Alina's stomach rolled like a roller-coaster, flipping and turning as the horse cantered over the hills. She had never ridden a horse before and as soon as the horse bucked into its run, she clutched the saddle. However, she was grateful for Aleksander's protective arms around her, holding her steady while he rode with ease. Hr legs were starting to ache sitting in the position she was in, and she prayed they'd be stopping soon.
They had emerged from the permafrost and galloped over the hills and fields, the grass flapping in the wind as the horse charged through. And her prayers were answered when she saw a beautiful building… the little palace.
The horse slowed down to a gentle trot, its hooves clicking on the stone floor, and they rode towards the entrance. Alina looked up in awe at the beautiful palace with large windows and grand pillars. The small gardens in the courtyard were neatly trimmed with beautiful flowers of yellow, blue and pink. Guards patrolled the outside, holding rifles on their shoulders and gave short bows and Aleksander passed them. There were people walking about the little palace dressed in the kefta's Aleksander talked about. Bright blues and stunning reds and vibrant purples.
Alina was in such a daze she didn't realise they had come to a complete stop and Aleksander dismounted, holding his hand for Alina. She slipped from the saddle, landing with a stumble and held her balance. A guard came marching and took away his horse, leaving Alina and Aleksander standing in the dome of the little palace.
"This is your palace" she asked, and Aleksander nodded.
"I built this as a home for Grisha, to keep them safe. Here, we can train and live-in peace without the fear of enemies" he said as he guided her inside. The inside was just as beautiful. Velvet linings on the floor, leading up the grand stairs. Gold and white walls with doors running along the hallways indicating the Grisha's rooms. They passed a large room with a black throne inside. They also passed a library and a dining hall. Alina couldn't stop looking all around her, taking in the sight. She had never seen anything like this in her entire life.
But a thought came to her as they wondered down the halls. David had mentioned before about the palace, but he called it the grand palace. But Aleksander called it the little palace. It certainly wasn't little.
"I thought this was the grand palace?" Alina said, and Aleksander stopped in his tracks, looking down at her with shocked eyes.
"The grand palace?" he repeated, and Alina suddenly felt intimidated.
"David told me the king lived in a grand palace" she squeaked, and Aleksander relaxed, giving her a soft smile.
"Of course, this used to be the grand palace, but I changed it to the little palace, its a common mistake" he brushed it off and Alina relaxed once again.
She followed Aleksander down to a door and when he opened it, it revealed an enormous suite. A large bed with a canopy and silk sheets was on the far side. A white vanity with a wardrobe on the left and a large mirror alongside it. at the back was the bathroom holding a large bathtub and ceramic sink with stone floors. It was stunning. Alina was once again in awe and she slowly walked inside, breathless at the sight.
"This will be your room; I'll have someone come and bring you something to eat" he said, and Alina turned back to him. When was he going to explain about her power?
"But what about my power?' she said. She still had so many questions and at this rate the list inside her head seemed to be never ending.
"I will explain everything, but for now you need rest, tomorrow" he assured her, and Alina sighed softly. Aleksander gave her a soft smile before leaving, closing the door behind him gently. Alina turned back to her room and made herself accustomed to it. everything was so interesting to her. Even the little details on the canopy posts intrigued her. Alina sunk on the bed, the mattress sinking. It was the softest she had ever sat on and compared to the one back at Professor James manor, this came out on top.
She flicked through the wardrobe and found silk and velvet robes, lacy nightgowns and another fur cloak. The bathroom was the most stunning room she'd ever seen. The handles on all the draws and the taps in the sink and bath gleamed and sparkled and it made Alina think back to the permafrost.
When she was finished looking around her new suite, she looked outside the window to the courtyard, watching as Grisha and guards wondered around. She wondered where Aleksander had gone off to. Alina still couldn't get over it all and once again she pinched herself to see if this was a dream.
This is not a dream Alina she said to herself.
Suddenly the door to her suite opened and Alina gasped in a fright, pulling away from the window. A tall woman walked in, carrying a bag with a coat hanger and a plate in the other.
"Oh Saints, he wasn't lying" the woman said as she gushed over. She was dressed in a blue kefta with red stitching. Her hair was tied in a plait behind her head and ran down to between her shoulders. She put the plate on the vanity and the bag on the bed as she stared at Alina.
"You must be Alina Starkov… I'm Marie" she smiled, and Alina relaxed a little.
"Hi" she squeaked, nerves racking over her. She seemed a friendly girl and looking at her kefta, Alina knew she was an inferni as the one she'd met before wore the same blue and red kefta.
"The Tsar said you were here, but I couldn't believe it myself when he said the sun summoner had arrived but here you are" she beamed, and Alina gave her a confused look.
"The Tsar?" she said the word slowly and Marie realised she didn't know what that word meant.
"The king, he ordered me to bring you something to eat and of course this" she grinned as she pointed to the bag on the bed. Alina looked at Marie and then to the bag, her fingers itching to open it. Marie gave a reassuring nod and Alina unzipped the bag.
Inside was a black and gold kefta, long with buttons along the front and a black belt. Alina stared down in surprise and looked to Marie. Surely not. She'd only be here five minutes and was already being given a kefta. But then again, she was Grisha now and all Grisha wore their colours to signal their gift.
"Is this a…"
"Your kefta of course, we can't have the sun summoner walking around in… well whatever that is, here why don't you take these and run yourself a nice bath" Marie handed her the clothes and Alina was a little take back by what she said. being a poor girl and an orphan meant she didn't have access to extravagant clothes, but she had to remember this was not England and she was going to get stares from people. And she agreed with Marie about the bath.
After her bath, which was the best she ever had, she wrapped herself in one of the velvet robes and came out. She smelt of lavender and the lotion she put on after made her skin smoother than a new-born baby. Alina wondered if she'd ever get use to this luxury. Marie had left her with the plate of food and once dried, Alina placed the clothes on. A white cotton sweater leading up to her neck and a pair of black trousers. They were soft and comfortable, and fitted her perfectly. Alina reached into the bag, pulling the kefta out. The inside was lined with brown fur. She slipped it over, the material hugging her frame perfectly and she buttoned the front. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she was shocked to see the girl staring back at her.
She was no longer the orphan from London. Her straggly hair was now replaced with silky smooth locks, her cheeks flushed a rosy pink from the steam of the bath. The black kefta made her loon strong and rich. But was this really Alina? Was she now just the sun summoner that Aleksander and Marie called her? Where did her life go from here?
I thought only he wore black
Alina was no shadow summoner. She was the complete opposite. So why was she wearing the colour of his gift. Why was she wearing black and not blue? The gold stitching was appropriate, but she was confused about the black. Hopefully Aleksander could answer the reason why tomorrow.
It occurred to Alina that her brothers and sister were probably worried sick about her, wondering where she was. It's not like they wouldn't notice she was gone; they were going to see her bed was empty. And what about Professor James and Mary. When they asked questions, what would Mal or Genya or Fedyor say when they couldn't find an excuse for her disappearance.
Would they find Ravka? Would they eventually stumble upon the secret Alina kept hidden this whole time? If they did, would they be Grisha as well?
So many questions ran in her head and Alina turned from the mirror. She took the advice of Marie and ate the food she was given and turned in for the evening. Tomorrow was a new day, and she hoped her questions would be answered.
…
"So let me get this straight. You're telling us that our sister has this power to summon light and the evil… what was his name?" Genya looked to Mal for the answer.
"Darkling" Fedyor answered instead.
"The evil Darkling is going to use her against the… shadow fold because his people are dying, and you want us to help stop that" Genya said carefully to Baghra who rolled her eyes.
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying" she groaned.
Baghra had just finished telling them about the Darkling's plan to take over the shadow fold using Alina as his slave. She told them how he wasn't the real king of Ravka and has been trying to claim the throne from Nikolai, the true king of Ravka. She told them about the Darkling's people, the Grisha and how the enemies across the boarders had been slaughtering them for years which was what fuelled the Darkling's revenge. She told them about the shadow fold and how it was made and that he was a shadow summoner and living amplifier. The group were shocked and slightly disturbed by it all. They didn't believe her at first and the idea that Alina had the opposite power to the Darkling of being able to summon light seemed like a joke to them at first but when Baghra looked at them seriously, they realised she wasn't joking.
"Wait a minute, why would the king want to take over the world" Fedyor asked and Baghra glared at him.
"Have you not been listening to a word I've said boy, he isn't the king. The real king, Nikolai rules this land, but he's been away. The Darkling has been trying to claim his throne for years now. But Nikolai is coming back and when he does, you three will need to be there to help defeat the Darkling and save Alina" Baghra said and she stood from her chair, shuffling over to a closet.
"How do we do that?" Mal asked and Baghra turned back with a pile of clothes in her hand.
"With your powers" she came over and dumped the clothes on their laps.
"Get dressed, we start training now" she ordered and walked off leaving the group baffled.
Hey so I hope you like it, what do you think will happen next, please leave a review and let me know.