Kraken's Depths (The Dragonland Saga Book 2) by Rachel Ford

Author:Rachel Ford [Ford, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-26T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-One

Fyodor regarded the bouquet with a measure of surprise. Was this some manner of joke? Judging by the impudent amusement in his son’s expression, his first inclination was to believe it was. But the Northerner, Karina, was droning on about the flower’s connection to the royal family with so much enthusiasm that he could only believe it to be a genuine gift.

And that annoyed him more than if it had been a prank. Vasha’s insistence on praising Karina for her thoughtfulness only rankled the tsar further. His son was marrying an imbecile and encouraging her in her stupidity. Still, decorum demanded a show of gratitude. So he, in turn, thanked the silly girl for her wretched offering in the politest of fashion.

But he was not quite done with his son. Impudence must be answered, and he knew precisely the answer to bring. “By the by, Vasha, how goes the audit?”

To his surprise, though, the tsarevich did not wilt under his scrutiny, or offer up excuses as to why his work had not yet been begun. “Quite well, Father,” he said.

“Oh?”

“Yes. Karina and I have gone at it as a team effort. We each take a portion, and then recheck the other’s work.”

“I think you’ll be happy when we wrap up, Tsar Fyodor. We’ve uncovered several sizeable discrepancies already,” she put in.

“You have?” he was flabbergasted. Not at the discovery – that was to be expected. The merchants and tradesmen were always trying to get away with what they could, under cover of innocent mistakes. It was the fact that Vasha had roped in this silly Northerner to assist that astonished him.

His son was nodding, though. “Some of the reasons we get, when they’re called on the bad accounts –”

“But surely,” Fyodor protested with a forced laugh, “our guest does not wish to be bored with accounts? Surely you have something better to do, my dear, than let him drag you into this tedious paperwork?”

Vasha frowned and Karina considered for a moment, then shook her head. “No, not really. Anyway, we agreed we’d do it together.”

“You did?” he was even more surprised. “How charming.” He tried to force a smile that approximated genuineness. “But you mustn’t let my son take advantage, princess: this is his responsibility, not yours.”

“Oh, I don’t mind at all. It’s interesting, in its own way. Anyway, Vasha puts up with my herbs and ecosystems; it’s the least I can do.”

Fyodor felt himself losing patience. “My dear,” he said in a moment, “might you go fetch Doctor Luka? I feel a kind of fluttering coming on. I fear it might be another seizure.”

Karina’s expression morphed into one of genuine concern. “Of course, Tsar Fyodor. At once.”

She was, he thought with an air of amusement, rather easy to manipulate. Well, that would be to his advantage. To his disappointment, though, Vasha’s face contorted with the same worry, and he moved with the princess for the door. “No, stay with me, Vasha.”

Karina left, and his son returned to his bedside.

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