"I'll give you some time to practice, just for your sister's sake! Take a few minutes to tell her your final goodbye," Shura said, then left.
As soon as Shura and the others were gone, Vika whispered urgently, "This is our chance, Zhanna. Let's get out of here." She grabbed Zhanna's hand to leave.
"No. I want to stay and fight that proud thing!" Zhanna replied.
"What are you talking about? You're going to get us killed!" Vika hissed.
"Listen, Vika. We stand a better chance of getting to Volkorod if we join their group. Besides, we'd have solid protection if the queen ever finds us. I just asked that young man a question, and he started acting all high and mighty, like he was doing us a great favor like though we didn't clean their tent and wash their dishes after cleaning their training equipment," Zhanna said. "You know what, Vika? I hate men who are full of pride. I want to use him and set an example."
Vika crossed her fingers and hoped Zhanna wouldn't die. She sounded so confident... maybe she could actually beat him. She could only hope.
Meanwhile, in Koldunova, Boris strolled through the ballroom to observe how the wedding preparations were going. He hadn't seen his bride yet, which was normal as they weren't married, and the servants never acted nervous around him, nor did they flinch at his voice.
Maybe the princess was never missing. He just had to wait until the wedding day to find out.
Queen Darya sat in her chambers, waiting for good news from the guards. That daughter of Babayaga, whom she had raised since birth, she had never maltreated her, but given her full rights as a princess. Just one request: marry Boris. She even agreed to marry him, and then two days before the wedding she vanishes!
"Zhanna!" Queen Darya growled through clenched teeth.
A knock came, and the queen ordered the person to enter.
"My Q-Queen," the Royal Guard Commander stammered, "we've searched all areas in this kingdom and the neighboring ones. The princess is nowhere to be found."
Queen Darya tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair, thinking. "Have you searched the woods?" she asked suddenly.
"My queen, the woods are said to be dangerous. Anyone who's gone in never returned to tell the tale," the guard replied, head bowed.
"Do I look like I care? Gather your men and search that forest. Leave no stone unturned," she commanded.
"But my queen..." the guard pleaded. Heaven knew he didn't want to risk his life for a missing princess.
"Do you dare disobey my orders?" Queen Darya snapped. "Leave my chambers. Now!"
The guard bowed and left. Once outside, he sighed. "Gather the men," he told his assistant, who had been waiting outside the queen's chambers. The man nodded and left.
Back in the forest, Zhanna and Shura stood under the hot sun, swords in hand, staring each other down with fierce gazes.
"Begin," Kazmir said.
They began fighting. Vika crossed her fingers and hoped for Zhanna to win, while Shura's men wasted no time mocking Zhanna for daring to fight their leader.
The fight lasted over an hour. Shura was shocked by the lean 'boy's' strength.
Suddenly, a slash rang out, a cut appeared on someone's face. Everyone stood frozen. Only Vika cheered. She wanted to scream "Next time, don't underestimate a woman!" but held back to avoid blowing their cover.
Zhanna had won.
Shura immediately bowed to Zhanna in acknowledgement. Zhanna patted his back and told him to stand. The men gathered around her, asking questions about her skills.
At one point, Shura approached her while she was alone.
"I didn't get your name earlier," he said, trying to start a conversation.
"It's Zha... Zayne. My name is Zayne," Zhanna replied.
"Those were some impressive moves out there," Shura complimented.
"I guess you shouldn't underestimate lean boys," Zhanna responded.
"Yeah, that was my mistake. Truth is, we don't want anyone who could be a burden if we're attacked. During a fight, everyone has to be alert. If we have to protect someone, we might all end up dead," Shura explained.
"It's good to know my sister and I aren't considered burdens," Zhanna replied.
She felt bad for giving him a cut on his handsome face and decided to treat it. She wasn't a nurse, but she knew what to do with cuts, blisters, or fainting. She bandaged the wound carefully.
"For a fighter, you have soft hands," Shura noted.
"Ah… well, I don't fight much and, um... it's a family trait," Zhanna said, gulping silently. He couldn't know she was a girl.
Shura looked skeptical.
"Well, my mum had really soft hands… and so did my dad," Zhanna added quickly.
"Are they both… gone? You used past tense," Shura asked, feeling sympathetic.
"Yes. I didn't get to meet them, so it doesn't bother me," Zhanna replied. "What about you? The way you talk… sounds like you lost someone."
Shura's expression turned somber as he remembered his mother. Somehow, he felt he could trust Zayne, and he poured out his heart.
Zhanna comforted him as best she could. She remembered him mentioning a witch… Should she tell him that she suspects her stepmother is the witch?
Later that night, Shura called out, "Kazmir, are you done with your night patrol?"
"Yes, and Shura...there's something urgent I need to tell you," Kazmir responded. "There are soldiers in the forest..."
Coincidentally, Vika, who was doing the dishes beside the tent, overheard it.
"Soldiers!" she and Shura exclaimed at the same time, even though they were in different locations.