Alina had been delighted to learn that Zoya and Viktor, both now eighteen, would be accompanying her this time she left the Little Palace. Both were eager to serve in the Second Army for very different reasons. The docks at Kribirsk were an ideal first placement for those just starting out in the sense that it was not an active warzone like either of the borders. The Fold itself was only marginally less dangerous, however. One in ten ships did not make it through unscathed, and a sizable portion of those did not make it through at all. Grisha had a better chance of survival than otkazat'sya, but it was not an easy posting by any means.

Leaving Os Alta was a veritable nightmare. Word had gotten out that Sankta Alina was headed towards the Fold; no doubt the Apparat had whispered in the right ears, to stoke the fire as he always did. There were pilgrims and fanatics in the streets, and even more outside the city walls. The Soldat Sol were out in force, as well as ordinary folk convinced by the church that she was a living saint.

It was the same as every other time, but that did not make it any more bearable. A hundred grabbing, grasping hands, even more fervent voices, pleading for blessings, crying, praying. Her guards were more used to such situations and kept the majority at a good distance, but Alina still felt the panic and nausea rise. For this reason she did not object when the Darkling rode up by her side, his glower and shadows making all but the most faithful shrink back. She didn't dare use her light at all, lest the crowds go into a frenzy.

None of her friends had ever been out with her in public when people knew who she was. They hadn't even seen how she was treated in court. "Saints, this is awful," Viktor, on her other side, was looking on with wide eyes. He had clearly not realised how bad these things were. "It's no wonder you hate it so much, Alina,"

Alina couldn't bring herself to answer, focusing on keeping her eyes ahead, going away inside her head. Zoya, on the other side of Viktor, just bared her teeth at anyone who came too close; it was evident that she despised the whole thing as well.

The journey grew much easier after they were well away from the city, despite coming across the odd group of fanatics at the roadside. They weren't nearly so brave in smaller numbers, however, and caused little trouble. As ever, Alina enjoyed being away from Os Alta despite their destination. She was glad for Zoya and Viktor's presence, though less glad that there was hardly any privacy on the road at all, so a moment alone with the Darkling was impossible without raising suspicion. Many of the oprichniki knew already, of course, but they kept their mouths shut. She was not ashamed, exactly, but given that Genya and Katya had both reacted by first asking if she was alright, she did not want it being shouted from the rooftops.

The Fold was a dark blot on the horizon from many miles away. No matter what she had imagined or dreamed of before, the reality of seeing it in person was so much worse.

"Even I'm wondering why we are riding towards that thing and not fleeing in the other direction," Viktor remarked.

"I'm supposed to get rid of that thing," No matter what the Darkling was plotting, that was what everyone meant for her to do.

"Oh yeah," Her friend laughed. "No pressure. It'll be quite embarrassing if you don't,"

"Really?" She asked dryly. "I hadn't thought of that?"

"Do you think you can?" Zoya asked, as Viktor snickered.

Alina shrugged. "Won't know until I try," Not that she would get the chance, if the Darkling was so determined, for whatever reason, that for now it not to be completely destroyed.

Up close, the Fold was even more monstrous, though the town of Kribirsk was nothing impressive. It no doubt relied on the permanent army camp stationed outside it, and the trade from crossing the Fold. Both First and Second Army made camp in the shadow of the Black Heretic's creation, without knowing the man himself walked among them.

"How does it make you feel?" The Darkling asked her quietly as they walked into the Grisha encampment.

She thought for a moment. "Not to be a suck-up, but you've said it before and it's the only phrase that fits - like calls to like,"

He smiled and said nothing else.

As before, Alina insisted on a bed in the large Summoner's tent. Aside from the benefits of getting to know those she would be serving alongside, even the Darkling had to acknowledge that the two of them sharing a tent would raise unwanted questions. Alina spent that first evening around the campfires with her friends and the other Grisha, recognising more than a few faces from the time she had spent on the Shu front. Artur was there, and to her relief, she found there was no awkwardness or tension left from the time they had spent together. She had never really cut things off with him like she'd had to with Yuri, and it seemed to have dwindled to an inevitable conclusion.

"I wanted to say thanks," She sat next to him at one point, as Zoya and Viktor were distracted bickering with each other. "For keeping everything quiet. It makes my life a lot easier,"

Artur snorted. "Mine too. I had a good time with you, and I hope you did with me, but I'm not idiotic enough to risk the Darkling's ire, or run foul of your psychotic worshippers,"

That made her laugh. "No sex is good enough to make that worth it," Her smile faded. "He's really left me no other option, hasn't he?"

At that, the Heartrender's smile faded too. "At least you can see it,"

"So can everyone else," She dug her nails into her palm. "Everyone's been watching and waiting, the past few years. He found out I'm not a pure little virgin, when we were still near the border. Your name wasn't mentioned, don't worry. That was the day I went to you in a rage and wouldn't tell you why,"

"How did he react?"

"As you'd expect," She shrugged. "But I threw worse back. And punched him in the face,"

Artur's mouth dropped open. "Saints," He looked amused and impressed, both. "In all honesty, everything you do just shows you have far more options than the ones he allows, Alina. You told me you were thinking about leaving Os Alta with your friends at some point. I've fought beside you on the battlefield - it won't be a matter of him letting you, it'll be you informing him of your plans,"

"Oh, you're so nice," Alina leant against his shoulder, being dramatic to hide how touched she was by that. "I desperately wish I was romantically attracted to you,"

He gave her a brief one-armed squeeze before letting go, grinning. "I'm glad I'm not. You're extraordinary, Alina, but I like my head being attached to my shoulders,"

That earned another laugh from her, as Zoya and Viktor both got tired of bickering and turned back to her, dragging her into the conversation. She glanced back at Artur with a smile, meeting his eyes for a second and he talked with his own friends, a silent thanks for his words to her.

Later, as everyone retired for the night, she returned with Zoya and Viktor to the Summoner's tent, where her bedroll and few belongings were. With that many people, the tent was never silent, even in the dead of night; snoring, fidgeting, people coming and going for various reasons. Alina had gotten too used to her silent rooms in the Little Palace again. Perhaps that made her a spoiled princess, but it always took her a few nights to get accustomed to sleeping in the company of others. As she lay there, trying to block out the noise, staring up at the dark canvas ceiling, she felt her resolve begin to weaken.

If she wanted an easy fuck, she could go and find Artur, whom she had no doubt would say yes. But Alina didn't want to do that.

She wouldn't be missed, surely? Nearly everyone in here was asleep, and for all they knew, she could be going for a midnight walk, or to use the latrines. She could leave his tent right after and be back well before everyone awoke. They had been on the road for a week, the lack of opportunities for privacy incredibly frustrating. She'd never felt that way with anyone; as though she was drawn to them by forces outside her control. The memory of his hands on her was prominent in her mind, making her stomach curl.

Fuck it. As usual when faced with too many thoughts, she threw them all out and just acted. Quietly, Alina slipped out of bed, hoping that her friends sleeping either side of her did not wake up. She pulled on her shoes, draped her kefta over her shoulders to cover her nightclothes (just a spare pair of the tunic and breeches she wore during the day - her short, lacy nightgowns from the Little Palace had no place in an army camp), and left the tent.

The oprichniki on guard outside the Darkling's tent let her through with a wink and no questions.

He was still awake, of course, poring over what she knew to be one of Morozov's journals, so absorbed he did not even look up when she entered.

"You're obsessed," She said to announce herself. "You've had centuries to read those - you won't find anything new,"

He did not dignify that with a response. "I thought you'd come here tonight,"

"Presumptuous," She grinned, shrugging off her kefta and crossing over to him.

"Is it? You're here after all?" He stood, meeting her with a kiss.

She pulled away, amused. "Perhaps I should leave," Alina laughed as he glared and tugged her back towards him.

In the end, she did not return to the Summoner's tent before morning. She could have, but was comfortable here, and at that time of night was even less inclined to care about consequences than usual. So, of course, there were plenty of rumours the next day. Everyone in the Summoner's tent had noticed her empty bed, and it did not take a genius to work out where Alina had spent the night. There were a few whispers and hidden giggles, and the rare look of concern, but no one dared say anything to her face. Except her friends, of course.

"You lying little sneak," Were the first words Zoya greeted her with early that morning when she met her in the women's bathhouse, apparently not caring that Alina was stark naked, sat in a bath of her own. "I knew it! You lied to my face,"

The stormy aura she brought with her was enough to override everyone else's desire for gossip, and the few other women already in the bathhouse made a hasty exit.

"Your reaction is not making me regret it," Alina in contrast shrugged, pouring water over her head. "Does Viktor know?"

"Of course. He finds the whole thing hilarious, as you'd expect,"

"If only you could do the same..."

"Stop it, Alina," Her friend's eyes flashed in warning. "I know you don't make a habit of thinking things through, but you can't possibly believe this is a good idea? Not only has the man known you since you were a child - which is disturbing itself, especially as we all saw the way he's looked at you for a while - he is hardly someone to fall head over heels for. At best, he'll break your heart. At worst, he'll use you in every possible way, until there's nothing left,"

"I'm hardly the type to fall head over heels for anyone," Alina said. "I fucked him because I wanted to, not because I've gone starry-eyed over some epic romance. I'm using him as much as he's using me. It's completely selfish, I promise you," That wasn't quite true, but being honest would not help her case here. "You know me, Zoya. The more he tries to control me, the more I push away,"

"Are you sure? It doesn't look like there was any pushing away," Zoya cast a disdainful glance down at Alina's body, littered with fingerprint bruises and bite marks.

Part of her was embarrassed, but she refused to let that on, fixing a lazy smile (more of a leer) on her face. "He's got as many of those as I do. Like I said. Entirely selfish. Why should I push him away when he's had over a century of summoning shadows to perfect the use of those fingers?"

Zoya made a disgusted noise, but her lips twitched, a sign of her anger deflating somewhat. "If you were a man, I think I'd despise you,"

Alina laughed. "That's the first time you've said you don't despise me. Zoya, how sweet! You must be going soft,"

Zoya just flicked her fingers and Alina's bathwater was blown up into her face. The girl smirked as she spluttered in panic, knowing exactly how she felt about baths. "Viktor may act amused but he is worried about you, you know," She took the opportunity of Alina being unable to respond. "He thinks you're being taken advantage of,"

She abruptly remembered that she was now sleeping with the man who had cut Viktor's mother in half. No wonder he had his doubts.

"Viktor should mind his business," Alina grumbled, though didn't mean it. She had spent enough of her childhood shunned by other children to appreciate when she had friends who cared. Even if she didn't let that come across often. "If that really is his concern, the Darkling knows I'm powerful enough now to cause a great deal of problems if I turn against him,"

"I suppose he does need you to deal with the Fold," Zoya admitted. "But what is stopping him from forcing you to help him?"

"I'm not so easy for him to control anymore. People love Sankta Alina as much as they despise the Black Heretic, and his legacy. Perhaps this is just some new way to manipulate me, but honestly I couldn't care less. Regardless of how often I share his bed, the moment he asks me to do something I don't want to, I'm refusing. Give me credit enough to know my brains won't turn to mush over a man,"

"When you put it like that," Zoya smiled faintly, though did not seem entirely convinced. "Just..." She glanced around. "I'm more loyal to you than I am to him. If you ever need anything, anything at all, just ask,"

Alina unexpectedly felt a lump in her throat at that. "Thank you,"

*

"Alina! Alina!"

She barely looked up at the sound of her name shouted from a group of First Army soldiers. The entire journey to Kribirsk she had been pestered by cultists, and even here at the camp there were some, too. In her black kefta with gold embroidery, it was easy enough to recognise who she was.

"Alina, it's me!" The tone of his voice was familiar rather than fervent, which did make her look up, to see a tall, good-looking First Army soldier shoving his way through the others towards their group of Grisha. What the fuck? "Mal, from Temgora,"

"Mal!" She recognised him then, eyes widening in surprise. "No, no, it's fine, I know him," She held up her hand to stop the oprichniki Boris and Grigori who had been moving to prevent him getting anywhere near her, Fedyor not far behind. "He's an old friend,"

It had been so long since they had last seen each other - nine years - that she barely knew him by sight at all. They had been children then, two odd little outcasts who only had each other. Now they were grown; Mal in particular had certainly grown. Warily, her guards let him through and they stood before each other, just taking each other in.

"I wasn't sure you'd remember me," He said.

"Of course I remember!" She protested. "I've written to you all these years, haven't I? I just... you look very different. We were the same height when I last saw you,"

He now stood at over six feet, and was very well-built, no doubt from army training. Alina was not short, at five feet eight inches, but was still considerably shorter than Mal. The fact was, they had both grown up. He was handsome too, despite the dirty olive drabs he wore, and clearly confident. Equally, Alina knew that whilst she was no beauty like Zoya, she was fairly pretty; Grisha vitality was most definitely a real phenomenon.

"Not the only thing that changed," He said ruefully, nodding at the guards, the kefta, everything really.

"Oh, don't mind them," She waved a hand, shooting an apologetic grin at Fedyor and the others. "Following me around is easier than fighting on the battlefield," She then glared at her old friend. "I've got a bone to pick with you. I told you you shouldn't have run off when the testers came. I didn't even get to say goodbye!"

"Have you been holding this grudge for nine years?" He sniggered, the same as he had done back then. "You haven't changed that much, then," Then his smile faded slightly. "I was in a right state when I came back and found you weren't there anymore. My parents didn't know what to do with me. I tried to go to Os Alta on my own to get you back. Your mother wouldn't let me include that in any letters they sent. She always did think I was a bad influence,"

Even after all this time, after she had stopped missing him like a tangible pain as she had done at first, that still made Alina smile. Laid to rest a hurt that she'd blocked herself feeling long ago.

"Who says I wasn't the bad influence on you?" She said, then added, "I'm glad you missed me. I missed you so much, those first months at the Little Palace. You were my only friend,"

"An honour to hear, from the Sun Summoner herself," He said, and she rolled her eyes. "Seriously though, Alina, the things I've heard about you. You wouldn't believe half of it,"

"Oh you'd be surprised," She said with a grimace. "People call me a saint everywhere I go. I hate it,"

"Yeah, your followers are a weird lot," He grinned. "I suppose religious fanatics always are. They praise you for your mighty battlefield deeds - which are impressive, I'll give you that - say you need rescuing from the Darkling's evil clutches, and pass around supposed locks of your hair. You wouldn't have any left if all the stuff they were selling was real. Someone tried to sell me blonde hair the other day. They didn't like it when I said yours was black,"

Alina laughed at that. "I really have missed you. I have friends at the Little Palace now, so don't think I'm still that strange little girl who hates everyone, but you always remember your first friend," She paused, moving to link arms with him. "But enough of me, what about - " She broke off, staring down at where his bare hand had brushed against her own.

"What is it?"

Alina ignored him and grabbed his hand in her own, feeling the familiar rush of power and surety. Not nearly as strong as the Darkling, but it was unmistakable. "You're an amplifier," She said, shocked.

"What does that mean?" He looked rather concerned. Mal always had been wary of Grisha.

"It's very rare in ot - in people who aren't Grisha," Alina said. "Touching an amplifier increases a Grisha's power. That's how they test children," She turned to Fedyor, who looked curious. "Have you ever met an otkazat'sya amplifier apart from Oktai before?"

"I can't say I have," He came forward and touched Mal's hand himself. "I've heard of a few. But you're right, it is unusual," The Heartrender addressed Mal. "How would you feel about becoming an oprichnik, lad?"

Mal blinked in surprise. "Just like that? Are amplifier's that important?"

"They're that rare," Fedyor said. "And useful. And if a rogue Grisha found you, I'd want the extra oprichniki training if I were you,"

"Grisha sometimes hunt animal amplifiers for their bones. Human amplifiers are protected at the Little Palace," Alina said, and he blanched. "Come on Mal, say yes! You'd have much better food, better lodgings, better pay, better training, better uniform. And you'd get to be in my delightful presence a lot of the time," She grinned at the nearest oprichnik. "Doesn't that make it worth your while, Grigori?"

"Your sunny disposition is a joy to work with, Miss Starkova," He said flatly, though his lips twitched. "Particularly first thing in the morning,"

Mal did seem amused by that, but more disturbed at what she had said. "Aren't the oprichniki the Darkling's personal guards?"

"Officially," She shrugged. "They guard the Little Palace too. And Grisha in general. And me. I could arrange a meeting with their captain, if you like. He's here in Kribirsk at the moment,"

"Alright," Her friend nodded, though still seemed wary. "I'll go to a meeting, at least,"

"The Darkling might be interested in meeting you too," Fedyor said, with a sly grin her way that she knew meant trouble. "He'll find the amplifier business interesting, and the fact you know our darling Sun Summoner even more so,"

Alina shot him a glare, which Mal did not miss.

"What?"

But she ignored him, speaking to Fedyor. "You tell him that if he even tries to turn this into one of his controlling, possessive fits I will go and spend the night with the nearest willing, relatively good-looking First Army soldier I can find. And then tell him all about it,"

The Heartrender laughed, as did Mal, incredulous.

"You are the only one who would survive speaking to him like that, Alina," Fedyor said. "I would hear the Cut whistling towards me before I was even halfway done,"

"You've really changed since you left," Her old friend said. "Does the Darkling really insist that Sankta Alina is so chaste?"

Alina snorted, as did every single member of her guard. "Not quite,"

Mal's eyes widened as he caught on. "No. Alina Starkova!" He was laughing too, now. "And there was me being concerned that you lived in fear of the Black General. How old is the man?"

"Older than he looks," Was all she said, knowing that four-hundred-and-sixty, ish would go down as well as expected.

*

Later that evening, Alina was sat by one of the campfires going over one of the many books on the Fold, compiled of the studies of various Grisha. It was quite technical, and made her head hurt with the effort of mentally translating it into simpler terms, so she was grateful for the distraction when Mal came to sit down beside her.

"I got the position,"

"I knew you would,"

"It was strange, really," He said. "I mean, you and that Heartrender made it clear they'd accept me just for being an amplifier who isn't Grisha. But the captain asked what I do in the First Army, and seemed even more interested when I told him I was a tracker,"

"Oh, that," She waved a careless hand. "The Darkling's been looking for a good tracker for ages. He thinks he can find some mythical stag for me to have as my own amplifier. Don't pay any mind to it. You might just be sent up to the Permafrost every now and again on a fool's mission,"

"Do you always call him the Darkling? Doesn't he have a real name?" Alina frowned as she realised he was right, and she had never even thought of it. "You don't know!" Mal grinned. "What do you call him when you're - you know,"

He made an obscene gesture and she hit his arm, laughing as he winced and rubbed where her fist had struck, surprised at her strength.

"I don't moan 'Darkling' if that's what you're wondering. I don't really call him anything," Alina said, then added with a wicked smile, "Except moi soverenyi, every now and again," Only to mock him, of course. She wouldn't demean herself like that otherwise.

"Saints, Alina," Mal pulled a face. "I'm supposed to call him that too,"

She laughed. "Everyone's supposed to call him that. Well, all the Grisha and oprichniki, anyway,"

"Yeah but you made it sound obscene," He shook his head, but let out a breath of laughter. "You need to ask his real name,"

"I never thought of him having one. Though his mother must have called him something," She'd have to ask Baghra, if the Darkling did not tell her. Or were they so old, with so many false names, that they had forgotten? "Good idea,"

"Now's as good a time as any," He gestured to the Darkling's tent, where the man was stood outside talking with several high ranking members of the Second Army.

"No. He won't tell me unless we're in private. I suppose there's a reason he hides his name,"

"Perhaps it's just a terrible name,"

"Possibly. He is the kind of man who would adopt a title like 'the Darkling' to make people forget his real name is something embarrassing," She wondered what name Baghra would give to a child.

"Alina," There was a note of anxiety to Mal's voice, and she looked up to see the Darkling moving towards them.

"No need to piss yourself," She snorted, getting to her feet. Her friend scrambled up to stand beside her. "Apologies in advance - he won't like you because you're my friend. Don't take it personally. He was even like this around my father,"

"That's... twisted. Thanks for giving me confidence," He muttered, but then the Darkling was in front of them.

"The captain of the oprichniki tells me you're an amplifier, boy," His voice was cold.

"Yes, s - moi soverenyi," Mal shot a smirking Alina a brief glare.

"Yet you are otkazat'sya,"

He nodded. "I didn't know before Alina told me earlier,"

The Darkling's eyes narrowed. "Yes, he also mentioned that you knew Miss Starkova from childhood. She said at the time that her friend had run away to avoid the examiners. I suppose that was you,"

"You remember that?" Alina said, surprised.

"You were quite angry about it, if I recall correctly,"

She grinned. "I still am. You could've come with me all this time, Mal,"

A glance at the Darkling showed that he was rather glad he had not.

"You're a tracker," He turned to Mal. It was not a question. "An unnaturally good one, your unit commander seems to think,"

"I just imagine what I want to find, sir, and I tend to find it," He shrugged.

The Darkling's eyes glinted. "Good. Once you have completed basic training, Corporal Oretsev, I have a task for you,"

*

Alina had slept with a man in a tent before. It had not been nearly so hard to keep quiet then as it was that night. She lay on her side, with the Darkling behind her; one of his hands reached over her between her legs, the other clamped over her mouth, his lips working her neck. The moment she came apart around his fingers, she was turning, swinging a leg over him so she was on top. It was a genuine struggle not to wake half the camp.

"They all know about us, you know," She said afterwards, breathless. "The other Grisha, I mean - the oprichniki knew already. I hardly make it a secret I never sleep in my own bed,"

"Of course they do, but what of it?" He turned onto his back, tugging her with him so she ended up lying against his chest. "The entire Little Palace could know and it would still not get out to anyone else,"

"Would the King be angry?" She asked. "Not that I'd care. But if he has any lingering desire to make me his son's wife, he could hardly do that if the whole court knows I spend most nights with one of his generals. None of the leeches would ever respect Vasily,"

"Are you asking if the King will be angry or if we should ensure the king knows?" He sounded amused.

"Both," Her lips curled into a smile. "I suppose I'm asking how angry. A stern telling-off, I could cope with. My head on a spike, not so much,"

"He would not kill you. Or me. He needs us to fight his wars too badly. You already proved you are devastatingly effective in battle, and my reputation speaks for me,"

"But?"

"He would not be pleased, by any means. Not least because the Apparat will be hissing in his ear about damage to your saintly image,"

"All I hear is another reason the court should know,"

"Blustering fool though he is, the King does have the potential to make things very difficult for us," He granted. "He could take you out of my charge. Give you to the Apparat. There would be no more delay in demanding you bring down the Fold. He would have shipped you out here when you were ten, if I hadn't been there to stop him,"

"I'd like to see him try and contain me," She said. "I'd be out of there within a day,"

"Even so," He said. "It suits us better that he does not know. For now,"

They fell into silence.

"What's your name?" She asked, suddenly remembering. "Your real name. Baghra certainly didn't look at her beloved baby son and name him 'the Darkling'. Or did she used to call you Darling and it got mixed up?"

He let out a breath of laughter. "'Boy' was the most affectionate nickname I got from my mother. That has not changed, as you've heard,"

"I have. You should be ashamed, really. Almost five-hundred years old, and your mother still treats you like a naughty child,"

"I still call you girl, sometimes,"

"Yes, you really should stop that," Alina pulled a face. "Stop dodging my question. What's your name? It better not be something ugly like Boris, or I'll have to leave you. And if it's Viktor I don't think I'll be able to say it without being sick - "

"Aleksander,"

It took her a moment or two for that to sink in.

"Aleksander?" She said, incredulous. The Darkling nodded. "That's so... ordinary,"

"What were you expecting?" His lip curled in an amused smile. "There's been no one alive for four hundred years but myself and Baghra who have known that name,"

"I'm honoured. Can I call you Sasha?" She said with no small amount of sarcasm, to which he gave her a sharp slap on the bare thigh she had hooked over him.

"Of course not, wretched girl,"

"Stop calling me that!" She grumbled. "It makes me sound like a child, and you a dirty old man my extension,"

"Don't be dramatic, Alina, you're eighteen. Noble girls get married off years younger,"

"I'm not noble, I was born common as muck," She said. "As were you,"

"Don't let Baghra hear you say that. She always had her pride, even when we were sleeping in ditches and she was selling herself for money to buy food,"

"What about your father? Did you know him?"

"The strongest Heartrender my mother could find when she decided she wanted a Shadow Summoner child to keep her company. That is all I know. I look more like her. She might remember his name, but I doubt it. I never asked,"

"Who knew Baghra was such a romantic,"

He scoffed slightly. "I was the lucky one. She gave birth to a Sildroher daughter and threw her into the sea to be with her father,"

"Sildroher?" Alina's eyes widened. "As in, the sea monster legends?"

"The ancient and magical race that lives beneath the waves," He corrected.

"But you don't believe in magic - "

"Grisha do not practise magic, as you well know. The Sildroher do, though it has... diminished in recent centuries. The world has grown older and more cynical since then, when such things were common knowledge,"

"So you have a magical sea creature for a half-sister?"

"Her name is Ulla," The Darkling said. "She left her people long ago, and lives on the northern islands of Fjerda,"

"I can't tell if you're lying,"

"Which for you likely means I am not. Why on earth would I make that up?"

"Fair enough," She mused. "Aleksander... Aleksander what? What was Baghra's family name? Or were you born before common people had such things,"

He smiled rather bitterly, "I am not quite that old. Her name is Baghra Morozova,"

"As in - "

"Ilya. My grandfather,"

"So all this time you've been going on about Morozov's amplifiers, you weren't really going mad?"

"You have far too little faith in me, Alina. I showed you his journals,"

"Forgive me, but you did have a tantrum and make the enormous, deadly wall of shadow that split the country in half," She said. "And that was when you were what, fifty or so? Four centuries won't have made you any more sane,"

"I hope you realise that I would have anyone else flogged for speaking to me like that," He sounded amused nonetheless.

"You've said that before. Do you want me to tell you how kind it is that you have not? Because you couldn't force that out of my cold, dead lips,"

"You talk too much, Alina,"

"As if you don't love the sound of your own voice just as much as I love the sound of mine," She grinned, making herself comfortable and holding back a yawn. "But if you feel that way, then I am going to sleep," Faced away from him, she paused before saying very deliberately, "Goodnight, Aleksander,"

He tensed for half a second, but said nothing.

That night, her dreams were not full of blood and fear and grasping hands as they usually were, and she did not jerk awake with a gasp, biting back a scream. Instead, Alina dreamed of a stag in a snowy forest. It was a sight out of a children's book of fairytales, magnificent, white and glowing, with enormous white tines that formed a spiny circle atop its head. At the same time it was soothing, a guardian to fend off her nightmares.

Morozov's Stag - no, not Morozov's, it had lived long before Ilya made it an amplifier - turned its great head to look right at her, like it knew she was there, steamed breath blowing from its nostrils. And somehow, without words, it called to her. Alina did not believe in the saints, yet this was the closest to the divine she had experienced.

*

Sorry for the delay, life is getting busier again. What did you think of Mal's first proper appearance? I am definitely basing this version of him on show!Mal who is infinitely more bearable than book!Mal. What about Zoya finding out about Alina and the Darkling? Or the long awaited name reveal? Hope you enjoyed!