The Past: "Is it real?" I ask running my finger over the black tear with a winged monster coming out of it that divides Ravka on the world map. I had never actually seen it in all my travels across the world, but I had heard of the prophecy.
"Of course it is girl." Ana Kuya stops her knitting "It's responsible for most of the orphans here. People trying to go through it in the hopes of a better life on the other side. Tempting the Saints."
"Why go through it? Why not go around." I ask.
"Read the map. The north want our Grisha dead and the South guards it's mountains. We have no where else to go."
That's true I think the Drüskelle don't care whether someone's otkazat'sya or Grisha if you step over the Fjerdan border illegally you're dead and The Shu-Han mountains have some of most rough terrain I've ever encountered, but dying either of those ways sound better than being torn apart and eaten.
"Now work on your shading girl. Keep a pencil in your hand or someone else will put a rifle in it instead ."
The Present: "I don't know how you do that Alina." The guy next to me comments on how I'm drawing as we make our way down the uneven ground to Kribirsk.
"Bumps help with texture" I explain smudging the blackness of The Fold.
The Fold looks different on mine." The guy across from me comments his tone if not his eyes tell me that he has a problem with me being here "I'll have to get a better look at it from your country."
"She grew up here." The guy next to him says and even with the hit upside the head he still makes one last remark "Even your own people don't want you."
The lead cartographer pulls back the curtain separating us from her and the driver "Cartographers listen up we're almost there so pack your things because if you lose anything you will not be getting a replacement."
All of us jump into action stopping only when we here volcra in the distance and it gets extremely dark inside the wagon saving me from the guy across from me. I hope this reminds him he is no better than me.
One of the many things the dark did for me I think as I get out the wagon along with everyone else Is shield me from the stares and thoughts of prejudice people and allowed me the freedom to stare and think those same thoughts right back.
"This abomination will be here forever." One male cartographer says referring to the darkness that stretches miles long and is so tall it reaches the sky.
"You don't go to church." Eva observes walking pass "The saint the can summon the sun will destroy it."
Not anytime soon I want to tell her that thing was created using ancient magic by a centuries old Shadow Summoner.
"I'd like to see one person that isn't afraid of that thing."
"I know someone." Eva says confidently "Mal. He isn't afraid of anything."
"You'd be surprised." I mutter letting a memory overtake me.
The Past: "Alina." Mal says softly taking tentative steps from outside constantly looking around.
"Mal." I ask worried at his skittish behavior.
"Look what I found." He presents to me a bunny.
"Aw he's adorable." I pet him "Where'd you find him."
"He's lost, but I've seen chewed plants in the woods east of here bet I'll find his warren there."
A full blood Ravkan boy barges through the door demanding "Why are you running from me half-breed."
I pull Mal behind me "Stay away from him."
"Or what? You'll draw me rice eater."
I'll knock you on your ass with my power is what I wanted to say but I believe that when in a fight equal force should always be met with equal force and the person who wields it the best wins. I look around a spot a letter opener on the desk beside me I snatch it up and turn back to the bully "Or I'll cut you." Now yes I know that technically this isn't equal because he's unarmed and I'm not but if I was he'd still be bigger and stronger than me and that's not equal either.
"What's this." The headmistress pops up I immediately hide the letter opener behind my back "Who tracked dirt in the house?" Having both done it the bully and Mal run off in opposite directions. She chooses to go after Mal.
"Malyen Oretsev come out."
"No." Mal yells from his hiding spot
You can't hide forever."
"Yes I can."
"Okay." The old woman says defeated "Maybe you can" and speaks louder "but eventually that's all you'll be. Someone who runs from his problems instead of facing them." She turns to walk back in the house "perhaps if you get so good at it you'll live to see twenty. And bring me a rabbit before the dinner bell is sounded."
The Present: I come out of it on my way back to the tent I share with Mal noting a lot more First Army here then there was when I left.
"Alina!" I turn an instant smile on my face when I see Mal standing on the bridge I just crossed shrugging on his jacket head tilted giving me that crooked smile that I love so much.
"Hey when did you get in?" I ask.
"Yesterday." He jogs toward me "Everyone's getting their assignments."
"Suppose cartography's moving back down south." I giggle as he slings his arm around me pulling me to a walk I keep my hand on the one that's hung on my shoulder.
"Yeah." He says "The only reason I know is because they're putting my unit with yours again. Looking for a way through the mountains."
"So we're back together." I'm so relieved.
"Can't keep best friends apart for too long." He says simply.
"Corporal Oretsev you saying you missed me."
"Well, I just need someone to take the fall for my petty crimes that's all."
I laugh then become displeased when I notice what's not up ahead "Hey they moved our tent."
"Yeah it's down that way now." He jerks his chin to the right.
Moving pass that I add on to what I was thinking earlier "There's so many First Army here. We look like a half way house accepting donations." I joke.
"Well it turns out I won't be accepting any donations. I won this betting on a fight." I move out from under his arm and grab the money he flaunted in front of me.
"Look at you flushed with five whole.." I look "Kruge?" I say confused "What you going to do with foreign money?" I ask "We're not in Ketterdam." I reminder him playfully.
"Alright don't crush my dreams."
"Again! Inferni!" We turn just in time to see fire being thrown at a wooden post shaped like a man that's immediately put out by a Squaller fancy way of saying wind-maker a more insulting way if anyone asks me who praises then orders the Inferni to do it again.
"Now you know why they moved our tent. The Grisha wanted more space."
"My heart aches for them."
"They bully us when their General isn't around." Is his rebuttal.
Most who are powerless to stop what's happening in their life often lord what power they do have over people who don't, but he already knows this. We've seen it countless time with the older kids as they get closer to enlistment age he's just trying to remind me that while they are victims like the rest of us they aren't virtuous so to him they don't deserve my sympathy.
"Just like home." I say turning to walk away.
"It wasn't all bad. We learned some good lessons back there."
"Care to share with the rest of the class?"
"One.." he holds up a finger "Never cry in public."
"Save your emotional break down for when you're alone is a must." I concur.
"Two.." he holds up a second "Keep a weapon on you at all times."
"And three.." he trails off "I can't remember number three."
"Uh that's new." I say referring to the big skiff at the dock.
"Yeah the Grisha call it UltraLight made by their own Fabricators. It's meant to be faster."
"What happened to the last one?"
Mal shrugs his shoulders "Never came back."
"Oh here we go?" He mutters as two men come barreling toward us loudly.
"Man I would have made a killing off you, but you know he wouldn't loan me any money." The bigger one points to the shorter one.
"That's because you're a small child in a smaller child's body when it comes to money."
Before they can get further into the physical vs the mentality of a child Mal interrupts them.
"Dubrov." the bigger one "Mikhael." The smaller one "This is Alina."
"Your little friend from Keramzin." Mikhael leans in closer and point to my face "This her."
"Little friend." I turn an accusing eye on Mal.
"How is that wrong?" He's flustered
"He talks about you a lot." Dubrov jumps in.
"What has he said about me?"
"They're exaggerating. They do that."
"Oh look at him all riled up." Mikhael says and just as they begin to play fight the horn is blown signal we are all to gather.
"Save by the bell." Mikhael says and they all three run off.
"Hey what does he say about me?" I yell out to them walking to catch up.
All the First Army this encampment has in one place all talking at same time is exacerbating the headache that I've developed and have kept since joining the army can you please hurry it up I think.
"Listen up." The lieutenant gets everyone's attention and mouths shut. Thank you, but I noticed behind him is an anti-Shu propaganda Saints this is uncomfortable.
"I know you all have been on the road for a month so I'll make this brief. Most of you will continue north to the Fjerdan frontlines or south toward the Shu-Han border, but some of you will have to accompany the Second Army through the Fold to gather the supplies that is waiting in Novo-Kribirsk."
Okay so now it's uncomfortable for a whole different reason.
"If this succeeds it means a full meal for everyone in this tent next week. Bullets for your guns, sugar for your tea.."
"And whiskey."
That gets a chuckle out of everyone.
"Don't hold your breath. Now I have names."
"In what I like to call the nightmare lottery." Mal whispers.
"Sergeant Yure Teplov, Tracker Malyen Oretsev.."
We both look at each other alarmed as he continues calling names.
"Did he.. but you're in our unit." I whisper.
"It has to be an error.. it has to be." He voice is shaky.
"Doesn't sound like a error Mal." I tell him gentle.
We're dismissed with a promise of dinner in a hour and Mal tries to cover a grim situation with the bright side "Well if it works I'll get to see Ketterdam at least." but he fails to convince either of us and just walks away.
An hour later after waiting for my turn to get food I'm told "Back of the line." I want to lash out make a scene I guess I do in a way when I drop the plate and cup loudly and storm out willing myself not to cry from embarrassment and the unfairness of it all.
Mal leaving. Possibly Dying. Leaving me alone to face situations like that is too much so I climb a guard tower and let my power out so that it's just beneath my skin attracting the shadow and getting lost in the haze it brings.
I come out of it when there's a shuffle behind me and Mal's victorious laugh reaches me "I found you." He proclaims after sitting down next to me.
"You always do somehow." I reply.
"Well it's not hard. You always perch."
I scoff "Don't know why I still do he has a right to feel how he feels even if his feelings are misdirected besides that slop wouldn't have done my body any good anyway ."
"I know. That's why I got you these?" He hands over a small bowl filled with grapes.
"Where'd you get these?" I ask as he releases it into my hands.
"I stole them." He says like it no big thing.
"From a Grisha tent?" I ask with a laugh.
"I thought it would get me an invitation to jail, but it just got me an invitation to tumble with a Grisha."
"You tumbled a Grisha?" I ask popping a the grape in my mouth.
"No." He assures me "I just flirted with her. Or maybe she flirted with me. I don't know" he puts his hands up "Look Grisha woman scare me okay"
"Did you see the lieutenant?" I ask hesitantly.
"Yeah." He nods.
"And." I press setting aside the full bowl.
"Well.." the words get stuck in his throat "It turns out they do need me so.."
"Oh." I shift uncomfortably "I could shoot you in the foot." I offer.
He laughs "you're a terrible shot."
I giggle at his jab at me being uncoordinated even though we both know I've never needed to be with otkazat'sya weaponry I then look between the darkness that I was indulging in a moment ago and my best friend who keeps me from losing my life to it in one form or another.
"Don't cross it." I whisper.
"When I was young." He begins "I had nightmares about it. Of going in. Finding my parents still dead waiting for me." He pauses "Well orders are orders."
I huff at this impossible situation "If it goes wrong come back you lost so much to it already."
He looks at me and vows "I'll find my way back to you. Promise."
In that moment there's a feeling between us that makes us lean into each other, but then he pulls back saying "But first I'm going gambling in Ketterdam." Was it just me I think as I laugh it off did I just imagine him leaning in.
"Without me." I whine.
"Aw I'll send you a letter."
I laugh and we dissolve in to just staring into the void.
Next morning I internally panic seeing a black carriage with black horses and footmen dressed in black come trotting down the road.
"That's him?" I proclaim.
"General Kirigan." He clarifies looking at me a silent question in his eyes I nod.
"Leader of the Second Army decides to grace us with his presence." Eva says "He must believe the new skiff will be a shining success."
"Or a spectacular failure." Alexi says.
Mal looks behind me like he believe he just said that without thought.
I turn my head "Alexi." I reprimand.
"What?" He wonders.
I incline my head back toward Mal.
"Sorry Mal."
"Think he's going with us?" Mal asks out loud.
"If he does then you'll know what he believes." Alexi says.
He won't I want to say He can't without agitating the volcra and his presence here has nothing to with the skiff and everything to do with me.
"What are we children. Or are we soldiers " The lieutenant for First Army walks by making an off you go motion "Get to your post and pack your gear Skiff launches in twenty. Sergeant get your crew ready!"
"Mal. You're with me." The sergeant shoves a rifle into his hands and I guess he must have some kind of look on his face because the sergeant says "Chin up. Crossed it three times without incident." He moves away to show him the marks on his wrist "You'll get yours soon enough."
Mal looks back at me "I'll be back before you know it." and walks away.
"I'll be here." Alexi speaks up from behind me "Me and the cartographers I mean."
I turn my face away from his retreating form remembering my words to him as children running through the field "We can't hide forever but we can run together." I storm off unable to let him die and refusing to be left alone so early in life I find and set fire to all the maps with the geography that'll be on the other side of The Fold from where they'll be crossing.
"Petya." The lieutenant's heavy boots are sounded to the Cartographer's tent and seeing her clutch burnt pieces of maps demands "How did this happen."
"I don't know. We were extra careful to secure all lanterns."
"And what was damaged?"
"Nothing major." She assures him "Just some records of the western coastline Os Kervo and the river system that runs through it. It's really not.."
"Critical." He cuts her off "Geographical data of the territory on the other side of The damn Fold. Those records." He steps forward to emphasize his point.
"Yes, but I'm sure the First Army on the other side has an-"
"You think I trust anyone else's intel. Now someone will have to cross The Fold and redraw these maps."
"I'll go." The lieutenant looks at me "Put me on the skiff. I'll go"
"Yes you will." He storms pass me "Your whole unit will."
"I don't understand we were headed south now heading west." One of the two men in my unit says fearfully.
"What did you do?" Raisa jogs to keep up with the fast pace I've set.
"Nothing." The lieutenant's pettiness and prejudice is the cause of this.
"Leave her alone Raisa you want everything to be her fault." Alexi says.
"I'm usually right."
I slow as I make my way onto the ship keeping my head tilted up to watch the Squaller on the upper deck. I gasp when Mal is suddenly just there in front of me.
"What are you doing here?" He demands.
"We've been assigned with you?"
"No you haven't turn around and get off this ship."
"Orders are orders." I repeat his words from last night.
"I could shoot you in the foot."
"All that'll be is one less bullet in your gun." I go to move around him. He grabs me by my upper arm and spins me around.
"Tell him you're too sick to go."
"I'm never sick." Constant headache yes , but never sick.
"Lie if you have to."
"I won't let you die alone in there and I refuse to be left alone out here."
"Get off this boat before I carry you off."
The entry way of the Skiff is raised sealing us inside.
"I won't use my powers." I assure him "Promise."
He sighs and goes to confront the sergeant "What now!"
"The Grisha will tell us."
He looks behind the sergeant to the Squaller that was barking orders the day before "Not her. The Inferni." The sergeant motions behind Mal.
With a clap of her hands she gets everyone attention "Here's how it goes. We go into The Fold it gets dark, but we like it dark. Keeps us from drawing attention." She points at the mast "The only light we use is the blue one at the mast. It's weak, but safe."
"But you're an Inferni. right." Raisa steps up "Why are you here if we're suppose to keep it dark."
"For when the dark comes to keep you."
That makes her fade into the background and Mal takes the opportunity to ask "Where's your General? Kirigan."
The Inferni ignores him saying "That's our cue." when the sail is dropped and someone yells ready to launch.
I watch the Inferni walks toward the mast fix her gloves and motion to the Squaller above to take off as we do the sergeant leading the voyage for the First Army addresses his last minute passengers "Listen up Cartographers until we reach the western dry docks you are to remain at your stations do not I repeat do not leave the Skiff during the crossing."
The wind as we get closer to The Fold is insane so insane that the scarf around my neck goes flying backward I turn to catch it and see a dark silhouette on the dock.
Does he see me I wonder no probably not. I turn back around and brace myself as one would for hitting water.
It isn't like hitting water as the outside would make it out to be heavy and dark. More like a winter fog chilly and hard to see through .
"Marker one." The Inferni whispers when we pass it.
"How many more are there?" I ask.
"Thirty-seven." She replies moving pass me.
I can hear everyone's heartbeat. The grisha with a useful power in a situation like this being the most calm and my unit being the most erratic while everyone else is somewhere in the middle. I focus in on the members of my unit when the volcra get particular close and everyone jumps into action guns raised shadow light rises from my finger tips slowing their heartbeats to where they all go sit down in the same corner and soon are slumped over knocked out.
This goes unnoticed by everyone but Mal and when he looks at me all I can do is get down He sighs realizing the truth he ignored in the first place that is if I'm able to save the lives those I care about or I feel are my responsibility in this case him and my unit I will no matter the cost to myself and goes back to focusing on the volcra.
The Inferni female that ignored his question but answered mine gets down right in front of me closer to the the mast in the middle of the skiff, but gets back up when the blue light goes out.
"No..No.." she whispers trying to get it to come back on freezing when she feels what I see behind her.
A black mast of monster rises out the shadow of the deck it's mouth hanging open over her head and just as she has accepted her fate ready to turn and give the beast as good as she's got I charge at her full speed knocking her out the way so that when the monster snaps their mouth downward a second later they only snap at air.
All hell breaks loose after that. Gun fire, actually fire, screaming, people being taken dead bodies dropping and the Inferni female I saved well she gets up and is speared through the chest by volcra talons trying to keep the attention on her and off her injured comrades.
My eyes go from her to those in my unit safely tucked in a corner to Mal who shoots a volcra causing it to drop it's catch right in front of me twitching I look from him back to Mal when I hear Mal scream to see him being picked up by a volcra.
"Mal!"
He looks at me then starting stabbing the volcra in the ankle in an effort to get it to release him. Knowing that won't do any good I scramble toward a discard rifle and with one lucky shot am able to free Mal.
Now rationally I know I should immediately drag him under the safety of something not kneel at his side and clutch his hand, but I can't drag that much weight and even if I could I run the risk of him being swiped up. No this is better live or die we do it together.
"I'll meet you in the meadow." He whispers.
I nod fervently. Sobbing at the fact that he's come to the same decision as me.
I gasp when something sharp pierces my back blood rushes to my throat and mouth and I find I can't breathe either. I squeeze my eyes shut not because of pain or the fact that I'm lifted up but because I'm fighting the power surge I feel trying to come out in response to my life threatening injury, but I'm quickly getting overheated and soon I'll explode killing not just the volcra or myself both of which I'm fine with but every living thing inside The Fold. I open my eyes wanting to look at Mal who refused to let go as I let go mentally and heat rushes out my body in the form of a bright white light.