The surface of the lake is smooth as glass. No boats, no ripples, no clouds. Just a mirror reflecting back an uninterrupted expanse of sky painted in warm hues as the sun dips toward the horizon. A golden expanse of nothing.
If only the King's thoughts were so still.
This is the first moment of quiet that he can remember in ages. The months since the Darklings failed revolution have been packed with all number of councils, reports, and meetings upon meetings, every diplomat, every citizen standing impatiently by with some complaint or other. There doesn't seem to be a corner of this country that's not broken.
Nikolai tosses a rock onto the lake's surface, shattering it into thousands of rippling fragments.
Perhaps he should go find David. He's never failed to have a project brewing, anything to silence the restless thoughts stirring inside his head. They seem to be harder to quell these days.
"Excuse me, moi tsar."
Nikolai hadn't heard anyone approach, but he can see fragments of Corporalki red reflecting back on the waves.
He turns. Just out of reach of the tide stands a girl. Her hair is swept back in a tight plait, the same ebony as the Heartrender embroidery on her sleeves. The dying rays light her bronze skin, haloing her in golden beams like the images of Saints painted on the walls of chapels.
Well, he had asked for a distraction.
He's never seen her before, but that's unsurprising with the influx of recruits they've had since the fold was destroyed. The kefta hangs loosely from her shoulders, dusting slightly against the sand. She must truly be new or Genya would have had a fit and bustled the Heartrender off to a seamstress before she could become more of an embarrassment. He'd seen it firsthand when the newest batch of Sun Summoners came in.
"Is this how we treat the memory of our Saint?" Genya had seethed, pulling at the drooping ends of some poor boys Kefta, "She destroyed the fold for you to look like a bunch of children dressing up in your babya's clothes? Disgraceful. Nazyalensky, get them out of my sight before they can become more of an embarrassment."
Those Summoners had not had a good day.
Turning his thoughts back to the Heartrender, the King nods for her to continue.
"We've all been looking for you," The girl's eyes are wide as she slips her hands into her sleeves, "The First Army believes that an assassin from Shu Han is going to attempt to infiltrate the palace. When they couldn't find you-"
"But you're here." She shakes her head quickly, "I've been instructed to remove you from the grounds until we know more."
"An assassin?"
"Yes, moi tsar."
"Alright," Nikolai sighs, sweeping his hand vaguely, "Lead the way."
It's not as if this is the first threat from their enemies since his ascension and it certainly won't be the last. Over the past months, Tamar had begun to see threats from every corner, becoming increasingly suspicious of each new addition to the palace.
It didn't help that she was usually right.
Nikolai follows a step behind the Heartrender as she cuts a wide circle around the little palace, taking them just inside the edge of the woods. Shadows are stripping the ground at their feet, distorted to their longest as the sun hits the horizon.
"Rather flattering that the Shu think this country would fall to pieces without me, don't you think?" Nikolai straightens his coat, "Makes me feel important."
YOU ARE READING
heartless | nikolai lantsov
Fanfiction"You enjoy knowing someone in your palace would as soon have a knife to your throat as help you?" "Oh, I count on it, keeps my wits sharp." \\ Kidnapping the King of Ravka was easy. Until it wasn't. When her plan goes awry, Rani is given two choi...
