chapter 17:

The king received them in the throne room, dressed well enough to appear royal without putting too much into it. His jacket was inspired by the military but was threaded with gold and pearls where regular uniforms were not. His hair was trimmed short and his beard was well kept. He was a man in his fifties, with a hearty laugh and a little on the heavy side. The Queen who stood by his side was a frail thing with mousy brown hair. Very religious, she was dressed plainly and seemed lost as to why she was in the room.
The prince and his cousin, sat near the king and queen, changed into more luxurious clothes than what they had worn in the army. A very young girl, who looked very ill sat by the queen and held her hand. Vasily whispered to Kara that it was the princess, born over a decade after her older brother. She resembled her mother, frail in corpulence and plain in appearance. However, Kara could distinguish a sharp mind behind twinkling eyes, only dulled by exhaustion.

General Kirigan was already standing on the left hand side towards the king with Ania and Igor. All wore clean and newer keftas than the ones they had worn on the road. All three looked impressive and proud. An underlying tension was set in their eyes and jawlines. Kara almost felt that the First Army soldiers and herself looked disheveled in comparison. She tried not to look too amazed by the richly decorated room and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Her unit and general Biryukov stopped on the right hand side of the king. Kara thought it almost looked like they were to fight before him, considering the general tension. All saluted the king as was proper and he stood with a smile and open arms, " Welcome to the grand palace of Ravka. I am happy to see that you have all brought victory on the northern front and that my son is back and without any missing limbs!". The remark was of ill-taste considering that among the soldiers that stood before him, some were now, handicapped and wounded beyond repair. He realized too late and coughed, turning suddenly serious. " General Biryukov, I see you have brought soldiers with you from the First Army. Most bare the cruel cost of war." He lowered his gaze in practiced compassion, " Your sacrifice is noted gentlemen. You will go home with a bag of coins for your troubles". Kara scowled in silence. A bag of gold would not replace what these men has lost. However going home with enough to have a better life could relieve, somewhat, what their handicap would make more difficult in their daily lives. Kara caught general Kirigan's eyes who were twinkling in amusement at her. She blushed and tried to relax her face so that what she thought would not be so easily seen.

The soldiers thanked their monarch politely, as was expected. The king waved to a scribe and dictated the handsome reward the soldiers were to have and sent him away to discuss with his minister of finance. The soldiers of the First Army bowed and walked out to wait outside. General Biryukov caught Vasily by the arm and whispered for him to stay. The man looked startled but stood by Kara, resting gently on his crutch.

The Prince stepped forward, almost giddy at the opportunity. " Father, I wish to address another reward that I think is to be expected." The king raised an eyebrow and sat in his throne, " Oh? And what would you have me do my son?". The prince puffed out his chest, " First and foremost, I would have my dear cousin rewarded for his courage, for without his escape and fruitful testimony, we would not have found the rebel lair". Everyone in the room stiffened. The prince was hiding a white lie. His cousin had lost his mind and would not have spoken out any useful information had it not been for the darkling's and Kara's intervention.
The Prince flashed a false smile to the remaining party, " Do we all agree on the fact that my cousin contributed of his own free will to our efforts of war?". Kara was in awe. With the Prince speaking first, their was no way of contradicting him without bringing humiliation both to him and his cousin. The Darkling stood dangerously cool, his face unreadable. Kara closed her jaw which had dropped and looked elsewhere to avoid showing the disapproval on her face. The cousin in question looked almost ill. He was not proud of the story being told but he had no intention of having it known he had been a crying fool in the first army healer's hands.

No one answered and so general Biryukov quickly added, " Yes Moi Printz. Without the precious information from your cousin, we would have been sitting ducks on the northern front". He looked at Kara coldly. She could almost hear through his eyes, telling her to keep her mouth shut. The king looked proud, " Then indeed I will see your cousin with a more worthy title than that of count. We will discuss the details between us at a later hour". The prince's cousin blushed and bowed, taking a step backwards. Once he was more out of sight he locked eyes with Kara. She could see his lips form the silent words " Thank you". Her jaw was tight with indignation but she nodded in his direction.

The prince coughed and took another step closer to his father, " Father, I am mortified to have to ask for another favor." The king was starting to be impatient and looked at his wife. Her eyes were downcast and she still held her daughter's hand. Both looked like they wished to be left alone to their daily activities rather than attend this meeting. The king waved his hand, " make it brief my son". The prince stood facing the others in the room as if he were to perform in a play. He stood very straight, his golden buttons twinkling under the chandeliers. " I would not be standing alive before you father, were it not for the combined efforts of two Grisha and One phenomenal healer of the First Army. Under Dama Kara's guidance ( he held an open hand towards Kara), Sir Igor kept my heart beating ( he pointed to Igor standing by the Darkling). Lady Kara stopped my body from bleeding out while lady Ania (he pointed to the beautiful brunette) made sure my scars were as fine as spiderwebs". The king had looked politely but with slight disdain to Igor and Ania. However, when the prince had pointed to Kara, the kings eyes had fixed on her. The look was intense, and his gaze had flickered down her body for the briefest moment. Kara's face flushed. Had she imagined it? She looked at the queen and the princess but they still found the folds of their skirts more interesting then the current conversation.

The king looked to Kara and smiled " So I have you to thank for my son's life". He then turned to the Grisha and added softly, " with the contribution of our Second Army Grisha." Ania and Igor bristled. The disdain and favoritism seemed quite clear. Kara looked to General Biryukov who said nothing. His stance was military and stern. it revealed nothing of his thoughts or emotions. The king again fixed Kara, " what a chance to have such a talented healer in our First Army." General Biryukov quickly stepped in tapping on Vasily's shoulder, " indeed Moi Sovereigni, Kara was also responsible for the daring procedure that healed this man from a smashed spine". The king was now captivated, " How do you heal a broken spine lady?". The queen raised her eyes suddenly interested. The princess, also sat straighter in her chair. Kara cleared her throat, her cheeks slightly pink, " Moi Sovereigni, I only used the knowledge I have collected in my studies across the continent concerning human anatomy and tolerance of pain. I am practiced in advanced surgery but none of it would have been possible without the mending of the shattered bones and severed nerves. We would not have been successful without the Grisha Small Science".

The king smiled softly, " You are humble in your share of the success healer, I am sure." He turned to General Kirigan, " So indeed without Small Science, this man would not walk and my son would have scars. But your healer and heartrender were not the ones initiating the healing, correct?". General Kirigan frowned, " Your highness, our responsibility is first and foremost towards the Grisha of the Second Army. When we do have the energy to spare, we help the First Army." The king shook his head, " That may be so. I find interesting that these two miracles were not without the directives of one of my own " ungifted" people as you like to put it". General Kirigan's face was dark, " I do not negate that Dama Kara's ideas were genius. However as she said in her own words, none of it would have been possible without Small Science".
The king's eyes twinkled with malice. "And what does that reveal to you? I see a lack of competence on your part. Without a marvelous mind, newly trained in the most advances medical procedures from here to Novi Zem, my son would be dead". The darkling kept his mouth shut but his jaw was painfully tight.

The king leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard. " I believe these two miracles that you have brought to my attention reveal the potential of what could be done medically with Grisha magic and medical science. To get there, a few changes in Grisha training must be made". General Kirigan bristled, " I thought we had agreed that Grisha training falls under my jurisdiction". The king seemed to be enjoying himself, " And yet, you have failed to be as efficient as a First Army healer". He tapped the armrest of his throne, " I have decided that your heartrenders and healers will have a mandatory class by Dama Kara on current medical practices over this winter. Indeed, this way, we will have very efficient and powerful healers in the Second Army".

A shocked silence followed his decree. Generak Biryukov was red with anger, Kara was pale with horror and the air was particularly dark and palpable around the Darkling. Kara fell to her knee, " your highness, I am honored by your consideration. However, I have a duty as head-healer to the first army under general Biryukov's command. I cannot leave my current duties unattended!". The king nodded, " Is there no one in your current team that could take over during your leave this winter?" Kara thought for a second. Had she not said that Artyom would make a very capable head-healer? Indeed he was talented and knew the ropes of a military infirmary, but he dealt poorly with Seraphine. Two healers could not bare the weight of three. General Biryukov spoke before she could answer, " Your highness, Dama Kara is under a military contract of 5 years. Our current medical team is not staffed to function without its head healer."

The king was annoyed, " I am not removing lady Kara from her military function. I am merely requiring that she take 3 months to teach here at the little palace. you will have your head healer again in the spring. you are of course permitted to recruit". The prince stood by, lost for words. He had only imagined having the healer rewarded for her actions on the northern front whether it be in the form of property, wealth or status. He could see that his father's decision was not to Kara's and the two general's liking. " Father, I only asked that lady Kara be rewarded or recognized for her talent". The king shot an angry look at his son, " Is it not a recognition of talent to have her teach our Second and First Army healers? My decision is final."
The king looked at Kara again, and purred, " welcome to Os Alta lady healer".