chapter 34:
The next morning, Kara was told a falcon had arrived with a letter for her. A Squaller had impatiently handed her the small rolled up parchment. Kara was in awe at the speed at which the letter had arrived and inquired about it. The Grisha in her blue uniform had flicked her red hair back, her lips pursed, " A few of us have been training with falcon so that they get used to being "pushed" by a Squaller. But I don't have to explain my Small Science to the non-gifted". Kara narrowed her eyes, " you are one of Irina's friends". The girl's nose flarred angrily, " Yes I am. So know that I will not send any letters from you". She had stomped away stiffly. Kara opened the letter in her room. She recognized the general's handwriting:
Dear Kara,
Thank you for the first letter you have given me. It allowed me to take my mind off the disturbing reports I have been able to scrape together as we near our destination. The lack of concrete elements as to how our Grisha soldiers came to disappear is intriguing and I hope we will be able to rescue our comrades if any ill has befallen them. I apologize, this letter is not meant to be a military report. You did ask how I felt upon leaving and that is what I am trying to put into words. The last few nights have not been as restful and calm as the one I shared with you.
Kara's heart had accelerated somewhat. Why was she pleased at these written words? She shook the feeling away and continued to read:
We have reached the city of Poliznay, from which a stationed Squaller could send a letter back to you. It is difficult to find what to put on paper. If this letter was to be intercepted, would I want its content to be read by anyone else but you? I therefore have to be careful and less transparent than I would like. I will therefore only tell you that we are safe. We have been riding our horses to near exhaustion and the stiffness in our legs and backs is hard to shake off prior to the next day's journey. Our Small Science makes us stronger slowly but surely.
I enjoyed reading your letter and imagining you prior to your time in the army. I envied your description of a time of pure freedom. Indeed, It has been decades since I might have felt anything close to what you describe. I am not only a summoner of shadows, They are part of me to my core. I am not free in my travels or my actions. The presence of the Fold hinders my movements, so that I often feel trapped within my own country. Enough of me, what about you? How is the training going?
I cannot write more, this piece of parchment is too small and I am weary. We shall arrive at our next outpost in Caryeva within a week. Please write to me there. Yours, Alexhander
Another knock on the door gave little time for Kara to emerge from the letter. She was sad that a man would feel so shackled by his obligations and by his past. He bore a punishment meant for his ancestors. The Fold was an evil he had not made, a constant reminder of the menace of Merzost. She had only read the word once in the Little Palace library. It seemed strange, that so few documents mentioned it. When she had asked Ania about it, the healer had answered, " It's a dark form of Small Science. It's forbidden to use it so the general made sure none would have access to any records". Kara had to be satisfied with that answer.
As she pulled her door open, she discovered a gentle face. The women was of noble birth by the rich fabric of her clothes. However, the clothes were of strict demeanor and her hair was tied back tightly to the back of her head. She wore a golden medallion of Sankta Vasilka, patron of unwed women. Despite the austerity of her appearance, her smile was genuine. " lady Kara, I am Sochi, one of the Queen's ladies in waiting. Would you be available to accompany me to see her Majesty?". Kara seemed concerned, " Yes I can come. is anything the matter? Should I take my medical bag with me?". The maiden shook her head, still smiling. She reassured the healer, " No need to bring anything Lady Kara, all is well".
Kara was led to a more secluded part of the Palace. They crossed the gardens and bypassed the maze to go to a beautiful white stone Chapel, Kara had not yet seen. It was well hidden away behind trees and rose bushes so that only those who intentionally sought it, would find it. Kara hesitated on the steps. What was the Queen's intention on meeting here? Lady Sochi coxed her in gently. The Chapel was grand but humble. No gold paint or colors marked its walls. It wall all stone and wood. As they neared the front of the chapel near the Altar, Kara saw a carved figure preside over the worshipers. It was a women looking upon the sick and dying as she held a knife to her own wrist. Kara recognized the image as that of Sankta Anastasia, patron of the sick. She cured the wasting plague with her blood, which could heal if consumed. It was said, that having seen that her blood could cure any ailments, she had given all of it to the sick and died, her body a dried husk. Several glasses of red wine had been placed as offerings at the foot of the statue.
The Queen was on her knees praying when they arrived. Three other ladies accompanied her and prayed silently. As Kara arrived, the Queen did not move a muscle but whispered, " Lady Kara, thank you for coming. I shall finish my prayer and be with you shortly". And so Kara sat quietly by the statue. She shivered slightly, the air in the stone building colder than the outside in the beginning of autumn. The queen finished her prayer and kissed the statue's feet before standing. The ladies in waiting rose in unison so that Kara stood in awe at the feeling of a discreet army.
Kara bowed awkwardly in her army clothes but the Queen took no offense. She smiled, " Lady Kara, forgive me for meeting in such a particular place. My husband would surely not approve in what I wish to discuss with you. The only secrets I can have from him are in this Chapel". She seemed sad for a moment, " The king you see is not a believer of the Saints. He only uses their symbols for political purposes". She looked at the statue with soft longing, " I had this Chapel built when I had my daughter. We found out quickly once she was toddler, that she would not be a healthy child. I hoped everyday that our patron Sankta Anastasia would hear my prayers and heal my baby girl. Alas, I have had no answer as of yet". She looked Kara with sparkling eyes, " I have come to hope that you being here might be her answer". Kara was hesitant, " Moy Tsarista, I will do what I can if is it within my competence to try. I cannot promise anything however." The queen caught Kara's forearm and wrapped her hands around it, as she would with a female companion. " walk with me", she said in a firm voice.
They began to walk slowly around the nave of the chapel. There was no destination, only to be in movement as they talked. The Queen whispered, " I believe my husband has already come to you has he not? He has warned you about me". Kara was very much focused on not stepping on the Queen's beautiful skirts with her muddy boots. She looked at her feet and nodded as they walked. The queen sighed, " I suspected as much. Mind you, I understand him. He believes that my daughter has suffered enough and should be left alone. However, he does not take the time to see her and ask her what SHE would want. I am often a witness to her morning weeping when she believes she is condemned to live her life in a golden cage". A single tear trickled down the monarch's cheek. She wiped it away and tried to regain her composure. " Please lady Kara, I only ask that you would take a look upon her situation. If you cannot find any means to heal her, so be it. However I will ask you to be honest with me. If there is a way but that you do not wish to take any part in it, let me find others who will try your ideas".
Kara stopped and unwrapped her arm from the Queen. She held her majesty's hands in hers, " Moi Tsarista, I am not a women who can promise by principle. Forgive me for being blunt. if you wish me to help your daughter, than I need to have her medical file and examine her. Then and only then, will I provide you with an answer". The Queen was startled at first but than nodded, " You are wise healer. Do not apologize for your candor. It is a relief to be able to discuss things with sincerity". One of the ladies in waiting stepped forward with a thick book wrapped carefully in a leather binding. The queen took it from her and handed it to Kara, " You have here the entire medical history of the princess. It is one of the two only copies we have. I therefore ask you to keep it safe and secret. Once you have seen its content, provide me with your opinion. If there is hope, then you will be able to see the princess. I will not have her hope if there is none".
Kara was escorted back to her room by one of the Queen's guard. once she had locked herself in her room, Kara looked around and tried to think of the best way of protecting the precious document. She could not ask for a locked safe, for that would invite too much attention. She had an idea, but she was unsure if she could trust her intuition. She decided she had no choice. She hid away the book in a medical bag and wondered around the Little Palace until she arrived at Konstantin's office. The Corporalki, the substitute leader in the Shadow Summoner's absence, had taken office close to the General's quarters. Kara had only seen him once or twice on the Ferdjan battlefront. He had barely looked at her but she knew he was loyal to the general. She knocked gently on the door, as he was engrossed in several reports from the Ravkan outposts. He raised his head to face her and frowned, " Orphan healer. What do you need?".
Kara was shaken at the coldness of his greeting. So we are not up to a good start, she thought. She bowed with respect and proceeded, " Moi Lieutenant, if I had in my possession a document of national importance, where would be the safest place to keep it hidden?". Konstantin continued to frown and leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes on her. " What kind of document?". Kara replied, " With all due respect Lieutenant, if I told you, that would defeat the purpose of keeping it hidden". The Grisha Lieutenant had first thought that the healer wanted to profit from her relationship with the General and ask for a favor. However, her face was serious. His eyes narrowed, " If I do not know the type of document, how am I to suggest its most appropriate protection?". Kara hesitated. She did not know if she could trust the Grisha. However, now that he had knowledge that she kept something of value, she could not back away. She stepped into the office and closed the door. The heart-render seemed startled but did not move as she sat in a chair opposite his desk. She opened her bag and placed the document in front of him.
Konstantin's curiosity was piqued. He carefully opened the first page and his jaw dropped. On the preface of this document was written:
Be it known unto all noble lords and esteemed commanders, by the grace of the Saints and the strength of our valorous Tsar, that this missive doth convey the tidings of our recent endeavours concerning the health and disposition of her Highness princess Alexandra Feodorovna, daughter of Tsar Ivan the fifth, heir to the throne of Ravka, bearer of the royal bloodline, and keeper of the sacred trust bestowed upon her by divine providence. With hearts resolute and arms stout, we do hereby present the account of our actions and observations, to be duly recorded in the annals of our noble cause.
Konstantin's attention was heightened and his heart beat fast. He turned to Kara in stricken fascination. " How did you come to have this document?". Kara shook her head, " I cannot say. All you must know is that it is temporarily entrusted to me. I believe our General Grisha would not wish for me to lose such a document or have it stolen. As I am now assigned to teach some of you, the king might accuse Grisha if this book was lost. I do not wish for that to happen". Konstantin was stunned. Indeed, His General would have his skin if word came about that he refused to help the healer. This document was took important to ignore. The lieutenant thought fast. He closed the book gently, afraid of leaving marks on its pages. " I can only think of one place that is safe enough and that is the general's quarters which are left under lock and key in his absence. We even have a heart-render on the look out to guard the door. I imagine you will want to consult the document?". Kara nodded. The Lieutenant was not pleased. he huffed, " You will entrust the document to me and I will have it placed in the General's Library, when you wish to see it, you will come to me and I will give you access. you will not speak of this to ANYONE. I cannot even write to the general concerning this situation as a stolen missive might compromise its safety. Are we clear?". Kara did not like having the document under the care of another. However, there was sense in what the Lieutenant proposed. She therefore agreed.
As she placed her hand on the handle to leave, she paused. An idea was forming in her head. She turned to the Lieutenant. " Sir, I would need to send a letter to the General. However, the Squaller keeping the falcon's here is refusing to handle any of my correspondence. Is there anyway you could send this letter for me?". The lieutenant waved her away impatiently, cradling the princess' medical records " yes yes, but do not make it a habit". Kara smiled, bowed and returned to her room to write.