Citadels of Fire

  Chapter 6

  Moscow, 1533

  Inga slid into bed, wondering what would become of them all. Everything was changing so fast, she could hardly keep up. The next few days would be pivotal in determining the fate of Russia, and the fate of one small kitchen maid was hardly consequential. Inga was afraid. What would become of her? She curled into a ball under the blankets and cried.

  Three days previously, Grand Prince Vasily III, leader of Russia and the voice of God on earth, had fallen ill. A ravaging infection that baffled the royal physicians had taken up residence in his body. He had seen several mediums, been visited by priests, and nearly suffocated by the blood-sucking boyars, all to no avail.

  Russia prayed for the recovery of their ruler, but the physicians announced they did not expect the grand prince to live through the night. He’d been given his Last Rites, and said goodbye to his wife and sons. He then gave his last will and testament, which named his son Ivan IV true leader of unified Russia. Princess Elena would reign as Regent until Ivan came of age. She’d been weeping since daybreak.

  The fifteen most powerful boyar families had already congregated like maggots on a corpse, and the grand prince wasn’t even dead yet.

  Inga learned court politics, among other things, at Yehveh’s knee. The powerful boyar families wielded great influence at court. When the grand prince died, they would all try to capitalize on it. The Belsky and Shuisky families were the most powerful factions, and Yehvah worried that if those two clans locked swords over the throne, a civil war could break out inside the Kremlin. Inga didn’t know what it meant, but everyone was scared—including Yehvah, who never feared anything.

  The future remained uncertain, especially for the servants, who did not know who they would serve tomorrow. Thick tension blanketed the palace. Lying in bed, she felt as if the fear would consume her. She cried herself to sleep.