flowed down his cheeks. He looked sincere. But beyond appearances, Ivan had no way of measuring Dimitri's heart. He had been humiliated here today. If he was a good man, he would now be the most fervently loyal soldier in Taina's army, the most faithful of King Matfei's druzhina. But if he was not a man of honor and goodness, he would already be plotting his revenge for this humiliation. Someone would die for this day's work. There'd be no more talk, if he betrayed the king again.
But for now, the appearance was all that counted. The king reached down and raised Dimitri up. Katerina did the same for Ivan. The four of them together turned to face the crowd. Only one more step was needed. Katerina reached out her hand to Father Lukas. The priest came forward and took his place between Katerina and her father, with Ivan on the other side of her, and Dimitri on the opposite end of the line, beside the king.
Katerina raised her voice and let it ring out across the crowd. "In the holy name of Christ our Savior, the kingdom of Taina is whole again!"
The cheers were deafening, as the people shouted. Taina! King Matfei! Katerina! Dimitri! Even the name of Ivan could be heard.
Their first victory together. And Katerina had chosen to heed his counsel. Now Ivan could only hope that his counsel had been wise, or, if he was wrong, that the price of Dimitri's pardon would not be too high.
Baba Yaga
"It's so good to be home, my love," she said to Bear. "Did you miss me?"
"I felt your absence every moment you were gone," said Bear.
"How ambiguous you are," said Baba Yaga. "But I'm content, for here you are, and here I am, and this is our happy home."
"I see a familiar thirst for blood in your eyes," said Bear.
"But not your blood, so you shouldn't mind," she said. "The pretty little princess and her husband have just defeated my puppet."
"You always said that he was just a toy to you," said Bear.
"Oh, I know. I didn't expect much. But I thought at least he'd go out with a splash of blood. That he'd kill the king, or at least that annoying Ivan, before he went down."
"It's always tragic when you don't get your way, my love," said Bear.
"Never mind. No loss. The fools haven't even killed him. They've given him back his sword - because he promised to be loyal. Don't they know that once I've won a man's heart, he's mine forever?"
"You know, you haven't actually tested that proposition," said Bear.
"Do you doubt it?" she asked. Her temper was ready to flare, for despite the unconcern that she affected, Bear knew that it bothered her very much to have been defeated in the first skirmish of the war.
"I merely point out that in order to know a man is yours forever, you would have to wait an infinitely long time."
"Not infinite," said Baba Yaga. "Only until the man is dead. That's forever as far as he's concerned."
"Ah," said Bear. "I see your point."
"And I see yours, don't think I missed it. Let me assure you, my dearest darling swatch of fur, that the spells that helped you discover your deep abiding love for me will never dim with time, and there is no one alive with the power to break what I have bound."
"Technically speaking," said Bear, "I have that power."
"But since I have bound your power to my will, and I don't will you to be free of my binding, I can't think how your power could ever be used to break those bonds of affection and devotion and humiliating servility that make us such a perfect couple. So the word forever seems to apply in your happy case, as well. Aren't you glad?"
"I am as happy as you wish me to be," said Bear.
She cackled with delight at the deftness of his answer. "Oh, Bear, the best thing I ever did was give you speech! Only you are worthy of me! I shall be entertained forever, because I have you!"
"No doubt you'll strive to keep me entertained as well."
"Why yes," she said. "For instance, I have all these useless people that came along with my flying house. I have no interest in feeding them. They're not good at any service I require. So you may sport with them however you like. In fact, I resolve not to feed you again until you've rid me of