chapter 13: A sweet farewell
Luka had passed by in the afternoon to tell Kara that Ania had been warned and was staying vigilant if they had word of a problem with the prince. However, as they drew closer to Ryevost, they saw nothing of their sovereign and his assigned security. Kara was nervous but she could do nothing but wait. If there had been an incident, one of the soldiers would have rode back and warned them. The afternoon went by slowly until they saw the silhouette of the city distinctly upon the horizon. Ryevost was a rich city that depended on the capital of Os Alta for its trade. Its position was strategic for receiving and shipping produce to and from the capital. It was also an outpost for the military so that they could replenish their supplies and sleep in real beds before heading out to their next mission.
The military base was on the outskirts of the city. The grey stone building had previously been an orphanage and Kara shuddered to think how dreary it would have been for children. The rooms which had previously been dormitories for boys and girls have been converted to bunks for the soldiers. The fireplace in the kitchen had been modified to accommodate a big iron stove and a wall had been removed to the next room so soldiers could eat near the heat of the kitchen. It must have been a "no-nonsence allowed" institution and still was to this day, now that it belonged to the army. The wagons were drawn into the inner courtyard and the soldiers sighed with relief at their arrival. They would finally be able to have a warm bath in the Banya and eat something else than dried fish and hard rye bread.
Kara helped Yurii hop off the wagon and checked if Seraphine was awake. The old crone was tired and she winced once she had to walk, stiff from the journey. Artyom had made his way to them and offered his arm to Seraphine, leading her to the base infirmary. The infirmary here was what Kara preferred in her practice. It was impeccably clean, warmed by a boiler at one end of the room. The beds were soft and well supplied in covers and blankets. It was infinitely more luxurious then having to move an infirmary on the road from one place to another. There were no shortage of material, draughts or potions here. The head-healer of the Ryevnost military base was a tall fellow in a white coat. His head was completely bald which contrasted with his lush brown beard that he kept trimmed. His bushy eyebrows outlined his glasses, like caterpillars crawling over a branch.
Doctor Grishin had a reputation of being arrogant and easily vexed. General Biryukov had warned her to stay polite despite his conceited behavior. The man had connections and could easily have her removed from her position if he felted offended. Kara heard footsteps and saw Ania making her way into the infirmary, closely followed by her two apprentices. They waited for Doctor Grishin to finish lecturing a poor nurse, who seemed close to tears at having to be instructed on how to properly make a bandage, something she surely must have know how to do. The doctor seemed angry, berating the nurse in front of the soldier she was tending to. The patient seemed confused as to why she was the target of the doctor's animosity." Doctor, nurse Dryga didn't hurt me. The bandage was fine." The doctor scowled at the patient, " I didn't ask for your opinion soldier. My job is to make sure things are done properly!". He turned again to the nurse, " If you cannot manage to be more mindful in your work, I will have to write it into your permanent record. You wouldn't want to be sent to the Shu han border away from your children, would you?". The nurse shook her head, tears brimming, " No doctor please, I'll be more careful". She quickly walked away once dismissed, probably to have a good cry in the storage room.
Kara caught Seraphine's eye, both appalled at the doctor's behavior. Yurii whimpered and hid behind Seraphine's skirts. Artyom stood silent and Ania had seen little of the scene to judge on its unfairness.
The Doctor turned to them and Kara made sure to bow slightly before addressing him, " Vrach Grishin, I am the head healer from the First Army battalion back from the Ferdjan border. I am here to report to you during our short stay here." The Doctor sneered, " Ah, the notorious Dama Kara. Indeed I have heard of your uncommon practices. The article that you wrote to my comrade in Os Alta was, how should I put it, bold to say the least". He crossed his arms in his back, looking her over coldly, " You are welcomed to join me in my duties here. However, you will not use any of your new methods. We do REAL medicine here. None of your foreign practices imported from Novyi Zen, Kerch or wherever you came from". Kara clipped her tongue to her palate and said nothing. She understood her general's warning better. " As you wish Doctor Grishin".
Ania moved forward to present herself, " Doctor Grishin, I am Ania Orlova, healer from the Second Army battalion from the north". The Doctor raised an eyebrow, " Where is the head-healer Kusmin? Is he no longer the head of your Second Army infirmary?". Ania looked down sadly, " He was killed on the Ferdjan front doing his duty sir". The doctor nodded respectfully, " A pity, one of the only Grisha who knew his place". Ania bristled but said nothing. The doctor looked both of them over, " I do not understand why our military leaders persist in having women as head-healers. But we are in a new era, where women seem to obtain higher positions. Does it not bother you to have a lady as your superior?". He had turned to Artyom, a smile to his lips as if they were sharing a joke together. Artyom stiffly replied, " Kara is the best head-healer I've had to work with doctor Grishin. I have learned more in the past year with her than with her predecessor". Kara breathed a sigh if relief as the doctor scowled, " It is not a natural order of things for wolfs to follow deers". Ania looked as if she had been slapped across the face. Kara and Seraphine were flushed with anger. Artyom ignored the doctor's lack of tact. " Kara is no deer Sir. She is just as much a Lion as any man". The doctor waved his hand irritably, " Yes yes, her reputation does precede her."
He turned to Ania, " Dama Orlova, I will not hide that I am not a lover of Grisha. I will ask that you keep your... Small Science to a minimum here. Our king does not trust your kind and neither do I". Ania was trembling with anger, " I did not come to be berated by a basic Otkazat'sya doctor. I came to heal those that would accept my care. Would you have me discuss your refusal for me to practice with the Darkling?". Doctor Grishin grinned, " You may share your indignation with your general. he has no power in what happens here". Ania held back a curse and breathed out through her nose before turning on her heels and heading out briskly from the infirmary. Doctor Grishin turned to Kara, " Now if that is all, I will return to my duties. See with nurse Dryga for anyway to make yourself useful". With that they were dismissed.
Once they were in the courtyard again, Artyom burst into laughter. "What an arse!" he exclaimed. Seraphine snorted, " At least someone finds it amusing". Kara nodded and turned to Artyom, " Thank you for standing up for me. I appreciate it." Artyom shrugged, " It's easy to see he's old school and misogynistic. I don't partake in that kind of masculine toxicity. Plus I meant what I said. I've learned a lot from you". Kara smiled proudly, " I am only trying my best to heal those in need. You have learned well Artyom. You'd make a fine head healer." Artyom coughed, uncomfortable at the compliment. Seraphine intervened, " Perhaps I will check on nurse Dryga. She seemed about to cry her eyes out the poor thing". She took Yurii by the arm and went back to the infirmary. Artyom brought their pony for a brush down at the stables before heading out to town to see an old friend.
Kara was about to go searching for Ania when General Kirigan entered the courtyard followed by his Opriknik. He descended graciously from his stallion, handing the reins to one of his Grisha soldiers. He seemed tired. Kara made her way to him and bowed, " Moi General". He turned his head to her, a hint of a smile on his lips, " Isn't that title reserved for your First Army superior?". Kara smiled back, " I believe you are a general yourself, or has the prince decided on a whim to destitute you of your title?". The Darkling snorted, " The prince is a child. We were lucky. We did not encounter any type of danger or incident on our way to the lord of Ryevnost. I have left our prince and his cousin in his care". He turned towards the ramparts, where the silhouette of General Biryukov could be seen talking to one of the sentinels. " walk with me", commanded the Darkling and Kara did not object. As they walked to the stairs leading to the outer wall, the grisha general asked, " How was your arrival to the base? Nothing out of the ordinary to report?". Kara followed his brisk pace as best she could, " Ania and I met with doctor Grishin. It did not go well." The Darkling stopped, turning to her, " Doctor Grishin is a self-important boot kissing imbecile. His hate for Grisha is notorious".
Kara laughed, " I would not have found better words to describe him". She became serious again, " He was unkind to Ania and she did nothing to deserve it". The Darkling looked at her kindly, " Do I detect a hint of worry for your Grisha counterpart?". Kara looked at him seriously, " And why not? Ania is brilliant at what she does." The Darkling smiled, " I forget that you are one of the rare to make no difference between Grisha and Otkazat'sya. Ania is a strong woman. She'll get over it." Kara shook her head, " If you don't mind, I'll still seek her out. I don't want her to think I agree in anyway with his prejudice". They climbed the stairs and arrived at the top of the wall. The view on the city was breathtaking, the setting sun basking it in orange and pink. They enjoyed the view together for a moment. Kara finally broke the silence, " What will happen once we get to Os Alta?". The Grisha General pressed his palms on the cold grey stone of the wall. " Our soldiers will rest at the army base of Os Alta. As for you, Ania and Igor, you will be summoned to the palace with general Biryukov and myself." He looked outwards to the city, his dark hair ruffled by a cool evening breeze. " You will surely be invited to stay at the palace for a while, as the prince sees fit to reward you for saving him and his cousin".
Kara leaned on the wall on her forearms, " I have never been to the palace before. I have no notion of proper etiquette and politics." The Darkling looked at her, " It is not a gift to be thrown into the lion's den without any preparation. General Biryukov will surely brief you on what is expected of an army head-healer. So long as you follow his instructions, you have nothing to fear". She turned to rest her hip on the wall, crossing her arms on her chest, " and what will you be expected to do, once at the palace?". The darkling was surprised at her question, " I will have to report to the king on the details of what transpired near Ferdja with your general. Then, I will make my way to the little palace. I have been away for far too long. I will make sure everything is going well with the training Grisha, those on the field and check on new recruits."
He took a moment, " How are you sleeping? You have not come to me again for my help in that regard." She was startled by the sudden change of conversation. " I am sleeping better. That folk-tale you told me has put things into a better perspective." She noticed he was staring at her, " You look well rested." He stepped closer, looking at her face, " You have wonderful blue eyes. It was a shame to have them rimmed by darkness. They are meant to stand out on a healthy face". She blushed, unused to the compliment. He seemed grim all of a sudden, " After we meet with the king, are paths will part ways. You will surely head either to the Shu Han border or to an outpost by the fold. I will remain at the little palace for the winter before heading out myself on whatever mission the king will see fit". He took her hand and kissed it politely, " I anticipate a little our farewell but I wanted you to know it was a pleasure meeting you". She had never been kissed on the hand before. She had so been used to being treated like any other soldier, she had forgotten what it was like to be treated like a lady.
Her heart fluttered in her chest. She tried to hide the blush persisting on her cheeks, " The pleasure was mine too. I can say I met the shadow summoner and that he is more than what people say he is". He searched her face, waiting for her to continue. She hesitated, choosing her words carefully, " You have shown kindness when I did not expect it. You have listened to my ideas, acknowledged my decisions and helped me where no one else could. You have lectured me when I faltered in my work, which was only fair. I understand why your soldiers trust you." General Kirigan looked at her in wonder. Being in a high position both in the military and politically, having a subordinate give him a compliment was beyond rare. Having it come from a non-grisha was unexpected, as unlikely an occurrence as a shooting star. He whispered in puzzlement, " I have never met anyone quite like you Dama Kara. Thank you." He bowed slowly and turned around to seek general Biryukov, making his way to him from across the ramparts. Kara held back a trembling smile. who would have thought she could have gained the shadow summoner's respect? A part of her mourned the fact that they would soon have to part ways. However, it was the reality of a military life.