Page 89 of Tiger's Trek
Nik had always served the tsarevnas. He’d never had someone ask him what he’d prefer before. He rather liked it. “Why don’t we look around at the different vendors first and see which looks most interesting, and then we’ll try a few things?”
“Sounds perfect.”
They spent the next couple of hours sampling a variety of foods, some of which they really enjoyed, others they found they had differing opinions on, while others they both loathed entirely. It was a rather fun game. Soon they were both stuffed and declared they couldn’t take another bite. They sat and watched one of the events, and Pushka seemed happy to listen to Nik describe the various skills in the different contenders. She suggested that since he seemed to know so much about fighting, he should observe the warriors and then keep a tally so they could place bets using his knowledge and therefore improve their odds of winning.
Pushka volunteered to take notes while he made observations since she couldn’t abide bloodshed. They purchased a little book with a few pens and had made several entries by the time they met up with Pasha and Polina again. Nik was actually a bit sad to see his time with Pushka end. He’d found her a rather interesting companion and easy to talk with.
“Well,” Pasha said. “I see the two of you have been getting on.”
“Yes,” Pushka said. “We were just getting ready to place some bets. Would you like to come with us?”
“What’s this?” Polina asked her sister, taking the book from her gloved hands. She thumbed through the book, and Nik could see how doing so irritated her sister.
Offering his arm again, he said, “Pushka, bring your notes and we’ll place our bets before the evening events begin; then we should get some dinner, don’t you think?”
“Perhaps that little Strike It Rich Cantina we wanted to try?”
“The one where we have to pan for our supper? Sounds interesting.”
“And you never know. You might find a gold nugget along with your side salad,” Pushka said with a laugh as she took Nikolai’s arm.
“You two are welcome to join us, if you like,” Nik said smoothly as he lifted Pushka’s notebook from Polina’s grasp and then turned his date toward the betting booths.
Polina sulked at the treatment, but Pasha grinned. “Look at that, why don’t you?” he said under his breath.
“What?” Polina said, fluffing her hair.
“Boy’s sorrow shrunk at least an inch. Told you your sister would be good for him.”
“As good as I am for you?”
“Now, darlin’,” Pasha said, turning to his date, “nobody is as good as you. And don’t you know it!”
Polina brightened and rubbed noses with Pasha, then wound her arm through his. As they strolled behind the others, she said, “Every man needs a good woman. Those who don’t have one end up being truculent to everyone else around them and a plague to themselves.”
“Don’t I know it,” he agreed.
They approached the betting station where Pushka was checking the notes in her book and Nik was scanning the upcoming events. Suddenly, he turned, his face white.
“Pasha!” he said, taking hold of the shorter man’s coat. “My friends are here! At least one of them. Maybe more!”
“What do you mean?”
“See that?” Nik said, pointing to the headline event happening later in the week.
“Which one?”
“The one that says ‘tigers.’”
“You’re friends with the tiger trainers?” Pushka asked, confused.
“Not the trainers. With the tigers.”
“I don’t think I understand what he’s saying, Pushka,” Polina said.
Frustrated, Nik ran a hand through his hair. “It says right there on the program—a black, a red, a gold, and an ivory tiger. Those are my friends. They can change into tigers. Those are their tigers’ colors. Well, not the ivory one. I have no idea who that is. But the others. That’s Veru, Stacia, and Iriko!”
“You’re saying those tigers are people?” Pushka asked.
