( the same question alina can't answer, spinning around inside her brain, a revolving door to an empty room. in the privacy of her room, she sighs, fatigue creeping into her consciousness now that she's exhausted her anger. )
I don't know. A man. Strong. Tall. I couldn't see his face. He wore a mask, like the rest of us. It was red. Or pink. Maybe even orange. I didn't have
You know men don't always need to have a good reason for targeting women.
( she thinks of the king, fleetingly, choking on her bile. )
The thrill of it, maybe. Or maybe they needed no reason at all. Maybe someone, or something, influenced them. Some of the others have said their powers have been behaving oddly, now.
( more's the point: )
You don't have to make it known that we know each other. They might find it an excuse to come for you next.
( pointedly. when inexplicable power comes into play, it's grisha they look to burn on the pyre, first, cornered and singled out like rats in a hole. )
Half of them are conveniently dead or accused.
( coincidence, or — as alina's paranoia insists — deliberate. )
Daniil. Alexei. Matt Jamison. Koby. Paul Atreides. His sister, Alia, but I have reason to believe she isn't herself. Queen Alicent and Aemond Targaryen have both made vows to me, though I expect they would abandon it, if they had to make the choice between me or themselves.
[ That is not to say there aren't exceptions, but if Alina already senses it, then Zoya has no reason to doubt it. Good for Alina picking up on political scheming, four for you Alina. ]
( ah. the one probing questioning alina doesn't want to bend to answering. )
I trust her with my life. Just not yours. Alia wouldn't harm anyone without reason, unless this place pushed her to do it.
( what's unsaid: the evidence, much as alina would like to turn a blind eye to it, is stacked against alia — and alina no longer has the excuse of the same youth and naivety that had mottled her vision of the darkling. )
You know as I do that power isn't always so easy to control.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I don't know.
A man. Strong. Tall.
I couldn't see his face. He wore a mask, like the rest of us.
It was red. Or pink. Maybe even orange. I didn't have
( she pauses, a necessary beat. )
There wasn't enough time to get a good look.
no subject
no subject
( she thinks of the king, fleetingly, choking on her bile. )
The thrill of it, maybe.
Or maybe they needed no reason at all. Maybe someone, or something, influenced them.
Some of the others have said their powers have been behaving oddly, now.
( more's the point: )
You don't have to make it known that we know each other.
They might find it an excuse to come for you next.
no subject
If they burn witches I have something that can bite back.
no subject
That's enough reason for some to blame you.
( a beat, then: )
I haven't told many people here about my summoning.
It seems I was right not to.
no subject
[ Both positive and negative. ]
I hate to hide in shadows, but I think you're correct. I'm not feeling particularly suicidal at the moment, or generous with my trust either.
Who do you trust here?
no subject
( pointedly. when inexplicable power comes into play, it's grisha they look to burn on the pyre, first, cornered and singled out like rats in a hole. )
Half of them are conveniently dead or accused.
( coincidence, or — as alina's paranoia insists — deliberate. )
Daniil. Alexei. Matt Jamison. Koby. Paul Atreides. His sister, Alia, but I have reason to believe she isn't herself.
Queen Alicent and Aemond Targaryen have both made vows to me, though I expect they would abandon it, if they had to make the choice between me or themselves.
no subject
[ That is not to say there aren't exceptions, but if Alina already senses it, then Zoya has no reason to doubt it. Good for Alina picking up on political scheming, four for you Alina. ]
The Atreides girl, what gives you pause?
no subject
I trust her with my life. Just not yours.
Alia wouldn't harm anyone without reason, unless this place pushed her to do it.
( what's unsaid: the evidence, much as alina would like to turn a blind eye to it, is stacked against alia — and alina no longer has the excuse of the same youth and naivety that had mottled her vision of the darkling. )
You know as I do that power isn't always so easy to control.