Lawyers scribbled notes as Mika and Radu went back and forth, both holding yellow legal pads in front of them.
“So we are agreed that one month during kamvasa is reserved for Tatyana le Tala to join her people for their roaming ceremonies no matter what events may rise.” Mika added, “And to attend… what is it called?”
“Vashana,” Radu said. “Most particularly Vashana Zata, but that is not for another ninety-five years, so there is plenty of time to plan.”
“Of course,” Mika replied, jotting something on his pad. “And which of these events will Lord Oleg be required to join as her husband?”
“He is welcome to any of them.” Radu glanced at Tatyana, who nodded. “He will be given his own quarters among the kamvasa for his private use.”
“Of course.” Mika checked something off. “The Grand Palace of the Kievan Rus in Saint Petersburg will begin making preparations for the wedding as soon as contracts are formally signed, and upon the signing, the Empress Wing of the palace will be opened and redecorated to Lady Tatyana’s wishes.” Mika glanced at her, then at Radu. “If she has personal decorators shewould prefer, please give me their names and I will see that they have full access.”
Radu nodded. “As soon as contracts are signed.”
“Of course.” Mika looked back at his notes. “The Southern Empress Palace in Sevastopol is unfortunately inaccessible due to the current political situation, but we trust that Lord Oleg’s new mansion here in Odesa, the town house in Bucharest, and an upgraded wing of his castle in the Carpathian Mountains will be sufficient for Lady Tatyana’s needs.”
“Please, it is simply Tatyana,” she said quietly.
“Indeed it will not be,” Oleg said firmly. “Not after our wedding.”
Their wedding, which would be on January 27.
For the second time.
Their first wedding had been a modest, private affair with only Mika and Anna in attendance and officiated by the discreet priest who served at Oleg’s castle in the Carpathian Mountains. This one, however…
“After your wedding to Lord Oleg,” Mika said, “you will retain your terrin’s seat and all of your own titles of course, but you will also be given the title of Knyaginya of the Kievan Rus, Queen Mother of Truvor’s Blood, and of course less formally, Lady Tatyana.”
Tatyana could actually smell the smug satisfaction wafting from her husband’s pores. Forget a cat eating cream. This cat had butchered an entire dovecote and was picking his teeth with the feathers.
She looked away from Oleg to glance at Kezia.
Tatyana and her sister had already come to an agreement. Radu knew nothing, but they were already planning how best to assassinate Ivan quietly. From the glare on Kezia’s face, she would be just as—if not more—willing to commit murder than she had been before.
Tatyana didn’t need Ivan to die in a showy or spectacular way. She just wanted him gone.
“Terrin Tatyana’s primary residence in Warsaw will be expanded to include a suitable residence for Lord Oleg,” Radu said. “There is a town house within our primary compound adjacent to her house, which can be enlarged and joined to his specifications.”
Tatyana raised a finger. “Brother.”
Radu immediately turned to her. “Tatyana.”
“The families living in the adjacent town house you mentioned are settled,” she said. “I will happily build a new residence for Lord Oleg at my expense so that we do not have to displace Poshani families.”
Radu looked at Mika, then Oleg. “Our terrin’s priority is her people’s well-being. Is this acceptable?”
Mika glanced at Oleg, who nodded. “It is acceptable. Lord Oleg also owns property in Warsaw and Krakow, but he will be most happy to spend time with his wife and her people. Until the new residence is finished, I’m sure there are suitable rooms in Lady Tatyana’s home where he may stay.”
“Of course,” Tatyana said.
Oleg’s eyes danced in amusement.
“As for the issue of security,” Radu continued, “declaring mutual trust and confidence in each other’s defenses, the Poshani must insist that anytime our terrin is residing outside our immediate security structures, she will retain her personal Hazar and a guard of no less than forty humans.”
Mika glanced at Oleg and said something in a quiet language that Tatyana didn’t even recognize. She was betting it wasn’t one that was even living anymore. Oleg responded in the same language and gave a nod.
Tatyana had known Radu was going to ask for this level of security, and while she had initially objected, Kezia hadconvinced her that for theirfuture endeavors,having that many day people among the Hazar might be beneficial.
Mika turned back to Radu. “As chief boyar of Lord Oleg’s druzhina and head of his personal guard, I would reassure the Poshani that we will take the security of our knyaginya as seriously as we take the security of our knyaz, but as Lord Oleg has no objection to your request, it will be written into the contract.”
