chapter 35:

Kara had no news from general Kirigan for ten days despite sending a letter to his last encampment. She worried that something terrible may have happened. Igor and Ania tried to cheer her up. " The flow of information is hectic on the road. He may not have the time to write. he'll be back", said the heart-render. In the meantime, Kara observed a change within her class. Following their first session in town, they had come back to the Little Palace exhausted. The three women had felt very ill under the influence of Small Science. The high fevers generated by the students had made them sweat profusely and they shivered in their clothes once it was over. They had wobbled back to their brothel weak but looking much better. The healers had done a wonderful job fixing their damaged skin. However, if the high fever was to prove insuffisient, the patches would appear again and quickly. However, on their next session in town the following weekend, they were surprised to see the three ladies shining with health. They came with thankful smiles and apple cakes. The Grisha students were surprised at the kind gesture from non gifted Otkazat'sya and seemed to blush at the attention. One of the women seemed sheepish, " We apologize in advance, but you might have some additional visits today. We talked to our friends and companions back at the brothel and some have...other ailments that cannot be healed by a doctor". indeed, when Kara went to look at the door, a dozen individuals were waiting patiently.

Kara asked Luka to fix the rickety chairs as best he could and to place them out in the street for the waiting patients. Indeed the Materialki made a few quick sign gestures and the chairs seemed much more stable and safe. The healers and heart-renders were weary of the procession of patients, but they had not heart to refuse them. The beginning was a bit frosted on both sides until the patients saw the wonders of Small Science. In the end, a mutual respect appeared and patients left thanking the Grisha profusely. Of the dozen individuals, some had venerian diseases but others presented other new ailments that Kara had not adressed in her classes yet. One of the patients had brought a child with a missing leg. The wound had festered and Ania was quick to burn away the infection and seal the skin. However, The father of the child was still pleading. Was there no way for his child to walk? Igor, who looked upon the situation with Ania, whispered in Kara's ear, " Maybe Luka might be useful afterall". Indeed, kara's eyes grew bright with an idea. They called the young Fabrikator over. Kara showed Luka the stump of the child's leg below the knee. " Would you be able to make some kind of prosthetic?". Luka's eyes sparkled at the challenge. " The child will grow. I would have to make a prosthetic that adapts with time. Difficult but not impossible". He had been bored out of his mind by the fire minutes prior. Now he was gently asking questions to the child to identify any pains and tensions while he took measurements. The father was told to come back in the following weeks with his daughter to try the new contraption. Once the day was over and the light was waning, Kara was locking the door while the students waited outside. When she turned around, her jaw dropped. Her students were smiling and ...glowing? They had used their powers to the limits of their resources and yet, they were looking fit as ever. Kara recalled Ania looking the same after her intervention on the prince. She asked about it. Esfir laughed, " Lady Kara, if we are not drained of our power, practicing our Small Science makes us even stronger. The classes with you seem to be...very efficient to develop our capacities". The Grisha seemed surprised at the compliment that had burst from her lips. She grew red and turned away swiftly with Tahnee and Mikhail.

There was commotion at the gates. They soon learned that General Kirigan and his soldiers had returned safely. Kara's heart lifted with relief. As she made her way towards the Little Palace, she sensed a tension she had not expected. Grisha soldiers were whispering between themselves. Some seemed either angry or frightened. Ania, who had spoken quickly with a few friends, quickly came to Kara. " They say the general is in a fowl mood and has locked himself into his quarters. They also say the soldiers are abnormally quiet and came back with a prisoner." The healer took the information in slowly. She turned to the brunette, " Who is the prisonner?". Ania shook her head, " They would not say, only that he is a rogue Grisha who has betrayed us." Kara frowned, " How is he rogue?". Ania shivered, " He has not trained at the Little Palace". Igor joined them, his face tense, " Apparently the prisoner is a Tailor". Ania's eyes grew wide. kara was unsure of the term. Igor saw her puzzled expression and explained, " A Tailor is a very rare Grisha. As we know of, there has never been two in a same lifespan. They have the ability to shapeshift their appearance to look different or impersonate others". He stopped and tugged Ania and Kara to a more private corner. " They say the prisoner is responsible for the loss of our soldiers in the Shu Han encampement. He apparently impersonated general Kirigan to lure our troops into a trap". Kara was dumbfound. Was the Tailor that good that the soldiers were easily hoodwinked? Kara asked, " What does the general count on doing with him?". Esfir joined them and sneered, " What do you think teacher? A Tailor is a rare bird. Our general would be a fool not to at least contain him and remove him from our enemies". The healer insisted, " I understand the underlying strategy but what is he going TO DO with him?". Esfir shrugged, " For now he's in the gallows. The general is probably going to leave him to think for a few days before proposing a deal. Considering the shape he's in, he'll take it". Ania frowned, " and in what shape is he?". Esfir raised an eyebrow, " The man is responsible for the loss of an ENTIRE battalion. From what I heard, he got beat up pretty badly when they caught him". Kara adjusted her uniform nervously, " Even prisoners of war have rights. He should be looked at". Esfir chuckled, " Good luck negotiating THAT with the general ". Ania saw a familiar expression and Kara's face and whined, " No Kara, don't you DARE knock on his door!". But Kara had already left. Ania turned to Igor angrily, " Why you fail to do anything to stop her is beyond me!". Igor grumbled, " She's just as stubborn as you are. I know it's a waste of time to change her mind." Ania looked at the ceiling, disheartened. Then I'll at least stay close to her in case she gets hurt. I might be able to heal her quickly enough". She stormed off and Igor followed worried.

Kara knocked on the general's door without the intervention of his guards. They had tried to block her access to the corridor but in the end, they did not care enough for the life of a reckless Otkazat'sya. Kara could feel the darkness oozing from under the door and the hair on the back of her neck prickled. Without an answer, she knocked again. A gruff and angry voice replied, " I ordered not to be disturbed!". The darkness pooled out even more through the frame of the door as if to push her away. However it only brushed gently against Kara's skin. She was frightened. However, she was more afraid of leaving him in such a state. Despite the warning of the guard, she pushed the door and slipped inside. She gently closed it shut and stayed braced against it. The room was in such darkness, she could not see anything from the tip of her nose. " Are you sure you wish to be alone? Why is your door not locked then?", she whispered. She heard a shuffle of movement from a corner of his library. " Kara?", the darkness eased somewhat enough for her to take a small step forward. She raised her hands forward and walked slowly. " Tell me you wish me to go", she added as she continued to walk towards the darkest epicenter. There was a pause and then a sigh, " You are a reckless woman. No one has ever dared to come and see me when I am this angry". She chuckled, " It's the little madness in me. Now, would you mind helping me out? It's hard to have a conversation this way". Her fingers brushed against the corner of chair by the empty fireplace. " I feel better in the dark", she heard him whisper. She turned around and felt her way across the book shelf. She knew exactly were Konstantin had hidden the Princess' medical records. It seemed the general was hiding close to it. She almost gave a cry of surprise when she felt his hand grasp her wrist in the dark. " Sit with me", he ordered. She grabbed his hand and felt along his arm. Apparently he was sitting on the floor, his back to the bookshelf. She sat down, still unable to see.

She felt the pressure of his shoulder against hers. They said nothing for several moments. Kara whispered, " Do you want to talk about it?". She heard the swish of liquid being swallowed from a bottle. " No", he answered softly. It dawned on her what he was doing. " Are you drinking?!". He chuckled, " There is little else that brings me relief from the darker parts of myself. Believe me healer, without it, I may have destroyed half of the Little Palace by now". Kara shivered and pulled her shoulder away from him. There was an ackward silence. The general cleared his throat, " Why are you here?". Kara did not know what to answer for a while. But then, the answer came as a surprise for both of them. " I guess I'm trying to do what a friend would do. You are upset and I want to help". The shadow summoner did not know what to say. Could he tell her that her letters had been his only source of solace on his mission? That the tempo he had imposed on his soldiers for the return journey was because he knew she would bring him peace? He felt as if he was wounded and that he had brought his bleeding carcass to her for healing. Now that she was here, he did not know how to ask for what he needed. " You can do nothing. As you once said, I'll be well in time. You being here is enough". She felt his hand search for hers and she laced her fingers with his. The darkness was almost cleared and Kara could see the shadows on the general's face. He looked haunted. She leaned her forhead against his and he closed his eyes. She whispered gently, " There is relief in putting into words what is poisoning your mind". He hesitated and then said, " The Grisha posted at the Shu Han border are dead. They were lured by a Tailor that pretended to be me. They followed him without question". He pulled away and took another swig of Kvas. " I do not know how this Tailor has done it. He must have had a photograph of me to be able to reproduce a decent enough copy of my features". He sighed, " We could not save any of them. We were only able to capture the Tailor and remove him from our enemy lines to avoid any more damage". Kara held her breath, " What do you intend to do with him?". General Kirigan scratched his beard, " The Tailor has passed through our yearly testing for the past 25 years. How, I do not know but he has talent. I intend to show him he was fighting for the wrong side". Kara leaned her head on the books behind her, " If that is the case, should you not show him some kindess and let Ania tend to him?". The general tensed, " The man deserves to be punished prior to any discussions and arrangements. He has caused the death of more than 30 Grisha soldiers". Kara clicked her tongue in irritation, " Showing him violence will only give him reason for distrusting you. Show him some form of kindness. He might then open up and tell you what has let him to do this".

General Kirigan laughed coldly, " His existence and what he has done will be common knowledge by now. All Grisha healers will refuse to tend to him. Even Ania. All Grisha here are bound to hate him until I order them to accept him once he submits". Kara raised her chin in determination, " Then let me tend to him". Alexhander was surprised, " After what he has caused, most would think it just to let him rot in his cell. Why would you bother?". Kara looked angry, " Because I tend to those that live and breath. It is not my place to take sides". She looked into his eyes intently, " I know what this means to you and I am sorry. There are no words to ease the horrors of war. However if you intend for this man to come around due to his rare talent, you will have to peal away the hatred and LISTEN to him". The general removed his hand from hers irritated, " Fine. Then let him be your ward until I can face him. " Kara froze uncertain. " What do you mean?". He looked at her, his eyes unfocused, " You are responsible for his life until I release you from him. I have forced him to form a blood oath with me so he will not betray us again". He showed his palm which was sticky with dried blood. "I will have one of our healers fix this in the morning. The Tailor is all yours. Now leave me be."