The moment the skiff stopped at the docks of Kribirsk all those who were not wounded or well enough to stand on their own immediately began to tend to their wounded. The deck was chaos as soldiers from the First and Second armies attempted to find some kind of order in their panic.

As Zaira rushed over to the girl who was able to summon sunlight, she heard the whispered prayers of soldiers thanking the Saints for being alive. Zaira was never one for praying or worshiping the Saints, but she was very aware that their survival through The Fold was a miracle. Or at the very least they had found themselves extremely lucky.

Zaira kneeled down beside the girl knowing that she needed to get her healed even though she couldn't quite believe what she had seen inside The Fold. Normally First Army was sent to medical and the Grisha only tended on their own. If what happened it The Fold hadn't been a hallucination that meant that the mapmaker was one of them.

A Grisha. Maybe something more.

Yet, although everything pointed that she may be the thing that many Ravkans prayed for. That the girl could be the Sun Summoner, Zaira refused to believe it. Zoya's presence snapped Zaira out of her thoughts as she looked up at her friend who also seemed to be covered with as much blood and dirt as she was.

"How many more?" Zaira questioned as she assessed the girl's major injuries that required immediate attention.

"Ten, maybe twelve of us, I think." Zoya replied as she took a closer look at the girl. The Squaller also didn't seem impressed with the girl, but they had both witnessed what she had done in The Fold.

Placing both of her hands above the girl's collarbone Zaira snapped both bones into place with a quick movement, instantly healing the wound. The action caused the girl to awaken with a sudden gasp. The cartographer attempted to sit up though most of her injuries would make the action nearly impossible.

"Hold!" Zaira ordered as she pushed the girl back, taking no interest in being gentle. "Your collar bone was fractured."

"Mal! The tracker!" The girl frantically yelled again as she once again attempted to sit up. Zaira's patience with the girl was limited, and considering that there were other Grisha that needed urgent medical attention she had no time to deal with the girl's hysterics. "Where is he?"

"First Army goes to medical." Zaira replied dismissively as she attempted to heal the other more concerning wounds the girl was suffering.

"Bring her to the general's tent." Zoya said as she wiped blood from her face. From what Zaira could see at first glance was that the blood clearly wasn't her's. They had yet to count how many Grisha had been lost in their failed trip into the fold, but on quick glance at the deck of the skiff she knew that the casualties were many.

"Who?" The girl questioned as she attempted to sit up clearly panicked. Her heart was beating rapidly as she looked around the deck of the skiff looking for her tracker.

"But I'm not done yet." Zaira told Zoya, choosing to ignore the girl. She didn't like the idea of leaving her work unfinished, but she couldn't argue much with Zoya. The girl had to be brought to General Kirigian

Zoya rolled her eyes as she wiped the trail of blood that was flowing from a cut on her forehead. "You can go with her."

"Go ahead and alert the general." Zaira directed and Zoya nodded before turning towards two First Army soldiers who had arrived to help. "You two. Take her and follow me to General Kirigan's tent."

"There must be some mistake." The girl began to ramble as she was lifted to her feet. Zaira chose to ignore her as she and some of the remaining Grisha began making their way to General Kirigan's tent. "I don't see why I would have to be brought to the general of the Second Army. And I need to find Mal."

Zaira walked ahead ignoring the questioning eyes of the other Grisha who watched as they walked through the camp and towards the general's tent. Undoubtedly rumors had already spread about what happened on the skiff, even the girl had stopped protesting as she walked silently.

Stepping into the tent Zaira took a spot beside Zoya who only met her eyes briefly, before they both looked forward awaiting General Kirigan to acknowledge their presence. The rest of the Second Army had quickly gathered inside the tent, occasionally eyeing the mapmaker girl who stood nervously by the entrance of the tent. When Kirigan finally turned around to inspect the girl the tension within the tent seemed to increase in an instant. There was a certain level of skepticism within the Grisha, the Sun Summoner had always been considered a myth to them. Now that this common girl was suspected to be one there was no knowing what was going to happen.

General Kirigan studied the girl for a moment, but nothing in his expression gave away what he was thinking. "Bring her closer. Closer." He ordered but the girl only took one slight step forward. "Well?"

"Well, what?" The girl asked nervously as she looked around the tent before realizing the way she had just spoken to the general of the Second Army. "Sir."

"What are you?"

"Alina Starkov, Assistant Cartographer, Royal Corps of Surveyors." She recited from memory as all the blood suddenly seemed to drain from her face. Zaira could feel as fear seemed to suddenly take a hold of her. "They're all gone. It's my fault. That's why I'm here, isn't it?"

"Answer the question. What are you?"

"A mapmaker, sir." The girl replied with uncertainty causing some of the Grisha in the tent to chuckle in response.

"Quiet." Kirigan ordered impatiently, silence immediately following. He looked around the tent at his Grisha who waited impatiently for what was to come."So who actually saw what happened? Zoya? You manned the main sail."

Zoya straightened her back as she began to describe what events led to the volcra attack on the skiff. "We were attacked, barely two markers in. Someone lit a lantern."

"And?" He urged, his eyes now meeting Zaira's.

"The volcra went after the riflemen and our Inferni first. And then there was a searing light." Zaira continued, she could still hear the screams from all the soldiers. The smell of the fire and blood mixing together in the air. "It came from her."

"Our mapmaker. Is this true? Can you summon light?" General Kirigan continued to question but the girl remained silent. Zaira found it difficult to believe that the girl's power had never manifested itself before. Though maybe the lack of use of her powers explained why Alina Starkov had a sickly complexion. She seemed malnourished and as if she had not slept in days, though Zaira had initially believed it to be due to having to travel with the First Army. "Where did you grow up?"

"Keramzin." The girl replied quietly.

"Hmm. And when were you tested?" He asked his patience with the girl slowly beginning to slip away as she continued to avoid all of his questions. Since the establishment of the Second Army all Ravkan children were tested for Grisha abilities, it was unlikely that she was never tested. And even more concerning that she never knew about her abilities before today. "You don't remember? Well, let us just make certain."

Everyone watched in silence as their general approached the girl who didn't dare move an inch.

"Lift up your sleeve." He ordered once he was standing only an arms length away from the girl. Still it seemed that Alina Starkov did not understand the situation that she was in.

"What's happening?" The girl questioned with obvious panic as she looked around the tent, almost like she expected one of the Girsha to step forward and come to her aid.

"Your sleeve. Please." He ordered and when she failed to do as he asked, he got a hold of her arm pulling her towards him, pushing her sleeve up in the process. Their eyes met as he used his ring to make a small cut above her arm and in an instant a blinding white light consumed the tent. Gasps echoed throughout the tent followed by hushed whispers.

Zaira felt as her breath got caught in her throat as she took in the blinding light that poured out of Alina Starkov. Now there was no questioning what she was.

Alina Starkov was the Sun Summoner.

Zaira was surprised that General Kirigan had instructed her, Ivan and Feydor to oversee the safe arrival of Alina Starkov to Os Alta. After her failure on the skiff Zaira expected General Kirigan to never entrust her with such an important assignment. She couldn't help but feel relief that even after that failure he continued to trust her.

Now they had to get to Os Alta as quickly as possible, word would spread quickly that the Sun Summoner had been found and Ravka's enemies would waste no time to eliminate the person who would give Ravka so much power.

But it seemed that Ravka's enemies were the least of their problems if the Sun Summoner herself refused to be helped. Zaira remained silent as Ivan struggled to convince their Sun Summoner to step into the carriage, maybe Feydor would have been able to convince the girl but he was off acquiring her a kefta that he insisted she would need.

"Go. You heard me." Ivan urged again as the girl came to a stop in front of the carriage. She continued to try to look around the camp desperately, undoubtedly still trying to look for that soldier that she hadn't stopped asking for since the moment they got off the skiff. "Let's go. Get in."

"No.There's been a mistake. I need to find Mal." She replied.

"The general does not make mistakes." Zaira stated firmly as she turned towards the Starkov girl.

"His orders were to get you to Little Palace immediately. Now get in the coach." Ivan ordered once again but the girl made no attempts to move.

"Everyone makes mistakes. Look at me. Do I look important to you?" The Starkov girl questioned and Zaira took a deep breath doing her best to attempt to calm her irritation with the girl. Doing what she asked Zaira studied Alina for a moment doing nothing to hide her contempt as she did.

Alina Starkov was plain, and she was right she did not look special. One look at her was enough to tell Zaira that she was too weak and foolish to possess such an important power for all of Ravka.

"No, you actually look rather pathetic." Zaira told the girl as she stepped into the coach leaving the responsibility of getting the girl inside to Ivan. From his expression it was clear that he was done with the girl's stubbornness too.

"You look like trouble. Which is nearly the same." Ivan added as he gestured towards the carriage, his jaw clenched in annoyance. "Move."

Alina looked between Zaira and Ivan for a moment before her eyes landed firmly on Zaira. "Wait. Malyen Oretsev. He's in the medic tent. I need to speak to him. I'm going to speak to him."

Zaira could almost laugh at the girl's pathetic attempt to assert herself. It was clearly something she had never done before, and she could only wonder if this girl had actually grown up in the ranks of the army. She clearly was an orphan most people in Ravka were, especially those who were not fully Ravkan.

"Listen to me. Every spy in the area will hear what you did and our enemies will come for you." Ivan said instead as he gave the girl a slight push towards the carriage. "Our only chance is to get you to Os Alta, behind palace walls, before you get killed. Come on."

Alina hesitated before finally stepping in the carriage taking a seat across from Zaira. Ivan stepped in soon after, followed by Feydor who carried a Healer's red and gold kefta. Feydor smiled as he stepped inside, handing the girl the kefta silently.

The carriage began to slowly move forward and Ivan finally seemed to relax now that they were headed back home.

"Alina!" Someone yelled causing them to all look out the window to find the tracker running after the carriage. He was still injured, blood running down his leg. The tracker could hardly take another step forward but continued his pointless pursuit.

"Mal!" She yelled in return as she placed both of her hands against the window as they sped faster away. "No! No, stop. I didn't know!"

"Alina!"

Zaira rolled her eyes at the ridiculous display as she looked across to Fedyor who actually seemed moved by their shouting. "Pathetic."

Fedyor gave Zaira a warning look but said nothing as he settled himself for what was going to be a long carriage ride back to Os Alta. They had remained silent an hour into their trip, a silence that Zaira greatly appreciated after the events from the day. However Feydor was never one to appreciate silence as he gently elbowed Ivan and nodded towards the girl who refused to meet any of their eyes.

"This is Fedyor." Ivan introduced with little interest.

"Pleasure to meet you." Fedyor greeted with a welcoming smile that the girl ignored. Zaira couldn't understand why Alina Starkov seemed to have an aversion towards Grisha, even as she toyed with the hem of her kefta Alina was frowning with displeasure. "They call this a kefta. It's bulletproof. The uniform of the Second Army."

"What about the First Army? Back in Kribirsk. A thousand soldiers marching with us. Isn't that safer?" The girl questioned and once again Zaira couldn't help but roll her eyes knowing where the conversation was headed. Alina wanted to return to Kribirsk for the tracker.

"Slower, not safer. Not really." Ivan replied dismissively.

"If you left me with the cartography unit, no one would look twice at us."

"Why is that? You summon pure sunlight. Your kind of Etherealki has just been a theory, a picture in a storybook. Until now." Fedyor said clearly unable to hide the hint of excitement in his voice as he did. "You're a very special girl, so how has no one looked twice at you before?"

"Are you joking? Maybe it's nicer inside the Little Palace, but out here, when you're different, when you look different, everything's at risk of becoming a fight."

Zaira had been able to remain quiet throughout most of the trip, able to ignore the girl's childish complaining. But Alina's ignorance she could not ignore.

"Listen, you foolish and ignorant girl. Do you know why the Little Palace has walls in the first place? Because for years, being Grisha was a death sentence." Zaira said her voice laced with the contempt she had for Alina Starkov. She refused to speak about her own mixed heritage or that she too looked different from most Ravkans. Mostly because she refused to victimize herself for it. It was only one of many things that made her different and an outcast."At least now, thanks to General Kirigan, we're protected. Feared. And that's how we survive. Not by being overlooked, but by making them look, and knowing you're powerful. Being different isn't a weakness, it only becomes one if you are weak yourself."

"I've survived long enough without your protection. Thank you." Alina replied stubbornly, Zaira's words having no effect on her.

Sharing a look with Ivan who also seemed moments away from strangling the girl, Zaira realised that it was pointless to argue with her. That she had yet to understand what being a Grisha truly meant and that her half Shu background didn't matter behind the walls of the Little Palace.

"But you wouldn't last a minute now that you are you." Fedyor said, filling the silence that followed. "All of Ravka has been waiting for you."

"I get it. The whole country wants to see the Fold gone." She continued dismissively.

"But it's bigger than that. You are hope for the country, yes, but a myth come true for a Grisha. It was a Grisha who created the Fold. If a Grisha destroys it, maybe..." Fedyor continued with a longing sigh. "Maybe we wouldn't need those high walls to protect us anymore."

Before Feydor could continue the carriage came to a sudden halt followed by shouts just outside the carriage.

"The road is blocked!" Someone shouted from outside. Zaira, Ivan, and Feydor shared a knowing look. This ambush was something that they should have expected. Of course word had spread that they had found the Sun Summoner, and although they were traveling with a small unit of Grisha there was no knowing who they were up against and whether they were outnumbered.

"Stay here, and don't leave." Ivan ordered as the three of them stepped out of the carriage and into the start of gunfire and yelling.

As a group of men clothed in fur emerged from the trees, rage boiled through Ziara's blood. There were already Grisha falloen on the forest floor and they were clearly outnumbered by the Fjerdan soldiers.

"Drüskelle..." Zaira said under her breath as they charged forward.

There was nothing more that Zaira despised more than the Drüskelle, they were savage Grisha hunters. They burned them to the stake and enslaved others. For a Grisha falling into the hands of the Fjerdan's meant death, though it was considered better to be burned alive by the Fjerdans than experimented on by the Shu Han.

Raising her hand Zaira was able to rip two Drüskelle's hearts out of their chests. But even with her ability they were terribly outnumbered and it wasn't long before all the Grisha found themselves cornered and cowering behind a large rock formation. They knew that the rest of the Second Army was not far behind, but even then they would arrive too late to be of any help to them.

Many of them were wounded but there was no time to check for wounds or to heal on another. Suddenly, Alinsa's screams echoed through the forest causing them all to freeze with the realization that they had forgotten about their precious Sun Summoner.

"Get to the carriage!" Ivan yelled as he met Zaira's eyes. Their orders were to protect Alina Starkov, but Zaira did not want to leave her fellow Grisha for a girl she was learning to hate. Sun Summoner or not Zaira had no interest in protecting the girl. But orders were orders. "Protect the girl! We'll cover you!"

Sharing a brief glance with him before nodding and following the sound of Alina Starkov's desperate screams. A large Drüskelle soldier was pulling Alina away from the carriage axe in hand. Although Zaira disliked the girl, she still felt her blood run cold as the Drüskelle raised his axe. These men clearly feared Alina and what she could do is they were to kill her here without one of their precious trials. The Fjerdans believed themselves to be of high morals and didn't tend to kill Grisha before taking them to Fjedra to stand trial, even if no Grisha ever survived the trial.

Zaira raised her arms ready to rip the dreadful Drüskelle's heart out of his chest, but suddenly she found herself unable to move. She was caught off guard as she fell to her knees realizing that she was now bound by ropes. Over the years they had crafted more weapons in order to contain Grisha, and Grisha were not able to access their abilities with their hands bound.

Immediately Zaira began her attempt to free herself from the ropes, but she knew that it was a useless attempt as the wire began to dig deeper into her skin. They were going to lose Ravka's only hope to get rid of The Shadow Fold, and it was all going to be because of Zaira's failure.

Even now she looked away as the Drüskelle was about to lower their axe on Alina Starkov's throat, but the sound of galloping in the distance caused her to look up to find General Kirigan rapidly approaching them. In one quick motion he was off his horse, raising his hands in the process and unleashing The Cut.

Zaira had only watched him use The Cut once, it was an ability accessible to all summoners and incredibly deadly and difficult to learn. General Kirigan only used it as a last resort and as the two halves of the Drüskelle soldier fell on the forest floor. There was a momentary look of ruthlessness in General Kirigans eyes that sent a shiver through Zaira.

Even Alina remained motionless as she looked up the the general with wide eyes and covered in the Drüskelle's blood.

"Are you hurt?" Kirigan questioned as he approached Alina, his voice containing a softness that was unfamiliar with Zaira. One that caused a sting of jealousy within her.

"No, not really." Alina replied as General Kirigan helped her to her feet. Her heart was still beating rapidly and she made no attempt to hide her fear from the shaking in her hands. For a soldier it was clear that Alina Starkov had never been this close to death before.

"The others will have fled now they know I'm here. You ride with me." He instructed as he gestured for Alina forward. Kirigan was about to follow before he looked down at Zaira with pity, a look that caused Zaira to feel nothing but shame. "Zaira, you have disappointed me today."

She expected his disappointment, but what Zaira did not expect was for him to turn away from her. Leaving her on her knees and bound in Drüskelle ropes. This was her punishment for her failures. And all Zaira could do is watch as General Kirigan disappeared over the hills with Alina Starkov in his arms.

"Zaira are you alright?" Fedyor questioned as he began to release her from the ropes that bound her.

She remained quiet for a moment feeling momentarily overtaken by humiliation. Twice in one day she had failed General Kirigan, and she had let herself become captured by savage Drüskelle. She had not felt such powerlessness in years. Now as Fedyor helped her to her feet she had no other choice but to swallow that humiliation.

She wouldn't allow them to see her in such a pathetic state. "Do I look alright?" She replied bitterly as she brushed off dirft from her kefta that was still stained with blood from her trip through The Fold.

"You look as stunning as always." Fedyor said with a bright smile as an attempt to help her feel better. "Doesn't she Ivan?"

Zaira often wondered about Ivan and Fedyor's relationship. They were completely different individuals, but maybe it was their differences that made their relationship work. Zaira and Ivan tended to see eye to eye on most situations, both of them taking a more serious approach to assignments. Fedyor on the other hand, although one of the best soldiers in the Second Army, tended to lead with his heart.

"Yes. Stunning." Ivan replied as he reached forward and healed the wound across Zaira's cheek with a skilled hand.

Ignoring them both Zaira headed back towards the carriage dreading their return to the Little Palace. Not only had they failed General Kirigan but they had lost Girsha all to protect Alina Starkov. A girl who had no desire to be Grisha.

A/N: Super long chapter! Hope you're all enjoying the direction that this story is going. I know that I promised Crow Babies and they are coming, but the Crows story is going to be linear unlike the show. Odette's chapter is up next so her story will get started and let me tell you that her chapters are the ones that I am most excited for.