Chapter 20

Alina could see about 50 grisha men and women being lined up with nooses around their neck, Baghra, Ivan and Freydor were in the middle of the group. The guards that were on the boat who we're looking after Mal and David were leading the men to the gallows to be the next group to be executed. The crowd was looking downcast Alina could see a lot of them with tears turning their back to look at the Grisha then back the Royal family. Vasiliy grab Alina by her chains and pulled her back.

The King, his nobles and some delegation from Shu Han and Frejda were their to witnesses what ever was going to happen. King Petyre stood up with held his hand up for silence, "Today is a Grand day for the future of Ravka, Shu Han and Frejda and I will let my son tell you all about it"

Vasiliy walked up to the end of the podium with Alina a step behind, "yes as my father said today is a wonderful day. The Shu han and Frejda have come to us with offers to end he war and we have sat down and negotiate to a peaceful end of the war that has ravaged our countries for years" people applauded at this. "all sides have sacrifice many good men and women for a war so when we sat down to negotiate we kept that in mind."

Alina tuned out when Vasiliy taking until he said "Now for the Grisha as you can see we have brought them here today for there execution, our treaty with Frejda they have asked to get rid of them as they pose a threat to their way of life"

"No" Alina shockingly said

Vasiliy ignored her and continued, "we want our people to no longer suffer so we agreed that the Grisha will die (some of the crowd start to plead No or boo at the comment). However the Frejda have allowed us to keep some and includes my soon to be wife the Sun Summoner"

"No" Alina shouted as she got out of her chains and her shield came up, "I will never be your wife, you attacked our boat telling me if I didn't marry you, you would kill the Grisha. But here you are saying it's part the treaty??"

The crowd began to clap for Alina's speech and she kept going "The people of Ravka deserve better for some of these people their children are up in the gallows. The people of Ravka need protection and food in their bellies not be taxed so they so poor they have to give up their accommodation. The people of Ravka need a royal family that cares about them"

"Enough" Vasiliy stepped back and grabbed a gun from one of the guards he pointed and shot at Alina her shield protected her. He fired twice more and realised that the bullet wouldn't get thru. "Well my darling if I can't hurt you I kill of your own" he snarled.

Vasiliy was to slow to turn and Alina made up her cut and sent it to the gallows slicing the rope from those who were lined up she even slicing thru the wood post bring the structure down.

Some of the crowd ran up to where the grisha were tied and started to help them be free, the King shouted out to his men to start shooting at the traitors. The Grisha who were released started to protect their helpers when Mal was released he ran to a guard knocking him out and taking his gun he knew Alina would need help.

Alina had turned back to Vasiliy seeing him seething he tried to use the gun again til it ran out of bullets she used her orb that she created in her hands to knock him out like she did last time. The King seeing her use her powers just ran as fast as his old weaken body would go running thru her shield and knocking Alina and himself off the podium. One of the Shu delegates jumped off the podium down to where the King and Alina was he pulled the king off he body who was knocked out, Alina however was winded and was holding onto her stomach.

"my sun summoner are you okay" the man asked.

Alina couldn't talk she was taking deep breath to stop the pain she was feeling.

"Let me help you up you are safe with me I promise"

Alina nodded and the man slowly lifted her up, she then witness the King been kicked by people in the crowd angered by what he had done to the Sun Summoner.

"Alina where are you hurting?" the man asked

"Please just get me to my friends" she cried

"okay as I said you are safe with me. I will find your friends for you" the man said

All of sudden Mal turned up, "where are you taking her" he asked the man.

"Are you one of her friends?" he asked

"Yes I'm her best friend" he looked down at Alina seeing her breathing deep and pale.

"What happend?" Mal asked

"The King threw himself at her and they went off the podium" the man said Mal turned to see lifting a body up. Then Freydor ran up next to Mal, "Enkh-Amgalan thank you for getting to Alina"

"no worries I would do anything to protect family" Enkh-Amgalan replied.

Mal frowned, "I'm Grisha a healer Mal but I stay in Shu han to help get my people out, now we need to find somewhere quiet so I can put Alina down and check her over"

Freydor pointed to what looked like a cafe and he lead the way, Alina was out cold by the time they got into the cafe.

"is she okay?" Mal asked

"Yes a couple of broke ribs and bruising around her back where she landed"

Mal looked at him wide eyed then watched as Freydor checked the perimeter, then back at Enkh-Amgalan who frowned he asks quietly, "Are they yours?"

"No, but I will be their uncle are they alright"

Enkh-Amgalan finished healing Alina and nodded at Mal to say they were okay. Alina started to wake up Mal walked around the other side so she would see a friendly face, "where are we?" Alina asked

"we are in a cafe, Enkh-Amgalan grabbed you after you got attacked and healed you" Mal replied as Alina grabbed him to help her up. She felt her stomach and Mal hugged her and whispered, "your children are safe only Enkh-Amgalan knows at the moment"

"Okay" Alina says smiling in her hug she released Mal and turned to the healer she looked at him and frowned.

"Thank you but do I know you from some where?"

"I was on the skiff with you all"

"oh okay" Alina frowned

"Alina I am spy who serves the General I have known him for years. I can understand why he saw red .."

"can we finish this conversation later Enkh-Amgalan, I would like to get back out there and survey the damage"

"Alina you were injured" Mal stated

"Yes and many more could have been injured, but this is the start of a civil war and Ravka does not need this at the moment. So let me finish it quickly"

Freydor joined the conversation, "the King is dead, I can hear people talking on the outside but Vasiliy has run"

Alina looked at them all and pushed herself passed and went to back out.

please let me know what you think I have been home unwell and struggled to get this right