Siege and Storm (The Grisha 2)

Nikolai took a big bite. “You don’t survive at sea if you can’t stomach fish. ”

“Don’t play the poor sailor with me. I ate on your ship, remember? Sturmhond’s chef was hardly serving up salt cod and hardtack. ”

He gave a mournful sigh. “I wish I could have brought Burgos with me. The court kitchens seem to feel that a meal isn’t complete if it isn’t swimming in butter. ”

“Only a prince would complain about too much butter. ”

“Hmm,” he said thoughtfully, patting his flat stomach. “Maybe a royal gut would lend me more authority. ”

I laughed and then nearly jumped as the door opened and Mal entered. He stopped when he saw Nikolai.

“I didn’t realize you’d be dining at the Little Palace, moi tsarevich. ” He bowed stiffly to Nikolai and then to me.

“You don’t have to do that,” I said.

“Yes he does. ”

“You heard Prince Perfect,” Mal said, and joined us at the table.

Nikolai grinned. “I’ve had a lot of nicknames, but that one is easily the most accurate. ”

“I didn’t know you were awake,” I said to Mal.

“I’ve been up for hours, roaming around, looking for something to do. ”

“Excellent,” said Nikolai. “I’ve come to issue an invitation. ”

“Is it to a ball?” asked Mal, snagging the remaining bit of roll from my plate. “I do so hope it’s to a ball. ”

“While I’m sure you dance a magnificent waltz, no. Boar have been spotted in t

he woods near Balakirev. There’s a hunt leaving tomorrow, and I’d like you to go. ”

“Short on friends, your highness?”

“And long on enemies,” replied Nikolai. “But I won’t be there. My parents aren’t quite ready to let me out of their sight. I’ve spoken to one of the generals, and he’s agreed to have you as his guest. ”

Mal leaned back and crossed his arms. “I see. So I go gallivanting off to the woods for a few days, and you stay here,” he said with a meaningful glance at me.

I shifted in my chair. I didn’t like the implication, but I did have to admit it seemed like an obvious ploy. Too obvious for Nikolai, really.

“You know, for two people with a love eternal, you’re awfully insecure,” Nikolai said. “Some of the highest-ranking members of the First Army will be in the hunting party, and so will my brother. He’s an avid hunter, and I’ve seen for myself that you’re the best tracker in Ravka. ”

“I thought I was supposed to be guarding Alina,” Mal said. “Not running around with a bunch of pampered royals. ”

“Tolya and Tamar can manage while you’re away. And this is a chance for you to make yourself useful. ”

Great, I thought as I watched Mal’s eyes narrow. Just perfect.

“And what are you doing to be useful, your highness?”

“I’m a prince,” said Nikolai. “Being useful isn’t part of the job description. But,” he added, “when I’m not lazing about being handsome, I’ll be trying to better equip the First Army and gather intelligence on the Darkling’s location. Word has it he’s entered the Sikurzoi. ”

Mal and I both perked up at that. The Sikurzoi were the mountains that ran along much of the border between Ravka and the Shu Han.

“You think he’s in the south?” I asked.

Nikolai popped another piece of herring into his mouth. “It’s possible,” he said. “I would have thought he’d be more likely to ally with the Fjerdans. The northern border is far more vulnerable. But the Sikurzoi are a good place to hide. If the reports are true, we need to move to forge an alliance with the Shu as fast as possible so that we can march on him from two fronts. ”

“You want to take the war to him?” I said, surprised.

“Better than waiting for him to be strong enough to bring it to us. ”

“I like it,” Mal said with grudging admiration. “It’s not something the Darkling would expect. ”

I was reminded that, while Mal and Nikolai had their differences, Mal and Sturmhond had been on the way to becoming friends.

Nikolai took a sip of tea and said, “There’s also disturbing news coming out of the First Army. It seems a number of soldiers have found religion and deserted. ”

I frowned. “You don’t mean—”

Nikolai nodded. “They’re taking refuge in the monasteries, joining the Apparat’s cult of the Sun Saint. The priest is claiming you’ve been taken prisoner by the corrupt monarchy. ”