Page 11 of Fate and Fury

Her hands shook, and she balled them into fists to hide their trembling. She had made her decision, the moment sheprioritized saving Niko above all else. Now she would have to live with the consequences, no matter how grave they might be.

Dimi Novikova pointed at the furrowed stretch of sand in front of the cordoned-off area where the Kniaz and the Druzhina sat. “First, I call Dimi Oglievich of Drezna and her Shadow.”

Head held high, Sofi limped forward, Damien at her side, in human form. The left leg of her fighting leathers was dark with blood, but her expression revealed no pain.

“I call Dimi Samarin of Povorino and her Shadow!” Novikova pointed at the spot to Damien’s right, and Trina marched forward, her despicable excuse for a Shadow at her side.

“I call Dimi Ivanova of Kalach and her Shadow!”

Katerina followed the line of Dimi Novikova’s finger. She was pointing at the spot right next to Fyodor, because…of course she was. Was this a further test, to see if Katerina could stand at his right without either getting stabbed or burning him to ashes?

Either way, she had no choice. Niko at her side, she walked forward, taking her place. Fyodor stared straight ahead, not sparing her a glance, burns marking every visible inch of his bronze skin. Good: let him suffer. He lived, which was more than he’d intended for her Shadow.

“Dimi Fenenko of Liski and her Shadow!” Novikova called. “Dimi Essen and her Shadow, of Voronezh!”

When they all stood for inspection, some in worse shape than others, the Kniaz rose to his feet, smiling. “Citizens of Rivki!” He raised both hands to the sky, as if embracing the waxing Bone Moon. “Tonight, we have indeed witnessed marvelous things. Yes, some have fallen, but better now than when Iriska’s existence depends on it. And those who have risen to the occasion have done so with great aplomb.”

He paused, and Katerina suppressed a shudder. Surely it was her imagination that his gaze lingered on her…unless, of course,he’d seen the truth of what she’d done. A tremor ran through her, and she steeled her spine, refusing to show fear.

“It is my great pleasure to announce the victors of this year’s Bone Trials!” the Kniaz bellowed, and the crowd erupted, stomping their feet and rattling the shell-shakers they’d bought from the street-vendors outside the arena’s walls.

“Silence!” Dimi Novikova’s voice boomed, amplified by her witchwind. The arena fell quiet, and Katerina held her breath, praying as she had never prayed before.

“The first victors of this year’s Bone Trials, bound to return for next year’s competition and a chance to join the ranks of the Druzhina, are”—the Kniaz paused for effect—“Dimi Oglievich and Shadow Tikhomirov, of Drezna!”

Sofi’s face paled, going white as the face of the moon with excitement, before she seized Damien’s hand. She stepped forward, lifting their joined hands high in triumph, and the crowd roared. As Sofi and Damien stepped back into line, Katerina shot them a small smile. It felt false, dredged from the depths of her being, but—this was what Sofi wanted. They’d talked about it often enough, when Katerina and Niko stopped in Drezna to break their ride to and from Kalach.

Besides, the Trials only called for two victors. Maybe three, if the Kniaz felt taken enough with a third pairing, but that was rare. Sofi’s triumph was Katerina’s, as well.

The Kniaz cleared his throat. “I am proud to announce the second victors of this year’s Bone Trials. May I present to you”—he swept his hand wide—“Dimi Samarin and Shadow Makarov, of Povorino!”

Trina stepped forward, gripping Fyodor’s hand, her Shadow flinching as her fingers closed around his burned flesh. It was a small gesture, squelched as quickly as it appeared, but Katerina saw it nonetheless, and hid her smile.

That was two, she thought as Trina and Fyodor stepped back into line. The other Dimi aimed a gloating look at Katerina, but she was too dizzy with relief to care. Maybe the burning demons had been enough of a distraction from the way the earth had buckled and the wind had shifted, sending Fyodor hurtling into the flames. Maybe she had pulled it off, just another Dimi from a border village who was strong enough to survive but not good enough to warrant anything more.

She waited for the Kniaz to dismiss the rest of them, for the crowd to boo and hiss as they filed out of the arena. It would be an insult to her pride and Niko’s, but there were worse things. Her Shadow could yell at her all he wanted later, for keeping secrets and compromising their village to save his life. All that mattered was that they go home, returning only to deliver the tithe.

Iriska’s ruler regarded the line of Dimis and Shadows, his dark brows lowered and his expression grave. One by one, his gaze lingered on each of them. And then he spoke.

“As the third victors of this year’s Bone Trials, I name Dimi Ivanova and Shadow Alekhin, of Kalach.”

6

KATERINA

The blood drained from Katerina’s face. Next to her, Niko gave a low growl, so quiet that if Katerina hadn’t felt its vibration, she might not have noticed it at all. It was his warning growl, meant to herald impending danger.

Every eye on the crowd was on her, including the Kniaz’s and the Druzhina’s. This was supposed to be an honor, not a nightmare. She had to act like it.

She straightened her spine, letting a small smile lift her lips, as if this were no more than her due. On her left, Trina gave an angry, disbelieving snort, and Katerina cut her eyes at the other Dimi. “So much for choking on your dust,” she said, just loud enough for Trina to hear.

The look Trina leveled her with was murderous, but Katerina ignored it, fixing her gaze firmly on the Kniaz. Trina Samarin was the least of her problems.

She had let Baba Petrova down. Regardless of whether the Kniaz had seen the extent of what she’d done, she had performed too well. She’d lied, failed to be the mediocre Dimi she’d promised to be, and with it, she’d endangered Kalach. Who knew how bad the growing Grigori threat might be a year from now, bythe time of the second round of Trials and the Reaping? Katerina and her Shadow were Kalach’s best hope of protection, and now her carelessness might have doomed them all.

Shame flushed her face, and Niko growled again, this time responding to the upward tick of her heartbeat. His hand closed around hers, the fingertips rough from years of bladework, and he pulled her forward, raising their joined hands in a gesture of triumph.

The crowd rose to their feet, roaring in approval, but the Druzhina didn’t cheer. Flanking the Kniaz, they regarded Niko and Katerina with identical grim expressions. Katerina couldn’t blame them: if she and Niko succeeded at the Trials next year, they would be Reaped, unseating one of the Druzhina pairings. Katerina was just making enemies left and right today.

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