We spent some time there as we talked a bit about his past and when it was soon later we went over to the horses getting back on. I felt like I knew him a bit better and I was glad that it didn't seem to change his intentions. Still, I felt like there was still more. Being alone with him was the only time he made a move toward me showing his intentions of what he wanted.
"Have you enjoyed getting out of the little palace?" Aleksander said
"I feel like I can breathe." I said "thank you"
"You and I are going to change the world, but earning your trust comes first." Aleksander said
I just looked at him as he said that as he was always making sure that I had these moments alone with him. When we got back to the little palace Baghra was right there seeing us. She seemed to be scanning my attire to see my new kefta. Aleksander got down and walked over as he helped me down. No one else was there as he put his arm around me once I was on my feet and Baghra just glared a bit.
"She's supposed to train everyday." Baghra said
"If you train her everyday she will wear out. Have some respect mother, she deserves a break." Aleksander said
Baghra looked at him when he said that and then she looked at me as she realized he told me the truth. I wasn't mad at her but I knew that everyone had their secrets, I did for nine years and he didn't get mad at me for it. He removed his hand from around me and then he took my hand as he kissed the top of it. I blushed at the movement cause I have never seen him do that before with anyone else.
"Go on, train with Baghra." Aleksander said
"I'll do it. I'll go before the royals tomorrow." I said looking at him
"I will arrange it then and then we leave the next day." Aleksander said then looked at Baghra "take care of our dual summoner, mother."
He let me go and walked away as he went back to his usual attire and Baghra led me away from where people could see me as people came for the horses. I walked behind her quietly until we entered the room and I knew that there was nothing she could do. Only she did as she hit me with her cane as if I had fallen under some trance.
"You were to stay away from him." Baghra said
"I tried!" I said, "a little hard when I am in the same wing as he is!"
"He has his sights on you, has he turned you into his pet yet?" Baghra asked a bit bitterly
"I will never be anyone's pet!" I said as I clenched my fist and then I sighed as I knew this arguing was not good for either of us and I turned from her. "You could have told me you were his mother. I'll be careful Baghra, I know that he might be lying." I said calmly
"I worry about what he has planned for you. What has he done so far towards you?" Baghra asked
"Just made moves to kiss me, he doesn't really seem to have that much interest in my power." I said
"He has finally found two things he has searched for." Baghra said "A sun summoner and an eternal one."
I gasped at her words and turned to look at her when she finally said it knowing there was no doubt I had questioned it. Baghra didn't say much more but she started my training working with a performance for the king and Queen. Since we had no more secrets and I knew she was a darkling she used her own darkling powers to train me with the light. A mere test of what I could possibly do to the fold. Still, when dinner came I just had to sneak out to make sure no one saw me and get to Genya or so I thought. I made it past the dining hall and about to sneak up to the wing when Ivan a heartrender stopped me in my tracks.
"Amira Silina." Ivan said
"uh yes?" I asked
"Follow me." Ivan said
I looked at him curiously wondering what was going on and I followed this heartrender going with him. He led me to the wing of my room but instead of going into my room he led me to the darklings chamber again. Alarms were going off in my head that he might want something more than I thought but I tried not to overthink it. Ivan opened the door and when I walked in this time the curtains were open again as light was in the room making it not so bad as the door closed behind me.
"Ge- ..Aleksander?" I asked
Aleksander came out and he saw I was confused on what was going on as he led me to another part of the room. Seeing this part also had curtains open I was taking in the view when we came to the table he was leading me to. I saw it had two meals and drinks on it so I knew immediately he planned for us to have dinner.
He never had dinner with the other grisha. I thought
"Sit Amira." Aleksander said
I walked over with him and he pulled my chair out for me as I took the seat, still questioning his intentions. I could never read him and it was that part that worried me the most but still it was a nice dinner. It was very clear he was trying to earn my affections towards him and I couldn't get Baghra's words about another eternal one.
"Did you have a good lesson with Baghra?" Aleksander asked
"I did." I said
"That's good." Aleksander said as he thought about things "I have been thinking about the sleeping arrangement for when we go north and you'll be staying in my tent where I know you'll be safe."
I was having some of my drink and it shocked me that I had to put it down coughing a bit. Sharing a tent together was next-level stuff but at the same time, I still could understand the motive of my protection was key in this whole situation. So I just nodded after I cleared my throat of the drink.
"Well you are the general, Aleksander." I said
"So you trust my choices?" Aleksander asked
"..yes." I said hesitantly
I tried keeping my guard around him most of the time as there was a sense of truth here and some trust but there was so much more going on. After dinner was done, Ivan came in and cleared the table and he walked me out of the room to my room in a short distance.
"Good night Amira." Aleksander said
"Good night Aleksander." I said
I went to open my door but I knew all he'd done was make moves to try to win me over and I had been somewhat receptive to his advances. I quickly turned around and kissed his cheek to show that some of his advances were working as I walked into my room and closed the door. I knew tomorrow everyone would see my new kefta.
get this over and then we can leave the next day or maybe in the middle of the night. I thought
I could only imagine Zoya's face as I put a finger on my lips from where he had kissed me by the fountain. I knew if he kept doing this I wasn't going to be able to resist him much longer as I took the kefta off and put it where Genya could help me get into it tomorrow. I prepared for bed and then laid down and went to sleep.
tomorrow will work out somehow. I thought
I slept with a peaceful smile on my face as I hugged the pillow and then when the doors opened I saw Genya with her group of assistance as I got up. I figured it would all work out but they were insisting on a bath before anything. So I went along with it and I told them to let me handle it as I looked at Genya.
"I think I can manage Genya, they can go." I said
Genya got my hint and clapped her fingers "everyone out." She said
Watching as they left I was quick to clean up except two people stayed and put me in a robe before they headed out. I didn't really have much to say about it as I walked over and sat at the table. Genya was in her bag as she worked her tailor magic on me for a bit to make me look presentable. When she stopped she looked at me a bit and noticed something different it seemed.
"You look happy." Genya said
"I am, I'm getting tired of resisting and he's letting me go with him to the north soon." I said
Genya put a hand on my cheek and smiled "I like seeing you this way but keep my warning in mind. Be careful of powerful men." Genya said as she started to get me ready for the King and Queen to see.
Since I was part of the 2nd army I could wear my black kefta as we walked down and she styled my hair a bit. We kept walking until we made it to the part of the little palace that had a walk between the little palace and the grand palace. I became worried about this until I felt someone take my hand and when I looked I saw it was Aleksander.
"You look lovely." Aleksander said "ready to go?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." I said
He let my hand go as we walked to the grand palace and I knew once we entered my whole secret would be seen by the king. Aleksander didn't seem too worried about it as we made our way in and he led as we went to the throne room. I started to hear people behind us and I figured it was members of the 2nd army.
"General Kirigan, I see you brought your surprise summoner as promised." The King said
"Yes, this is Amira Silina. A dual summoner, your highness." Aleksander said
"She can tear down the fold?" The king asked
"With some more training." Aleksander said as he kept looking forward "and she will demonstrate the light now."
I questioned his intentions on how I was going to summon the light when suddenly I saw him raise his hand and shadows came around the room. He moved to where he was in front of me and I knew it from my senses. He got close to me and I could feel his smirk on his lips "call the light Amira." He whispered
I put my hands together concentrating and without touching him I sent the light up in the air and expanded it as it evaporates what little shadows he brought in there. It surrounded us for a while and I merely just looked at him knowing this was it. I could go anywhere now that I had the audience with the king.
"Impressive, how long will she need?" The King asked
"Baghra is tending to her training, she's had a few years of training but Baghra said her levels are not enough yet. She will continue her training with me undisturbed." Aleksander said
"Get it done, when we can unite all of Ravka the better we stand against enemies." The King said
"Yes, Moi Tsaritsa." Aleksander said
Aleksander put his hand on my back and turned us around as all the 2nd army got to see me in person now. Their looks of shock were something I could get used to as I was in the darkling's color. Some of my fellow Grisha of the 2nd army hugged me though seeing a bright future I suppose with my existence. Zoya was the only one who didn't approach me and I didn't mind that as Aleksander then led me off away from everyone else.
the look on her face when she saw him close and seeing me in his color. Genya was right, it is worth it to wear black. I thought
