The Darkness That Binds Us

Chapter 11: The Trick

"Now, everyone is going to want to talk to the sun summoner." Said the darkling, pulling my hand onto his arm as we start down the corridor on our way to the grand palace once again. 

Walking blind feels like floating on nothing. I am glad of the darkling's anchor and the power that flows threw me with his touch -though obliviously i don't tell him that.

"But that's just it," He continued, "they want to talk to the sun summoner, at. These politician types, They're not looking for conversation their looking for validation. Trust me, Alina, I'm Five-hundred years old.  The trick is to just nod along with what ever they say, stroke their egos and i'll bail you out long before they catch on that you're not actually listening."

Despite myself, i can't help but smirk slightly. Immediately, i  regret it because i know the darkling catches me. He pauses. I expect him to pass comment, but he does not.

"If in the very rare circumstances someone does inquire about your time on the Unsea you know what to say; tell them that your head's still a little fuzzy from your injury and that you really don't remember much after being captured..." 

'Captured' of course being another work of the darkling's fiction, according to the rest of the second army; i was kidnapped by 'terrorists' and held hostage against my will by the apparat and a band of his religious zealots...  

Again, it haunts me how the darkling's lies can hit so close to home and yet still be completely corrupted to his favour...

"I wouldn't worry about it too much," he said dismissively. "I'll be right by your side the whole time, so really there's no need for you say anything at all..." I heard the lingering warning in his tone and choose to ignore it. 

"Of course my darling!" I drawl sarcastically, "i'll be the silent little shadow you always wanted..."

"I'm serious, Alina!" The darkling stops, yanking me by the shoulders to face him. I startle in the dark. "Look. I'm sorry. Your young. I get it, believe it or not, i was young once too. I don't expect you to understand what i an trying to achieve here, just please..." He pleaded, "don't make a scene today, i can't..." he trails off. "I don't want to have to hurt you, Alina."   

 I am undeterred by such hollow words. "The darkling hurt me? Never! ...except for that one time when you, you know, burned my entire orphanage to the ground, oh yeah and that other time, back on the Vengulk, when you threatened to skin me alive in front of my best friend and lest-we-forget the-"

 "Okay Alina, You've made your point!" Was it possible that i had just made the darkling flustered? "However, the world is bigger than just us. Now, again -as this year has proven-  you don't understand that yet." He said placing a hand on my head in a way that was even more patronising than his tone, "But you will, one day, and when that day comes we can be equal. Until then, it's important at you learn to 'listen to me', and i am telling you that -contrary to what you might think- i don't want all-out war. This summit is the best hope of peace Ravka has had in centuries and i can't afford to let you mess it up. Promise me, Alina, promise -just this once- you won't try to kill me?"

I refuse to make any promises.

"Fine." His voice goes a chilling neutral again. "Be a stubborn child," he removes his hand. "I couldn't care less. "

We walk in silence. I refuse to touch him. The darkling obliges -although i can feel his hands hovering over me. We continue like that for a long time until i nearly stumble over the darkling out-stretched arm.

"Hey! Prince charming! Do you mind-"

"-Stairs." He replied.

"Oh." For some ridiculous reason i feel my face heat and the sudden, mortifying, shame of it makes the effect ten-times worse.

"Apologises -princess- for preventing you from snapping your neck... Shall we?"

***

I know, it is purely practical for him, but it still feels like a major over-stepping, him supporting me around my waist, like this. Every step in the dark feels like falling again. Each time i am reminded of that moment on the fold, when the Volcra vanish and i start to drop, just after Mal-

"You're shaking." The darkling states, interrupting my thoughts. 

I trip slightly. "I'm fine." I blurt compulsively. "It's just this..." 'the blindness', "i feel so helpless. I don't know...I can't..." My voice breaks. Breathe. I fight for control. "It just can't stand it..." I hate the way i quiver at the end. I am pathetic.

The darkling draws in a breath as if he's about to say something different but instead, he just goes back to easing me down the stairs. "You're doing really well, there's just two more flights... come on." 

I don't know what I was expecting. He did this. This is was his punishment for me after all. A summoner sun who will never see the light. I should have learnt know by now the darkling does not do mercy...

"There," we reach the bottom of the stairs, as promised he moves away, but his arm remains locked around mine as we walk into the gardens.

The Garden. Fresh air hits me like a tsunami . The crisp sound of buzzing insects hums through my ears and the sweet aroma's of flowers in late bloom wells in my nose. For the first time in weeks i feel the full-force of the sun on my face and i am filled with strength.

"Is this your first time out?" He asks, walking smoothly over the gravel.

I am too adsorb by sun to answer at first. "It wasn't exactly like your guards were very liberal with my whereabouts..." I say eventually.

"I should of remembered a sun summoner needs her sun. I'll arrange for you go outside more often -supervised obliviously. How about if everything goes to plan today, we eat breakfast out on the terrace tomorrow?"

I do not disapprove of the notion.

We reach the double doors of the grand palace ballroom, behind i can hear the heavy hum of chatter.

"Now Remember,"the darkling takes me to one side. "You don't have to smile, we've just been through a civil war, your allowed to be sad. Just... Try not scowl at every foreign diplomat that crosses your path  -its not very hospitable." The grand doors begin to creak "...who knows," he adds nonchalantly, "Maybe -if you behave- you'll get to see one of your friends again..."

I freeze. It takes a moment for the gravity of that passing comment to sink in and then, the doors open and the people descend.