25. Taking Control

Her limbs were becoming weak with the strain of upholding the new, dark fire, so Katya allowed it to wink out. Now she knew exactly what to do about the problem with the Sun Summoner and Aleksander.

Smiling wickedly, she turned to Mal. "You are coming with me."

"What? Where?"

"I'll explain on the road. Wait here while I get my wolf."

She quickly packed a few things before hurrying back with Laika in tow, feeling more hopeful than she had in weeks. This would work; she was certain of it.

When she returned she didn't see Mal at first, but then he appeared from behind a tree. "The general was just here, arguing with an old woman… He called her mother."

"Baghra," Katya hissed. "She's a horrible old witch."

"I think she was the one who sent the assassin after me; she told General Kirigan I was disposed of and that he would never find the stag now." He frowned. "She implied she had taken Alina away, and that without me he could never find her either."

"She means to counter his plans, then," Katya mused. Had Baghra managed to kill Starkov? Or at least imprisoned her? If so, it would make things even easier for Katya.

"She said Kirigan had planned to use Alina against the rest of the world. What did she mean by that?"

"It's a long story and we must get going."

"No." He shook his head vividly. "I'm not leaving until I know Alina is safe. How would he use her? You have to tell me."

Katya contemplated making something up but then decided against it. Why not let him know the truth? Perhaps he would be easier to persuade if he knew. She needed him to succeed with her plan.

"General Kirigan is the Black Heretic. The original one."

"Say, what? He died ages ago."

"His power prolonged his life, and he faked his death many times. Now he means to use the stag to amplify Starkov's power and to control it… in order to expand the Fold."

Mal's head whipped up. "He's a monster!"

"I wouldn't say monster, exactly," Katya disagreed. "He just cares a lot about us Grisha. It's for a good cause, even though–"

"It's a horrible plan! Make the Fold larger? And to use, to control Alina?" He clenched his fist, smacking it into the tree trunk. "I'm gonna kill him."

"You will do no such thing," she snapped. "As I said before, you can't anyway; you're no match for him." Softening her tone, she added: "Come with me instead; I know a way to counter this and you can help."

He didn't look convinced.

"I won't let Aleksander – Kirigan – control the Fold." She moved closer, lowering her voice. "You see, with this new power I'll be the one in control."

"How?"

"By turning his plan against him. He means to use the stag to control the Sun Summoner, but what if I catch it first? You can lead me to it. With my wolf, the stag and you, I'll be strong enough to take control over him, and if he finds Starkov I can control them both." She smiled grimly. "Then we won't need sandskiffs anymore; nobody will be able to cross the Fold without my permission. The Grisha will be safe."

Eyes widening, Mal backed away. "Control them both? Your permission? You're just as bad as him!"

"I'm not bad! It's the world that's bad. To us. To the Grisha. Haven't you noticed how they fear us, freeze us out…"

"And for a good reason," he spat. "I won't follow you. Only to think, we just…" He made a wry face. "Stay away from me." With that he turned on the spot and briskly walked away.

"Mal!" she called after him, anger and disappointment welling up. How dare he? Who did he think he was?

She should never have told him her plan. What if he blabbed to Aleksander? Or worse, what if Mal led him to the stag? Then he would be stronger than ever.

Could her black fire stop him? And could she even summon it without Mal?

Shaking with frustration and anger she caught hold of Laika's fur and channeled her feelings. "Burn!"

A flame appeared, dark and fiery. It was hot, much hotter than the first time she tried, but weaker than with Mal earlier. The thought of hurting Aleksander with it made her slightly sick. Yet, if she didn't, he might do the same to her.

For, she no longer felt safe here; Aleksander would stop her, punish her for plotting against him. Or maybe try to take control over her new force too. Even if Mal didn't tell him about it Zoya probably would.

Katya had to get away. But where?

The Fold. She must go there before him, and set up a trap. If he brought the stag she could steal it, if not she would have to beat him without an extra amplifier. Perhaps she could free Alina Starkov and convince her to take her side.

It wasn't the best plan, but it was the only one she had.

oOo

Towering straight into the sky, the Shadow Fold loomed black and menacing before Katya and Laika. A huge wall of swirling, dark clouds, reaching nearly as far up as she could see. It took weeks to travel around it, and many hours to pass through on a sandskiff.

Inside was darkness and sand, a vast desert of nothingness. No food, no water… And then there were the volcra. Blind, winged monsters who were attracted to living things like gnats, flocking to consume any unprotected traveler.

Feeling a twinge of fear, Katya looked at the billowing shadow. Now that she was here, she hesitated. What if it didn't work? What if she failed to beat Aleksander, or if the Sun Summoner couldn't control the Fold after all, or… There were so many things that could go wrong.

Perhaps she ought to practice a bit more…

She put a hand on the black wolf and drew a breath, but found she couldn't even find the energy to begin. The journey had been wearisome; she had walked for days on narrow paths and country roads to stay away from towns and villages, sleeping only very little in the protection of dense spruce trees or under piles of fallen leaves. She was simply exhausted.

On the other hand, she had a nagging feeling she must hurry. That she could not afford to even rest, or Aleksander would win.

How did it come to this?

She and Aleksander had been friends and lovers, working together… Yet, here she was, planning to thwart his plans. Even risking her own life to do so.

She was just a country girl. A villager…

"What should I do?" she murmured to Laika, feeling the resolve leaving her. "Should I give up? Let him and his Sun Summoner have each other and the Fold…" Tears of anger and jealousy burned in the corners of her eyes at the thought.

The wolf's gaze was calm.

"No," Katya answered herself. "I will do this. Not for him, not for her. For me. Because I can!"

It almost looked like Laika smiled. Then she suddenly trotted forward, pausing at the edge of the Fold to look back at Katya. As if telling her to come.

What did she mean? It was certain death to walk in there.

"Come back."

The wolf smiled again, wagging her tail slightly. Then she disappeared between the clouds.

Numbly Katya stumbled after her. "Come back," she repeated, tears flowing. All was lost. She was tired and lonely, and now she had no amplifier at all.

She might as well let the volcra take her.

The wall was within her reach now; swirling, inky, terrifying.

Looking into it, suddenly Katya understood what the wolf had tried to tell her. With her new force, she could survive in there. Defeat the volcra; maybe even dissolve the darkness. She didn't need Aleksander or the stag.

All she needed was herself.

No longer hesitant, Katya followed the wolf into the darkness.

A/N:

We're getting very close to the end now. :) Thanks for reading and for your patience waiting for new chapters! I will try to be a bit quicker with the next one.