The Winds of Khalakovo - Bradley P. Beaulieu [174]
“They brought it upon themselves.”
“Nyet, Father brought it upon them.”
“And he was right to do so!” Borund’s face was turning red. “Khalakovo has been lording their gems and windwood over us for two decades. And for you—a daughter of Vostroma—they give us three windworn ships and a handful of gems? Did you know I told Father to throw their offer to the winds? He refused because we needed those ships, but then Iaros murders the Grand Duke himself so that he can have the mantle he’s been lusting after for years... It’s too much, Atiana. Too much. I don’t know how you can expect us to stand idly by when we were there to witness it. I thought your blood ran thicker than that.”
“Perhaps that’s the difference between us, Borund. I don’t look at the surface of a thing and make judgment.”
“Nyet, you pitter and patter like your sisters, pretending to play at games where you hardly know the players much less the rules.” Borund waved a hand at the cabin door. “Go. I can’t stomach to look at you. Get belowdecks and stay there until we meet with the Fierga.”
The Fierga was an old warship that had been relegated to patrol duty around Vostroma. Atiana was surprised it had been sent, and even more surprised it had made the journey across the Neck. Still, it made it clear that Mother had ordered her home, and this was something she could not allow.
Summoning all the authority she could muster, Atiana stood and stared at Borund squarely. “I would stay, Borund. I wish to remain until the conflict is over.”
“And I might have allowed it if our Matra hadn’t already spoken. You will return home, Atiana.”
“Let me stay until I can speak with her.”
He shook his head.“Mother has been awake for nearly a week preparing for this day. Her hands are full, and as soon as the violence has eased—which should be soon—she will sleep.”
“A few days will matter little, Bora.”
“I have given my word.” Borund stood and pointed at the door again. “Now go.”
Atiana stood, her shoulders square, refusing to move.
“Go!”
She knew that to stay and argue would only harden his stance, so she bowed her head and left the cabin, hoping she could speak with him once more before she left, though she already knew that if she did his answer would be the same.
When Atiana reached the Fierga, the kapitan of the ship escorted her to an empty cabin, a spare place that smelled of garlic and windsmen. It was a room that was meant to sleep four, but with only a skeleton crew aboard, there was plenty of room to spare.
She sat there for a long while, wondering how she was going to escape, when she heard a scratching at the oval window. She opened it to find a black rook flapping its wings to remain standing on the narrow sill. It was Zoya, Mother’s favorite. It hopped down to the floor and then flapped its wings to sit upon one of the top bunks.
Atiana bowed her head. “Matra.”
The old rook cawed. “I see you made it back alive. Perhaps next time you won’t be so quick to ignore our warnings.”
After a moment of confusion, Atiana recognized Ishkyna’s biting tone, even through the raw voice of the rook.
“You said you’d never take the dark again.”
“And leave my poor sister alone in the world? Never.”
Atiana scoffed. “I should burn this old rook while you writhe inside it.”
The rook craned its neck and cawed. “Why, because we gave you more time to do what you needed to do?”
“You left me on Khalakovo.”
“A place you clearly wanted to remain.”
“The Duke nearly murdered me.”
“But he did not. It would have been an utterly foolish thing to do.”
“Da, and men think so clearly when their blood has risen.”
“The Duke of Khalakovo, no matter how much you might admire him, dear sister, is nothing if not calm of heart. He might have tried to scare Father—he might have even meant in his heart to kill you—but his tender soul would not allow it.” By tender, she meant weak, something she had said while referring to Atiana, as if tenderness were a vice to be rooted out as quickly and efficiently as one could. The rook stretched its chipped beak wide, shook its head