WHISPER- shadow and bone

Chapter 7

"We've received accounts of First Army units found massacred here, here, and here," Nikolai spoke gruffly as he pointed to three crudely drawn blobs on the map.

"Too far from the border to be Shu incursions," Mal noted.

"Or Fjerdan," Alina nodded.

"There's good evidence these units were holding Grisha captive. Some reports say soldiers were mutilated. Some cut in half," Nikolai shuffled uncomfortably as he spoke.

"Sounds like merzost," Ada commented, giving an apologetic look to her sister who crossed her arms over her chest in defence.

"It's Kirigan, isn't it?" she spoke bitterly.

"We haven't been able to find his base camp," Nikolai shook his head.

"No way he survived the Fold," Mal shook his head in disbelief.

"He survived it before. Hell he's the one who created it," Ada scoffed as she ran her hands through her hair, trying to make sense of it all. Their old foe had always been lurking in the shadows but now he was rearing his ugly head.

"Besides, he's the only one who can do the Cut. Baghra, yes, but this is him," Alina sighed painfully.

"If he's alive, word will reach him about your attempt in the Fold," Nikolai spoke seriously. Alina refused to meet his eye.

 "Attempt," she scoffed.

"No disrespect meant," Nikolai added.

"No, you're right. That's what it was. An attempt. You both saw my light. It was strong and angry and dangerously off-kilter. I can train to master what I have, but I'm afraid it won't be enough," Alina shook her head despondently.

"We need to find the third amplifier," Mal spoke the thought on everyone's mind.

"The Firebird?" Nikolai questioned, an eyebrow raised to ask if the creature was even real. The truth was that they had no clues, no clues at all. The animal seemed elusive, Mal unable to track it.

"The more we search for it, we are at the mercy of your protection in this country," Alina nodded.

"Well, until then, a proposal," Nikolai turned dramatically on his heels.

"Excuse me?" Ada choked on her own saliva.

"We can try to stop this country from falling apart and tell the Fjerdans to shove their bounty up their ass in the process," Nikolai spoke commandingly.

Ada raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"How do you propose we do that? I bring you under the wing of the Royal Family, my name becomes a shelter to you and a banner under which we can enact change," Nikolai spoke, a grin beginning to stretch at the corners of his mouth.

"No," Ada spoke firmly, shaking her head vigorously. She had watched what the Royal Family had done to Genya, the exploitation and the lies. She wouldn't let that happen to her sister. She couldn't protect Genya but she could sure as hell protect Alina.

"Your name?" Mal asked in alarm.

"Wait. This is a 'proposal' proposal. You're suggesting marriage. I'm not proposing a love match," Nikolai hurriedly spoke.

"Clearly," Ada snorted. Nikolai glared at the girl and continued.

"Just a political alliance of Grisha and otkazat'sya."

"Well, that's just what all marriages are, aren't they? Strategy," Mal spoke bitterly, gripping his nails into his fist. Ada slowly moved over to the boy, nudging him in the side to signal he needed to stand down.