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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟓
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒

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Silence was the only thing that could be heard in the room for what felt like an eternity. Alina and Mal stared at Nikolai with no emotion in their eyes, unsure of what to make of the boy in front of him. Beside them, Inessa did her best to make her nerves unnoticeable. She knew that her cousin would be able to see how unsure she was about the situation, but she didn't expect someone else in the room to notice as well. The Smirnoff girl didn't know when Mal turned his attention toward her, but she really wished he hadn't. Now he was studying her with a look in his eyes that she knew far too well. The Oretsev boy had questions that he was determined to get answers to.

Luckily for Inessa, Mal didn't have a chance to ask then and there. Instead, Nikolai began speaking, drawing everyone's attention toward him. "No point in denying it, Miss Starkov. You are the Sun Summoner."

"You're right," Alina declared while stepping forward and creating two balls of light in her hands.

The smile on the Lantsov boy's face did nothing but grow before whistling at the scene in front of him. "Impressive. And it's not often I say that."

"Let us go," the Sun Summoner ordered without taking her eyes off Nikolai, "or you'll be out twenty million kruge and a ship."

"While I'm well aware you could consign us all to the watery deep, you should really consider how far from the docks we are," the privateer told her while getting to his feet.

No one said a word as he walked across the room to pour himself a drink. Inessa felt her heart pounding so hard in her chest that she was surprised no one heard it. At least she thought no one did. But those thoughts evaporated the second she felt her heart return to a normal pace. A wave of confusion instantly washed over before she glanced back at Tolya, only to find him holding his hands out toward her. The two of them just stared at each other until Nikolai continued speaking, drawing everyone's attention back to him.

"Besides, I'm not handing you over to the Fjerdans."

"You're not?" Alina questioned after making the light in her hands disappear.

"Saints, no," the Lantsov boy said while walking back to his desk with a glass in hand, only to pause mid step and look over at the Sun Summoner with wide eyes, "sorry, is it offensive to say that in the presence of a living Saint?"

Mal just stared at the blonde boy with irritation in his eyes as the latter sat back down in his chair. It wasn't long after that when the Oretsev boy took a seat on the other side of the desk, determination evident in his eyes. "What do you want with us then?"

"With you? Nothing. Honestly, I'm not even sure who you are," Nikolai explained before his attention returned to the girls standing behind the tracker, "but the Sun Summoner and a trusted Heartrender of General Kirigan...well, you have to know you're both quite valuable."

Inessa couldn't help but shift on her feet. She was trying not to let her cousin's words get to her, but he was very convincing. On the plus side, her discomfort during the conversation should be enough to hide the fact that they shared any familial bond.

"Inessa has no connection to the Darkling," Mal hissed before leaning forward in his seat, "and you just said you wouldn't turn Alina in for a bounty, pirate."

"Privateer," Nikolai corrected, earning an eye roll from the Oretsev boy that he chose to ignore, "and what I said was I wouldn't hand her into the Fjerdans. I said nothing of the Kerch or Shu."

Silence filled every inch of the room as he looked between the three people standing in front of him. The Lantsov boy's eyes settled on Inessa for a moment before they softened, as if trying to tell her that everything would be okay. She was surprised that his expression was enough to calm her down. The cousins thought their interaction was quick enough that no one noticed, but they were wrong. But before Mal had a chance to question anything, Nikolai continued speaking.

"I paid a small fortune to empty the dock and make sure you got on my ship. And frankly, I think the Fjerdans are severely undervaluing you."

"You're right. They are," Alina responded before leaning on the desk to look the Lantsov boy directly in the eyes, "because you'll be able to ask the King of Ravka for twice as much."

A smirk soon formed on the privateer's face as he continued to stare at the Sun Summoner. "You know the King?"

"I'm the Sun Summoner," the Starkov girl retaliated with confidence laced within each word.

"By all accounts, the First Army have now turned their sights on Grisha. Thanks to what you and your conspirator did in the Fold," Nikolai told them, making Inessa stiffen once again as she thought about Fedyor, who she hadn't seen since the Darkling sent him on an assignment. She just hoped that he was okay.

"The Darkling and I were not partners. You may believe otherwise, but once I tear down the Fold and reunite Ravka, the world will see I am not his ally," Alina declared without bothering to hide the annoyance in her voice. She kept her eyes locked with Nikolai's for another moment before standing up at her full height. "Help us and you'll be rewarded."

The Lantsov boy just stared at the Sun Summoner until the smirk returned to his lips. "To tear down the Fold? And how do you plan on doing that exactly?"

Alina hesitated, unsure if she should reveal their plans. But that only lasted for a short moment before she responded. "By hunting Morozova's Sea Whip."

Mal instantly looked up at his eldest friend, drawing her attention toward him before they had a quiet conversation. While they did that, Inessa held Nikolai's gaze. The look in his eyes made it seem like she was searching every inch of his cousin's face, looking to see if what the Sun Summoner said was true. All the Smirnoff girl had to do was send him a small nod, revealing everything to the blonde boy. He couldn't help but stare at Inessa in shock before taking a sip of his drink.

"I suppose if the Stag existed, the Sea Whip and the Firebird might as well," Nikolai said, drawing everyone's attention back toward him. He just stared at the glass in his hand until looking up at the Sun Summoner. "You couldn't do it with one amplifier, but two."

"Unburdened by General Kirigan, under my own power," Alina confirmed while Mal continued to stare at his friend with uncertainty in his eyes. But she ignored him and kept her gaze glued to the privateer. "Will you help us or not?"

"There's adventure, danger, money," Nikolai muttered under his breath before standing up and pacing behind his desk. It wasn't long after that when he turned around to face them with a large smile on his face. "Now you're speaking my language."

After placing his glass on his desk and sending the trio in front of him one last smile, the Lantsov boy walked past them and toward the door. Alina and Mal hesitated for a moment, forcing Inessa to copy their actions to keep up her and her cousin's charade. What felt like an eternity to Inessa before her friends followed the privateer. The Heartrender trailed right after them as they walked through the hallway. It wasn't long before she realized that Jens was walking a few feet behind her.

Despite Nikolai reassuring her that he could be trusted, the Nordin boy's presence made Inessa feel uneasy. She had been taught all her life that the Fjerdans were the Grisha's enemy. That they couldn't be depended on and they were out to destroy all the Grisha. The Smirnoff girl couldn't help but wonder if he was just waiting for the right moment to strike. She just hoped she wouldn't be alone with him when it happened, mainly because she knew she couldn't take him on her own.

Inessa's thoughts were soon drawn back to the situation at hand when Nikolai opened one of the doors. Shock coursed through her veins as she stared at the rows of hammocks lined up on the deck. Dozens of crew members were socializing on the deck, laughing and talking about whatever they liked. The Heartrender couldn't help but smile at how carefree everyone was, which was something she always longed for. But her smile soon faded when she remembered why they were there. Inessa soon forced her focus back on their mission, silently telling herself that she could have her freedom when the Fold was gone.

"What is the difference between a privateer and a pirate?" Mal asked, causing Inessa to look over at him.

The Smirnoff girl thought for a short moment before responding. "From what I know, a privateer is commissioned by a government."

"Alright, listen up, everyone! We have guests!" Nikolai called out to his crew, drawing all attention to him before he continued speaking. As soon as all eyes were on him, the Lantsov boy gestured to the trio beside him. "The Sun Summoner and, uh, the guests of the Sun Summoner! Now, I expect you'll treat them with the respect I've come to know from you pack of liars and thieves."

Laughter instantly erupted from the crew, which caused Mal and Alina to tense. But once again, Inessa couldn't help but long for the freedom they had. It wasn't long after that when Nikolai continued walking, causing Inessa, Mal, and Alina to follow. "Come along, my darlings, come on, come on. Now, you can have the three in the back. It's the most private suite we have. See you in the morning, Miss Starkov."

None of them said a word as they watched Nikolai climb a nearby ladder to join the night watch. They kept their eyes glued to them until he was out of sight. Inessa would be the first to admit that she was surprised Jens stayed behind. But it only took her a second to figure out why, especially after the Fjerdan kept glancing over at her. She had a feeling that Nikolai was having him watch over her even though they were on his own ship. There was a small part of Inessa that was appreciative of her cousin caring so much, but she was mainly annoyed.

Just knowing that someone was watching her every move reminded her of the Little Palace. And even though she'd like to find Nikolai and make him tell Jens to leave her be, Inessa knew she couldn't without drawing unwanted attention to herself. So instead she turned her back to the Nordin boy and focused back on her friends.

Mal cleared his throat as he saw down on a barrel near their assigned hammocks. A small smile soon appeared on his lips as he gestured to their temporary beds. "You two take these. I'll take the single one."

"Like we're gonna sleep anyway," Inessa scoffed while sitting down on another barrel while Alina climbed onto the top hammock.

"Not exactly Novyi Zem, is it?" the Starkov girl muttered under her breath while looking around the people surrounding them.

"No. Or how I thought tonight would go either. I'll take first watch. You need your rest," Mal sighed while fidgeting with his fingers in his lap. While Alina was quick to make herself comfortable in the hammock, Inessa stayed glued to the barrel she was sitting on. The Oretsev boy waited until he knew his eldest friend was sound asleep then turned his attention back to the Heartrender. "You both need your rest."

"I'm fine, Mal," the Smirnoff girl responded, earning an unconvinced look from the tracker. Inessa couldn't help but sigh, knowing her tone wasn't even enough to convince herself.

In all honesty, Inessa wanted nothing more than to curl up in her hammock and sleep. She missed having a good night's sleep. But Alina wasn't the only one having bad dreams recently. Unknown to her friends, she had been up most nights and lived only on about an hour of sleep to avoid her nightmares. Every time the Heartrender closed her eyes she found herself standing back on the skiff. But it wasn't like how it was with the Sun Summoner, who was having new experiences in her dreams. Instead, Inessa was taken back to the last and only time she was in the Fold.

Every time she closed her eyes, she was forced to experience Ivan falling over the skiff. Inessa felt as if she was losing him over and over again. She hated every second of it, but she hated herself more for not being able to save him. Ivan was gone and it was all her fault.

A shaky breath soon passed over as she got to her feet, suddenly wanting to be anywhere but there. "I need some air."

"You shouldn't walk around alone. It isn't safe," Mal responded with concern very evident in his voice.

The Smirnoff girl found herself quickly glancing over at Jens before her attention returned to the tracker. "I think I'll be okay."

Before the Oretsev boy could argue, Inessa turned her back to him and climbed up the ladder Nikolai used. Voices instantly greeted her as soon as she set foot on the top deck. But instead of walking toward them, the Smirnoff girl walked toward the silence. She needed to be alone to give herself a chance to regain control over her emotions. It wasn't long before Inessa found herself standing at the ship's stern. To her relief, no one was around. Inessa was overly grateful to have a second to let her emotions free, something she hadn't done since they left the Fold. She had been trying to keep herself together for Alina's sake, but that took a huge toll on her. But her peaceful moment was soon broken.

Just as Inessa let a tear slip down her cheek, the approaching footsteps greeted their ears. She quickly wiped the tears away before turning her attention toward the sound. The Smirnoff girl wished she could say she was surprised to find Jens walking toward her, but she wasn't. His appearance was all she needed to confirm her previous thoughts.

"Mal's not gonna be happy if he saw you follow me," Inessa told him while turning her attention back to the sea and placing her hands on the railing.

Jens was silent at first as he took a few more steps to stand beside Inessa. He didn't fail to notice how her body became tense in his presence, but he was choosing to ignore it. The Nordin boy knew what his people did to her kind, so he didn't blame her for her actions. But a small part of him was determined to prove to her that he wasn't like his people. But Jens couldn't figure out why.

"Mal won't know that I'm with you. I got here another way," the Nordin boy responded as he turned his back to the railing before leaning against it.

A moment passed between them with nothing but the waves against the Volkvolny. But that soon ended when Inessa began speaking. "You don't need to watch my every move, you know. There isn't anywhere for me to go."

"I'm not watching your every move. Nikolai just asked me to keep you safe," Jens argued, only to earn an eye roll from the girl beside him. He couldn't help but sigh at her actions before noticing the stains on her cheeks. "You were crying."

Inessa instinctively wiped her cheeks once again, wanting to get rid of any evidence of her tears. "I'm fine."

"I could go get Nikolai if you need-"

"You don't need to get Nikolai. I'm fine, Jens," the Smirnoff girl declared, only to be greeted by an unconvinced look from the Fjerdan. She couldn't help but let out a long sigh before continuing to speak. "A lot has happened in the last five years. Actually, a lot has happened in the last few days. I just needed a second to gather my thoughts."

Jens just studied her for another moment before saying three words that caught the Heartrender off guard. "You lost someone."

Inessa couldn't help but stare at the boy next to her for what felt like an eternity before finding the courage to speak. "How did you know that?"

"Because I've held that look in my eyes before and I know what it's like to lose someone you love," the Nordin boy explained after turning his attention to the dark water surrounding them. He didn't speak for a long time, which made the Heartrender think the conversation was over. That was until Jens' voice filled the air once again. "My sister was taken from me two years ago because she was Grisha. My friends...no, the Drüskelle dragged her away right in front of me. It took four of them to hold me back. I was helpless to stop them. All I could do was listen to her screams as they dragged her away."

"That's why you're here."

"I had always known the Drüskelle were brutal, but that was our way. That's what I was taught. But after watching them drag my sister and other innocent people away, I couldn't be part of that any longer."

A lump formed in Inessa's throat, but she quickly swallowed it. She knew that Jens told her that story to get her to open up, and the Smirnoff girl was surprised that that was exactly what she needed. "I lost someone I considered a brother. He was loyal to a fault, but he put his trust in the wrong person. I had to...I had to watch him fall off our skiff and into the Fold. I couldn't save him."

"Watching someone you love die while being powerless to stop it is a terrible feeling," the Nordin boy stated, earning a nod from the Heartrender in response. When she looked over at him, Inessa was surprised to find a small smile on Jens' face. But before she could question it, he voiced his thoughts. "Looks like we have more in common than we thought."

The Smirnoff girl only hesitated for a moment before returning the smile. She knew it would take more than a conversation to get her to trust the former Drüskelle, but it was a start. "Looks like we do."

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