WHISPER- shadow and bone

Chapter 16

Genya Safin was the picture of heartbreak. Her hands shaking slightly, her coat dirtied and dusted. Half healed scars ran jagged across her face, one eye covered by a black eye patch to hide the damage. Her other eye that was visible was red raw from tears. Ada could have commented on any of it, asked what had happened but the truth was that she already knew. 

Genya's face broke into a sob when she saw Ada run from the grass over to her. All composure she had tried to summon was gone in an instant, the tears she had managed to control now flowed freely again. 

Ada flung her arms around the Tailor, holding her tightly as she shook. Swaying her gently, Ada felt tears creep into her own eyes as Genya's pained sobs echoed into her shoulder. When the shaking subdued, the redhead pulled away. Ada reached out to wipe the tear of her cheek but Genya stopped her.

"You don't want to touch me. I'm horrifying," she whispered painfully.

"You are still beautiful Genya Safin. What happened doesn't change that, not one bit," Ada shook her head in reassurance, wiping the tear away softly with her finger. 

"Saints I missed you Ada," Genya laughed through her tears. 

"And I missed you. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you," Ada apologised.

"Nothing could have stopped this," Genya shook her head defeatedly.

"He's dead now," Ada nodded. 

"And the world is better for it," Genya sighed, closing her eyes in painful memory. 

"David?" Ada posed the question hopefully.

"Dead," Genya whispered shakily. "He sacrificed himself to save me." 

"Oh Genya I'm so sorry," Ada whispered, tears pricking at her eyes as she remembered the book she'd lent the Durast and the times she'd joked with him about how he should run away and marry Genya. 

"We'll find a way to honour him. He deserves that," Ada spoke firmly. 

Genya nodded gratefully, a tight lipped smile of appreciation. 

"Now come on. We've got a Heretic to burn," Ada squeezed Genya's shoulder, placing an arm around the girl and gesturing to Ezra who hurried over from the grass. 

"Ezra Fahey," the boy smiled to Genya as he introduced himself. 

"Genya Safin," the Tailor replied. "I hope you've been taking good care of her," she spoke, gesturing to Ada with her head. 

"The very best," Ezra nodded in reassurance. 

~~~

The Darkling's body lay on a crudely made pyre, no labour or energy put into it as he didn't deserve a proper sending off. On one side stood Nikolai and his guard, alongside Mal. On the other side were the Crows and the Grisha wronged by Kirigan. 

A hollow silence was felt across the Fold. Normally a funeral would occur out of respect for the dead, to send them off into the afterlife. This was the very opposite. In burning Kirigan's body, they were sending Ravka into a new life.

Alina looked at the pyre logs and then looked to Genya and Zoya either side of her and Ada. 

"You go. You both have every right," she spoke bitterly, casting her gaze to the two Grisha whom had felt the grip of Kirigan in every move they made.

"For David," Ada whispered, squeezing Genya's hand in comfort. The Tailor smiled gratefully.

Zoya went first, tossing the pyre log onto the wood bitterly, anger in every footstep. Genya followed, holding the log to the wood so it started burning, then setting another part of the pyre alight, there was a gentleness in her actions but the fire that burst from the wood represented the fire Kirigan had sparked in her. She turned and gave the log to Alina, who lifted her chin high.