Blood Soldiers: The Second Army - Grishaverse Prequel

41 - Aleksander

Over the decade he was given to prepare, Aleksander spent time all around the country, in various army camps and at the palace. He made friends with any who would spare him the time, and he cultivated a small, elite group of Grisha who agreed to support his quest to become the General, Yelena's successor, like his father had been.

His group consisted of Ivanov brothers Benedikt and Vladik, ruthless Heartrenders, Larissa, an Alkemi talented with metals and poisons, an Inferni twins named Danya and Karol, a Squaller named Marina, and Mischa, a Tidemaker.

Through them Aleksander had met other Grisha who believed in him, and who had supported the actions of his 'father'. Some of them actually thought the Fold to be an incredible creation, a gift, or a sign from the saints. They heralded him as a gift from their precious saints too.

It had also allowed him to get closer to Alyona. Vladik had been in her class in school, and the two had been friendly enough. As a result, when Aleksander was allowed to travel around to other army camps, Vladik had managed to get them together more than once.

He had been sent to Poliznaya as well for a time, getting more experience with the army and many of the Grisha there. He and his new inner circle had built up more loyalty towards him, and even begun to foster rumours about Commander Orlovesky, that he may well be a double agent, reporting back to Fjerda as well, considering he was half-Fjerdan and had spent so much time living there.

And now his time was up.

Aleksander climbed out of his carriage in Kribirsk, getting a look at the Fold that had caused them all such trouble.

Only a few weeks ago he had been presented to the court, forced to put on a show while King Maxim and Prince Vasily, now almost eighteen himself, had watched on. The king had flinched at the shadows as they rose around them, while the Prince sat entranced. Yelena had held a tight grip on Aleksander's heart the entire show, as he demonstrated again the numerous methods he would try to destroy it with.

As he had worked, he had convinced them all that he needed to be inside the Fold, at the centre, where it had all begun.

King Maxim had nodded, tasking Yelena with assembling a force to go with him into the Fold, where he would attempt to destroy it. She had only bowed in response, and that was it.

Now, standing before the mighty shadow wall, Aleksander felt a surge of pride amongst his growing horror. He had done this. He had done this.

'Less gawking, more moving,' Commander Orlovesky prodded him in the back and they made their way into the encampment, where Aleksander's friends waited.

Yelena, surprisingly, had been asked to remain in Os Alta, and so had not accompanied them on the mission, a fact which pleased him after his last disastrous attempt to pull her back to him.

A few weeks ago now, he had caught up with her on her way back from a meeting in the palace, cornering her and pulling her into a small sitting room in the Little Palace.

'Don't touch me,' she had hissed before realising who it was, and her face dropped.

'You used to like it when I did,' he responded, annoyed at how bitter the words sounded.

Yelena raised a hand and he felt her grip on his heart, but he did not react. 'What do you want?'

'There was a time when you and I saw eye to eye on everything,' he sighed, studying her piercing blue eyes. 'A time when we dreamed of tearing this world apart and building a new one.' She remained cautious as he advanced a step, 'A time when you didn't care about kings or politics, because they were nothing compared to you.'