chapter 18:

Kara was dumbfound. In the space of a second, her life had completely changed. She was no longer head healer of her battalion for the First Army, at least not for several months. She would become a teacher to Grisha who are known for their disdain for those not gifted with the Small Science. She doubted anyone would show up for the "classes" the king had suggested to maximize the potential of Grisha magic. She was shaking with anger, fear and loss. She knew that once back in the small room of the barracks at the back of the palace, she would weep out of despair. However for the moment she followed her general and Vasily out of the throne room. The darkling remained, trying to negotiate and change the king's mind. When Vasily told the other soldiers what had transpired in the throne room, the other soldiers turned pale. They were to be sent home, so they had no further need of a healer. However they thought of their comrades who would find themselves without Kara's expert hands. "It's an outrage!" yelled a young 18 year old foot soldier with a wound to his head. "Can't the king find a college professor who could do the job rather than take away a competent healer from our army?!". General Biryukov was downcast. " It was the king's decision and their is nothing we can do to change his mind". Kara turned her face to him, disheartened to hear him say so. He nodded sadly at her, " Yes Kara, I do not think even the Darkling will be able to change things here".

The soldiers went back to the barracks in silence. Kara silently wept in the dark lagging behind the group. She had found purpose in the army. To be a teacher? She had never practiced sharing her knowledge to more than one person, let alone to students who would not care for her teachings. Once they had gone through the front door, General Biryukov led Kara to one of the meeting rooms in the general's quarter. They both sat in silence, listening to the chirping of the crickets in the night. Kara broke the silence first, " Artyom will have to replace me". General Biryukov looked puzzled, " Are you sure it is the right decision? He is not exactly full-fledged in notions of leading other healers. It was not working well with Seraphine before you came". Kara thought for a moment, " Then let's not have them work together." The general raised an eyebrow, waiting for her proposal. Kara sighed and pushed back her hair thinking, " Seraphine is too tired to practice at the fast pace of the army. Yurii needs to find a caretaker and Seraphine is very attached to the boy but has no place to call her own. If you could place a word for me? I'll accept to take the job if she can be given a small home in the city for her and Yurii. Then, you can hire two healers to work with Artyom. Pick them young and eager to learn and they will work well with their new head healer." The General nodded, his eyes twinkling sadly, " noted, I'll do my best for Seraphine and Yurii... but Kara, we are going to miss you. I'm going to miss you". The tears she had been holding back spilled onto her face. Next thing she knew, the general had pulled her into a rough embrace and held her as she cried. She cried until her throat and eyes were sore. She pulled away gently and wiped her face with the back of her hand, " I'm going to miss you too".

The next day, Kara was awoken before dawn by a gentle tap on her door. She greeted the soldier with very messy hair, a wrinkled shirt pulled in haste and tired eyes. She had hardly slept all night. The soldier removed his hat and played with it nervously. " Dama Kara, I apologize for waking you. I have a message from a healer Grisha who is waiting for you in front of our barracks. She says it's urgent". Kara roughly pulled on her maroon pants and boots and grabbed her army jacket before following the soldier.
Ania was pacing in front of the barracks. She looked tired and irritated. Kara was sure she had a similar expression on her own face. Once Kara was level with her, Ania jerked her head towards the little palace across the gardens, " General Kirigan wants to see you." Kara ran her hand through her hair, trying to look more presentable and nodded. Ania walked at a quick pace and Kara had a hard time keeping up. " Ania, You should know, I didn't ask for this". Ania slowed her pace somewhat, " I know". Ania sighed and looked at Kara, her dark hair took a nice warm color with the rising sun. "I'm sorry you are in this situation Kara. I'll do what I can to help. You should be warned that my fellow Grisha will not be happy at having mandatory classes set by the king". Kara nodded as the little palace came slowly into view, " I know". They fell into a musing silence until Ania stopped in front of a large wooden door of black ebony, "These are general Kirigan's quarters. Good luck". With that Ania walked down a corridor which seemed to lead to Grisha dormitories. Kara adjusted her jacket and tied her hair back into a short ponytail before knocking on the door. She waited a second before she heard a soft " enter".

The General's private quarters were made up of two rooms. The first looked like a military meeting room, full of books, maps and reports. A heavy black stone chimney cast warm shadows in the still dark room. A window on the opposite wall let a few rays of early sunlight in. A set of double doors at the back, Kara imagined, led to the general's bedroom. The Darkling was standing facing her, his lower back resting on the large table at the center of the room. His gaze was unreadable, his jaw set tight. " Please tell me you had nothing to do with this", whispered the general dangerously. Kara was taken aback, " I beg you pardon? You think I would request to be stripped of my duties and force unwanting Grisha to attend classes with me?". She shook her head angrily, " Believe me, I was just fine with the way my life was going. This was the prince's doing". The general stood slowly and Kara almost recoiled. The movement reminded her of a snake. slow and calm before striking out. Her heart raced as the general moved closer, " I was also fine with the way things were going for us at the little palace. I do not need the help of a Otkazat'sya healer, however gifted you may be. My army is competent and efficient as it is". Kara raised her hands in surrender, " As I said, I never intended for this to happen. I guess by your anger that you were not able to change the king's mind?". The Darkling scowled and strode to the the table, resting his hands on the wooden surface to collect himself. The room was getting darker, and it had nothing to do with the light streaming through the window. The darkling's wrath was even more palpable with the darkness emanating from his body.

Kara stepped back until her back hit the door behind her and focused on breathing slowly. She would not let herself be intimidated. She had worked too hard in a world of men and had made her place. She would not let one general get under her skin. The general stood still, his gaze shifting to an unknown place. " Indeed, the king's mind is set. I would have thought to comply and then wait for him to forget. However, he has asked to see our progress in the curriculum over the summer and with an exam planned for spring. We will not be able to fake any of it". The Darkling stood straight and laughed cruelly, "congratulations Dama Kara. You will be the first Otkazat'sya to teach heartrenders and healers of the Second Army. I dare say I am curious to see you try". Kara was now furious, " I feel just as trapped as you are in this! I have no training in teaching! I know so little of your Small Science! However I have no choice, and I refuse to be made a fool! I will work on this curriculum with or without your support!". She stepped closer to the general, who seemed fascinated by her sudden bravado, " We both do not want this and yet here we are. So what now?".

At this, Kara saw the general sag and sigh, " You do not understand the king's motives". The darkling sat in one of the two chair by the fire, his cloak spilling over the armrests. " The King has two intentions which are not noble in this proposition. The first, is that he despises me. He feels threatened by me despite the fact I could never usurp his place. It would trigger a general revolt that would bask Ravka in blood. It would be a poor maneuver on my part. I have never desired his position. All I want is a safe haven for Grisha." He rubbed his beard, closing his eyes, " He has been trying to wedge a stick in my wheels ever since I can remember. Now, he gets to have a look in how we are trained. I hate the prospect of having him breath down my neck". Kara walked slowly over and plopped into the chair opposite to him. " Then let us not give him anything you think valuable. We can show him my curriculum, without giving any information on regular Grisha training. I am not a spy". he looked up at her and saw that she was honest. He relaxed somewhat, " Are you saying that you prefer to be my ally rather than the king's?". Kara shrugged and placed her hands closer to the fire grate for warmth. " I do not know the king. Politics frighten me. I do not know you but you have been kind to me when you had nothing to gain from me. I know your poor regard for my kind but I prefer to take my chances with you than with a king that I've met only once". The general looked softly at Kara, " Thank you. Few would have made the choice to side with me rather than their monarch". Kara looked at him with a warning, " I will take no sides. Let us say my trust is more in your favor at the moment". He smiled, " lucky me".

She chuckled, " don't get used to it". His smile quickly disappeared, " There is another reason the king made this proposition." She leaned back in the chair, grateful that the darkness of the room was receding slightly, " fire away". The general seemed uncomfortable, " The king desires you". Silence dropped between them suddenly. Kara wanted to laugh. How could the king desire her? " There are far more attractive women at court I am sure. Ania was there too and she is far more beautiful". The Darkling leaned forward, " but she is Grisha and he, unlike his son, is not keen on getting his fingers on what he believes cursed and evil". He shook his head, " besides, you do not see yourself. You are good-looking if not astoundingly beautiful. And your eyes have a very special quality. Once we lock eyes with you, it's hard to look away." His eyes lingered on her and she blushed slightly. Kara felt uneasy, " I do not desire the king. I have no fear in refusing politely his advances." The Darkling looked somber, " you cannot refuse him. He has a habit of taking by force what he wants." Kara's heart beat faster, " He wouldn't". The Darkling raised an eyebrow, " previous kings have evoked the right of jus primae noctis. Why should he not?". Kara shook her head, " That law is a right to sleep with a virgin before her wedding day. I am not about to get married" she hesitated and added, " and I am no virgin". He frowned " Maybe so, but he feels he has the right on his subjects just the same". Now Kara was truly afraid. Her mind flashed again to the king, scanning her body in the throne room for a brief instant. "I'll leave", she whispered. " I could sneak out of the palace to join the military base on the otherside and run". the Darkling smiled sadly, " you would be called a deserter and executed. Some would be honored to be a mistress to the king".

Kara was shaking, " No. I will not submit to a man I do not care for. I will run". The Darkling looked at her with pity, " You cannot. It is mandatory you stay to give the classes the king has asked for. His gaze is fixed on you. You cannot flee without him knowing". Kara was desperate, " then I will always make sure I am accompanied! I'll find an escort!" The Darkling looked irritated, " and what escort would keep protecting you once the king asks for an audience alone with you?". Kara's mind was thinking fast, all her options were slipping away. " Are you saying I am condemned to give classes to an empty room, to submit in sleeping with the king and just accept all this?". The darkling was thinking hard, his eyes closed. he said nothing for a minute. When he opened his eyes again he said softly, " I can think of only one thing that could help you on both fronts". Kara leaned forward, eager to hear even the craziest idea to avoid this trap closing in on her. General Kirigan breathed in sharply, " There is only one person the king does not want to anger, that is me." He shook his head, disbelieving that he was about to make this horrendous proposition. " If the king believes that you already belong to me. That you are my lover. He will not pursue you. If the Grisha hear that you are my partner, they will at least give you the benefit of the doubt for your first class". Kara was shocked, " Are you proposing that I run away from an unwanted relationship by throwing myself into another?". Alexhander laughed, " It would not be real. we would make a few appearances together, looking infatuated and that should suffice. With that, you will be protected". She narrowed her eyes, " Why would you risk your reputation in being seen with an Otkazat'sya ?". It was his turn to look surprised, " Is it so hard to believe that I might not want you trapped as you are? I do happen to care". He leaned back in his chair, " My reputation will be intact. People may be very skeptical at first. As you said, my dislike for your kind is notorious. We will have to be especially convincing". Kara grumbled, arms crossed, " I am not very good at lying". The darkling smiled, " Don't worry, I've mastered the art of deception for a while now". Kara shivered, this time it wasn't the cold.