fₒᵣ ᵢ ₐₘ bₑcₒₘₑ dₑₐₜₕ, dₑₛₜᵣₒyₑᵣ ₒf wₒᵣₗdₛ
Anastasia Morozova is a kinslayer. Anya Varamyr is a murderer. Anastasia is a decorated soldier. Anya is a backstreet cutthroat. Anastasia would die for her country. Anya would die for her friends.
Anastasi...
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"Nice ring," Tamar laughed, as they stood outside Alina's chambers. Nikolai was sleeping, and Anastasia wanted to train. Tamar had told her that if they were quiet enough, they could do it while she was on duty. "You could knock someone out with that."
""It's a good thing we're not going hand to hand, then isn't it," Anastasia grinned, cutlass flashing under the candlelight. "It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen, but Nikolai says it shows the union between the First and Second armies."
In truth, Nikolai simply liked seeing the girl he loved begrudgingly wearing a ring she hated just because she loved him.
"Only Nikolai could fall in love and spin it to suit his political agenda," Tamar laughed, blocking a hit.
"I was thinking about asking you and Tolya to be my bridesmaids," she grinned wickedly. "I'm thinking bright yellow frocks and maybe one of those nice big feathered hats for Tolya."
"You're going to be a wicked queen," Tamar groaned, shivering in her boots. "Genya's been trying to get her hands on my hair for weeks."
"Tamar! Stasia? Where are Mal and Tolya?" Alina came stumbling out of her room, hands shaking. "Tamar, wake them. I need to find David. Stasia, come."
Slightly overwhelmed at the onslaught of orders, Anastasia clutched her cutlass and trailed after Alina. "Alina? What is it - what's wrong?"
"Your brother came to visit me - in my dreams. It's too long to explain right now," she said frantically. "He asked me about you too - he's going into the Fold, Anastasia."
"Does he know - about me and the volcra?"
"I don't know; he didn't say. But we don't know what will happen to you if he kills more of them - or if he expands it. Where's David's room?"
Anastasia ran ahead and slammed the door of David's room open, only to reel back in surprise. "Oh, hello Genya. Fancy seeing you here."
Even Alina managed a small laugh, as they slipped back outside to wait for the pair to get dressed. "Can't say I'm surprised," snorted Mal.
"Young love," Anastasia smiled dreamily. "They'll make some pretty children."
"So will you and Prince Perfect," Mal teased, nodding towards her ring. "You could probably buy all of West Ravka with that. Congratulations."
