I wasn't sure yet if I liked bringing Nikolai with me.

He was certainly good to have around, as we had spent the time on shore here talking and laughing and telling stories.

But, at the same time, I had to concentrate on what I was doing in the water more than usual, and had to make sure that I didn't step out of line with the king. Plus, he was very much on edge, probably seeing as if our search came up empty, it would mean that his crew was really gone forever.

On the top of the island that we stood on now, I could see a clearing a ways inland, complete with a hastily abandoned camp, and a fire smoldering in a shallow pit.

Someone has been here recently.

I scanned the other direction, and saw what was little more than a blot on the horizon, a ship, moving away quite swiftly.

I pointed it out to Nikolai and he took a long look after it. It was a clipper ship, one that couldn't have left the island more than a few hours ago. We were very high up, and the sheer height nearly made me dizzy.

Were Nikolai's crew alive? Were they on the ship? I owed it to him to find out, just as I'd promised. And he was chomping at the bit to go after them.

"What do you think?" He asked, while I gazed back at the water.

"I think we'd best get after them. Follow me," I replied, going very close to the edge.

Nikolai momentarily balked, and pulled me back from the edge by my arm.

Not so indifferent, are we, Highness?

"Nat, what are you-"

"I know what I'm doing. It'll take too long to get back into the water if we go back down the cliffs the other way," I gestured back the way we'd come, and turned again to face the ocean, while Nikolai stood beside me, still uncertain. The sky and water were both a rich blue. It would have been a perfect day for flying.

Or falling.

"Now, are you coming, or are you waiting here while I get your crew?"

This seemed to make up his mind.

"Well, Saints, I guess I'm coming."

I grinned in what I hoped didn't look too much like madness.

"All right."

"Are you- are you quite sure that this is safe?" He asked, leaning over the side of the cliff and running a hand through his hair, which was now looking rather windswept.

"Since when was your first concern safety, Mr. Crashes-Flying-Things-Into-Oceans-and-Kills-Sharks-With-A-Hunting-Knife? Seriously, Nikolai, who needs 'safe' when you've got both royalty and diving power on your side? Come here, and take my hand so the water can catch both of us. DO you trust me?"

An instant later, my hand was covered by Nikolai's.

"More than I trusted that shark, at least," he replied, cheekily.

The water wasn't deep at the base of the cliff, and it was riddled with rocks.

It was perfectly logical for Nikolai to be worried about the fall. Or more likely, the landing.

"Don't worry. I've got this. On three," I supplied. He was grinning like he was insane, adn I was sure my expression matched. Those days as a pirate must have prepared him for situations like this. My preparation had consisted of similar cliff dives, though all admittedly from much smaller heights.

"One... Two... Three!" As we jumped, I enjoyed the fall for a moment before summoning the water. Nikolai beside me was screaming and laughing at once, like he was having the time of his life. I wondered if this was what it felt like to fly, with the air rushing past and the salty spray misting over me.

I brought the water level higher and made the sea catch us like a pillow, warm and soft.

Once we were safe, the screams died, and the laughing took over in both of us.

"I need to do that more often," Nikolai grinned.

"I'm sure that they can arrange that for you, highness," I smirked, trying to hide my genuine smile. "But we really should get going. Ready?"

"If you are," he replied.

The current took us to the ship in only a few minutes, while we ducked under water to avoid being seen. Not all vessels were friendly, and by the size and build of this ship, I feared the worst. And I knew Nikolai did too.

While under, I formed a bubble of air around our heads, and although we had to sit fairly close together, we could breathe and talk under the surface where we weren't at risk of being seen or heard. It was something that I had done a few times by myself, but had never needed to practice with anyone else.

"Slavers?" He asked, looking around intently at the water that was being kept from touching us. I knew he was trying to calculate the angles and pressure and whatever else it was that made my trick work.

I was just content knowing that I could pull it off, knowing the feel from careful practice and experimentation, not caring particularly about the science.

"I think so," I replied, absently watching the small school of fish that was swimming past, like diamonds glinting in the sea.

"And my crew?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, but I'd imagine anyone trapped on that boat would rather not be there."

"Let's figure out more before before we go that far," he chuckled. "Don't want to go after any innocent merchers just because their ship is the right size and they forgot to fly colors."

"I wasn't implying that we should attack," I argued.

"No. Just wielding the blade of justice," he smirked.

"Well, I am a Saint," I replied shrugging. "And watch your tongue, highness. You're in my kingdom now." I let the water collapse around Nikolai for a moment, and he had to take a quick breath to avoid swallowing water. He glared at me, his eyes glinting in the strange light; a mixture of surprising amusement and begrudging admiration.

XXXXX

Popping to the surface, I could just hear the sailors on deck while they went about their work.

"New lot we picked up on that island lookin' fresh, eh?" Asked one.

"I'll say," replied another, this one slick as oil. "A few of them even right proper Grisha this time around. Make us a pretty stack of kruge when we get to market."

"Doesn't it bother you, though, that they had the Royal seal on them?" Asked a third, this one young, more nervous. Weaker.

"If it don't botha the Captain, it don't botha me," said greaser.

"Captain's dull as dirt and half as smart. Plus, he don't share half of what we work for. Out on the open sea all our lives, and we don't see a penny for it."

They went on like this for some time, predominately just complaining (as that is what most people spend most of their time doing), or saying rather repulsive things about what they wished to do to some of their captives.

Nikolai looked like the things they were saying were a personal offense to him.

These were dangerous men, (they had to be if they'd managed to capture trained Grisha) and yet, they really seemed like...morons. I knew that we had to free the people on board, and decided that I couldn't wait for nightfall to do it. By then, the ship would have gone too far for us to get back to the island before getting too exhausted. I flashed a signal for us to make a move.

"You'd better get something to cover your face in case you get recognized," I whispered.

Nikolai nodded and got busy tying a bandana into a mask of sorts.

Close enough. I did the same with a cloth of my own and warned Nikolai that he would have to tread water once the distraction started because I would have my hands full.

Everyone knows that sailors are superstitious. I summoned clouds of thunder to cover the sun, and sent an eerie fog around the ship.

It might just help speed things along.

Freezing the boat's progress more effectively than dropping anchor, I waited for the crew to respond.

Immediately, a stir rose up among the sailors.

"What in the blazes?!"

"Bloody Hell-"

"This is coming out of nowhere."

"I told you we was going against the Saints. It'll be on our heads next, mates."

This particular comment seemed to draw a full frenzy into the crowd. I could sense movement on the deck, some men dropping to knee and praying, most just standing, wary, or drawing weapons. It was a well manned vessel, probably containing abou

t fifty crew members. If I just attacked without a plan, I'd most certainly be shot before I could free anything.

The buzz on the ship died suddenly.

"What's all this fuss about? And why the hell aren't we moving?" Everyone froze as though the devil himself had set foot on deck. A heavy scent of liquor and expensive perfume rose on the air.

It took a moment for anyone to get the guts to speak up.

"Captain, we've don't know why we've stopped. This fog-"

"DAMN THE FOG! YOU LAZY LOUTS ARE JUST LOOKING FOR ANOTHER EXCUSE TO BE BEATEN." Roared the captain.

Nikolai seemed to take particular offense to the captain, and his glare only worsened as the slave trader mentioned beatings.

"What the hell are you supposed to be?" The captain sneered at one of the kneelers, one that now seemed more uncertain about his faith.

"Sir, I'm sorry, Sir, but it's the Saints-"

The captain gave an exaggerated laugh.

"Solokov, do I look like a man who gives a damn about your stupid Saints?"

"N-no, Captain, sir. Not really, sir."

"THEN GET UP OFF YOUR ASS, AND GET. US. MOVING!" The captain bellowed, landing a solid kick in the side of the kneeling man.

I realized that I was about to miss my opportunity to catch their attention, and so I acted.

It's been a long time since I've done this. I mused. Hope I can still get it right.

With a deep breath, I focused on the blood of the captain.

His second kick stopped in mid air, and he was thrown off balance, only managing to stay on his feet because I was holding him up.

"WHAT IN THE BLAZES?!" He bellowed, as his arms and legs were forced down, bucking my control long enough only to call out.

On the far side of the deck, I began to build a pile of water up from the ocean, the head of a monstrous sea serpent to the men on board the vessel. They immediately turned and began screaming; some shouting to fire, and others simply in fear.

Nikolai looked at me, confused. Over the noise from the deck, he chanced his question.

"What exactly did you do?"

I realized how strange I must have looked in that moment; treading water with two hands above my head, one clenched in a fist and the other writhing in the air.

"I'm making a distraction, and controlling the captain," I replied gesturing to each corresponding hand with my head.

"Controlling? I've never heard of an Etheralki-"

"Yeah, well, I'm special. Can we please do this another time? Kind of busy at the moment," I strained, trying not to lose control. He flinched apologetically.

The men on deck drew all sorts of guns and weapons, and fired at the water, which was now fully formed as the head of a dragon, writhing and swooping down towards them at times, occasionally carrying them off into the sea, where they either tried to swim or drowned. I made sure the current carried the rest of them out to open sea.

Their bullets and arrows and swords did nothing against the creature; it wasn't merzost- not alive, but merely a liquid puppet, water pulled together to do my will.

When they had yelled themselves into a frenzy, and the creature had taken the most dangerous men over the side, I drew us up on to a wave, and we quietly rose to the deck. The captain was still cemented in place, and I quietly snuck up next to him, noticing for the first time his rather unusually thin and sharp looking nose and long, curly Kaelish-red hair. He jumped out of his skin when I spoke.

"Quite a crew you've got here, captain," I remarked.

He tried to move his mouth to respond (no doubt to curse me out) but he couldn't manage to speak. Nikolai watched my movements attentively, only casting a quick glance at the water monster.

"So. I've heard who you are, and where your cargo's headed, and I must say... I don't approve. Seems a little bit illegal to me. So here's what we're going to do. You follow my orders and submit, and lead your men to the brig, where you will lock yourselves in. You will leave the key with me. At the first sign of trouble, I'll kill you. Savvy?"

His muscles strained like he was trying to nod.

Taking the pistol from his side and tossing it to Nikolai, I released the Captain's head until he could speak at least, and let the water monster submerge slowly, as though it had only gone just below the surface.

The men all looked relieved, and congratulated each other briefly, before realizing that we were waiting for their attention.

"All right, men. Your captain here knows the drill. Don't try anything. You're headed below decks to be locked in the brig. No arguments," Nikolai said.

He sounded new, more commanding than I was used to. A little bit mad. A sort of captain of his own. His threat played on the lines.

Not 'obey or I kill you'.

No arguments. Almost like a 'test me if you dare, but anyone with half a brain cell won't.' A different side to the man I knew, perhaps.

"Well how about this for an argument?" One of the slavers called, far off to my left. He held up a pistol.

The instant that he shot at Nikolai, I blocked the bullet, and followed through on the promise. The Cut would not be blocked, not by an Otkazat'sya like him. The deck was painted red with his blood.

No arguments.

With the benefit of hindsight, I realize now that that might not have been the best move. I think it just pissed them off worse.

With the death of their comrade, though, they were shocked for only the briefest moment.

The men stood, stunned, with open mouths, but quickly shook off their surprise, not waiting for us to make the first move.

They moved in from all directions, and I immediately worried about being cornered. I knocked two snipers out of the crow's nest, and sent the three others advancing towards me into the ocean. No one else made the mistake of trying to get closer. They fired on sight. Forced to drop control of the captain, he rolled away in the chaos. I managed to throw a wall of ice between us and the bullets, and brought slavers down while hiding behind it.

Nikolai now had two pistols, and shot with both hands. He was firing carefully to conserve ammo, but with incredible accuracy.

The miniature battle seemed to go on forever, even though my distraction had tossed most of the best fighters into the water. It seemed that although Nikolai was shooting well, he wasn't shooting to kill.

By the time there were only a few men left, they all were eager for peace, and laid down their arms and called for parley.

I dropped the ice walls, and waked to secure the prisoners. Nikolai followed.

"Nice job, Sankta," he commended.

"Not half bad yourself, highness." I replied, picking up a rope from a pile on the deck and passing it to Nikolai to get started tying up the prisoners.

He turned and started to work on binding them.

I started to feel a familiar pull on my throat, realizing only too late what was going on.

Spinning on my heel, I couldn't so much as call out, because the breath was pulled from my lungs. I fell to my knees. The captain stood behind me with his fist clenched. A Corpralki. I might have gasped in surprise if I could breathe.

"My men think you're a Saint, little girl. I don't believe in Saints," he opined, beginning a saunter across the deck, stopping a few feet from me and making an appraising sort of look.

"I do believe in blood though. And until I need yours, you'll make me an awfully happy man, I think," he grinned, showing off two gold canine teeth, and pulling my bandanna down to hold my chin with his free hand.

"You're making a mistake," I managed to gasp.

"Mistakes are for fools," he replied, smirking.

A shot rang out, and the captain dropped his summoning hand as blood blossomed across his knuckles.

It clashed horribly with his hair.

"Then I suppose I should count you as the greatest fool I've ever met," Nikolai called, with a smirk of his own.

Then, before Nikolai could react, the heartrender's other hand was up, and it was Nikolai down on the deck.

"And who are you supposed to be? Her sidekick?" The pirate asked.

From the look on Nikolai's face, you would have thought that he'd just been told his shoes didn't match.

I lifted my hands and froze the captain. I forced him to drop Nikolai.

"That's enough from you, thanks. You all right, Nikolai?"

"No worse for wear. And you?"

"Never better. Let's get moving. Some of these men are bleeding."

"Funny how she cares about your men more than you do, eh?" Nikolai asked the captain, restraining the man before the rest of his crew, kicking him in the ribs for good measure.

"Don't bother," I replied, while Nikolai roughed the man to his feet. I lifted my hand and the captain walked forward a few steps. Nikolai raised an eyebrow.

I replied with a look that said now's not the time.

The rest of the prisoners had begun to tie themselves up, and it was one of these, the man who had been kicked by the captain, who showed us around and gave us the captain's ring of keys, before locking himself and his crew mates into the brig.

Once I checked that the whole ship was clear, and that the captain was securely locked away, we could finally see to the prisoners.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

She came down the stairs, and immediately began to gag on the scent of them, thankful for the spare cloth over her nose to keep out the smell. He followed her, and recoiled, not at the smell, but at the state of the interior of the ship. It looked to be the work of a Fabrikator, and the wooden interior was covered almost entirely by murals made of only fish bones and shark teeth.

It was grotesque.

The prisoners below were all in various states of disarray. Some were hardly conscious. Those that were watched their saviors with wide eyes. They were hungry and thirsty and in desperate need of a bath. The rescuers wasted no time in opening one of the giant cages holding prisoners.

They took the time to free each cell, to take stock of who most desperately needed help, to soak in the prisoners' gratitude and praise.

Many of them were praying and giving thanks to the Saints.

Sankta Inna strikes again.

Nataliya was suddenly glad that she was covering her face with the rag. It offered some form of mystery, of privacy, among these strangers.

Finally, in the cell at the bow of the ship, the Grisha prisoners were bound especially. Their hands were chained so that they could hardly move, and they looked exhausted and hungry. Immediately, some of the crew recognized their king. A young girl with moonlight-grey eyes, and coarse brown hair was the first to see through his disguise.

"Moi T-"

"Hush. Now's not the time. Go tend to the other prisoners if you can. We'll talk afterwards."

With a brief nod of understanding, the party went to join the rest of the freed prisoners which were healthy enough to move who had congregated out on deck.

The saviors joined them there, once they had searched the Captain's cabin for any important materials or supplies that would need for their own return journey. Maps.

Those who had come to the deck were those well enough to walk; a good forty people, a combination of Grisha and Otkazat'sya. She addressed them, still careful to hide as much of her face as she could.

"See to the injured and hungry. The moment that we can, we're going to get back to Ravka and the king's men will offer you sanction there. The slavers in the hold need a constant watch, and will be handed over to the government and prosecuted. These waters are full of pirates and the like. Make haste."

"We will send you on your way, but will not make the trip with you. The members of the first and second armies will lead you, and will be given full jurisdiction on this vessel until it makes landfall. Are there any problems with this arrangement?"

There was a pause where no one spoke up.

"Good. I will now hold counsel with anyone who manned the Hummingbird prior to this vessel."

Three followed them up the to the bow of the ship, further into the sun that had long since returned.

Nataliya stood back a few feet and watched the reunion, plenty of hugs and claps on the back to go around.

"What happened? Is this all that's left?" Nikolai prompted.

The girl with moonlight eyes stepped forward, her grin dropping at the thought of her lost comrades. She couldn't have been more than sixteen, but it seemed like all the rest of the prisoners already looked up to her.

"All that's left. Alexi died before we made it to land. Anton afterwards. How did you-"

"Don't worry about me. I've still got a plan. Just get back to Ravka. Get these people to safety. I need to talk to Vladimir." Nikolai replied, turning to one of the Squallers and taking him towards the rest of the liberated otkazat'sya prisoners, cloth still over his mouth to conceal his face.

Nataliya was left with the other two.

"Are you Grisha?" She asked the girl.

The girl gave a single nod. "Materialki. I worked the lines on the Hummingbird and did repairs."

"Then the others here will listen to you. Set a heading due northeast, and you'll make landfall in Os Kervo soon. Don't stop before then. Can you manage?" Nataliya asked.

"Absolutely. But... Who are you? Why isn't Nikolai coming with us?"

"I'm Nobody. And don't worry about Nikolai. He has a plan," Nataliya replied.

"That's exactly why I'm worried."

Nataliya laughed. "Don't worry. I'll keep him safe."

The young Grisha sighed, and smiled. "All right. I assume that Vladmir's getting the gist of the plan right now?"

"Yes. But I'll fill you in, too. It all starts just before you make landfall..."

XXXXX

The sun had begun to set by the time they said their goodbyes.

"Are you ready?" Nikolai asked.

"I think the proper question is; are you ready, highness?"

"Absolutely."

"Then let's get out of here."

The pair stepped swiftly up onto the railing of the ship and looked back at the waiting crowd, waving one last time.

Then they bounded over the side of the ship, back into the sea.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

TA-DA! Look at that. Two chapters in one night. Still minimally edited, but it's a start, eh? Let's talk about the pirate captain. Inspired by real life characters, and whatnot. Let's talk about Vladmir. Shoutout to my BFF for that name that she stole from a TV show. Thank you all (double since I forgot last time, AHHH) for reading and reviewing! Have a lovely day!