chapter 19:

Kara still did not know why the darkling had agreed to play pretend in order to protect her. She believed he would take pleasure in frustrating the king's desires, since he had imposed the healing classes to his army.
Whatever his motives, she agreed to play the part. She would never be able to look at herself in the mirror if she fell prey to her monarch. General Kirigan had arranged for her to have a room to herself close to his quarters. It would dissuade any ill-intended Grisha or king from intruding.

They agreed that their first appearance together would be at the celebration planned for the prince's safe return home, which would happen in a fortnight. In the meantime she would make her arrangements for her replacement in the army and study the basis of Small Science to adapt her classes for a Grisha audience.
The darkling seemed skeptical that this whole affair would improve the efficiency of his army. " I'll attend your first class. I would like to see how you will go about it", he said as a challenge. She smiled, " challenge accepted". She felt better knowing that he was there to protect her. Thinking about the king wanting to place his hands on her made her skin crawl. Before she left, the general caught her arm, " If we are to appear intimate, you will have to call me by my name. It's Alexhander." He seemed nervous, " please, use it only when we are pretending or the two of us. In more formal circumstances, I will remain general Kirigan to you". She nodded and bowed before leaving his quarters.

The room she had been given was down the corridor to the general's quarters. It was small but cozy, the space taken up by a large bed and a heavy wooden dresser. The drapes and bed covers were richly decorated with embroideries. One wall harbored a chimney, and another a large window. Everything was impeccably clean. Kara was giddy at having such a room all to herself. She would ask for another smaller dresser and table to set up her store of potions, oils and draughts. She would also see with the palace cook if she could occupy the kitchens from time to time for some of her preparations. Once she had moved her travel bag from the palace barracks to her room, under the distraught looks of the first army soldiers, she decided that she needed to pay a visit to the army base on the other side of the palace. She emptied her travel bag in her room and borrowed a horse with an empty satchel to be able to bring the remaining of her belongings. She was able to leave the palace gates with general Biryukov by her side. They took the dirt path going around the palace wall in silence. after a couple minutes, they could see the modern and lavish army base. This was far from the grey unwelcoming base they had stayed at in Ryevost. This army base was made to impress. Its walls of white stone where as imposing as the palace walls. Once they were recognized and the metal gates creaked open to let them through, the inside of the base was grand. The different military buildings were clean, aligned in orderly fashion and well indicated.
The ravkan flag was hung high over the central plaza for morning roll calls.

Once they both had left their horses at the stables, general Biryukov turned to Kara grimly, " This may be the last I see of you. I'll keep it short for both our sakes. Stay safe and come back quickly." Kara forgot all decorum and took her general in her arms. He stiffened a second. She whispered in his ear, " I would have been fortunate, to have a father like you". The general was clearly touched and held her a second before coughing and collecting himself. He saluted her and turned on his heels to go towards the general's quarters. Kara took a deep breath, enjoying the slight breeze that had followed them into the fortress. She felt such melancholy. Facing Artyom, Seraphine and Yurii to say goodbye would be crushing. The solitary life of an army healer had made them almost family. She walked to the infirmary slowly, trying to delay the painful moment she had to face. Once she stepped through the double doors of the infirmary, she was greeted with cries of happiness. Artyom who was usually either grumpy or aloof, waved at her from the bedside of a wounded soldier. Seraphine and Yurii also tending to other patients, rushed over to see her. Yurii hugged her around the middle and Seraphine gave her a little stroke on her cheek.

She tried to smile but her lips were trembling. Their smiles faded when they saw her expression. " What's the matter Kara?", asked Artyom coming over to her. She asked them to lead her to a discreet place. They led her to the office hidden behind the beds of the infirmary. She faced them and tried to look strong even if she felt like a fragile little bird. " The King has requested that I stay at the Little Palace to improve healing training for Grisha. He intends for me to stay until spring". Seraphine and Artyom said nothing, taking in the news. Yurii looked frightened. Kara took the opportunity to add, " I did not wish for such attention, but I cannot refuse his demand." The team of 3 looked downcast. Seraphine, tired, sat down on one of the empty chairs. Kara turned to Artyom, " I have asked general Biryukov to consider you as head-healer in my absence". Artyom was taken aback at first but he quickly recovered, " I will not fail you Lady". Kara then turned to Seraphine, " Seraphine, I have made arrangements if you wish to take your retirement". There is a shared home in the city for unmarried women with children. They have a place for you and Yurii if you wish it". Seraphine took a moment to consider, " Yes, with you leaving, I think this is the right moment to take my leave." She patted Yurii on the back gently, " Seems like we are staying together little one". Yurii looked incredibly relieved and hugged the old woman tight. Artyom shoulder's sagged, " Are you then all leaving me?". He had even taken a liking to Yurii, in his own awkward way. Seraphine, who had never really gotten along with Artyom was surprised by his sad face. She grabbed his hand and looked at him confident, " I know you will make a good head-healer. You are an wonderful surgeon. We both know we could not work well together. It's better this way". Artyom nodded but squeezed the old crone's hand before releasing it.

Kara added, " General Biryukov has had permission to recruit two new healers for you to work with and train. You have your say in who is selected." Artyom shook his head, " It won't be the same without all of you. Still, I am happy not to be left alone to heal and protect our first army battalion." He looked around the office, with a rare show of emotion. " I will miss all of you. please write?". Everyone nodded. Without a word, they moved towards each other and held each other in a silent embrace. Kara was surprised that she didn't shed a tear. In her mind, she knew she would see them again. She swore to write letters often. Once she had collected her belongings and filled 3 saddlebags full of herbs, potions and oils, she attached everything to her horse. The mare looked almost vexed to be loaded like a mule.

Yurii came over to her with a letter in his hands. he handed it to her and she saw that it was in his handwriting. " It's a motivation letter, saying that when you think I am grown enough, I would like to become a healer and train with you." Kara was touched. The letter was stained with ink and several spelling mistakes could be seen. The penmanship was wobbly and uncertain. She folded the letter and stored it preciously in her satchel. " I am moved that you want to join us. First, to school with you. Perfect your reading and writing and mathematics. Once you are good enough, I'll come get you". She hugged him and climbed on her horse. Artyom could be seen supporting Seraphine in the doorway of the infirmary. They waved at her and she waved back. Her eyes began to sting and so she quickly swung her reins around and kicked her mare into motion. She left the army base without a backwards glance.

Once she got to her room, A servant sent by general Kirigan asked if the room was to her taste. She thanked him and asked if she could have a small wooden table and a small dresser to store her healer's equipment. He nodded and said he would provide what she requested before sunset. Kara was just about to open her bags and arrange them as best she could, when Ania knocked softly on the open door.
" Is this a good time?" she asked, seeing all the bags full to bursting. Kara smiled and waved her in, " I'm trying to set up a working corner over here. I'll need a quiet place to write the lessons for the healing classes. Do you know where the palace library is? And I'd like to meet the palace cook." Ania hesitated, " Do you mean the library and cook attached to the palace or the little palace?". Kara was surprised by the question, " Are they not the same?". Ania laughed, " I forgot you know nothing of the organization here. Grisha are in the Little Palace and we have our own cooks and library. If you want to have access to the palace library and cook, you'll have to refer to someone else". Kara hesitated, "I'll think I'll start with your cook and library. Later, I'll try to visit the Os Alta university library in the city." Kara looked at Ania and blurted, " I know so little of your Small Science". Ania chuckled, " I would be surprised if you were an expert. We keep our knowledge quite secret".

Kara looked around in her bags to find a notebook, pen and ink, " I am no spy, your knowledge is safe with me. I have to know some grounds to your practices if I am to adapt the classes correctly". Ania nodded, Kara's explanation made sense. " I can explain the easier concepts to you. If you need more details, our library is quite thorough". Kara found what she was looking for and followed Ania out of her room. They walked through an open hallway which overlooked the gardens. The Little Palace was more elegant, less gaudy in style than the royal palace. As she walked down the hall, Ania explained the difference between Corporalki, Materialki and Etherealki orders. Kara decided that those of the corporalki, those who control and manipulate the body at the molecular level, whether to destroy or heal, were the ones better suited to be her students. Ania was skeptical, " why would you want heartrenders to attend? They are soldiers meant to kill, not heal." Kara raised an eye-brow, "Was Igor not responsible for restarting the prince's heart? It might come in handy for them to know some basis on human anatomy". Ania was not convinced, " Kara Heartrenders are not all like Igor. Most will not be happy to have to attend healer's classes". Kara raised her chin in defiance. " I will do what is best to improve what I can. From what I see, heartrenders should attend." Ania smiled in awe, " I can't wait to see you try". Kara huffed and raised her eyes to the ceiling ," Why are all of you saying that?". Ania pulled the door to the Grisha Library open, guarded to each side by Grisha summoners. Ania had explained that they took turns insuring that so uninvited guests would sneak it to collect information on their Small Science. The grisha healer nodded to the guards and pulled the library door open. " because it's certainly a challenge untried by Otkazat'sya before. It's bound to be interesting".

Kara studied the books at the Little Palace library with great care. She remembered the couple things that Luka had explained on the road to the capital. When some notions were unclear, she asked Ania to specify. she was very thorough in her questions and Ania was sometimes startled to realize she did not have the answer. They ended up both studying side by side in the library. Kara was reading the easier material and Ania searched the different shelves to answer Kara's more advanced questions. After a while, Kara caught a few Grisha looking over at her. She seemed out of place with all the beautiful colored keftas so it was easy to single her out in her dark green military jacket. Some looks were not kind. One particular look was loathing, coming from a lanky white-blond woman in a blue kefta with embroideries. Kara had learned, that specified she could summon water.

Kara nudged Ania with her elbow, who was hunched over a particularly dusty book, " Who is that woman over there who seems to burn holes in me with her eyes?". Ania looked over and stiffened, " That's Irina, she's a water summoner. She also happens to be a bitch". Kara snorted in an unladylike fashion. Ania seemed concerned, " I do not know what your conversation with our general was about. You should know that Irina and the darkling are...intimate". The color drained from Kara's face and she scowled, " Great, I'm going to have a wonderful rivalry with that one in the coming months". Ania raised an eyebrow and Kara told her the darkling's strategy to keep her safe and establish her authority among Grisha. Ania whistled in admiration. " That's quite unexpected from our general to make that move. Irina is not going to like it".
Kara scowled and closed the book she had shut, " I think I've had enough of a headache for today. How about diner?". Ania nodded and they placed the books back onto the shelves.