“That was the first tale you told me.” Her bottom lip came out in an inane little pout she probably thought was attractive. “As well you know.”

“Hmm.” He stroked his chin, though no doubt he already knew what tale he planned to tell. “I know! The Snake Princess.”

“I do love the ones with a princess.” The girl sat on the stool behind the counter, grinning. “Let us see what odd turns this one takes.”

Nadya rolled her eyes at the shelf. A pretty girl who liked princess stories. Could she be any more cliché? Evgeni didn’t actually like such girls, did he? If so, then he must be miserable with Nadya.

“It begins with a Cossack—a young man, well worn from travel and fighting. He ventured off the road for a rest and found a haystack in the middle of a grove of trees. That seemed like a perfect bed, so he made himself comfortable and even enjoyed a pipe.”

Claire’s brows lifted. “Always wise around hay.” So perhaps the girl wasn’t utterly senseless.

Evgeni narrowed his eyes and pointed a finger. “Do not get ahead of the story.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

“As I was saying. He enjoyed his repose and soon got back to his feet, not noticing that a spark fell from his pipe and landed on the hay until the whole thing went up.”

“I am all surprise.”

“Hush.” He grinned and pulled forward the parcel, unwrapped it. No doubt his ever-growling stomach was curious as to what mysteries it held. “Here is the surprising part—in the middle of the hay stood a beautiful young maiden, and she was crying out for help. ‘Save me, good sir,’ she called to him. But the heat was so great that he couldn’t get near enough. So she bade him to stretch out his lance so that she might use it to pull herself to safety. He obeyed. But when the fair maiden laid hold of the lance, she turned instantly to a snake and slithered up it.”

“Oh!” Claire shuddered. “I suppose I should have known from the title there would be a snake, but still.”

What was in the package? From what Nadya could see, it looked like a good-sized chunk of cheese, a jar of olives, a few eggs. Was the smaller package flour? She could hope. She hadn’t had bread in weeks.

“Luckily for our hero, he did not react so, though no doubt he was alarmed as the snake slithered up the lance, up his arm, and wound herself three times around his neck, biting her own tail to hold herself in place. ‘Do not be frightened,’ she said to him.”

Claire huffed out a breath. “And how is she talking if she’s biting her own tail?”

Evgeni laughed. “A maiden in a fire who turns into a snake, and that is the part you take issue with?”