Zhadan Cheslavovich
Zhadan is the major domo of Trofim Andreevich's household, and the prince's top advisor. He himself is of boyar stock, and heads up one of the most notable families in the Principality of Ladeisk.
Though he was usually present during the Serpent Slayers' prior meetings with the prince, he first approached Augusta after she unsuccessfully offered him a copy of a tome on Defensive Armaments, which she restored and translated at her own expense. As the offer was made at an inopportune time - the prince was upset at being implicitly accused of stealing the golden eggshell from his peasants, he ordered Augusta, along with the rest, out of his hall. Zhadan caught up with Augusta outside the hall, and told her that if the prince didn't appreciate her gift, there were others that would. When asked who that might be, Zhadan replied that her companions had arrived from the south with that person's envoy (by implication, this was Zinovii Surikov. He then recommended that Augusta and her companions should travel to seek him out.
Subsequently, Zhadan met with Zorina, who had recently arrived in Ladeisk, and entered the service of another local boyar as a bodyguard. Through her employer, she met Zhadan, who told her he would pay double of her current master to help escort the Serpent Slayers on a trip to the northwest. He then introduced her to the group.
After their departure, the Serpent Slayers were met by Zalyn, who revealed that Zhadan was her patron, and sent her to catch up to them to convince them to meet with Zinovii Surikov. Yuri and Augusta were somewhat taken aback by Zhadan's interest in Surikov, but allowed Zalyn to accompany them so long as she pledged not to spy on them on anyone else's behalf. They did subsequently run into Surikov as part of Archbishop Nikifor's traveling party. Zalyn and Zinovii accompanied Yuri to Malinka, but happened to be taking a walk during Grey Wolf's attack, and have not been seen since.
The Serpent Slayers did encounter Zhadan again after returning to Ladeisk. After another new companion, Malina, convinced the prince to look for allies, Zhadan was placed in charge of organizing the logistics of a diplomatic mission to the Grand Prince of Galinda. In this capacity, he met with Zorina, and debriefed her about the party's recent trip to the north. He also asked her what supplies would be required. Along with the prince, he then met with the entire group, and approved several of their requests, including horses, food, and a new composite bow for Zorina. The Serpent Slayers also asked for sending stones (or something similar, that would allow for distant communication, and a magical bag that would hold more than its apparent size allowed. Zhadan said that he was not aware of such wondrous items, but the prince told him to look through the citadel storerooms. Malina subsequently detected the presence of two icons that fulfilled the function of standing stones somewhere in the citadel stores.
Zhadan is also in charge of drafting the letter with the marriage proposal, and preparing a chest of gifts for the Grand Prince.
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