Light My Fire by G.A. Aiken

Author:G.A. Aiken
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Fantasy, Adult, Humour
ISBN: 9781420131598
Publisher: Zebra
Published: 2014-11-24T05:00:00+00:00

“You are the biggest fool I’ve ever known, Elina Shestakova!” Kachka barked at her.

“I missed you, too, sister.” In fact, Kachka had been the only one she’d actually missed. These beautiful Steppes lands and her dear sister, Kachka, who was now yelling at her.

“Do not be so ridiculous, Elina! You know you never should have returned here. Never!”

“You thought I’d not only fail in my quest, but that I’d die.”

“I thought you’d run, you delusional cow!”

Elina was shocked that her sister, this sister, would say such a thing. “Run? Me? You think so little of me? Of my honor?”

“Honor? I thought you were smart. Smart enough to know the truth of that stupid, ridiculous que—”

“Well, well,” a voice boomed from behind them, and both sisters turned to face their cousin and Glebovicha’s favorite, Ivanova. Even with twenty-five children of her own, Glebovicha had rudely chosen outside her direct line for her next in command. “Look who has returned, the mighty and brave Elina Shestakova.”

Elina glanced back at Celyn, but, thankfully, they spoke in their own language. He was oblivious to just how much she was mocked by her own.

“Ivanova Shestakova. I see that death has found you well,” Elina greeted her cousin. The “unfortunately” in that statement was implied and completely understood by Ivanova.

The much larger woman grinned down at Elina. Ivanova was one of the best warriors among them. Tall, powerfully built, and brilliant with sword and bow, she had her pick of husbands and had already borne eighteen strong children to the twelve husbands she had. And not yet two hundred passing summers.

In other words, she was everything that Elina was not and would never be. Because they all knew that Ivanova would have returned from the Southlands with the Dragon Queen’s head dragging behind her horse or died in the attempt.

Ivanova brazenly walked around Elina’s horse.

“I see no dragon’s head,” she announced to all those standing by their huts listening. “No offering to the great Glebovicha as you promised.”

“She promised nothing,” Kachka snarled. She’d never been afraid of their cousin, and she was always the one who defended Elina, something that Ivanova and Glebovicha had never forgiven her for. “She was forced into this ridiculous quest.”

Before a fight could escalate between the two, Elina said, “I need to speak with Glebovicha, Ivanova.”

“What for? You come with no dragon’s head. Just this”—she gestured at Celyn—“male,” Ivanova finished with a sneer. “Our great Glebovicha may consider him for a husband, cousin, with such a pretty face and all, but he will not buy you pity from anyone here. Not after such a great failure.”

“Can I see Glebovicha or not?”

“You want to see her, cousin?”

“Elina—”

“Quiet, Kachka.” Ivanova waved at Glebovicha’s hut. “Go to her, Elina Shestakova. I’m sure she’ll be more than happy to see you.”

Elina looked back at Celyn. “Wait here,” she told him. “Back soon.”

He nodded and gave her a small smile.

She forced herself to return that smile, then pushed past her cousin and walked to Glebovicha’s tent.

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