The Making at the Heart of the World

MINKE HAD PICK POCKETED SIX PEOPLE, AND THEY WERE ALREADY HALF WAY DOWN THE STREET. Serafima considered telling him to stop, but even she had to admit the sheer obliviousness of the West Ravkan people was amusing. Not even a bunk biscuit. These people didn't check their wallets, or even the people that casually bumped into them. Saints, they apologize to him, all the while Minke slipped their wallets from their pocket.

A crowd had begun to grow in the town square. A man spoke up on a stage, but his words weren't needed to get the idea. Giant banners hung at his sides, advertising the West Ravkan seperationalist movement.

It seemed not all of Ravka would appreciate the Fold's destruction.

There were surprisingly few people selling alabaster coal. They sold plenty of other things, though. Stands for fresh fruit and vegetables, and meat, and hand made wears. All shouting over each other for passerbys' attention. Serafima watched each face as she passed them. How many looked at her? How many would recognize her? How many were hidden Grisha.

Still, with some directions, they located what appeared to be Novosibirsk's sole alabaster coal stall, manned by a very sour looking old man.

"We're all out," the man said, even when they offered him the large amount of money Arken and Kaz had pooled together. "Some kid stole the last of our stock."

"Some kid?" Serafima raised an eyebrow at Minke. They were thinking of same person. "And what did this kid look like?"

"Zemeni, I guess. Ah, I didn't get a good look," The man waved a hand dismissively.

Definitely Jesper. Shouting started down the street, another, angrier crowd forming opposite of the seperationalist rally. Serafima ran a hand down her face. She could only hope he got enough coal, and didn't lose any of it. Preferably without losing his head first.

After some hopeful searching, they did manage to scrounge up the few measly pieces of coal Jesper had missed. They didn't even need a bag. Though Serafima suspected Minke would have preferred it to getting the dust smeared on his shirt, so they picked one up anyways. It was dark by the time they gave up, hurrying to their meeting spot. Arken held a large torch, illuminating the small area surrounding them. Kaz and Inej had already arrived. Jesper was still missing. They left without him.

"We're almost there," Arken announced, after a good deal of walking.

"Where the hell is Jesper?" Kaz hissed to the two when they joined them.

"Some Zemeni kid stole most of the alabaster coal," Serafima replied. Kaz was smart enough to work out where Jesper was from that answer alone. "We got as much as we could, but it's no where near enough. We'll have to hope he didn't lose any."

"Just a little further," Arken continued.

A sign appeared at the edge of their light. Warning: Landmines. And, for those who couldn't read Ravkan, a picture of a man's lower half, his leg being blown off by an explosion. Arken continued, but everyone else pulled to a stop. Kaz's goat bleated as he tugged on it's lead.

"We'll wait," Kaz called after Arken. The man turned, confused. "Follow the path that you carve."

Arken turned to the sign. "Oh, that sign, that was my idea to keep people away. Can't be too careful. We're fine. Come."

And it worked without anyone ever getting blown up? Still, Arken had walked in blindly, in the dead of night, with nothing to mark any unsafe ground. Either he was stupid or correct. Inej went first. The others followed.

Train tracks appeared out of the gloom. In front of them, the world seemed to stop. Not even Arken's torch cut through the thick layer of darkness.

"It's one thing hearing about it, but this is —" Inej started.

"Nothing compared to what lies within," Arken interrupted. He passed the torch to Inej and headed forwards.

A mechanical squeak came from the Fold. Through the darkness, Serafima could make out what appeared to be a train. Of course. It had to be something mechanical, she remembered those sounds from her first crossing, and something big, bulky, and inclosed to ward off the volcra's attacks.

Arken appeared from the door. "So, goat, jurda, a pathetically small amount of coal...thank you. Now we're just waiting on—"

"Wait for me!" A scream broke through the night. Jesper, followed by a trail of torch light and gunshots.

Arken snatched the torch from Inej. "They can't see the train."

"Jesper, get here now!" Kaz demanded.

"Leave the lantern!" Inej added.

"Landmines!" Jesper pulled to a stop in front of the sign. He seemed to reconsider, however, when bullets flew past him. "Oh, wait for me! Don't you do without me!"

"We can't go without you, you idiot!" Serafima shouted.

What she meant was that he had all of their coal, which the train ran on. But from the grin Jesper gave her as he climbed in, she suspected he thought she was being sentimental. Inej pulled the door closed just as a wave of men ran towards the train.

"Please tell me you have twenty point of alabaster coal," Arken said. They all sat in silence as he worked on setting up the train.

"Slight snag in the plan. Turns out the kid who was helping me buy the coal...didn't exactly know how to, uh, buy coal," Jesper rambled weakly.

"We know you gambled it away," Kaz said.

"I lost a little bit of the money," Jesper admitted. He paused. "I lost all of them money. Uh, but, I managed to steal twenty pounds of alabaster coal, and I'm sure Serafima and Minke got some."

"No, we haven't. Someone stole it all," Serafima hissed. "So you better have not gone betting that, too."

"Of course not!"

"No, no, no, there's sixteen pounds," Arken insisted

"Sixteen pounds of alabaster coal. None of which, I betted."

Serafima buried her face in her hands. The goat bleated unhappily and bullets continued to ring off the metal exterior. Why did they even keep Jesper around, at this rate? She was tempted to just let the towns people have him.

"Can we do it on sixteen?" Kaz asked.

"Never been done before," Arken said, tucking the goat under one arm. He grabbed Jesper with the other and shoved him into a seat. "Sit here. Never shift your weight."

"You've crossed that many times?" Inej asked as Arken rolled up his sleeves. It was then when Serafima noticed the tally marks cut into his arm, like the ones Second and First Army soldiers did when they crossed.

"It's a numbers game," Arken replied. "Cross this often and you get nightmares."

An explosion rocked the train. Minke turned and peered through one of the thin slats on the wall.

"Hey, I think one of your fake landmines just killed four men," Minke said.

"I thought you said they weren't real," Kaz demanded.

"I said nothing of the sort," Arken replied, in a tone that made Serafima want to strangle him. "I just said I put up the sign myself."

"We could have died," Serafima hissed.

"I won't have allowed it."

"I don't care what you'd have allowed, I care that we could have died because you decided to be clever."

Arken started up the train. Serafima doubted it was very warned. Unfortunately, she didn't hold the gravitas of the barrel's finest. She was just as willing to hurt him, though. Something for him to chew on.

☼ ☼ ☼

TRAINING. To say Nonna was miserable was an understatement. She simply wasn't a good fighter. Physical training was just hours of getting beat up while Botkin, their trainer, rained down criticism. The only benefit was that they weren't allowed to use their Grisha powers. Otherwise the heartrenders and summoners would have destroyed everyone else — also known as the healers, given the fact that fabrikators weren't allowed to train.

Everyone collected around a sparring arena, a wide expanse of sand. As there were too many for the one on one sparring, most collected to talk or work on other training. Already a crowd of summoners had collected to work through their stances.

Things went...as expected.

They had just really started when Alina finally arrived. Marie and Nadia, two etherealki, had her by the arms. All heads turned. By now they'd heard of her lighting up the Fold and the Fjerdan ambush. Nonna herself had been asked quite a few questions. She was meant to start sparing with a inferni, but as soon as Botkin called Alina over, everyone came to a halt to watch. Nonna swallowed nervously.

"All of Ravka's foes what to kill you before you can destroy the Fold. It's a great honor to have so many enemies," Botkin said.

"A very warm greeting," Alina muttered.

"He's trying to compliment you," Nonna assured. Alina turned with a grin.

"Is it like Ebbe and his teasing?" Alina asked, and Nonna caught Marie and Nadia share a look behind her back. Nonna supposed she should have expected etherealki be assigned to Alina eventually, but it was one more step to a disappointing lack of friendship.

Again.

"We aren't the most personable bunch," Nonna admitted.

"You must learn to defend yourself fast," Botkin interrupted, sending both girls to attention. "Do you know how to fight?"

Alina paused for a moment. Nonna raised an eyebrow and nudged her. Now would be the time to talk.

"I've had some training," Alina said, finally. Somehow, the others didn't look convinced.

"Show me," Botkin stepped to the side, allowing a view of the gathering crowd. "Pick an opponent."

Alina stepped forwards and pointed towards Zoya. "Her."

"Zoya Nazyalensky," Botkin introduced as Zoya came forwards to face Alina. Ambitious, Nonna supposed, if incredibly stupid. Maybe not being allowed her powers could give Alina an edge...or, more likely, Nonna was being hopeful about her friend not getting pummeled into dust. "I've been training her since she was ten."

"Care to back down?" Zoya said.

Alina tried to look confident. "Not familiar with the concept."

"Fighters ready?" Botkin said. Alina raised her fists. Zoya stared. "And...fight."

It went fast. Alina lunged, swinging for Zoya's jaw. Zoya side stepped her. She kicked Alina's foot out from under her, sending the girl to the ground. Nonna winced. Zoya started to walk away. Alina jumped to her feet.

"We go again."

Botkin allowed it. Alina once again tried a punch. She lasted a little longer. Zoya caught the first fist, then blocked her second arm. Twisting it out, Zoya turned and threw Alina over her shoulder. Zoya pinned her to the ground with a hand on her throat, whispering something before letting her go and walking again.

Alina jumped to her feet. Zoya barely had time to turn before Alina hit her square in the jaw. Hard. Zoya stumbled forwards. From behind her, Nonna could see her shoulders hunch. She whipped around, hands raised. A gust of wind hit Alina in the stomach, blasting her across the sparing area and into a brick wall. It was only by luck that a bail of hay broke most of her fall.

☼ ☼ ☼

DARKNESS CAME. Serafima folded her hands in her lap. It felt just as suffocating as it did with a bag over her head. Her eyes were open, but she could hardly see a thing. Barely, in the glow of the engine, she could make out the others faces. The train rattled on down the tracks. No one dared move. For a moment, things seemed okay.

Minke leaned over and whispered, "Is it a bad time to mention I'm scared of the dark?"

Serafima glared at him. If this was Minke's idea of a joke, he'd better take it somewhere else. He shuttered and looked away, face drawn. Dramatic as always.

A bell wrung somewhere in the distance.

"What was that?" Jesper blurted out.

"I've erected a system of timers alone the line," Arken explained. "Bit of metal nut on poles to keep me apprised of our pace."

Serafima didn't even bother to ask how or why. It was deadly, yes, but the reward would be worth it. Clever.

"How did you know where to put the poles?" Kaz asked.n

"Physics and engineering account for...most of my success," Arken admitted.

"And the rest?" Inej prompted.

"What we might call divine intervention. What others might call luck."

Serafima scoffed. It was one of Inej's few flaws — a complete and utter dedication to the Ravkan Saints. The same Saints, of course, who'd let her be stolen away from her family and sold into a brothel. That let man after man harm her with no consequences. No, Inej's Saints had never returned her love. Anyone sane would have taken the hint awhile ago, but Inej persisted. A child's dream, but the little childhood they had was precious.

At least, that was what Serafima told herself as she gritted her teeth and pretended Inej wasn't nuts.

"And after all, the Fold is thick with volcra, and the track is not complete," Arken continued.

"I'm sorry?" Minke interrupted. "Not complete how?"

Jesper started to get up, and Arken quickly shooed him back into his seat. Once again, something the Conductor had failed to tell them. Serafima narrowed her eyes and resisted the urge to protest. How much else was he lying to them about?

"We're a tad late. More coal," Arken said.

"Back to the real issue. We're on tracks that don't connect to other tracks?" Jesper interrupted.

"There's a gap, but —"

"You said you could get us through," Kaz snapped.

"How much of a gap!" Jesper protested.

"I built slats on the car. They roll into place under the wheels. The turbine generates enough wind to push us all the way to the Eastern track," Arken explained. "As long as we don't shift our weight."

"Fascinating," Minke added, seemingly conquering his fear of the dark in enjoy Arken's asinine explanation. "Could you show me? On the other side. Of course."

A metallic ring echoed through the Fold. Minke quickly shrunk into his coat, doing little to make him smaller. Serafima considered that, if they had to make a run for it, he would be the best bate for the volcra.

"Now, the noise may attract Volcra, but's the only way across," Arken said. A shrill hiss started and the train shook violently. "Now, there's a nest nearby. But we'll be fine. It they have attacked us in —"

Something growled above them. They raised their head to the sound. Shapes moved in the fog.

"Well, now we've got a problem."

"Oh, I hate the dark. I hate the dark," Minke whined. "Evil, rotten thing. Horrible thing."

"Shut up," Serafima hissed.

The shrieking continued. Volcra swarmed around them. Claws scraped against metal as they attacked. Shrill cries surrounded them. Serafima dug her fingers into her seat. She could pull moisture from the air, but not much. Barely enough for one volcra. No where close to enough for the swarm that had collected around them.

"How do you fight them off?" Kaz demanded.

"I outrun them," Arken corrected. He stood, shoveling coal into the fire. "Open the throttle and toss in all the coal, which works when there's twenty pounds of it."

"Well, there isn't twenty pounds, is there?" Minke interrupted. He shifted in his seat, yanking his coat over his heat. "Coats! Everyone, give me your coat, we can burn them for fuel."

"They won't last," Arken pointed out.

"Neither will the coal!" Minke scooped up the others coats as they were passed to him and shoved them towards Arken. "Nor will my sanity, so put them in!"

Arken put them in. Flames burst in the furnace. They burnt up in an instant, but still provided a sudden burst of energy. The train lurched. They were thrown against the wall, the goat bleating unhappily.

Then, at once, the train lurched again. This time it tilted and slowed.

"Damn it!" Arken pulled hard on a leaver. "The stupid thing impaled itself on a spike."

"Why the hell do you have spikes on this things?" Serafima shouted.

"Get it off. The other will stand on it," Kaz ordered.

"More coal!" Arken demanded.

"We're down to fumes!"

"Damn it, more clothes!"

The most they could offer without stripping was their shoes, however, and no one was about to take those off. Serafima leaned back in her seat. They could run. They couldn't be far from the eastern border. If they got lucky, the volcra would stick to the train and not even notice them people fleeing from it.

"This is how we die," Jesper lamented.

"Jesper, grab the goat," Arken ordered, barely looking up from his work.

"We aren't throwing out the goat," Jesper hissed.

"We could burn the goat," Serafima decided.

"How dare you!"

"It's fuel!"

"Alive? How dare you!"

"Grab the damn goat!" Arken bellowed. "It's not bait, and it's not fuel! It's for you! I need you to calm down. Hug the goat. Shut the hell up."

Jesper hugged the goat and shut the hell up. Serafima still maintained they should at least consider throwing it in. When it came down to their life or the goats, she preferred theirs.

A bell wrung. Arken pushed himself into his seat.

"We should have hit that twenty seconds ago," Arken said.

"Twenty seconds is?" Kaz promoted.

"My timings are precise to get us outside. Even twenty seconds behind means the train stops inside the Fold and...that means we die."

Of course it does. Why wouldn't it? Serafima eyed the goat.

"There's more coming."

The wave of thuds made the obvious. Jesper buried his face in the goats fur. Glass shared. Jesper stood, slowly walking to the center, eyes closed.

With a flick of his wrist, Jesper had his gun in his hand. Bullets torn through metal and volcra alike. The creatures shrieked. Jesper switched guns. The rest went down. He carefully placed down the goat, which ran bleating to the opposite side of the train.

"Are they all dead?" Inej asked.

The answer came in the form of a volcra tearing through the room. Arken screamed like a little girl. Jesper shot that one, too. It's blood splatted into the train.

Light filtered through hole in the roof. Twenty seconds, huh?