"Come on, Mischa, finish him!" Yuri hollered, leaning over the rail surrounding the ring. Nikolai laughed as his friend lightly cuffed the back of Mischa's head.

"I don't think hitting him from behind will help him focus on his opponent," Nastasia pointed out. She was wedged between the two of them. Part of Nikolai urged him to move Nastasia to a safer distance, but the other part, the winning part, delighted in the way she was cheering Mischa on and studying his moves.

Nikolai touched her arm, drawing her attention. "Watch what Mischa does with his feet next. This is a good move for when you're fighting someone taller than yourself."

"Why would Mischa need to use it then? He's taller than everyone here."

"You'll see."

Nastasia faced the ring as Mischa's opponent lunged at him. The man's foot came down, dust scattering from beneath his boot, and Mischa's landed on top of his. The man cried out as Mischa shoved his foot to the side, throwing him off balance. He crashed to the ground and Mischa clambered on top of him.

"Mischa unbalanced him before he even made contact," Nastasia gawked. "How did he manage to maintain his own balance?"

"Do you see that scuff mark?" Nikolai pointed to a deep wedge in the ground, formed by the heel of Mischa's boot. "He braced all of his weight on that foot and made sure to let his opponent get close enough so that when he made his move, he wouldn't have to stretch too far and unbalance himself."

"Where did he learn to fight like this?"

Yuri bent his head towards Nastasia. "He and his brothers would take turns brawling and let people bet on the matches to make some extra money for the family. They learned by beating each other up, basically."

"How many brothers does he have?"

"Five."

Nastasia's eyes widened. "And they're all older than him?" Yuri nodded. "What about you?"

"I've got two older brothers."

"That's better than five. Six boys." Nastasia shook her head. "His poor mother."

"Yulia Balakin is the toughest woman you'll ever meet," Nikolai said.

And that was no exaggeration. She was as much a giant as her sons. There wasn't a person in Herodion who dared cross her. If they did, Nikolai didn't doubt they'd answer to all six of her sons as soon as she was through with them.

"You've met her?"

"A few times."

"Mischa claims they have Dwarf blood in their ancestry," Yuri added. "That's why they're so rugged and powerful."

"Mischa certainly doesn't look like a Dwarf," Nastasia replied. "He's four times their size."

"The relation would be very, very, distant."

Nastasia appeared thoughtful. "I suppose it would explain his brute strength. I've never seen another Human with muscles like his."

"And he's a master at the forge."

"He's a blacksmith?"

Yuri inclined his head. "He took on an apprenticeship with a smith when we moved to Dimesa. He doesn't make weapons like the Dwarves, but if given the chance, I know he would try."

They spoke no more as whoops and hollers erupted around them. Mischa raised his fists, backing away from his opponent. Nikolai echoed Yuri's triumphant shout and Nastasia clapped. Mischa offered his opponent a hand and the man begrudgingly let himself be helped up. Yuri swung over the railings and ran to congratulate Mischa, leaving Nikolai alone with Nastasia.

They remained behind while others flooded the ring. Nikolai rested his hand on Nastasia's back and angled himself closer to her, preventing others from bumping into her. "I should take you back to the palace. It's already past midnight."

"Is it?" She sighed, her shoulders drooping. "All right. I suppose we should go before the guard shift changes."

Nikolai caught Yuri's eye and gestured to Nastasia. His friend gave a curt nod and Mischa waved before turning back to his fans. Nikolai took Nastasia's hand in his and led her away from the tavern. They walked in silence until they reached the street.

"Thank you," Nastasia said. "For bringing me here tonight. It was fun."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Nikolai glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"We're going to have to refrain from seeing each other until after dark from now on, aren't we?"

"At least until your parents leave for the tournament. I'm not keen on being arrested simply for trying to see you."

"Would Volya actually do that?"

Nikolai set his jaw and stared at the road ahead. "Yes."

Nastasia sighed once more. "I wish there was something I could do. Something that could help us both. You'd think that being a Princess and the Moon Blessed Saint might give me some authority, but it doesn't." Nastasia lifted her hand and starlight crackled at the center of her palm. "Do you think that would change if I showed my parents what I'm capable of?"

Nikolai stiffened at the hard edge of her voice. It was rare that he heard it, but he knew what it meant. His Princess had a hidden side that no one ever saw. It was chained up and locked away deep within her, encased in shadows and starlight.

But every so often, those chains rattled, and whatever she was trying to suppress attempted to make itself known. He sometimes wondered how long it would be before that side broke free. What would drive Nastasia over the edge and break the control she was kept under?

"I don't know, Nasi," Nikolai answered finally.

"Neither do I."

They fell silent as they reached the side gate leading onto the palace grounds. They slipped back into the maze without seeing any guards, thanks to the growing darkness around them. The clouds had thickened, to Nikolai's dismay. "A storm is coming," he said, eyeing the sky warily. "I should get home. Will you be all right?"

The corners of Nastasia's sweet, round lips tilted up. "I'll be fine unless that alcohol disagrees with me and I trip on the stairs again."

Nikolai rolled his eyes. "Your Highness, if you'd like me to escort you to your chambers, you need only ask."

Nastasia raised a hand to her lips in mock surprise. "You mistake me, Sir. That would be far too scandalous."

"I offered to escort you to them, not accompany you inside them," Nikolai chuckled. Although I would be happy to do both, he added to himself, a hint of warmth rushing to his face.

Nastasia seemed at a loss for words. There was still a smile upon her lips and Nikolai knew by the persistent glow of her skin that she was blushing yet again. A few raindrops pattered to the ground, but he ignored them. He took a step towards her. Nastasia didn't protest when he pulled down the scarf that had covered her head all night. Gently, he combed his fingers through a lock of her hair.

"You've never danced with me before," Nastasia murmured.

"What?"

"Tonight was the first night you've ever danced with me. I wasn't even aware that you knew how."

"I'm sorry if it made you uncomfortable."

"It didn't." Nastasia's pupil-less gaze met his. "Far from it. I...I felt quite comfortable."

"As did I." Nastasia ducked her head and Nikolai's mouth curled sideways. "I thought of a poem while we were dancing, actually."

"Oh?" She didn't move as he brought his lips towards her ear and spoke.

"She smells of rain and fallen dew.
Of darkness and crisp moonlit air.
Sweet incense of starlight,
Far beyond compare."

Nastasia turned towards him, her nose brushing his jaw. "Beautiful words, but it does seem strange to think about you smelling me."

Nikolai straightened with a laugh. "I suppose you're right." Soft raindrops were falling steadily now. Nastasia swiped a hand across her forehead with a grimace. "Get some rest, Nasi. I'll see you tomorrow." Nastasia smiled and headed off. Nikolai waited until he could no longer see her silhouette before turning back the way they'd come.

•༻᯽༺•

Locations flashed before her eyes, passing faster than she could perceive. Trees, waves, sand dunes, cliffs, mountains...

The images shifted into armor and swords. Eyes glinted beneath helmets. Metal shrieked against metal. Spots of crimson flecked the ground. Starlight and shadows flooded her senses.

A hushed voice filled the air. "Follow your heart, for it is the one thing that will not lead you astray." And the dream faded into silent nothingness.

•༻᯽༺•

The bed shuddered, jolting Nastasia out of a dead sleep. "Wake up, Nasi!" Alexei called, bouncing at the foot of it. Nastasia groaned, rolling over and covering her face with a blanket.

"You're too old to be jumping on beds, Alexei," she grumbled.

"You may be right, but I don't care." The bed shook again as he flopped down beside her. Nastasia drew her blanket back slightly. Alexei clasped his hands atop his stomach, loose blond hair tumbling around his face. "Letters have been arriving all morning."

Dread pooled in the pit of her stomach. "From who?"

"From everyone. The rulers have agreed to the tournament. They're already listing the Knights who will enter from each kingdom."

"Has a date been announced for the beginning of the tournament?" Nastasia dared to ask.

"Not yet, but it's only a matter of days." Alexei faced her. "Suppose Volya enters and wins your hand. What will you do?"

"I'll have to marry him."

"What about Nikolai?"

Nastasia squeezed her eyes shut and hid beneath the blanket again. "What about Nikolai?" She echoed.

"You care about him, don't you?"

"Of course, but that makes no difference."

"Yes it does. Mother and Father will be leaving while the tournament is ongoing. You and Nikolai will have time to..."

Nastasia threw back the covers and sat up. "Time to what, Alexei? To run away? That would never work and you know it. Nikolai would be marked as a traitor and accused of kidnapping not only a Princess, but a Saint. As soon as we were found, he'd be arrested and executed in some terrible way, and I'd be forced to remarry."

"But what if..."

"No buts," she interrupted. "No what ifs'. No maybes or perhaps'. There was never going to be any time for us. We knew that. It's why we remain the way we have always been." She laid back, swallowing hard. "I need to resign myself to marrying whomever wins this tournament. That certainly won't be Nikolai."

"I was just trying to be supportive," Alexei muttered.

"I know. You've been on my side throughout all of this." Nastasia reached out and squeezed her brother's hand. "I truly do appreciate it."

The ghost of a smile flickered across Alexei's lips. "I expect the favor to be returned when it's my turn to marry." His features twisted in a look of disgust. "Forget I just said that. I don't want to think about getting married. How did it go last night?"

"It was fun. Nikolai's friends are very interesting, and no one else recognized me." Nastasia paused, knitting her brows. No one recognized me. She sat up as her thoughts began to whirl.

"Nasi? What is it?" Alexei prompted.

"No one recognized me," she repeated. "I walked among our people for an entire evening and no one recognized me."

"So?"

Slowly, Nastasia's mouth curved upwards. "I think I have an idea."