Anxiety and anticipation set in hard and fast upon their arrival in Larys. Every day, Nastasia accompanied Josephine and Elise to inquire about the next challenge, but every day, the answer was the same. The Emperor would not reveal it until the end of the week.

    Until then, they were encouraged to partake of the festivities throughout the city. Nastasia had no desire for any of them. The last thing she wanted to do right now was go out drinking and dancing. And the fact that every Knight was being pushed to do so left her feeling very suspicious. The Emperor was disorienting them for something.

    Nastasia could almost guarantee that when the challenge began, all the Knights who had spent the week celebrating would come to regret it. Thankfully, she wasn't the only Knight with some semblance of sense. Most of the other Nyctolian Knights were refraining from the parties too.

    A conversation with Sir Arlov and his aides revealed that they shared Nastasia's suspicions. She was grateful for that. Sir Arlov seemed to be taking their alliance seriously, and she hoped it would be to both of their advantages.

    The days passed slower and slower the closer it came to the time of the tournament. Nastasia attempted to pass the time by training and even practicing her magic. She had to be careful though. Andrian guards and Knights were patrolling everywhere. Their presence was so overbearing that she was beginning to feel more like a prisoner than a guest, and something told her that was exactly how Emperor Kazimir intended for them to feel.

    On the evening of the sixth day, Nastasia found herself absently wandering through the camp. The day had been a particularly trying one. She'd stumbled across a private conversation between her father and General Nikita. Once more, her mother had been absent, and that was part of the discussion.

    "She won't tell me where she's going or what she's doing. I think she's doing something in regards to our search for Nastasia, but I don't see why she won't just tell me," Gavriil had explained.

    "Perhaps she won't answer you because what she's doing is something she knows you'd disapprove of," General Nikita responded. "I don't want to lay down false implications, but the Queen grew up here. She has friends and family who remain. Maybe even..."

    "Don't overstep your position, General," Gavriil warned.

    "Your Majesty," General Nikita had tried again, then, softer, "Gavriil, neither of us are strangers to the Queen's habit of sending private messages here. You have never permitted me to intercept them or even to review them, nor have you done so yourself, but maybe it's time to open yourself to the possibility. The Queen might have a lover here."

    Nastasia's heart had clenched with pain for her father when he shook his head, closing his eyes briefly. "I refuse to accuse her of something that may not be true. And...even if it is, I don't believe that's what Serafima is doing right now. She's smart enough to know we've noticed her disappearances. She wouldn't put someone special to her at risk like this."

    "Then what do you want me to do?"

    Many silent minutes had passed before Gavriil finally gave an answer. "Just make sure she's safe. Don't try to stop her."

    "You don't want to know what she's doing?"

    "Not unless you suspect it's something that will bring harm to my children or my kingdom."

    "And what about to you?"

    "Protect my Queen, General. That is your order." Her father had left without waiting for General Nikita's response, and Nastasia had retreated to her tent to process everything she'd overheard.

    Now, her thoughts churned as she walked. What if her mother was trying to look for her? What if she was with someone else? What if it was nothing, or just another small grasp for freedom, like the one Nastasia was making? She didn't have the answers. She just wished she could be there for her father and speak to him, or speak to Alexei or Nikolai.

    By the Goddesses, she missed them all so much. Nastasia's hands curled into fists and shadows slipped around her fingers, offering what little comfort they could. She blinked back the faint burning in her eyes and crossed her arms, walking a little faster.

    Perhaps she could find someone to keep her company. She didn't want to be alone right now. But she didn't exactly want to be with Josephine and Elise either. They wouldn't understand why she was upset and she couldn't explain it to them without giving the whole truth.

    She'd have to find someone who only knew her as the Silent Knight. Someone who wouldn't expect her to speak, but could keep her company regardless. Nastasia turned down another row of tents and made her way towards Sir Arlov's, double checking that her scarf was fastened in place.

    She reached the tent and paused, clearing her throat to announce her presence. No answer came, so she did it again, louder this time. Dismay weighed upon her when there was again no answer. Nastasia turned to leave, but hesitated as she spied a notebook seated atop a small crate near the tent flaps. It looked familiar. Very familiar.

    Nastasia hesitated once more, then picked it up. She turned the book over in her hands, examining it from end to end. Yes, she had to have seen this book before. She bit her lip and whispered an internal apology before opening it. Nastasia thumbed through the pages, her heartbeat quickening as she recognized the poems on each one.

    This was Nikolai's poetry notebook. But how was it here? He wouldn't have let Mischa or Yuri take it. He always carried it with him. Or, almost always, Nastasia corrected herself.

    She reached the back of the notebook and drew a slow breath. These were the poems he never let her read. His secret poems. No, Nikolai certainly hadn't given this notebook away. It had to have come with him, which meant that...

    Nastasia moved to close the notebook but from the corner of her eye, a single line caught her attention. My Moonlit Princess, My Silent Knight. Nastasia clapped the notebook to her chest, hardly daring to hope. Nikolai is here!

    A silvery glow spread through her skin at the thought. He was disguised as Sir Arlov. He had to be! It was the only explanation that made sense. And he knows I'm here. But how long has he known? Why hasn't he spoken to me? What is he doing?

    The answers were simple. He was doing exactly the same thing she was, and his reasons were all the same. A smile spread across her lips as she turned to find him. Instead, she smacked face-first into a tall frame shrouded by the shadows of twilight.

    Nastasia gasped and stumbled backwards, but Vadik Kamenev caught her by the wrist and yanked her closer. She managed to keep hold of Nikolai's notebook and strained against Vadik's grasp. "In a hurry, Silent Knight?" He sneered.

    He snatched the notebook from her hands and tossed it aside. "I think it can wait." Nastasia barely bit back a cry as he shoved her to the ground. "You think I haven't noticed you slinking around Yensev and I? Asking the other Knights about us, and about those who have died? I know what you're up to."

    Nastasia twisted out of reach and dragged herself upright, narrowly missing his lunge at her. She wasn't fast enough to dodge his fist however. She went careening backwards and pain thudded across her face from the blow. Vadik hooked a foot around her ankle and jerked her off balance.

    Nastasia crashed to the ground and flipped onto her stomach. Shadows dug into the dirt as she splayed her fingers wide and hauled herself away. "I know what you are," Vadik snarled, grabbing her by the foot and dragging her backwards. Nastasia rolled onto her side with a grunt.

    "And you're a fool if you think a pathetic woman like you could stop our plans." The words barely registered. As soon as he'd pulled her in reach, Nastasia snapped her free foot up into Vadik's face. His nose crunched beneath her heel and the Knight staggered backward with a pained cry.

    Nastasia wasted no time throwing herself to her feet. She snatched up Nikolai's notebook when she ran past it but didn't look back. She ran through the rows of tents, dodging past Knights left and right. Sounds hammered in her eardrums, convincing her that Vadik had recovered himself and was giving chase.

    Her breath came in ragged pants and pain still bloomed across her face. Nastasia ran faster, ignoring the startled cries of those she tripped by. She ran and ran until a blurry figure caught her by the shoulders. A horrified gasp broke from her lips and she attempted to twist away.

    "It's me. It's me! What's wrong?" She blinked and shook her head, forcing her vision to clear. Sir Arlov held her tightly, his gaze dark with concern as it swept over her.

    She searched for a voice to answer with, but found none. Instead, Nastasia just pushed the notebook into his hands. Sir Arlov, no, Nikolai, looked down at it, then back at her. "What happened?" He asked. "Were you at my tent?" Nastasia nodded, swallowing hard. A shudder ran down her spine and he took a step closer. "You're bleeding."

    He lifted one of her hands, revealing a bloody gash across her palm which she hadn't noticed before. Nastasia looked at it for a moment, then met Nikolai's gaze. Her heart twisted and it was all she could do to refrain from hooking her arms around his neck. She didn't want to see Sir Arlov's eyes. She wanted to see Nikolai's, their soothing brown depths flecked with amber.

    That thought struck up another question within her. The Mage who glamoured my eyes said they'd appear blue to anyone who hasn't looked me in the eye before. Nikolai has, Nastasia recalled. So why didn't he recognize me before now? Can he not see my real eyes?

    Or could his own glamour have something to do with it? There was only one way he'd managed to look like Sir Arlov so completely, and that was through magic. A glamour would've changed his eyes from his own to Sir Arlov's, and Sir Arlov had never looked her in the eye, so the Mage's spell would still work.

    "Were you attacked?" Sir Arlov's voice broke past her thoughts and Nastasia nodded. "Who?"

    His hand tightened on hers. She let out a hiss as pain stabbed through her palm. He released her, guilt sweeping over his features. Nastasia just pointed back in the direction of his tent, then sliced her hand across her throat and shook her head.

    "Vadik," he realized. "He went there for me."

    She nodded and made the gesture again. "Don't worry, I won't go back without Mischa and Yuri," he promised. Nastasia gave a small sigh of relief and turned away. She paused when he caught her uninjured hand. "Be careful."

    Nastasia smiled beneath her scarf and brushed her thumb over his. He said nothing more when she slipped her hand from his. Nastasia left quietly, her heart still pounding, but for another reason this time.

    Now she was even more glad she'd given him that letter and that they would be allies for tomorrow's challenge. They'd always stood a better chance together than apart, and whatever plots were in motion around them, they'd face by each other's side.