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“But I want to stay with you,” Minchka whispered. Aleksandr’s
breath caught in his chest and every part of him ached.
He wanted to snatch her up and run away.
“I want you to stay more than anything. But you must do
this.”
Minchka didn’t argue. Her docility worried him, a lingering
effect of the fever that had nearly taken her life. She was
so pale. How could she walk into the forest alone How could he
let her go But then, how could he not He remembered trying to
wake her, shaking her and shaking her and the lack of response.
He remembered the way her breath had grown shallow and still
until it seemed she might not breathe again at all.
“What will you take with you” Aleksandr asked hoarsely.
“You can bring only three things other than the clothes you
wear.”
“I will take you and Zinfir and Dravij.”
Aleksandr hugged her tight against his chest. “We cannot
come. You are not allowed to take anything living with you.”
Minchka squirmed in his arms and he let her go reluctantly,
settling back into his chair.
“But I want to!”
“I am sorry, little one. Choose something else. The dragons
and I must stay.”
“I won’t go without you, Papa. Don’t make me.” Tears
filled Minchka’s eyes and she coughed, wheezing.
Aleksandr stroked her hair. “You are a good girl Minchka,
you must do this for me.”
She was silent a long time, playing with the edge of her
blanket.
“Please, Minchka.”
“I will take my doll,” she whispered, still crying. “The one
with the blue kerchief. And my yellow hair comb with the flowers
painted on it.”
He sagged back in his chair. “And what more”
She touched the necklace at her throat, running a finger
over the shell’s edge as she had so often. “The dragon scale pouch
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