𝕬𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝕷𝖚𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖇𝖞 - [𝗞𝗮𝘇 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗿]

𝐱𝐱𝐯𝐢𝐢𝐢. 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 — of light and shadow

━━━━━━━

 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐓 the centre of them all billowed heavy smatterings of smoke into the air, the logs crackled and amber sparks jumped here and there, scrambling for another piece of wood to chew through. The cold had grown bitter, a light layer of frost crawled up the blades of grass surrounding them, glinting as the sun bounced from the ice.

 Each breath sent a puff of white air high into the sky. Aleksa's cheeks were a vibrant pink, her nose a similar shade as she sniffed from her seat. The Summoner had forgone planting herself on an old tree stump or log like the others and had slumped to the ground, arms wrapped around her knees.

 They were all chatting away; Inej sat by Alina's side with a bright grin on her face. Jesper and Mal were both very animated as they spoke, and Jesper's eyes gleamed when Mal pointed to one of his pearl-handled pistols.

 The pretty Squallor, Zoya, nudged her knee into Aleksa's shoulder, "How long were you at the Little Palace?"

 At this, Alina diverted her eyes from the blade in her hands and waited for the Shadow Summoner to answer.

 "Fifteen years." Aleksa said, voice carried by the light wind.

 "Fifteen years in one room? You never saw anybody else?"

 "I knew Ivan, I knew an Inferni called Patrik and Squallor... I can't remember her name. That was it."

 Alina leaned forwards, and a burst of sunlight bounced from her golden gown, "You didn't train with Baghra?"

 "Who?" Aleksa questioned, her eyes falling between both Grisha. Her voice was growing hoarser by the minute, fatigue pulling her closer to the ground.

 Alina spared Zoya a look, one in which the delightful woman returned. The Sun Summoner could still feel the whips and smacks delivered from Bagra, still hear her old and hard voice uttering away in her head... 'foolish girl' was a particular phrase that stuck out. But to hear that Aleksa had never even heard of her... It might not have mattered, had Aleksa not been related to Aleksander...

 "She's —" Alina swallowed, wishing she could spare the girl from further pain, "— She's his mother... General Kirigans mother."

 "An old hag if you ask me," Zoya said flippantly upon seeing the look on Aleksa's face.

 It was as though the world had flipped once more. She had more family out there, even if it was one old hag. She had somebody out there who shared her blood and yet Aleksander had never introduced her, had never spoken of her. Did this Baghre know anything of Aleksa, or were they kept apart for a reason?