How the Game is Played

III

"He wants us to do what?"

Genya gaped at her from across the table. It was a strange sight, four of her friends sat around the small seating area in her quarters, donning their linen outfits whilst Alina perched on the side of an armchair, draped in her expensive black kefta.

She cleared her throat, repeating the news she'd just broken. "The Darkling wants you all to help to look after Hanne Brum. And I want you to help me lead the Second Army."

No one appeared to quite believe what she was saying. Tamar hadn't stopped staring at her sceptically since she'd first told them to follow her into the Palace, whilst Tolya was pacing behind them all, as though he deigned to sit still. David, of course, just seemed anxious to get back to the labs, only having asked if he'd be able to do so soon. Genya was simply incredulous.

"The Darkling wants us, the people he'd kept locked in the cellars for weeks, to lead his army?"

"He does."

"And you're sure he didn't sustain a severe head injury on the Fold? Or that he hasn't found another Tailor good enough to manage a swap with a random member of his court in his stead?"

Alina sighed, "Genya, please. I know it's all very hard to wrap your head around, believe me, I've been awake for all of a week and now I'm supposed to be a Queen. But I need you, all four of you, to help me out here."

Genya scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest, "And how do we know this isn't all an elaborate plan to get us all killed?"

"We don't," Alina replied easily, "I suppose we just have to hope this is some form of olive branch."

She knew it was likely too much to ask that it really was, but she felt as though she needed to cast some sort of positive light on the situation. She was the Sun Summoner, after all, casting light was supposedly her speciality. However, Genya didn't seem even half convinced.

"I gave up on hope with that man a very long time ago, Alina," she said sadly.

Alina chewed her bottom lip, "You don't want to help me?"

"Oh I'll help you," the Tailor replied quickly, "My little speech this morning about falling in line wasn't for nothing. I just won't be happy about it."

"I'd prefer if you only did things that you were happy doing," David said absentmindedly, staring off into the flames of the hearth.

Alina watched Genya's face soften as she looked down at the Fabrikator, a pang of heartache shooting through her, remembering how a younger her used to look at Mal in a similar way. Now she just wore his bones.

"I know you would, darling, but we don't have much choice here," she told him, placing a scarred hand on his shoulder.

Tamar kicked her feet up on the low table, her disdain at her garm clear as day as she rearranged the skirts of her dress. "Tolya and I will always be of help, Alina. You know that," she said seriously, and Alina nodded in understanding. The tattoos that decorated both the twins had cemented their alliance a long time ago.

She turned to David finally, "And you? Are you willing to help me lead this army?"

The room fell into silence as all eyes fell on him, still looking into the fire. Alina knew that he'd best serve the Second Army in the labs, building whatever they needed for defence, teaching their new ranks of Materialniks what it was to invent the way he did. After a long while, he turned his head towards her.

"Yes, as long as I get my lab back."

Alina let out a relieved chuckle, "If it makes you happy, I'll send you back down to the labs as soon as we're done here."