Chapter 3

Tolya scanned the sparsely forested terrain from his crouched position on the edge of Ravka. They were waiting for the cover of night to venture into disputed territory. Tamar was checking Zoya's wounds before she transformed. They mercifully hadn't gotten infected.

"Do they pain you during the transformation?" Tolya asked in concern.

Zoya shook her head. "No. The change is quick."

He nodded solemnly. He hated that his friends had to go through this, all for some petty jealousy. If Vasily wasn't the current regent of Ravka, Tolya would have half a mind to cut the bastard down. But since that would be an act of war, he'd restrain himself.

As dusk deepened, Zoya got up to go behind a tree for privacy as she undressed. The fox scampered away into the foliage the opposite direction. When the white tiger emerged, Tolya went to retrieve the clothes and take them to Nikolai, who was hunkered down in the bushes waiting for the garments. The only thing they didn't share was Zoya's embroidered blue coat, which Tolya passed to Tamar to fold up and put away.

Once Nikolai was dressed, they set off through the open countryside, senses peeled for danger. The waning gibbous moon gave them some light to navigate by, but the tiger's ability to see in the dark was a great help leading the way. It was still slow-going, as everyone was tired. It was difficult to get equal amounts of rest when two of their party had to trade off when they were human.

They eventually reached the mountains and the peak where the old observatory sat, carved into the hollowed out top. Unfortunately, the only way in was a set of steep, stone steps. Zoya tried to climb them, but her bulk was too big and her massive paws couldn't get enough purchase, dropping her back to the ground with a growl.

"That settles that," Tamar said. "We'll wait for morning."

"I'll take first watch," Tolya volunteered, and they hunkered down for the rest of the night.

Zoya and Tamar went to sleep quickly, but Nikolai remained awake. Unlike his other wistful late nights sketching, there was a brooding air about him.

"What is it?" Tolya asked quietly.

"You and Tamar are risking your lives for me," he responded, subdued.

"That's what friends do. You would do the same for one of us."

Nikolai gave him a faint smile and nodded, then lay down to get some sleep.

When morning broke, they performed the same practiced routine of swapping clothing. Depending on where the third object, the Sun Summoner, was, they should visit a town and try to barter for some extra clothes to replace Zoya's.

They began the climb up the steps. It was a long way, and the higher they ascended, the more the gusting winds threatened to unbalance them. Nikolai's fox was able to take the steps, but his small body began to struggle against the battering gales, so Tolya ended up picking him up and tucking him under his arm facing the cliff side to keep him shielded. It was a relief when they finally made it inside the mountain.

Tolya set Nikolai down and helped his sister find some torches to light. "We're looking for Nebesny's Telescope," he said.

"It would have to be on the highest level," Zoya replied.

So they made their way through the abandoned structure. A lot of adjoining passages were dark, but other rooms were illuminated enough from windows and shafts rising up to skylights in the rock. Tolya noticed an open door and storage crates inside.

"We should take some time to salvage any supplies we can find," he said.

So they made the detour without debate. Zoya was able to find a shirt and pants. They were a little big on her, but Tolya lent her his belt to hold the trousers up. He found some other clothes and decided to stuff two extra pairs into his bag in case they had another transformation mishap. They also came upon a small stash of weapons, and Zoya found a sword to carry. Then they resumed their search for the telescope, climbing their way up to the highest level where a large dome ceiling covered the top of the mountain that had been hollowed out. A giant telescope sat on a platform near the edge, pointing up at removable panels so it could view the night sky.

The three humans paced around the contraption, eyeing it speculatively. Unfortunately, none of them knew how a telescope worked or where the mirror was.

"We should just break it apart," Tamar finally said.

Nikolai made a mewling sound at that.

Tamar sighed. "Yes, I know, but none of us know how to take it apart properly."

The fox plopped himself down on his rump and glared at her unhappily.

Tolya shrugged. "We could just wait for nightfall and Nikolai can take it apart?" He was good at that kind of thing.

"The sooner we retrieve it, the sooner we can find the third piece and break the curse," Tamar pointed out to the fox.

"Yes, but we can't risk breaking the mirror trying to get to it," Zoya put in. "We can afford to wait." She nodded to Nikolai, who looked appeased.

"All right, then," Tolya said. "It looks like we have some time to kill."

"I'm going to see about rustling up some supper," Tamar said.

Nikolai yipped and bounded after her.

"Be careful," Tolya called after them.

Tamar gave a dismissive wave over her shoulder without looking back. They'd have to go back down to the fields to hunt, which Tolya didn't like, but they needed to eat and had too few opportunities to have decent meals.

Tolya meandered away from the telescope and into some nearby rooms. To his delight, there was a library. He perused the texts, though most were on astronomy and such, and he preferred poetry. Still, it was something to pass the time. He grabbed a few volumes and returned to the large chamber where Zoya sat, looking morose.

"Hey," Tolya said kindly, going over to her. "We're making progress."

"I know. But even if this works, then what? Vasily will come after us."

"You and Nikolai could come with me and Tamar. We'll find a ship and sail the seas. No one will catch us out there."

Zoya tilted her head up at him. "Nikolai talks of his time with you out there fondly."

Tolya nodded with a grin of his own. "Tamar and I feel the same. Nikolai has the makings of a great captain, one we would follow."

Zoya smiled. "I can see that. That will be our plan, then, when we're free of the curse."

Tolya beamed. He would look forward to it.

Tamar and Nikolai returned with some quail, and then the four of them went to find a kitchen to cook the meat and spice up some of their rations. After that, they took the afternoon to nap and rest, catching up on sleep while they could. Then, when night fell and Zoya and Nikolai traded places, they returned to the dome and telescope.

Nikolai ran his hand over the bronze sculpture with reverence, then leaned down to look through the lens. "Amazing. I've always wanted to see the stars like this. You can even see the planetary bodies!"

He stepped back and eagerly gestured for Tolya and Tamar to see for themselves. But his exuberance fell when he looked at Zoya in tiger form.

"I wish you could see it."

Tamar placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "We have to take it apart," she reminded him.

He nodded somberly and turned to study the contraption again, this time examining its bolts and panels. "Did you notice any tools somewhere?"

"Hang on." Tolya went to a work table and pulled out a tool box from underneath.

Nikolai started by undoing the screws on a panel, then carefully lifted it off. Piece by piece, he methodically dismantled the telescope until he uncovered the mirrors inside.

"Hm, how do we know which one is enchanted?" he mused.

Tolya dug out the crystal from his pack and brought it over. To their surprise, it began to glow, as did one of the mirrors in reaction.

Nikolai arched a brow. "There we go." He carefully lifted out the glowing mirror, then held it up next to the crystal. But other than the ethereal aura, nothing happened.

"Baghra said they were supposed to show us the third object," Tamar huffed.

Nikolai frowned. "Perhaps since the third object is the Sun Summoner, it needs sunlight?"

"That's a little thin," Tolya pointed out.

"What else can we do? If that doesn't work, we return to Baghra?"

Tolya wasn't fond of that idea. Who was to say the Black Witch hadn't sent them on this quest in order to manipulate them into bringing her these enchanted objects? But they had nothing else to go on.

So, once again, they were forced to wait for the changing of the moon. Tamar found a soft cloth to wrap the mirror in to keep it safe. Then they bedded down again for the rest of the night until Zoya was human and they could descend the steps again.

Except for Nikolai, who spent the time poring over texts and scrolls in the observatory. Tolya wished he would get some sleep, but he knew Nikolai didn't get much stimulation these days, and a place like this was a playground for his sharp mind. If they didn't have to go on the run after all this was over, Tolya could see Nikolai restoring the Spinning Wheel, turning it into something grand.

Morning eventually dawned, and they started to head out, but they didn't make it two feet before soldiers burst into the chamber, swords drawn. And to their utter shock, Vasily and the Darkling were with them.

Tolya and Tamar immediately reached for their weapons to fight, but the Darkling summoned shadows that snatched the blades out of their hands and sent them skittering across the room. They were swiftly surrounded and outnumbered.

Vasily grinned as he stepped forward. "Now, where is my dear brother?" he asked, roving his gaze around for the small fox.

"Forget the fox," the Darkling said, glancing at the dismantled telescope. "Where are the crystal and mirror?"

Tolya's heart skipped a beat, and he exchanged a tense look with his sister. How did he know?

A paw batted at the back of Tolya's leg. He didn't need words to understand and slowly lowered his knapsack off his shoulder to the floor. Nikolai burrowed his head into it and came back out with the crystal in his mouth.

Kirigan's eyes widened. "Stop him!"

Nikolai bolted.

"After him!" the Darkling bellowed. "I want that crystal."

Four men went after the fox.

"What is this crystal?" Vasily demanded.

Kirigan glowered at the ruling prince. "An object of great value to me."

"As in enchanted? Perhaps capable of breaking the curse?" Vasily pressed sharply. "I knew it." He spun toward more of the soldiers. "Bring me the crystal and the wretched fox. Alive! I want to skin him myself."

Half of the soldiers filed out, evening out the odds against Tolya and Tamar a tad. Except for Kirigan and his dark power.

Vasily sauntered over to Zoya, his expression morphing into a predatory leer. "My dear Zoya." He lifted a hand to her face, and she jerked away from him. His expression hardened. "You are hardly in a position to spurn my goodwill."

"You have no goodwill," she snapped.

Vasily sniffed disdainfully and turned to the twins. "Ah, my brother's mates from his time at sea. You know, he should have just stayed out there."

"Change him back and we'll return there," Tolya said daringly.

Vasily rolled his gaze back to Zoya. "You know how to end all this."

She lifted her chin in defiance.

"I've made it quite simple," Vasily pushed. "Choose me, and I'll remove the curse. I'll even let your friends and my bastard brother go."

"You're the bastard," she spat.

Vasily backhanded her across the face.

Tolya and Tamar both jerked, wanting to intervene, but the armed soldiers shifted closer, their sword points aimed at their backs, so they were forced to hold themselves in place.

"The little fox can't hide forever," the Darkling interrupted. He raised his arms out to the sides, summoning up shadows that broke away and went whooshing off down the corridor.

Tolya tensed with dread. If Nikolai were smart, he would have fled the Spinning Wheel altogether, but Tolya knew he would never leave his friends like this. Yet there was only so long he could hide before the sun set and he'd change back. Although, then they'd have a very angry tiger on their hands…but Tolya didn't trust Vasily or his men not to kill Zoya if she attacked. After all, the royal arse wasn't in this for love, but domination.

"Now," Kirigan continued, turning to the captives. "Where is the Sun Summoner?"

They kept their silence.

He summoned more shadows and sent them slithering malevolently toward them.

"We don't know," Zoya snapped. "The crystal and mirror were supposed to show us, but it didn't work."

The Darkling's mouth turned down contemplatively, but he snuffed out his shadows. "Give me the mirror."

None of them moved, and Kirigan rolled his eyes in annoyance. He gestured to some soldiers to search their bags. Tolya had to resist the urge to strike out when one of them found the mirror wrapped in cloth and handed it over. The Darkling moved away to examine it.

"Kneel before your prince," Vasily ordered.

Tolya bristled, as did Tamar and Zoya. All three of them hesitated to bow before this monster, but being obstinate wouldn't help them, so Tolya slowly got on his knees. Tamar and Zoya followed. Vasily didn't demand anything more or continue to harass Zoya, for the time being. Tolya flicked his gaze toward where his sword had fallen, measuring the time he'd need to jump up and grab it. They'd need a distraction.

"How hard is it to hunt down one fox," Vasily huffed impatiently after a while.

"Why don't you go hunt him down yourself," the Darkling suggested mildly.

Vasily sniffed haughtily. "Maybe I will." He waved for two more men to accompany him and marched off.

Tolya kept looking at Tamar and Zoya, trying to silently gauge when they should make a move. But it didn't matter how few men were left guarding them; as long as the Darkling was in the room, they were no match for his power. At least it seemed Kirigan couldn't get the mirror to do anything on its own. If he got the crystal too, though…

A soldier came bursting back into the chamber, expression harried and mouth open as though to shout something in alarm. But before he could, he jerked and fell forward, an arrow sticking out of his back. Men in winter coats charged in with weapons brandished. Fjerdan soldiers.

Chaos erupted as battle ensued. Tolya lunged for his sister's battle axes, which were closer, and snatched them up to toss to her. She caught them and spun to meet an enemy. He grabbed his own sword next but didn't leap into the fray, opting instead to back up and let the opposing soldiers be occupied with each other. Rather, he turned his attention to the Darkling; they had to get the mirror back.

Kirigan was summoning his shadows, and with them he would slaughter the Fjerdan soldiers and recapture the twins and Zoya. So Tolya charged him. But the Darkling saw him coming and twisted out of reach of his blade. Tolya at least managed to slice the tip of his sword across his arm. Kirigan dropped the mirror as he reflexively shot up both hands to summon more shadows. Tolya dove to catch the object, torquing his body and landing hard on his hip and elbow to prevent it from shattering. But now he lay vulnerable at Kirigan's feet.

Tamar leaped in with her battle axes, driving the Darkling backward, and Zoya rushed over to help Tolya up. Kirigan thrust a wave of darkness at them, which knocked them all back several feet. Tolya landed roughly and had to roll quickly to avoid getting stabbed by a Fjerdan. Fortunately, Kirigan was also beset by soldiers, which distracted him enough for the three of them to grab their supplies and flee.

"We have to find Nikolai!" Zoya exclaimed as they ran through the observatory.

Yes, but where?

Sounds of more fighting echoed from further down.

"This way!" Tamar said and veered that direction.

They came upon Vasily and his men fighting another group of Fjerdans. But there was no sign of Nikolai, so they kept going. Then in a storeroom down the next corridor, they spotted the Darkling's shadows, having coalesced into a towering figure, smashing through crates as though trying to get at something.

Tolya and Tamar immediately attacked with their blades, which merely swished through the nebulous creature, somehow solid when it wanted to be and incorporeal when it didn't. Tolya saw the fox dart from behind the crates and tear out the door.

"Run!" he yelled and followed suit.

The shadow monster pursued them, all the way out to the edge of the cliff and the stone steps leading down. They all skidded to a stop; there was no way to make the descent carefully while running for their lives. But they couldn't stand and fight a creature that couldn't be touched either.

Then sunlight caught the crystal in the fox's mouth, and radiant beams refracted through it like spears, piercing the shadow monster. It screeched and exploded into dust where it stood. They all gaped at the dissipating ash for a moment in stupefaction, but they had no time to wonder at the marvel and hurried to continue their escape.

Tamar took the crystal from Nikolai, and Tolya picked him up to carry him as they hastened down the stairs at the fastest speed they dared. It was a fraught journey, but they didn't run into any more Fjerdans, nor did anyone notice their exit. They reached the bottom and Tolya set Nikolai down so he could have his sword in hand as they ran, just in case. They pushed themselves hard for a couple of miles, finally stopping when they couldn't run anymore.

All of them dropped to the ground in exhaustion, chests heaving from exertion. Nikolai collapsed, panting heavily. Zoya crawled over to him and placed a hand on his juddering body.

"Tamar, water," she said breathlessly.

Tamar opened a canteen and poured some water into her cupped hand, then held it near the fox's nose. Nikolai struggled to lap it up while lying on his side.

Tolya was on his knees and casting glances behind them. There was still no sign of pursuit. Wouldn't it be nice if Vasily got killed back there. Then he wouldn't be after them anymore.

But the Darkling apparently would be, since he seemed more interested in the crystal and mirror. Speaking of which, Tolya pulled them both out and set them in direct sunlight next to each other. The crystal began to glow, and its light flowed over the touching mirror, making its surface shimmer. Then a reflection took shape within the glass.

"Hey, look," he called.

Tamar twisted around, and Zoya scooped up Nikolai to carry him over. The mirror's surface showed a girl in a small hut in the woods, but not the Shadow Forest. The scene then moved out and wider, showing a rural village nearby.

"I know that church," Zoya said. "That's Keramzin."

The image vanished.

Tamar crossed her arms. "I thought this was supposed to show us the Sun Summoner."

"Maybe the girl has it," Tolya hypothesized. "Or when we get closer, the mirror will show us more. How far is it?"

Zoya pursed her mouth. "Two days south of the border."

He nodded. "We shouldn't stay in one place too long."

They got to their feet, having caught their breath. Better to rest when they found a defensible shelter. Tolya picked up Nikolai to carry him again, the fox's small body having difficulty recovering from that mad marathon.

It had been a close one, but they had two out of three and were that much nearer to victory.