Centuries

Chapter 2

What the hell was I going to do? I was supposed to go a few months back so we hadn't planned a return, how was I going to wait centuries? Was the Darkling even born yet? I still needed him to come to power and create the second army so Ravka could be safe. In the time travel my amplifiers had broken off, I knew this could happen David warned me that this would but it was still a shock. Would I even be able to defeat him without them? All these thoughts ran through my head as I struggled with setting up a tent.

At least part of my awful timing was good and I happened to land here at the same time as new soldiers arrived so I was blending in. I was worried about my white hair giving me away but I had to remind myself that nobody would see me as a saint for another few centuries.

"Do you need help with that?" Someone asked me, I turned around and saw a suli girl looking at my pathetic attempt at setting up the tent.

"Yeah, thanks." I said awkwardly
"I'm Kate"She said "I don't recognize you, are you new?"

"I'm Alina and yes I just got here."

"Kate get over here you need to get fires started." Someone called behind us that made me realize that she was an inferni.

"I have to go but I'll help you later." Kate hurried away to go start fires.

It was weird how much less authority grisha seemed to have. The only thing that distinguished grisha from the rest of the army was a pin with their order symbol on their drab grey uniform. And just like that

I was back to dealing with a mess of stakes, poles and canvas that should be a tent. It was a shame this whole area would one day be covered in darkness. It was really beautiful with tall pine trees looming around rolling hills. The road that would one day become the Vy was just a dirt path.

I was regretting saying that I was a cartographer even though that was what my role used to be. Ravka was so different and I wouldn't know anything. I wish Mal was here he would still somehow find a way to fit in and make everything better.

I was already thinking of ways that I could prevent his death but I had to remind myself of what my mission was. I looked for people I knew in the camp even though it was impossible that anyone I knew would be alive right now. That's when I saw him.

The Darkling was in a grey army uniform just like everyone else's instead of a black kefta although hundreds of years had passed he barely looked younger. He was carrying a crate of something I couldn't quite make out what it was and talking to a blonde girl who was also carrying something.

Of course he had other lovers he's hundreds of years old. The thought shouldn't have hurt the way it did. But the biggest difference between the Darkling I knew and who I was looking at was that he looked happy.

He was laughing and seemed more carefree than I had ever seen him. He looked in my direction, I hoped that he was looking at something else and not my failed attempt at helping set up. But that was too much to hope for.
He said something to the girl next to him and came over to help me with the tent.

"Let me help you with that," said the Darkling.

"No!" I replied frantically. His grey eyes widened with surprise at my response. I couldn't blame him, he was just trying to help me.

"You're using the wrong size of poles and the canvas is still folded."

"Thanks. I can handle it now." I immediately regretted the salty tone of my voice when I remembered that my goal was to get him to trust me.

"You know what. Fine. Help me." I said a little too late the Darkling looked flustered but didn't question me.

"I'll lay it out and you go get the right sized poles."

"Don't tell me what to do." I snapped.

I didn't want to take any orders from him but the reality that this was centuries earlier and he hadn't committed the crimes I hated him for yet. I was definitely not going to earn his trust if I kept this up.

"I hate to tell you but I'm second in command, that's my job."

"Oh. I'll get the poles then."

I walked over to the supplies and was trying to find a bag with the right size when I noticed the girl I'd seen talking to the Darkling earlier.

"Hey can you help me find something?" I asked her. If I knew people close to the Darkling maybe that could give me another advantage.

"Of course, are you looking for something for the tent? I saw Aleksander go to help you."

It took me a second to realize that she was talking about the Darkling. That there was a time when he didn't have a title. It could also be made up. And he was lying to everyone as he always did. I wanted to tell her that trusting him was foolish but that would just make me seem crazy. I had no clue what I was doing and my white hair already made me stand out enough I didn't need to seem crazy too.

"I'm Alina, thanks for helping me." I said after a minute of awkward silence. Being the one starting the conversation for once was weird.

"Willow. Nice to meet you." She said. I got the right supplies and walked through camp to where the Darkling was setting up the tent.

"We need to hurry. It's going to rain soon and this is going to keep all our gunpowder dry." the Darkling said.

I wished I knew more about history so I could try to piece together what was happening. Ravka was clearly at some type of war judging from the amount of soldiers and weapons at the camp.

"Why do we need all this?" I asked

The Darkling looked confused, like this would be something I should know but he answered anyways.

"The Fijerdans have west Ravka almost under control, we are trying to keep them from getting farther into Ravka from this side."

We finished setting up in silence until the man who had given me orders when I first got her showed up.

"I need to have a word with lieutenant Morozova." He said sternly to me I noticed that the Darkling tensed when he saw him even though it was subtle.

"What is it sir?"

"Did you forget about the meeting?"

the Darkling swore under his breath and followed the man I could only assume was the General. I had a million questions I doubted I would ever get answers for.

I finished the tent and went to lifting a crate full of weapons when Kate approached me. I was so focused on trying to see the Darkling again that I almost didn't see her.

"How's it going?"

She's just being nice and I was grateful for it but I didn't really feel like talking to anyone right now.

"Good."

"You can help cook dinner if you don't feel like hauling boxes everywhere if you want."she offered even though I didn't want to talk. I felt like moving crates around less.

"Thanks I'll join you once I move this last box." I was exhausted by the time I sat next to Kate.
"What do you do here, I'm a mapmaker."

Kate said the moment I sat down. How did she have this much energy?

"Me too."

I was still scanning the camp for the Darkling but I couldn't find him anywhere. It's probably nothing important he's second in command; he must be super busy.

I made small talk with Kate. We set up more of the camp after we ate and I was so relieved when I could finally fall asleep. It reminded me of my time in the first army before I was the sun summoner. I was drifting into sleep on my uncomfortable cot when I heard voices outside the tent and immediately recognized the Darkling's voice.