Darkling POV

After talking with the harbour master I realized it would take even more time than I had first thought and I had forgotten to plan which of my grisha were to accompany me across.

In my panic and rush to go after Alina I had not thought everything through and would have to go back and do so.

Walking back to my tent poking my head inside "Ivan do you still wish to join me to look for miss Starkov across the fold?" "Yes sir I do" Ivan replied calmly.

"Then come on we need to get the rest of the team together." Once he was outside I looked at him and told him "we need to get the rest of the team together at least twenty squallars and twenty inferni the captain needs an hour that is how long we have."

Bowing "then I had better run now then sir, do you want me to get the inferni or the squallars? Why do we need so many?" "Grab the squallars and get them to the docks. We have no clue what awaits us on the other side so we must be prepared for any outcome."

Turning away I walked to the officers tent. Inside were the two people I was looking for. "Feyador, Irina look alive I need you both to come with me on my trip across the fold and getting the team together."

Both heads whipped towards the flap of the tent and stood straight up bumping into one another. "Yes sir but what happened sir to make us go across the fold." Sighing "the sun summoner was taken again."

"What else do you need sir how can we help?" Feyador asking quickly. "Feyador go help Ivan gather twenty squallars and Irina I need twenty of your best inferni that are in this camp we leave in an hour."

"I know just the inferni for you sir and I know where they all like to go when not on duty. General please allow me to go get them for you" added Irina. I nodded "bring them to the dry docks by the end of the hour faster if you can."

Swinging by the healers tent checking out my last suspension. Looking in to see if Alina healer was there. Soon I was not seeing her I decided move to go to her tent. Lifting the flap I seen little Ella laying down in her bed.

Having cleared her for now I moved away to make sure everything was going to plan. Finding Ivan was easy and he had half the squallars already. "Has Feyador found you yet to help round up squallars?"

"Yes General he brought a couple of these with him this is sort of our meet up place so far sir." Nodding "okay then, Irnia is grabbing our inferni. When we go to set sail as your second Feyador cannot be aloud to join despite my first thoughts."

"He must be able to lead the heartrenders if you fall. Irnia may join if she so chooses other than that and what the captain brings that is our crew."

"Sir Feyador will try and fight to go with sir however I have heard what you have said and agree. I need to get back to rounding up inferni sir if there is nothing else." "As you were Ivan."

Now all that is left is to wait for the harbour master has our skiff ready to cross and what fresh hell Alina has gotten into.

Alina POV

Laying here listening I'd had all but given up hope Aleksander was gone out the tent, Genya and Ivan were cleaning just not fast enough, and finally it was getting harder to breathe in wherever I was.

When I had heard Aleksander's voice asking Ivan if he wanted to go with him still. Then Ivan telling Genya to focus on the smaller things.

"Go to hell old man this place will be spotless by time the General get back without your help." Followed by her tell tell laugh. "Get to work I have to go" Ivan barked.

Laying there drifting in and out of consciousness I dreamt about a injured woman sitting under the noon sun in a meadow. Holding an infant in her arms rocking her while talking -"little sun it fall to you to destroy the fold and save our people but bewa-

Banging brought me back I wasn't sure if I wanted to be found and stay with Aleksander or go see the woman who looked like me. Who sounded like she was talking to me and not the baby but that wasn't possible. Was it?

With very little air left I don't know how long I was consciousness listening to Genya clean. Once again wishing to be free, other than locked in something or otherwise back in my dream.

Back at the meadow the woman was still rocking her baby back and forth but looking at me. "Beware your father he still lives his great power is yours as is mine. Which is why you will be the strongest yet my daughter."

During her speech as if of its own accord my body moved towards the woman. "Why leave me alone for so long if my father knew of me? Why leave me to all of my troubles? Such as the one I'm in?" "I made sure to hide you and it worked better than expected till now he has finally found you be wary."

"Find Baghra make her honor her promise and the blood oath between our families my little sun." Was the last thing I was able to remember till I felt cold hands on me. I couldn't tell anymore if they were real or not.

After a few moments of nothing after the hands I felt as if my heart was going to explode out my chest and ten pounds of air was trying to force its way through my body. Then being forced into a dreamless sleep.

Darkling POV

I was standing near the bow of the skiff waiting on the last few soldiers to be loaded and ramps to be raised when we hear a commotion coming from the camps.

Walking back to the ramps just as a young heartrender reaches the other side "moo soverennyi there is no need to go thru the fold the sun summoner is here." "Do what"

"Sir miss Safin found her in the cabinet that was blocked when the wardrobe had fallen over sir she is with the healers. She never left your te-."

I was off in a run I needed to see for myself that she was safe. That what the young heartrender says is true. Bursting into my tent my knees about gave out for there she was sitting in my chair.

Her head jerked up the second I came in and she came running into my arms whispering in my ear. "They got to you in time you didn't go thru the fold Aleksander. Why would you risk it? Never risk it for me I'm not worth it."

Looking at her shocked "THATS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS YOU ARE WORTH EVERYTHING AND MORE! Don't ever say that again and now to the rest I have some bad news to tell you. You not going to believe me at first but I promise I am telling you the truth."

"I know Mal was a part of it all Aleksander do with him whatever you must I won't stop you I just ask you not to kill him. As he was my dearest friend I don't want him dead but had you been hurt I would have killed him myself."

Hugging her closer not believing my ears "lets make sure everything is well with you first my sun let them finish looking you over." Leading her back to the pacing healers so they could continue to work I kept her in my arms until they took her behind the dressing screens.

After an hour of looking her over and Alina getting upset I was loosing my temper "well is there anything wrong with the sun summoner or are you just going to keep standing over her scanning her and making her upset?"

The lead healer stepped forward "well sir it seems as other than passing out due to lack of air she is fine. We just wanted to be sure all was well before we proclaimed all was well." "Ok then everyone out and stay out. Tell the guard no one is to enter other than Ivan if an emergency cause him to do so."

Everyone else scattered and as they went she came right into my arms but before I could kiss her she pull back suddenly looking unsure. "What is it my sun, what is wrong?" "Aleksander what do you know of a blood oath between our families."

"Alina what are you talking about? What blood oath?" She pull out of my embrace and started shaking her head "when I was passed out I saw a woman who look like me but older. Who warned me against me father and told me to find Baghra to make her honor the oath."

"She said my father was still alive but dangerous and I have his powers and my mother's powers combined to make me more powerful than him. Is this possible Aleksander?" I looked once more at her in shock.

Once I shook myself "there are old tells of very powerful users of the small sciences who conquered merzost as well who were said to visit people in their dreams even in the future as long as they were direct descendants and had direct contact with the person. Was she holding some form of you in your dream?"

Alina POV

A growing dread unleashed itself when he said that. "I believe I was the baby in her hands Aleksander. She was sitting in the middle of a a meadow on a noons day in summer injured warning me of my father, am I to trust this? I thought only your family knew merzost?"

He reach out grabbing my hands "we will face it together and find my mother to see if she knows of this blood oath my love. Alina love I don't have the answers but I can promise you this we will not stop till we have the answers." "It was real? I talked to my mother? Can I do it again?" "If nothing else you can trust me my sun."

Walking into his arms again sighing "when do we head back to the little palace so we can try and get some answers and deal with everything that has happened my dark angel? Plus I am ready to sleep in a real bed."

He chuckles "I had a skiff planned to go not a carriage and two armies. So I would have to say at least breakfast my love. You will have to endure this for one more night." "Okay so long as you do not leave my side." "I had not planned on it now let's get you food and into bed my sun."

Eating dinner with Aleksander watching my every move was unnecessary but he insisted. Ivan entered the tent just as I finished my food looking at me "moi soverennyi, miss Starkov I am glad to see you well. Is there anything I can do for you?"

After hearing how he seemed to care for me in my time in the cabinet i thawed towards him. "No thank you Ivan but I wish to thank you for willing to risk your life for mine by going into the fold I heard."

He look confused before realizing I knew everything and slipping on his own mask "miss Starkov I am one of many even though I lead the heartrenders and the General's second (other than yourself) I can be replaced. You however are the only sun summoner known to exist so you could not be replaced. So I would gladly sacrifice myself for you."

Aleksander surprised me by adding then turning on Ivan "as would many of the grisha and even the Otkazat'sya in this camp and this half of the fold. Why are you here Ivan I do believe I put my tent under lockdown."

Sighing "they only would for my power and what they hope I can do for them hopefully one day. I do not wish to be seen as a saint or savior I just want to be me. The General is the only one who would not have crossed just for my powers."

Ivan spoke "Alina if I may call you that this once I was willing to cross not because of your powers but because of the hope you are to everyone including the General. I was willing because you love the General and he loves you never before have I seen him happy until you. I was willing because I would miss your snark at the little palace."