The first time she crossed the Fold, Alina was nervous. She had insisted that she did not want Zoya, Viktor, Mal or anyone she was close to on the skiff. Though she told everyone this was because she didn't want any distractions - which was true - it was obvious this was just in case she failed in protecting them from the volcra and everyone on the skiff died a bloody, terrified death.

Despite this, the Darkling was at her side. Of course he was. She could hardly order him not to be, though that did not mean she didn't try.

"You said you can't cross the Fold without attracting every single volcra like a beacon," Alina protested. "That every time you leave East Ravka, you have to go around,"

"That is true. But this time I have you," He smiled at her.

"Don't flatter me - you know it doesn't work. Don't you think it would be easier the first time if I didn't have to worry about fending off hundreds of your monstrous creations as well as just getting us through?"

"Your light will attract the volcra's attention whether I am there or not. Either way, it will make no difference when you get the shield up. Your light is strong - you will repel them,"

That was an order if ever she heard one. Though Alina supposed that he would not risk his long life for this if he doubted her even slightly. He would not risk her life.

That logic did not stop her from arguing, however. "Well, what if the darkness that compels them is stronger?"

"Then I will be there in case your power flags," He said. "You may need an amplifier at some point. The Fold is a large distance to cross - twenty miles at this point. It will take us half an hour, even with the Squallers,"

That shut Alina up. She had practised holding up a shield of light around herself during every single battle she had been in, as well as for long amounts of time during her time in Kribirsk. She could do it, but it was tiring, and by half an hour her shield was often wavering. The skiff was larger than she was, and her worry was that the constant barrage of volcra attacks would be hard to sustain it against. Perhaps it was for the best that the Darkling was there after all.

The day of the crossing, she did not let her fear show, not from the moment she woke up. She bade Mal, Zoya and Viktor a cheery goodbye, full of her usual bravado, with no hints of the fear she felt that she might never see them again.

"I'm not convinced this isn't a plot to push the Darkling off the skiff right in the middle without any witnesses," Viktor said, making her laugh. "Why else would you be so cheerful? If you're the only survivor, I'll know what happened,"

"You can do it," Zoya said, in a rare moment of earnestness. "I've seen you do much more impressive things that hold up a shield," Then her familiar sneer was back. "Although I'm still angry you weaselled your way into getting us banned from crossing with you. I knew you wanted the glory of crossing first to yourself,"

"You read my mind," Alina rolled her eyes.

Then it was Mal, who clearly didn't know what to say. "Be careful, Lina," He settled on, with a weak attempt at a smile. He was the most nervous for her of all of them, though she supposed that made sense. He hadn't seen her hunt and kill countless Druskelle.

By then, the Darkling was on the dock and it was time to board the skiff. The Fold stretched above them, impossibly huge and menacing, yet something in it called to her. And she was headed right into it. Any of Alina's lingering nerves vanished, then, or at least faded into the background. She grinned and glanced up at the Darkling, who had joined her at the bow.

"When do we leave?"

He continued to survey the Fold before them with cold grey eyes. "This is not another of your thrill-seeking ventures - you should not be excited,"

"Oh, I know we all die if I drop the shields," She said, smile not faltering, putting on a breathy tone and clutching at his arm. "Does that not make your heart race?" Alina laughed. "Your life in my hands for once, instead of the other way around?"

The Darkling looked at her then, as if only just realising that himself. She was glad that he did not look entirely comfortable with this realisation. Oh, he knew that she wouldn't actually do such a thing. Of course she wouldn't. But... she was just unhinged enough that maybe, just maybe, she would try it to watch the chaos unfold.

"I have not been inside the Fold for over four hundred years. Not since the day it was created," The day you created it. "Trust that if you drop those shields on purpose today, I will have a knife to your throat in an instant and you will be my shield as we leave on foot,"

She didn't doubt it. Alina just laughed, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you trust me, though I'm slightly offended to think I cannot disarm someone holding a knife to my neck," After Fjerda, she had thrown herself into learning that particular skill; she could now rescue herself from anyone except Zoya, who had learnt with her and knew exactly how to counter her technique. "Don't worry, Sasha. I won't let you get eaten by volcra,"

She summoned a ball of light to her palm before he could snap at her for the nickname, then for dramatic effect threw it into the air. When it was right above them, the light began to flow like a waterfall to form an impenetrable golden shield around the whole skiff. That little display made everyone watching from the docks and beyond gasp in awe, though no one dared call her Sankta. Alina didn't even turn around to look.

Then the captain was calling out orders, the Squallers were summoning wind to the sails, and the skiff left the dock, heading right into the Fold. A hush fell over everyone on board, most of whom had crossed before and were used to the necessary lack of noise. The silence was contagious, oppressive. If it wasn't for her shield, it would've been pitch black. She would not have been able to see her hand in front of her face. Glancing around revealed ashen faces, all with their eyes on her. The Darkling stood at the front of the skiff at her side, grey eyes sharp.

It was scarcely a minute before the volcra were upon them. Alina felt the first inhuman creature slam into her shield. It did not get through, recoiling with a screech as it touched the golden light. Nor did the next dozen, though everyone on board except the Darkling flinched silently at every single contact. The sight of them was truly awful. The volcra were as bleached as the sands they passed over. Humanoid but hairless, with razor-sharp claws, grey-white flesh and huge ragged wings. Their eyes were milky-white and blind, but it was their mouths that were the true horror; far more stretched than any human had the right to be, expressive where their eyes were not, spitting hate and hunger.

And they kept coming. More and more, until the only thing they could see outside the shield was a grotesque, shrieking, writhing mass of volcra. Despite this, the shield held, and the others on board seemed to grow more... well, not more relaxed, but relieved at least.

"It's almost worse, seeing them," One murmured with a shudder. "They look too much like people, but wrong," They were people, once, but Alina didn't think it was the time to share that.

In the end, for a journey that had built up such a dreaded reputation, it was laughably easy for her. They emerged in Novokribirsk in a blaze of golden light, and everyone on the skiff (minus the Darkling, who had just smiled, satisfied) had cheered. Those on the dock celebrated too, realising what had been achieved that day. She was greeted as an honoured guest to the town, people lining the streets, with far too many shouts of 'bless you, Sankta!' which she tried to ignore.

Despite the celebrations, it was easy to see the undercurrent of uncertainty, if you looked in the right places. Alina was well aware of the political situation here, having attended the Darkling's meetings since she was twelve. West Ravka had been hyped up by General Zlatan in recent years, wanting independence from the east, and no one was quite sure what the Sun Summoner meant for that. She could not say she blamed them; Alina would quite like independence from the king herself. But the consequences for East Ravka would be horrendous if they were to completely lose access to the true sea.

She knew that was why they were here, really. It wasn't just a display of saintly miracle. Alina was the carrot and the Darkling was the stick; the young saint who could rid them of the Fold, and the General who could threaten them with war and was now able to follow those threats through.

That was how her role in Kribirsk was determined; first, before the threats, she would do West Ravka a favour. Her powers were strong enough that she quickly learned to shield up to four skiffs at once. The new lack of danger meant that larger skiffs could be used, too, with more room for goods and weapons. Merchants, for a fee, could pay for their wares to be transported, along with supplies for the First Army. Travellers could also pass, again for a fee. The Darkling seemed perfectly content for her to waste time in this way, despite her asking almost daily when she was supposed to get rid of the Fold.

Novokribirsk soon descended into a bustling chaos as traders from all over fought to trade with East Ravka now the safety of their shipments was guaranteed. Alina made six crossings most days, back and forth three times, which brought in a considerable amount of money for Ravka's depleted coffers. Thankfully after that first time, Zoya was usually the one piloting her skiff; the two of them made such record speeds that the other passengers grew quite nauseous.

"Do you think I should scar myself every crossing, like people used to before?" Alina asked her friend, amused, as she stepped off the dock on the Novokribirsk side one evening. They would not be returning to Kribirsk that night due to some aggressive dispute between traders, which had grounded the skiffs. The Darkling likely did not know this, still on the other side, and she was taking advantage of not having guards for the night. It wasn't like anyone was going to cross the Fold without her to tell him what had happened, though she wouldn't put it past him to send some poor sod across to see where she was.

Zoya snorted. "You'd have no skin left on your arms, Alina, you've crossed more than anyone in history without dying,"

"Where are we going?" She followed her friend across the sands towards Novokribirsk. "You said you knew somewhere we could stay and get a hot meal?"

"My aunt, Liliyana, lives here," Zoya said, surprising her. "And my cousin, Lada. Foster cousin. Her parents died crossing the Fold. I saw them for the first time in years the first time I crossed, a week ago. They invited me for dinner tonight anyway, so they won't mind you tagging along,"

Her friend's words disturbed her somewhat. It was one thing knowing that the man she shared a bed with every night was responsible for the deaths of thousands of nameless people. It would be quite another meeting a child orphaned by his ghastly creation.

Not wishing to dwell on that just yet, she forced herself to brighten up as they wound their way through the narrow streets of Novokribirsk, ignoring the glances that their keftas got them. "That's oddly wholesome of you. What's in the bag?"

"Gifts,"

"Aw Zoya, who knew you had such a soft heart!"

"Shut up. I know you send your parents things,"

"True enough," She grinned. "How old is Lada?"

"Nine, now. The same age as me when I came to the Little Palace," She paused. "Saints, that's strange to think of. I felt so much older than she seems, then,"

"The same age as you when your mother tried to marry you off to an old man," Alina pulled a face.

Zoya looked at her, stopping by the side door of a corner shop and knocking. "The same age as you when you met the Darkling,"

"Oh, don't say that..."

Alina broke off as the door was opened by a child. A small, eager child, beaming up at them and flinging her arms around Zoya. Saints, nine really was young, wasn't it? Alina doubted she herself had ever been so sweet, even before the Darkling sunk his claws into her. This girl might be an orphan - the Darkling killed her parents - but going off of first impressions Lada was not nearly so... angry as she had been at that age. The idea of this little girl being left in the tender care of the Black Heretic, of facing everything that Alina herself had gone through, made her stomach turn.

"I'm so glad you came!" The girl stepped back excitedly, turning to Alina. "What's your name? Are you a Grisha too?"

Alina felt caught in the headlights. How was one meant to talk to a child? She was used to the Grisha children, but she just spoke to them as she would anyone else. This was a child she had to make a good impression on. "Yes, I am," She hesitated before giving her name. "I'm Alina," I was more cynical than she is, surely. More suspicious. Mother and Da had already toughened me up, as well as all the raids, the crippling poverty, the other children being awful...

Lada's eyes widened in nothing less than awe. "As in - "

"Yes, yes, Alina the glorious, wonderful Sun Summoner," Thank the saints for Zoya, who ushered them both inside before a scene could be made on the doorstep. They were in a narrow hallway, at the foot of a flight of stairs. Presumably Zoya's aunt lived above the shop. "Don't stare, Lada, it's rude,"

The girl did not seem at all offended, leading them up the stairs after they took off their boots. "Sorry," She grinned. "People must stare a lot,"

"They do," Alina pulled a face, then smiled. "But you're not so bad. So long as you don't try and steal any of my hair," Or a finger.

Luckily Lada seemed to realise she was joking, and laughed.

"Is that Zoya?" A voice called out from the kitchen, warm smells drifting through the door. Zoya and Alina shared a look. Both of them were outsiders to this situation, in a way. Growing up in the Little Palace had made them equally unused to family dinners.

"Yes, Lili," Lada replied cheerily.

"I brought a friend, Auntie," Zoya said as they entered the kitchen. "I hope that's alright," Alina had never heard her so polite unless she was sucking up to a teacher; this was warmer, more personal than that.

"Of course, of course, there's more than enough food,"

Zoya's aunt looked a lot like her. Her skin was lighter, and her hair was blonde, but their sharp, beautiful features were the same, and she was just as tall. Liliyana's nose was also broken, and she had several scars; Alina remembered Zoya telling her of how her aunt had been beaten for protesting her child niece's wedding. She could certainly see the woman being fierce enough to stand up to a whole church of people.

Liliyana pulled Zoya into a tight embrace. "It's so good to see you again, milaya. I'm glad you came," She turned to Alina. "Now, are you Alina, Katya or Nina? Any friend of Zoya's is welcome in this house. Saints know the girl doesn't make them easily,"

She laughed at that, liking the woman already (especially as there was no difference in how she said the three names). "I'm Alina. Thank you for your kindness," She shot a smirk at Zoya. "Talk about us a lot, do you?"

Her friend scowled. "Trust that you are only ever mentioned when you have irritated me,"

"Now that's hardly true," Liliyana said rather wickedly. "But I won't embarrass you in front of your friend, dear Zoya,"

"Thoughtful of you," Zoya remarked. "Do you need any help with the cooking?"

"No, no, it's almost done," The woman said. "Go and sit down. Besides, both of you were raised in a palace - I can't image you've done much cooking these past nine years,"

"I still remember from before!" Zoya protested. Alina was enjoying how easy it was for her aunt to get under the girl's ordinarily thick skin. "I cooked for Sabina and Suhm every day, before I left," They were her parents, Alina realised suddenly. She doesn't even call them mother and father. But that was fair enough, after what they had done.

"Hm," Liliyana frowned at the mention of her sister and brother-in-law. "They never deserved you. You always tried so hard," She forced a smile on her face, bringing over four plates to the table. "But let's not darken the evening with mention of those people,"

"I quite agree," Zoya smiled without humour.

"Alina's the Sun Summoner, Lili!" Lada burst out as they began to eat, as though she could barely contain herself.

"I know she is, milaya," The girl's foster-mother said matter-of-factly. "But no doubt she is weary of people making a big fuss. You must get it all the time," Her tone was sympathetic.

"I do but it's no bother, truly," Alina said again, as they were shown to a table. For once, from Lada, she really did not mind too much.

Zoya snorted, sitting down beside her as Lada scrambled for the seat opposite. "Don't lie to be polite - you hate it. I've heard you rant about all the sycophants at court. And I saw you in that crowd on the way to Kribirsk - the first time I've ever seen you look to the Darkling for protection,"

"They're scared of him," She shrugged. "If I used my powers they would call it a saintly miracle, even if it was to eviscerate them,"

"What does esiserate mean?" Lada asked, curious.

"Eviscerate," Alina corrected without thinking, then glanced at Zoya, who just snorted. "Umm. It means push them over,"

Overall, it was a very nice evening. The food was warm and hearty, and conversation was pleasant. Liliyana was an excellent host, whilst Lada was clearly fascinated with the Little Palace and Grisha in general.

"I want you to describe every inch of the palace, so I can remember how to draw it," She said as they had all helped clear the plates. Alina and Zoya did their best, describing everything from the grounds to the dining hall to the library. "Have you met the King?" Was the girl's next question, after Zoya mentioned they could see the Grand Palace from the windows.

"Alina has. I've seen him from a distance, though,"

"What's he like? General Zlatan always says he's a bad man,"

Liliyana hastily hushed her, with a glance at both Zoya and Alina that made her stomach clench in guilt.

She forced a grin on her face to break the tenseness. "He is a bad man. He's lazy, stupid and has an ugly chin,"

That made them all chuckle, and Liliyana shot her a grateful look that spoke volumes.

"What about the Darkling?" Lada asked. "Do you see him often?"

Zoya smirked. "Alina could describe every inch of him, if you like,"

That went over the child's head, thankfully, but Liliyana snorted into her cup.

Alina didn't hesitate to use her light to give her friend a stinging burn to the back of the neck. She grinned unapologetically. "Careful Zoya, or your jealousy will start to show,"

The girl tossed her hair with all the disdain of a princess. "Jealousy? As if," She smirked. "Any resentment I have is purely for the fact I would make a much better Sun Summoner than you,"

"Well I can't deny that," She said. "He'd like you more. Little teacher's pet that you are,"

Zoya scoffed at that. "I, unlike you, am nobody's pet,"

Alina laughed out loud. "If you think I'm his pet then you've got another thing coming,"

The rest of the evening was spent sat around the fireplace in the small but cosy sitting room. Liliyana entertained them with stories of Zoya when she was small, and Alina entertained them with stories of Zoya when she was not. Zoya got back at her by telling them of Alina's more ridiculous antics, whilst Lada peppered them with questions throughout. The little girl had seemed ready to pass out with excitement when Alina shrugged off her kefta and let her prance around wearing it, even though the garment trailed on the floor behind her.

It was late when both girls retired to the tiny guest bedroom, which contained two small twin beds and a table. Alina was just impressed that a house owned by someone who wasn't rich had three whole bedrooms. She had only ever lived in rural poverty or royal luxury. Seeing how a single woman who owned a successful but small shop in a town lived was oddly fascinating. The house was nicely furnished with wooden furniture, plain but decent quality. There were gas lamps and running water, but nothing extravagant. Liliyana and Lada were not poor, and lived a significantly better life than those out in the countryside, yet they were a world away from the rich and powerful.

Liliyana had kindly lent her a nightgown; unlike Zoya she had not been prepared for an overnight stay, and her friend had outright refused to let her sleep naked.

"It's not the most glamorous garment," The older woman laughed. "But all my others are far too skimpy. We're a similar height, besides,"

Not glamorous was one way to describe it. While she thanked Liliyana for her kindness, Alina couldn't help but chuckle at herself when she slipped the nightdress over her head.

"You look like someone's grandmother," Zoya said, amused. "Or a cross little child getting lost in her mother's dresses. You should get one made for yourself, Alina. The Darkling won't be able to keep his hands off you,"

"I do look irresistible, don't I?" She grinned, holding out her arms so the size difference was obvious. "Surely this isn't your aunt's? She's hardly fat, this would be huge on her! I feel like I'm sleeping in a circus tent,"

Her friend shook her head. "At least you'll be warmer than in those scraps of silk you sleep in normally,"

"At least I'll have the bed to myself!" She realised. "I don't like sharing. If it wouldn't look absolutely terrible for both of us, I'd go back to my own bed most nights in camp,"

"Saints, you can't do that. People would think he was paying you," There was a pause, as Alina got into bed and Zoya picked up a hairbrush, running it through her hair. "It was strange, watching you try to be genuinely polite today. If that's how awkward you get, it's better for everyone that you behave like a heathen at court,"

"Shut up," She grinned. "Being polite is easy, when I want to be at least. It was much harder making sure I didn't accidentally traumatise your baby cousin,"

"I'm surprised you even recognised what not to say," Her friend said, amused. "Your scale of what's traumatising to a child is very skewed. Burning people to death, living in the wild, and a scary General with the power to slaughter a whole room with shadows trying to seduce you the moment you turn sixteen? Not a problem. But adoring crowds, tea with the queen and swimming? Absolutely not,"

"I think that makes perfect sense," Alina sniffed in mock-haughtiness. "The adoring crowds cut off my finger, the queen is a spiteful bitch, and as a child my head was repeatedly held underwater to punish me. On the other hand, the people I burned were trying to kill me first, I grew up travelling in the wild, and the General is very handsome. Even if he can be an absolute bastard sometimes,"

Zoya laughed, getting into bed herself. "When you think about it, it's no wonder you turned out how you did," She put out the gas lamp and they were plunged into darkness. Though not quite, because the lights of the city filtered in through the gap in the curtains.

"Oh, I was going to ask," Alina remembered suddenly, speaking into the dark. "Earlier, you called your father Suhm. That's not a Ravkan name, is it?" At her friend's silence, she hastily continued. "Obviously I don't care - I'd be a hypocrite if I did - but it makes sense. Explains why you got so angry whenever pricks like Yuri Vasiliev used to call me a mongrel,"

There was a moment of silence. Then, "My father is Suli," Zoya said. "His family cut him off when he married my mother, because she's Ravkan. His brothers visited once, to persuade him to come back and bring me with him. He refused, and they never came back," She paused. "During my sham wedding he just sat in the front pews, silent. He didn't lift a finger to save me," Her voice broke on the last word.

Alina thought of her own father. Dmitri Starkov was harsh and coarse, far from the best father in the world, but he had come for her when she told him she'd been kidnapped. She knew that if she asked, he would take her away from the Darkling at once, without question. He was only willing to give her up because the Little Palace was the safest place for her, and she told him she was happy. For this reason, it was no use wondering why Zoya had never said anything about her Suli heritage before. It wasn't her business to ask. It sounded like a touchy subject, and with her friend she had learned not to push.

"But Liliyana did," Alina said instead. "She came all that way, stood up for you, and when she faltered you saved her. She took you to the safest place in the world for you then, and gave you the future you have now. She loves you, and Lada looks at you like you could hang the moon. You can see them whenever you like, now I can cross the Fold. I'll take you across the moment you ask. Fuck what the Darkling says,"

A well-stifled sob in the darkness was the only sign that Zoya was crying. "That's unusually sweet of you,"

She smiled, glad her bite was back and knowing her friend would not want to be coddled. "It's easier to be nice in the dark. You should try it some time,"

"As if," Zoya scoffed. "Goodnight. And... thank you,"

Alina paused before replying. "I'm going to record the date. Zoya Nazyalenskaya, expressing gratitude? Is the world ending?"

"Shut up Alina," Came the muffled reply and she grinned to herself.

*

I love their friendship so much, though I can see why Zoya had little patience with canon Alina for the first couple of books. This chapter was a very interesting one to write, kind of the first time Alina stops to think since she starting sharing the Darkling's bed. Here, she starts to see the consequences of the Fold, and what exactly his actions meant for normal people. She also starts to realise things about her own position, like how young nine years old really is to have gone through what she did. That being said, I really enjoy the power dynamic between the Darkling and Alina here - it's still weighted in his favour, but less so than before. She's getting stronger, and her personality has always been as forceful as his own.