Chapter 9
Vasilisa
“Really?” I gaped at my new friend. “Vasilisa,” I repeated slowly, savoring the sound of her name.
“Yes, it’s a name from a fairy tale, isn’t it?” Lisa scanned my face for a reaction.
I was processing what she’d just told me.
Like Baba Yaga, there was a well-known legend of Vasilisa the Wise in Zorya.
Vasilisa was a beautiful woman, smart and inventive, and the man who was lucky enough to marry her lived happily ever after.
But Vasilisa tested her husband first, and only the smartest and bravest man could win her heart.
Could that man be me?
I reddened at the thought, immediately pushing it out of my mind. I was just a dimwit, no match for a woman like that.
Lisa gave me a quizzical stare. I blushed even more, picturing her as a beautiful princess.
I imagined Lisa with long, flowing hair, plaited into a thick braid.
Instead of the incongruous black clothes, the imaginary Lisa was wearing a beautiful dress, embroidered with red flowers, tied at the waist with a red sash.
The realization that Lisa could be a magical princess hit me with such force I almost fell, flipping my chair over.
I couldn’t unsee what I’d just pictured.
“Yes, I’ve heard about Vasilisa the Wise.
My nurse told me about her,” I said once I’d regained my composure.
Harry fidgeted and cleared his throat. Lisa and I both turned to the horse, but he said nothing, instead reaching for a piece of bread on the table with his hoof, as if that were the most normal thing in the world.
“Here you go, Harry.” Lisa pushed the bread to him, and Harry licked it off the table, nodding in her direction with gratitude. To my surprise, the pony no longer annoyed me as much as he had in the beginning of the conversation, right after he’d revealed my embarrassing nickname.
“My parents actually named me Vasilisa after the fairy-tale princess. And my great-aunt always told me I had magical powers because of my name,” Lisa continued. “But I prefer to be called Lisa, because there is too much magic in my name. And Vasilisa sounds strange to Americans.”
“So, are you saying you could be the magical Vasilisa? The fairy-tale princess?” I asked and immediately bit my tongue.
“I don’t know.” Lisa shrugged. “I’d like to find out if it’s true, and there’s only one way.”
“What is it?”
“The only way to know for sure is to get the Fabergé egg back. Because in addition to the deed, there’s also a secret compartment in the egg.
And it contains a ring. At least, that’s what Count Yusupov believed, and this is what he told my great-aunt Irina.
The ring is golden, with the most beautiful, purest green emerald. ”
“A magical ring?” I gasped.
“Yes, Ivan. It’s called the Ring of True Love.
It is said it will only reveal itself to a couple whose love is pure and deserving.
And once a woman wears it, she will blossom and grant her lover magical powers.
Only no one has ever seen the ring, and even when the Fabergé egg was in my possession, I wasn’t able to get the ring.
I tried several times. My aunt also tried a few times, but to no avail.
She told me she just had a feeling about me. ”
“But doesn’t that mean that you’re not the magical Vasilisa?” I frowned. “If you couldn’t get it out?”
“No, Ivan, don’t you see what she’s saying?” Harry, who’d finished chewing his piece of bread, turned to me.
“No, I don’t get it.” I stared at Lisa in confusion, no longer caring if she’d think I was living up to my humiliating nickname.
“It’s okay, Harry. Let me explain,” Lisa said, petting him gently between the ears.
“When I was trying to get the ring out, I was still married to Quinn. I should’ve known that it was a sign Quinn and I were never meant to be together and our love was far from pure.
But back then, I believed things could change. I think I can get it now.”
“And what about the other part of the couple?” I asked Vasilisa, the corners of my mouth turning downward as I pictured her next to a strong and powerful prince. “Don’t you have to be with a man to get the ring? Since it comes to a couple whose love is pure?”
“I’m not too concerned about that. Times have changed, so I figure I can just get the ring and the man will come when he’s ready,” Lisa said with a shrug. “Or when I’m ready. I think the couple thing is just symbolic.”
“I see. So you think you’ll be able to get the Ring of True Love now by yourself and you just need me to bring back the egg?” I said slowly, hoping I hadn’t missed anything from Lisa’s instructions.
“Exactly!” She nodded eagerly. “Will you do it?”
“I will,” I croaked.
“Perfect!” Rubbing her thigh, Lisa rose and gave me a hug.
She then hobbled over to Harry and kissed him on the muzzle.
“I knew you guys would agree. I’ve thought of the best way to do it, too.
Quinn inspects the egg once a day. Each evening, late at night, he opens the safe to check the Fabergé egg.
Without fail. So you would need to figure out when he does it and get to the egg immediately after he locks it back in the safe. ”
“Sounds good.” I placed my hands on the table. “Harry and I will take care of this.”
I turned to the pony, having already decided there was no sense fighting Lisa’s recommendation to partner up with the humpbacked horse. I could use some help, and Harry would have to do. It was better than going it alone.
“Thank you, guys. Once you bring back the Fabergé egg, I’ll help Ivan figure out the Firebird situation.” Lisa gave us a reassuring smile. “I’ve got whatever you need to prepare. Food, lodging. You should do your best to plan it well. Quinn is pretty tricky, so you don’t want to mess it up.”
“Sure,” I said, wondering how I would go about keeping two promises rather than one.
I glanced at Lisa. Or Vasilisa.
Could this woman wearing black trousers and a strange top, her hair cropped way too short, be the magical princess Vasilisa the Wise?