancing in glee as he watched. Harsh guttural sounds escaped his drooling mouth as he stood up for a better look at something that pleased him. He clapped his hands and shouted his approval of the orgy going on beneath the dais.
“Tell me, Halya, have you ever been so stimulated? I must plan more celebrations like this. I’ve outdone myself this time, don’t you agree?”
“But of course, Ivan, but then, you always arrange everything so perfectly. You must be very proud of yourself,” she managed to say quietly, her stomach heaving at the words.
“That’s very generous of you, Halya. And for being so gracious, I’m going to tell you where you are going when you leave here tomorrow. You are going to Volin, the village I sent Yuri to, to finish his mission. My darling Halya, did I neglect to tell you your brother is dead? No, no, I told you. Well”—he shook his head—“I can’t be expected to remember everything. No weeping, Halya, you must be strong about our parting. Remember, your brother died for me.” He sighed wearily at the tears in Halya’s eyes. “You must uncover the secret of the Cosars. I will give you one month to do what he couldn’t do. Yuri had a mission to fulfill, and he failed. You may redeem him in my eyes. If you succeed, I’ll give you a medal. I decided to give you an award instead of taking you for my wife. Thank me now, Halya,” he said childishly.
“Th . . . thank you, Ivan.”
“I want the secret of the Cosars. Remember to find out how they breed the horses, I must know! Now, do you understand your mission?”
So that’s what it is all about, those damnable Cosars of the Cossacks. Yuri is dead, and this is no time for grief. I’ve been through that already, the first time he told me of Yuri’s death. For now I’ll smile—anything until tomorrow, when I leave this godforsaken place. Once gone, she told herself, I won’t return. Never! No matter how many men he sends after me, I’ll run till I drop in my tracks, or I’ll kill myself first. I will never return!
“Well,” the Czar demanded, “do you understand?”
“But of course, Ivan, I understand perfectly. I have never failed you before, and I won’t now,” she said in a choked voice.
“Who is that man with the ugly face?” he demanded.
“Kubitsky,” came a soft reply.
“Give him to the bears to play with. His ugliness upsets me,” Ivan muttered as he tossed his rings into the center of the circling bears. “Now bring on the feast!” he roared in a deep-pitched voice.
Halya watched with horrified eyes as a servant set a platter before her. “I prepared it myself, especially for you,” Ivan said happily. “Remove the cloth and eat all you want, dear Halya.”
Gingerly, her hand trembling, she inched the cloth away from the mound on the platter. She drew back in horror at the smell and sight of the baked pheasant. Unable to restrain herself, she ran from the room, sobs tearing at her throat.
Ivan stood and stretched his scrawny neck till he could see all of the assembled boyars and nobles. “The princess was overcome with happiness,” he babbled. “Women are like that at times. All four of my wives acted the same way. Now we’ll share her special dinner,” he said, pointing to the wild game. “The servants will serve you as much as you want, and eat heartily,” he cackled, wagging a bony finger in the air. “I’ll leave you to your merrymaking. With me gone, you may do as you please. Enjoy yourselves. I’ll leave the bears for you to play with, so they won’t become lonely.”
* * *
“God help me!” Halya screamed as she ran down one hall, and then another, till she came to her room and quickly threw the bolt. She grabbed the pillow sack, still filled with her jewels and clothing, which she had hidden away in a cupboard. This time, even if Ivan had already posted a guard at her door, she would escape. He had stopped her the last time, but this time he couldn’t. She was on a mission for him, had been told to leave. Nothing could stop her.
With the help of a young guard she had befriended, she made her way to the stable. The soldier kept watch as Halya saddled a sorrel horse. Mounted, she thanked the man and disappeared into the night.
Halya felt safe now that she rode freely, her security in the sack tied to the saddlebags. She had the next thing to a king’s ransom riding with her. Jewels could buy anything. Could they buy a life? She wondered.
Halya rode steadily, stopping only to eat and to feed and rest her horse. She rode for many days before she arrived at a small village. She reined in her horse and wiped the snow from her forehead with the back of her hand. She knew she looked terrible. Carefully she smoothed the golden hair back from her brow and tucked in the stray tendrils, and then smoothed the gown beneath the lush cape she wore, trying to free it of the wrinkles that clung to it. More than that she couldn’t do. Perhaps the peasants would allow her a bowl of water to wash with. They might even have knowledge of Yuri.
She knew instinctively that the men advancing on her were Don Cossacks, and just possibly they would help her. If not . . .
Halya waited patiently atop the horse for the two men to approach her. She knew that if she made a move to dismount she would be pinned from behind and dragged God only knows where. The men stopped some distance from her and waited for her to speak. Halya leaned over and raised her hand to show that she was a friend.
“I’m on my way to Volin in search of my brother, Yuri Zhuk. Could you tell me how much farther it is and if you have news of him? He traveled here in late spring to purchase horses and has not been seen since.”
The Cossacks looked at Halya and her fine clothes and the sleek animal she rode. They exchanged blank looks and said nothing.
“I mean you no harm. My parents are old and they want news of their only son. I myself come from a village no bigger than this, and I know that news travels
from one village to the other. I want nothing more than information. Please help me,” she pleaded.
The taller of the two Cossacks advanced another step and looked up at Halya. She was indeed a beautiful woman. What harm could talking with her do? he thought.
“The village of which you speak is no more. Marauding Tereks killed the villagers and burned it to the ground. I’ve heard that the man you speak of rode from Volin with no horses, and the contract he desired canceled by the Kat. None from my village saw the man you speak of, but if he has not returned since late spring, then there is little hope. A lone man is not safe on foot when the Tereks take to the road. And you, my fine lady, should also be warned.”
“Are you telling me that the man known as the Kat is dead?” Halya asked in a shocked voice.
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you. The Kat and all his people. The only person to escape the slaughter was his daughter, who was not in the village at the time.”
“Where can I find the Kat’s daughter? Perhaps she’ll know something of my brother if she lived in the village when he arrived to negotiate the sale of the horses.”
The two men looked at each other again. The spokesman debated a moment before he spoke. “She’s in the mountains at the House of the Kat.” He held up a large, beefy, dirty hand and motioned for Halya to remain quiet. “In truth, I don’t know if she is there now or not, but it was the custom for the Kat to take his people and horses back to the mountains at the end of the summer. We haven’t seen her since she rode from here after the slaughter. There is nothing we can do to help you.”
Halya shivered inside the silver-fox cape and wanted to cry. To have come so far only to find nothing . . . She bit into her full lower lip. She wasn’t beaten yet!
“Tell me, how can I get to this House of the Kat you speak of? Is there a sleigh or a wagon I could buy to make the journey? It’s not for myself, you understand, it is for my old parents, who love their son.” Tears gathered in the sea-green eyes and trickled down her cheeks. She reached out a slim hand in entreaty and knew she made an appealing picture. Stronger men than these two had been captivated by her winsome ways; they would be no different.
The younger of the two Cossacks spoke hastily. He, too, had a mother who fussed and fretted over him when no one was around. “We might be able to send a message and . . .”
The first Cossack was also smitten by the sparkling tears. “Dismount and come with us. There is a way for us to let the people in the Carpathians know that someone wishes to travel to the mountains. It may take a couple days for a message to get back to us, but it is the best we can do for now. Snow will come shortly, look overhead,” he said, waving his arm upward.
“Oh, thank you!” Halya said gratefully as she slid from her mount.
“See to it, Basil,” the first Cossack said quietly. “I’ll take the lady into my hut and make her comfortable.”
Halya blanched but followed him. She knew what was in store for her, but she also knew she had no other choice. She would do whatever was necessary to find news of her brother. She wondered if Ivan knew the Kat was dead. Did his death mean there were no more horses? Please let Yuri be alive, she prayed silently as the Cossack motioned her to sit at a worn bench. He generously poured her a steaming cup of tea and placed a chunk of dark bread in front of her. Halya smiled gratefully as she nibbled, and wondered how long it would be before he told her to remove her clothing.
Basil trudged through the snow to the barns at the end of the village. There he opened the door to a small makeshift aviary and reached out for one of the falcons. His thick fingers were cold and numb, but he managed to scribble a message and attach it to the bird’s leg. With luck the bird would cover the distance by sundown. By noon tomorrow he would have an answer. He felt envy and lust rise in him for his friend Kusma’s good fortune. He wondered if his good friend would share her. A good Cossack did not keep his wealth to himself. Basil could only hope that Kusma would feel charitable toward him. It had been many long days since he had seen anyone as pleasing to the eye as this lady. He knew her skin would be like a flower petal, and her lips would cling to his as she whispered sweet words of love and passion. He groaned in desire as he removed the hood from the falcon’s head and set the bird free.
All he could do now was wait for several hours, and then he would bravely stroll over to Kusma’s hut and demand that they share what should be shared. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.
* * *
Mikhailo deftly placed the falcon on a perch and covered his head before he removed the capsule from its leg. Unable to read the scrawled words, he set out in search of Katerina.
Banyen and Kostya both watched as she reached for the paper and scanned its contents. She frowned, her amber eyes turning the color of cinnamon as she stared at Mikhailo. Biting her lip nervously, she reread the message. She carefully folded the tiny piece of paper and stuffed it into the pocket of her trousers. With a puzzled look on her face, she left the arena and strode back to the kitchen. She poured herself tea from the samovar and marveled at the thick, syrupy consistency of the liquid. Hanna must have made it days ago, she told herself.
Katerina withdrew the note and scanned the contents again. What should she do? Should she allow the girl to come to the mountains; and if she did, who was to fetch her? If only Oles hadn’t died in the slaughter. She would have to send Mikhailo or Stepan, or go herself. She could ignore the message and forget about it. It would be best to send another message with the falcon denying the young woman permission to come to the mountains, saying there was no one to fetch her. What could she possibly want? Did it have something to do with the horses? Didn’t Yuri mention something about having a sister? It could be a lie, a trap of some sort. She would have to go herself.
Quickly she negated the idea. Stepan would have to go; Mikhailo was needed here. She didn’t dare leave the men for the journey. Twice now she had sensed Banyen’s presence when she went to Whitefire’s stables. No matter where she went, no matter what she did, his eyes were always on her. Stepan would have to take two of the stallions, because none of the other horses would stand the trip. Only the stallions could maneuver in the deep snow, which they loved.
What would happen if she did allow the woman to come to the mountains? Would it cause a problem with the men? She admitted that that, more than anything else, was what was bothering her. How would the others react to another woman? A woman who, as Yuri’s sister, would undoubtedly be beautiful and wear fine clothes. Envy ate at Katerina as she stared at the message. I could just send word saying Yuri is dead and let it go at that. It would be a cruel, hard blow to the woman, but then, why should I care? I don’t know her, and I owe her nothing. But if she really is Yuri’s sister, I owe her an explanation of his death. It was by my hand that he died. She deserves to know how and why. I, likewise, am seeking answers to my father’s death, her niggling inner voice urged. I won’t be satisfied till I have the answers I want. Perhaps the woman feels the same way.
Katerina shuddered as she gulped at the bitter substance in her cup. She knew that if her father had lived he would have denied permission for the woman to come to the mountains. But he was dead, and it was her decision. Right or wrong, she would tell her the circumstances of Yuri’s death. Perhaps it would ease some of the guilt she carried within her. Yuri’s pleading eyes flashed before her, and she cringed. Would the woman understand and forgive her for what she had done?
When Mikhailo and Stepan entered the kitchen, they found Katerina staring into her empty cup, the small piece of paper clutched in her hand. Katerina raised her eyes and nodded. “You will go, Stepan. You’ll ride Wildfire, and Darkfire will be saddled for the woman to ride on the return trip. Send the message and dress yourself warmly. Tell the Dons to take the woman as far as Volin and have her wait for you. Under no circumstances are you to go to their village. Volin, that is as far as you go, do you understand? If you sense a trap or a trick of some sort, send the horses back alone. I
’ll come for you in the sleigh. You’ll need eyes in the back of your head, my good friend. I hope you can do it with no harm to yourself.”
“What you mean is, can Wildfire do it?” interjected Mikhailo. “Of course he can, and Stepan can make the trip as well.”
At the confidence expressed in him by his friends, Stepan gained a new aura of dignity. He had no doubts about himself either. After all, he had made a similar trip with Wildflower some months before.
“What does she want? Why would anyone come here in the dead of winter?” asked Mikhailo.
Katerina shrugged. “We’ll know as soon as Stepan returns with her and not a moment before,” she said quietly, her eyes sober and reflective. Although no one mentioned it, Katerina knew that Stepan could easily be caught in a blinding blizzard. She pushed the thought away. Stepan was an excellent horseman, with a superb, specially trained mount. Despite the rapidly approaching period of horrible storms, her childhood friend would be fine and would return with Yuri’s sister, though it would likely take much more time than usual.
“Dress warmly, Stepan,” Katerina said with a fond pat on his arm. “I’ll get the horses ready and food ready. And remember, do not attempt the trek back to the mountains unless the weather permits.”
* * *
Katerina made sure Banyen was occupied in the center of the arena when she went for the stallions. If he saw them on her return, it would be all right, but she didn’t want him following her and watching her press the secret catch. If he hasn’t seen me already, she thought grimly. Bastard, he had eyes in the back of his head.
At the last minute Katerina negated the idea of saddles. Wildfire would make better time without the heavy leather on his back. Darkfire, on the other hand, needed the extra weight, and she chose a saddle with care, testing it before she placed it on his back. The stallion nuzzled her, and she laughed. “You know, don’t you. A trek through the snow and you’ll show us all who can survive out there in that vast white world, but remember, my friend, it’s Wildfire that you follow. On your return you shall carry a beautiful lady. I’m trusting you to give her a comfortable ride, and no playful tricks, do you hear?” she said, stroking the horse’s sleek flanks. It was Wildfire who gently pushed her away from Darkfire and waited patiently for the girl to respond to him. “You’re to take Stepan safely to Volin, and no antics in the snow. This is business, Wildfire, and we have no time for playing. You’ll ride like the wind and bring my guest safely to the House of the Kat and,” she gurgled, “don’t lose Stepan. He’s not used to your spirited ways. No saddle, just a blanket for you.” The stallion reared back and shook his great head at her words. Katerina knew he understood every word she said and would do as she instructed.
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