[ He comes after her, moving easily onto the bed when they reach it. From there, he'll be pulling her back into his arms again. Sorry, but he was comfortable before. ]
Officially. That we're alive now means we passed.
I took the simulation. More than four fifths of my crew died in that test.
[ The mirrored dishes that they'd believed would protect the Palace. If they'd been ready, if Vasily hadn't been so blind a fool, it might have worked. It should have worked.
Now it will. Now the Nichevo'ya won't get past her. ]
We do.
So we must survive, now. We must be the best we can be and fulfil our contracts, or it means nothing. We do that, Alina, and we can stop the Darkling. We can save Ravka, our people.
[ He's quiet for a moment, thinking about it. He touches her cheek, and watches her.
He can't decide whether he loves or hates the idea. There's no doubt that it would be a tactical advantage, but it's also dangerous. At least, in theory it is. He only actually has her word on that. He has no idea how these things actually work. ]
If you say you can handle it, you can handle it. It's your risk to take, Alina.
[ That’s a much taller order than the words imply. She’s taking on a great burden by asking to learn this gift. He’s not blind to that. A better man might tell her not to. He just lets her lean on him, and settles back against the bed. ]
I don’t doubt that you will. Perhaps this is the edge we needed. I hope so.
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He pulls his hand and leads him in, back towards her bed. ]
Ajna was exhausting....
Maybe not easy, but not as hard as I expected either. It makes sense that it only gets harder.
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[ He comes after her, moving easily onto the bed when they reach it. From there, he'll be pulling her back into his arms again. Sorry, but he was comfortable before. ]
Officially. That we're alive now means we passed.
I took the simulation. More than four fifths of my crew died in that test.
I'd like to raise that number.
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We weren't meant to get too high, I think. I couldn't get past a certain point in the tests. The simulation was harder than that, too.
You got us all off Ajna. I think that score is a lot better than a structured simulation with set limitations.
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[ His hand comes up, and his thumb smooths idly across her cheek. It keeps moving, stroking her face lightly. ]
But I take it as a challenge, nonetheless. I can be better. If I am, then I'm better for this crew. That's what I want.
[ A pause. ]
They sent me a video, as well. An army of Grisha, flying the Double Eagle. Waiting for us.
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They showed me a video of mirrors, like the ones you had designed before.
Except these ones didn't break. They tested them to show they couldn't.
We have what we need for home. [ Their Grisha. Their mirrors. Their king. ]
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Now it will. Now the Nichevo'ya won't get past her. ]
We do.
So we must survive, now. We must be the best we can be and fulfil our contracts, or it means nothing. We do that, Alina, and we can stop the Darkling. We can save Ravka, our people.
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[ She pauses, then heistates. ]
I'm going to ask for ability to make my own nichevo'ya for after the next mission.
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[ His hand settles on her stomach. ]
Soldiers of light? Is it possible, without the Firebird? I thought it wasn’t.
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It doesn't hurt to ask, though. Right? They can bring the dead back to life, Nikolai. Maybe they can do this for me.
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[ He's thoughtful for a moment, tapping his finger against his knee. Then he pulls her a little closer. ]
You're talking about merzost. You said there was a cost, to using it. That it cost the Darkling.
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She nods her head. ] It's the making of things. It can't be used without taking a part of me in the process....
I did it once. The last time I did... [ She gestures at herself. ] I woke up like this. Except worse.
But I won't let it go that far again. I won't need to again.
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He can't decide whether he loves or hates the idea. There's no doubt that it would be a tactical advantage, but it's also dangerous. At least, in theory it is. He only actually has her word on that. He has no idea how these things actually work. ]
If you say you can handle it, you can handle it. It's your risk to take, Alina.
Just make sure it's worth it, if you do.
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Defeating the Darkling is worth it. [ She curls in against him. ]
I promise I'll save Ravka, Nikolai.
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I don’t doubt that you will. Perhaps this is the edge we needed. I hope so.