Nikolai didn’t mind that his new friend had gone, not when he had me to show everything too. He gave me the same tour and warnings I assumed Artyom had given him, letting me know where the tack room was, where the treats were and that we had to stay away from Hilarion, the stallion. He pronounced Hilarion like Lion.
I grew more surprised at my son’s growing interest when he didn’t grow bored. Nikolai was patient and calm around the horses, instead of his usual wild self. Every second, I expected him to toss the apple, claiming he was sick of this and go onto the next bright shiny thing. But he didn’t.
“You don’t want to go soon?” I asked after another hour.
Niko looked offended I had asked. “No, no!”
“Okay, a bit longer then.”
The rumble of a car grew louder outside the stables. I heard men speaking in Russian, their voices blending together. I kept an ear out as Nikolai continued to feed the horses. Whenever he got close to Hilarion, I barked out a warning and he cheekily scrambled back over to the calmer horses.
I knew he was here before I heard his voice. The sudden silence of the guards followed by the crunch of the gravel alerted me.
“Elena, Nikolai.” Konstantin stepped into the view, his figure casting a dark shadow. As he tugged off his gloves, he asked, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Hello!” Niko waved. “I’m feeding Dessa!”
Konstantin’s brow rose in one smooth movement. “Isn’t she lucky?” His eyes moved to me, raking up and down my form. But Konstantin didn’t address me, turning back to Niko. “You’re not scared of her teeth?”
“No. I’m not scared.” Niko presented the apple he was holding to Odessa, who greedily snatched it up. My son didn’t even flinch.
A shimmer of pride rippled over Konstantin’s face. “My mistake. Have you fed Basil, too?”
Before Niko could nod, I sniped, “What are you doing here?”
“Hello to you too, Elena.” Konstantin assessed me. “I am here to check on my pregnant mare. Is that okay by you?”
Niko glanced between the two of us, green eyes too interested.
“Go and grab some more apples, baby. We’re running out.”
“Okaaay,” he sung and skipped off to the tack room. I watched him as he grabbed a few more apples, holding them awkwardly to his chest. Niko wanted to carry as much as he could, but his little hands and arms were struggling.
To Konstantin I said, “Did Artyom tell you we were here?”
“No. Does he need too?” he inquired. “This is my estate, my territory. I don’t need to announce myself before I walk into a room.”
I opened my mouth to respond but Konstantin asked, “He likes the horses?”
“He does.”
Nikolai came skipping back, dropping a few apples on the way. He looked up to me for help. “Mama!”
“I have them. Don’t fret.” I scooped up the rogue apples and helped Niko carry them over to Basil and Odessa.
Hilarion let out a huff from his pen, kicking the gate in protest.
“Have you fed Hilarion?”
“Artyom said no,” Niko replied.
Konstantin smiled and gestured to the stallion. “I will help you feed him. But you have to listen to every word I say, okay?” His eyes met mine. Is that okay?
The question struck me quiet for a few seconds, but I gave a single nod.
The three of us went over to Hilarion, the stallion whinnying as we neared. He was louder and more ferocious than the gelding and mare.
Nikolai lost his nerve, tucking himself to my leg, clutching the apple. I smoothed down his hair. “It’s okay, baby. Konstantin will go first.”
“May I?” He held his hand out for the apple. Niko passed it to him. “Hilarion has lots of energy so sometimes he acts a bit scary. You’re right to be wary of him.” Konstantin kept his hand still as Hilarion snatched the apple from it, his mood skyrocketing rapidly. “But there is need to be afraid. Stay calm and still, and Hilarion will be thankful for his treat.”
Niko peeled himself from my leg. I passed him another apple.
With a determined look in his eyes, Niko stretched his arm out, perfectly still. Konstantin had wrapped a light hand around Hilarion’s neck, looking like a pat to the untrained eye but I knew he was readying to pull Hilarion away the second Niko looked frightened.
I had positioned myself in a similar way, close to my son. If that stallion tried anything, I would be there.
We shouldn’t have worried. Hilarion took the apple from Niko, who grinned and asked me for another. Not a single flinch, not a tear or cry. My boy wasn’t afraid of anything.
Konstantin patted Hilarion’s neck. “Good boy, good boy.” He smiled at Niko. “You did a good job. Not even my bravest soldiers will feed Hilarion.”
Niko brightened. “I’m very brave.” I swallowed down my laugh at his confidence and instead watched as he held the second apple out to Hilarion.
“Yes, you are.” Konstantin agreed.
“Here go, loshad. Number two.”
We both heard it at the same time. Konstantin’s eyes went straight to Nikolai with blazing focus, which he tried to hide beneath his smooth expression. “Loshad?” He tried to sound casual. Konstantin tapped the apple. “What’s this?”
“Yabloko,” Niko supplied.
Konstantin looked at me, his lips twisting into a smile. But it was to Nikolai, he asked, “And what type of loshad is Hilarion?”
Nikolai didn’t see my warning gaze. “Zherebets.” He seemed happy to answer Konstantin’s questions, but not nearly as happy as his father when he heard the answers.
“Russian,” he remarked, gaze growing more and more intense. “I wonder who taught him that.”
“He must’ve picked it up from Artyom.” I willed my voice to be casual.
“Artyom, I see.” Konstantin’s eyes didn’t leave me. “Nikolai, how do you say science in Russian?”
I stepped forward, pulling Niko behind me. “How would he know?”
“Nauka!” Either my son was blessed with obliviousness or he was trying to make my life just that much harder. Knowing his cheeky side, I was more inclined to believe the latter. “Nauka is science!”
“Artyom covered a lot of words in the short time they’ve known each other.” Konstantin knew I was lying. The laughter in his voice told me enough.
I turned my back to him, crouching down to Nikolai’s level. “It’s nearly dinner time, my wild boy. Aren’t you getting hungry?”
Niko frowned. “I don’t wanna go.”
“We can come back tomorrow,” I assured him.
“Tonight?”
“No, tomorrow. The horses will be asleep if we come after dinner. You don’t want to wake them up, do you?”
He shook his head. “Nooo.”
“No, that’s right. We can come back tomorrow. And maybe we can bring some carrots from the kitchen. I’m sure Dessa and Baz would love that.”
“And Lion?”
“And Hilarion, mmhmm.”
Nikolai was finally convinced. He said goodbye to Odessa and baby Dessa, before leaping into my arms. He sighed sleepily.