chapter 24:

The next morning, Kara thanked the saints she had not indulged in too much wine. While others slept in or grumbled about a headache, she was able to head into the city to where Seraphine and Yurii were staying.

The old crone seemed older if that was ever possible. it seemed that the activity in the army had kept her painfully active. She looked more rested, but slower in her movements and less certain in her memory. Kara had tea with them, and she was happy to learn that Yurii would start school in 5 days. She offered to pay for part of his books but Seraphine refused. " You see Dorogaya, I have kept my salary preciously in a safe-hold in the city for many years.
It was always small, what I could stow away, but as I have no family besides Yurii. I think I can manage, with the little time I have left". Kara was troubled to hear this and Yurii seemed worried. "But Seraphine, what is to become of me, if you are no longer here?" You have to stay until I can begin my apprenticeship! Then I can take care of you!". The old woman chuckled and coughed before she ruffled the boy's hair. " it is not for the young to take care of the old. I will hold on as much as I can little one. I fear however, it is in no man's power to choose his time to leave this earth".

Seraphine looked at Kara with both foggy and pleading eyes. Kara knew what the old woman was asking and she shook her head. "You know I will do what I can for the boy if you were to leave us. But Yurii is right. We need you to stay with us as long as possible". A wrinkled and hook like finger reached out to tuck a blond wisp of hair behind the healer's ear. " I cannot promise anything my dear, but I will take your command as love. I will add that I love you too". Kara was startled, not expecting the rise of emotion within her. A single tear trickled down her cheek and she quickly brushed it away. " I do love you Seraphine, you are the closest thing I have ever had to a mother." Seraphine's eyes twinkled with happiness, " Then as a daughter, will you grant me one thing?". Kara nodded, listening closely.

Seraphine leaned back tired in her wooden chair and sighed, rubbing a sore knee. " I would like to warn you against the general Grisha. I know he has been kind to you but he has many ambitions, of which none have anything to do with you. I would not want you to get hurt by such a man". Kara hesitated, " I am no young foolish girl. I know he is a complicated man. However, I think there is good him. In fact, I know there is". Seraphine shook her head, " True love or companionship is never complicated. it should be a simple communion of two souls...Like the water of a stream which flows on rock pebbles". Kara was unsure that Seraphine could give such advise as she had never been married or ever had children. Of her experience, good things required work. If two people really wanted a relationship or friendship to work, then it would. However, she did not want to oppose this woman that she cared for.
So she made a half promise, " I promise to remain vigilant and careful yes".

Kara left them both after tea after promising to come visit monthly. She hoped that her agenda would allow it, depending on the rhythm they would agree upon with the general for classes. She had finished writing the training program for the 3 months she was to stay at the palace. She was still pondering on what the final exam would be in the spring. She planned for the curriculum to be intense. there would be full days of classes so she could be able to leave after the winter. If the shadow summoner wished to have a less dense planning for his heart renders and healers, he would have to agree to spread it over a longer period of time,
which he probably would not wish, considering his reaction when the king imposed it. She was not worried on negotiations with general Kirigan. She worried more about presenting the training program to the king.

His advisor had sent a letter on his behalf two weeks ago, asking to see the training program before the beginning of classes. She would ensure that she would be escorted if she were to meet the king to turn in her work. The idea of him trying anything to woe her made her mind gag. However, she had always been punctual. She had only a few days left before meeting this deadline. She would have to show her program to general Kirigan today. She went to her room and was surprised to see very few Grisha in the hallways. The few that were present were whispering anxiously together and hurried away. She found it odd. Few Grisha had accepted to exchange with her in the previous weeks. She was often ignored. however, the atmosphere here was something else. They seemed on edge. She stepped into her room and after checking her program one final time and wrapping it in a leather pouch, she stepped into
the hall to go the general's quarters.

She heard someone running, and Ania appeared red faced and breathless just as Kara was getting close to her destination. Kara found it odd and she took a look at the general's door which was strikingly without any of the usual guarding Corporalki. Before she understood what was happening, Ania ran into her and pushed her quickly to the ground. Kara was about to protest but Ania's trembling hand covered her mouth. Kara could feel Ania's quick hear beat through her kefta. " If you do not wish to die, do not make a sound and do not move", whispered Ania. An instant later, a roar of rage was heard from the general's quarters. The cry continued louder and louder, full of anger and anguish. A second later, a detonation was heard and the doors to the Kirigan's room blew off their hinges. They banged across the opposing wall and broke through the window pane, covering Ania and Kara with shattered glass. Ania whimpered and lowered Kara's head even lower. Kara felt the cold stone floor with her cheekbone, which reminded her that this moment was real.

The air had filled with darkness and the scream continued. A loud commotion of upturned tables, breaking glass and shattered wood could be heard. Kara and Ania could no longer see and both shut their eyes, hoping for the moment to end. Kara had recognized Alexhander's voice and wondered what could be the cause of such darkness was oppressing and sickly, unlike anything that Alexhander had summoned to help her sleep weeks ago. Kara felt breathless, pinned as she was between the solid leather pouch with her training program and Ania's body. The commotion stopped and they heard quick passing footsteps. Another crash was heard as a nearby chandelier was the subject of the general's wrath. They waited until the footsteps were no longer heard. Slowly, the darkness lessened. Once they could see again and the air was breathable once more, Ania let Kara go and sat on the ground shaking. Kara was still dazed as she dropped her pouch. What had just happened? She looked at Ania who looked relieved that the ordeal was over. Both women took a moment to breath and calm their beating hearts.

Igor appeared running down the hall and came to kneel by Ania's side. He checked she was alright and gathered her in his arms, to which she did not protest. The heart-render turned to Kara, " Are you alright?". He was pale, his face an ashen grey. Kara nodded uncertainly. " Can you tell me what happened?". Igor sat against the opposing wall, pulling Ania with him. The brunette shut her eyes and leaning onto his shoulder. Igor held her like precious treasure. He hesitated before answering. " Every year, come the beginning of autumn, our grisha scouts come back from 7 months of searching every corner of Ravka for new gifted children. You see, grisha children can be found by a test of pain." Kara's face became pale and so Igor quickly added, " It's nothing much, just a small scratch on the forearm. It is enough for the child's power to emerge. Once the gifted have been found, they are brought to the palace to train. An untrained grisha can become very dangerous."

He caressed Ania's hair, " Every year, The general asks the returned scout if they have found a sun summoner amongst the tested children. Every year when the answer is no, we are subject to his wrath." Ania looked with apology at Kara, " I'm sorry I had no time to tell you. Once I found out the scouts arrived, I looked for you but you weren't answering from your room. I went to the infirmary, the library and the herb garden but I did not find you. One of the soldier's on the ramparts told me you were coming in from the city and I rushed to find you." Igor patted her arm gently, " From one year to the next, we do not know what to expect. Sometimes he locks himself away for days without any food or drink, sometimes he hurts the scouts and sometimes he breaks everything in his reach".

Kara feared the answer to her question, " How bad are any bystanders hurt? What of the scouts?". Igor and Ania looked at each other worriedly, " Some have come very close to dying. The healer's do a wonderful job of patching them up though. The scouts try to deliver the message to his quarter's in his absence now. Then, he can wreak his room without anyone in it". Kara shook and remembered Seraphine's warning. She felt cold. Finding this sun summoner must mean the world to the shadow summoner for him to wound other grisha around him.

After a moment the three of them came into the general's quarters. The table had been upturned and stood ajar against a broken chair. Papers and books were sprawled everywhere. A large dark gash scarred the chimney. Igor and Ania grabbed an end to each side of the table and set it back to it's original place. They pilled the papers and books as best they could and placed them to one side of the table. Kara was still dumbfound at the damage done to the room. She placed the leather pouch gently next to the books and papers. The next room which held the general's bedroom was no better. The mattress and pillow had been ripped open. An old grandfather clock had been smashed open, its mechanical innards, spilling onto the floor. A wooden wardrobe had been ripped of its content. Igor took a quick look and nodded, " He's done worst previous years. I'll call the servants to clean up the mess". Ania agreed, " I'll head to the infirmary, just in case some wounded people are brought in". Kara did not know what to say. She was lost and her mouth was dry.

As a healer she wanted to help and it occurred to her that, if any damage was to be avoided, she would have to see that the general did nothing worse. He was also surely in pain. Taking care of him, would avoid any further damage. She had felt his gentleness when he had kissed her in the garden. Maybe, because of the moment they had shared, she could hope to get through to him now. Igor and Ania were looking at her, expectantly. Kara looked up, her mind set, " where is he?". Igor groaned, " No Kara, it is better to leave him be. It's too dangerous to seek him now". Kara shook her head, " You don't understand. If we leave him as he is, he may hurt more people. If I find him, I can help him".

Ania was angry, " Are you saying I placed myself in danger for you, so that you can throw yourself in harms way a moment later?". Kara looked at her with guild. " I am grateful, truly. I will not forget what you have done for me. I owe you my life. I will be careful, but I have to do this". Ania huffed, " You are an idiot. Brave. but an idiot all the same". She stormed off without looking back. Igor turned to Kara, " I cannot stress enough that you should avoid finding him". Kara looked at him fiercely, her mind made up, " I will find him with or without your consent. However, you could save me precious time by giving me a clue as to where he might be". He signed , " If you must, there is a stone fountain a few miles north of the city, towards the pine forest. He might be there".

Kara was able to borrow a horse, asking for a very calm mare. She needed a companion who would not scare easily if the shadow summoner was still in a foul mood. As she rode in the direction indicated by Igor she tried to think of what she would do, once she would find him. Her mind whispered different emotions. She feared his anger and was angered by his carelessness. At the same time, a smaller inner voice reminded her of a nun she had crossed paths with before she joined the army. She had gone to her for tips on growing rare herbs and had fallen in awe of the convent and its sisters. They were kind to all. When a tortured soul came to them. They remained calm and extended a hand. The nun she had interrogated, had mentioned a man whose child was dying. His helplessness and pain made him break everything within the inner hall of the convent. Despite his anger and her fear of his apparent violence, she had kept her composure. Once his anger had trickled to a tense silence, she had offered him tea and he had wept in the folds of her uniform. They had not been able to save the child, but the nun had supported the father as best she could. She remembered the nun, peacefully treading her flower garden, removing a few weeds, " people in pain become detached from the world. They no longer see their surroundings as they are but as they feel. That can be dangerous. How does a cornered boar react in front of hound dogs? It attacks, having nothing to lose. And in that moment, if the boar is not calmed, the dogs will not survive". Kara took in a shaky breath and prayed to the saints. She hoped she would have the nun's patience and compassion. She would need both to face the shadow summoner.