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Nikolai handed out gold coins and sacks of sugar He accepted handshakes from merchants and kisses on the cheek from wrinkled matrons who called him Sobachka, and charmed anyone who came within two feet of hi No matter how many miles we’d ridden or people we’d met, he was ready to meet another

He always seehing boy, the golden prince, the weary soldier I supposed it was the training that ca born a royal and raised at court, but it was still unnerving to watch

He hadn’t been kidding about spectacle He always tried to time our arrivals at dawn or dusk, or he’d stop our procession in the deep shadows of a church or town square--all the better to show off the Sun Su my eyes, he just winked and said, "Everyone thinks you’re dead, lovely It’s i"

So I held up raciously and called the light to shine over rooftops and steeples and bathe every awestruck face in warht me their babies to kiss, and old men bowed over my hand, their cheeks damp with tears I felt like a complete fraud, and I said as enuinely puzzled "The people love you"

"You rumbled as we rode out of one town

"Have you actually won any prizes?"

"This isn’t funny," I whispered angrily "You’ve seen what the Darkling can do These people will be sending their sons and daughters off to fight nichevo’ya, and I won’t be able to save the them a lie"

"We’re giving the"

"Spoken like a ," I said, and wheeled my horse away

RAVKA IN SUMMER was at its reen, the air balmy and sith the scent of war the cohs coht, but sitting my own horse meant fresh air and the chance to seek out Mal on each day’s ride He didn’t talka bit

Nikolai had circulated the story of how the Darkling had tried to execute Mal on the Fold It had earned Mal instant trust a the soldiers, even a small measure of celebrity Occasionally, he scouted with the trackers in the unit, and he was trying to teach Tolya how to hunt, though the big Grisha wasn’t h the woods

On the road out of Sala, ere passing through a stand of white el…"

I sat up straight and gave him my full attention It was the first time he’d initiated a conversation since we’d left Kribirsk

He shifted in his saddle, not et to round out the guard"

I frowned "The guard?"

He cleared his throat "For you A few of Nikolai’s ht, and I think Tolya and Tamar should be considered They’re Shu, but they’re Grisha, so it shouldn’t be a problem And there’s … well, rinned "Are you saying you want to be the captain ofin a set to wear a fancy hat?"

"The fanciest," I said "And possibly a cape"

"Will there be plumes?"

"Oh, yes Several"

"Then I’m in"

I wanted to leave it at that, but I couldn’t seeo back to your unit, to be a tracker again"

Mal studied the knot in his reins "I can’t go back Hopefully, Nikolai can keep ed--"

"Hopefully?" I squeaked

"I deserted ain"

Mal’s voice was steady, untroubled

He adapts, I thought But I knew sorieve for the life he’d been meant to have, the life he would have had without me

He nodded up ahead to where Nikolai’s back was barely visible in the colu you alone with Prince Perfect"

"So you don’t trust me to resist his charms?"

"I don’t even trust myself I’ve never seen anyone work a crowd the way he does I’ ready to swear fealty to hi hs overhead I touched ers to the sea whip’s fetter, safely hidden by my sleeve For noanted to keep the second amplifier a secret Nikolai’s Grisha had been sworn to silence, and I could only hope they’d hold their tongues