Page 40 of A War Apart

An inconspicuous guard sat outside the tsar’s door, a safety measure intended to draw as little attention as possible. He nodded in recognition as I knocked on the tsar’s open door.

“Han!” Tsar Borislav said. “Come in. What can I do for you?”

“I told you about Yakov Aleksandrovich, another survivor of Barbezht and my dearest friend. He just arrived here at the castle. With your majesty’s permission, I would like to present him to you. And…” I paused, unsure of how to continue.

“You wish to tell him the truth about your wife.” Borislav folded his hands together, looking thoughtful.

“I can vouch for his loyalty and secrecy, your majesty. He’s never accepted your brother’s rule, and he would never doanything to endanger Mila or betray your cause. If he meets you, if he knows you’re alive, he’ll know I lied about Mila, that she’s involved in this all somehow. He—”

The tsar held up a hand, forestalling the flow of my words. “I trust your judgment. If you feel it necessary to tell him the truth, I will allow it. I ask that it go no further.” He gave a warm smile. “And I would be honored to meet Yakov Aleksandrovich.”

“Thank you, your majesty.” Heart thundering with excitement, I hurried back to fetch my friend.

“What in the name of the Blood are you doing?” Yakov asked as I gestured for him to follow.

“There’s someone I want you to meet.” Witha grin, I led Yakov past the silent guard into the tsar’s quarters. “Yakov Aleksandrovich, may I present his majesty, Tsar Borislav Vyacheslavovich of the Blood, Heir of the Sanctioned and rightful ruler of Inzhria.”

Yakov’s face turned white, and he dropped to one knee.

“Rise, Yakov Aleksandrovich.” The tsar’s face was solemn, but his eyes were bright with amusement.

He stood, looking between me and the tsar with a wide-eyed stare.

“Han has told me much about you. I thank you for your service, sir.” The tsar inclined his head.

Yakov opened his mouth to respond, then closed it again.

“Please, sit.” Borislav smiled. “I fear you’ll collapse if you remain standing much longer.”

Slowly, Yakov sank into the offered seat. Too animated to sit, I clapped my friend on the back. “It’s real, Yakov! He’s alive.”

When Yakov remained silent, mouth opening and closing like a fish, the tsar smiled at me. “Han, I believe you’ve brought me a mute. Did my brother take your tongue on the battlefield as well as your hand, Yakov Aleksandrovich?”

Yakov shook himself. “Your majesty, I don’t know what to say. I am your man.” He placed his wrist over his heart.

The tsar inclined his head. “I thank you for your allegiance.”

“And there’s something else.” I paused, looking to Tsar Borislav for confirmation. He nodded for me to go on. “This can’t leave this room. Not even your mother can know.”

He furrowed his brow. “Whatever you need.”

“The tsar offered both of us—me and Mila, I mean—positions serving him. I’m going to travel with him to help him raise his army, and Mila…Mila went to court.” I watched for a reaction, but Yakov’s face remained blank.

“Mila Dmitrievna has taken on an alternate identity and is traveling to court with Lord Ilya and Lady Heli,” the tsar explained. “She’s graciously agreed to do so in order to pass information to me about my brother. I regret that you were deceived, but it was necessary that no one question her absence and discover where she had gone.”

“I understand.” He didn’t appear to, but I knew he wouldn’t say so to the tsar. When we were alone again, I would have a lot to answer for. I wondered briefly if I should find some sort of shield, given Yakov’s tendency to think with his fist.

“Enough about that,” the tsar said. “Let us have a drink, and you must tell me all about yourself.” He took from his desk a bottle and three mugs. “Han tells me you helped each other home after Barbezht. You must have been very young. What brought someone of your age to the battlefield?”

Yakov accepted a mug. “My father died fighting for you, your majesty. Early days, at Zavusy.” He took a swallow of his drink. “I wanted to take his place, so I found a unit that would take me. Had to tell them I was older than I was, but they didn’t look too close. They’d lost a lot of men, needed anyone they could get.”

I accepted my own mug and took a drink, watching the two men. The taste of mint and rye filled my mouth—mint kvass.Mila had started some before we left; it would probably be finished by now.

I dragged my thoughts from my absent wife and refocused on the conversation.

“I’m sorry that any of my commanders would have accepted children.” A steely glint came into the tsar’s dark eyes. “That will not happen again. I will not have our country’s future maimed and killed on the battlefield.”

“I don’t regret it, your majesty,” Yakov said. “I mean, obviously, if I had the choice, I’d take my hand back in an instant. But I’m glad I got to serve you, and I hope to again.” He looked down at his arm, where his sword hand had once been. “If I can, I mean. I don’t think I’d be much use on the battlefield, but I would like to help your majesty in any way I can.”

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