Page 53 of The Tsarina's Favorite
“How did she lose a favorite?”
“She had him executed for...for...for a few things, I think?”
Was the princess referring to me?I hardly ever counted as a favorite.Unless she meant a favorite to torment.
“That doesn’t sound like he was highly prized.”
“It's complicated.”The princess paused and then sighed.“We all hoped that catching a firebird would lift her spirits, but she’s been even worse, if that’s possible.No one dares even look at her with a cross thought lest she call you upon it and accuse you of foul intentions towards her.”
“All the better then that I am hooded, else she might have my head too.”
“Are you that expressive?”
I didn’t think I was, not with a beak freezing most of the expressions on my face from nose to chin, but eyes could say enough, couldn’t they?
“I have a lot of cross thoughts,” I explained.Before she could say anything else along the lines of my discontent, I asked, “What were you doing up in the tsarina’s rooms?”
“The tsarina occasionally likes to have her ladies get her ready to retire.”
“Oh, you’re one of her ladies then.”I added to nettle her, “I didn’t think serfs could read.”
“I am not a serf!”
“My apologies,” I couldn’t help barbing her, knowing the flimsiness of titles, “but I cannot imagine that anyone of actual substance would have nothing better to do than visit me.”
“Nonsense,” she assured me.“Have you forgotten?I’m only using you to get home.”
XVIII.
“I’m bored,” the tsarinalamented.
I said nothing.
“I expected my firebird to keep me better amused,” she said.
Again, I said nothing.
