Rule of Saints {The Red Ribbon Sequel}

A New Kind of Monster

~ Y/N Pov ~

My leg bounces with anticipation the whole ride back. Being on a ship for a couple of weeks gave me time to think, and I know that I must tell the Triumverate and King Nikolai about the blights. I feel almost like Inej for a moment, gathering information from the shadows. However, the information I have could impact the whole world.

I breathe a sigh of contentment upon seeing the high buildings of Os Alta, and I practically race out of the carriage through the palace gates, finally comfortable in my blue kefta.

I stop by the Grand Palace first and ask a guard if he has seen King Nikolai today. The palace seems oddly quiet, so I take that as a sign that he isn't here.

"Last I saw he was heading towards the Little Palace with the General," he replies.

I thank him and briskly continue my walk of anticipation across the grounds and through the courtyard that connects the Grand Palace and the Little Palace. Some of my fellow peers greet me and welcome me back, but when I see a flash of purple, I can't help my excitement.

"Leoni!" I exclaim as she hugs me.

Her smile is as big as ever. "Y/N! You look so tan! I bet the sun is blazing this time of year in Cofton. How was the visit?"

I suppress any thoughts of the blights and manage a convincing smile. "It was great! I've always loved the busy atmosphere of Cofton. Didn't you live you before?"

"Yep, and that's where I discovered I was Grisha, and came here. If only there could be a Little Palace in Novyi-Zem."

I tap my foot restlessly on the ground. "I bet Nikolai could have that underway in a heartbeat. Say, have you seen him around today?"

"Hmm I saw him with Commander Nazyalensky going to the War Room. Why do you ask?" Leoni inquires.

I'm already walking away. "Oh, you know, wherever the king goes, Zoya follows. And I need to let her know that I am finally back from my visit. So that we can uhh start training again."

"Of course, I'm sure Commander will be stoked to have her favorite Ethrealki back training again," Leoni says in high spirits, and I feel a pang of guilt at lying to her. Leoni is a ray of sunshine, but the information I hold is highly confidential. Best not make panic.

I've never been in the War Room, barely anyone has. But everybody knows where it is. The Darkling's old quarters, where he made his plans. I suppress a shiver and head towards the black doors where Tolya stands guard.

I nod at him and reach for the door handle, but Tolya swiftly picks me up and places me a couple of feet away from it.

"The King and the Triumverate are currently having a meeting-"

I interrupt Tolya with urgency in my voice. "Let me go in there. I have important information."

"Y/N, you must come back later. Zoya will be out shortly."

Everyone always groups me with Zoya because she personally trains me. Some people are jealous, some people feel bad for me. But not everything I do revolves around the General.

"I'm not here for just Zoya, I need to speak with all of them. Ravka could be in danger!" I explain, and Tolya considers this for a moment.

I take that time to quickly run past him and enter the War Room. I am met with the expected: four pairs of eyes. Nikolai, Zoya, Genya, and Tamar. David must be in the laboratories creating whatever invention Nikolai has drawn up. The walls of the War Room are plain back, just like shadows themselves. Just like the blight. I shake the thoughts from my head as Nikolai raises a brow.