by E. P. Clark
“Oh Valya!” She smiled in a rather superior manner. She was just tired and unhappy, I reminded myself, just tired and unhappy. “Things are always this uncertain in Krasnograd! You’ve just never had to deal with the vagaries and worries of rule before.”
“Things are different this time,” I repeated stubbornly. “The fact that you asked me to help you proves that.”
“Or maybe I’m just allowing you to help now that you’ve grown into your responsibilities?” she suggested.
“Stop doing this! You always do this when you’re unhappy!”
“Do what?”
“Try to change the subject and argue about stupid things! You always try to twist my words simply for your own amusement! You know it’s a pointless waste of time and yet you do it anyway!”
Sera looked like she wanted to argue with that, probably by twisting my words into something I hadn’t meant to say, but then she caught Vyacheslav Irinovich’s eye and smiled ruefully instead.
“You’re right, of course, Valya,” she admitted. “It’s a foolish habit of mine. I just like to explore all the possibilities, you know that, and you’re the only person I can have a good argument with. No one else will stand up to me enough to make it worthwhile.”
“What kind of a person enjoys arguing,” I said sourly.
She gave me a look, and after a moment we both laughed. I thought Vyacheslav Irinovich was also laughing at us from the bed, but he had the decency to keep it quiet enough that we were able to ignore it.
“Anyway,” I said. “Things are unsettled now, and I don’t like the idea of leaving you alone when the situation is so delicate, and we really could uncover something of use for my mission.”
“And I appreciate that, Valya, but I still think you should leave tomorrow just as you had planned. I won’t be alone here, you know: I’ll still have Slava and all my guards and councilors and everyone else I’ve always had, except for you, and, while I don’t mean to downplay your importance to me, you really have spent most of your life out of Krasnograd, so I think you will better serve us by doing what you do best, and lead your party on this journey. The possibility that we will be able to find out something of use from the black earth princesses and their servants is a better reason for you to stay, but I still don’t think the chance of discovering something important is worth the risk of you delaying your journey, and, worse yet, making talk in the kremlin and all over Krasnograd. As I said, your mission is already too public for it to be postponed without raising considerable speculation all over the city. I’d rather not give cause to that speculation, and I most particularly don’t want to draw attention to…the little adventure of this evening. The last thing I need is for rumors to go flying all over the city about how assassins under the hire of the black earth princesses attempted to come sneaking into the kremlin during the Midsummer celebrations.”
“We don’t know they were assassins,” I said. “In fact, given how quickly the woman with Nika fled, it seems very likely that she or they weren’t assassins at all.”
“Yes, Valya, but that’s not what the rumors will say. The rumors will say that an entire band of armed assassins, hired by a nefarious group of black earth princesses and, I don’t know, their accomplices in the Hordes, came pouring into the kremlin, and that I’m currently hiding in my chambers, in fear for my life, and my steppe warrior sister is guarding the door with a drawn sword, or, even better, questioning everyone she can get her hands on and killing those who fail to answer her questions to her satisfaction, and the entire steppe army is on its way to Krasnograd, and…”
“Very well; you’ve made your point,” I interrupted her. “You think that me staying will make things even worse than leaving would.”
“Rumor is a powerful weapon, Valya, and suspicious as I am of the black earth princesses, the last thing I need is for my suspicions to be shared with the rest of Krasnograd, and anything that suggests that the steppe might rise and try to seize power must be avoided entirely. I’m not sure if you are aware how much the rest of Zem’ fears the steppe and its army.”
“As they should,” I said. “Although I don’t see why: we haven’t done anything to them in hundreds of years.”
“Memories are long, Valya, and the steppe queens’ reign was a time of terror for all their neighbors, prior to the coming of Miroslava Praskovyevna to Krasnograd. After the last steppe queen swore allegiance to her and became the first Princess Stepnaya, it was her army that united the rest of the country, as I’m sure you know.”
“It was also the steppe army that drove back the Hordes—and the Western invasion that came all the way to the gates of Krasnograd.”
“Thus proving itself to be even more fearsome,” said Sera. “People fear the steppe here, and with good reason. Let us not do anything that might wake that fear from its slumber.”
“I don’t like leaving you,” I repeated. “And I really don’t like leaving Mirochka here by herself while there’s something going on.”
“Do you really think that if there is something going on—which I admit does seem more and more likely—that they would be targeting Mirochka?”
“Everyone knows she is in line for the rule of Zem’. If anyone had designs on the throne, she would be an obvious target.”
Sera frowned. “I don’t want to…fill your head with worries, Valya, especially at this moment, but let’s say that…something happened. Let’s say—the gods forbid—but let’s say she was assassinated. What would your family do? What would the steppe do?”
“If the youngest Stepnaya was murdered in Krasnograd? I don’t even like to think. The one and only time a Stepnaya was murdered, the family responsible was destroyed and their lands were taken. It’s one of the reasons the province is so big. If something were to happen to Mirochka…even if I did nothing, which is unlikely, but even if I were out of the picture and it were left to my mother to decide, I believe the army would demand action. They’d probably march on Krasnograd and demand that either my mother or I took over the rule of the country.” Seeing Sera’s unhappy face at that thought, I added, “It’s not that the steppe is disloyal, you know that. But they wouldn’t see it as disloyalty. They’d see it as putting the rightful ruler on the throne and redressing their grievances, and any attempt to oppose them would be seen as a sign that their opponents lacked in loyalty themselves. And I dare say that if anyone tried to go against them, it would all end in a bloodbath.”
“That’s what I thought,” said Sera. “As would any woman of sense.”
“How do we know that we’re working against women of sense, though?”
She almost laughed. “Ah, Valya! So true. Some might even say that the very fact of their plotting against the throne, if that’s what they’re doing, shows them not to be women of sense. But if they are from the black earth district, then Mirochka must seem like a gift from the gods to them. A young girl, a Zerkalitsa through the female line, and also a Stepnaya, but still a princess of the black earth district! They could be confident that the steppe would not go against them, should they try to put her on the throne. No, Valya, I think it most likely that you and I have the most to fear. We are the ones in the way of any black earth plot, but Mirochka would be guarded like the apple of their eye.”
“If they are in fact women of sense, and all our other conjectures are correct,” I said, while a dozen new and unpleasant possibilities went rushing through my mind. Sera’s situation…no one who knew the state of her health would be at all surprised if she didn’t survive the winter…even I would just put it down to ill luck…and if I were to be thrown from my horse, or meet with an arrow on some empty field, well, that would be no more than what was expected either…accidents happened even to the best riders, and after going after the slavers so publicly as I had, and making it known that they had threatened my life and that of my family, I had made myself a very easy and obvious target…a cunning woman could use that to her advantage, and get rid of me and use it as an excus
e to get rid of her other enemies as well, by blaming them for my death and destroying them in justifiable vengeance…or if they were plotting against Mirochka…but no, Sera was right, eliminating Mirochka would cause more problems than it would solve, as there were no clear heirs after her and the steppe would most certainly rise in retaliation…but if I were eliminated and Mirochka were kept alive, that would be a different matter entirely…especially if Sera were gone as well…that’s certainly what I would do, if I were plotting against us…and now was certainly the time, with Sera in such a fragile state…
“Do you trust your healers?” I asked abruptly.
Sera gave me a surprised look, and then comprehension dawned. “You think they could be the ones to do it,” she stated.
“I don’t know. I’ve never had any reason to mistrust them, but if I were planning to assassinate you, that would be the route I would go, especially now.”
“My condition has not yet been made public, Valya.”
“But your healers know of it. And everyone knows you have been suffering from an indisposition recently. Perhaps your current condition is because they’ve been turned against you.”
“Oh no, Valya, I’m afraid that is entirely my own foolish hopefulness,” she admitted ruefully. “I rejected the mixtures they gave me, and ignored what they and my own common sense told me about…timing. I told myself that my time for conceiving another child was past, but I knew that was not so, I just…did it anyway. So I fear we cannot lay that at their door.”
“Well, even so,” I said. “This could be the perfect opportunity for anyone who was using them to get to you. So do you trust them?”
“I’ve never had any reason not to, Valya.”
“Of course not; otherwise they wouldn’t be your healers. But do you think any of them could be turned?”
She stared for a while at her own doubts, and then said thoughtfully, “I wouldn’t think so…but I can’t be absolutely certain. You never can, in matters of treason.”
“True enough. I would get new healers if I were you, just to be on the safe side.”
“But then I could be dismissing those who are trustworthy, and replacing them with those who are actually working against me.”
“It’s a risk…don’t bring in anyone from Krasnograd or the black earth district.”
“From the North, then? Northern healers are renowned throughout the land; no one would question my decision if I brought in some from Severnolesnoye.”
“No. I’m sorry to cast any doubt on your family, Vyacheslav Irinovich,” I added, turning to him. “But if the coastal princesses are mixed up in this in any way, then the Severnolesniye could be as well, and I don’t trust any of them on principle.”
“I understand, Valeriya Dariyevna,” he said. “And while I have no cause to suspect anyone in my own family, the only person for whom I can swear with absolute certainty is myself.”
“Your family…” began Sera.
“Is only partially trustworthy,” I put in before she could finish. She pursed her mouth in disagreement, and I said, “There are factions amongst the Severnolesniye as well, Sera, as you very well know. All those sisters…all it would take is for one of them to turn against you. No, you’re best off bringing in healers from the steppe.”
“From the steppe! That would not be a popular move! The other princesses already think the Stepniye have far too much influence, for obvious reasons.”
“I don’t see why, given how little time I’ve spent in Krasnograd,” I said sharply. “And it’s high time they became reconciled to the fact that I am your sister, anyway. I’ve been avoiding Krasnograd all these years, and keeping Mirochka away from it, but now I see you’re right, and we must take up our proper place here.”
“You’re only just now seeing that, Valya?” asked Sera with a smile. “It’s only just now coming to you?”
“No, I’m only just now annoyed enough to actually go through with it.”
“It’s good to know that I can always count on your hot temper,” she told me, while Vyacheslav Irinovich laughed to himself on the bed.
“Some things are always constant. At least let me supply you with another healer, to keep watch over the ones you already have. It will take a while to bring some in from the steppe, but I will have my mother send the best ones we have to you. Arina Verovna delivered both me and Mirochka; I’d trust her with my life and I already have. I’ll send her to you as soon as possible, and in the meantime I’ll have my people here find you a decent steppe healer already in Krasnograd. There should be some in the stables.”
“I think I would prefer one who was used to working with women, not horses,” Sera objected.
“Nonsense. Our horses are worth more than most women, and we heal them accordingly. This is the condition of my leaving, Sera, and I won’t set a foot outside of the kremlin until you agree. Although I’m now of even less of a mind to leave. If the plot really is as deep as we fear, and if anything should happen to you or Mirochka in my absence, I would never forgive myself, and would probably have to burn down Krasnograd or something in retaliation. If…”
“If, if, if…in the end, it’s all in the hands of the gods, Valya.” Sera straightened up and gave me her best Imperial look. “By all I can see, the best thing for Mirochka and for Zem’ will be if you leave her here and set off on your journey tomorrow as planned. I promise she will be watched over with all the care possible, and rather more than you could give her if she were to go with you.”
“No doubt you’re right.”
“I know I’m right, Valya. Or as right as it is ever given for any of us to be.” She came over and kissed my forehead. “I know this must be an anxious moment for you, but it will be for the best.” She embraced me. “I will care for her as if for my own daughter, as I’ve already promised and as you must know. She will want for nothing except your company, and she’ll have that again soon enough. You know this is the right thing to do.” She released me. “So go and take what rest you can before your departure. I’ll come and see you off.”
“Oh, very well,” I said. “You’re probably right. Just be sure to track down and question the Vostochnokrasnova steward’s daughter as soon as you can, and keep an eye on all of them. And take care of yourself, and…” I turned to Vyacheslav Irinovich, “you keep an eye on her, and take care of her, and if everything and everyone is not in perfect health and condition upon my return, I shall be very displeased and will make a scene.”
Sera and Vyacheslav Irinovich both laughed at that, and on that cheery note I took my leave and went off in search of Mirochka.
***
I found her, the tsarinoviches, and Ivan all gamely still celebrating with a number of other children in a small hall down the corridor from the Hall of Celebration.
“How has it been?” I asked Ivan, who was standing by the wall and watching the children who were still awake—some of them had gone to sleep in the corner—play a rather tired game of tag.
“The children have enjoyed themselves immensely, Valeriya Dariyevna,” he replied stoutly.
“And you?”
“It has been an honor and a pleasure to fulfill my duties as the tsarinovich’s companion, Valeriya Dariyevna.”
“Oh, come now,” I said, and leaned in closer to him. Despite the late hour after a long day, I could feel the desire between us flare like heat lightning, and, judging by the way he fidgeted and stepped back, so could he, although perhaps he did not realize what it was that made him flush like that.
“The party may have been a bit young for my tastes, Valeriya Dariyevna,” he admitted, looking both flustered and knowing. “But they are good children, and I am always pleased to do my duty.”
“I’m pleased to hear that, but I hope you won’t mind that I’m about to release you,” I told him. “You and I have an early start tomorrow, which means that we should retire for at least a few hours’ rest, which means that the children should too. We may have promised them they
could stay up all night, but they’re clearly in no state to do so. I’m taking Mirochka to bed, and I’ll send the tsarinoviches to bed too.”
“I think Valery has already gone to bed, Valeriya Dariyevna,” said Ivan, and went over and gathered up Valery from where he was sleeping in a corner with the other tired children. I went over and caught Mirochka, who was still running around with the most energetic of the children, and told her and Ruslan and Dariusz it was time to retire. Ruslan appeared only too ready to go to bed, but Dariusz and Mirochka protested vigorously, their outrage at being taken from their friends further fueled by their fatigue.
“Ivan Marinovich and I have to depart tomorrow morning, and the Tsarina must see us off,” I told them firmly. “That means we all have to rest first, which means so do you.”
This convinced Dariusz, but Mirochka took some more persuading, and it was only when I half-offered, half-threatened to carry her away on my shoulder that she agreed, albeit with poor grace.
“I would like to set off as early as possible in the morning, but I’m afraid that won’t be very early,” I told Ivan once we had gathered up all the children. Valery, who was no small child, was sitting on his hip with his arms around him, not quite asleep but refusing to wake up enough to walk on his own back to his rooms. It was a charming sight, and made me think that one day it could be my child that he would be carrying. In my own tired state it suddenly occurred to me that I had never seriously envisioned what Nika would be like as a father when we were together. I had never been able, or even tried, to imagine the two of us raising children together. But with Ivan it was easy, even though he was barely more than a child himself.
“Do you need help with them?” I asked. My words came out more gently than they normally did. Perhaps that was why Ivan gave me a swift look of surprise and delight before saying, “I’ve got them, Valeriya Dariyevna. I don’t have any brothers of my own, but I’ve been helping with our steward’s children since I was hardly any older than Valery. She practically raised me, you know—our steward, that is. I was like her eldest son, and all her own little boys were like my brothers. There were five of them, so a mere three should be nothing. And they’re ready to go to bed, aren’t you, boys?”