by Jane Kindred
Belphagor spoke quietly. “Need I remind you, Vasily is Host.”
Vasily looked startled and turned red, as if he hadn’t told Belphagor what he’d learned about his parentage.
Dmitri dismissed this. “I’m pureblooded, Belphagor. Being Fallen isn’t about who gave birth to you. Vasily grew up in Raqia fighting for his food, as you’ve told me many times. But Anazakia grew up in a palace, living off the blood and sweat of people like you.”
He spoke as if I weren’t even in the room, but there was little I could argue with. I had lived a very privileged, sheltered life until the age of seventeen, and I had taken the luck of my birth for granted.
Vasily took my hand protectively. “Nazkia’s done nothing to deserve what’s happened to her. Nor has Ola.”
“Nor did Lev,” Dmitri snapped. “He died for somebody else’s revolution. Who rules Heaven is no concern of ours, and it won’t matter a damned bit.”
Belphagor regarded him. “So it’s celestials in general you have no use for.”
Dmitri jumped to his feet with a look of anguish. “Bel, I can’t do this anymore!”
“I know.” Belphagor rose and put his arms around him. “I know. I’m sorry.”
Dmitri hugged him tightly. “You know how fond I am of you. And Lev—Lev adored you. But I’m done. The Grigori are done. The Nephilim are done. I’m taking Lev, and Margarita and I are going home.”
“I know,” Belphagor said sadly as they separated.
She’d been quiet through all of this, but Margarita stepped forward from behind Dmitri’s bench as he sat down again. “With all due respect, sir—and my deepest condolences for your loss—I’d like to stay.”
Dmitri looked troubled. “You won’t be here with the backing of the Grigori. You’ll be on your own.”
“I understand, sir. But I think I can be useful here.” She gave me an encouraging smile. I’d spoken to her already about what I had in mind, and I was grateful she hadn’t reconsidered in light of Dmitri’s decision.
I figured now was as good a time as any to make my announcement.
First, I went to Dmitri’s side and knelt down beside the bench. “Dmitri, you and Lev, and everyone, have done so much for me, have suffered so much for me. I just want you to know I will never forget it, and I’ll never forget Lev. I’m truly sorry for your loss.”
He shrugged, unable or unwilling to speak, but it was all right.
“It will be difficult without any terrestrial help.” I stood and addressed the others. “But I’ve discussed it with Sar Sarael, who speaks on behalf of the Elohim. I have agreed to accept their intent to declare me the rightful heir to the throne of Heaven. And that means that Ola, as my heir, is to be considered held by her captor as an act of treason against all the Heavens.”
Vasily was staring at me as if he didn’t quite recognize me. “Nazkia…what?”
“Aeval’s claim to the throne was only ever as consort to the last remaining Arkhangel’sk. But my cousin was never a legitimate heir. And never will be. Not while I live. Not while Ola lives. Even you have greater claim to the throne of Heaven, Vasily.”
He breathed in so sharply he choked on his own spittle. Belphagor patted him roughly on the back, and a perfect circle of steam came out of his shocked open mouth.
“You are the father to the last scion, and a grand duke of the House of Arcadia. If I were to die before Ola reached the age of seventeen, you would be Regent of All the Heavens.”
“I’m—illegitimate,” Vasily sputtered. “As is our daughter.”
“Not under celestial law. The Elohim have studied the rules of succession very carefully, and blood supersedes any question of wedlock.” I sat down, smoothing the voluminous skirts on the black funeral gown Sarael’s staff had provided for me. “The Virtuous Court of the Elohim and the Princedom of Aravoth itself have officially declared themselves supporters of the true queen of Heaven and are prepared to make war on the armies of so-called Queen Aeval.”
Everyone was staring at me as if I’d sprouted a second head.
I went on, feeling strangely at ease in this new role, feeling for the first time in control of my destiny. “The Elohim have also declared themselves at odds with the revolutionary faction represented by the Social Liberation Party, whose sole intent is to abolish the monarchy in favor of mob rule. Between the Party’s civilian forces and Aeval’s command of the armies of most of the other princedoms, we are not at an advantage, but our aims can be won.”
They were still staring at me, and I was grateful when Vasily was the first to break the stunned silence. “You’re serious about all this.”
“I am. I’ve shirked the responsibilities of my birthright for too long, and it is costing lives.” I searched his eyes, trying to judge how he was taking this. “I hope you’re with me.”
“I think you’re mad,” he said, but he smiled at me. “I’m with you to the end of the last glimmer of Heaven.”
I let go of the breath I’d been unconsciously holding and resisted the urge to throw myself into his arms and kiss him until our light engulfed us both. It would have spoiled the air of authority I had to maintain.
“And Belphagor.” I nodded to him. “I won’t accept Vasily’s commitment to my cause without your blessing. If you want Vasily out of it, he will be out of it. But I hope to have the support of you both.”
Vasily glared at me indignantly, but I could see by his blush he was secretly pleased.
Belphagor’s pleasure at the respect I’d given him was obvious. “Thank you, Nazkia.” He stood and bowed to me. “And we would both be honored to serve the rightful queen of Heaven.”
I smiled at him gratefully and turned to Love, sitting quietly beside me, and took her hands in mine. “Love, dearest, you’ve sacrificed a great deal for us.” I kissed her cheek. “You are the most loyal, brave, and kindhearted person I’ve ever known. Nothing can adequately express how grateful I am to you. Nothing can make up for what you’ve lost because of us.”
She looked down at our hands, tears dripping onto them, too emotional to speak.
“But I want you and Kirill to go home with Dmitri.”
Love’s head shot up in astonishment. “No! No, I won’t!”
“You don’t belong in this mess. I want you to be safe, away from here, to forget about this. Go home to the dacha and take care of Kirill. This has been too hard on you both.”
She pulled her hands away from mine, her tears now hurt and angry. “You’ll keep that horrid Lively with you after what she did. But you won’t have me?”
“That isn’t it, Love. You know it.” I reached out for her, but she wouldn’t have it. “You’re like a sister to me.” I tried to keep my own voice steady. “And I can’t bear to see you hurt any more than you already have been. I’ve lost all my sisters.”
“How have I failed you?”
“You haven’t failed me. Never.”
“I am Ola’s nanny.” She lifted her chin, though it was trembling. “I won’t leave my charge. If you insist on sending me away, then you tell me to my face you’re firing me. You tell me that it’s because I’ve let you down by allowing that wicked Cherub to take her away, and you fire me. That’s the only way I’m going.”
I could see the fear in her eyes that I’d do as she said, that I truly blamed her. I was at a loss.
“I have made vow before God.” Kirill spoke suddenly in broken angelic, his voice soft. “I stay with Sister Love, and I stay with angel child. God charges me to protect and I will protect.” He laid his hand on Love’s shoulder. “I do much wrong before God, but this I will not do wrong. This I make right, as God is witness.”
His pale eyes were solemn and resolute and I knew there would be no dissuading either of them. And I could also see in his eyes that if I ever hurt Love, he would take me apart with his bare hands and pray over the pieces while doing it.
“I see. Then I guess that’s settled.” I stood up. “I’ll let Sarael know you’ll be departin
g alone, Dmitri. He’s arranged an escort to Raqia with some loyal Archangels in his employ who won’t draw the suspicion of the queen’s forces. They’re ready to leave as soon as you like. I’ll miss you,” I added. “I’ll miss you and Lev both.”
“Where are you going?” Vasily called after me as I headed for the vestibule.
“I have to deal with my cousin.”
He came after me as one of Sarael’s servants stepped forward to offer my coat. I braced myself, expecting Vasily to curse me for giving Kae any consideration at all.
“Nazkia, I think you ought to know something,” he said instead.
I looked at him quizzically.
“I may have…beaten him up.”
“May have?” I frowned as I buttoned the long, full coat.
“All right, did,” he admitted, and his apologetic look turned to one of anger and defiance. “But you don’t understand. You can’t just let him go unpunished. I don’t care if he was enchanted. What he did to Belphagor—”
“I don’t understand?” I cut him off sharply. “I was there. I listened to him gloat about what he’d done in grotesque detail every night when he brought Ola to me. That was my price for being allowed to feed our daughter.”
Vasily swallowed, looking grey.
I pulled on my gloves and looked him in the eye. “Have you forgotten I was also there when he cut his own child out of my sister’s womb? Have you forgotten he put his sword through me? Because I haven’t. I will never forget.”
“I’m sorry.” He lowered his eyes, chastened.
“He will not go unpunished, Vasily.” I put my gloved hand on his cheek and kissed him, and he stared at me as if seeing me for the first time.
Perhaps it was the first time. I’d not been this certain of who I was, this determined that my fate lay in my hands—and perhaps all our fates, the fate of Heaven itself—since before he’d met me. That evening nearly three years ago in Belphagor’s room at The Brimstone, terrified and heartsick as they shaved my head and dressed me as a boy to spirit me out of Heaven, I had ceased to be the Grand Duchess Anazakia Helisonovna of the House of Arkhangel’sk. I had been on the run ever since, even from myself. I wasn’t running anymore.
I went out by the front entrance instead of taking the tunnel to the stables. The sky was clear at last and I needed the fresh air. Though we were high in the north, at the edge of populated Heaven on the cusp of the Empyrean, there was a breeze in the air after the bitter storm that promised the coming spring.
The sun was bright in the way it could only be on a perfect winter day, turning the glaze of ice that covered everything into a diorama of delicate crystal figurines. Branches encased in the sparkling winter glass tinkled together in the breeze like dainty bells. It was easy to believe all was well in this magical world. I half expected the snegurochki syla to materialize from the lacy chains of ice strung throughout the trees of Pyr Amaravati’s dormant cherry orchards.
The path to the stables was like an ice rink. I crossed it gingerly, remembering the last time I’d skated with my sisters on Lake Superna east of the Summer Palace—Maia twirling and gliding expertly around me, teasing me for my graceless gait, while Ola and Tatia skated arm in arm ahead of us. Such a bright winter sun as this had shone on the rich curls beneath Ola’s fur cap, and on the lighter cinnamon waves beneath Tatia’s, the two shades of honey mingling as they bent their heads together and talked eagerly of futures they would never have. In just a few days, we would have been in Elysium, preparing for my coming out at the Equinox Gala. Already, though it was still her secret even from Tatia, Ola was carrying in her womb the heir to the House of Arkhangel’sk who would never be born.
I skidded on the ice and slid into the main doors of the stable, still hearing Maia’s laughter in my head. I’d almost forgotten why I’d come. It was time for a reckoning with their murderer. As Aeval herself had said, even in Heaven there were claims in need of judging.
I opened the doors and felt for my navaja in the pocket of my skirt. Like a talisman against Kae’s influence, the carved handle in my gloved palm, inscribed with the charms of a Romani witch, gave me courage.
The stall where I’d left Kae was around the corner of the central row. I stopped to pet the noses of a few horses as I walked the length of it, postponing the moment I would have to face him. At last I smoothed my coat over my gown, taking as deep a breath as the garment permitted, and rounded the corner.
The sight that met me was wholly unexpected, though in retrospect, it ought not to have been. Kae had hanged himself.
With one of the blankets I’d brought for him, he’d devised a noose and tied it around the top post of the stall door, suspending himself from the inside. He was still thrashing, and without pausing to think, I clambered up onto the closed bottom door and opened the navaja. I struggled with the knot, too tight to work the knife into with my hand still sore from the sprain I’d received at Gehenna. Instead, I cut loose the blanket where it stretched above him.
My dress caught and tore on a protruding nail as we both fell to the ground inside the stall. The knot was still compressing his throat. I tore at it frantically and loosened it at last, and he breathed in with a high-pitched stridor, turning away from me with a violent cough. He lay still for a moment and then struck out at me in a blind rage and knocked me against the stall door.
“Leave me alone!” His harsh gasp was barely audible as he crawled away from me. “Why can’t you let me be?”
“I will not allow you to kill yourself.”
“Why?” he croaked. “I was giving us what we both want most!” He curled onto his side, coughing, with a hand to his throat.
“You’re a coward.” I stood angrily and brushed myself off. “And you will face what you’ve done.” From my coat pocket, I took the irons Sarael had provided and locked the bands onto his wrists behind his back with a small padlock. “On your knees.”
Kae struggled to sit up before me. “Then why shouldn’t I die a coward’s death?” he whispered hoarsely. “What do you want from me, Nenny?”
My face hot with shock, I struck his bare cheek. “Do you think you can call me that? After all you’ve done?”
“No,” he wheezed. “You’re right, Your Supernal Highness. I am not family.”
“You were my family.” The words came through tears. “I loved you as much as any of my sisters or my brother. But you took them from me.”
I wiped my eyes with the heel of my hand and composed myself, drawing on the strength of my resolution before I went on. “I didn’t want to be reminded of any of it when you presented yourself here, but I cannot pretend it didn’t happen, no matter what force drove you to it. I’ve given it a great deal of thought, and I’ve concluded that you’re right: you must be held accountable for your treasonous crimes against Heaven—if not to bring satisfaction to me, which you can never do, to at least bring satisfaction to the people.”
Kae looked relieved at last, but I was about to snatch that relief from his grasp.
“Right now, however, I need you alive.”
He looked up at me in desperation. “Why?”
“Because you were the queen’s field marshal. And before that, her consort. Aeval must have entrusted you with knowledge no one else has—the inner workings of her court, as well as her mind. And you know everything about her army. It was yours.”
He started to shake his head, but I wasn’t going to listen to excuses.
“This is war,” I said darkly. “And you are going to win it for me. You are my field marshal now.”
I regarded him more calmly once I’d said my piece. His scarred face was dark with bruises and crusted with blood, and his eye was so swollen I was amazed he could even see me. Vasily had indeed beaten him. I warred within myself between a dark satisfaction and detached pity. Pity won out. He was a ruined man.
“We should clean up those cuts before they get infected.” I went out to the frozen lawn to get a bucket of snow, and when I returned, I
tore off a piece of my ripped petticoat and soaked it in the bucket. Kae submitted mutely as I pressed the icy cloth to his face. “Was it Aeval who burned you?”
He merely shrugged. I didn’t know what bruising there might be beneath the mask, nor did I know how badly he might be disfigured, but he probably hadn’t removed it for some time.
“I’m going to take off your mask. I want to make sure everything’s clean.”
“Do what you like,” he rasped. “If you think you can stand to see it.”
The mask was fastened by a thin leather strap around his head, and a piece of leather hooked behind his left ear to hold the lower half in place. I unbuckled the strap, which seemed nearly rusted in place, and then pulled it carefully forward over his ear, not wanting to injure him if any infection were underneath. I gasped as I pulled it away.
“I warned you.”
“Kae.” I shook my head. “Why are you wearing this?” Except for some bruising around his mouth that was clearly from Vasily’s abuse of him, his face was untouched beneath the mask. The eye that had been covered, which I’d feared must have been burned away, was pristine and whole. The only part of his face that was damaged was the small part he’d shown.
“Because it’s hideous.”
“Kae…there isn’t a mark on it.” I touched the rough beard that could only be a few weeks’ growth. He had to have seen each time he shaved that there was nothing wrong with him.
“What are you talking about?” He wheezed as he tried to raise his voice beyond a whisper. “It was burned beyond recognition. I’m in constant pain from the scars.”
“There aren’t any scars.” I found a polished metal feed pan and held it in front of him. “See for yourself.”
Kae grimaced and turned his head. “That isn’t funny. I almost believed you.” He couldn’t see what was right before him.