chapter 30:

The class emptied progressively and most of the students left with their notes and documents without much conversation. They did not know what to make of the first army healer. Their general had seeked them out as having potential and having finished their military training. He had implied that should they be in opposition to the concept of being taught by an Otkazat'sya, he would propose the opportunity to someone else. What could they do but feel proud to be selected by their general? At the same time, they wondered if he was not a bit too infatuated by the healer. Words had spread as they had been regularly spotted together at the palace, in the gardens, in the kitchens. Could it be that their general had thrown caution to the winds and that he was being hoodwinked by the healer and their monarch? They naturally slowed their pace to form a group in the hallway to their dormitories. They needed to exchange between them.

" What did you think of the class?", one of the younger healers asked a senior heart-render. " The other shrugged, " The class was interesting but I don't know...I've never studied medicine. Seems a lot of energy when we can just HEAL with Small Science". One brunette in a red kefta laughed, " Are you saying you're out of your depth Mikhail and afraid to fail?". The senior heart render snorted, " No. I could manage if I wanted to. I just do not see the added value." Ania and Igor who were listening in, decided to intervene. " It was just a first class. Let's give the lady a chance. It will probably become clearer in practice". Some nodded. Others were skeptical. " We know you're friends with her. Just because you have empathy for her does not mean she is competent", added a blond healer. Ania narrowed her eyes, " Are you saying you believe that general Kirigan's judgment is not sound?". The young man by the name of Anatol stiffened. " He is in love with her. It might impact his judgement." Igor, who was respected by most stepped in, " I have a question then. You all know Ania and I are involved. Does that make me a less competent heart-render? Have I failed in my recent missions? Has Ania delivered less than perfect healing?". Ania's cheeks flushed at having their relationship exposed. It was the first time it was clearly addressed with others. She was both pleased and worried of the group's reaction. The Grishas looked at each other before one heart-render answered, " No indeed. It has not changed the quality of your interventions. Maybe we are quick to judge". Igor was gentle, " All we ask is for a little patience. You'll see, her training program is good. She is an incredible healer. You'll come to see it too".

Meanwhile Kara was putting away the ink and cleaning the quills before storing them away. Alexhander had stayed behind with her. The class had gone rather well. General Kirigan had made sure to favor the more rational and gentle of his comrades. If indeed Kara's training embellished their Small Science, they would be the better ambassadors to reproduce her lessons. The healer seemed more relaxed and tired. Her adrenaline level was dropping and the after effect left her giddy. Kara caught him looking at her, the shadow of a smile at the corner of his lips. " What?", she asked. He tried not to smile, " I enjoy the fact that you keep on surprising me lady Kara. You did very well." Kara shrugged, " Your selection was good. They seem dutiful enough. I don't think I had anything to do with it". The shadow summoner shook his head, " I may indeed have selected the more acquiescent of disciples. However, I believe that they could have challenged you more than they did." Kara raised an eyebrow, " With their general present? I don't believe they would have dared". The general crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, " Alright. Then you will tell me in your first letter how your next lesson will have gone. My absence might reveal what they truly think of you."

As they stepped out of the room, Kara made sure to lock the door. She wouldn't want anyone to use some of the more potent herbs and mushrooms. They faced each other, unsure as what to do next. Kara fiddled with her key. Her blue eyes raised to meet his dark ones. " When are you leaving?". Alexhander held out his arm to her and she wrapped her hands around it. The fabric of his kefta was soft to the touch. It felt nice being so close to another person. Kara wondered if he felt comfortable with her as she was with him. General Kirigan began to walk slowly, " I am leaving before dawn. My Corporalki and I will have to ride hard for two weeks before we reach the Shu Han base camp". Kara nodded, unsettled that he should leave so soon. Kara asked nervously, " In your absence, who takes over your activities here?". Alexhander was surprised by the question. " I don't delegate the most complex of tasks. They are mine to manage. However, if there was any form of urgency, you can address your concerns to Colonel Konstantin. He will stay behind to make sure our Grisha students remain safe and to coordinate efforts with us on the field". Kara grimaced. The Colonel was very dedicated but too serious. She had not been able to get a word out of him since they had met. " I hope I won't have to. The man is too uptight and quiet." Alexhander chuckled, " He is loyal and competent. That is all I ask of him. I can go to others for conversation". He tilted his head in her direction, indicating he meant her. She was pleased and blushed slightly.

They had arrived to the corridor between both their quarters. They stopped and Kara realized it might be the last time she would see the general in several weeks. Her heart was beating fast. She did worry what would happen in his absence. Alexhander was having the same train of thought. He tried to think of a way of making the moment last. He cleared his throat, " If the king were to be foolish and try anything to isolate you with him, find any excuse to avoid it. He cannot arrest you for refusing an intimate interview that cannot be justified by any rational explanation". Kara thought for a moment, " When I met with the king, he said he didn't believe in our romance. We haven't been convincing enough. Not passionate enough. Not...intimate enough". She let the words rest between them. She stepped closer and Alexhander wondered what she was thinking. Her cheeks were flushed, " What would lovers do right before leaving each other for several weeks? I think we would spend the night together". The general thought a moment, unsure what to make of it. Kara had become important to him but did he desire her? Was she really suggesting that they make love? He took stock of the healer. Her short blond hair fell and grazed her delicate shoulders. Her blue eyes were piercing, her lips set and serious. He could make love to her yes. However, would that jeopardize the fragile bond they shared? It seemed quite special and rare. Love-making was easy. Finding someone to care for was not. Alexhander inhaled sharply, " Kara, I am flattered that you would...consider spending the night with me. However you asked me to be honest and true. I have come to care about you very much. I would fear what this would do to our...friendship". The word sounded strange in his mouth. He had said it without thinking it through. Now that the word had parted his lips, he feared the impact of it. Are you daft? his mind whispered. She is an Otkazat'sya! Not to mention a military healer whose stay at the Little Palace is nothing short of temporary. Why set yourself for heartbreak and loss? He knew why. Kara only knew the parts of him he had decided to share. He liked the way she looked at him. He felt ALIVE and that had not happened in centuries.

Kara's smile lit up her face so that Alexhander found himself doing the same. " I was hoping you might feel like I do". She kept on smiling, " I am sorry. I did not mean anything in particular in spending the night together. We can play cards, drink tea and have a chat or simply sleep by each other's side. It does not matter. What matters is what people will THINK transpired between us. And they will have to consider the most scandalous of options once I step out early in the morning with my hair in dissaray and my clothes all creased and wrinkled". She winked at him suggestively and he chuckled. " Well then, in that case, I would be happy to have your company for my last night here."

Igor was guarding the general's door with a younger heart-render by the name of Ogel. They were profoundly bored when they saw his outline appear down the hall. He was accompanied by the healer and they seemed happy to be talking to one another. They spoke softly so that what they said could not be overheard. Igor had peaked over his comrade's shoulder and seen Kara smile brightly. His general was doing the same. The soldier quickly looked away, not wanting to appear intrusive. However Ogel had seen his gesture and taken a peak as well. When they looked again, Kara had leaned forward and kissed the shadow summoner softly. The general had deepened the embrace and woven his fingers through her hair. Once they pulled away, the general caught her hand in his and seemed to lead her to his quarters. The two heart-renders stiffened quickly into their military stance and let them pass. Kara quickly vanished behind the door whereas the general stopped a second, breathless. He whispered softly to Ogel. " Soldier, if you can by any means reach the cook and ask for two diners to be delivered to my quarters? And let it be known I do not wish to be disturbed by anything less than a matter of national security. Am I clear?" The young heart-render nodded stiffly " Yes sir". Alexhander nodded in approval, " Good evening gentlemen. Once the message has been delivered to the cook, you may take your leave". The door closed shut and was locked from the inside. Igor jerked his head to his comrade, " you heard him, let's go". He held back a laugh. He would tease Kara in the morning until her blush was imprinted for the whole day. As they turned in the hallway towards the kitchens, Igor saw a wisp of blond hair and the hint of a blue kefta disappear behind a column. Irina, he thought. Suddenly the laugh died in his throat. He hoped she had not seen what he had. If she had, she would realize what he did. That the general had never looked so genuinely happy.

Once the door to his quarters was shut, Alexhander and Kara praised one another for their performance. The general invited her over to a seat for a cup of tea as they waited for diner. " If you ever feel like demonstrating your affection as you did in the hallway, do not hesitate", he teased. She smiled, grabbing the cup he handed her and sighed, " I just hope it will be enough to create sufficient gossip". The general leaned back in his chair, his ebony ceramic cup fuming. " Unfortunately for me, none of my relationships go unnoticed for very long. You will be subject to envy and teasing in the morning". Kara groaned, " Igor and Ania will never let it rest." The general blew gently to cool the hot tea. " I am happy that you have made friends. It will make leaving you here easier. I will know you to be safe." Kara nodded, " It's good to feel accepted. I know Grisha have many reasons to suspect and worry when an Otkazat'sya meddles in their world. I hope more of the students will see that they have nothing to fear from me."

Alexhander hesitated before asking, " Considering how talented you are, how natural healing is to you, I wonder sometimes if you might not have SOME grisha heritage. It is not uncommon for Grisha to have bezdarny (ungifted) children. Nature has a way of ensuring balance between Small Science and the natural forces of the world. You might be one of them". Kara mused for a moment, " I have very few memories of my parents. I don't recall them ever using Small Science or talking about it. If I do have a form of heritage, it would have to be several generations back. I've never met my grandparents so I have no idea if that could be true". She turned to him quizzically, " Is it really so hard for you to believe that I might just be THAT good at what I do?". Alexhander held up his hands in mock surrender, " I did not mean to imply that you are anything less than admirable. I was just curious." Kara placed her cup on the table and clasped her hands together, " If you wish to ask me questions I would wish for a fair exchange. And since you do not seem to like sharing anything personal which might endanger your propriety, I propose a game. The night is long and we will need to occupy ourselves while the rest of the world thinks that we have succumbed to exquisite passion."

Alexhander's heartbeat quickened at the suggestion of their feigned ecstacy. The words played a trick on his mind. He could imagine an alternate situation when they could be together, skin to skin ...his lips breathless against her collarbone. He breathed out slowly, forcing his body to relax. " What type of game did you have in mind?". Kara chuckled, " As I am a sore loser I will only propose games to which I have a chance of winning. If I win, you answer one of my questions. If you win, I will answer one of yours." She leaned back with a challenging smile, " You may choose between chess or cribbage. Choose wisely". Alexhander grinned, " Chess. You have no idea what you have gotten into". The healer caught the general looking over at a dusty corner of his personal library, where a chessboard stood waiting. She swallowed nervously, " Well then, this is bound to be interesting".