chapter 39:
The next few months went by so quickly. Kara found a way to juggle the different aspects of her life. Timofei was allowed to leave his cell but was placed in a single room with high surveillance. Alexhander suspected that despite his clear instructions to his army, assassination attempts were likely. He asked Igor and Esfir whom he trusted, to escort the Tailor everywhere. The heart-renders grumbled about the additional load but executed the orders all the same. A few fights were barely avoided. Some of the more violent Corporalki made their opinions clear. He was a traitor and deserved to be punished. Surprisingly, Timofei kept a smile on his face, which made his aggressors all the more irritated. Kara nudged him during one diner where the Tailor teased a heart-render by transforming his face to that of his opponent. " Why are you provoking him?! I can heal a black eye and broken ribs but I can't do anything about an exploding heart!". the Tailor chuckled, his face back to normal, " Grisha are bound not to use their Small Science to kill one another. I thought you knew your General's laws better than that". The healer grumbled, " Concerning you, I'm not so sure they'll apply that rule". Kara had indicated that any unruly behavior in her class towards Timofei would rime with an exclusion from her lessons. With that, most of the students had decided to ignore him all together. The Tailor had been intrigued by the classes. He feigned sleep during lessons but listened closely. During their sessions at the herbologist shop, he amused some of the children by changing the shape of his nose or ears.
Her life as a foster mother to Yurii was easier than she expected. Yurii was a good kid. He was gone for most of the day at school and then worked on his lessons in the evenings with her before bed. On days off, he helped her prepare the infusions, ointments and balms she needed for her excursions in Os Alta. The young boy was very keen on learning her trade an asked a lot of questions. He was however just a boy and Kara insisted he spend time with children his age. Soshi had a young nephew who seemed very lonely and was happy to spend time with her son. They would often be found playing in the gardens of the palace. Kara liked to watch them from the safety of the covered porch with a cup of tea. Winter was quickly approaching.
Her classes were becoming a real pleasure for her. Her students had now become accustomed to her teachings and did not hesitate to ask questions. They also became very fond of teasing her when she was unable to bridge the gap with their magic. They found their own honorary title and called her Uchitel bez malyy nauki, or teacher without Small Science. It was a mouthful but they liked to chant it at the beginning of class when she arrived late. Her students started to contrast with the other heart-renders and healers in the Second Army. They were more fit, healthier and even seemed to glow more than their comrades. It became a subject of envy and some of the more violent heart-renders and vindictive healers tried to join her class. However, their often insulting behavior got them dismissed. More often than not, it was not Kara but one of her own students who triggered the exclusion. Anatol had grabbed one insulting new apprentice by the cuff of his kefta and shoved him out the door. Kara was both relieved to find refuge with her students and worried at the jealous murmurs growing among the ranks.
She addressed the issue one early morning with Alexhander, as she rested in the nook of his arm. They had become quite inseparable of late. The general had taken the habit of appearing in the library or at the end of her class, seeking her out. In return, Kara would slip into his quarters on late evenings for a game of chess or more scandalous activities. The healer tried to make herself believe that it was innocent fun. However, with every moment spent together she found she could not help her heart from beating faster. Despite her busy days, she missed his absence, his laugh, his tender touch. She found herself addicted to their evening rides around the country, their late night discussions and their sweet love-making. She had had lovers before. However this time, it felt completely and utterly RIGHT. As if she had finally found a missing piece of herself. A part of her mind however warned her of this relationship. She was mortal, he was not. Her mission at the Palace would surely meet its end in the spring and she would be sent away to join a battalion of the First Army. She knew this. But like any person in love, she decided to ignore the true facts of her situation. Why should she not enjoy it while it lasted? Her heart would break and mend as it had before.
Alexander caressed her hair as she shared her uneasiness. He frowned, " You have done exceptionally well in training your students. They have become some of the more powerful soldiers of the Second Army. There will always be jealousy where there is power". She had stared at him in surprise, " Is that a compliment General?". He had chuckled and pulled her closer. Since he did not seem worried, she pushed the unrest from her mind.
In December, Os Alta became covered in snow. With that came a buzz of excitement amongst the Grisha soldiers. Every decade, they celebrated the founding day of the Second Army. This happened on the coldest day of winter, to the northwest of the city of Adena. There was a large infertile parcel of land near the Fold which could accommodate for many tents. It was far off from any surrounding towns so Grisha could summon and use Small Science without reprimand. It was also a celebration which was kept secret from the king. Any convivial and entertaining activities for soldiers was considered futile and superfluous, so Alexhander described it as a " military reunion". Preparations were therefore done in relative secrecy, especially during the smuggling of Kvas onto the wagons. It was to be a three day event so that battalions coming from afar would be able to join for the last day. At first Kara had refused Alexhander's invitation to join them. " This celebration is about those wielding Small Science. I have no part to play in such anniversaries". Alexhander did everything he could to sway her. He had found arrangements for Yurii to spend his time with the cook who had become fond of the boy, having no children of her own. He had even been able to persuade Timofei into joining the festivities. The queen had become insistent with Kara about her conclusions concerning the princess. The general had been able to keep the healer from providing them. All her hypothese led to a dangerous surgery. He wanted to keep her close to avoid any rash decisions or interventions. At last he had swayed her by kissed her softly and simply requesting she come for the pleasure of their shared company. She had given in.
It was a four day ride to the event by the boundaries of the Fold. It was a well organized military gala. A first wave of soldiers had left early to set up the tents, dancing platforms, cafeteria and restrooms. Alexhander had tried to have Kara stay with him in his tent but Kara had asked to spend the stay in a shared tent with Ania and Esfir. She was already the subject of many stares. Everyone knew now of her relations to the general. Irina had stopped taunting her with insults but cast her looks of contempt and disgust. The healer took it as an improvement. She was however taken aback by a change of behavior in Luka. One morning, she had confirmed to a wide-eyed Ania that the rumors of her and the general were true. Luka had listened in and fallen awkwardly silent. He had taken a back seat to her classes and avoided her since. Kara intended to meet up with him during the festivities and ask what was the matter. Ania and Esfir had been happy to oblige her request to join their tent. The three women had become good friends in the span of the last few months. As Kara had no real birthday, they had surprised her with a gift. They had ordered a dark green kefta sewed with the symbols reserved for Grisha healers in white lace. When she learned that her class had orchestrated the surprise, she insisted on hugging every participant until everyone was blushing and giggling. Esfir and Ania insisted she wear the Kefta for the occasion of the three day party.
When Alexhander saw Kara step out of her tent on the first night in her olive-colored kefta, his breath came short. It suited her well. She was beautiful. He had walked by her side proudly and made sure to keep in check those of his soldiers who despised their relation. The days were made up of a few military meetings to report main past military missions and their resolutions. Whether they had ended in success or failure, the Grisha soldiers listened to their General who pushed them to imagine how they could do better were the events to happen again. In the evenings it was unruly partying. Kvas was served without limitation and dancing made the wooding platforms rattle. On the few occasions were Kara had joined her students to dance, she had been greeted by cold looks by other soldiers. She had been unable to meet up with Luka, who had proceeded to ignore her. She had found him snogging another Materialki quite forcefully on several occasions. On the last evening, she had grown weary of the tension and decided to go to her tent early.
Her tent was amongst the ones further away from the party. A fire summoner pulled a giggling Squaller into a nearby tent. Kara chuckled. Some would wake up with a headache and a new partner in their cot in the morning. As she turned into one of the rows of tents a pair of hands grabbed her from behind. She turned to see who it might be but the pressure on her wrist was forceful. She yelled as her oppressor twisted her arm into her back, his breath hot on her neck. A familiar voice chuckled, " Well done Armen." a foot kicked the healer behind her knees and she buckled to the ground. A blond woman in a blue Kefta kneeled to her level. " Hello Kara", Irina said coldly. She was backed up by four other summoners in addition to the Grisha holding her prisoner. All were chuckling darkly. Kara was in pain and frightened but she hid her emotions as best she could. "Is this your way of punishing me for being with the general? let me remind you Kara that initially it was HIS idea". A Squaller slapped Kara hard across the face. " Quiet Otkazat'sya Scum!". Irina purred, " Now now Urod, let's play nicely. Let's give the ungifted woman a chance." Armen tightened his grip on Kara. " What did you have in mind, Irina?". The blond teasingly tapped her chin. " Oh, I want to be fair in her treatment. Let us be better than the ones of her kind who have tortured our kind in the past". Kara growled, " So I am to pay for all the ones before me?". Irina spat in her face, " Quiet! I should have killed you the moment you stepped into the Little Palace!". The water summoner grew calm and smiled, " Have you ever heard of Igraya Smrak, ungifted one?". Kara grew pale, " That is reserved for hot-headed Grisha. I am not one of you". Irina looked skeptical, " And yet, you come to our celebration wearing a kefta. You want to be one of us? Then prove your WORTH". Irina grabbed a torch and yelled out into the night, " Let's see if this Otkazat'sya survives a trip into the Fold!". Her comrades made howling yelps of agreement. Kara tried to scream out for help but her mouth was gagged. She was stripped of her coat and kefta . She was left in her thin cotton shirt. Her hands were tied with a rough piece of rope. She was then hoisted onto a strong pair of shoulders. The healer tried to kick and writhe but it was no use. Her body rattled with Armen's footsteps, carrying her no better than a sack of potatoes. As the group laughed at her fear they ran down the hill towards the Fold. It was a dark menacing wall of complete darkness. It seemed even deeper than the night around them. At some point Armen slipped on the snow and Kara was thrown to the ground. Her head hit a rock and opened a gash to her temple. She felt dazed and terrified. The Grisha cursed, stood up and pulled her again onto his shoulder.
After about what seemed several minutes, she was thrown carelessly to the ground. She shivered, her pants wet with snow. The cotton shirt barely protected her from the howling wind. Irina was cackling, half mad, " Welcome to a new session of Igraya Smrak! I believe we only have ONE participant this year. Lady Kara over here wishes to prove her worth to General Kirigan". Irina pulled up her sleeve to reveal a scar running across her forearm. She showed it to the healer, " If you make it out alive, you will gain a scar proving your survival from the Volcra. If not, well, I think I will find a new owner for your kefta once back in Os Alta". Armen removed the gag from Kara's mouth. She tried to stand on her naked feet, her legs wobbling. " And just how are you going to explain my disappearance to the general, Irina?!". The blond seemed puzzled, " Well, It's quite simple really. You'll be going willingly into the Fold. If interrogated, we will only have to describe the tragic events of the evening". The group of Grisha split to let another prisoner forwards. He was pushed to the ground and Kara was stricken to see Timofei bound and gagged. Irina caressed his cheek with the tip of a finger. " You see, the Tailor mourns the absence of his wife. Since he will surely never see her again, he decided to end his days by stepping into the Fold". Timofei shook his head in resistance and tried to cry out his protest. Irina then stepped forward and unbound Kara's hands gently, " You decided to come to his aid and stepped into the Fold to get him back. He is your ward after all. You owe it to your...general to keep him safe".
Timofei was thrown onto the back of a blindfolded horse, his hands still bound. He looked at Kara, his eyes wide in fear. Armen laughed cruelly, " A traitor and an Otkazat'sya together! What a night!". Irina began hopping in front of Kara as if coaching her for a run, " Now, the key to catching a flying horse is for you to be quick. You should warm up". Kara was frozen with fear. Her mind raced to find an ulterior solution but the truth was, Irina knew her all too well. She would not be able to leave Timofei to the Fold. Urod cackled excitedly, " On the count of three!...One...three!". With that, he slapped the horse's flank who jumped forward with no idea of its direction. Kara cursed and began to run straight into darkness under the howling joy of her assailants.