Alina woke to the flustered Genya storming inside her bedroom, dumping her kit on the plush chair in the corner. Alina rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and pushed herself into a sitting position, leaning back into the soft pillows. She hadn't slept well last night and there were clear bags under her eyes, bloodshot from tears and dry cracked lips. The news of Marie and Baghra turning sick was overwhelming for her and she found herself tossing and turning all night.
Alina furrowed her brows as Genya slumped down on the bed, clear frustration written on her face.
"Well those are new" she huffed and Alina looked at her confused, unsure of what she was talking about.
"Your guards" Genya said and Alina laughed softly.
"Yes, I met them yesterday, they seem awfully young don't you think" Alina smiled as Genya rolled her eyes.
"I'll say, those two couldn't spot a Grisha even while wearing their kefta. They nearly didn't let me in, said I needed General Kirigan's permission. I made sure they knew who I was" Alina giggled. She imagined Genya had a thorough talking to the young guards.
"General must have assigned them after the attempt on your life, I'm surprised he picked ones so clueless" Genya said and Alina sighed.
"I was hoping to avoid having people escort me everywhere, surely they don't need to follow me all the time or watch me while I sleep" Alina said uncomfortably and Genya raised her brow.
"You were nearly assassinated and your questioning security". Alina felt a little on edge having those two follow her around every minute of every day but she knew it was for safety purposes. If Marie hadn't been disguised as her, she'd be the one with her throat slit open.
"I guess your right" Alina shrugged and Genya smirked, standing up to fetch her kit.
"of course I am, I'm always right. Come on, let's get you ready, the general will be waiting for you" Genya said as she started taking things out of her kit. Alina bit her bottom lip to stop herself from grinning. Training again with the general.
After yesterday, she enjoyed training with him. He was much more relaxed than Baghra. He didn't scold her or hit her with a cane when she got things wrong. She felt comfortable with him and she was anxious but excited to see what else she could learn. Perhaps she's be further along with her training if he had trained her all this time. She wasn't saying Baghra was a bad teacher… just a strict one.
Genya had removed the bags under her eyes, brightening her face with a glow and tied two small braids around the back of her head, her long black hair wavy as it ran down her back. Alina slipped on the black kefta, her fingers tracing over the gold stitching and she glanced over at Genya who stared with a curl on her lips.
"I have to admit, that colour does suit you, it matches your hair" she said, combing her fingers through a small knot at the end and Alina smiled.
"Thanks, I think this one suits me better than the blue" Alina said and she glanced at the blue kefta hanging in the wardrobe. She had nothing against the blue, it had been her colour when she first joined the little palace and the other grisha but the black was more striking and with the gold stitching, it was a beautiful piece on her. At least she had the blue one as a backup if anything were to happen to this one.
"Well I better leave you; the queen does get angsty when I'm late" Genya sighed, shutting off her kit and held it under her arm. She went to vacate the bedroom but not before turning to Alina.
"Have a nice day with the general" she smirked and Alina blushed, her cheeks flushing red. She feared that Genya may know about their little kiss but the worry went away as Alina remembered she hadn't told Genya. The only people that knew were her and Kirigan so she couldn't possibly know about it. She wondered if she should tell her or not. Perhaps later if she gets the chance.
"I will, wish me luck with those two" Alina nodded to the guards outside her bedroom and Genya laughed back.
"You'll need more than luck" and with that she walked out the bedroom, leaving Alina alone.
Alina strolled out to the courtyard, clutching her book in her arms, her kefta swaying in the breeze. It was colder today and she wished she had brought a cloak along with her. Her kefta was fur lined inside but the cold air seeped through her collar and made the hair on her arms stand of edge, goosebumps running up her skin and shivers running down her back. Her guards followed closely behind, whispering to each other and Alina found herself trying to listen to what they were saying.
She had greeted them after exiting her bedroom and she hoped that they would keep a distance from her while she walked to the courtyard so she wouldn't feel like she was being guarded but the two only walked closely behind her, their presence a little uncomfortable for Alina. She was grateful they were younger than some of the Oprichniki here. If they had been older, she'd have felt more uncomfortable being followed around, even though it was their job.
Alina looked forward and smiled softly as she met Kirigan at the front of the courtyard, stood by an Oprichniki guard, talking lowly and he turned his head to meet her gaze, giving the Oprichniki a nod as he dismissed him. Kirigan turned to walk to her, meeting her halfway. He too looked fresher, his dark eyes awake and freshly cleaned face. his hair was combed back neatly, his beard trimmed perfectly along the edge of his jaw. He looked perfect as always and Alina felt that tingle inside her.
"Good morning" he said softly.
"Morning" Alina replied and stopped in front of him, her eyes looking up from under her lashes and he offered her a smile before his gaze met her guards behind her, his face turning back to the stern general everyone knew.
"Thank you, I'll take it from here" he dismissed Alina's guards who nodded and turned back the way they came, leaving the two Grisha alone. Alina felt relief wash over her and she instantly relaxed now they had left. She stepped beside Kirigan as they made a brisk walk over the courtyard, their kefta's blowing behind them.
"Did you sleep alright?" he asked and Alina shrugged her shoulders.
"Let's just say I've had better sleeps here, how about you?" she asked. when she came to him last night, he looked like he had been nonstop working and she wondered if he got any sleep at all. For some reason, Alina forgot that the general was like any other person and she had this image that he never slept or ate… that he was this overworking general with no life.
"Better than the night before… I was up late last night trying to make arrangements for Marie, the funeral will be in a week once everything is ready and her parents have come" he said and Alina frowned.
"They must be distraught" Alina said sadly. It must be terrible to lose a child, especially a young one like Marie who had so much potential and time to serve in the second army. Even though Kirigan and Genya had both explained to Alina it was not her fault, she still felt that small guilt deep inside her that she had caused this. She feared how her parents would react. Would they put the blame on her?
"After the funeral, things should calm down a bit, everyone is a bit on edge" he said which brought Alina's next question.
"Does that mean I won't have those two following me around" she looked up at him, eyes wide and Kirigan glanced down at her, his eyebrows raised a little. She wasn't sure what his reaction would be about the assigned Oprichniki and she felt a little nervous now that she had questioned it.
"You were nearly assassinated and your questioning security" he says, his voice serious but gentle.
"That's exactly what Genya said" she was shocked at the same line repeated to her and Kirigan chuckled lightly.
"I made a promise that nothing would happen to you and I am a man of my word. I won't have this happen again, especially not under my watch" he said gently and Alina understood his reasoning, even though she disliked it.
"I guess I'm still trying to get use to how things work here… but thank you" she shrugged. Alina imagined it would be like this for a while until there was absolutely no threat towards her and she was certain arguing about the guards wouldn't work in her favour. Kirigan led her out of the palace grounds to the woods where they had trained yesterday, reaching the small clearing she was now familiar with.
The leaves were wet from the foggy haze clouding the woods and she walked carefully so she didn't slip. She'd be so embarrassed to fall in front of the general, looking like a fool. Training could have been better. Alina was struggling to focus and her light kept bouncing off in a different direction then where she wanted it to go. She felt herself getting frustrated with herself for not being able to do what he asked and Kirigan could see her getting annoyed. Alina took a deep breath, attempting to summon her light the way Kirigan had taught her but it ended up in a mess and Alina sighed, her head dropping down.
"I can't do this… how can I take down The Fold if all I can do is make a ball" she had been trying to summon her light in a different way and form. Instead of pulling her hands apart like she usually did, she was trying to bring her hands together to summon but it wasn't working. Kirigan had made it look so easy. He performed it at the winter fete and now again here.
She slumped down on the log and stared at her hands in her lap. She had achieved so much yesterday and now she felt she was back to square one. Kirigan frowned and came over to Alina and sat down next to her.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. Forget about taking down The Fold, forget about it completely. The Fold has been there for centuries, it's not going to move anytime soon" he said and Alina glanced up at him, sad eyes and her lips pressed together. he was right, The Fold wasn't going to move or expand and Alina had so much time to master this.
"Right now your main focus is your power. When you've gained the control you need, then we will think about The Fold. But for now, forget about it" he said quietly and Alina sighed, the anxious feeling inside her drifting away with Kirigan's words. He was so wise and encouraging, nothing like Baghra.
"Ok" she nodded and gave him a smile.
"remember, I will be right by your side, you and I are going to do this together Alina" he said softly and Alina thought back to when he brought her to the small fountain in the woods, her second day of being at the little palace.
You and I are going to change the world
"Yes" she whispered and stared into his gorgeous dark eyes, her stomach doing nervous flips and she found herself reaching for his hand. She placed hers in his, her fingers gliding over his palm and Kirigan looked down at their entwined hands. He looked back at Alina, his eyes wide with surprise and with his other hand, he cupped her face, pulling her closer to him, eyes wondering over her face and lips and he leaned down, kissing her gently.
Alina closed her eyes, leaning into the kiss and she felt her face cupped by both hands, his lips deepening. Although his hands were cold, they made Alina tingle more and she moaned softly into the kiss, her own hands clutching the sides of his kefta. They pulled away, both smiling at each other and Alina bit her lower lip seductively. Her heart was beating faster than ever and she could easily sit here all day with him, feeling his lips on hers. She wanted to; she didn't want to go back now. They were alone with no one to see them and she could act on her desires.
"Oh Alina" he moaned and ran his nose against hers, breathing in her sweet scent and he rubbed his thumbs against her cheeks. He wanted her now and so did she but he was expecting a report from his team who were searching for Mal and Baghra and was anxious for the findings. He didn't want them to get to the stag first.
"Come on, let's get you back, it's getting colder and I don't want you to fall ill" he said and pulled her up from the log, his hand still holding hers as they trudged back through the leaves to the little palace.
"Speaking of which, how is Baghra, have you seen her?" Alina asked and Kirigan sighed.
"No progress as of yet, she could take weeks to recover, maybe even months" he needed to make a plausible excuse for Baghra not being seen for a while. He wasn't certain when his team would find then but he was hoping soon.
"She probably caught it from that hut of hers, that place could do with being cleaned" Alina giggled and Kirigan laughed with her.
"Baghra likes to be isolated, she doesn't like socialising unlike the others, I visited her this morning before meeting you" he said.
"No wonder she's fallen ill. I do hope she gets better though, weren't you afraid you'll catch what she has" Alina said with concern but Kirigan shook his head.
"I saw her at a safe distance outside, I didn't go near her. I don't want to risk spreading it to anyone, especially you. You are the last person I want getting sick" he said and looked down at Alina who was trying to hide her smile. She felt giddy inside and she squeezed her hand in Kirigan's as he walked her back to the little palace.
Hey so I hope you like it, let me know in the reviews what you think.