The Girl Who Fought Napoleon: A Novel of the Russian Empire by Linda Lafferty Page A

homeland.
    “What’s your regiment?” were the first words I heard.
    I answered the colonel in the deepest voice I could muster.
    “I do not have the honor of belonging to any regiment, Colonel.”
    The men’s eyes grew wide and suspicious. I felt them inspecting me, my uniform, my saddle, and especially Alcides.
    “I don’t understand you. You are not enrolled anywhere?”
    “No, I’m not.”
    “Why not?”
    “I haven’t the right.”
    “What! What does that mean, a Cossack without the right to be enrolled in a Cossack regiment! You wear a cherkesska . And Cossack boots and fleece cap. What kind of nonsense is that?”
    The men began to murmur and mill about me. I wondered if they had guessed I was a girl, an impostor. As they pressed closer, I wondered if hands would reach for me, pulling me off my horse.
    “I am not a Cossack,” I said.
    “Well, then who the hell are you?” demanded the colonel. “Why are you in Cossack uniform and what do you want?”
    “Colonel,” I said, reining Alcides away from the men who gathered close beside me, “I desire the honor of being enrolled in your regiment until such time as we reach the regular army.”
    The murmurs grew louder.
    The colonel grunted. “But just the same I have to know who you are, young man. And are you not aware that nobody can serve with us except native Cossacks?”
    There was a growling laughter from the men. I felt my childish dreams shatter.
    No! I cannot have risked so much to be refused!
    “And I have no such intention, Colonel. I am only asking you for permission to travel to the regular army in the dress of a Cossack serving with you or your regiment. As to your question about who I am, I will only say what I can. I am from a noble family. I have left my father’s house and am on my way to serve in the army without my parents’ knowledge or volition. I cannot be happy in any calling except the military. If you won’t take me under your protection, I’ll find some way to join the regular army on my own.”
    The colonel took in my words. Something I said must have struck a chord. “I haven’t the heart to refuse him,” said the colonel, turning to another Cossack who had remained silent, seated in the shadows. “Anatoli! What shall I do?”
    The Cossack rose. He was one of the tallest men I had ever seen. He looked at me with shocking green eyes. I felt as if I had been shot.
    The tall man scrutinized me, drinking in my features as his eyes ran across my face, my body. I saw his nostrils flare, the muscles of his face tense.
    Then the faintest trace of a smile.
    “And why should you refuse him? Let him come with us. He is but a boy.”
    “He might make trouble for us.”
    “Let him join us. His parents are nobility. They will be grateful to us for giving him refuge. With his hardheadedness and inexperience, if you turn him away he will surely come to grief. These forests are dangerous, especially for one as young as he.”
    I saw the tall Cossack was giving me an advantage. I plunged in. “I will ride alone if you do not take me. I shall not turn back, I swear it!”
    The colonel looked at me, shaking his head.
    “Very well, young man. But I warn you that we are now on our way to the Don, and there are no regular troops there in the Ukraine.”
    “I don’t care. I beg you to take me with you.”
    “Shchegrov! Give the lad a horse from our stables.”
    “Yes, sir,” said a small man beside him.
    The tall Cossack moved toward Alcides and me. He ran his hand over Alcides forelegs and then his hindquarters. Alcides quivered under his touch.
    Then he moved to take my horse by his reins. “I’ll take him, lad. I like Circassian bloodlines.”
    “Get your hands off my reins,” I snapped at him. He looked into my eyes with anger. I met him with the same.
    “Colonel!” I said. “I have a horse, a good one here. Circassian. I’ll ride my own, if you will permit it.” The colonel burst out laughing.
    “So much the better,