WHISPER- shadow and bone

Chapter 3

While Alexi was forced into releasing the news of Alina Starkov being the 'Sun Summoner' at Dreesen's manor, the news reached General Kirigan by the surviving Grisha of the skiff.

He smiled hungrily, it was just what he had been waiting for. A girl to mould, a girl he could wield as a weapon and even more so a girl who would thrive with him in the Fold. When the report of the failed mission had come to him he was fuming, anger so hot that shadows swarmed his tent, dancing around with knives in hand. Fate was cruel.

"Three of them", spoke Forich. "In special uniforms, all done up and regal. They put you in a line and they go one at a time.".

"How many questions is it?", a child asked as young Ada Mal and Alina entered.

"It's not that kind of test. And they've got this device. It's all special made, like they prick your arm."

"Does it hurt?"

"Only for a bit. Then you find out if you're Grisha, and you go and live in the Little Palace and eat sweet melon and Kerch candies, wear special coats."

"Has anyone from here been picked?"

"Once. First year in. Lucian. The little pyro was an Inferni, of course."

"I want to be a Tidemaker. I bet I'm a Squaller", burst out the excited cries of the children.

"You break wind, you don't make it", the children laughed.

"How does the test work?", Mal asked.

"For you?", Forich sneered. "For you, it won't. They don't do the test if you're sick or injured. Thanks to your little scrap with dinner, you're gonna have to skip this year, mutt."

Alina's face grew angry and Ada gripped her hand.

"Children, visitors", called Ana Kuya.

The trio ran hand in hand to the meadow for fear of the testers.

"She didn't see us. We're safe.", spoke Alina.

"Don't you want to know if you're Grisha? Both of you?", Mal asked.

"Not if we can't go together"

"Mal! Alina! Adeline!"

Ada woke with a gasp.

"Ezra. Alina. Mal", she croaked and tried to rise her head. A sharp pain struck her back and she was forced to lie down again.

"Careful your flesh has been damaged. Nothing serious but don't go doing any strenuous activity", a medik spoke to her. Ada's vision was foggy as she peered around the medical tent, she spotted her two best friends but her sister was no where to be seen.

"Alina? Alina Starkov where is she?", Ada asked gently.

The medic shook his head and frowned. She's been taken to General Kirigan' tent.

"No", whispered Ada. If the General knew then Alina was done for, no one could simply hide a power like that and get away with it. She was lucky she hadn't been discovered herself; the familiar dirty brown of the medical tent calmed her slightly.

A Heartrender came in and whispered something to the medik. The obvious disgust targeted at the Grisha made Ada wince but the medik simply nodded and the two worked together to bring Ada to her feet.

"What? Where are we going?", she asked worriedly.

She was met by a stony silence and stumbled slightly as the pair brought her towards a large tent. The guard outside put his hand out to stop the medik, sending him back and letting the Heartrender guide her inside.