✧ ♥ ✧

A fine, cool mist caressed Katya's face when she crossed the deserted courtyard. It was very early, almost an hour before Combat Practice, but she liked to be there before the others and get some extra practice without an audience. Though her powers had increased dramatically since she began summoning together with Aleksander, she was still not as physically fit as her peers.

A note nailed to the wall caught her attention and she curiously went closer, but when she read the bold letters she drew in a sharp breath and felt heat flood her face.

NO WONDER SOMEONE IS POPULAR
WITH THE GENERAL,
WHEN SHE USES HER BODY
TO GET TO THE TOP.
/A FRIEND, WHO CAUGHT THEM
IN THE ACT

Furiously Katya ripped down the paper and crumpled it in her hand. The bastard! The disgusting piece of turd! The Apparat clearly was too much of a cowardly wimp to tell people in person, so he had resorted to this.

Well, enough was enough. The crooked-toothed son of a mangy goat would soon learn that he had tried to bully the wrong person.

Resolutely Katya stomped off to the library, only to find the place deserted. Damn. Where the heck did the ugly excuse for a human live?

A maid carrying a bundle of laundry finally directed Katya to the Apparat's quarters. "His room's in the cellars, ma'm. First to the right."

"Cellars? I thought he was popular with the king?"

"He is indeed, ma'm. But such a humble, pieous man, too." The maid got a dreamy look. "He doesn't want luxury and finery for himself, when there are so many who live in poverty. He's not at all like–" She broke off, blushing slightly. "But here I chatter away and forget my chores. Good morning to you, ma'm." With a curtsy, she hurried away.

Frowning, Katya stared after the disappearing girl. Not at all like who? The general? It was true he and the other Grisha lived well, but he had worked hard for it. Perhaps it was difficult for an outsider to understand how much he really did for the Ravkan people.

Then she remembered her errand, and hurried down the cellar stairs. Already outside the Apparat's door she caught faint whiffs of incense. Yep. This was clearly where he lived.

Not bothering to knock, Katya tore at the door, smashing it open with a resounding crash.

The Apparat's narrow room was austere and dark, the naked stone of the floor and walls only lit by a tiny incense candle on a crude altar with pictures of the Saints. The priest had been kneeling in front of it, his bare, dirty feet protruding under the robes – but now he jumped up and swiveled around, gaping at the infuriated Summoner.

Katya didn't care if she interrupted his prayers. Slamming the door behind her to avoid witnesses, she stamped over to him in two long strides and pushed the crumpled note under his nose. "I should have known you'd do something cowardly like this," she hissed icily. "And dragging the general in the dirt too... How dare you?"

The priest became paler than usual. "I said I would–"

"This. Ends. Now," Katya interrupted. Using the tiny flame on the altar, she summoned a small, exceedingly hot fireball and held it so close to the ugly priest she could smell his eyebrows singe.

He took a step backward. "The king!" he whined in a shaking voice. "The king won't allow you to hurt me!"

"I don't care. Besides, when you're burnt into a crisp he won't know it's you. And even if he does, he won't know who did it." She made the flame grow hotter and brighter.

"Don't do this, I beg you. I'll never trouble you again. I promise!" The man's eyes filled with tears, and he fell on his knees.

"What was that? I didn't hear you." The fireball sizzled as she inched it closer.

"I will never trouble you again!" he wailed. "I'll stay away. I'll not tell anyone what I saw. Please don't hurt me!"

Abruptly Katya dissolved the fire. "You're pathetic." She gave his trembling form a kick. "I know where you live now. Remember your promise, or I won't be this tolerant next time."

When she left the cellar, Katya was sure this was the last she had seen of the horrible man; nobody could be that good an actor.

But then another note caught her sight, this one attached to the stair railing, and it had an identical message as the one she had first seen. She had been so angry on her way down she must have missed it. Damn! How many of these had the priest put up?

Cursing mentally, Katya hurried through the Little Palace, desperately scanning every surface and regretting she hadn't punished the slimy man more. She found two more notes, one in the mess and the other at the wall of one of the long bedroom corridors. Thank the Saints it was still early morning!

A clock struck nearby, and Katya sighed. It was time for Combat Practice. She had to go, and could only hope she had not missed a note somewhere.

✧ ♥ ✧

As usual she was paired with Zoya. During warm-up, Katya thought the other glanced at her unusually often. Or did she imagine it? This whole thing had made her edgy. Damn priest!

Then Zoya smiled in a way that made Katya certain. She knew.

Flushing hotly with anger, both towards the Apparat and Zoya, Katya suddenly charged and took the other woman down with an ease she had rarely managed before. Holding Zoya pinned, Katya glared at her, trying to convey without words what she would do if she tattled.

Zoya calmly met her gaze. "So, you're this month's flavor," she said conversationally, ignoring Katya's knee against her throat that pressed her hard against the ground.

"Be quiet," Katya snapped, glancing nervously around to see if anyone had heard.

"Don't bother – they all know." Zoya chuckled hoarsely. "Are you going to take your knee off me soon, or shall I summon a wind to blow you away?"

"Using our powers during sparring is not allowed." Katya reluctantly released her grip. Was the other speaking the truth when she said everyone knew? Imagining the other Grisha reading that horrible note made Katya's cheeks warm in a combination of fury and embarrassment. And what would Aleksander say?

Raising to a sitting position, Zoya brushed the dirt off her kefta. "Yeah, because getting favors the way you do is allowed?" Then she smiled nastily. "Actually, I suppose it is allowed. General Kirigan makes the rules here." She lowered her voice. "Just a little warning, to protect your fragile heart... Don't think you're special. Don't think he won't get tired of you too, when he finds a new, younger toy." Rising to her feet, she turned to Botkin, their instructor. "I hurt my arm. I'm off to see a Healer." With that she promptly left.

Don't think he won't get tired of you too. So, Zoya had been one of Aleksander's previous lovers. Katya angrily pushed down a surge of jealousy at the thought of the two of them together. She tried to tell herself that he was with her now, and who knew how long this thing with Zoya had lasted anyway.

When he finds a new, younger toy.

Aleksander and Katya were going to find the amplifier wolf together. Surely he would not abandon her that easily?

But somehow she found the suspicions Zoya had planted very hard to shake off.

A/N:

Let's hope Aleksander doesn't find another Summoner, eh?