When is it Enough

Chapter 7 - Friends Take Friends on Adventures Together

In the failing light of the day, three cloaked figures made their way across the wide lawn that separated the Little Palace from the stables. As they drew near, they heard a crash and copious swearing from inside.

They looked between each other and walked faster.

Once inside, they snuck up on Alina as she tried to balance holding a small ball of light against the darkness of the stable and saddling a large chestnut gelding.

"You should probably choose a shorter horse," the first figure said with a familiar sardonic voice.

Alina startled so violently she knocked the saddle off again.

All three started sniggering. Alina grasped at her chest.

"You almost gave me a heart attack, Zoya!" Alina accused.

"What fun would sneaking up on you be if I didn't?" She shrugged and lowered her hood.

"Where are you going?" Genya asked, lowering her hood as well.

"Nowhere fast," Alina sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Clearly," Zoya returned.

"Please don't stop me."

"What fun would that be?" said the third figure, lowering his hood.

Alina gasped. "Misha!"

She wrapped him up in a big hug. It had been three years since he'd left Keramzin to study military sciences. In that time, he'd grown from the small boy who had led Baghra around the Spinning Wheel into a towering commander-in-training.

His goofy grin, though, had not been erased with time.

"What are you doing here?" Alina asked, tears in her eyes. "I thought you were up at the Fjerdan border?"

"I came as soon as I could get leave," he said. "I'm so sorry about home. I wish I could've been here sooner."

Alina shook her head and hugged him tighter. "I'm glad you're here now."

She released him finally and looked at their group. "What are you all doing here?"

"Well," Genya started, "we were going to throw a party for Misha, but we couldn't find you."

"Care to explain?" Zoya said, crossing her arms.

"Yeah," Misha finished. "Where are we all going?"

Alina wrung her hands. She had wanted to face him by herself, but maybe it would be good to have backup. In a rush to confront the Darkling, she hadn't thought what would happen once she saw him.

She sighed. "You know how I killed the Darkling?"'

"Don't tell me that didn't stick," Zoya snorted.

Alina was silent, but her almost sheepish expression said everything they needed to know.

"You've got to be kidding me," Genya whispered.

Zoya looked gobsmacked.

Misha fumed.

"I wanted to make sure I wasn't going crazy before telling you guys because it isn't like I've seen him or anything he just came to me through our tether," Alina explained quickly. "I think he- or at least a remnant of him- is in Kribirsk and I think he wants me to find him."

"So what? We just do what he wants now?" Zoya huffed.

"Won't he do something terrible if I don't go?" Alina shot back defensively. "Isn't that how this works?"