"I have the report from the team" Ivan said and Kirigan looked at him with pleasure. He had been waiting to hear from his team on the whereabouts of the tracker and Baghra. Every day he hadn't heard anything, he was getting more and more frustrated. He couldn't let them get the stag first.

"And" Kirigan said and saw Ivan's face gloom. It was not good news.

"They found the tracker and Baghra but they managed to get away" he said and Kirigan huffed with a growl in his throat, his fists balling up.

"There was a fight, they found their camp but Baghra used her powers" Kirigan swallowed hard.

"Any of them hurt?" he said, hoping the answer would be zero but Ivan's face said differently.

"The inferni and squaller and two Oprichniki are only injured. The other Oprichniki and Heartrender are dead… shot in the neck" Kirigan sighed and glared across the woods. He was fuming inside.

So even Baghra had turned on her own people now and the tracker was helping her. Kirigan felt sorrow for his lost Grisha. More and more of his people were dying and the other nations were winning.

Kirigan had more hate for the tracker now than ever. It was obviously him who shot his Grisha. Baghra never used guns and she rarely used her power as well. It was clear they were determined to find the stag… and so was Kirigan.

"Have another a team sent out at once, I want more guards with them. Make it clear to them I want the tracker alive and in cuffs when they find him… but do what needs to be necessary in order to arrest him" Kirigan ordered and Ivan nodded.

"What about Baghra?" he asked and Kirigan took a deep breath.

"Baghra can be disposed of, she is no use to me" he seethed. He was done with Baghra. She had caused enough trouble and she was no longer needed. Alina was training with him now and he didn't want to stop that at all. He'd eventually have to come up with a reason for why Baghra was 'sick' for so long but for now that can wait.

"Make sure they get the stag and it is unharmed, once they find it, we'll head up there to claim it" Kirigan said but as he spoke, he noticed Ivan lift his head and stiffen slightly, as if he was listening for something.

"What… what is it?' he demanded and Ivan looked at him.

"Someone else is here" he said quietly. He had felt a heartbeat nearby that was new and not there before. Kirigan furrowed his brows before whipping his head round to look from where he had left Alina.

Alina

…

Alina stared in shock at the scrawny man standing in front of her. Now he was up close she could see his features more. He looked old, with a scratchy white beard along his jaw and around his neck. his eyes were grey and he had bags underneath. His hair was thinning on the top and he had a crooked smile. His hands were large and he had fingers long and thin. He seemed undernourished and probably poor from his ragged clothes that had a rotten smell to them.

Alina was frozen to the bone and all senses seem to vanish as she didn't know what to do with this man. He was smiling at her which was more creepy than friendly and he reached forward, his dry and cracked hand reaching to touch her. Alina pulled away immediately, feeling a wave of disgust over her.

"Sankta Alina" he whispered and Alina felt her heart beating faster than ever.

"Wh-who are you" she said. Alina was trying to be polite, giving the man a chance to state his business as to why he had creeped up on her. Perhaps he was in need of desperate help. Alina knew what it was like to be poor and to be looked at with hatred and she didn't want to judge this man to quickly… even if he did make her uncomfortable.

"My name is Manuel, I live in a small town here in Ravka" he still reached out for her, hands shaking with excitement and he grinned once more. Alina swallowed the hard lump and took a step back to create some space between them but Manuel only closed it.

"What are you doing here?" she said.

"I heard about the sun summoner, I just had to see you. Everyone is talking of you and your power" he gushed.

"Oh um…" Alina didn't know quite what to say back.

"There are rumours you can help anyone, oh dear sun summoner" he grinned again and Alina offered a stiff smile back, stepping backwards once more.

Where is Kirigan?

"Will you help me, please, my family… they need your help" he said with wide eyes and Alina stammered with an answer.

"Oh I-I do-nt think I- ".

"Oh but you can, you must. You are the one and only sun summoner" Manuel latched forward and held Alina's wrists in his hands. Alina immediately tried to pull away but he gripped them tightly although she thinks he was doing so unintentionally. Alina thought the guards had thrown him out but he must have snuck back in again. Kirigan's words rang through her and she was uncertain whether he was speaking the truth that he needed help or was just trying to get a meeting with her. But by the look of him, he seemed to be telling the truth.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I can but maybe we can get someone else to help you, I can- "Manuel gripped her tighter and shook her slightly.

"Oh Sankta you cannot think like that, of course you can help. You will be the one to bring down The Fold and end this madness and if you can do that, you can help my family and I" he nodded.

He must be delusional… sick perhaps.

"You're hurting me" Alina squeaked and tried to pull away but Manuel ignored her and stepped even closer. He reeked of Kvas and Alina was now even more uncomfortable.

"Oh Sankta, I've been wanting to meet you for so long" he whispered and he slowly started to lean closer. Alina's eyes shot wider and she was about to lift her knee up to kick him but an arm shoved her away forcefully, breaking his hold on her wrists. Kirigan stood in front of Alina, an arm protectively guarding her and his body blocked the man from her. Alina looked over in shock and Manuel looked with wide eyes at Kirigan who was glaring with anger all over his face.

"Get your hands off her, now!" Kirigan gritted. He was much taller than Manuel and he was towering over him. Darkness started to spread amongst the trees and shadows twirled around the branches. Alina felt Kirigan's hand on her arm, giving her a gentle squeeze and she relaxed into his touch, his safety protecting her.

Manuel stammered, looking up in fear at the general and suddenly was thrusted back, being thrown to the floor by Ivan. Manuel scrambled on the floor but Ivan held him down with two fingers being held up, his other hand clamped on his wrist as his heart rendering placed a hold on Manuel.

Alina was breathing sharply and Kirigan turned to her, his hands immediately cupping her face as he looked over her.

"Are you alright, are you hurt?" he whispered and checked Alina over for any wounds that Manuel may have caused. Alina rubbed her wrist and when she moved the sleeve of her kefta up, her wrists was red and blotchy.

"I-I'm fine" she stuttered, a little shaken from the whole ordeal and she glanced around him to see Manuel on the floor, lying still and her eyes widened.

"Is he?" she gasped and Kirigan looked over his shoulder realising what she meant.

"It's fine, Ivan's just put him to sleep" he assured and Alina relaxed. Even though this man had snuck into the little palace and potentially harmed Alina, he didn't deserve to die for it and Alina took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, I thought the guards had thrown him out" Kirigan looked frustrated, anger seething inside him that someone had gotten close to his sun summoner and Alina shook her head.

"It's not your fault… that's the second time you've saved me now" she blushed, thinking back to the first time where the Fjerdan had nearly killed her before Kirigan had come running up to her on his steed and she witnessed the cut for the first time.

Kirigan couldn't help but grin down at Alina. He'd save her anytime he needed to.

"I am a man of my word" he said softly and Alina smiled.

"I'll try to not make a habit of it, I swear" she said and Kirigan chuckled softly.

"Anytime, come on let's head back, I think that's enough for today" he said and then turned to Ivan giving a sharp nod.

"You know what to do" he said and Ivan nodded. Kirigan wrapped his arm around Alina and pulled her away, the two leaving the woods.

Hey so I hope you like it, let me know what you think and what you think will happen next by leaving a review