Page 9 of Tiger's Trek
The tiger and the tsarevna conferred. “He believes it’s ahead—straight for one thousand paces and then left for another four hundred, give or take.” To Iriko, she murmured, “That’s how you measure everything? What about distance or direction? North or northwest?” She paused. “Huh. I suppose you’re right. That would make it difficult. But what if there was a mountain in your way?”
Nik rolled his eyes. “While the two of you talk about it, I’m going to put on my boots and zip over there and scope out the area. If I don’t come back, we’ll meet at the fire.”
“Right, but what about—” Stacia’s hair blew back as Nik breezed past them and disappeared into the trees. “Huh. He left us.”
Does he often do that? I thought he was supposed to follow your orders, not go off on his own.
“Yeah. He’s more Veru’s friend than he is a soldier these days.”
Are you saying they’re intimate?
Stacia snorted. “No.” She quirked her head and considered. “At least I don’t believe so. Veru doesn’t let any man come close to her except Nik. I’m not sure she even considers him a man, truth be told. At least not in that way. He’s more of a younger brother.”
Interesting. I don’t think he thinks of the two of you in a brotherly way.
That comment caught Stacia by surprise. She knew, of course, that Nik had feelings for Veru, but her? That wasn’t possible. And yet...
Iriko interrupted her thoughts.And what about you? I don’t know the word in your language. Are you... beholden?
Throwing her head back, Stacia laughed. It was something she rarely did, and she found she liked it. Usually she was wound as tightly as her hair, trying to prove to herself and everyone else that she was as good a leader as her father had been. There was something about being around Iriko that made her feel reckless, like it was okay to abandon the pressing duties that weighed on her and leave them on the floor like ruined garments for someone else to pick up.
“No. I’m notbeholden. Nor do I have any suitors at the moment.”
Why not? You must be quite wealthy. And there’s an entire empire to be won along with your hand. Surely you can’t bethatunattractive.
The tsarevna stiffened at that, removed her hand from Iriko’s neck, and took a step away. “That’s none of your business,” she answered curtly.
Apologies. I didn’t mean any insult. Beauty isn’t as prized among my people. Don’t misunderstand me—it’s nice, but when your days are spent following herds and your body is exposed to the wind, snow, and ice, even the most beautiful women age quickly, their skin becoming a map of experience and trial. When we select a life’s companion, we are lucky to find someone we laugh with as we work together, a person who is kindhearted and quick of mind, a good teacher and storyteller. Strength of character and resilience. This is what is important to us. Beauty is temporary. A trifle.
“I see. Then... it sounds as if I might fit in well with your people.”
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
“You don’t think so?” Stacia asked, placing her hand back on the ruff of his neck. They continued forward, walking at their own pace, figuring Nik would discover them easily enough. “I’ll have you know I’m an excellent general. I’ve studied with all the best fighters. I’m a master of every weapon in the empire. Certainly I can fight off a reindeer.”
The tiger snorted.You don’t fight a reindeer. You herd them, preserve their meat and skin. For us, life isn’t about war, at least not most of the time. It’s about day-to-day survival.
They walked quietly for a moment. Then Stacia said, “You must think of me as a pampered, spoiled thing compared to your women.”
You forget I’ve seen your hands. You have scars and calluses caused by pain and lessons only you learned. Those hands don’t belong to someone pampered and spoiled. But you’re right. I don’t think it would be a good idea for you to live with my people.
Stacia could feel the prick of hot tears at the back of her eyes. She’d never felt the sting of rejection hit her in such a way before. She supposed she’d never let herself care about a man’s opinion of her until now. She wished above all else that she was wearing her armor and that she had a weapon in her hands.
The thin, flowery peasant’s dress she’d woken up in was nothing like the heavy clothing she was used to wearing in the castle. And she never left her hair hanging down her back. She might as well be dressed in her nightclothes. No wonder he thought of her as useless. Stacia clenched her fists and stiffened her back. Iriko was wrong about her, and she could prove it. She’d like to show him exactly what kinds of lessons she’d learned the hard way as a young woman. Then her shoulders sank. He was right. No matter what she did, she’d never be as brave or as clever or as strong as others needed her to be.
Almost unable to choke out the words, she asked stiffly, “Why? Why would you consider me not good enough for your people?”
One simple reason: You’re far too white to fit in with us.
“I’m...I’m too white?” Stacia spluttered.
That’s right, Iriko said coolly.A girl that white? We’d lose you too easily in a blizzard.
Stacia snorted with shock and then began laughing.
Besides, a redheaded tsarevna with absolutely no experience with reindeer migration is a liability. There’s simply too much to teach you.
“Is that right? I’m a quick study, I’ll have you know. Hey, wait a minute. How do you know I have red hair?”
