Where The Spirit Meets The Bone

Fifty-seven: Aleksander Morozova

Fifty-seven:

Aleksander Morozova

It was absurd to him that The Fox Prince had his own study. However, most of what royals did was absurd. Still, that was where he found Nikolai. "We've a problem," he said, pushing through the door of Nikolai's office. Nikolai, who was in the process of doing paperwork, looked up and with a scowl on his face.

"By all means, General Pompous, allow yourself in," Nikolai said, "it isn't as if I'm your future King or anything and you should be asking me permission to come inside."

"I thought you'd want to know she's burping sunlight," he said.

Nikolai raised an eyebrow and put down his paperwork. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Yes, I thought that might get your attention."

"How---I'm sorry---how'd this happen?"

"She has morning sickness," he explained, "and she's experiencing some strange effects. We need one of your grisha to look at her. I think the child is a sun summoner."

"Are you sure she isn't exhibiting powers?" Nikolai said.

"I don't know," he admitted, "that's why we need a doctor."

"That's not what we need. We need a grisha tester. But they aren't trained anymore how to do it. There's no use in them testing for powers if they already know they have them and are hiding them, or if they are dormant."

"They tested grisha by making them feel intense pain, didn't they?" he asked.

"Yes," said Nikolai.

"Then, I think I found something that perhaps belonged to my past self that could work. It was----"

"A silver, pointed ring that looked almost like a claw?" Nikolai said.

"Yes."

"That's a tester," he replied, "but you'll still need a grisha there to make her believe the results."

"What about the child?" Aleksander asked. "How can we tell the difference between her powers and the child's?"

"I don't know," Nikolai admitted, "but we'll have to figure that out as we go along. Either way, she'll need guards. I'll look into getting some for her, preferably grisha if we can."

"More than just the ones you came here with?"

Nikolai nodded. "It's strange. It's almost as if they know that something is happening."

"The Fold is barely here in this time. It's so weak, most people believe that it is a legend. It comes and goes. There are sightings of it, but its not near as strong as it used to be. Most people can travel between West and East Ravka without problem. Would they know, if there was something wrong with it?"

Nikolai shrugged. "I don't know. I can't speak for grisha. I know Alina feels it, but she only feels it because of her connection to you. I suspect if that weren't there, she wouldn't be able to feel it at all."

"She can feel me?" Aleksander said. "Through time?"

"She feels The Fold," Nikolai corrected, "you are here, living your life, with your Alina. Who is pregnant with your child, and who is experiencing some strange occurrences. She is the one that you must think about. The one that you must focus on. No one else. Your life is here, Lord Morozova. Not in the past."

"What if we could harness grisha power from the past and bring it here though?" he suggested. "Our enemies wouldn't stand a chance."

"If we get rid of The Fold completely, that is what will give us peace and strength. Nothing else," said Nikolai, "I appreciate you for being honest with me about Alina. As soon as I have someone available, I will have them come take a look at her. Now, your wife is pregnant, and could be carrying a powerful grisha child. I suggest you go home and take care of her. That's where you are needed. Alina needs to relax, and she won't do that if you are off plotting to take over space and time, Morozova. What's more, I'd really hate to have to kill a dear friend's husband. Again."

Aleksander frowned. "You've killed me before?"

"Well, not me specifically. But you have been killed before. And if you do anything to destroy my kingdom, or hurt Alina, we won't hesitate to have you do it again. Now go home. Take care of your wife."

He should have felt comforted that Nikolai was giving him the resources to help take care of Alina. Instead, he kept on seeing the past images of himself that had been jogged by the shooting from the Fjerdian soldiers while he and Alina had been on their honeymoon. Especially the version where his own mother had killed his child. Perhaps Nikolai would send one of his own grisha to help. Or perhaps he could find his own.

Once upon a time, as the legends went, he had been one of the most powerful grisha himself. Responsible for the creation of The Fold. Responsible for the whole of The Second Army. He had had Alina Starkov, the other most powerful grisha, in love with him. If he could get his hands on that army, he could save Ravka in the present. Perhaps even be King himself. Surely there were grisha in the past that would be loyal to him in the present. There had to be.

He smiled at the Prince. "You're right," he said, "I have everything I need with Alina and the baby, and once The Fold is fixed, everything will be perfect."

Nikolai nodded. "Exactly," he said with a smile, "we all believed redemption was possible for you, Darkling. Especially Alina. Now, go home, and show us that we weren't wrong for putting our faith in you again."

He did go home. But he did not go home to do nothing. Instead, he set about looking for the source of the ticking that he had been hearing since he had been shot that day in the field with Alina. He was going to have everything. Alina, his power again, and victory for Ravka. He would see to it.