#kos chapter 8

“A SCHOOL?” I asked. Genya nodded. “When a Grisha’s talent is discovered, the child is brought here for training. It’s where nearly all of us LEARNED THE SMALL SCIENCE.” ... “What happens WHEN THEY FINISH?” “THEY BECOME MEMBERS OF THE SECOND ARMY. Many are sent to the great houses to serve with noble families, or they’re sent to serve with the First Army on the northern or southern front, or near the Fold. The best are chosen to remain at the Little Palace, to finish their education and join the Darkling’s service.”

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 8

Not a single Grisha remained at the encampment [at Kribirsk]. After the Darkling’s attempted coup and the destruction of Novokribirsk, A WAVE OF ANTI-GRISHA SENTIMENTS HAD SWEPT THROUGH RAVKA and the ranks of the First Army. I wasn’t surprised. An entire town was gone, its people food for monsters. Ravka wouldn’t soon forget. NEITHER COULD I.

Siege and Storm- Chapter 10

Fedyor had been serving near Sikursk on the southeastern border. When word of the destruction of Novokribirsk reached the outpost, THE KING'S SOLDIERS HAD TURNED ON THE GRISHA, pulling them from their beds in the middle of the night and MOUNTING SHAM TRIALS to determine their loyalty. Fedyor had helped to lead an escape. ... There had been massacres at Chernast and Ulensk when the soldiers there had tried to ATTACK MEMBERS OF THE SECOND ARMY.

S&S Ch 12

Bigots: *jump at the first opportunity to slaughter the witches* The Heroine™: Goooood!

Also note how it's "King's soldiers" vs. "Grisha", when the later are LITERALLY THE KING'S PROPERTY. OTHERING too much?!

Sorry for getting sidetracked. Now. Back to the children:

The only reason Alina had anything to do with them, is that they remained in Little Palace after the failed coup, and the bigots didn't get to outright murdering kids YET. Surprisingly, Alina realized leaving them in the capital with the upcoming siege might be a bit unreasonable, so she sent them "to safety". Why the quotation marks, you ask?

Well, it's rather simple, really. Alina's choice of A HIDEAWAY is about as inconspicuous as placing an advertisement in a newspaper, and ordering a giant bilboard on every single access road. Keramzin is literally the most-known place she's connected to, and THE ONLY PLACE SHE CARES ABOUT.

IF THE DARKLING WANTED TO GET THE GRISHENKA, HE COULD'VE DONE IT ANY TIME.

He only bothered to involve them, when he needed to draw Alina out, and playing on HER PREJUDICE by threatening children- one of a few things she "cares" about in an ABSTRACT, GENERAL way any member of society should do.