Page 49 of A War Apart

The main dining hall wasn’t large enough to accommodate everyone, so most of the servants and trade workers had been relegated to a simpler hall on the lower level. I caught sight of Izolda near the door and let out a sigh of relief. I wouldn’t be alone, at least.

“Finding your way around alright?” she asked as I took a seat.

“It’s a little overwhelming.” I looked around the stone room at the hundreds of people seated along the long tables. I’d never seen so many people in one place before. “Is it always like this?”

She shook her head, spooning a generous helping of pickled cabbage onto my plate. “Only at feasts and such. Most everyone eats in their own quarters, unless the tsar is going to make an appearance. Which he’s supposed to do tonight, obviously.”

I cast a sharp glance around the room, and Izolda laughed. “He’s not here yet. Trust me, when he comes, you’ll know. He won’t stay long. Just long enough to allow his adoring subjects to express their admiration,” she added dryly.

A trumpet blast rendered the hall silent, and the large doors opposite us opened. A page stepped through. “His majesty, Tsar Miroslav of the Blood, Heir of the Sanctioned and rightful ruler of Inzhria. Her majesty, Tsarina Desislava. Their royal highnesses, Grand Duchess Yevgeniya and Grand Duchess Yevpraksiya.”

Benches scraped, and I realized belatedly that everyone was standing. I rose to my feet in time to see a round-bellied man bedecked in jewels and fur step up onto a small dais at the front of the room. My stomach clenched. So this was the man who had taken everything from me. I barely noticed the tsarina and grand duchesses standing next to him.

“My people!” Miroslav said in a high voice. “I thank you for your attendance, and I welcome you to my palace. Please, be seated. Enjoy the fruits of our union and the gifts of my court.”

No one sat, but the hall broke out into thunderous applause. I clapped as well, not wanting to draw attention to myself, though my throat was tight with disgust. How could they cheer for him? Didn’t they know what he was, what he had done? Did no one remember Barbezht and the hundreds of men his soldiers had slaughtered?

For a few moments, he stood smiling, hands raised in acceptance of the praise. At last he turned and strode out of the room, the black fur of his kaftan swaying in his wake. His wife and daughters trailed after him.

The chatter in the hall resumed as everyone took their seats again. Izolda rolled her eyes. “‘Gifts,’ my ass,” she said, just loud enough for me to hear. “He charges every noble for their room and board, and for that of their retinue.”

A deep voice came from behind us. “If it isn’t the lovely Izolda Vasilievna. Welcome back to court.”

The speaker was a tall, dark-skinned man with high cheekbones. His eyes held a mischievous twinkle as he smiled down at Izolda.

“Alexey!” she said. “I didn’t know you were in the capital. Last I heard you were up north.” She slid away from me, making space on the bench between us.

“I recently accepted a position with the baron of Arick.” He turned to me. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.”

“This is Sofia Stepanova, a new court seamstress. Fia, this is Alexey Grigorovich.”

“It’s a pleasure.” He took my hand and kissed it softly, never removing his eyes from my face.

I pulled my hand from his grasp and nodded politely. His steady gaze unsettled me.

“Lord Kazimir, huh?” Izolda asked as he took a seat between us. “How has that been? He’s got quite the reputation.”

“It’s not been terrible. He’s demanding, but no more so than other nobles. And he has the tsar’s favor, so it’s an opportunity to improve my position.” He turned back to me as he scooped onto his plate several pelmeni, fragrant dumplings filled with meat and onions. “You’re from Tsebol? And what do you think of our fair capital?”

“It’s beautiful,” I said honestly. “What I’ve seen of it, at least. I only arrived yesterday. It’s larger than I expected.”

He let out a booming laugh. “I’ve seen many cities, and none of them were as large as Idesk. The capital makes for an unfair comparison for any city.”

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been far from Tsebol.” It wasn’t a lie. Selyik wasn’t far from Tsebol. Izolda had told me to keep to the truth as much as possible when telling others about myself. The truth was easier to remember. “I’m looking forward to seeing more of the city.”

“We shall have to give you the grand tour.” Our eyes met, his gaze intent. I looked away, and Izolda cleared her throat.

“Do you expect to be at court all winter, Izolda?”

She sniffed and tossed her head. “No need to acknowledge me. You were getting along quite well before.”

He threw me a wink over his shoulder as he took Izolda’s hand. “Hold not your favor from me, fair one! Though I bask in the sunny countenance of Sofia Stepanova, I do not forget the glorious moonlight that radiates from Izolda Vasilievna’s face.”

Izolda laughed as I shook my head. He was ridiculous. He reminded me a little of Yakov, if Yakov had been more eloquent. An insincere flirt with every woman he met. The sort of person who might have made me laugh, if there hadn’t been something almost too earnest in his eyes. He seemed to see through me and straight into my soul.

“I suppose it makes sense that I’m overlooked, then,” Izolda said, “if I’m only the moon, and Fia’s the sun.”

“The sun warms the earth, and the moon pulls the tides.” His voice was intense but hinted at a smile as he looked between us. “Both necessary, and both beautiful.”

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