Chapter 3: Escaping the General
I refused to be anything to him as I smacked his hand away and started to walk some distance between us. I thought about it, seeing nothing but woods if I could get far enough away, I had to make a choice soon. He had no heartrenders to immobilize me and I could probably get good distance even with the area. "Considering running again?" Aleksander asked me as I looked back at him, "I don't expect you to be obident but if you return to first army you put yourself and your tracker friend at risk. If he runs with you, they'll kill him for abandoning his post." Aleksander said to me
They'd..kill Nico.. I thought
The thought didn't settle well with me as I debated it, I could run or I could be willing to go to the little palace. I saw something in the corner of my eye, a little bit of light and remembered grandma Catalina did walk these woods..her house was close by. I knew I had a choice and I had to be careful with it but I took it anyway as I removed the Kefta. "What are you doing?" Aleksander said as I threw the Kefta at him and ran for the woods. I saw the light and followed it, I could recognize a sun summoners light like my own and I was going to make it.
"Amira!" Aleksander yelled but I kept moving in the woods, using the water to conceal my tracks as I kept running. I started panting before I made it to the clearing she was in and I saw her. "Grandma." I said as my grandmother went over and she caught me before I could fall. I was out of practice but she was capable of getting me to her home where I found myself when I woke up.
I got up as I walked out of the bedroom I was in but stopped hearing people talking. "It's an honor to meet you again Catalina, I'm looking for Amira." Aleksander's voice said as I stayed hidden. "What business would you have with my granddaughter, Aleksander Morozova? I'm well aware of the blood pact after all I created it with your mother." Catalina said as I knew it was best to stay hidden but I listened. "I was not even told your half of the pact was born, you could have at least done the decency of a notice that the sun summoner bride had been born." Aleksander said as I covered my mouth knowing we were betrothed but I didn't know for sure if he was alone. "I have to honor my agreement but I'm ashamed my granddaughter has to be tied to the one who created the fold." Catalina said
Aleksander created the fold..he's the black heretic. My father was right. I thought
"The fold was a mistake, Sun Summoner Catalina. I merely wish to get Amira to safety within the little palace." Aleksander said, "In retribution to creating the fold, I spent years building a place for Grisha to be safe. Surely you can understand that for Amira, her best safety would be within the little palace." I hated how he was confident that my place was in the little palace. "My family has survived for centuries without the protection of the little palace, Amira is safer with me." Catalina said
I could feel him,his anger when it came to someone telling him what was best for me. My own grandmother was sticking up for me. "Amira will stay in my care for a year, you are free to visit and send Baghra to see her skill but until she is eighteen you have no rights to my granddaughter." Catalina said as I prayed to the saints he'd agreed to that. "Fine, until she eighteen I will step back but when she is I will come here and I will take her with me to the little palace to be by my side as the sun summoner of legend and she will help me correct my mistake." Aleksander said, "May I at least see her before I leave?"
Please say no..Please say I could just sneak back to first army. I thought in praying but it wasn't meant to be.
"Amira, I know you've been listening child." Grandma said as I removed my hand and I sighed before walking out. I knew that this was not going to be just something I could walk away "The black Heretic? What'd you do? Mess with Shit you didn't understand and changed humans into the Volcra?!" I said without hesitation as I was angry now, my father had been warning me for years about this and I ignored it.
I shoulda ran, I shoulda just ran with Nico when I had the chance.. I thought
"How Perceptive, did your father spun those tails on you when you were growing up?" Aleksander asked as he wouldn't come near me while grandma was in the room. "I've heard the stories, the real stories of how the fold was created. You turned humans, soldiers of the former King into Volcra!" I yelled as grandmother stood up "Watch your tone in this house young lady." Grandma said as I took a deep breath. "Sorry Grandma but how could you make a promise? Take my choice away from me like that? What if I wanted someone else, what if I.." I wouldn't say it as I turned from both of them and started to head back "I hope you enjoy your time in your grandmother's care, if you sneak off to first army you'll get sent right to the little palace. I hope your friend is worth more than you getting captured." Aleksander said as he smirked slightly "Still, when you're ready to hear my truth then we can talk. I'll see how you feel on my next visit." Aleksander said before he left
I moved my sleeve to see the initials fading as grandma walked over and she took my wrist seeing them. "The saints have deemed him your soulmate." Grandma said as she showed her wrist and she had grandfather's initials on her wrist. "I would rather have had Nico." I said as I went back to my room and I laid down.
Stupid fold.. I thought
I wrote a letter to Nico to explain to him but wrote in our code before he started writing to me. Only we would be able to decipher this code as I was looking over everything.
Dear Nico,
I was able to escape the dark general for now, my betrothed as I told you. My grandma intervened and I used your techniques to get away. I ran from Druskella and I threw the Kefta at his face before running when I saw her. Don't send any letters to the little palace, I'm not there. I'm here for a year until I am eighteen but then he doesn't plan to turn me into a solider. He plans on giving me a higher position it seems. Still, no matter what we have to come up with a plan. Be safe.
Amira