The journey back to the palace took a couple days. We stopped continuously throughout the night, to either rest, stretch our legs or eat. I remember leaving Aubrey Hall a couple nights ago.

That morning I left I told Genya part of the deal I made with the Darkling.

The Darkling sent Bash to come collect me with a spare horse in his reigns. I mounted on with Nikolai screaming behind me. I turned to see him running towards me. "Alina!"

I mounted on my horse, "Alina, wait!" I turned around suddenly as I saw Nikolai's desperate eyes begging me to dismount and run to him. I glanced at Bash, who was already up on his white horse. Patiently waiting for me. Zoya and Genya came running out soon enough, "Alina what are you doing?" Zoya demanded.

The three stood in a row waiting for my answer. Their desperate eyes, their extensive body language, their upsetting facial expression. "I love you all, so much."

I looked into Nikolai's ocean blue eyes once more, then turned to Bash–nodding to him. We started to ride, when I looked back over my shoulder I saw him drop to the ground, with Genya and Zoya holding him.

***
Once I reached the palace after many nights, Bash put me in chains. He had an apologetic look on his face. I could hardly blame him, he was just following orders. He cuffed my hands together in thick titanium chains. He looked into my eyes with a small smile on his face. "I'm sorry princess." He whispered, I saw Ivan behind him. He looked clearly pissed to see me here after I blinded him.

"It's okay Bash." I whispered back, a small smile tugging on my lips. When Ivan reached over to me, I glanced back at Bash. "Thank you by the way, for letting me go that night."

He nodded and soon a blindfold came over my eyes.

***
Unsure on how much time went by, I waited, on the cold-hard floor of the dungeons. I could tell I was chained to the floor and to the wall behind me. The blindfold remained over my eyes and I would always be at the advantage of whoever was present. Occasionally I would hear the guards mumble something from the outside of the dungeon gates. Gentle hands would always come in and feed me some food and water. I could tell it was Riya.

I heard the doors open and someone walked in. Light footsteps approached me. Whoever it was kneeled beside me and I felt a cold chalice being pressed to my lips. It was refreshing water, my throat screamed out for more but I guess there wasn't enough. "Riya?"

"Is that you?"

"Yes Princess Alina. I volunteered to come and make sure you ate, but of course be supervised." Her gentle voice was close to my ear. I realised that some of the Darkling's people, must have been hearing us closely.

"Here, have some cheese." Oh did I forget. It was poor quality food. I guess one of my minor punishments was to not be served the Royal treatment.

"How long Riya? How long have I been down here? I've lost concept of time?" I asked, as she paused feeding me.

"Six days Princess. The King wanted you to learn some discipline, he plans to let you out in a few more days." She answered, pity dropping from her voice.

King? I guess he embraced the title. "Alright, enough!" I jumped when I heard a harsh voice abruptly. I believe it was Ivan's. I'm surprised he hasn't crushed my heart yet. "Try and get some sleep." With that, I heard Riya's footsteps depart from the dungeons.

***
I counted in my head since Riya visited, three days went by. The Darkling would let me out any hour now.

The waiting was excruciating, thinking about my friends was one thing but thinking about what the Darkling would do was a whole other concern. I wondered my life in the Dothraki, if I had never returned to this life. But I'm guessing I would have been stripped of my dignity, many times. Just remembering the experience is disgusting. However, if I hadn't returned to the orphanage with Mal, then he would be here today. If not with me, then somewhere where I knew he would be safe.

I sighed, slumping down the cobblestone wall behind me, accepting the solitude I was in.

In the distance I could hear water dripping from the ceiling. I counted the small splashes. DRIP DRIP DRIP

SPLASH!

As I felt a rush of cold water thrown onto me drenching my clothes. "Aaagh!"

The blindfold around my eyes was soggy. I shook my head, the blindfold slipped down my face. As I finally saw the world like a new born. I saw Ivan with a large metal bucket in his hands. "Welcome Back. The King wants to see you!" Ivan stated, pulling me up by my chains, my dress soaked through, my entire figure was drenched and the dress i wore clung to me. He pushed me through the Iron doors.

He dragged me off to the Darkling's chambers where two Oprichniki opened the doors for us. My chains rattled beside me as I took each painful step into his rooms. My feet ached inside my flats, as I knew blisters covered my once ruff skin. My skin was never gentle or flawless like Genya's. It would always have patches of ruff skin all over my arms and legs, especially with the torture I endured in Fjerda. Most of them faded but I liked what it reminded me of.

Once I lifted my head, I saw the Darkling stood before me, with a serious face on. Ivan released his harsh grip on my arm and left the room as the Darkling waved him away.

"Glad you lived up to the deal!" He started to converse. I shook my chains, "Not like I had much of a choice."

"I have a term to add."

"I don't think your in a position to negotiate Alina."

"Yeah. I kinda got that." I rolled my eyes, making sure his eyes were directed onto the cuffs on my wrists and the chains that locked around my neck and down to my ankles. Everything ached.

After a minute of his eyes observing my chaff state. He gave a small smile. I'm glad the asshole is enjoying this.

"What do you want Alina?"

"Will you bring my friends to live at the palace?"

"After everything they did, not likely. Especially that fiancé of yours, or ex-fiancé." He stated with spite, rolling his eyes when he spoke fiancé.

"Please, they are my ladies and I love Nikolai."

"Now you love him." He mumbled under his breath turning his back to me. He fiddled with some papers on the table. I walked up to him, conscious to keep my distance. "Tomorrow we are too find the second Amplifier as we set close up to Novyi Zem, I'll see you tomorrow aboard the boat Alina." He stated as he clapped for a guard to come in through the doors.  What he said shook me. I didn't realise that the guard quickly took grasp of my arm and pulled me out under the Darkling's order. "Dark–" I tried to get his attention but the door was soon slammed in my face as I was taken down the dungeons.

The guards seemed to be rolling dice or playing fistic cups on the floor. I was dragged getting their attention. "The King wants you to switch patrols."

"Okay."

"About time." They mumbled as they walked past me and vanished from my sight. The guard soon came up to face me, she surprised me when she gave me a small smile. "Queen Alina." She gave me a small bow. "Do you know me?"

"I am part of your army Sun Summoner, you rescued me along with the others." She explained, taking off her fur hat and revealing her familiar dirty–blonde hair. I recognised her.

"Nadia managed to get in touch with Tolya and Tamar, who would be on the boat tomorrow."

"Yes, are we actually looking for the Sea Whip?" I said, knowing the name of the second Amplifier, as I read some books during the first couple of months in the palace. "It is true Sun Summoner, but we are staging a mutiny. I cannot get into the details right now, without alarming the heretic." She whispered, wary of our surroundings, even walls have ears. The shadows are his nature and his calling. His eyes and ears are all over the place.

"Be conscious for the next couple of days, soon we would only see you on the throne, as you belong."

She opened the dungeon doors and helped me inside, locking the doors behind me. She held onto the bars as she carried a look of embarrassment on her peachy skin.

"I hate to lock you up."

"It's okay. Your just doing your duty."

She soon started to leave me in my cell. Until I remembered I forgot to ask for her name. "Wait! What is your name?"

She flipped her hair back, "It's Rosa, my Queen."

***

Published: 12:30pm 14/05/2022