❈ invisible string ― nikolai lantsov ❈

Yizhi

"The Shadow Fold," both Yi and Nikolai said simultaneously.

The wall of darkness that once scarred Ravka. In the battle against the Darkling, Alina lost her ability and bestowed it upon all the otkazat'sya within a few miles' radius, and together, they all had the power to destroy the Fold. All that remained now was a swath of dark sands where nothing grew, or so Yi had heard. It had been a long time since she'd returned to Ravka, and with every passing moment and revelation, she found she regretted the choice even more.

David shrugged, as though they were discussing something as trivial as weather reports or what flavor of tea was in season. "That power is unpredictable."

"We don't know what may happen next," Nikolai remarked. "Usually a thrilling proposition, less so when a demon may take over my consciousness and try to rule Ravka by gnawing on my subjects."

Yi resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him. She knew, even now, that he concealed his emotions with humor, and he concealed them well. He hid behind charm and charisma, and she'd only ever learned that because there was a time he let that curtain of falsehood fall, with her and her only.

Until now, she supposed.

"So you see the problem," Nikolai continued. "I cannot travel without risking exposure, but I cannot stay in hiding at the capital without drawing suspicion and risking Ravka's future with the Zemeni and Kerch. This is particularly delicious trouble."

"I'm sorry," Genya said. "Exactly what is delicious about this?"

"The way we're going to get out of it." Nikolai leaned back, stretching out his long legs before him and crossing his ankles. 

Yi forced herself to look away for the millionth time today. It felt wrong seeing him so at ease while the world fell apart before them, but she knew that Nikolai would take a break to polish his boots even if his aunt Ludmilla turned out to be the Darkling's distant daughter and was planning on cooking all the cats in the world alive.

"We're going to throw a party," Nikolai stated.

"Ah," Yi said serenely. "Why not invite Morozova down from the heavens to join us as well?"

"I'm sure the kind fellow's schedule is already booked. Reviving decapitated daughters and whatnot. The Kerch, the Zemeni, the Fjerdans and the Shu―we're going to bring them all here. We're going to stage a little performance so they know Ravka and its king are in perfect health."

"Is that all?" Zoya asked. "Will you be taking up juggling as well?"

Yi could already hear Nikolai's reply long before the words left his mouth.

"Don't be ridiculous," Nikolai scoffed. "I already know how to juggle. Literally and figuratively. We'll renew our alliance with the Zemeni―"

"But the Kerch―" Genya began.

"And we'll give the Kerch a secret look at our prototype of the izmars'ya."

"We will?" David asked.

"It will be an utter catastrophe, of course. Perhaps a nice explosion, some flying metal. Maybe we can pretend to drown a few sailors. Whatever will convince the Kerch our sharks aren't seaworthy and buy us the most time. We're going to get all of those diplomats and merchants and politicians under our roof. We get everyone talking, and then we listen. Zoya, we'll need your Squallers to create an acoustic map so we have ears everywhere."

"I don't like that," Tolya said.

"I knew you wouldn't," Nikolai responded earnestly.

"It isn't ethical to spy on one's guests."