The Crown's Game
Page 52

But it was his.
Nikolai’s scar seared against his skin, and it suddenly occurred to him that the lack of a dock and the dearth of statuary were deliberate. It was an open invitation for him to play. This island was not Vika’s alone; it could also be Nikolai’s.
He looked overhead to the canopy of leaves and smiled.
But then his smile faded. Had she created this island for them to collaborate? Or was it a trap, waiting to be sprung? Nikolai might have forgotten about the Game the other night at the ball, but it was possible she had not.
No, it was likely she had not.
Pasha waved to him from an outcropping that overlooked the Neva Bay to Saint Petersburg. Beside him rose a pillar of rock shaped like an enormous candle.
“Hey-o, Nikolai, come see the view.”
Nikolai sighed. “I’ll be right there.”
He trudged over to where Pasha stood. But he did not take in the bay or Saint Petersburg. All he could focus on was the pillar of rock.
It looked just like a candle that had been snuffed out.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Since work at the Zakrevsky household had slowed to a tortoise’s crawl, Renata was permitted to set up a tea stall next to Ludmila’s pumpkin kiosk to make some extra money. Her station consisted of a simple table and several large copper samovars and a set of barely chipped cups and saucers Renata had salvaged when the countess declared them wanting. For a few kopecks, Renata would sell Ludmila’s customers a cup of tea to go with their pastry. For a few more coins, she would read their leaves. As soon as she opened her stall, the first customer arrived. “I understand you read leaves,” she said.
Renata gaped at her. It was the lightning girl, Lady Snow, the other enchanter in Nikolai’s Game. She tried to look Vika in the eyes but had to turn away. There was something too vibrant about them. Too green. Too intense. “Y-yes, miss. I read leaves.” She fumbled with setting up the samovar.
“Will you read mine?”
“Uh . . .” She could not seem to form a coherent sentence. Although she and Vika were close to the same age, Vika’s confidence and the way she carried herself made her infinitely more formidable than Renata could ever be.
“You were the girl at the ball with Nikolai, were you not? In the peacock gown. I recognize your braids. They’re very intricate.”
“Yes, that was me.”
Vika reached over to help Renata with the stubborn spigot on the samovar. “There. That ought to be better.”
“Thank you. Your dress was, er, exquisite.”
Vika beamed. “Thank you. I was lucky to have such a gown. Now, if I may inquire about the tea?”
“Oh, yes. I . . .” Renata could think of no excuse for not serving Vika. It also seemed unwise to defy her. She grabbed one of the clean cups and a saucer and filled it with tea.
“Come join me.” Vika glanced behind her as if to confirm there was no one else waiting for Renata’s services. Renata instinctively looked down the street, toward the Zakrevsky house, as if Nikolai could come to her rescue. But he couldn’t. He was on the new island with the tsesarevich. She followed Vika to one of the tables by the canal that Ludmila had set up for her patrons. Renata waited until Vika was seated before she herself sat.
“I’m Vika Andreyeva, by the way.”
Renata stood up again and curtsied.
“I hardly think that’s necessary. It’s not as if I’m the grand princess. What is your name?”
“Renata. Renata Galygina.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Renata. Please do sit.”
She obeyed.
“Are you . . .” Vika spun her cup back and forth on the saucer. “Are you Nikolai’s betrothed?”
Renata’s eyes widened. “Me? Oh, no! I wish I . . . I mean, no, miss. He’s my friend, but I’m a servant in the Zakrevsky household. Nikolai would never marry someone like me.”
“I’m not so sure of that.” Vika tilted her head, as if to get a better, deeper look at Renata. “He seems rather fond of you. He took you to the ball.” Her voice lifted at the end, almost like a question tinged with the hope that Renata would deny it.
Which, of course, she had to, not only because it was the truth, but also because Renata was trained to speak honestly to her superiors. “No, miss,” she said. “I came to the ball on my own. I wanted to . . .” The words drained away, along with the color in Renata’s face.
Vika seemed to relax into her chair. “Let me guess. Keep an eye on me?” She smiled kindly.
Renata stared at the table and focused on the floral pattern of the tablecloth.
“You know about the Game,” Vika said.
Renata considered hiding under her table. She had promised Nikolai she wouldn’t tell anyone about the Game. Of course, her promise probably did not cover telling the other enchanter, since Vika already knew, but as Renata nodded, she still felt she had breached her word.
“I understand if you don’t want to read my leaves,” Vika said.
“I think I already know what they will say. I think you do, too.”
“That either Nikolai or I will die in the Game.” She cast her eyes downward to the table.
“Yes.”
“I suppose I was hoping this Game would be different from the ones in the past. That perhaps the tsar somehow wouldn’t have to choose only one of us.” Vika looked back up. “I was hoping for a miracle.”
Renata was, as well. She wanted so badly to read Vika’s leaves, and yet, what was the point? If she already knew what they would say . . .
But morbid curiosity latched onto her, and she reached across the table to take Vika’s cup. This would be her only chance to see into Nikolai’s future again. He had refused to let her read his leaves after she’d read so much darkness in them the last time. Perhaps Vika’s cup would shed some light.
The leaves were grouped in three small clusters. Three separate but related prophecies. At the top of the cup were two curved leaves that almost formed a heart, but for a third leaf that jutted into it. It represented love—possibly from a lover, but possibly from parents, siblings, or friends—and it foretold that love for Vika would always come with suffering. But Renata didn’t tell her so. It seemed cruel. And, selfishly, Renata didn’t want to say anything about love. She didn’t want Vika to think about the word “love” when she was asking about the Game and Nikolai.