Page 88 (2/2)

“How do youfor reason “We have pursued theh that was in deepest winter, when the snow took good tracks”

“But we found theray eyes narrowed “Did your younger sister survive the night?”

“Yes,” said Sasha warily “Burns on her face, and a broken rib, Olga says But she is alive”

Now D away the wreckage dropped the end of a broken roof-bea “I would not have come to you in tirim profile “Her blood saved your throne”

“The blood ofround “She is a liar, and she ht of men”

Sasha said nothing

“Ask her,” said D “Ask her how she did it—found the Tatars It can’t be only sharp eyes; I have dozens of sharp-eyed men Ask her how she did it, and I will have her rewarded I do not think any ht be persuaded Or enough gold would bribe a convent to take her” D faster and faster, his face uneasy, the words spilling out “Or she may be sent home in safety—or stay in the tereold to keep her coht for her”

Sasha stared, full of words he could not say Yesterday she saved your life, sleicked le night Do you think she will consent to disappear, for the price of a dowry—for any price? Do you know my sister?

But of course, Dmitrii did not He only knew Vasilii Petrovich, the boy she had pretended to be They are one and the same Beneath his bluster Dmitrii must realize that; his unease betrayed him

A cry fro D over Sasha trailed, gri where two burned roof-beams crossed “Stand aside—Mother of God, are you sheep at the spring grass? What is it?” The crowd shrank away from the steel in his voice “Well?” said Dmitrii

One of the ue “There, Gosudar,” he said He pointed at a gap between two fallen posts, and soleaht The Grand Prince and his cousin stared, dazzled, doubting

“Gold?” said Dmitrii “There?”

“Surely not,” said Sasha “It would have melted”

Threeaside the ti to the earth A fourth plucked it out and handed it to the Grand Prince

Gold it was: fine gold, and not ed into heavy links and stiff bars, oddly jointed The metal had an oily sheen; it threw a shi faces and made Sasha uneasy