chapter 15:
Six days after their arrival, Doctor Grishin came marching into General Popov's office, who was responsible for the army base of Ryevnost. He angrily explained that his authority had been foiled by two newly arrived healers and demanded justice. General popov, a fat man who wanted nothing but to finish his service calmly at the base before setting to retirement reluctantly summoned General Biryukov, General Kirigan, Ania and Kara for an explanation of the situation. Ania and Kara having both expected this, following Artyom's feedback on the deserted infirmary, had warned both their generals. General Popov almost hid behind his desk when General Kirigan stepped into the room. Indeed, the shadow summoner was in a fowl mood and the air around him oozed with darkness. General Biryukov was annoyed and bored to have to be summoned for a quarrel amongst healers. Ania and Kara acted innocent as they entered the office.
Doctor Grishin, seemed to regret for a moment his action, as all four had walked in with confidence. General Popov cleared his throat, standing with difficult from the chair he had squeezed in, " Generals, healers, it has come to my attention that we are disorganized between healers from a battalion passing through and our resident doctor. I wondered if I could have an explanation". General Biryukov intervened first, " If I may, comrade, I think Kara and Ania headed to the infirmary upon their arrival to lend a hand at the infirmary, as is expected from traveling battalions. However, Doctor Grishin was opposed to their intervention". Doctor Grishin looked appalled, " I did not object to their participation! I only asked that healing be done following my procedures." The darkling, who had stood in the dark in the corner of the room stepped forward. Kara thought it spooky. His eyes sparkled coldly, " My healer says you forbade her from using her Small Science. Do you deny it?".
Doctor Grishin was lost for words, " I did but that does not mean she could not stay in the infirmary". Ania scoffed, " And do what then? Stay in a corner twiddling my thumbs? I am of more use than that!". General Kirigan held up a hand to calm Ania. Kara intervened, " Doctor Grishin did not indeed forbid me from practicing in the infirmary". The doctor seemed triumphant and interjected, " Aha! See! They decided to be deceitful and oppose themselves to me by treating soldiers outside my infirmary!". Kara's eyes smoldered, " However, Doctor Grishin showed total disregard for my team, dismissing two of my healers from the infirmary. Considering their treatment I refused to work in the infirmary." Doctor Grishin laughed, " You mean that old woman and the child? Please, they cannot be any good at healing." Kara held her head high, " Yurii is an apprentice and a quick learner. As for Seraphine she knows all their is in the making of potions and ointments". General Biryukov placed a hand on Kara's shoulder, " So from what I hear doctor, you refused the help of both the First Army and Second Army healers of this battalion.
The doctor was cornered, " I..no...that is...". General Popov shuffled behind his desk, " Why are we here doctor if you refused their service?". The doctor whined, " These women decided to open their own "infirmary" meaning a makeshift wagon standing outside the fort! The soldiers refuse to come to me and prefer to go frolicking to these doe-eyed ladies". Ania's eyes grew wide, " We do not frolic or flirt with our patients doctor. We heal them and treat them with respect. Something I've heard is done less than efficiently under your supervision." The doctor's bald head was red and sweating, his eyes bulged. " I will not be made a fool by two young healers who know nothing of medicine!". The room suddenly grew very dark so it was difficult to distinguish who was standing where. The doctor whimpered, finding the darkling had summoned shadows to cloak his movements to stand right in front of him. General Kirigan stood before the doctor who retreated, " Are you saying that my healer is incompetent? She who has saved the prince and his cousin with Dama kara?".
The doctor swallowed hard. He had heard the gossip but had not believed it to be real. He looked at his feet, " I meant no disrespect General, I merely wanted to express that a itinerant infirmary cannot exist when a resident infirmary is already in place. It is out of protocol". General Popov was grey with fear from the darkness surrounding them. " It is indeed not the way we do things here". The darkling was angry but knew he could do nothing against procedures. " I understand fully, " he said through gritted teeth. He added, " General Biryukov and I will reprimand our healers for not asking prior authorization for their mobile infirmary." The doctor jumped trembling as the darkling settled his coal eyes on him, " However, should a report be made of this, I will send my own report concerning a certain level of incompetence and disrespect from the head-healer here. If this was not so, why would the soldiers prefer to refer to our healers rather than their doctor?".
Doctor Grishin said nothing. In a way he had won but felt completely humiliated. He looked at Kara and Ania with pure loathing, " I accept this proposal, if your healers cease their rogue activity while they are here." General Biryukov clapped his hands together, " Good, then we are finished. We are to be off anyways tomorrow for Os Alta. Indeed, we wouldn't want to be late as Ania and Kara are personally invited to meet the king by the prince". The doctor was livid but did not have the heart to fight anymore. General Kirigan left last, leaving the room in darkness a few second more after their departure, as a reminder of his threat. General popov collapsed in his chair trembling, " Why did you have to say anything Grishin?". The doctor had thought it would be a battle easily won but he had been sorely mistaken.
If General Biryukov was angry with Kara for their decision to open a secondary infirmary in the military base of Ryenost, he did not show it. He had other things to worry about. Mainly, he had to prepare Kara for their meeting with the king the next day. He had been pushing it back, thinking it over and over in his mind to find the best advice in something he did not feel particularly comfortable. However, he had been putting it off for far too long. He even had a cool reminder by the darkling. General Kirigan had mentioned that he was alarmed, after his discussion with her on the ramparts of the fort, that she had no instructions on how to behave facing his majesty. " General, you have been putting off your duty to your healer for far too long," had said the shadow summoner. It was not a reproach, just an observation and general Biryukov knew he was right. It was just very irritating to have to be reminded by the leader of the second army. Why was he pushing it to the last moment? He realized he was afraid. Kara had no experience in politics and he could only share what little he knew. It would not protect her if she behaved as she had so far. He realized he had been lenient with her when, as his superior he should not have. It made him angry, tired and nervous all at once.
After their encounter with general Popov and doctor Grishin, General Biryukov jerked his head to an empty room, looking at Kara who understood the cue. She excused herself from Ania and promised to catch up with her later. Once Kara had stepped into what must have been at some point a classroom, the general closed the door shut. Kara was shocked when the general stepped into the light filtering through the window. He was troubled and it seemed to make him look older. She had been expecting to be lectured. after all, they had bypassed the military base protocol. She had prepared, as they had not intentional wished to confront the doctor. Indeed, the soldiers had come of their own accord, hoping to be healed properly and gently. She was expecting the general to go into his usual gruff fit of anger but he stayed calm, which was all the more unsettling. He looked out the window, " Why do I put up with your undisciplined behavior Kara?". She was completely taken by surprise by his question. She tried to think of the answer, to no avail " I do not know." He did not turn to her, still focused on the military march practiced on the outer courtyard of the fort."
Thrice you have not reported as expected by a military healer. Twice you have reported to the second army general rather than myself. And now, you've even made enemies with the resident doctor of this stronghold". Kara swallowed, " I'm a good healer Sir, I only did what I thought right to protect my patients". The general looked at her sourly, " There are other good healers Kara. That will not prevent you from being dismissed from the army. I ask again, why do I put up with your behavior?". Kara's hands were shaking, so she hid them behind her back. The general had never threatened to remove her from her post until now. She had been out of line once too many. The army was not about making your own rules as she had. it was about following orders, something she was clearly not any good at. She realized she did not want to leave the army. She had purpose, belonging, just as Ania had described during their first meal together. Her eyes stung and her throat ached. She was going to lose her work, all because she could not respect the chains of command.
" Are you going to dismiss me?", she asked in a strangled voice. The general did not answer right away, " No, and I'll tell you why". He stepped closer to her so she had to raise her chin to look at him. His eyes had softened somewhat. " I admire you Kara. In the space of a year you've become indispensable. You are advanced medically, firm when it is needed but also gentle with the men and women in your care. Despite your disregard for my approval, I have come to appreciate you." He moved away, looking at one of the fading class photos on the wall, " I had a daughter once". Kara was startled. The general had never been one to share anything personal. She held her breath and said nothing. He continued, " She was beautiful, curious, intelligent and stubborn like you. Unfortunately, my military lifestyle kept us apart and she grew up without me. One day I got back to my village and found that she was no longer there" He turned around to look at her, " Her mother did not know where she had gone. I searched for weeks on end with no clue to where she could be. One day, I got a report of the soldiers found dead after a skirmish on the Shu han border. Her name was amongst them." His eyes were bright, " She had gone seeking me, trying to impress me by making her own way through the army". Kara did not know how to comfort him, " you once told me there is no greater honor than to serve one's country." He wiped his eye before any tears could run down his face, " Yes and I still believe it. I just wish she would have come to me. I might have armed her better, protected her."
They were silent for a moment before the general continued, " You remind me of her you know. Every time you stand up to me, explaining why you chose to do things a certain way. And yet you are different. You're not as hot headed as she was. More mature." His eyes were almost imploring pardon, " I've come to care for you. That makes it all the more difficult when you don't listen to me". Kara's heart was beating hard. The hermit who had raised her in the confounds of Ferdja had been strict, ruthless, even unkind at times. His care had shown through when he made sure she ate, sleep and was dressed warmly. The general had been one of the few men to resemble a father figure of sorts. He considered what she said. He protected her even when her behavior was unacceptable.
" General, I do care for you as well. It is because I know that you trust my judgment, that I have taken certain decisions. I have no excuse. I should have consulted with you and I'm sorry". The general grunted, " The problem is we are heading to a place where excuses and apologies will not save you in the aftermath of inappropriate behavior". He sat in one of the dusty chairs of the room. " Kara, The court is a place where power is acquired by whomever is close to the king. If the Darkling does have some influence on him, he does not have the final say on decisions. the king hates Grisha and will do anything to place a thorn in the general's foot." Kara pulled a chair and sat across from him, " what does it mean for me?". The general replied, " It means that if you do not want to be implicated in the ongoing unsaid stalemate between General Kirigan and the king, you will not defend Ania or Igor if any accusations fly".
Kara was about to protest but the general continued, " I mean it Kara. You will bow, you will thank the prince and the king for their consideration and you will say NOTHING concerning the Grisha who have helped you save the prince. They will defend themselves. Am I clear?". Kara hesitated and the general was irritated." Please Kara, this is the pep talk for getting ready for your meeting with his excellency. You need to be quickly forgotten if you want to stay as you are. We go in, say little as possible, thank them profusely and get out". Kara saw how scared the general was, which was uncanny. She would have to trust in his judgment, since she knew nothing of court life. " Alright. I will not intervene in Ania and Igor's favor. I just want you to know it will cost me." The general seemed relieved, " What you feel is not a factor at court. To survive there, I find, being as neutral as possible is key".