Alina was in her literacy class with Katya and Kasper when the knock at the door came. Fedyor, looking uncharacteristically solemn, stepped into the room.

"Kasper Falken? You must come with me - the General wishes to see you,"

Kasper paled, clearly remembering the last time the Darkling had wanted to speak with him. "Yes, sir," He got to his feet nonetheless, keeping his face straight.

But Alina stood too. There was no way she was letting him intimidate her friend for no reason at all.

"No," Fedyor said at once, before she had a chance to speak. "Sit back down. This is none of your business,"

She was surprised by the firm tone, from him in particular, but a firm tone from anyone but her father had never dissuaded her of much. "By all means, try and stop me," She said flatly, raising her shield of light around herself.

"Alina," Kasper said quietly. "Don't cause a scene, I'll be fine,"

She ignored them both and set off on her own, heading straight for the Darkling's wing. Fedyor cursed under his breath behind her, but seemed to resign himself to the fact that she was coming. Kasper jogged slightly to keep up with her.

"Will it be the same as last time?" He asked under his breath. "Because if it is, you bursting in ready to defend me won't help. And I really do not want to be caught between the two of you in a fight,"

"I don't know," She admitted. "I thought I made it clear that he wasn't to cross this line again,"

But it wasn't just the Darkling waiting for them. Kasper stopped dead in the doorway Fedyor held open for him. There was one middle-aged woman standing in the study, along with a young woman and two girls. All four looked weary and travel-worn, hollow faced and miserable. His uncle, Jakob, was already there, sitting in a chair with his head in his hands.

The older woman - with light brown hair and green eyes just like Kasper's - let out a dry sob when she saw him, running to throw her arms around him. His mother, Alina realised, when she started muttering in frantic Fjerdan. He was taller than she was, by a head at least. One of the younger girls, who could only have been eight or nine, joined their embrace, crying. The other two, aged about twelve and twenty, hung back.

From the look of absolute despair on Kasper's face, whatever his mother had to say was truly terrible.

"Out," Alina had been so transfixed, and concerned for her friend, that she had not heard the Darkling approach. He took her by the arm and led her out of the study. Fedyor closed the door behind them.

"What happened?" She asked, glancing at the closed door. "They're his family, aren't they? Why are they here?"

"You're fifteen. Old enough by far to know what happens to Grisha in Fjerda," His voice was cold as he led them into the war room.

"His grandmother," Alina's blood ran cold. "They took her to the Ice Court," All Grisha were taught about the Ice Court in their lessons. No one accused of being drusje walked out of that place alive, despite claims of everyone receiving a fair trial.

The Darkling's eyes were dark, alive with anger. "Druskelle are required by law to take all suspected Grisha to the Ice Court for trial. Executions are supposed to be by hanging or the executioner's block. But as with any operation, there are ones that go rogue. They burned the old Healer at the stake in front of her family home, with her son and grandchildren watching. And burned the house too. Then they butchered every male member of the family for harbouring a witch. That raid cost your friend a father, grandmother, great uncle, uncle and cousin. From what I understood the boy was ten years old. The women and girls were left to fend for themselves in the wilderness. His aunt died of exposure before they reached Ravka. By all accounts, she had no will left to live after they cut off her son's head,"

Alina felt like she was going to be sick. She had also never been angrier in her life. He was furious too, but it was a weary sort of anger. No doubt he had heard of - witnessed (or committed) - far greater atrocities than this. It was one thing to hear of the monstrous actions of the Druskelle. It was another thing for it to happen to someone she cared about.

She didn't want to look at him. She looked at the table instead, at the map painted on the top, at the borders of Fjerda. Her blood was rushing in her head, rage building, building. Before she knew what was happening, a ball of light blasted from her hand unprompted, scorching a mark the size of a fist onto the huge table. Right over the city of Djerholm.

"Alina," The Darkling grabbed her wrists before she could do any more damage. "Breathe,"

"No," She wrenched her wrists out of his grip, looking up with wild eyes. "Don't calm me down. I want to be angry. I want to go to that vile country, root out every stinking Druskelle and burn them myself,"

He smiled humorlessly. "I have wanted to do the very same for as long as I can remember. Most Grisha have had that thought at one time or another. You are far from the only one,"

"Why can we not do anything about it?" She demanded. "Me and you could take the Ice Court on our own," It had been intended as an exaggeration, but as she said it Alina realised they actually might be able to.

"Because the war with Fjerda is currently at a manageable level," The Darkling gritted his teeth, not denying her suggestion. "The King married a Fjerdan princess. That tentative alliance lasted all of ten years before they started attacking again, but there is a reason they haven't pushed it too far. If we were to attack at the heart of their capital, they would respond in kind. We have Grisha, but their technology is more advanced, and they have more money, more numbers, and haven't been fighting a war on two fronts for as long as their country is old. All of this you know already,"

Alina did know all that already. She'd sat in on enough of his meetings to be well aware of the situation with both Shu Han and Fjerda.

"I don't care," Her voice caught, embarrassingly. "We can't just do nothing. If the Shu killed my parents, I'd already be riding south,"

To her surprise, he didn't snap at her, get angry, or call her a foolish girl. "I understand," The Darkling said. No manipulations, no mind games. "I truly do. If you want vengeance, however, there are better ways to do it," He drew closer, his voice getting quieter. "Much better, and more damaging. You must be patient, Alina. Just a few more years, and all those souls who died on a Fjerdan pyre will have their revenge. When I take you to the Fold, you will understand,"

"The Fold?" What did he mean by that? "What's that got to do with anything? What are you planning?"

He merely smiled. "Do not concern yourself just yet. No one else knows, either, so don't try and get it out of any of my advisors,"

"Saints. It truly must be evil if you've kept it to yourself," She changed the subject. "Where will Kasper's family go?"

"They will be able to afford a house in or near Os Alta with the stipend they will receive from their son being in the Second Army,"

He should've known her better, than to think that a vague promise of revenge in the distant future would stop her doing something stupid.

None of her friends objected when Alina told them what she was going to do. In fact, they all volunteered to come with her, one by one. Viktor first, of course. Then Nina. Katya. Zoya after some consideration, and a sharply worded demand that she would be in charge 'to stop Alina leading us to our deaths'. And finally Kasper, who hadn't smiled in the ten days since what remained of his family had made it to the Little Palace.

Her skills had improved enough that she could keep herself and two others, plus horses and supplies, invisible. She made three trips the night they left, escorting the five others through the gates. Nina and Kasper harmlessly knocked out the guards at the gates with their powers. Zoya manipulated the air to muffle their sounds. Katya unlocked and locked the gate. And then they were off, riding like hell through the city, headed north.

The journey to Fjerda was not a fun one. They did not want to stick to the roads, as the Darkling would catch them in days, so went cross country, pushing themselves and the horses as much as possible to outrun anyone sent after them. They did not wear their keftas anywhere near where there were people, so no one would recognise them as Second Army, and avoided civilisation in general, so there were no reports of six youths galloping through villages and staying at inns.

Alina relished the freedom nonetheless. She had never been truly free like this; her parents, the Darkling, her kidnappers, had always been an obstacle. Now, aged fifteen, she was experiencing it for the first time.

"That's it," Kasper said. "We're over the border,"

She smiled a feral smile. "Time to hunt the witch hunters,"

*

The cold bite of steel pressed into Alina's neck as strong hands wrenched her arms apart, to prevent her from summoning. She fought like a wildcat nonetheless, kicking viciously, until they were forced to hold her legs down too.

"Drusje bitch," One Druskelle hissed in heavily accented Ravkan.

She couldn't move, and didn't know how much Ravkan they would understand. So she laughed, a gesture everyone would understand as disrespectful. That earned her a punch to the face, but she carried on laughing - out of fear (and concussion) - waiting for them to realise she was too much trouble to bring in, simply killing her there and then.

The killing tear at her neck didn't come. Instead, one of the men holding her screamed as Inferni fire blasted him, blistering skin, so close that her own hair was singed. Thanks, Viktor. Alina took the opportunity to kick herself free, twisting around. It wasn't her light that killed the other one, but a dagger to the eye.

Both enemies dead, she scrambled to her feet and scanned the woods around them. A dozen Druskelle corpses lay crumpled on the ground. Shit, there was one more left, too close, running right at her, axe raised. Alina acted without thinking. Her hands came together with a sharp ringing sound, then a blade of light flew forward and sliced the Druskelle clean in half. Eyes wide at what she had just done, she stood there, panting, staring at the grisly corpse.

Nina whistled, impressed. "I've only ever heard of the Darkling doing that,"

"Other Grisha can perform the Cut," Zoya said. "Easiest for Summoners of course, but if Materialki can condense enough matter they can do it. It takes an incredible amount of power, though. I've heard it's even more gruesome for Healers and Heartrenders,"

Viktor pulled a face. "I bet," He was trying to seem nonchalant, but Alina realised he kept glancing at the dead man; no doubt remembering the two pieces of his mother on the floor of a dark cell.

Nina was looking around them. "That's got to be the most in one attack yet,"

"Good," Katya grumbled, face grey and pained as she hobbled towards them. "That bastard broke my arm," She glared at one of the bodies.

"Here, I'll fix it," Kasper stepped forward, and she gratefully accepted his help. It was a good thing they'd bought a Healer with them. Half of them would be dead by now if it weren't for Kasper.

Perhaps unsurprisingly for six young Grisha aged fourteen to sixteen, they had not been very good at hunting Druskelle at the start. Their first attempt had not been nearly as successful as this one. Working as a team had been a challenge due to many of the group being stubborn and prideful, and as a result at least half of the Druskelle had gotten away. Kasper had spent a lot of time patching up their injuries after that first skirmish.

Out of necessity, they'd had to learn quickly, which they had certainly done; nothing like the imminent risk of death to spur things along. Now they had set strategies, a clear leader, and worked as a well-oiled machine, each with their own defined roles in combat. They were very effective, if Alina said so herself. Their efforts had by no means crippled the Druskelle, but they had been a significant thorn in Fjerda's side in the past four months judging by the amount of men sent specifically after them. They had managed to save plenty of captured Grisha too, advising they cross the border to Ravka, which many had done. When this happened, they moved quickly on, knowing the Darkling would question all the newcomers about their location.

"Why were you close enough to get your arm broken?" Zoya frowned. "You're not meant to be in the thick of the fighting,"

As she wasn't combat trained, being a Materialki, Katya's job was to stay hidden and misdirect bullets - often back into the owners of the guns that fired them - or raise rocks and tree roots to trip their opponents up. She was as good of a Durast as she was an Alkemi at this point; it was more flexible with Fabrikators than Summoners.

"One saw me and ran right at me," The girl protested as Kasper worked on her arm. "What was I meant to do, ask him nicely not to slash me open with an axe?"

Zoya sneered but had no reply for that, instead rounding on Alina. "And you! I thought you were done for, you reckless fool. What were you thinking, dropping your shield like that?"

"I was bait," She shrugged. "I could see those two debating whether to go for me or Nina. Nina was already fighting, and - no offence - the easier target. I dropped the shield so they'd go for me," That was how she had ended up in such a... tricky position.

"Exactly!" Zoya rolled her eyes. "Reckless. Do remember that if you die, the rest of us might as well hand ourselves over to the Ice Court now, as it will be more pleasant than whatever the Darkling has in store for us if we ever go home,"

"But I didn't die," She grinned. "Thanks, Viktor,"

"No problem," He returned her smile, the only one mad enough to share her level of recklessness.

"You've either got balls of steel, or are clinically insane," Nina said to her. "I'm leaning towards insane. Why were you laughing your head off like a maniac when they had a knife to your throat?"

"The same reason why she likes to provoke the Darkling to make even angrier with her than he already is," Viktor grinned. "Just to see what would happen,"

A wicked glint came to Kasper's eyes. "You really should be more careful. Our biggest concern should be what on earth would Yuri Vasiliev do with himself if his beloved Alina didn't come back?"

The others burst out laughing at that, even as Alina punched her friend in the arm. It was the kind of laughter that only comes after everyone has just narrowly escaped death. Such experiences had brought them even closer together than they already were.

*

"It doesn't even look like me!" Alina scowled at the crumpled pamphlet that had been in the possession of one of the Druskelle groups they had attacked. "Why do they even have it? It can only have been made in Ravka,"

"Know your enemy?" Kasper suggested with an amused smile, as the others cackled over the wretched thing. "It's to our advantage, if anything. Just shows that they know nothing about you,"

It was a religious print depicting Sankta Alina, or at least the version that most Ravkans thought of when they thought of the Sun Saint. Light hair and eyes, wearing white robes and a serene expression, both hands open wide, a personification of innocence and benevolence, the words she will sacrifice herself for our sins written underneath, and her own name written at the top. She had heard of such things before - usually in the Darkling's irritated rants about the Apparat's efforts to popularise her as a saint - but had never actually seen one of herself.

"What do we think?" Viktor grabbed the pamphlet from her, holding it up next to her face. "A good likeness?"

"I don't think I've ever seen Alina look that... benevolent," Katya said.

"Or that blonde," Zoya added, snorting.

"Sankta Alina," Nina started solemnly, in mock-prayer, hands clasped together. "Forgive me, for I have sinned. Please deliver me from my sin of drinking too much on my birthday this year, throwing up in a flowerbed and still kissing Andrian Minsky after,"

Alina had been glowering even at the joke of praying to her - knowing full well that people did just that - but even she had to laugh.

"You are forgiven," She said. "Because Sankta Alina, in all her holy goodness, found the whole thing hilarious and thoroughly encourages such behaviour,"

"Give it here," Viktor grabbed the pamphlet with a wicked look, pulling out a pencil from his bag. A few moments later he showed them what he had done. "There we go. Sankta Alina of Violence and Vice," He had sketched a bottle of drink in one of her hands, and a knife in the other, altering the bland smile into a terrifying leer. The words below the image had been scribbled out, replaced with she endorses all your sins.

"Much better!" Alina exclaimed, as they all laughed. "Though I'm burning it to ashes either way,"

*

"Here," Kasper stopped at the edge of a small clearing, pale-faced and tense. "It was here,"

'It' was a house, presumably, though nothing of the sort was there now, only a burnt-out shell. They had been making their way north for weeks now, travelling to where Kasper had grown up. The boy's face upon seeing the ruins was truly heartbreaking, but there were no words any of them could say to make it better. Even Alina would be disturbed to see her childhood home in ruins, and she had not been there in six years, and was hardly attached to the place. Kasper had lived here for fifteen years of his life, and clearly loved this house. And his family.

"I wouldn't go any closer," Alina warned. She was at the front, on higher ground than the rest of them, and had seen the scorched remains of a pyre, as well as the four headless corpses half buried in snow.

Viktor, knowing that tone well, grabbed Kasper's arm and tried to turn him around. "I'd listen to her. Trust me, you don't want to see. You won't ever forget it,"

"See what?" Kasper tried to get a better look.

"Kasper, don't," Alina stepped in front of him. "You stay here, please. We'll go and give them a proper burial then you can pay your respects, but don't look until then - "

It was too late. "Proper burial?" He shoved past both of them and towards the remains of the house, hand rising to his mouth at the gruesome sight of what had once been his family. He dropped to his knees, shoulders shaking.

Alina knew she wasn't good at comforting people, so left Viktor and Nina with Kasper. Katya used her powers to dig four graves under a tree, as Fjerdan tradition dictated. The cold and snow had thankfully frozen the corpses, preserving them from decay, so it was easier than it might have been in the summer for Zoya and Alina to manoeuvre the bodies into the graves. And the heads. She felt ill as she picked up the severed head of a terrified little boy, Kasper's ten-year-old cousin, and carefully placed it above his small body.

Laying his grandmother to rest was worse than all of that combined, however. They had burned her at the stake, after all. All that remained was a charred, skeletal husk. Similar to how those who attacked Alina ended up, she noted, blinking away invasive images that she usually only saw in her dreams.

"I can't do this," It was Zoya who shook her head as they looked upon the pyre, looking ashen and muttering to Alina. "She'll fall apart the moment we try to move her corpse. Kasper can't see that on top of everything else,"

"Could you and Viktor do anything?" Alina suggested. "He could burn the rest fully to ashes, and you could scatter them,"

"They burn Grisha as an insult," Katya said, looking like she was about to cry. "So they don't return to their god in the afterlife,"

"Do it," They all jumped, having not realised that Kasper was behind them, eyes red with tears. "They already burned her. Besides, she did not believe in Djel. She would rather be scattered on the winds than... than this,"

The four of them watched mutely as Viktor raised the heat of the flames to a roaring inferno, until they were fierce enough to burn bone. Zoya whipped the air around the flames, preventing the heat from reaching them and catching the ashes, carrying them across the forest.

It was a sombre and subdued group that left the clearing once all the ashes were gone, not one of them wishing to make camp there for the night.

"That makes all of this worth it," Kasper said to Alina, where they walked side-by-side at the back of the group. "On the days when I fear we are being too cruel or ruthless, I will think back to what the Druskelle did and just be glad that they are suffering too,"

She had no words, just nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder.

*

Powerful though Alina and her friends were, they were ultimately young and inexperienced in the field, whilst their enemies were highly trained, and well used to fighting Grisha. And the deaths of multiple groups of Druskelle did not go unnoticed.

Zoya had been on guard the night they were captured. The first Alina knew of the attack was when two pairs of strong, calloused hands grabbed her in the night; she had no time to react before her hands were wrenched apart and forced into barred cuffs that held them apart, preventing her from Summoning. The moment she realised what was happening, she fought, but her advantage had always been speed and agility, which was no match against brute force when they already had her pinned.

No less than two dozen Druskelle surrounded them, she realised as she was wrestled to her feet, still kicking and struggling. The others had all been caught and shackled too, most likely at the same time as she was, as no one had shouted to raise the alarm. Zoya had been gagged to stop her making a sound, and looked absolutely furious, both at their captors and herself. No doubt they had caught her by surprise.

They had covered their keftas in mud and plain cloaks to avoid being seen from a distance - Katya had bled out the dye considerably, dulling the colour so they stood out less - the bulletproof qualities too good to give up for ordinary clothes. Yet this close it was unmistakable what they were. Alina had worn Materialki purple rather than the far more conspicuous black, which she was glad of now.

The Druskelle flung them to the ground in a circle by the fire, closing ranks around them. It was almost dawn, a dim grey light beginning to show on the horizon between the mountains. The Fjerdans spoke amongst themselves; Alina knew a little of their language from what she had studied in the Little Palace, but not enough to understand when they were all speaking quickly at once. Kasper understood, of course, as did Nina, who was fluent in at least four languages. And from the looks on both of their faces, it wasn't good.

"Squaller," One of the Druskelle abruptly said in heavily-accented Ravkan, pointing at Zoya and going around the circle, glancing at their keftas. "Inferni. Heartrender. Healer. Alkemi. Alkemi," He pointed at Alina last. "Only three fighters amongst you. How did six children kill so many?"

None of them said a word. Another man, the leader by the looks of him, turned to the one who could speak Ravkan and addressed him, likely telling him what to say.

"This is not an official mission," The Ravkan-speaker said to them. "You are too young to be full soldiers. Why are you so far from Os Alta?"

"Laila Falken," Kasper said suddenly, voice thick with hate. He continued in rapid Fjerdan, making the Druskelle startle that he was from their country, though Alina could guess what he was saying from the name he had given; his grandmother's. She could tell that he was getting angrier and angrier as the Druskelle responded.

"He's saying they burned his grandmother at the stake without trial," Nina muttered. "That they killed his family despite the fact they were not Grisha. That they are murderers and liars, and deserve to rot in hell,"

"I thought he'd be more diplomatic than that," Viktor grimaced. "Can't say I blame him, though,"

"What are they saying back?" Alina asked. Zoya said nothing, still gagged, though looked furious.

"That burning Grisha is not allowed anymore," Nina relayed. "That it does not happen in Fjerda. Every witch gets a fair trial at the Ice Court, and a humane execution. That Kasper must be mistaken,"

Kasper spat at the leader's feet, and they all winced. Except Alina, who snorted with laughter, earning her a sharp kick. The Druskelle were clearly done listening. A barked order from the leader sent two men hauling her to her feet.

"What's happening?" Viktor asked Nina, panicked.

"They don't believe we weren't sent by the Darkling," The girl said, face pale. "They want him to tell them where our unit is based. To them, Alina and Katya are the weakest and... easiest to sacrifice. And Alina volunteered when she laughed,"

Alina struggled even as they led her over to the small river they had camped next to. It was like fighting against a brick wall. The Druskelle were not normal otkazat'sya, and were not defenceless against Grisha powers; powers that she currently could not use.

She seized up in panic when she realised what they were going to do to her. No, no, no, no, no. They forced her frozen form down to her knees on the river bank, a large hand roughly grasping the back of her head by the hair. The leader barked a question at Kasper, who she heard reply frantically, though she did not understand what he said. Then her head was being pushed under the icy cold water. Aline felt nothing but pure, unbridled terror. All of her training left her mind; she was not a Grisha, not the Sun Summoner, just a terrified little girl. She couldn't hold her breath much longer, couldn't screw her eyes shut any tighter, couldn't do anything but wait for it to be over -

They dragged her up and she gasped for breath, water soaking her body. She was barely aware of what was going on around her, other than the panicking of her friends, the harsh words of the Druskelle, and her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Evidently the answers given were not satisfactory, for her head was shoved in the river again. This time was worse. They held her under for longer. Her lungs burned, her head was getting muddled and dizzy, she was going to drown, she was going to die, she was going to -

Alina's eyes opened. She breathed in, once. Water rushed into her protesting lungs, and something in her snapped.

Everything went white for a second, and she suddenly felt very tired. She was dimly aware of the hands holding her under not being there anymore, but she did not have the energy to move. It was quite peaceful, lying face down in the water. Once you stopped fighting and let go of the urge to breathe, you could just drift off. It was so much easier than trying to claw her way out of the situation. She had never looked at anything that way before.

When frantic hands grabbed her and hauled her out of the river, Alina was smiling. She wasn't smiling for much longer, though, as they rolled her onto her front in the dirt, propped her over someone's lap and smacked her hard on the back. Water spewed ungracefully out of her mouth, creating mud under her forehead, and someone was moving their hands and even more came up, as though pushed by an invisible force. It was horrible, disgusting; she coughed and spluttered, spewing up water as she slowly came back to herself.

Alina wished she had not. Because as her consciousness returned, so did the paralysing fear.

"Get off," She managed to croak out, her breaths in between shallow and rapid. "Get - off," The hands left her as though stung.

"What's wrong with her?" Someone was saying. Viktor? Her head was spinning too much to be sure. "You got all the water out?"

"Yes, of course I did,"

"Then why does she still look like... like that?"

"She's terrified of water. That's why she never goes to the banya. She can't even put her head under the bathwater,"

"Alina is terrified of water?"

"Give her some space," Kasper, she realised, rolling her out of his lap and onto her back, not touching anyone. "She won't like everyone crowding,"

Alina could have wept in relief, particularly when Zoya caught on. "Healer knows best here. Everyone else help me check that all the Druskelle are dead,"

As the others all dispersed, Kasper knelt beside her, voice calm and even. "Alina, I need to heal you again. The water is out of your lungs but you're panicking and going into shock. I won't touch you but you need to let me get closer. No one else is watching,"

She felt herself nod distantly, saw his hands making complicated gestures over her. He spoke to her as he worked, without prompting, and she tried to focus on his words.

"You killed them. I don't know how. Your hands were still bound. But one minute we were watching him drown you, and the next you blasted them all back with light. It went over our heads. Anyone who was standing - all the Druskelle - were burned. Viktor stole a key and unlocked me, then Zoya. We got out of the chains and ran to drag you out the river, but you'd been in there some time,"

Alina was silent, thinking on what her friend had said. "Thank you," She said eventually, her breaths coming more evenly now, her heart rate slowed, her head not so confused and dizzy. It wasn't quite the Darkling's amplifier touch, but Healers could deal with the physical symptoms one at a time at least.

He smiled. "Not a problem. I didn't think you'd want everyone gawping at you, even if they mean well,"

She smiled faintly back. "You read my mind,"

"No," He laughed, seeming to finally allow a note of hysteria to be heard now the main danger was over. "Just the look on your face,"

Zoya, returning from checking the corpses were actually corpses, was furious at herself that she had been ambushed on guard duty by the Druskelle. Even as they left the site, looting the bodies for guns and ammunition, she was in a foul mood and snapping at everyone. "I should have heard them," She glared at nothing in particular. "I shouldn't have let them come up behind me. I should have been able to shout to warn you all, at least. All it would have taken was for Alina to wake up before they shackled her and this never would have happened,"

"I'd have struggled to kill two dozen of them alone, caught by surprise," She protested. "Especially if they had you hostage,"

"You did kill two dozen of them alone," Nina pointed out, grinning.

"By accident! I... panicked, and it just happened. I couldn't do it again if I tried,"

The others looked doubtful, but did not argue further.

*

Their group had fallen into an easy routine when they stopped for the evening. Viktor and Katya set up the camp for the night, Nina and Zoya went off hunting in one direction, and Alina and Kasper went hunting in the other. It had made sense to pair those capable of sensing a heartbeat with different people.

They had been walking for about half an hour, the time spent in a companionable silence interspersed with the odd conversation. Then, as they traversed down a barren mountain slope, the rocks suddenly shifted beneath Alina's feet as she stepped in the wrong place, sending her stumbling with uncharacteristic clumsiness. A curse left her lips as she fell into Kasper's back, and he reached out an arm to steady them both so they weren't sent tumbling down the hillside.

"Fucks sake," She scowled, righting herself. "Sorry, I didn't hit you too hard did I?"

"Not at all. Imagine if that was what finally does us in - not the Druskelle, but uneven ground," He sounded amused. "Are you alright?"

She noticed that he hadn't let go of her arm. "Obviously. You watched me get half-drowned less than a month ago, a few rocks aren't going to kill me," Alina hadn't let go either.

It suddenly struck her that Kasper had a very handsome smile. She was staring at him, she realised; and he was staring at her. Both of their heads began to move closer together, until -

They kissed. For a few seconds. Then pulled apart, and immediately laughed.

"That..." His tone said it all, hand sliding from her shoulder.

"Yeah," Alina smiled ruefully, stepping back. "You're a better kisser than Yuri, but... yeah. I don't think it's quite right. Felt like kissing my brother. If he was my age, and good-looking, that is,"

Kasper snorted. "I'm glad you feel the same. I do care for you Alina, a lot. At least now I know it's not in that way. I needed that to... to be sure,"

"So did I. Makes both of our lives a lot easier, really," She said. "You won't have a heart attack whenever the Darkling looks at you funny. And I won't have to feel guilty about making you hide such a thing. If we did try anything like that, it would be doomed from the start,"

He shuddered. "That was a concern of mine as well. Now I can laugh at whatever happens to Yuri Vasiliev and not feel like I'm seeing a glimpse into my own future,"

She laughed. "You'll make someone much better than me happy, some day. You're too kind for me,"

"And I'm not enough of a challenge - I'd break too easily,"

"What do you mean by that?" She narrowed her eyes but he just shook his head and smiled.

*

This is first time I've broken my daily update schedule, so apologies for being a day late! The reason for that is because this chapter used to be combined with the next one, but I had a stroke of inspiration and wrote the drowning scene and the ruined house scene yesterday. I didn't want to submit a first draft so decided to wait a day before updating to make sure the chapter was high enough quality. That being said, what do you think of the unsanctioned expedition to Fjerda? A chance for a change of scenery, and for Alina to get some much needed experience, grow up a little, and have some time away from the Darkling. What do you think his reaction will be?

Hope you enjoyed! Please comment what you think of the story so far, thanks so much for reading.