We stayed in that inn for a while keeping a low profile meaning no Grisha powers so that we didn't attract attention. We had a decent amount of money so we were there for a few days. A party was going on down the inn for one of the mornings and we all went down to get waffles. I loved the taste of them being different from what the little palace had to offer.
"Wow, these are good." Marie said
"yeah I know." I said
I saw people dancing. Among them were my parents and my grandparents that I had to enjoy that time. I was with my family but that was all this was time with them before he caught up to us. My smile faded as I finished my waffles knowing that there wouldn't be times like this if I got dragged back to the little palace. It wasn't safe for Grisha outside the little palace but these days of freedom were more than what I cared for in the little palace.
"You're upset?" Marie asked
"I'm torn between my heart and my freedom." I said
"Heart and freedom?" Nadia asked
"I do love Aleksander, but I don't think I can go back there. I won't go back willingly when we have all this we can do whatever we want." I said
We were just chatting while we were eating but when I said Aleksander's name I saw a girl look over at us. I took in her attire in seeing she didn't seem out of the ordinary as we finished as she approached our group. I was wearing gloves just to keep people from knowing about the Darkling and I.
"May I sit with you?" The woman asked
"sure." I said
She did but the moment she did I noticed Nico looked a little worried and I questioned if something was up. Then I remembered that he was easily affected by heartrenders being he was from the first army. Marie, Nadia and I became aware she was grisha but since I had taken extra cover I had to be very careful.
"Easy. I am not here to hurt any of you and if I wanted to knock out your friend here I could have done it any time." The woman said then she offered her hand to me, "Nina Zenik."
I hesitated because I didn't trust many people when it came to who I was but Adrian came over taking my arm. "Cousin come on, let's go." Adrian said
"In a minute." I said
"Do you have trust issues?" Nina asked
"No offense Nina, but I've had a rough couple of days and rough years over the last ten years." I said
"Amira, your wrist." Marie said
I looked at it seeing that it was just an outline of the letters but I knew I couldn't keep running from him forever. Nina seemed to be surprised when she heard my name and I knew it was coming. I got up and put a hand on Adrian's shoulder smiling at him knowing he was scared.
"Come on Cousin, I will walk with you." I said
I was about to lead my thirteen year old cousin away when men came in and I noticed the way they were dressed. I'd heard of such men from Aleksander during the week with the first army. I had my dagger by my side if I needed it but I knew there was a lot going on and Aleksander was too far to wait for.
I have to lead this group myself and we have to survive. I thought
"Fjerdans." Nico said
I started removing my gloves knowing I'd need to use my hands for this and not hide. My grandparents, parents and aunt started to notice as I kept my cousin behind me. I kept looking at them as they started to speak about collecting up the Grisha they referred to as witches.
"Adrian." I asid
"Yes, Amira?" Adrian said
"stay behind me unless they get close then use your fire the way I taught you." I told him
I saw him nod as everyone waited for my move but there were too many people in here so I took Adrian out the back knowing they'd follow and let my family go out the front where they met with me and we all stood facing them.
"You are ours now." Fjerdan leader said
"I don't think so." I said
We all got ready as a fight started to come out and we were able to fight one on one or two on two depending on how many were near us. We had more than they did as there were only five and we were a group of nine Grisha. I was doing the best I could in the fight using everything Botkin had taught me as I saw Marie and Nadia doing the same. Marie and Nadia used their small science to create steam and I used it to my advantage to grab my Grisha steel dagger and I lunged attacking the Fjerdan plunging the Dagger in him as he gasped. I Stood up but saw the shadow of someone behind me and I realized I had no time to get them out.
"mörd drüsje" The Fjerdan said as I heard everyone yell my name but just as I turned to try to defend from the attack I saw shadows cut through the man as he fell and split in half.
Breathing heavy I looked at everyone seeing that we all were covered in blood and I never wanted a shower more than I wanted right now. When I looked at where the shadows came from I saw him. Aleksander walked over to see everyone but I questioned just how long he'd been there as I was breathing heavily. Not a word had been said as we went back to the inn and I walked in my room to shower getting that blood out of my hair and my peasant clothes were ruined.
well he found me. I thought
I walked out in a towel figuring he'd waited but no he was right there as I blushed a bit. He seemed to be in thought but I looked, seeing he had my silk dress. I rolled my eyes a bit looking in the bag my grandma asked my back to him as he just seemed to stare at my back.
"I'm not wearing that." I said
"You would wear it back at the little palace." Aleksander said
"We're not there and I really hate to draw attention." I said, "Close your eyes, how could you just come in here without thinking?"
He seemed to work out and I found something out of the clothes we'd brought along to blend in. I was able to change quickly as I sighed a bit drying my hair knowing that it felt good not to have blood in my hair. Still, I needed to show some gratitude since I could have died.
"Thank you." I said as I walked over to him and put a hand on his cheek "you can open your eyes."
When he did I was reminded of our time alone, my heart was beating fast and I knew why as I almost forgot about the stag but then I did remember about it. Letting my hand fall I started to walk away but he grabbed my wrist and I wouldn't look at him.
"Amira, I just want to talk to you." Aleksander said
"If you want to talk about returning to the little palace, I refuse." I said
Aleksander pulled me to him and made me sit on his lap as his arms secured around me so I couldn't move. I was trying to keep my decision in my mind as I felt his lips meet mine and I kissed him back. I didn't realize how much I really wanted to be with him after everything until this moment. I was torn because I was ready to accept being his wife soon but I wanted to be out here with my family that I hadn't been around in years. When we pulled away I was breathing heavily as I looked at him.
"You said once the stag was found we would get married, was that a lie?" Aleksander asked
"No, it wasn't." I said as I looked him in the eyes, "I meant it, this time away from you has hurt me but it's also given me what I never had."
I knew I couldn't still say it to his face even with everything that had gone on between us. I took the advantage to get out of his arms and head for the door I needed to check on the others but as I opened the door he closed it. I knew we were going back and forth avoiding it, avoiding saying what we felt...him due to 400 years of losing those he cared about. Those friends who did not live as long as him. For me I was completely alone most of my time in the little palace and it was hard to open up but somehow I could be with him just not fully.
"Amira, please. You can't just leave when there is something clearly on your mind." Aleksander said
"I don't want to feel trapped and I want to know my family. If I had a choice back when I was eight I wouldn't have been dropped off at the little palace because of what I was." I said
"You hear your words you speak of, they caused most of how you feel right now. Yet you want to know these people and feel like you belong." Aleksander said, "I know what it's like to feel alone and isolated."
I closed my eyes knowing that he was right but then I looked at him as I had my back to the door. I knew I wasn't the only Dual Summoner now, that there were others like me. I knew he wanted to have them in the 2nd army.
"I deserve to know all of my family, but more importantly I want to protect the Dual summoners." I said my tone serious
I think my words caught him off guard as he didn't expect that but I knew that there were others. There was me and my cousin so the possibility of more out there was going to be what I had to work towards. For a second we stood there silent knowing that there was always the question of was there more Dual Summoners and now I knew there were somewhere.
"They won't want to be found, they'll run for now." I said, breaking the silence, "So when we get married, let me be their leader."
"You've met another Dual Summoner?" Aleksander asked
"I won't say, He should make his choice, not anyone else make it for him." I said
"He?" Aleksander asked and he seemed jealous by the words but I started to laugh which surprised him. "Don't look so threatened. He is family to me but to you he's no one." I said
There was a knock on my door and I had an idea who it was "Who is it?" I asked
"Cousin, everyone is waiting." Adrian said
"I'll be out there soon Adrian. I'm having a conversation with my fiancé." I said
I heard Adrian walk away and I looked at Aleksander knowing that Adrian was untested from others because my aunt hid him. I could only guess that my grandfather was an Inferni and my aunt was too for him to be an Inferni/Tidemaker. Aleksander seemed to be having a serious look on his face before realization dawned on him and he actually started to laugh.
"You, You found another Dual Summoner and have been training him." Aleksander said, "You are the only Dual Summoner that is Sun Summoner and Tidemaker. So what is he?"
"Tidemaker and Inferni." I said
I think Aleksander was in shock to hear about this but then he considered what my influence could do. He seemed to be questioning his decisions. I could see that clear as anyone because somehow I could read him better than any Grisha in the 2nd army.
"So what do you want?" Aleksander asked getting close to me, pinning me between him and the door. "Whatever you want, Amira, you can have it. I can assure it will happen."
"I want a location for Dual Summoners, I want to lead them. People are scared and intimidated by you so please." I said
"Let's get married and everything you ask for will happen." Aleksander said as I nod pulling him close and kissing him. When he kissed me back it felt like we were sealing our deal, our promise here of what was going to be the future.
