Page 54 of A War Apart

“Yakov Aleksandrovich of Selyik.”

“Yakov!” I looked into the grinning face of my friend. “I didn’t expect you so soon.” Behind him was a crowd of men from Selyik, my tenants Pyotr and Yegor at the front.

“Think I’d miss the fight? Soon as we got word where to meet, we left.”

“Thank you,” I said earnestly. “All of you.” I raised a brow at Yegor Miloshovich. The older man had always made his opinion of Tsar Borislav clear. He believed Miroslav was the rightful ruler by birth, and any rebellion was indefensible.

Yegor shrugged in response to my unasked question. “Birthright or no, any tsar that can’t keep his army under control is no tsar of mine. If you’re looking for justice for Marya Ivanovna and your wife, I’ll follow you.”

Pyotr took off his ushanka, holding the fur hat to his chest. “I hope you know how sorry we are, Han, to hear about Mila Dmitrievna’s illness. I pray she’ll recover quickly.”

I swallowed a lump in my throat. It grated on me, lying to my men, and I still hadn’t forgiven Mila for leaving. How dare she put herself in danger like that? It was my responsibility toprotect her, not the other way around. She should be safe at home, not in the middle of Miroslav’s court, risking her life.

I tamped down my emotions. “Thank you, friends.” To the clerk, I said, “Yakov Aleksandrovich served with me at Barbezht. He’ll be quartered with me until the tsar decides what to do with him.”

Thirty men had come from Selyik, all men I knew in some way or another. I spread them out as much as possible. If a unit took a large number of casualties, I wanted to be sure the losses didn’t disproportionately affect any town or region.

Once the men from Selyik were assigned, there was a lull in the arrivals. I clapped the clerk on the back. “Take a break, but don’t go far. I want to see my men settled. If anyone else comes while I’m gone, send someone for me.”

I directed the men to their assigned places. I’d placed both Pyotr and Yegor under Captain Fyodor Yakovlevich, and I wanted to personally introduce them.

Fyodor Yakovlevich was the young commander of the prince’s guard, a light-skinned man with a stern face and a short, dark beard. We found him in the stables, talking to a young woman. The captain looked up at our approach.

“Han Antonovich. Bringing me new recruits?”

“Yegor Miloshovich and Pyotr Vasilievich, captain. They were my father’s tenants before me, and you won’t find more loyal men anywhere.”

He studied them for a moment. “Combat experience?”

“Spider Wars, sir. All three. We served together driving the Drakra east,” Yegor said.

“Good. You can help me turn these boys into soldiers. I’ll show you to your barracks.” He nodded at me, Yakov, and the young woman. “Afternoon.”

As they left, the woman looked me up and down with deep-set eyes. “You must be the man who talked my father into arebellion. He doesn’t often change his mind. I imagine you’re quite persuasive.”

I bowed. “My apologies, princess. I didn’t realize his highness had family in the castle.”

She laughed heartily, her long black braid swaying as she tipped her head back. “I’m no princess, sir. Blood Bastard Lada Radomirovna.”

I’d never met a Blood Bastard, a magic-wielding illegitimate child of the Sanctioned. This woman didn’t look dangerous, but appearances meant little when it came to magic. I’d seen the power of the Blood already. I bowed again, wary of offending her.

She turned to Yakov, a smile playing on her full lips. “But you haven’t introduced your friend.”

“May I introduce Yakov Aleksandrovich, another survivor of Barbezht?” Yakov was staring at her, transfixed. I elbowed him.

He flinched. “A pleasure to meet you, Lada Radomirovna.”

They stared at each other. After a moment, I cleared my throat. “If you’ll excuse us, Lada Radomirovna, I need to see Yakov settled in.” I bowed once more and grabbed Yakov’s arm, pulling him away.

As we stepped out into the frozen courtyard, I let go of him. “Your tongue almost hit the floor, your mouth was so wide.”

He glanced back over his shoulder. “Fuck. I’ve never seen anyone so…” He shook his head, at a loss for words.

I rolled my eyes. She was beautiful, with full curves, red-brown skin, and a braid that reached her waist. And he was out of his depth with her. “You should keep your distance. Her father’s a prince. Even if she’s not legitimate, I doubt he’d let just anyone court her.”

“I was just looking.” He glowered at me.

“Anyway, she’s a Blood Bastard. If her father doesn’t kill you for the impertinence, she could.” Not that she’d been opposed to the attention. In fact, she’d seemed inclined to encourage him.

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