Trapped | S & B

.2.

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Katerina was quick to realise that she was not free until dinner. The General had "called" for her the moment her racing heart had settled to the very place she despised. The Grand Palace. It had always been an ugly building, as had the majority of Os Alta, and Katerina thanked the Saints that the General lived with his fellow Grisha. The royal family's home lacked any sense of realness. It was so pristine that it felt unnatural to be called a home. On the unfortunate occasions where Katerina was forced inside, Genya seemed to be the only real thing about it. Years ago, she would have viewed it more highly. 

Her view turned sour when Nikolai left.

The pair collided, physically more than metaphorically, when Katerina was first brought to Os Alta. Upper class society was a foreign thing to her and her farm girl attitudes still ran deep in her blood. The Darkling had isolated her to the confides of the room she'd been given, but Katerina was itching to get out of it. The, albeit broken, but sturdy boots she was wearing led the teenager far from her bed chamber and Katerina found herself creeping about the library in the East wing of the Grand Palace. Rows upon rows of solid oak bookcases created a sort of maze to run through. There were novels upon every shelf, non-fiction books on Grisha law and the small science and childrens stories with coloured pencil drawings in.

Katerina's laces were beyond frayed and were close to abandoning her shoes entirely when she flew into the arms of a stranger. Her heart fully leapt into her throat as she imagined every possible person she could have stumbled into. In her attire of her torn skirts, a leather corset that concealed two daggers and a shirt with the sleeves rolled to her elbows, Katerina did not resemble anyone who had a right to enter the Palace walls. A large, calloused hand over her mouth quickly stopped the frantic apologies from flying out. The stranger shushed her softly and Katerina wasn't sure if it was some attempt to relax her or not, but with the unidentified person blocking off both her airways, Katerina could not help the panic that had settled in. "Saints, you didn't have to bite me!" She also couldn't help the instinct to fight. The stranger finally loosened their grasp and Katerina wriggled out of their arms. "These hands are used for protecting the King himself." He complained defensively. "And many other exciting and dirty things if you're up for it, my Lady."

Enter Prince Nikolai Lantsov, second-born son to King Pyotr and Queen Tatiana and Katerina's first true friend.

Nikolai livened up any dead courtroom with his air sarcasm and self-entitlement and as much as Katerina wanted to despise him, she admired the prince. He was daring and willing to question and defy stereotypes. It was a refreshing feeling for Katerina, someone who didn't always abide by the rules excited her. He inspired her. That inspiration led to the point where she nearly joined him on his venture across the Fold years later.

But reality kicked in fast.

Not only was she obligated to stay because of the Darkling's employment, crossing the Fold would mean she was closer to home. To him. Nikolai's inspiration ran short when Katerina's overthinking took hold. So he left and Katerina saw the Grand Palace morph into an equally vain and dead figure as the rulers who lived in its walls. Nikolai hadn't written in almost a year and Katerina punished herself for getting her hopes up. The words they shared had been a lifeline for Kat. Hearing of a privateer's daring escapades and treacherous battles at sea was an escape from mundane life and the continuous trips between Os Alta and the edge of the Fold.

"Katerina!"

The swift, demanding voice of General Kirigan tore the Tailor from their thoughts and Katerina was faced with the golden decadence of the room she was meant to be preparing him in. "Yes, my Lord?" Katerina realised while they were caught in their brief daydream, the edges of the Darkling's kefta had been singed. Her original task had been to mend and clean it, not damage it further. Katerina cursed under her breath. There was a small period of time left till Alina was to be presented to the King and Katerina had ruined an hour of her work. "Saints, I apologise. Were you harmed?"