Marie's funeral had taken place in the chapel. Her body had been placed in a silk lined coffin made from mahogany wood. The inside was champagne white and the top was covered in blue flowers to match her kefta. She had been placed in a new kefta, free of her blood and her pale body was laid to rest inside. It had been so long since Alina had to deal with a death that was close to her. The last death she knew of that meant something to her was her parents. She didn't remember most of it because she was young at the time but dealing with any death was hard.
The chapel was filled to the brim with Grisha. Alina was at the front with Kirigan along with Genya, Ivan and close friends of Marie. The funeral was special. Alina wasn't quite sure what to expect with attending a Grisha funeral and she was amazed by the arrangement made. Marie's parents were also at the front, her mother crying softly in her husband's arms as their daughter was being laid to rest.
Kirigan had given a speech, saying how Marie was a beautiful, young, determined inferni and how he was forever grateful for what she did to protect Alina. He said if he had been there, he would have put himself in front to save Marie. Alina felt her stomach twist and turn as he gave his speech, the guilt flooding back. Alina was nervous that morning, stressing about what the other Grisha might think. Did they think Alina caused Marie's death?
At the end of the funeral, Kirigan paid his respects to Marie's parents, admiring them for raising a wonderful and strong daughter. Alina was also introduced to them and even though she was somewhat terrified to meet them, Marie's parents hugged Alina. Alina was shocked at first but had settled into their embrace. Alina told them how much she loved Marie and she would have done anything to save her.
After the funeral, the grisha placed her body with the other fallen Grisha, displaying a beautiful stone with her name and bluebell flowers around it. Alina had kept her tears in the whole time, only letting a few silent ones fall in the chapel but at the end when all the Grisha had escaped back to the little palace, she had let the tears run and soaked her face, sobs escaping. Genya was there to comfort her and they stayed cuddled up for hours while Alina calmed herself down.
The Grisha were all tense that day and when it came to the next day, the atmosphere had cleared. Marie was put to rest and would never be forgotten for her heroism
After breakfast, Alina made her way out to the courtyard to meet Kirigan. This had become her new schedule now, training with Kirigan for the morning and sometimes even the afternoon. Alina enjoyed training with him. He had a certain way of teaching her about her power which made it exhilarating and mysterious. Nothing like Baghra had taught her. Alina wondered if she would attend the funeral but then she remembered Baghra was ill and was to stay isolated from her so she didn't catch what it was.
Alina's guards followed closely behind her and she felt like she was being stalked. The guards didn't talk much to her, only a few hello's and if Alina needed something then a 'Yes Miss Starkov'. She insisted they call her Alina but them seemed uncomfortable with that and she told them to call her whatever they wanted to. She didn't much like being called miss Starkov… unless it was Kirigan saying it.
As usual, Kirigan was waiting for Alina and she offered her smile to him as she met beside him. Kirigan gave only a glance to her guards to dismiss them, not even a single word left his lips and the guards retreated the way they came.
"How are you feeling, after yesterday?" Kirigan asked as they walked side by side.
"Better thank you, I think now Marie has been put to rest I think I'll be able to sleep better. I still feel some doubt in my mind but I keep telling myself to ignore it. It was beautiful the funeral, you did a wonderful job" Alina praised.
"Thank you, I too think I'll be able to sleep better, Marie was such a young and aspiring person, I will truly miss her but we have to move on, even if it feels wrong" he said wisely and Alina nodded. She knew Kirigan was right… he was always right.
"So what entails today's training" Alina asked with excitement and Kirigan looked down at her, his lips curling into a smile.
"Your very eager" he said and Alina looked up at his with her eyes wider.
"Is that a problem" she squeaked and Kirigan gave her a grin.
"Of course not… I like you eager" he whispered, his voice sexy and smooth and Alina pulled a straight face to stop herself from squealing like a little girl. It was crazy how he had this effect on her. even just speaking to her made her legs tingle between.
"Alina, Alina!" Alina's attention was brought out of her gaze at Kirigan when a voice was shouting her name across the courtyard. Alina whipped her head round to the left, her eyes landing on the group of Oprichniki. Amongst the group was a scrawny, thin man dressed in ragged clothes that were hanging off his pale body.
"Sankta Alina" he called again. The man was being held back by the Oprichniki, fighting against them to run to Alina. Alina watched in shock as the Oprichniki held in in their death grips, struggling to drag him away. Did this man know her? She didn't recognise the man at all and he certainly wasn't Grisha or part of the grand palace.
"Is he okay?' Alina asked with concern. The man was flushed red in his pale cheeks and he struggled against the guards.
"he's fine" Kirigan shrugged. He made no move to investigate what was going on and stayed close to Alina. He wasn't going to have strangers come up to her and potentially hurt her.
"Who is that?" Alina asked, stopping slowly to stand in the middle of the courtyard as she watched the scene unfold. The man was tugging at the Oprichniki, desperately trying to reach Alina.
"Probably a town's person. He must have snuck in somehow. The guards will throw him out" Kirigan said and Alina turned back to look at the man. She felt a little sorry for him, being manhandled and grabbed by the guards like that.
"What does he want?" she said. Why had he snuck in here and why was he calling her name.
"Mostly likely want's to meet you, there are thousands of people who want to meet the sun summoner, get a meeting with you to be in your presence, to talk to the one who will destroy The Fold" Kirigan explained. People from all over Ravka who were not Grisha will want to meet the Saint who will save them, to be able to talk to the one and only sun summoner.
"Should we go over there then?" Alina said and Kirigan shook his head.
"No, he could be dangerous and I don't want you to get hurt" he said with concern. He wasn't going to take his chances with Alina getting hurt because a peasant wanted to be in the presence of the sun summoner, so he could pray for her to help him not be poor any longer.
"Come on" Kirigan wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her along and Alina started walking again, glancing back at the man once more before keeping her gaze forward.
"Please, I just want to meet the sun summoner" Alina heard the man begged before his voice disappeared as Alina and Kirigan made their way to their training spot.
The gentle breeze blew against the trees, rustling the leaves and causing them to fall gracefully on the floor. It was peaceful in their little training area and Alina was starting to think she was learning better out here than in Baghra's hut. Or maybe it was just Kirigan's teaching method. Kirigan showed Alina another technique of focusing and asked Alina to demonstrate. They spent a while on just this one little technique but at the end, Alina found it very straight forward and the technique was helping her focus on her light.
"See, you can do it" Kirigan smiled as Alina demonstrated her summoning which he just showed her. Alina turned to him, blushing a little and couldn't help but grin.
"Well like you said I just need to focus, but I do think I'm improving" she said.
"The more you gain your focus, the easier it will be to move to the next step" he said encouragingly. Alina was glad he encouraged her… unlike Baghra. She wasn't trashing Baghra's teaching methods and if it wasn't for her, she would have never of found her power in the first place but she could have been more encouraging rather than just hitting her all the time.
"When do you think I'll be ready?" she asked as she stepped closer to Kirigan.
"Soon, but you still have so much to learn and we'll take it slow" he said and Alina stood in front of Kirigan, her chest only inches from his. He smelt amazing as usual and Alina wanted so badly to push herself into his embrace and wrap her arms around his neck. silence dwelled in the woods and Alina stared up at Kirigan with her doll eyes under her lashes.
"Ok" she whispered and Kirigan took a deep breath, his hand reaching up to tuck a piece of hair that fell in front of her face, tickling her ear as he swept it behind. Alina flicked her eyes from his to his lips and then back to his gaze. Kirigan didn't drop his hand and instead cupped her jaw and pulled her head up to peck her lips.
Alina grinned at him as he did and pushed for another kiss. She was falling into his intoxicating touch, his lips soft and warm against hers and she wanted more. Kirigan smiled back and they rubbed their noses against each other, nuzzling softly before taking another kiss. Alina held on to his elbows.
"Aleksander" Alina moaned and he took her closer to him.
"Say it again" he said hungrily.
"Aleksander" she whispered and he leant down for another kiss but a clearing of a throat interrupted him.
"Sir" Alina pulled back when she heard the gruff voice and looked over to see Ivan standing a few feet away from them, hands behind his back and a serious look on his face.
Kirigan took the message and turned to Alina.
"I'm sorry, I'll only be a few minutes" he murmured and Alina nodded.
"It's okay, go" she shrugged and Kirigan gave her a smile before dropping her from his arms and strolling over to Ivan, the two walking off a few more feet so they were out of sight and couldn't be heard.
Alina felt butterflies swirling in her stomach and she felt giddy all over again. She touched her lips with her finger tips, feeling them buzz and she could still taste him on her lips. After a few minutes of standing alone, Alina heard the grass and leaves crunch behind her and she turned to face Kirigan but jumped when the scrawny man came out the bushes, running over to her.
"Oh Sankta Alina".
Hey so I hope you like it. Please leave a review and let me know what you think will happen next.