TANGLED, genya safin

chapter three.

chapter three.
The Rise of a Grisha

WE'D BEEN TRAVELING FOR THREE DAYS NOW, never stopping once, not even to eat. I'd eaten little since we'd left anyways, not trusting anything the Grisha gave me. Not that I had a reason not to trust them, I just didn't particularly like them that much and they'd poisoned our food once before, but that story was for another time.

I had suspected we'd be traveling back on the Vy, but there had been many routes that could be taken to get to Os Alta, so I wasn't sure where we were. I guessed that we only had a day left to get to the little palace, but I couldn't determine that for sure.

❂♕

The next few hours dragged on slowly after that. I tried taking a nap, but the coach constantly bumped over tree branches, or maybe even rocks, which made it impossible at this point. So, I just spent the remaining hours watching as we rolled past wheat fields and flowers and woods, occasionally rolling past travels as we went.

The Grisha didn't talk to me, only brought me food and a blanket every few hours. I didn't mind the silence though, it was nice being able to have some time to myself although I knew I wasn't completely alone, it almost felt like I was.

❂♕

By the time the sun began to peak over the horizon the next morning, we were already making our way through a massive gate and the famous double walls of Os Alta. It was a bit overwhelming at first but then we were passing shuttered shops, wide marketplaces, and crowded rows of narrow houses.

Os Alta was called the dream city, known as the capital of Ravka, home to the Grisha and the Kings' Grand Palace.

We rolled past passing coaches of various colors and uniformed officers, up ahead was a bridge that led to the other side of Os Alta.

As we rolled over the bridge, I saw that it could be raised to turn the canal into a giant moat that separated the dream city and the common mess of the market towns.

When we had reached the other side of the bridge, it was as if we passed into another world. Everywhere I looked, I saw fountains and plazas, verdant parks, and broad boulevards lined with perfect rows of trees. Here and there, I saw lights on in the lower stories of the grand houses, where kitchen fires were being lit and the day's work was starting.

The streets began to slope upwards, and we climbed higher, the houses becoming larger and more imposing until finally we arrived at another wall and another set of gates, these wrought in gleaming gold and emblazoned with the king's double eagles. Along the walls, I could see heavily armed men at their posts, a grim reminder that for all its beauty, Os Alta was still the capital of a country that had long been at war.

We passed a broad path paved in glittering gravel and bordered by rows of elegant trees. To the left and right, stretching into the distance, I saw manicured gardens, rich with green and hazy in the midst of early morning. Above it, all, atop a series of marble terraces and golden fountains, loomed the Grand Palace, the Ravkan King's winter home. When we finally reached the huge double-eagle we faced another fountain of gleaming gold and rolled past it.

It was the most beautiful place I'd ever seen in my seventeen years of life and I felt a sense of calmness take me over, almost feeling grateful that I was the summoner the darkling had sought out for who knows how long.

We rolled past the beautiful elaborate facade, The Grand Palace was huge, terraces crowded with statues, standing at three stories high gleaming with row after row of shining windows, each ornamented extensively in real gold.

We took a turn a few minutes later, exiting away from the Grand Palace and down another path, passing hedge mazes, rolling lawns with a columned temple at its center, and a vast greenhouse, its windows clouded with condensation. Then we entered a long dark corridor, before emerging back into the early sunlight.

We slopped downhill again but withstood up ahead was the Little Palace, rising from the trees that surrounded it like something carved from an enchanted forest, a cluster of dark wood walls and golden domes. As we drew closer, I saw that every inch of it was covered in intricate carvings of birds and flowers, twisting vines, and magical beasts.

A charcoal-clad group of servants waited on the steps as the coach rolled to a stop. One of the Grisha opened the door motioning for me to get out and I did but slowly. The air rushed around me, a chill running up my back and muscles aching from not standing in a few days.

The Grisha didn't say anything, but a servant was at my side taking hold of my arm and dragging me through an entry chamber and then into a cast hexagonal room with four long tables arranged in a square at its center. Our footsteps echoed off the stone floors, and a massive gold dome seemed to float above us at an impossible height.

I followed after the woman in silence through another pair of double doors and into one of the smaller towers. When I saw all the stairs, I almost broke down and wept. Maybe I'll just ask if I can stay down here in the middle of the hall, I thought miserably. Instead, I put my hand on the carved banister and dragged myself upwards, after the woman, my stiff body protesting every step. When we reached the top, I felt like celebrating by lying down and taking a nap, but the servant was already moving down the hallways. We passed door after door until finally, we reached a chamber where another uniformed maid stood waiting by an open doorway.

Dimly, I registered a large room, heavy golden curtains, and a fire burning in a beautifully tiled grate, but all I cared about was the large canopied bed.

"Can I get you anything? Something to eat?" Asked the woman. I shook my head. I just wanted to sleep.

"Very well," she said and nodded to the maid, who curtsied and disappeared down the hall. "Then I'll let you rest. Make sure to lock your door."

I blinked at her, "for precaution," said the woman and left, closing the door gently behind her.

A precaution against what? I wondered. But I was too tired to think about it. I locked the door, peeled off my army coat and boots,
and fell into bed.

Words Written:
1,135

『Authors note』

Another chapter! Out early because I am giddy and excited because we get to meet a little certain red head next chapter! Not much talking mostly just exploring.

Most of this came from the book if you know it well! Again I'm terrible at writing detailed stuff so I had help. All credit goes to Leigh Bardugo because a large chuck came from her book!