The king wanted the Grisha to perform at the annual winter fete; featuring the Sun Summoner, of course, to show her off to his guests. The Darkling was even called back from the front after only two months away, to accommodate for this. He was in a foul mood when he returned.
"It is a demonstration, not a performance," He practically snarled at Alina when she made the mistake of asking about it.
He was angry, and she should let him rant. Yet with the same morbid fascination as one would bait an angry bear, Alina could not help but push him further. "What's the difference?"
"It is a waste of my time and our soldier's lives to order me back to Os Alta to dance to the whims of a spoilt king," His grey eyes flashed. "Let alone parading my Grisha around like circus freaks,"
"Then tell the king you refuse," She shrugged. Alina knew that would anger him, reminding him that despite all his power he still had to answer to the Lanstovs. "He wouldn't punish you that badly. He needs you,"
The Darkling's lip curled. "It would diminish my influence on him. He dislikes me at the best of times. I need him willing to listen to my counsel - refusing these petty requests it would put me in his disfavour. Which would mean less money and resources for the Second Army, more foolish decisions made in government, and I would likely be ordered away for a year or two to fight in some godforsaken territory not worth defending,"
"Like Temgora?"
"Where?" He asked dismissively; then she saw the moment he caught himself. "No, of course not. Dva Stolba is an important strategic region. The valley has a road leading straight to Os Alta,"
"It's barely a road," Alina muttered. "Liar,"
"Careful, Alina,"
She wanted to snap back, but saw the look on the Darkling's face and wisely did not.
"Now," He continued. "With regard to the demonstration - I will ensure it is as dignified as possible, though the whole court will view us as mindless curiosities regardless,"
"Not if I blind them all. Burn the eyes out their sockets,"
The Darkling let out a breath of laughter, seeming surprised at himself for doing so. "Don't tempt me, you vicious child," He sat back in his chair, surveying her over the desk. "No, once again you will not show anyone the full extent of what you can do. I do not want you being sent out to fight Ravka's wars and destroy the Fold just yet,"
"I'm ten," She said. "The king's stupid if he thinks sending me to a battlefield is a good idea,"
"And you, at ten years old, have reached the heart of this country's problems," His tone was sour. "The king is incredibly stupid,"
Thus Alina's second performance at court was almost as feeble as the first, except she wore her black and gold kefta rather than the hateful blue pinafore. The guests were awed nonetheless, some even dropping to their knees. It took her hours to escape from the grasping hands and eager courtiers looking to make conversation. The Darkling was at her side throughout, in a black kefta similar to her own though without the gold, and she hated to admit she shrank closer to him as more and more people swarmed around her. It wasn't that Alina was shy, more that she did not like people as rich and silly as this lot, especially when they fawned over her, treating her like a fairground curiosity.
It might be more bearable if her friends were allowed to attend. The only other Grisha performing were older Summoners and the odd Fabrikator (Corporalki made for rather grisly performances), none of whom she knew very well, though they all congratulated her performance nonetheless. Most with a wink and a grin, as they knew how good she really was. It had heartened her somewhat, as she got along with most in the Little Palace, but she was still bored and not enjoying herself.
"My parents will be there," Viktor had said before Alina left for the evening. "Tell them I don't miss them one bit,"
Duke Belsky and his wife were introduced to her at some point, and Alina showed interest for perhaps the first time in the evening. The Duke looked a little like her friend, but had none of Viktor's spirit or wide, wicked grin. He was stern-faced, upright and humourless, looking down his nose at Alina. His wife was small, fairly pretty but meek and mousey, seeming petrified to be anywhere near the Darkling looming over Alina's shoulder. Nothing like her outgoing son. Neither of them looked like they wished to be anywhere near the two Grisha, simply doing it for propriety's sake.
"I know Viktor," Alina told them after formal introductions were made. "Your son. We're friends,"
The duchess looked up for the first time, interest and hope shining in her eyes, only for her husband to scowl. "I have only three children," He said coldly. "That other boy you speak of was no longer mine the moment he chose to forsake the saints for witchcraft,"
His wife let out a small noise of fear at the look on the Darkling's face, clutching at her husband's arm. Alina glowered at the awful man, realising why her friend rarely spoke of his wealthy, powerful parents with anything other than dislike and resentment.
"Witchcraft. I have not heard that word outside Fjerda in a long time," The Darkling's voice was clear as glass, and colder than Duke Belsky would ever manage. "Ravka is both its First Army and its Second - the two support each other. Your loyalties are to both, or to none at all. Perhaps you have more in common with our enemies? A man as influential as you sympathising with the Fjerdans is a risk to our whole country. Traitors are not welcome in Ravka,"
Duke Belsky tried to sputter an outraged response, but the Darkling was already sweeping Alina away.
She had just enough time to slip in a final comment. "Viktor said to tell you he doesn't miss you at all,"
Viktor's mother let out a sob, and they left the duke and duchess behind them.
"That was petty," The Darkling said in mild reprimand.
Alina felt rather pleased with herself. "You or me?" She asked, grinning, to which he said nothing but smiled faintly.
He eventually left her side to talk government business with the king, and Alina was unfortunately left in the clutches of the queen, the Darkling shooting her a warning look - behave - as he walked away.
The woman beckoned her closer with a gloved hand. "My dear husband says you speak excellent Ravkan. Barely any foreign accent at all,"
"I am Ravkan," She said, trying not to scowl. "Moya Tsaritsa,"
"Then how do you explain those eyes?" The hateful woman asked as though she was mistaken about her own heritage, making the group of ladies surrounding her titter.
"My mother was Shu. My father was Ravkan. I grew up in Ravka," Alina was trying not to show her anger, she really was. Why did these court people always force her to clarify that? Tonight alone, multiple people had enquired after the very same answer. Not once had she ever been asked such a thing in the Little Palace. She actually looked more like her father than her mother, aside from her eyes and colouring.
"In a poor border village, I heard," The queen replied conversationally, as though talking about the weather. "You must have been so overwhelmed to come here and see the refined life that civilised people lead. You're a very lucky girl," I'm ten, not five. Alina said nothing, not trusting herself, and wary of the repercussions from the Darkling if she offended the queen. It didn't seem necessary that she speak, however; the tsaritsa seemed to enjoy the sound of her own voice. "Although you must live in constant fear with the Black General paying you such interest,"
More giggles from the other ladies.
"He scared me half to death when I first came to court," One of them said.
"He still scares me," Another shuddered. "Awful man. A shame he's useful enough for the king to keep him around,"
"I'm not sure scared is the right word for how I feel," One, barely more than a girl, said slyly. More giggles, some nodding in agreement.
"He is very handsome. Even if he is a witch,"
"The way he moves those hands," One did a crude impression of summoning that made Alina's insides curdle. Otkazat'sya.
"Settle down, ladies," The queen drawled, though seemed amused. "Poor Alina is much too young for such talk,"
"For how long?" One dared to say. "Did you not see tonight the way he keeps her so close? Give it a few more years and she'll be his little pet in more ways than one,"
That earned a few gasps, and some more giggling. A few scornful looks shot her way. Some glances of concern too, though these were outnumbered by far.
Alina had an inkling about what they were talking about, and wanted no part in it. She used their awful discussion to slip away, alone, losing herself in the crowd. Whilst she was wearing black - and thus stood out amongst the jewel and pastel tones of everyone else - she was still short, and could wiggle through the crowd with ease.
Unfortunately, escape was not going to be so easy.
"Miss Starkova," A bony, cold hand grabbed her shoulder.
Alina spun abruptly, seeing that the hand belonged to the Apparat. She tried to twist away, but his grip was surprisingly strong; he was a grown man, after all, and she was only ten. "Let go of me," Never mind what the Darkling had told her about being polite; she was already at the end of her tether after biting her tongue around the queen, and was not going to let this odd man touch her.
"I see that the general has already poisoned you against me," His tone was mild and as average as the rest of him. Somehow that disturbed her more, though not as much as the overwhelming stench of a tomb about him. At her suspicious stare, he sighed. "I merely want to speak with you without him monitoring your every word and making up your mind for you,"
"Let go of me and I'll listen," She lied, knowing full well the moment he let go she would get away as quickly as possible.
He did not let go. "It is a precious gift you have. Summoning the sun. Magnificent, and sacred. Ever since the world learned of your power, your mere existence gives people hope. Hope that one day, they won't live in the shadows of darkness,"
"I don't know how to destroy the Fold yet," She said. "You saw what I can do. That tiny ball won't do any good,"
"On the contrary," He smiled in an indulgent way that boiled her blood. "It could do a world of good. And your power will grow as you do. But it is not only the Fold I speak of,"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You'll come to understand in time. But I wish to stress the importance of your spiritual education alongside learning to control your power. As I said, you bring people hope. That is a powerful gift in itself. The Darkling will not wish you to have any contact with me, and I understand at such a tender age you can do little against that. However, when you are able, I would be delighted to welcome your presence at my services,"
Alina relaxed both her tense muscles, and her glare.
The Apparat smiled warmly, pleased, loosening his grip. "I hope you take the time to consider my words. Sankta Al - "
She ducked away from him and was shoving through the crowd before he could finish the hateful title. Not looking back, Alina headed out of the ballroom as fast as she could, away from the busy corridors, until she found an empty one to stop in, opening a window.
It was a massive relief to be alone for the first time after hours of talking to people she didn't want to talk to, especially that uncomfortable conversation with the Apparat. A relief to be here with the cool night air blowing inside, out of the hot, stifling ballroom. A relief to unbuckle her new shoes, kicking them off; she had been delighted with the small heel at first, feeling very grown up, but now her feet were aching. She shook her hair free of the elaborate style Genya had arranged it in, too, mentally apologising to her friend.
"What have we here? A wild Grisha?"
She jumped at the sound of a boy's voice at the other end of the corridor. He was definitely highborn judging from his clothes. Alina scowled at the sight of yet another noble coming to pester her.
"Go away," Her ability to be polite was well used up by this point.
"Well that's not very nice, Alina Starkova," The boy approached her. He looked older than her by about two or three years, with blonde hair and a wide, easy smile. "Did you finally run away from the Darkling? I saw him looming over your shoulder the whole night,"
"He was the least annoying person in that ballroom," She replied.
"Unfortunately you're probably right," He sighed, as though it was a personal grievance. "Though that's only because I left early. Apologies, for not improving your evening with my company sooner,"
"You think a lot of yourself," Alina couldn't help but grin at his arrogance. "Who are you, anyway?"
"My name is Nikolai,"
"Why aren't you in the hall with the rest of the leeches? You seem like you'd fit right in,"
"I left because even I can only take so much ass-kissing. I'm sure you can sympathise," He said, then raised an eyebrow. "Leeches?"
"Everyone in that room is a bloodsucking parasite,"
Nikolai let out a bark of laughter. "You're not wrong there. Though I'm surprised you got free from their clutches, being the star of the evening,"
"I left when the queen's ladies started to argue whether the Darkling is pretty or scary," Alina pulled a face. "I don't think he's either,"
"I think he's both," Nikolai shrugged, which actually made her laugh. "Now, are you coming with me?"
"Why should I?"
"I know this palace like the back of my hand - I'll show you the places that are actually fun,"
"How?" She asked, suspicious.
"I live here," He flashed a grin. "Did I not tell you my name? I'm Nikolai Lanstov. A pleasure to meet you,"
Her mouth opened. Then she closed it. He hadn't reacted much to the fact she was the Sun Summoner; she would not give him the satisfaction of being shocked that he was the younger prince. No wonder he understood people fawning over him.
The Darkling found them in a quiet area of the ground floor, near an open door that overlooked the lawns to the Little Palace. She and Nikolai had been running riot around the palace; he had shown her all kinds of secret rooms and passages. Then they had played tag; she might be smaller, but she was almost as fast, and even quicker than the prince.
"Where have you been?"
Alina froze, Nikolai running into her back at the sound of the familiar, sharp voice. Angrier than she had ever heard it directed at her before. She had known he wouldn't be pleased that she was not where he left her. But she had weighed up the risks; he would like it even less if she'd scorched a member of the court in anger, which is what would've happened otherwise.
Yet under his stare, Alina became suddenly aware of her dishevelled appearance; hair loose and messy, bare feet, dirty hands, rumpled kefta. "I didn't leave the palace," Her protest was futile.
The Darkling's gaze landed on Nikolai, who made a good show of not being intimidated. "I advise you to return to the ballroom, moi tsarevich," He said coldly. "The queen will be looking for you,"
"Go," Alina said gloomily when he hesitated. "It was nice to meet you, Nikolai," When the young prince was gone, she glowered up at the Darkling. "We weren't doing any harm. If I'd stayed in that room any longer, I'd have got so angry I killed someone,"
"Enough. We're going back," He seized her arm, preparing to lead her all the way to the Little Palace.
"But I need my shoes," She didn't even remember where she'd left them.
He glanced down, seeing her bare feet beneath her kefta. But the Darkling did not send her running off to look for her shoes; instead, he picked her up. Alina let out an undignified noise of surprise, which soon turned to anger.
"Put me down! I'm not a baby,"
"You're lucky there are few people on this side of the palace to see me carrying the Sun Summoner home like an errant child. What were you thinking, running off with the Lantsov boy?"
She didn't want to tell him about the Apparat. That would only give her even less of a leg to stand on.
"I already told you why. If I'd stayed, it would've embarrassed you more. I couldn't hold my tongue any longer. You should've heard what the queen's ladies were talking about! They called me your little pet, in more ways than one. And this - isn't - helping," She hit at his chest with her closed fist. Perhaps if she struggled hard enough, he would drop her, but that would only be more embarrassing; he would certainly catch her again, and this time it would be with his shadows.
Her words seemed to anger him enough that he barely registered she had hit him. "Regardless," The Darkling said through gritted teeth. "There were hundreds of guests in the palace, tonight. Ravka has a lot of enemies. I have a lot of enemies. It would have been easy for someone to cause your harm when you are out of my sight, let alone running around the palace with your kefta undone. They are bulletproof for a reason,"
She scowled. "Someone trying to kill me would liven up that awful ball,"
"I know you mean that. Don't be foolish," He was not impressed, at all, though at least didn't think it was bravado. "At what age do children develop a survival instinct? Because yours is painfully lacking,"
"It's not! If anyone attacked me, I'd have burnt them with light just like the Druskelle before you found me,"
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. You are ten years old, far from a highly trained soldier no matter what you think of yourself. You could just as easily end up with a bullet between your eyes,"
"Then doing up my kefta wouldn't have helped," She said, whilst knowing that was one of the worst things she could have said in response. "Why don't we have bulletproof balaclavas? Someone could just shoot me in the head,"
"Alina," His tone was warning enough that even she fell silent.
Until they neared the palace, that was. "Please can you put me down before we get to the Little Palace. I'll just walk on the grass. I don't want anyone seeing this, and I know you don't either," The idea of Yuri Vasiliev seeing her be carried like a baby was mortifying.
Though he did not say a word, thankfully he did as she asked, though gripped her arm like a vice; no chance of her running off anywhere. They walked into the Little Palace silently, side by side.
The Darkling shooed her away to her room the moment they returned, though not before Alina caught a glimpse of a young, pretty, dark-haired woman stood peering around the doorway of his chambers.
She was kept awake that night by the sounds of them together, and in the end settled for grabbing a spare pillow and clamping it over her ears so she could get some sleep. Why adults enjoyed things like that, she did not know.
I love Nikolai but god he's hard to write. Alina's voice comes quite easily but his was a challenge haha. I can strongly relate to Alina's desire to escape into a cold hallway from the smothering party. Also apologies for the casual racism and some of the nastier implications in that conversation with the queen. Please let me know what you think of this chapter. Thanks for reading!
