Shadows and The Sea - The Darkling

Kirigan & Cave Bitch

Percy's POV

Alina went to her room but I had training with Baghra first, whoever the Hades that is. I stopped off in my room to change out of the stunning blue kefta and into my Nemean Lion pelt.

Once I slipped the protective coat on, I made my way out of the double doors. I tried to make my way outside but took a wrong turn somewhere in this maze of halls and bumped into a wall. I stumbled back and just before I graced the floors of the Little Palace with my presence, I was caught by the waist.

I turned to see it was rather a man than a wall that I had collided with. And of course it had to be the man that I had been dreading to see.

"General," I greeted.

"Ms. Jackson. You better watch where you're going. Not everyone's reflexes are as quick as mine," he said back. He lifted me up and set me back on my feet but his arm was still around my waist and mine were settled on his chest.

"Thank you, moi soverenyi," I said as we parted from each other's touch.

As we did, it felt wrong. Gods, what the fuck is happening? I need to IM dad tonight.

The general looked amused and a little surprised at the way I addressed him, "You know Ancient Ravkan."

I scoffed and crossed my arms, "Yes well, if you live in Ravka long enough, you can find someone who will teach you."

His eyebrows lifted, "Oh? And you did?"

My cocky air faded as I thought of Talia. Before I was sent to training, I spent most of my time with her. She was kind enough to teach me the basics of Ravka and little summaries of the other countries. Talia also thought it would be a good idea for me to learn Ancient Ravkan to fit in so she taught me. Her babya taught her and told her to teach her daughter, but since she joined the army, she never really settled down, so she taught me.

I stretched a sad smile and looked down at my rings. "Yeah, her name was Talia. She was a tracker in the First Army and she was my first friend here. I stayed with her before I was sent to training. Just before Mal, Alina, and I were done with training we got word that she passed on a crossing of the Fold gone wrong," I told him.

I didn't look up to see his expression but I felt his hand take mine. The other trailed its way up to a piece of hair that had fallen to cover my face. He pushed it back and behind my ear.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Persephone," he whispered.

He let the hand in my hair drop but kept ahold of my hand. Something about his hand on mine feels...right? Gods, I sound like an Aphrodite kid.

"Thank you, General."

"Please, if it is just us then you may call me Kirigan," he said with a smirk.

"Alright...Kirigan," I said lowly and we stood there looking at each other.

I could see the years in his eyes. Oh he is definitely older than 120 years old. I continued to fall into the darkness of his eyes before I shook myself awake.

"Um, Kirigan? You wouldn't happen to know the way to Bagrah? I'm supposed to go to her for training but, as you can see, no one exactly told me where the hell she is," I asked him.

His face twisted unpleasantly for a split second before returning to the smile he originally had. "Yes, unfortunately I know where she is. Will you do me the favor of letting me show you the way? I wouldn't want you getting mixed up again," he offered while turning and holding his arm out to me.

And me being me, put on one of the worst British accents ever, "Why thank you kind sir."

I looped my arm through his and he let out a chuckle. We made our way through the Little Palace, out to the grounds near the forest, and on a path through the trees. It was really beautiful but kind of reminded me of those forests in crime shows where the person jogging gets kidnapped or killed.