The First Sun Summoner | The Darkling *on hold*

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕺𝖓𝖊

He was walking with one of his amused smirks through the halls of the little Palace. A wink was thrown to every girl he passed so they started giggling, it made him feel amazing. Certainly, because he knew they loved him, everyone there did. He called himself the looks of the little Palace.

His blue kefta matched perfectly with his blue eyes, and being in the inner circle of him also helped a lot.

After he got the urgent letter for him, he almost immediately ran towards his chambers to give it to him. He sensed there would be some good adventure in that envelope, and he was as good as always right. On his way there, he 'accidentally' ran into Artemis Ward to brag about his important task. As most of the time, he tried to speak to her, she wasn't impressed and walked away.

He knocked on the double black doors and opened almost directly when he heard "Come in." He saw him bent above the maps on the huge table. "Ah, Clive. Is there something I can do for you?" he asked without looking up. He knew who it was just by hearing the way he stepped inside. "No General, I have an important letter for you."

He looked up and Clive handed over the letter. His brows raised and even his jaw fell a bit open. "Clive, gather Lilith, Dusk, and the Heartrender duo. Meet me at the entrance of the little palace in ten minutes." And he dismissed Clive.

Clive left the room and saw a little glimpse of General Kirigan brushing his hand through his hair with a surprised expression on his face.

***

Astra had been walking for hours, but it paid up. She had finally arrived at the base of the first army. It would be a risk to be there, but she took it. There would be fresh food, clothes and if she was lucky, she could steal some tools for the next journey.

She snuck into a tent and took the first uniform she could find. She changed her stolen clothes into her new stolen uniform so she would fit a bit in. Out of the tent, she immediately began to seek the food. Soldiers of all kinds were walking in big crowds so nobody paid attention to her. She still had to be careful because the place was also stuffed with Grisha.

Everything went great until a guard stopped her, "You should go that way, soldier. Or are you lost?" She looked at him and tried to calm down, she couldn't look suspicious. "No, of course not. I just have other orders." She said with an innocent smile. The guard tilted his head in suspicion, "Well, that orders can wait. Bring this to the general's tent." And he handed her a pack with letters.

"To who?" She asked confused, who in the saints' names was the general. "The general? General Kirigan." He still saw the confused look on her face. "The Darkling." He said eventually. Realization struck, she couldn't go to him. Why was he even here? Maybe the guard and Grisha had told him. She would be in brief danger. "Come on then! He doesn't have the whole day."

And she began to walk towards the biggest tent, she knew he would be there. Astra was trying to stall some time so she could figure out a solution.

Astra first thought to run, but the guard was probably suspecting her and keeping an eye out. She could pray to the saints for good luck but looking at the past, luck hadn't been much in her favor. She could shoot herself in the foot and blame a soldier, but she would be stuck at the place where the Darkling is located.

She would have to go with a game of good or bad luck. She entered the tent and cleared her throat. But he clearly hadn't heard her and was still deep in a conversation with a Grisha. He had light brown hair and beautiful blue eyes that matched with his blue kefta.

"Sir, why are we located at the place she is least likely to come?" The boy asked the Darkling. "Well, Clive, I am not going after her. People would know something would be wrong, and we don't want our enemies to know something is wrong, do we?" The Darkling answered with some annoyance in his voice.

"But there is not really anything wrong, we just haven't found her yet. She's probably confused about her power, she'll come to you soon." Clive answered carefully. "Yes, but imagine they'll find out I've found the Sun Summoner. They'll hunt her and kill her." The Darkling responded.

Astra let the letters fall out of her hand out of surprise. It hadn't made noise but still, caution struck her. "Who are you?" He asked with a little trace of disgust in his voice. The Darkling stood up straight and waited for an answer. The silence in the tent was too loud, so the Darkling spoke again. "How long have you been listening."

Astra took an unnoticeable deep breath and bent to take the letters from the ground. This was the perfect excuse not to look him in the eye while she spoke. "I am a tracker, sir, I have been assigned to give you these letters." Astra didn't step closer when she was done until she got a sign.

The Darkling's voice was still irritated, "Well, I have assigned all trackers to find someone. Why haven't you left with your unit?" When Astra was closer so she could hand him the letters, she could see him in the natural light. He was gorgeous.

He had a sharp jaw, pale skin that matched perfectly with his dark hair and his slate grey eyes. He had a nervous and bothered look, not that Astra could blame him. She would have loved to see his face when he realized he stood in the same tent as his target. She had never met the Darkling but loved this disturbing look on him. She despises all Grisha, but she hated him. He rides in his pathetic coach through the country like he's the king, not that the king is better than him, but still.

"I was in the infirmary, sir." She would give short answers. After eight years of lying she knows that the less you say, the less they can blame you for.

"Alright, thank you." He said, a bit calmer. Astra gave a last polite nod and turned around. "If", he stopped her, "you did hear something, and a certain someone dies... I'll blame you as responsible." Astra didn't look around, she knew she wouldn't be able to keep a straight face. "Yes, sir." Was the last thing she said before she left the tent.

She walked away, from the base, from the guards and the Grisha. She was a bit disappointed by herself. She could at least have tried to put a dagger through his so-called heart. If maybe that Clive hadn't been with him, she would have done it. Yes, she would end up in a cell or most likely death, but what's the point to live like this any longer.

She wasn't able to steal anymore, because the risk of being caught was much more likely, she would starve to death or be taken by the Darkling. Maybe if faith worked like in that tent, some enemies would get to her first. But it would have been much better if she had shoved a dagger into the Darkling's proud face, it would have been better when she could at least have tried to avenge her family's death.

Now she would have to run, but this mistake will not take place again. The next time she sees a glimpse of the Darkling, she'll blind him and cut off his hands. Astra would love to see how powerful he'll be when that happens.

Until then, she'll go find some money on her own ways, to buy the prettiest dagger she can find.