Chapter 29

Hadrian with Zoya and Alina passed shuttered shops, a wide marketplace where a few vendors were already setting up their stalls, and crowded rows of narrow houses. Os Alta was called the dream city. It was the capital of Ravka, home to the Grisha and the King's Grand Palace. But if anything, it just looked like a bigger, dirtier version of the market town at Keramzin.

All that changed when we reached the bridge. It spanned a wide canal where little boats bobbed in the water beneath it. And on the other side, rising from the mist, white and gleaming, lay the other Os Alta. As we crossed the bridge, that was raised to turn the canal into a giant moat that would separate the dream city before us from the common mess of the market town that lay behind.

They reached the other side of the canal, it was as if we had passed into another world. Everywhere,Alina looked she saw fountains and plazas, verdant parks, and broad boulevards lined with perfect rows of trees.She saw lights on in the lower stories of the grand houses, where kitchen fires were being lit and the day's work was starting. The streets began to slope upward, and as we climbed higher, the houses became larger and more imposing, until finally we arrived at another wall and another set of gates, these wrought in gleaming gold and emblazoned with the King's double eagle. Along the wall,she could see heavily armed men at their posts, a grim reminder that for all its beauty, Os Alta was still the capital of a country that had long been at war. The gate swung open.They rode up a broad path paved in glittering gravel and bordered by rows of elegant trees. To the left and right, stretching into the distance,there was manicured gardens, rich with green and hazy in the mist of early morning. Above it all, atop a series of marble terraces and golden fountains, loomed the Grand Palace, the Ravkan King's winter home.Soon they reached the huge double-eagle..as Hadrian spoke up"This is temporary stay,I am sure the king will soon ask to meet you."

Alina frowning asked"So I am prisoner here unti then."

Zoya was annoyed by her tone replied"Look here princess,we are trying to protect you.By now everyone who is an enemy of Ravka would have heard about your powers.This a big deal after all everyone knows a Sun summoner is capable of slowly destroying this fold,so our enemies don't want that to happen,they want us divided."

Alina opened her mouth to say other,but once again closed it unable to think of an excuse.While

Zoya added"Also go ahead walk away,we won't stop you.But remember without our protection you will die in just days of weeks at the best."

What Zoya didn't know was because of Hadrian involvement many things had changed normally Alina,who was considered Fates chosen would have had protection (Plot armor) to almost any dangerous situation.But now her protection has waned because Fate viewed Hadrian,who came from higher world and the changes he brought were greater,than anything Alina could have done.

Alina gulped rembering she was almost killed by Fjerdan days ago,so she stayed silent as Hadrian guided her to her room in the Little Palace.

Alina was slightly awed by large room, heavy golden curtains, a fire burning in a beautifully tiled grate, but all she now really cared about was the huge canopied bed. Hadrian with slight worry asked"Can I get you anything? Something to eat?"

Alina shook her head,after all she just wanted to sleep now.Also she felt bad for treating Hadrian like that and muttered"I am sorry for how I behaved."

Hadrian gave small smile and replied"Don't worry,you were shocked and your whole world changed in blink of an eye.So you have some right to be angry."