A/N: This is my longest chapter yet. You can thank me by leaving a review ;) I might try to write the next few chapters before posting another. I only planned to have this be a 3-5 chapter story, but the plot bunnies ran away with it! So I don't know exactly how this will end, and don't want to have to revise chapters after I post it if the characters decide to take this in a different direction than I'm planning! I will be updating it sooner or later though :)


Chapter 11

Her eyes felt glued shut, and her arm felt overly stiff, like she'd been laying in one position for far too long. Alina scrubbed her eyes and blinked a few times. Then with a start she realized there was a man sitting in her chair, watching her wake up. She sat up quickly, looking around for something she could use as a weapon. Then her brain recognized the man staring at her over steepled hands.

"Apparat, what are you doing here?" Alina asked. Mentally she prepared to summon her light if she needed to. She also stood, as staying in her bed made her feel vulnerable.

He was silent for another moment, then replied, "Sankta Alina, I heard there was a disagreement between yourself and your tracker friend. I don't want to get in the middle of a lovers quarrel, but if you need anything, you only have to come to me and ask. I hope you know that."

"Thank you," Alina said politely. She was sure he'd be happy to hear her ask, but doubted he'd grant any requests. "I need to practice my light summoning now that I have the amplifier. Do you have a place I could do that, preferably not in the city in case there is an explosion of light?" The Apparat looked thoughtful.

"Yes, that is a good idea. We have the rally tonight that will set events in motion. There might be time in the next couple days for you to practice in the forest south of the city. After Zlatan is taken care of, there will be more time. Don't worry though Sankta Alina; your training to destroy the fold is very important to all the people of Ravka."

"Yes, including you. You are the one who put the stag antler's on me, aren't you?" Alina asked. Before he had evaded answering her, but this time she would get the truth.

"As I said before, the Darkling set that in motion. You do need the amplifier to destroy the fold though, so yes, I gave you the amplifier, and then rescued you from the Darkling. You didn't want to be his slave for the rest of your life did you?" the Apparat said.

"Of course not!" Alina said. 'I don't want to be your slave either.' she thought.

"I would love to stay and talk longer Sankta Alina, but I must go and prepare for tonight. I will see you at the rally. You only need to give a short talk, sharing your love and concern for the people of West Ravka, and showing them your light. They need you now. The people are afraid, and you are their hope," the Apparat said as he got up to leave.

"I want to leave my rooms, and go downstairs to get something to eat. Could you not just leave me some money instead of sending someone to bring me food every morning?"

"I wish I could, but we have our funds invested elsewhere and have an excess of food. People are constantly donating food to my churches. We've been distributing it to the people here and to you. I do not control where you go Sankta Alina, but I do not advise going far. If you are spotted by the Darkling or Zlatan's spies, you aren't the only one who would suffer. Until tonight Sankta Alina," the Apparat said. He nodded his head respectfully towards Alina, then left. The man was as slippery as an eel.

Alina turned to the wash basin to wash up, expecting that either Mal or the fanatic that brought her food would be in before too long. She just wanted to be left alone for a while, and she really didn't want to see Mal after he stabbed her with a needle.

"Alina, I sensed the Apparat. Is he gone?" Alina jumped in surprise. Of course she wouldn't be left alone.

"How do you do that? Could I contact you through the amplifier?"

"Do you want to contact me?" Kirigan asked with amusement.

"Maybe I want to be able to pester you whenever I feel like it. It's not fair that you are the only one who gets to use the amplifier when you are bored." Alina countered.

"I'm not bored Alina. I need to find you and stop the Apparat from whatever he is planning."

"Another man who wants to protect me whether I want to be protected or not," Alina said. There was a pause.

"If you want to contact me, it will take practice. You will need to close your eyes and focus on the amplifier, then reach through it, in a similar way that you would reach for your light. Then expand through it and focus on me, my essence. You should try later today. I want you to be able to reach me if you are in trouble." Alina rolled her eyes, but was grateful for the explanation.

"Thank you. I don't trust the Apparat," Alina admitted. She didn't know if it would help contacting him if she was in trouble. He couldn't cross the fold, and any trouble she was in would be gone by the time he went around the fold to reach her.

"Alina, please tell me where you are," Kirigan said. It was the first time she had heard him use the word please.

"What will you do with me when you find me?" Alina asked. "The stag is embedded in you as well so that you can try to control me. How do you expect me to trust you?"

"I had to put the amplifier in me as well to contact you. Once you are safely back in the Little Palace, I will listen to you. I will hear what you want to do, and I will accommodate it if I can; however our situation at present with West Ravka and at home is precarious."

"I will not be your slave Aleksander! If you agree to research a safe way to remove the Merzost from your system, then we can talk about where I am" she said angrily. There was a long pause and she wondered if he had broken the connection.

"If I agree to learn how to remove Merzost, if there is a way, then will you tell me where you are?" Kirigan asked intently.

"You would need to agree to more than researching it. You would need to agree to remove it once a safe way was found," Alina said.

"Alina, I cannot agree to that. I would be willing to discuss my findings with you, and if they were favorable, you could convince me to give up the Merzost, if it were safe for all of the grisha. If we are on the brink of war, I will not give up a powerful weapon. I have always done what I must to save the grisha."

"Then we have nothing more to talk about," Alina said, not knowing how to break the connection, but planning on ignoring any other communication from the man. There were a few seconds of silence, then she heard a faint voice in her head before she felt the connection break.

"If you need me, I will be wherever you are in a heartbeat, as soon as you ask. I miss you Alina."


The fanatic had finally brought her some food around lunchtime, but Mal never showed up, which surprised her. Maybe he was ashamed of his behavior the day before. 'He should be ashamed!'

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Alina said, expecting one of the Apparat's men had come to get her for the big rally.

Mal walked in, looking a little abashed. "I'm here to bring you to the rally. The Apparat's man will join us outside the inn." He paused. "I'm sorry I had to stab you with a needle last night. I don't want things to be like that between us. I understand if it will take a while for you to forgive me, but I had to do it Alina. If you take foolish chances like that, you'll get caught by Zlatan or the Darkling, and we'll both be killed; or worse with the Darkling. The Apparat has been lenient so far, but if you do things that put everyone at risk, he might start locking you up or binding your wrists."

It was a good reminder that the Apparat was capable of anything, but that Mal was making her decisions for her bothered her. What right did he have to decide what she should or shouldn't do. If she wanted to flee the Apparat or run to the Darkling for help, that would be her decision. She was just about to say as much, when there was another knock at the door.

"We'll talk later Mal," she said then invited the new visitor in. It was the Apparat's man this time.

"I was waiting outside, but worried something had happened. Sankta Alina, we must leave now to make it to the rally in time," the man said. Alina nodded and followed the man, and Mal trailed behind them.

The trip was uneventful, which Alina supposed was a good thing, but she wished there was something that would keep her from the Apparat's rally. She had a sinking feeling in her stomach. Now that the Apparat was here in West Ravka, bad things would surely start to happen. This revolution he wanted to start was what concerned her the most.

They arrived at what looked like a cave. Alina looked at the fanatic questioningly.

"It is an old abandoned mine. Tonight's meeting would not fit in the tornado shelter. There will be thousands waiting to hear you Sankta Alina," the man said. She half turned to flee, but Mal grabbed her hand.

"You can do this Alina. I'm here for you. I know you won't let the people here down," Mal said, and that is what made her go in. She wouldn't leave the people of West Ravka to just hear from the Apparat. She would do what she could for them.

She nodded to Mal and he let go of her wrist. They glanced at each other as they entered the dark cave. The fanatic led them through a passage and passed a couple lookouts with lanterns, but she didn't think she would be able to make her way through the unmarked tunnels on her own. They finally entered a very large opening that had several levels and was well lit. It created almost an amphitheater with a marked center stage. The Apparat was talking to thousands of people in attendance.

"We have heard how General Zlatan mistreats you and is motivated by greed and power. He would go so far as to murder the Sun Summoner so the fold could never be destroyed, so that he could be king of West Ravka," the Apparat said. The crowd shouted in defiance. "I have brought the Sun Summoner here today so she could tell you that we will not stand for it! Sankta Alina, and I, her humble servant, will defend you! We will fight for you! Will you join us in defeating General Zlatan, in defeating the fold? You will grow rich when trade with East Ravka resumes in earnest! Who is with us?" A loud cheer went up.

The Apparat motioned towards Alina and the fanatic at her side gestured her forward. The center was clear, and it seemed some of the Apparat's men were keeping it that way. It was easy to make her way to where the Apparat stood. When she was next to him, he handed her some device and motioned her to talk into it. The device must be what had projected his voice.

"People of West Ravka, I will do everything in my power to destroy the fold and keep you safe. I want Ravka to be one country again, for we are one people, and when we stand united our enemies will not consider attacking us," Alina said. A loud cheer went up from the crowd again, with shouts from several people asking her to show them her light.

Alina relented to their requests and let her light shine out into the crowd. It lit of the room like daylight for a minute, and the crowd quieted in awe. The Apparat took the opportunity to talk into the stillness, taking the device back from her.

"People of West Ravka. If you walk in the light with us, you will be blessed. Victory is ours with Sankta Alina fighting with us. The very heaven's are on our side," he said. "And that is why in two days time we will strike at the heart of General Zlatan's camp. Will you walk in the light?"

There was a thunderous cheer, and before Alina could grab the device back, there was a tug on her arm from the Apparat's fanatic. Apparently her part of the speech was done, but she didn't want these poor people to fight. She needed to tell them that. The Apparat wouldn't give her back the device, but some would hear if she just shouted.

The fanatic took the device from the Apparat, who in turn put an arm around Alina and started to guide her off the stage. She stopped stubbornly and was about to speak when he whispered into her ear.

"You see the man in the white headband standing next to your tracker friend down there? His family was killed by General Zlatan's soldiers. He would be very angry with anyone telling the people not to fight Zlatan. He is rather unstable and would take his anger out on those nearest him. I fear for your tracker friend." Alina paused, shocked by the threat and unsure what to do.

"Sankta Alina, it has been a long day and emotions are high. We have two days before the attack. If you think it is a bad idea, there is plenty of time to persuade us of this. I want you to go back with your tracker and one of my men to the inn. We can talk more on it tomorrow if you would like," the Apparat said. He always made his perspective sound so reasonable, when it was anything but that. She still nodded and let the Apparat pass her off to Mal. The two of them made their way to the exit, with the help of the Apparat's man.

They left the caves and Alina felt in a daze. The three remained quiet all the way back to the inn. Once they had entered it, the Apparat's man made his way to a common room table and gestured for Mal and Alina to go upstairs. They complied.

Alina entered her room and was surprised to find Mal following her, although she supposed she shouldn't be. They did need to talk. She just didn't know what to say to him after his actions earlier.

"Alina, are you ok? I know you didn't like having to talk to all those people." Mal said, looking concerned. She went and sat down at the table and he sat across from her.

"I'm not ok Mal. I don't want those people fighting General Zlatan. They don't have army experience like we do. We'd be sending a bunch of innocent people to their death. Whatever weapon's the Apparat supplies won't make them soldiers," Alina said.

"You're right Alina. What should we do?" Mal asked. Alina was surprised at his admission. He'd seemed all on the Apparat's side before.

"What made you change your mind? You said before that it was necessarily to go along with the Apparat's plan if we wanted to destroy the fold and defeat the Darkling," Alina said.

"Alina, I was... I am afraid of what the Darkling would do to you if he finds you again. I still don't see how we can fight him without the Apparat, but if you have another plan, I'm willing to listen," Mal said.

But that was the problem. She didn't have another plan.

"What if we flee from here Mal? Just the two of us. We could flee to the forest south of here. It would take the Apparat a while to find us with your tracker skills to keep us hidden. It would be just like old times, and I could grow in my summoning power. Once I get a handle on this amplifier, I can face the Apparat and perhaps we can make a deal with him to defeat the Darkling. Right now he has the upper hand, and I don't like that," Alina said. Relieved that the old Mal seemed to be coming back to her. Maybe she didn't need to contact the Darkling after all.

"When would you want to leave Alina?" Mal asked, reaching over to squeeze her hand with his own.

"Tonight would be the best, but you should try to gather some supplies from the city tomorrow. Tomorrow night we should do it,"Alina said, squeezing his hand back fondly. He had just been worried about her and scared of the Darkling. That was understandable.

"Ok Alina, we'll do things your way," Mal said smiling at her, "Can I at least sleep in here tonight? I wouldn't want the Apparat to separate us and then not be able to escape together. We should stay as close together as we can before we leave."

Alina nodded. They would be on the road together soon, just the two of them anyways. Besides, Mal seemed back to his normal self.

"But I'm sleeping in my clothes and so are you," Alina said with a warning look. Mal held up his hands in surrender.

"Of course Alina, whatever you want," Mal said.

It was late, and after washing up briefly, she got into the bed. Mal got in next to her. It really was small. There was no way around their limbs touching at the very least. Alina blushed, and turned to face away from Mal. His knee brushed up against her thigh and her breath hitched.

"Are you ok, Alina?" Mal asked in a concerned tone.

"Of course, I'm just not used to someone in bed with me," she said with a forced chuckle.

"It's alright Alina. I've been your friend for as long as I can remember. I've got you're back," he whispered into her ear, and rubbed circles into her back. She had been so stiff all day, and the back rub felt so good. She should stop him soon though, as she didn't want him to get the wrong idea. She hummed contentedly for a minute, then forced herself to talk again.

"Thanks Mal, but I want to get to sleep now," Alina said.

"Of course," Mal said stopping his back rub. When he stopped his hands fell to rest against her hip. If was hard to fall asleep like that, but soon her tiredness overcame her, and she was fast asleep. She vaguely noticed as she dozed off that it seemed like Mal had scooted closer as his whole body was pressed up against hers.