Sword & Succession - A Darklina AU Fanfic

Chapter 22

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ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕘𝕒𝕟 𝕂𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕒𝕟

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I arrived at Baghra's cottage in the morning while the other Grisha were having their breakfast. I wasn't hungry that morning. In fact, I couldn't even think of trying to even swallow food. But mostly I didn't want to run into someone, that 'someone' being my mother.

I knocked firmly on the door, preparing for the suffocating heat inside. But as the little boy, Misha, opened the door, I took a step back in shock. How could someone live in such sweaty conditions?

"Well? Come in already!" The woman's voice croaked. I quickly slipped my way inside, my brows already speckled with tiny droplets by the time I reached her. She tapped on the seat opposite her with her cane. "Sit."

I didn't bother with any greetings. Baghra didn't strike me as the kind who had time, nor cared for them. Fine by me. It was something I could relate to. "You're late," she grumbled as I seated myself.

"You didn't tell me exactly when to come," I said in defence.

She gave a huff and although she didn't have any, I could picture her eyes rolling. "When I say tomorrow, I mean as soon as tomorrow starts. I didn't think I'd have to explain that to you." She clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "Guess we'll have to take things slower than I thought."

I was glad she couldn't see my face, which had gone bright red as I clenched the arms of my chair. "Can we just start already?" I snapped as she raise her cup of tea to her lips. "It's hot as hell in here."

She didn't give me much response, just sipped her tea and placed it back on its chipped saucer. "I heard what you did in Kribirsk. Quite the show." I remembered back to the moment when the two forces of my power had met.

When the shadow and light had fused to become something else. I remembered the pulse of energy that'd forced everyone but myself to the ground. The feeling I'd had afterwards... "I don't know what happened," I mumbled.

"Well that's what we're here to find out," her cane tapped sharply on my knee, making me flinch.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Well don't just sit around, boy." She stood to her feet and Misha was at her side in an instant, leading her to the door. "Hurry up and follow!"

I bit my bottom lip hard to stop myself from snapping at her. I should've felt sorry for the old woman. But it was hard to feel sorry for someone who kept barking orders and smacking her cane over your knees. Sure, my father had taken away her sight. But she'd turned my mother against him, against her family. Even now, I knew she would never side with us. Would never accept what has to be done for the good of all Grisha.

I followed Baghra out the door and to the forest behind the small cottage. We walked for a while, distancing ourselves far from the Little Palace until we were completely alone.

"So," she huffed, seating herself on a nearby rock with Misha's help. "Show me what you can do." I looked at the woman incredulously. She couldn't be serious. "Well, hurry up. I don't have all day."

I wasn't quite sure about that. From the looks of it, Baghra spent all day hidden in her little cottage. "You won't be able to see anything I do."

Crack!