Enchanted -N. Lantsov

In This World Without a Voice or Say

"Marie is right. You don't speak for all of us, Zoya. I'd prefer to see an Etherealnik at the head of the Second Army, but it shouldn't be her." An Inferni, Pavel pointed an accusatory finger at Alina. "She wasn't even raised here."

"That's right!" A Corporalnik called out. "She's been a Grisha less than a year!""

"Grisha are born, not made." Tolya growled.

"And who are you?" Sergei scowled.

"I am Tolya Yul-Baatar. I was raised far from this corpse of a palace, and I'd be happy to prove that I can stop your heart." Tolya's hand went to his curved sword.

"You're Grisha?" Sergei asked incredulously.

"As much as you are." Tamar's gold eyes flashed.

"And what about you?" Sergei turned his attention towards Mal.

"I'm just a soldier." Mal replied, moving to stand beside Alina. "Her soldier."

"As are we all," Fedyor added. "We returned to Os Alta to serve the Sun Summoner, not some posturing boy."

More voices began to yell, upset at the return of Ravka's prodigal daughter.

"You're just one more coward who fled when the Darkling fell. You have no right to come here and insult us."

"And what about her?"

"How do we know she isn't working with the Darkling? She helped him destroy Novokribirsk."

"And she shared his bed!"

"Just what is your relationship with Nikolai Lantsov?"

"What was your relationship with the Darkling?"

"Does it matter?" Alina question coolly.

"Of course it does. How can we be sure of your loyalty?" Sergei demanded.

"You have no right to question her!"

"Why? Because she's a living Saint?"

"Put her in a chapel where she belongs!" Someone yelled. "Get her and her rabble out of the Little Palace"

Tolya reached for his sword. Tamar and Sergei both raised their hands. Marie drew her flint and there was a swirl of Summoner winds.

Olysia fell down onto the seat next to David with a heavy sigh. All this bickering was giving her a headache.

"I just want to get back to my workshop." David grumbled quietly.

"You and I both." Olysia agreed.

Suddenly, Alina raised her arms, arching her hands through the air toward Sergei and his sneering face but at last second, changed direction and aimed it at the sky.

Olysia watched as the Cut sliced through the giant dome with a loud crack. Everyone screamed or backed away, backs pressed against the wall. Only Olysia and David remained.

Olysia knew Alina was taking her advice, if respect or power didn't work, fear would. And she was not wrong. David, on the other was more focused on the damage done to the dome, already working out ways to fix it.

"You think the Darkling is powerful?" Alina's voice held an icy clarity to it. "You have no idea what he is capable of. Only I have seen what he can do. Only I have faced him and lived to tell about it."

Alina turned and stared down every single pair of eyes that were present. "I don't care if you think I'm a Saint or a fool or the Darkling's whore. If you want to remain at the Little Palace, you will follow me. And if you don't like it, you will be gone by tonight, or I will have you in chains. I am a soldier. I am the Sun Summoner. And I'm the only chance you have."