Chapter Text
PROLOGUE
Caryeva was quiet, as it often was. Ravka had been in the throes of a war for decades, a war against the Shadow Fold, a war against Fjerda and a war against Shu Han. Some would even go as far to say that Ravka was at war against itself; West vs East, Grisha vs Otkazat’sya.
The war had conscripted most of those of fighting age and left the youngest of society scrambling for scraps in their absence. Children were left without parents, communities without workers and towns without structure to uphold it. Many settlements like Caryeva had more orphaned children than ones with parents, with three orphanages to house them.
But Caryeva was also home to the wealthy and well-to-do that frequented the horse races and the clubs, including the young Crown Prince Vasily Lantsov. It was just a shame that their generosity didn’t extend past bets. The poorest in Caryeva were left without aid and without any help at all.
A teenage girl, barely fifteen, ducked under an abandoned market veranda as rain began to pour from the sky. It came suddenly and quickly. The only explanation onlookers could offer was that the heavens were opening for the small town of Caryeva.
Juliana lived in a lonely cottage at the top of the hill, away from everyone else, with her twin brother. Noticeably, they had no mother, and yet they didn’t live in one of the orphanages. They managed with just the two of them, taking jobs for anyone and everyone throughout Caryeva just to earn enough money to live. Valeriy and Juliana were like sunshine and moonlight. They were in many ways similar and in others, completely different. It was only the two of them and had been for many years.
Jules glanced around as many of the vendors started to pack up their stalls and get out of the rain. A fruit merchant turned his back for a second and she leapt forward to grab some apples from his stall. She quickly shoved them into her satchel, holding it close to her body as she turned and stepped into the rain. It soaked through her clothes and into her skin as she began her return to the cottage.
As she rounded the corner, Jules caught sight of a plume of thick black smoke emerging from the rainy fog. There was a fire, a huge fire, that the rain would struggle to put out. It looked close to home- very close to home. Was it home?
Valeriy was home. He hated fire, always had ever since he burned his hand on a campfire when they were young. He had once told Jules that his greatest fear was burning alive and not being able to get out.
Jules was running now, passing houses of their neighbours and people who were looking up the hill to take a look. They were sitting out in their gardens, staring as she ran past, her panicked breaths becoming louder. The road twisted and turned through the rough hedgeways and fields that surrounded Caryeva.
The air grew heavier, warmer and thicker as Jules got closer and closer until there was the final turn separating the two. She slowed down to a walking pace once again, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Smoke filtered into her lungs and burned her mouth as she heaved. The last turn was daunting, taunting her and encouraging her to brave it and witness the horrors behind.
Taking the final few steps, Jules was blinded by a wall of hot wind. She brought a hand to her eyes, covering them from the biting air.
Her worst fear was realised and so was Valeriy’s. The entire cottage was part of the huge flame that towered over her, fluttering and flicking in the wind. The whole house was exploding with flames, coming out of every window and door. There was no way to get in without burning yourself all over.
Jules swallowed back the bile rising in her throat. “Valeriy!” Jules yelled, her voice cracking slightly.
No response. The crackling of the fire filled her ears.
“Valeriy!” Jules tried again. “Please? Answer me!”
Only the fire replied.
Jules wasn't dumb enough to try and go into the house as it burned. But she ignored the danger as she brought her hands together in front of her, pushing them forwards as she focused. Her mother’s warnings echoed in her ears as she used her grisha powers to search for his heartbeat.
If people see, there’s only one way it ends. The Second Army finds out, they separate you and your brother and drag you into a war where you’ll end up blindly following other soldiers. You’ll be healing soldiers just for them to die all over again or with your talents there will be something much worse in store for you.
She glanced around.
No one was here. No one would see. Jules didn't care. It didn't matter. Valeriy could be in there, she had to know. The anger bubbled up inside her, bursting out as she brought her hands together. Her brother could be in there. Her only brother, the only family she had left. If she didn’t try, he’d be dead regardless.
Julianna was grisha, a healer, meant to mend wounds. She wasn’t a true heartrender, she could feel familiar heartbeats if they were close enough but she wasn’t properly trained.
There was complete silence apart from the crackling of fire and breaking of wood. Jules refused to take the silence for defeat and stepped closer, the pure heat blinding her as she reached her hands forward. She searched for any heartbeat, even the faintest one.
She found nothing.
Either Valeriy wasn't in the house or Valeriy was already- The thought wasn't worth entertaining to Jules. A lone tear fell down her face, cutting a stark line in the soot and dust.
“No.” She whispered.