l skirts. We teetered about in high heels as the sun shone down like a melody. We window shopped at the market. Yakutian traders sold ho

ring in her violet dress and silver buckled he

he pure green stone of your home.” I laughed, and we danced, buying p

h, more methodical. But I can make stone sing. It blossoms at my touch. My bones are diamond, my brains are malachite. But unlike my forefathers, I will not give into

and placed orders. I got carame

the ice cream melting on my cheek. Delighted, I slurped

I… want you all t

I am your Copper Guard! Want to see what I’ve been practicing at the dacha? –

haunting. I was entranced. Ho

ean… I don’t wa

t sunk.

own. And I’m not that bad of a coo

r mouth! A marriage like an Ottoman! Okay, fine, it’s a promise!” she near screame

ievan Rus. I had a book of Orthodox Saints – I was stuck on Saint Clementina. It was she who had m

old tome with patina on the lock. Azovka had the key. She would glance at i

?” I finally asked, f

idely. “A bo

lachite spear will let me do small magick, like open the Malachi

o the dacha like you said and borrow Stepan’s spear. I c

, then rode her horses – two roans the Copper Men te

uck around anyway. Thus

lock on dedushka’s spear protector and leveling t

ot me.” Azovka

of poking one another on the buttocks and arm pits, went to the training she

loor, sticking her tongue out and biting it t

” I

ay, Katya – try this. Wave your

did you me

it, trust

oned an O, the

. We both clapped our hands, appa

aba Yaga’s pe

y turn Katya. Let it rest in air, and I wil

like bells. The stone rippled, the malachite verdigris

spear’s tip, and it wept amber honey. Azovka tasted so

green wi

not do

uman. You are still my best

t be bette

hat’s qu

in, I must be stronger than you… it is just what

cales shimmering. “I t

elain finger. Danilo’s pearl shone on my breastbone. I had not told Azovka where it was f

like your wild energy, Ka

amber honey, and thistle magick out of it. The sp

this: say “Fire” a

t from its tip. “Crap,

hot. Good thing it’s a stone fire – Rubenya uses that to heat the house

in suspicion, excited but scared. Copper Men’s m

under a fallen over Copper King – when the

fathers about this

nked. I w

said, softness underlying her wor

anilo. Swear it o

, Kat

d practiced stone singing and spells the rest of the day,

been a