Child of Legend - Volume 2

Chapter Eleven

A/N; Let's pretend I didn't just disappear off the face of the earth..
Helllooooo everyone hope you're all doing well, I didn't like how the previous chapter ended so if you've already read that by the time this comes out then you might want to re read the last few paragraphs.
Bit f warning but I changed the order of some of the events in the books so if some stuff dosent match up that's why, also some of the writing near the end is from Ruin and Rising just slightly edited so I do not claim any of the amazing Leigh Bardugo's writing.
Anyways without further ado, enjoyyyyy
~Sarah (PoshStarfish775)

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I heard the faint noise of commotion in the pub as Tamar and I neared the forest line behind it. I only felt slight bad, I was going to come back and the only damage that would be done is probably a detention or two and a scowling lecture from my father.

"You know he's been looking in nearly every corner of Ravka for her, where were all of ye hiding." I asked Tamar, trying too keep up with her punishing pace.

"Underground," the possibility of Tamar telling me and exact location was slim I knew that, but I had thought for a little more detail.

She stopped me with an arm as she let out a pitched whistle, another answering in return after a second, "Alright we're here."

A well placed bush later and I was standing in a small clearing, a half dozen or so hopeful faces turning to shock and confusion when seeing me.

Zoya was the first to speak, "You better not have the Darkling on your tail, kid, I can't deal with that right now."

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Tamar told the group what she had found in Ryevost, which was nothing, and explained how she found me. They all looked so defeated that they had no new leads, I could see the hope slowing draining from their eyes.

"Rena," Adrik started, "The little palace, what's left?" I would never have the same feeling of home and belonging in the little palace as the people in front of me did, it's all they'd known, where they'd grown from child to teenager and adult.

Adrik had barely left the grounds, as had any other of the younger less experienced Grisha, it probably had torn him apart to see it so destroyed. "Good as new," I told him with a sympathetic smile, "The Durasts made it look as if nothing had ever happened."

The look that passed over his face made me question if I said the right thing.

"Where's Alina?" I asked after a few moments of silence, why wasn't she with everyone else?

"Her and Oretsev went down to the river," Nadia told me, "They'll be back soon just-"

A shot close by, two, Tolya reaching for a weapon as a horde of soldiers in first army uniforms came running into the clearing, too fast, everyone too slow. Guns cocked and pressed against heads, warnings and threats shouted.

Harashaw was dragged into the clearing bleeding from his side, a soldier held some sort of hissing animal, was that a cat, and dumped them both where they had gathered everyone in the center of the clearing.

I tried to shake off the person holding me but came to a stop as I saw Alina and Oretsev led into the clearing by gun point, the latter missing both his shirt and shoes, something I didn't want to look into more.

Alinas eyes widened when she saw me, but before she could say something one of the men behind them shouted, "Spy that collar? We have the Sun Summoner!"

There were exclamations around the clearing and then the man holding me, "Luchenko!! Seems like it's going to be a bit of a family reunion."

He shoved me towards the man who grabbed me by the hair, his grip was tight, too tight, "Look what we have here."

His breath stunk worse than an Alkemi's lab and his teeth were out of line. Without thinking I kicked him in the shin making him hiss in pain.

"Sit down," he ordered pushing me into the ground, and in a condescending voice he sneered, "Papa won't be very happy to hear this now will he?"

I looked up at him with hate in my eyes, "Yes, papa, will not be very happy to hear how an Otkazat'sya decided they had the authority to lay their hands on me."

I heard a few sniggers from the group of Grisha behind me, we all knew what the Darkling would do if I simply told him that this man had hurt me.

I saw the fear seep into his eyes, he turned away from me and faked confidence to his group, leering about how he'll spend the rest of his days with the money the Darkling would give him.

My father would rather watch this miserable excuse of a soldier slowly drown than give him a cent out of Ravkas coffers.

"Why not ransom her to Nikolai Lantsov?" said a soldier from somewhere near the back of the circle.

"Lantsov?" Luchenko said. "If he has a brain in his head, he's rusticating somewhere warm with a pretty girl on his knee. If he's even alive."

"He's alive," said someone.

Luchenko spat. "Makes no matter to me."

"And your country?" Alina asked.

"What has my country ever done for me, girl? No land, no life, just a uniform and a gun. Doesn't matter if it's the Darkling on the throne or some useless Lantsov."

"I saw the prince when I was in Os Alta," said the girl pointing a gun at Alina. "He's not bad looking."

"Not bad looking?" said another voice. "He's damnably handsome."

Luchenko scowled. "Since when—"

"Brave in battle, smart as a whip." Now the voice seemed to be coming from above us. Luchenko craned his neck, peering into the trees. "An excellent dancer," said the voice. "Oh, and an even better shot."

"Who—" Luchenko never got to finish. A blast rang out, and a tiny black hole appeared between his eyes.