Page 16 of Tiger's Trek
Nik sprang into action. “Fine!”
Nik told his boots to help him free the man. His stomach wrenched painfully in protest, but at least he wasn’t running. It took a minute, but the laces responded to his command. They stretched upward and wrapped around the vines holding the man to the tree, then tightened until the vines broke as if they’d been cut. Next, the laces wrapped around the man and gently lowered him to the ground.
Once down, the man rubbed his wrists and twisted his neck until Nik heard the sound of popping. “Ah, much better,” the man said.
Just then the trees near them parted, and Nik saw a swamp monster more terrifying than a leshi, more dangerous than a kikimora. Suddenly, he understood why the small man with powers of his own had been so very afraid. The two of them stared up into the gleaming yellow eyes of a female bolotnik.
Chapter5
A SILVER-TONGUED SPEAKER IS PLEASING, BUT A PINCHED-LIPPED LISTENER IS PRICELESS
Veru couldn’t sleep at all. The same wasn’t true for her two companions. Danik was lightly snoring. That didn’t bother her. She’d long since become used to his patterns of sleep. In fact, she found the sounds he made during slumber rather musical.
She’d always had trouble sleeping. Especially when on the road, out among her soldiers. Veru made it a habit of carefully vetting the men she allowed in her inner circle. Still, she never slept easily and kept her knives in ready reach. It was something she and Nik had in common. They both liked sleeping with their eyes on the tent door. It was only when Veru’s back was pressed against her sister’s that she allowed herself to sink into blissful oblivion.
Nik always tried to put her at ease. He knew when she was exhausted and when she was hiding it. And she could rest her eyes when he was near. At least, a little. But much as she valued Nikolai, the moment she stirred, he was at her side, checking to see if she needed anything. It was almost as if he’d been watching her while she slept. It was... disconcerting. As much as she trusted Nik, she never felt... settled or relaxed around him. At least not completely.
With Danik, it was different. He was so at ease with himself, so absolutely calm, even in the face of death, it helped quiet her stress as well. She attributed it to the way he was able to create a bubble of music in his mind. Even when he didn’t have an instrument in his hands, he could hum or sing or play something in the air with his fingertips. All he needed to do was close his eyes, and he’d get lost in a melody of his own making.
Veru doubted even the reanimated dead could wake Danik when he slept. He probably wouldn’t fear them either. When the wolves attacked, he was more worried over sending the hungry animals totheirdeaths than of his own demise. His dreams seemed peaceful too. There were no specters to haunt him in the dark. He was a simple man with simple needs. Perhaps that was what she liked about him. The emotions he felt, he put to music. It told her all she needed to know.
The other man, the new stranger, was quiet. She suspected he was sleeping now as well, but she really couldn’t tell by any sounds he made. His breathing was steady and rhythmic, but not as deep as Danik’s. Lying there on a mat provided by the stranger, her head cushioned on her arm, Veru stared at the embers of the banked fire and felt the chill of the night air tickle her exposed skin and penetrate the thin blanket and her even thinner gossamer dress.
She rolled over to warm her back and forced her eyes closed, surprised to find them wet with tears. At first she thought her emotions might be due to missing the companionship of her sister or perhaps the loss of her home and mother, but then she realized what she was really feeling was the disappearance of her tiger.
For the first time, Veru appreciated how the tiger’s fur had kept her warm even in the bitter cold. It had felt like a warm blanket wrapped around her, and it had soothed her in a way that was difficult to describe.Where had the cat gone?Was she cured? If so, then why did she feel so... empty? Clutching the piece of amulet at her neck, she concentrated, trying to call the lost tiger. If she found her, perhaps she’d find her way home as well.Come back to me, she cried out in her mind, trying to sense the presence of her whiskered other half. But there was no answer. Veru finally gave up, her body shivering.
On cool evenings, all she needed to do was curl her body in a circle, tucking her head a bit, and it was like sleeping beneath a dozen plush blankets. Even when snow piled on top of her, she was never cold. She simply shook off the wet, fluffy stuff and her coat dried without the cold mush ever penetrating deep enough to cause a chill.
Having claws and teeth was like never being without a weapon. Veru was always prepared for a fight or to hunt. She never had to worry about being taken seriously or losing an important tool or weapon, because they were always with her. As a human, she’d sleep with her knives at the ready, endlessly working to keep them sharp and polished. Tigers didn’t need to concern themselves with such things. A tiger’s weapons were always ready.
Then there was the miraculous ability to heal that came with the magic. Veru had to admit that special gift often came in handy. Not once did she need to worry about infection or a cut. Even though Danik’s trap might have proved deadly to a real tiger—and it certainly was painful enough—not long after it was removed, the broken bones and sinews in her foot were completely healed. She barely gave it a thought anymore.
Now that she was human again, she’d have to think twice about where she stepped—be wary of cuts, scrapes, and broken bones, especially as she didn’t have her armor. What was worse, not only did she now need to take care of herself, but she’d also have to take care of Danik. Without weapons and proper clothing, they’d be vulnerable.
Though she knew that their original goal had been to figure out a way to rid themselves of the tigers, Veru was no longer certain she wanted to part with the cat. Now that she was gone, Veru could admit she missed her feline counterpart, and not just because she needed her as a weapon. The tsarevna felt the loss of the bond with the cat in a way that was surprising.Maybe I just need to coax her out of hiding, she thought.Perhaps if I find just the right lure.
The night passed slowly for her as Veru kept pondering what she might do, continually opening her eyes to check on the progress of the moon. When it finally sank, and she saw the first signs of sunrise, she wearily stretched and sat up, thinking she’d try to get the fire going again before the others woke, but when she turned around, her human joints aching and creaking in a way her tiger body hadn’t, she found the fire was already crackling and a warm mug of tea had been placed on the rock beside her.
Danik was still snoring, sleeping soundly, but the stranger sat bright-eyed across the fire and lifted his mug, nodding to her before sipping.
“Dobroye utro,” he said quietly. “Did I pronounce that correctly?”
“You did. Dobroye utro to you as well. Good morning. Have you not been speaking our language very long?”
“I suppose that depends on your definitions oflongandspeaking. Suffice it to say, this is my first time with your language, so please forgive me any errors and feel free to correct my mistakes. I promise you won’t offend me.”
“Konechno. I will.”
“Spasibo.”
“Are you now going to tell me what we’re doing here? Who you are? And what is expected of us?”
“I’ll tell you as much as I am able. Is that sufficient?”
Veru nodded, indicating he should do as he liked, but not verbally agreeing to anything at this point in the conversation. She could tell this one was wily. She’d have to tread carefully if she was to learn what she needed. Her parents had taught her well.
The man smiled. “You remind me... well... I suppose that’s neither here nor there. I just find you quite a remarkable young lady, Verusha Stepanov.”
