[When the next afternoon rolls around, Nikolai keeps an ear perked for the doorbell. And when it rings, Ponchik beats him downstairs, all 120 pounds of fluff skidding across the rug to jump at the door. It's with one hand grasping the dog's collar that he pulls the door open. So this is the scene that greets Jesper: the king of Ravka in casual dress, struggling to contain an enormously excited and just plain enormous dog.]

Nyet— Down, boy. Let's not topple our guest down the steps in our excitement.

[Ponchik, who knows Jesper from the time he spends at the Dregs' house in Alina's care, complies in favor of...shoving his snout into him and aggressively sniffing.]

I'd offer you a seat and a cup of tea, but I suspect you have little interest in either.