Just as Sturmhond, or Nikolai, or whoever he was said, guards came forward once we entered the camp to arrest me. They seemed relieved that his only demand was to send a letter with me to the king, and not to set me free.

The journey to Os Atlas was long, boring and uneventful, I was alone in a prison coach as guards flanked the sides incase I tried anything. I was going to argue that they were wasting their time and that I was only a fourteen year old girl but then thought better of it remembering that half of them were terrified of me, I still wasn't used to that.

When we arrived at the grand palace I saw a few curious faces poke out of windows and doors to see what was going on, before I was escorted through the main door I caught a glimpse of a deep blue kefta running towards the little palace, so there was still Grisha here.

I was led into the throne room, my hands bound in Grisha irons, and my head held high, I wouldn't let them see what I was truly feeling; scared and alone. Before I was led in movement had caught my eye from the shadowed corner of the room, I looked over and saw the distinctive figure of my father standing there, his hands clasped together behind his back, and I knew that he saw through the front I was putting up.

He came over to me, "Show no reaction," he ordered, standing behind me, "You want them to believe you're cooperating. When you go in keep your head high, don't let then break you with their accusations, you've had no part to play in any of this, Rena. They only want information, information you don't have. This is their way of getting to me, and I hate to say it's working," my head turned to the side slightly, and he chuckled, "Yes Rena, I do have weaknesses, everyone slightly human does, I won't blame you for what comes next, do what you must to survive."

With that the guards beside me stood to attention and we started walking, my father had disappeared but his words still rang in my brain, and as I walked into the throne room I kept my head held high, my eyes fixed on theirs.

"Rena...." the head guard who was reading from a piece of parchment flattered and whispered to a guard next to him, "Uh.... Rena, you have been charged with treason against the throne of his most royal highness King Alexander the Third, Ruler of the Double Eagle Throne, may his life and reign be long.” He recited, "How do you plead."

That's a very long title for someone so short, I thought to myself holding in my snicker. I went to reach inside my kefta for the letter that Nikolai had given me, but almost as soon as I moved a rife had appeared in my face, "Don't move!" I heard guards yell at me.

Obviously they wouldn't let just casually let you reach inside your coat, Rena, I chided myself. "I have a letter," I spoke up, my voice far more confident than I felt, "From your son, he said to give it to you." The king and queen looked over to Vasily who stood to the right behind them and shook his head, "Your other son," I told them.

The queen put a hand to her heart and looked like she was about to cry, just how long had he been gone?

The king nodded and I took the letter out from my kefta, handing it to a guard, he turned it around and again inspecting it, for what I couldn't possibly tell you, after he was sure it was safe he ascended the dais and gave it to the king.

The king read the letter and then handed it to his son to look over, "Are we meant to believe this?" Vasily scoffed, "My brother, is off studying at the university in Ketterdam, if he was back on Ravkan soil, we would be the first to know, not some traitor witch."

I took a deep breath to keep myself from strangling him, and finnaly responded, "If you don't believe me, moi tsarevich, ask any of the soldiers that recently traveled with me from the encampment in Kribirsk, I'm sure they would just love to tell you the events of that day," a hint of sarcasm was etched into my response that only he seemed to pick up on.

He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by the king, "She's right, this can be easily solved. Vasily, you know the captain well, go ask him," he ordered.

I nearly laughed, Vasily's face was priceless, obviously he didn't think that this was work worth of a prince, but I supposed he didn't think any type of work was worthy of him.

He descended from his spot beside his father atop the dais, stopping to face me when he neared. "Welcome back to Ravka, witch," he snarled through gritted teeth, handing me back the letter and exiting the throne room.

After a few long minutes of silence a servant entered through the elaborate double doors carrying confirmation of my words to king, apparently Vasily couldn't drag his miserable feet the few steps to come back, or mabey he just didn't want to see me get my pardon.

The king dismissed her with a wave of his hand and then looked straight at me, "Before we let you go let me ask you this, just where is the Darkling?"

I'd been waiting for this question, knew it was coming, "Truthfully, I have no idea, moi tsar, it's been quite some time since I've seen him," in the flesh, I added in my head, I didn't feel like telling them about how I could visit him.

He regarded my words, "And when my guards first arrested you, how and why did you escape?"

Had they seriously not figured out that yet? "I was told I was going to be executed for something I did not do, moi tsar," unfortunately I was told it was necessary to repeat his title every time, "I was scared and escaped in search of answers, I just so happened to bump into your son who ever so graciously..... helped me," obviously that was just a half truth.

He sighed heavily, obviously getting bored of this interrogation, my father was right, he really was just like a child. "You will be released of all charges and escorted back to the little palace where you will reside with the other Grisha. If we get any lead that you have contact with the Darkling without my personal approval or have any notions of traitor like actions or thoughts, I will not hesitate to put your head on a pike. Do you understand?"

My lips pulled up into a slight grin, "Of course, moi tsar, I wouldn't have it any other way, thank you."

He grunted and signalled to the guards beside me to release me of my irons and escort me to the little palace. I was on edge considering what happened the last time I walked back from the grand palace but thankfully nothing of the sort happened. The guards left me at the entrance of the little palace and returned to the grand palace.

I took a deep breath and opened the doors to enter.

Happy Toy-Show day everyone!!

Christmas starts now!!