chapter 20:
Ania without second thought, brought Kara to the Grisha's common dining room. However she realized on the threshold, that it was a bad idea. The news that an Otkazat'sya was going to provide classes to Grisha had spread like wildfire. However, since the general had not yet confirmed the rumors to be true, most still thought it was only talk. A bad joke. However when Ania stepped into the dining room accompanied by Kara, silence fell on the room which had previously been buzzing with conversation. Kara saw that the different factions did not mix. There was a table of blue keftas, another of red and a third of purple. All seemed to wear either grim, angry or shocked faces at their entry. The only one that seemed happy and mildly amused was Luka, who waved discreetly from his chair next to an old grumpy fellow, who Kara guessed was his mentor.
Ania was so uncomfortable. she rushed to sit next to Igor at the Corporalki table. She saw with fear that Kara had stayed rooted at the entrance of the room, unable to follow her. How could she? she belonged to no table here. " Seems like you are out of place here Sirota (Orphan)", hissed a voice behind Kara. She locked eyes with none other than Irina, who flicked her hair over her shoulder and searched her eyes with her cold grey ones. Kara raised her chin, trying to look confident, " Indeed, I am new to your congregation certainly". Irina raised an eyebrow amused, "Oh? and why would that be?" she moved close enough to whisper in Kara's ear, " what can a poor orphan, a northern bastard at that, without a single drop of Small Science, teach us?".
Kara pushed her back slowly but firmly, staying grounded. " I am not teaching you. I am teaching the Corporalki." Ania was pale, the last thing she wanted was to be rejected by her congregation by making friends with Kara. At the same time Kara had been nothing but kind to her. She could almost be called a friend. Igor saw Ania's dilemma and tried to defuse the tension. "Irina, leave the woman alone, let the general say who can or not come dine with us." Ania looked at Igor relieved and his heart raced slightly. Irina looked at Igor with disdain, "I know the general better than anyone else in this room". Irina's liaison with the general was common knowledge. The general was very discreet, but Irina however could not stop boasting about her relationship since day one.
"What seems to be the problem?", came a deep voice from behind the two woman. Both turned to see General Kirigan stepping in with his most loyal guards. " General, we were not expecting your company for diner. To what pleasure do we owe your visit?", Irina stood like a soldier but almost purred out her question. The general looked at Kara and saw her relief in seeing him. For whatever reason, he liked to know that he could make her more at ease. He turned to Irina, " I thought it would be proper to come have diner with all of you, with recent news from our king". Irina bowed slightly and went to sit eagerly with her summoner friends. Clearly, she was hoping to see the general's disdain for the ungifted, unleashed onto Kara. However, the smile on her face froze when she saw the general extend a hand to the healer. Kara was unsure for a moment, but took his hand.
He led her to an empty table which overlooked the other three and invited her to sit. She realized that this table was reserved for the General and esteemed guests and understood what he was doing. By having her sit by his side, he was telling the Grisha present that she was important. The general did not sit right away, " As you may have heard, the king has heard of what he called "miracles" on the northern front. Indeed whilst our heart-renders fight side by side with soldiers of the first army, our fellow Grisha healers replenish our soldiers and save the wounded". He nodded to Ania who bowed her head humbly. The general continued, " Two woman worked together to heal most advanced wounds that have never been dealt with properly before. One is our own Ania Lipovski". The coporalki table whooped and Ania was tapped on the back. She smiled, a little blush coming to her face.
The general's eyes twinkled, enjoying the show of camaraderie. " The second woman is not Grisha but was the head healer of the first army battalion. This is Dama Kara". He showed his guest sitting to his right with an open hand. Some frowned at the absence of a surname and Kara tried to hide her displeasure at having her orphan status displayed in the open. How did Irina know? That information was only in her military file. Other's seemed to be surprised at the honorary title and wondered if "Dama" meant she had some royal blood. The general continued, " Dama Kara had traveled the world far and wide for more than a decade, gathering the most recent advances in the medical field. With this knowledge she joined the Ravkan army. It is with that knowledge and a quick intelligent mind that she had suggested some practices to Ania, that were unkown to us." Luka who knew all this, nudged a fellow Grisha at his table. He winked and mouthed " I told you". Kara was happy to see at least one Grisha was not hostile to her presence.
The room was silent as general Kirigan went on, " These practices have come to the king's attention. His excellency wishes for us to take what we can of Dama Kara's knowledge to perfect our healing abilities. Even if I am perplexed at how this can come about, I ask you to accept and respect lady Kara's presence among you." A Grisha from the summoner table stood up, " But General she is ungifted! How can she teach us anything concerning the Small Science?! It's ridiculous!". The general turned to the man with cool eyes, " would you like to repeat this before the king? I do not believe we have a choice in the matter". Kara scowled. Clearly the general did not wish to lose the allegiance of his Grisha. If she failed to convince them she could be useful, the general would not defend her. The man sagged, " But general, it would just be a loss of precious Grisha time!". Alexhander sat as the plates were being filled with a thick fish broth and warm bread.
He locked eyes with Kara and saw anger in them. she leaned in just a little and whispered, " May I speak?". The general raised an eyebrow but nodded. Kara stood up, hiding her shaking hands by holding them. " I cannot imagine what you must feel, having an intruder as myself in your midst. It is true, I know little of your Small Science." She surveyed the room and saw most grim looks still etched on most faced. " I have always wanted to be a healer. As Grisha coporalki say, " It is an honor to save a life", and I believe that to my very core". Some coporalki seemed surprised that she knew this motto and seemed to be more attentive. Ania was entranced by Kara's speech. This tall blond blue eyed Otkazat'sya stood with poise. Her military stance inspired respect. Her tone of voice was clear and confident. " I will never be able to heal as Grisha can. I envy your Small Science which can heal in an instance where I have to rely on potions and herbs which take longer to take effect". She saw Irina rolling her eyes and snickering with her friends. A cold look from the general stopped her and she tried to focus. " I am not here to teach you anything about Small Science. I am here so you can teach me in that regard. In that way, as I have with Igor and Ania, I will be able to share some relevant medical procedures that will increase your healing capacities. With Igor, we were able to maintain a heart beating. With Ania, we healed a broken spine and allowed a man to go home on his two feet. All I did in these cases, was to share what I knew, that could benefit from Grisha power".
She looked at the coporalki table, " All I ask is for you to attend one class with me. At least ONE. If at the end of it, you still believe it cannot be useful to you, then I will leave. I ask only for an opportunity to make Grisha shine in their healing aptitudes. I am an ally, not an enemy". She didn't know how to finish before sitting again but the general came to her aid, " I will also attend that class. And I hope to see all coporalki present, without exception". Most of the tables murmured their dissaproval but were resigned to follow instructions. Kara knew she would have to surprise them with her program, or fail to catch their attention. As the general began eating, and therefore allowing the other Grisha to eat there super, Kara leaned to her side to speak to him. " Thank you for that. I know you are doubtful of what I can bring to your troops. I will prove to you that this effort was not in vain". The general seemed amused, " I cannot wait to see you try".
Kara had barely two months of summer to pull her 3 months course together. The daily rhythm was intense. She would get up early, grab a stuffed pastry from the cook she had befriended after helping her with a sore tooth and headed to the library. She would spend the morning there, taking notes and studying the Small Science principles and Folklore. After a quick lunch, she would either shut herself in her room to plan, structure and build the content of her lessons or head to the city to visit the university library. The university was well supplied in medical documents and so Kara could check her knowledge if she had a moment of doubt. In the evenings, she would eat in the common dining room with the Grisha. However since the darkling was rarely present, she tried to eat with either Luka or Ania. The other Grisha ignored her or changed tables. At least it made the different orders of Grisha mingle more, thought Kara, disheartened. Irina would often sulk and either provide a mean comment or shoot dirty looks at them from across the summoner table. Kara tried not to pay her any attention.
Igor was also taking Kara under wing and she was able to ask questions and verify if her theories could work. As heartrenders would be the hardest to convince of the need for her classes, she tested her ideas with him, whispering softly. Depending on his interest or shaking of his head, she would then go back to her room and adjust the content of her program. She was starting to second guess herself as her program changed very often. She tried to be as thorough as possible so as to be technically exact. once day talking with Luka, he sighed and said " Your classes remind me of lectures with Seraphine". She was vexed at first but quickly understood his meaning. It was too academical. Sitting in a class for 2 hours at a time would not be promising with an audience that lacked the motivation to participate. So she went to her room once more and pondered how she could make her classes more attractive. Sometimes, she would lay on her bed, eyes to the ceiling, wondering if this life event would not be one of the toughest of her career.