"Any word yet?" Seonghwa asked as he walked into Yeosang's room. The wizard was staring at a mirror on the wall. When he shook his head slowly, Seonghwa felt his shoulders droop.

It had been two days since Kita and Wooyoung had run away. His parents had decided to keep it a secret, for now. They didn't need the kingdom panicking if they found out.

Wooyoung's troupe had asked for the guards to look for him. The leader was visibly upset that one of his performer's had vanished. Mingi had organized a search party, but when they came up empty-handed, the troupe requested permission to leave to look for him on their way to their next performance.

The queen had granted the request while telling them she hoped they would return soon.

Seonghwa was worried about his mother too. Kita disappearing had taken its toll on her. Her black hair had lost its sheen and she had stopped putting makeup on. She was also avoiding any meetings she could.

His father was affected too, but he did his best to keep a good face on for the palace staff and his people. Seonghwa admired this about him, and he hoped he had been able to do the same thing, even if his gut was twisted with worry every second of the day.

"Is there no way you can... I don't know, track them? See them? Anything? You have so many spell books." Seonghwa walked over and took the wizard's hand.

"No... Sight is something that was lost long ago. In all my books, the incantation has been erased." Yeosang's head lowered.

"Hey, it's not your fault. Maybe they haven't been able to settle anywhere for a long period of time." Seonghwa said, pulling the younger to him.

The two of them stood there for a long time, drawing on each other's touch for strength.

.

.

.

.

Wooyoung swung from one mast to the other, helping Yunho secure one of the sails. His training had made it easy for him to become a rope-rat, as the taller called it.

He had been surprised when they offered to let him work but hated that it came with the threat of harming Kita. Not wanting anything to happen to her, he did everything he was told without speaking back.

"That's it, a little tighter." Yunho growled as he pulled on his own rope. He brushed his hands together when the sail was secured and smiled at Wooyoung. "Thanks for the help."

The younger didn't acknowledge him, instead turning to climb down the mast. He dropped nimbly to the deck and moved to grab a crate to take to the storage room.

His eyes flashed to Kita where she was still tied to the mast. They had at least let her move so that she could sit all day instead of stand, but her hands were still spread wide. Her hand hung forward, disheveled hair flowing around her in the slight breeze.

The pirates hadn't been completely awful, but Wooyoung wished they would let him talk to her. Or at least let her lay down. She was thin and he was worried she wasn't eating properly.

He slammed the crate down in the storage room and crouched down, yelling into his hands in frustration. "Why are you so worthless?"

"I wouldn't say your worthless."

Wooyoung's head snapped up to see Yunho leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, and a crooked smile on his face. The younger just glared at him, causing the pirate to sigh.

"Look, I know this isn't ideal... But just keep doing your job and there won't be any problems."

"Why are you doing this?" Wooyoung asked quietly, causing the other to stop.

"Excuse me?"

"Why are you doing this to us?"

Yunho's forehead creased when he saw the pain in the other's eyes. "It's... complicated." He rubbed the back of his head. "We need money and... Well, we were paid to bring her to Cressa."

"By who?"

"I don't know. Only the captain does, but don't even think about asking him. He'll probably chop your hand off." Yunho said shortly before leaving the room.

.

.

.

.

"Aish, poor kid." Yunho muttered to himself as he walked away. If he was being honest, he didn't want to have anything to do with this job. Every time he saw the princess his gut twisted. She had done nothing to them.

But Hongjoong's word was law, and Yunho would follow him to the end of the earth if he asked him to.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the calls of warning as he walked onto the deck until it was too late.

At first his mind couldn't quite register what happened. He heard the sound of bones snapping, then he thought he felt a pain in his right leg, then he was laying on the deck, and finally he really did feel pain.

A cannon had slipped out of some of the crews' hands and rolled right into him. He screamed, clutching his shattered leg.

.

.

.

.

Kita's head snapped up as soon as she heard the scream. She saw Yunho laying on the deck and tried to stand up to go help him, her healing instinct taking over. As pirates ran past her, she cried out into her gag, hoping to get someone's attention.

She saw the captain run out of his cabin and kneel next to Yunho, swearing loudly.

Kita screamed again, pulling against the ropes again. They dug into her wrists again, blood flowing freely.

Then she saw a flash of black hair.

"Someone stop him!" The caption cried out.

Kita watched as Wooyoung twirled out of the way, a sword in his hands, as he tried to make his way over to her. She pulled harder against the ropes when Yunho's cries got louder.

The crew slowed Wooyoung's pace down, but he managed to duck down and slide across the deck, swinging the sword against the mast and freeing Kita.

She stumbled forward on her weak legs, the path to the pirate was clear do to the other's chasing after Wooyoung.

She could hear him shouting behind her, but her mind was focused on getting to Yunho. A hand grabbed for her, but she slipped out of it before falling to her knees next to the whimpering pirate.

Closing her eyes, Kita called on her power once again and placed her hands on his leg. He was silenced immediately, her magic working as a pain killer for him while it wove into his skin and worked on repairing the bones.

The deck itself had fallen silent as they all watched her.

It took a long time, but when she felt the last splinter of bone slip into place, she removed her hands and wavered where she sat before falling back.

Arms wrapped around her and she felt a familiar, gentle touch brush against the side of her face. "It's ok, Kita. I'm here. I'm here." He said as he pulled the gag from her mouth.

"Wooyoung," she breathed, leaning into his chest.

She was so tired; she barely registered another pair of hands working to untie the ropes still around her wrists. Or when someone lifted her off the ground and carried her across the ship and out of the harsh sunlight.