Chapter 9

Alina followed Nina back to the cart the boys had got food and water out for everyone to eat before they started there journey again

Aleksander walked up to Alina with a bottle handing it to her, he asked her "Are you hungry?"

"Just a little bit" she replied and he passed a piece of fruit to eat.

She started to eat it and followed Aleksander back to the cart, "are you okay" he whispered.

"No (she had tears coming down her cheek) but I need to work it out myself" she replied.

He hugged her and she return the hug, "when you are ready Alina I am here" she nodded into his chest

Aleksander helped Alina back into the cart and she curled up to him by the time they started the journey she was fast asleep.

Mathias asked "Did I upset for earlier?"

"No " Nina replied, "her destiny is changing and she is still stuck in pass"

Mathias looked at her questioning the answer but Nina just shook her head.

"When we get back to the city hopefully she would have worked out what she wants" Aleksander said kissing Alina's head.

Several hours later they arrived in the city and the guard lead them all back to the Port where the Grisha had taken over the tavern for their stay. When the others saw they came out to see what was the farmhouse outcome was, Nina and Alina were fast asleep. One of the guards picked up Nina so Mathias could get off, when Mathias got off he grabbed Nina from the guard and was shown up to a room.

Aleksander wouldn't let anyone touch Alina, during the ride he had place his cape around her to keep warm. So he moved her around his body and lifted whilst he got up Jesper had climbed over the chair to help steady the General while he got off. His Guard also lead him to another room so they could rest. Inez came out to see what had happen and soon as she saw Jesper she went up to him and hugged him.

"Thank the Saints you are safe, what happen to Alina and Nina after we left?" she asked

Jesper sat at the back oh the cart and wiped his face before answering, "Long story short they were tortured"

"oh my saints"

"Lest the General brought healers everywise I don't think..."

"But they are okay"

Jesper knew now that Alina was pregnant but wasn't going to say anything, " Yes they are okay they just need to rest to get their strength back up"

"That's good"

"What has happen whilst I have been gone?"

Inez rolled her eyes, "Mal"

"She belongs with the General" Jasper replied

"She deserves the best she is a true Saint"

"He truly love her, the General."

"I told Mal if he loved Alina he wouldn't look at another women."

"Let me guess he told you to back off or its none of your business"

"Does it matter only Alina can make her choice of who she wants to be with"

Jesper got off the cart wrapped his arm around Inez and walked into the tavern, "take me to the kitchen Inez, I'm hungry" smiled and led him to the food.

Mal had stayed out of everyone's way they the group return, when they had awoken last night Inez chewed his ear off about how mean he had been with Alina. And that if he truly loved her he would except her for who she was and that he wouldn't eye off other women. He was in love with Alina she was family and had been since they were in the orphanage, she would be a fine wife someone who would be obedient and wouldn't question him.

But since she met him she start to be something more and Mal didn't like it, she would want more in life then he could give her. When the group arrived Mal was going to talk to Alina and hopeful change her mind so they could live happily, but he saw the General. He was alive nobody had told him he thought this would be a good thing then he saw Alina tucked into the Generals chest fast asleep but her hand was holding on to his shirt. That made Mal angry so he slipped out of the tavern.

He came back awhile later and decide to see if he could find Alina, finally he found the room she was in she was just sitting on a bed eating.

"Hello Alina" Mal said scaring her a little, "sorry didn't mean to scare you"

"it's okay was in my own world whilst eating" she gave him a sad smile.

"Glad they were able to rescue you and you are unharmed"

Alina looked up at him wide eyed, "I'm guessing you haven't spoke to anyone since we have returned"

Mal shook his head

"well umm Nina and I were tortured because of who we are" Alina looked down at her food.

"Grisha" Mal spat out, "Alina you should stop using your powers and we can leave this place we, you and I can be together make a life away from the Grisha and the wars."

"Mal I can't I am Grisha, and after what I went thru I understand partly what the General is trying to do"

"he was dead Alina we left him in the fold and I saw you come back holding onto him for dear life are we all chummy now."

"Mal my whole life I have been surviving because people don't like who I am I don't want that for the future." Alina said standing up to face Mal

"it's not your war Alina," Mal begged, "let someone else be the hero. Let's go and start a life ..."

"NO Mal, I'm half Shu and I have been bullied since I've been orphanage and then I was in the army and I starved there because the cook would not feed me for who I was. You were there and you never even stood up for me. The Fjedran tortured me because I was Grisha, but normal they just catch us and drag us to their country to be killed. Or the Shu who actually torture and experiment on the Grisha I don't want that for my people or that of my child .." Alina looked shocked she didn't want to tell Mal that way.

Mal looked at her and then down to her stomach, "you whore"

"you will never accept me as being Grisha, you will never accept me as a strong women, you never showed me any affection unless someone else was trying to talk to me. You say you love me but I don't see it in your eyes when you say it." Alina growled, "even though the General used me, when I saw him looking at me, when we were together I saw love in his eyes. And yes I slept with him but you don't get to judge me anymore. I may not agree with his methods but I am the sun summoner this is my war."

"You are a Grisha whore like the rest of them do you think he can change he will use you and spit you out" and he grabbed her.

"Mal please let go of me" Alina begged. "We haven't discussed fully how we can win this war but he knows I will not accept what has happened in the past "

Mal let go and pushed her back on the bed, Alina's hand went straight to her stomach and Mal knew he over steps, "Alina I'm sorry" he crouched down to be eye level with her, "But if you are truly pregnant you and the General need to do the right thing for your child and get married."

Alina looked into his eye after he said, then Mal got out and stormed out the room...