DOES MISS STARKOV ALWAYS SPEAK FOR YOU WHEN YOU'RE IN HER PRESENCE?

Forich was one of the older boys at the orphanage — he'd always hated Mal and Alina simply because their parents were different. The cruel boy was sitting in the mess hall, surrounded by younger children and spinning a story, getting ready for the visitors on their way. They came every year.

Lysander stood around the corner, listening intently. She didn't want Forich to see her but she still wanted to know. She wanted to know what her future held.

"Three of them. In special uniforms, all done up and regal. They put you in a line and they go one at a time," he was explaining.

"How many questions is it?" someone asked.

"It's not that kind of test. And they've got this device. It's all special made, like. They prick your arm."

"Does it hurt?"

"Only for a bit," he shrugged. "Then you find out if you're Grisha, and you go and live in the Little Palace and eat sweet melon and Kerch candies, wear special coats."

A boy perked up with interest. "Has anyone from here been picked?"

"Once. First year in. Lucian. The little pyro was an Inferni, of course."

"I want to be a Tidemaker," a young girl said with a dreamy sigh.

"I bet I'm a Squaller," a boy said, puffing his chest up.

"You break wind, you don't make it," Forich said snidely, making several of the others laugh.

Lysander didn't overhear Mal come up behind her, but he had Alina with him, who instantly reached for Lysander's hand.

"How does the test work?" Mal questioned, drawing attention to them.

"For you?" he scoffed. "For you, it won't. They don't do the test if you're sick or injured. Thanks to your little scrap with dinner, you're gonna have to skip this year, mutt."

Lysander looked down at Mal's bandaged hand with a frown, knowing his injury was partly her fault. If he couldn't be tested, he wouldn't be able to leave.

Then Lysander's eyes widened, realizing that if she wasn't tested, she wouldn't have to leave either. Because she couldn't imagine a world where she didn't wake up next to Alina each morning and meet Mal at the breakfast table. The Grisha's fancy way of living couldn't beat that.

So, when Ana Kuya said that they had visitors, Lysander reached for Mal's uninjured hand and ran, dragging her two friends out of the orphanage and to the meadow. She didn't have to explain herself — Alina felt the exact same way even if she didn't know she was Grisha. She just didn't want them all to be separated.

Once they were far enough away and the grass was tall enough, the three of them dropped onto their stomachs, keeping keen eyes on the back door of the orphanage.

"She didn't see us. We're safe," Alina whispered.

Mal studied the two girls who had dragged him away. "Don't you want to know if you're Grisha?"

Lysander just shook her head while Alina answered without hesitation. "Not if we can't go together."

Then Ana Kuya stepped outside, so they laid as flat as they could, rolling onto their backs. "Mal! Lysander! Alina!"

Still panting from the running, Alina turned her head to the side and looked at Lysander, meeting her scared eyes. At the time she thought she was just scared of Ana Kuya finding them.

She'd know the truth one day though — Lysander was scared because she knew she'd be taken away were she caught.

✵︎

It was utter chaos on the docks. One moment, a blinding show of golden light emitted from the Fold, and the next, the skiff was returning from the trip not even two markers into it. Lysander had ripped herself from Petya's hold, running down to try and find Alina and Mal.

All she could hear were the muffled screams of injured Grisha and First Army soldiers alike. The sails of the skiff were in tatters — how the Squallers got them back was a miracle.

Lysander pushed past people, or at least she tried to. But she wasn't very strong, meaning she more so got pushed around and got dragged with the crowd toward the skiff. Medics and Grisha healers were rushing onto the skiff to save those left, and Lysander tried to slip onto the skiff with them, only for the Lieutenant to pull her back.

"Stay back and out of the way!" Bohdan ordered before marching onto the skiff.

Lysander stood on her toes, her heart in her throat as she searched for any sign of Alina or Mal. And the tracker was the first of the two to be taken off the skiff, unconscious and on a stretcher.

"Mal!" Lysander shouted, rushing after him. She reached for his hand and squeezed it, thankful that his chest seemed to be rising and falling, a sign that he was alive. She looked to the First Army soldiers carrying him and asked, "What happened?"

"Didn't you see it?" one of them asked, his eyes wide as he glanced back at the skiff. "The Sun Summoner saved them. They must have."

"Sun Summoner? Saints, what are you talking ab—"

"Lysander!" Alina's voice carried as she cried out for her friend.

Lysander whirled around on her heel, green eyes searching the masses for her friend. It only took her a moment to find her being escorted by two of the Black General's guards, a Healer working on her as they dragged her along.

So, Lysander ran at her, needed to make sure she was alright. However, as soon as she got close, another guard grabbed her and dragged her away.

"No!" Alina shouted, trying to reach for her. "Let me see her!"

"Let me go!" Lysander shouted as they pulled her further and further away. Tears welled in her eyes as the guard's grip grew painful. "Let me go. Let me go. Let me go!"

As Lysander thrashed in his hold, trying to get free, he suddenly cried out and released her while gripping his forearms. And the only one to truly see the misty shadows dissipating was a certain Squaller who'd already been on the way to the Black General's tent.

She snapped her fingers at a nearby Inferni. "Bring her along. They go together."

Lysander, wholly unaware that she'd visibly used her power, sighed in relief and ran to Alina. She threw her arms around her in a hug, but Alina couldn't hug her back because her forearms were being restrained by the guards.

"You're okay," Lysander breathed out. "Mal's okay. Everything's okay."

"You saw Mal?" she asked in relief.

"He's alive," she assured her, letting go. Then an Inferni shoved her forward so that they'd keep walking. "Alina, where are these guards taking you?"

"Sh - She said something about the General," she stuttered out. "But that can't be right."

"The General? The Black General?" she asked, her eyes wide. Then she looked back at the healer who'd finished with Alina. "What'd you do to get a Grisha healer, Lina? What's happening?"

Alina could only shake her head, unaware herself what was going on. Meanwhile, Zoya had reached the General's tent, having run there after seeing the small show of odd but familiar power.

General Kirigan grew tense as she whispered the words in his ear. "You're sure?" he asked in a harsh tone. Both he and Zoya knew what the punishment would be were she lying to him or misleading him in any way.

"I swear it," she muttered, eyes watching the entrance of the tent warily. "Just like yours. Maybe a bit weaker. She's being brought with the potential... Sun Summoner."

A moment later, the two girls were forced into the tent that was full of anxiously waiting Grisha, the Black General with his back to them. Lysander felt her heart in her throat, not understanding at all what was happening.

"Bring them closer," the General said, breaking the silence.

As the guards pushed the girls further into the tent, Lysander frowned. His voice sounded familiar to her but she couldn't place where she'd heard it.

Finally, the guards released them, and Alina stood protectively in front of Lysander, hiding her from view as General Kirigan slowly turned around to appraise them — well, Alina since Lysander was behind her.

"Closer," he ordered simply.

Lysander grabbed the back of Alina's shirt as they shuffled forward by one step, not keen to be near the Darkling, especially when they didn't know why they were there.

Kirigan tilted his head, catching a glimpse of white hair. "Stop hiding."

Alina grew tense but said nothing as Lysander stepped to the side, revealing herself. And no one noticed how Kirigan's eyes widened the slightest bit with recognition — she'd been the girl he walked to her tent the night before.

And when Lysander finally stopped looking at her feet, she met his dark eyes and nearly recoiled in shock. Had she really spent time alone with the fearsome general, the one she'd heard horror stories about, and had a nice time?

"Well?" Kirigan asked, finally looking back at Alina.

"Well, what?" she asked before remembering his station. "Sir."

"What are you?"

Lysander kept her mouth shut, knowing exactly what kind of answer he wanted. It was Alina who answered. "Alina Starkov and Lysander Karamazov, Assistant Cartographer, Royal Corps of Surveyors."

"I believe Miss Karamazov can speak for herself," he said in a firm tone, cutting his eyes to Lysander. "What are you?"

"A cartographer," she mumbled, knowing he already knew that.

Alina took in a deep breath, beginning to freak out a bit. "They're all gone. It's my fault. That's why I'm here, isn't it? But Lys didn't have anything to do with it—"

"Answer the question," Kirigan cut her off while leaning leisurely back against the table behind him. "What are you?"

Alina frowned and looked at Lysander as if she could help clear up her confusion. "A mapmaker, sir."

All the Grisha in the room laughed, and it made Lysander's cheeks heat up with embarrassment. Kirigan's keen eyes followed the blush before silencing them all with one word.

"Quiet."

A chill ran down Lysander's spine, amazed that he could so easily command a room.

"So who actually saw what happened?" Kirigan then asked, being met with silence. "Zoya? You manned the main sail."

The Squaller took in a deep breath. "We were attacked barely two markers in. Someone lit a lantern."

Realizing that the light would've drawn Volcra to the skiff, Lysander looked at Alina worriedly, but also thankful she wasn't more wounded. The Volcra must've gotten to Mal. It was a blessing he was still alive.

"And?" Kirigan said for her to continue.

"The Volcra went after the riflemen and our Inferni first. And then there was a searing light."

Then a Heartrender from the ship covered in cuts pointed right at Alina. "It was her."

Kirigan raised an eyebrow and studied Alina. "Our mapmaker," he said, not believing it for a moment. "Is this true? Can you summon light?"

Lysander watched Alina with wide eyes. Was her best friend like her? Had they been hiding the truth from each other for years, fearing rejection that wouldn't come?

"Where did you grow up?" Kirigan questioned.

"Keramzin."

He hummed before continuing. "And when were you tested?" At that, Alina stayed silent, but even he noticed how she cut her eyes to Lysander. "You don't remember?"

When Alina shook her head, he copied the action almost mockingly. Then he pushed off the table and approached the girls. "Well, let us just make certain."

As the general approached, Lysander shrunk in on herself, stepping behind Alina, who began to breathe heavily.

"Lift up your sleeve," Kirigan ordered.

"What's happening?" Alina asked, her heart racing.

"Your sleeve. Please," he asked again.

When Alina didn't move, he forcefully grabbed her arm and lifted it for her, exposing her forearm. At his touch, Alina instantly reached for Lysander's hand, squeezing it hard.

There was some kind of ring on Kirigan's thumb, it having a sharp metal tip on the end. He wasted no time in using it to cut into Alina's skin. And at the sudden pain, Alina gasped and pure sunlight shot from her veins.

Lysander's eyes widened, watching the beam of warm light shoot up and burn through the top of the tent. It was nothing like her own sunlight, which had always been weak and dim.

Alina glowed in the sunlight, her awestruck and confused gaze stuck on a Kirigan, who looked down at her like she was the savior of the world — Lysander supposed that maybe she was.

Then as quickly as it arrived, Kirigan released Alina and the sunlight ceased, leaving them all in stunned silence.

"Everyone out," Kirigan ordered in a firm tone, and the Grisha listened, all scurrying out to go and tell the rest of the camp what they saw. "Ivan, take Miss Starkov to my carriage."

When a Heartrender appeared to take Alina away, she tensed up, tightening her hold on Lysander. And when he tried to pull them apart, she shouted.

"No! I'm not leaving Lysander! Let me go!"

"Alina!" Lysander cried as another Heartrender with slicked-back black hair came and helped Ivan separate them.

Alina continued to scream and kick her feet as she was dragged out of the tent, leaving Lysander alone with the imposing General who made her shake in her boots.

"So silent now. You were quite easy to talk to last night," he noted, still standing so close that it made her nervous. "Does Miss Starkov always speak for you when you're in her presence?"

All Lysander could do was nod, keeping her eyes low. "Why am I here, Sir?"

"Because I've received a report, Miss Karamazov," he said simply. "One of a particular type of Summoner."

Though she kept quiet, her facial expression gave her away. She knew what he meant.

"Am I correct in assuming you don't remember being tested either?" he questioned, and she nodded. "Your arm, please."

"I don't... do well with pain," she murmured.

"Then show me," he demanded. "Prove my reports wrong."

Lysander closed her eyes to keep tears from welling in them. Then she took a deep breath and opened them, keeping her gaze down and away from him.

"I can't do them both at the same time."

"Both?" he asked, now the one that was caught off guard.

Rather than explain, Lysander brought her hands together. He watched her eyebrows furrow with conversation, and she let out a strained huff before a minuscule ball of sunlight appeared in the air. It was gone a second later, her unable to keep it up for long. Then she took a deep breath and did it again, this time a puff of shadows swirling around her hands.

For the first time in a long time, the General was at a loss for words. Never in the history of their kind had there been a Summoner who could call upon two elements, let alone the sun and shadows. For so long, he and his mother had been the only of their kind — not even his countless half-siblings had possessed the ability. Now here was this girl that could call forth shadows and banish them the same way with the sun.

"Good news," he said, finally finding his words. "You and Miss Starkov will not be separated as you feared."

A mix between relief and fear was coursing through Lysander's veins as she was led to the very carriage Alina was trying to argue herself out of.

"Go," Ivan was saying. "You heard me. Let's go. Get in."

"No," Alina denied. "There's been a mistake. I need to get back to Lysander and find Mal."

"The general does not make mistakes," Ivan told her. "His orders were to get you to Little Palace immediately. Now get in the coach."

"Everyone makes mistakes. Look at me. Do I look important to you?"

"You look like trouble. Which is nearly the same. Move."

"Lina!" Lysander called when they were close enough. Alina whirled around and ran to her arms, hugging her.

Meanwhile, the Tidemaker who escorted her told Ivan what the General's new orders were.

"Both of you. Get inside," the Heartrender ordered.

"Malyen Oretsev," Alina said, refusing to let go of Lysander. "He's in the medic tent. I need to speak to him. I'm going to speak to him."

"Listen to me," Ivan said, grabbing both of the girls. "Every spy in the area will hear what you did and our enemies will come for you. Our only chance is to get you to Os Alta, behind palace walls, before you get killed. Come on. You're lucky your friend is coming with you."

Alina and Lysander were forced into the carriage, neither having a say in it. Though Alina was still overwhelmed and confused, Lysander at least knew what was happening. She'd been running from this for her entire life and now her secret had caught up with her.

As the carriage rode through the camp, they ended up passing by the medic tent. Lysander was the first to spot Mal, so she beat against the glass. "Mal!"

Alina soon joined her, and Mal noticed them, sliding off the cot he was on to chase after them.

"Lys! Alina!"

"No! No, stop. I didn't know!" Alina shouted hoping he could hear. "I didn't know!"

"Mal!"

But Mal wasn't able to keep up with the coach, not on a hurt leg. Both girls sank down, their moods worsening as the carriage got further and further from the camp. They were two days from Os Alta and were now stuck in a carriage with two Heartrenders, one of whom seemed to have a permanent scowl on his face.

Wonderful.