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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟑
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐑

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Inessa rode beside Mal and behind two of the most powerful Grisha for miles. Neither Alina nor Baghra told the pair behind them where they were headed, but it was clear they knew how to get to their destination. Even without her abilities, the Smirnoff girl could sense that the tracker was on edge. She had no idea what he and Alina discussed after she left them for their private talk, but she could tell the Sun Summoner's words rattled him. Despite wanting to be there for Mal, Inessa had a feeling he'd rather not talk about what happened. So instead, she rode in silence as close as she could to him, offering as much moral support as she could.

They rode a few more miles before the Smirnoff girl sensed that the horses were beginning to tire. Inessa did think much about her actions, other than that they needed to find a safe place for the horses to rest. But the expression on Baghra's face made her think otherwise. However, instead of questioning the Grisha teacher, the Smirnoff girl remained silent. With all the stress Alina was experiencing, Inessa knew it would be best to have a private conversation with her later.

It wasn't long before they found a clearing big enough for the four of them as well as their horses. While Inessa remained with Baghra and Alina, Mal left to find them something to eat. The tracker returned with a few rabbits right as the Grisha finished taking care of the horses. They let the sounds of the forest fill the silence as they ate their meal cooked and prepared by Mal. It wasn't until they finished eating that Baghra finally broke the silence surrounding them.

"Lucky rabbit was just a rabbit. No power in that bone. Ridiculous. This notion of amplifiers. If it wasn't for Morozova and his rapacious notion, I might still have my little finger," the Grisha teacher declared after tossing the rabbit bone aside. Her eyes moved toward Inessa for a moment before her full attention landed on Mal. "You were very fast at catching that rabbit."

"Mal can make rabbits out of rocks," Alina declared with a proud smile on her face, only to be greeted by a blank stare from the boy across from her.

"You're very good at tracking things. Rabbits...and more miraculous creatures," Baghra continued without taking her eyes off the Oretsev boy. The way she studied Mal sent a wave of uncertainty over Inessa. She had no idea where her former mentor was going with the conversation, but the Heartrender wasn't liking it. But before the Smirnoff girl could voice her opinions, Baghra continued speaking. "The Stag, the Sea Whip."

"Yeah," Mal muttered under his breath before looking down at his meal that was barely touched, "I'm not having much luck with the Firebird though, am I?"

Inessa couldn't help but glance over at Baghra, who was staring back at the Heartrender with an emotionless gaze. The two of them kept their eyes locked until the Smirnoff girl turned to face the tracker. "Don't worry, Mal. We'll find it once we reach...wherever these two are taking us."

"Morozova's workshop," Alina declared, earning shocked looks from the pair sitting across from her.

"Well, that would've been very useful information for us to know," the Smirnoff girl responded, not bothering to hide the annoyance in her voice.

"I'm going to tell you a story I used to tell a little boy filled with shadow," Baghra announced, drawing everyone's full attention toward her, "Morozova was the greatest Fabrikator who ever lived. Obsessed with the boundaries of Grisha power. He used merzost and his finger bones to resurrect the Stag and the Sea Whip to act as amplifiers for the Grisha, who would find them, kill them, and take their power as their own."

"And then he completed the triumvirate by creating the Firebird," Inessa recited the story she had read a thousand times in the Little Palace's library. Alina and Mal instantly looked over at her with shocked looks on their faces, only for the Heartrender to simply shrug in response. "Everyone who grew up in the Little Palace knows that story."

"But that's only what they want you to believe," the Grisha teacher responded before letting out a long sigh, "the real story is...his wife became pregnant. While he made plans for the Firebird, the girl who was born started to show a power like nothing ever known. She could summon darkness."

After watching Baghra create a small shadow in her hands, Alina stared at the woman beside her with shock in her eyes. "Morozova was your father?"

"The Bonesmith?" Mal questioned, his eyes filled with concern and curiosity.

"In the Istorii Sankt'ya, he's known as Sankt Ilya, bound in chains and drowned in the river for his sins after he resurrected a village boy cut in half by a plow blade. That's the version everyone's been taught. Only some of it is true," the Grisha teacher explained with a look in her eyes that told Inessa she was reliving every moment as she spoke. After letting out another long sigh, Baghra reached for Alina's hand and took it into her own. "All families have secrets. Some more than others."

Baghra's gaze lingered on Mal, something that he didn't seem to notice. But Inessa did, and it made her concern for the tracker triple. However, her thoughts were soon interrupted when the Oretsev man began speaking. "We should get back on it while we have light."

"What of your family, boy?" the woman questioned, stopping Mal in his tracks and drawing his gaze back to her, "what do you know?"

Inessa could sense his nerves skyrocket as he stared at the Grisha teacher. It was a pounding in her ears that she couldn't ignore. Without thinking twice, the Smirnoff girl placed her hand on Mal's knee, offering him some much-needed support. He instantly intertwined his fingers with hers, sending a wave of warmth throughout the Heartrender's body. Even without using her abilities, Inessa was able to calm the Oretsev boy's nerves. He let another silent moment pass between them before finally responding. "My family is all gone. I was orphaned by the war in Dva Stolba."

Because the Heartrender's attention was focused on Mal, she failed to notice the realization appear in Baghra's eyes. "You'd have passed through Caryava and its three orphanages on your way."

"I just kept on going until I...until I found one that felt like home," the tracker explained while keeping his eyes locked on his and Inessa's interlocked hands.

"I had a sister in Caryava, ten years younger. An otkazat'sya girl who should've lived a boring otkazat'sya life," the Grisha teacher continued, drawing Mal's attention away from their hands and back to her, "my father had made this little clay swan for me, in a moment when he still thought of me, before she was born. I cherished it the way he cherished her. One day, when she was six, she broke its neck. I lashed out with the Cut. Tore her small body in two."

"Surely it was an accident," Alina reassured her after sharing an uncertain look with Inessa and Mal.

"What did it matter? The damage was done, and I was banished. This isn't a return home. It's a return to the scene of the crime." Before anyone had a chance to respond, Baghra got to her feet and began walking away. However, he didn't make it very far before stopping and turning toward Inessa. "Will you join me for a moment?"

The Smirnoff girl glanced over at Mal before sending the Grisha teacher a small nod in response. She soon got to her feet and followed Baghra toward where they tied up the horses. As soon as they were far enough away that they knew Mal and Alina couldn't hear them, the Shadow Summoner turned to face the Heartrender. "How long have you known?"

"Known what?"

"Don't play dumb with me, girl," Baghra told her without bothering to hide the desperation in her voice, "how long?"

Inessa hesitated for a moment as she looked over at Mal, who was having an inaudible conversation with Alina. She kept her eyes glued to him for another moment before turning her attention back to the Grisha teacher. "I didn't realize it until yesterday. I was trying to heal the wounds General Kirigan inflicted on Ivan. When Mal touched my wrist, an energy I'd never felt before surged through me."

"It should be impossible," Baghra muttered under her breath.

"What should be impossible?"

"I need to find a way to truly confirm it," the Grisha teacher told her before looking over at the tracker, "but that boy could be the key to all our problems."

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They traveled for another half a day along a deserted trail toward Morozova's workshop. Along the way, Inessa couldn't help but glance over at the Oretsev boy, desperately hoping that whatever Baghra was thinking wasn't true. But deep down, the Smirnoff girl knew there was more to Mal's history than any of them realized.

What felt like an eternity passed before Baghra called out for them to stop. Inessa was confused as to why they were dismounting their horses in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere. That was until she noticed a strange-looking rock formation in the distance. The Grisha teacher seemed to pick up speed, causing her traveling companions to copy her actions. They didn't stop riding until they were a few yards away from the phenomenon. It was then that the horses refused to get any closer. Inessa reluctantly got off her horse and tied it to a nearby tree beside Mal's.

The tracker was quick to notice her mood change, but he was unsure of what could've caused it. He desperately wanted to talk to her away from prying ears, something they hadn't had a chance to do in what felt like a very long time. But those thoughts were soon pushed aside when Alina called out to them. Their attention immediately turned to the Sun Summoner, who was gesturing for her friends to join her and Baghra. Inessa and Mal couldn't help but exchange an uncertain look before moving to stand beside the Starkov girl.

"This was all abandoned after Morozova's death," Alina said in a way that made it seem like both a statement and a question.

"Do you think steel chains could've held him in the river?" Baghra retaliated while picking a pure white flower from the earth. Her actions earned her a confused glance from the Sun Summoner. "Don't look at me like that, girl. I moved on from this place. Other journals have surfaced. Merzost's teachings Aleksander used to create the Fold. A legacy of wrongdoing never made right."

The Grisha teacher just studied the formation in front of them, which Inessa now realized was a door covered with years of overgrown ivy. It wasn't long before Baghra turned her attention toward Mal. "Boy, clear us a way in."

The tracker hesitated for a moment before handing Inessa his lantern and approaching the covered door. The Grisha watched as he cut away at the vines, revealing carvings in the ancient door. They were in a language unfamiliar to the Heartrender, which was surprising considering how much time she spent in the Little Palace's library. The Oretsev boy just studied the door in front of him until looking over his shoulder at Baghra. "Do I push it or-"

"Help me up," the Grisha teacher demanded, causing Inessa and Alina to take her arms and help her up onto the stone step. Not even a second after that passed when she turned toward Mal. "Give me your blade."

The Oretsev boy couldn't help but glance over at the Smirnoff girl, only to find her looking just as lost as he was. Neither Inessa nor Alina said a word as they watched Mal reluctantly hand Baghra his dagger. She stared at the object in her hand for what felt like an eternity before breaking the silence surrounding them. But it wasn't her words that made Inessa uneasy. It was how the Grisha teacher kept her eyes locked with Mal as she spoke. "Only a Morozova can open it."

Before any of them had a chance to respond, Baghra dragged her finger across the blade, creating a small cut on her thumb. She kept an expressionless look on her face as she handed Mal his dagger. Not even a second after that passed when the Grisha teacher gestured toward the lantern, causing Inessa to hand it to her. Once the lantern was in her hand, Baghra turned around and placed her thumb against the door. The next thing any of them knew, the stone slid open with ease. She didn't hesitate to enter the dark cave, unlike her allies standing behind her. But after Inessa exchanged glances with Alina and Mal, the three of them followed her inside.

All they could hear was the distant sounds of nature as they walked further down the corridor. Chills ran throughout Inessa's entire body, her uneasiness growing with each step she took. And by the way Mal and Alina's hearts beat beside her, the Heartrender knew they were feeling the same way. Lucky for them, they wouldn't be in the dark much longer. Baghra soon used the flame from their lantern to light the torch nearest to her. Not even a second after that passed when she handed it to Mal. No words needed to be exchanged for him to know what she wanted him to do. The tracker quickly got to work lighting the remaining torches, bringing much-needed light into the formerly dark cave.

Shock coursed through Inessa's veins as soon as she spotted the two coffins in the center of the room. Mal returned to her side instantly as they stared at the sight in front of them. Alina seemed to be the only one unfazed, or at least she didn't show it. Instead, she took a few steps forward until she was standing beside Baghra. "Your sister?"

"And my mother. Died of the pox before I was banished," the Grisha teacher said without taking her eyes off the coffins. A long sigh passed over her lips as she placed the flower on the coffin to her right. "How my mother feared me. She always told me I was one of my father's abominations."

"She was wrong," the Starkov girl declared while handing the lantern back to the Shadow Summoner.

Baghra couldn't help but scoff. "She was right. Have you not been paying attention?"

She didn't wait for any of them to respond before trekking further into the cave. Alina glanced over at Mal and Inessa, who were standing close together as they debated on following Baghra. It wasn't long before they made it into the next room, one that was filled with dozens of desks, each covered with piles of papers.

"Morozova was corrupted with merzost," Baghra explained as her three young allies continued to explore the room, "seeped into everything he created."

Inessa couldn't hide the small smile on her lips as she studied the images of the Stag and the Sea Whip. They were sketched onto the wall with such precision that it looked as though they were always meant to be there. But what made her smile falter was the lack of the Firebird. Its absence made her think back to her private conversation with Baghra. Her thoughts caused her to glance over at the tracker, who was reading a scroll with the most serious look Inessa had ever seen on his face. Just as she was about to walk over to see what he was reading, the Oretsev boy looked up at the Grisha teacher.

"Are you sure the Firebird was made here?" Mal questioned, drawing everyone's attention toward him before he continued speaking, "with the Stag and the Sea Whip, there was a frequency I could hear. I don't hear anything in this place."

"Follow me," Baghra ordered before her attention fell on Inessa and Alina, "you two, stay here. Start sorting through his journals for any mention of the Firebird."

While Sun Summoner began doing what the Grisha teacher said, the Heartrender didn't move an inch. Thoughts bounced around in Inessa's head, all revolving around the tracker's well-being. Her eyes were locked on Mal as he began following Baghra. The Smirnoff girl gave in to her emotions right as he was about to walk out of the room. She took a step forward while calling out Mal's name, causing him to stop in his tracks.

When he turned around to face Inessa, he was surprised to find her staring back at him with concern in her eyes. Mal didn't hesitate to walk toward her until they were barely standing a foot away. "What's wrong, Inessa?"

The Smirnoff girl only hesitated for a moment before gathering enough courage to speak. "It seems as though the Firebird is the most important of the three amplifiers. We don't know the price of it yet."

A wave of confusion washed over the Oretsev boy as he continued to study Inessa. "It's a price we'll have to pay. It's the only thing we need."

"It's not the only thing. I need you. You're my path to happiness. I know the power of the Firebird will help Alina bring down the Fold. I know how important it is for her to defeat the Darkling. But the price might be too high to pay this time," Inessa declared as their hearts began to beat in sync. That was something the Heartrender had only ever experienced with the tracker. But she knew what it meant. Fedyor and Ivan told her about the Grisha legend during one of her training sessions. About how a Heartrender found the person they were meant to be with when their hearts aligned. She thought it was a coincidence before, but there was no denying it now. "Our hearts beat as one, Mal. They always have. We were meant to find each other."

A small smile soon appeared on the Oretsev boy's face while taking Inessa's hand into his own. "I've known that from the beginning. Two sides of a broken heart."

A surge of power coursed through the Smirnoff girl's veins as their fingers intertwined. That's all it took for a single tear to roll down her cheek, knowing that Baghra was right. Even though she didn't want it to be true, Mal was the key to all our problems. Their eyes stayed locked on each other, neither of them wanting the moment to end. Their thoughts seemed to be connected, just like their fingers. For they both leaned in at the same time until their lips touched. The world around them seemed to disappear as Inessa and Mal shared a gentle kiss, something they both unknowingly needed.

But their moment soon ended when Baghra called out for Mal once again. The tracker studied every inch of Inessa's face for what felt like an eternity. As the Heartrender watched him go, she knew he was about to learn everything about his past, and how it was about to change their future.

Inessa had no idea how much time had passed since Mal left with Baghra. It felt like hours, but it could only have been a few minutes. What she did know was how cold her body felt without his presence, and it had nothing to do with him being the Firebird. The tracker had always given the Heartrender a warm feeling, even before they truly accepted how they felt about each other. But now that the Smirnoff girl knew he was in danger, her blood ran through her body ice cold.

While the Heartrender looked through the piles of papers on one side of the room, Alina covered the other half. Even though she knew there wouldn't be any information on the Firebird, Inessa was trying to keep up the act as long as possible. She didn't want Alina to know the truth just yet. Her eyes scanned over the words in front of her, trying her best to focus on what was written. But her thoughts would always take her back to Mal. She knew he would need to make the ultimate sacrifice to save Ravka. And she knew he wouldn't put himself before an entire country. But deep down, Inessa secretly wished he would.

The Smirnoff girl was soon drawn out of her thoughts by the sound of Alina shouting. She didn't hesitate to spin around to face her friend, only to find her pinned to the wall by what looked like a cloud of light. Power pulsed off the Sun Summoner as she struggled to break free of its hold. It didn't take Inessa long to realize it wasn't light pinning her to the wall, it was the Darkling. He had found her through their bond.

Just as Inessa was about to rush toward Alina, Baghra called out to her, stopping the Heartrender in her tracks. She glanced back at the Grisha teacher, only to find her standing in front of Mal, keeping him from aiding his best friend. Inessa opened her mouth to speak, only for Baghra to beat her to it. "Don't break the connection."

"You said she's not strong enough to face him," Mal said without taking his eyes off Alina.

"Exactly," Baghra declared, determination very evident in her voice. It wasn't long after that when she grabbed one of the torches on the wall beside them. "I will end this once and for all. Once I've killed my son, my time here is done. All this goes with me."

Before Inessa and Mal had a chance to stop her, the Shadow Summoner tossed the torch into a box of scrolls. The fire she created started small, but it soon began to grow when the sparks met the surrounding crates. It wouldn't be long before the whole room was engulfed in flames. Baghra kept her eyes glued to the fire for another moment before turning her attention toward the Oretsev boy. "You know what you have to do. And close the door on your way out."

The Grisha teacher's eyes lingered on Inessa, who desperately wanted to stop Baghra from whatever she was planning. But the Heartrender knew there was nothing she could do. The Shadow Summoner sent her a small nod before approaching Alina. The Smirnoff girl couldn't help but gasp after watching Baghra place her hand in the light, making the Darkling appear in front of them. Inessa didn't know whether he was real or not, but she wasn't going to wait around to find out. Instead, Mal rushed forward and grabbed Alina. The Sun Summoner struggled against his grasp as she fought to get back to the Grisha teacher, who seemed to be stunned. But what surprised the Heartrender even more was that General Kirigan was no longer in the room with them.

"We can't leave her," Alina pleaded while trying and failing to break out of her friend's arms.

"She's not coming with us," Mal told her, only for her struggle to continue.

"She's not sacrificing herself for me!"

"It's too late, Alina!" Inessa shouted, surprising everyone in the room, including herself, "she's doing this so we can escape! Don't let her sacrifice be in vain!"

The Starkov girl finally gave in and let Mal lead the way toward the exit, only for her to pause at the sight of the burning scrolls. "The Firebird!"

"I know where the Firebird is! We have to go!" Mal exclaimed before grabbing Inessa with his other hand.

The tracker kept pulling the Grisha along until he saw the cave's exit. He forced both of them out through the stone door before pressing his thumb against it. The door immediately shut, leaving Alina in shock. But she didn't have time to process what was happening. Instead, the three of them hurried toward their horses, eager to escape the burning workshop as quickly as possible.

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The three of them rode for a day straight before finally arriving at Zvedya. Nikolai stood in the courtyard with Fedyor, Ivan, Genya, and a man Inessa had never seen before. They were waiting for their allies to arrive ever since they received word of their return from one of the Lantsov boy's scouts. Soldiers were quick to greet the new arrivals, taking their horses so they could reunite with their allies. Inessa desperately wanted to jump into her cousin's arms, or even Fedyor's or Ivan's. She wanted some form of comfort after what she had just witnessed. But she knew that would have to wait. They needed to end this war before things got even worse.

Silence surrounded them for what felt like an eternity before Alina let out a shaky sigh. "We lost Baghra. But before she died, she broke the connection between me and Kirigan. I no longer feel him."

"Does that mean he's dead?" Genya asked, not bothering to hide the hint of hope in her voice.

"Safest to proceed as though he's alive until we hear otherwise," Nikolai told them before his gaze moved to his cousin, "did you learn anything about the Firebird?"

Inessa hesitated, unsure how to respond to the Lantsov boy. Her actions didn't go unnoticed by her cousin and the Heartrenders beside him, who were all staring at her with a hint of confusion in their eyes. But before the Smirnoff girl had a chance to speak, Alina beat her to it. "Mal knows where it is."

Mal and Inessa's eyes instantly snapped toward the Sun Summoner. They wished they could say they were shocked by her outburst, but they weren't. Especially since she had no idea about the price she would have to pay.

"Tell us what you need to find it. Everything Commander Vertov and I have is at your disposal," Nikolai announced without taking his eyes off Inessa. The two of them stared at each other for a long moment before his gaze moved to Mal, who looked just as defeated as the Smirnoff girl. But the Lantsov boy would have to question their thoughts later. Instead, he moved the conversation back to the situation at hand. "It appears Kirigan's on the move. He...he destroyed the First Army camp at Keramzin. Our scouts say there are no survivors."

A wave of anger and sorrow washed over Alina after hearing the news, but she didn't let it defeat her. "He knows my weaknesses."

"Two teams, then," Commander Vertov announced while looking over at Mal, "one goes with, uh..."

"Oretsev, sir."

"Dominik," the brunette man greeted with a handshake before continuing to speak, "one team goes with Oretsev to get the Firebird, another goes straight to the Darkling to stop him advancing."

"Tomorrow, then, we move," Nikolai announced with determination in his voice.

After receiving nods from those around him, he left to update his followers on the plan, with Dominik close behind. Soon after, Genya slipped away to find David, leaving only the four Grisha and the tracker. Inessa couldn't help but look over at Mal, who was already staring back at her. The two of them seemed to have a silent conversation before the Oretsev boy sent her a small nod. Not even a second after that passed when he led Alina away, going to find a private place to talk about what they discovered. That left Inessa with the two Heartrenders who never left her alone with her thoughts.

The Smirnoff girl tried to slip away, only for Fedyor to grab her arm and stop her from leaving. The next thing she knew, Inessa was being dragged across the courtyard by the Kaminsky man. Ivan followed close behind them, trying and failing to hide the smile forming on his face at the sight in front of him. It wasn't long before the three of them found themselves in a corridor, away from prying eyes and listening ears.

"What did you learn about the Firebird?" Fedyor questioned, only for Inessa to remain silent, "now is not the time for secrets, Ness. Did Mal find it?"

The Smirnoff girl hesitated. It wasn't because she didn't want to tell Fedyor and Ivan. She trusted both of them with her life. Inessa was simply afraid that if she spoke the words out loud, it would make everything true. But she knew there was no stopping what was to come. "The Firebird was never a creature. It's a person."

"What are you talking about?" Ivan asked with a confused yet concerned expression on his face.

"Baghra had a sister. She was the third amplifier. Morozova used merzost to bring her back to life after Baghra killed her," Inessa explained, earning shocked looks from the Heartrenders in front of her, "that power was passed down through generations, all the way down to..."

"To Mal," Fedyor finished for Inessa, who was having a hard time speaking through all of her emotions.

"The tracker is the Firebird," Ivan muttered under his breath, not bothering to hide the shock in his voice.

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she sent them a small nod in response. "Mal needs to die for Ravka to live."

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