[Ianthe didn't move, didn't take the flinch personally. She stayed there, kneeling so Alina was positioned at a higher point to make herself less of a threat. She had been horrible to Harrowhark, taking it so much on her that she didn't deserve, because of their deal, the Chain, and she could get away with it.

She needed to do better for Alina. Somehow.]

All the more reason to have someone around. Good or not, you shouldn't be alone.

[Ianthe thought for a moment. Why would Alina feel so afraid, so unsafe, and accuse Ianthe of being just like-- Oh.]

Do you remember creating the shadow knife? Not how you did it or anything like that, just that it did happen? I only ask because you denied that it was from you, almost like you thought Aleksander had been hiding in the trees and he had been the one to produce it.