Standing on the boat looking out to the ocean Mal hugging Alina, "It just me and you like old times" she said.

"I like those odds to" Mal replied, then he move his arm from around and grab her hand and took them to where they would be sleeping.

Mal and Alina at first enjoyed the comforts of being back together like the old time when life was easier, but then ever so often Mal would make a comment about how different she is now. Alina didn't want to fight with Mal and would ignore or brush it off, if she told him the full truth of her time in the palace she knew they would never be friends again.

Over the next few day Alina listen to conversations between Jesper, Inez, Kaz and Mal about becoming real ghost and finding a new life abroad. Alina didn't want that she wanted to grow her powers find the other amplifier so she could bring down the fold and stop the war. However she knew thru Kaz that she had a price on her head so she would have to wait, get her powers stronger and make a solid plan that Mal wouldn't be able to refuse.

Whilst walking around the boat she bump into Nina who was watching the ocean infront, "Hi" she said Nina and Nina replied back. The both went back to watch the ocean, "you seem sad?" Nina asked.

Alina smiled sadly, "you have no idea, but you seem sad to?

Nina gave Alina a sad smile to, "I tried to protect the man I love and he hates me"

"I'm sure you will realise soon that was what you were doing"

"I hope so, I didn't want him to die, but what about you"

"The man I fell in love with lied to me and the boy I use to like hates me for what I have become"

"why are men stuiped?" Nina giggled.

"I have no idea" Alina giggled back.

Inez walked up and join the conversation only hearing the men stuiped comment, "it's because men don't want a strong women, they want to be their protector"

Nina and Alina stopped giggling and looked at Inez and nodded there head, "I'm Nina by the way" she said to the women

"Inez and my friend Maria" Inez pointed to Alina protecting her identity.

Alina smiled and nodded, as Alina didn't want to give anything away incase Inez would tell Mal she decided to change the subject.

Later on that night Alina had stayed back after dinner as she was very hungry compared to the others when Nina came and say down, Nina whispered in Alina (Maria) ear, "I know you lied to me before I'm a heartrender Grisha, don't worry I'm a friend not foe"

Alina looked shocked and whispered back, "Please don't tell I'm Grishan too but I'm running"

Nina smiled, "So am I the person I love his the enemy and we saved each other"

Alina grab Nina's hand "your secret is safe with me to, the man I love is dead and I want to get stronger to fix his ancestors mistake" Alina felt she could trust Nina but not all the way with the darkling secret.

"If you are Grisha what is your power and maybe I can help" Nina asked

Alina looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to them, "I'm the sun summoner" she looked down at there joined hands

Nina looked around and smiled, "There is nothing to be ashamed of"

Alina had a tear in her eye and Nina hugged her, "the boy you were talking about he doesn't like that you are Grishan or powerful"

"No we have had fights about that and about the Darkling"

"oh General Kirigan is a wonderful man, what did he do?"

"He lied to me about what he wanted to do with the fold and used my power to help start something. We were able to stop him and that why he is dead." Alina was now crying

"Do you miss him?" Nina asked her in concern

"Yes I do" Alina said with her head down, "I loved him, I never felt ..."

"Its okay I'm guessing the others don't know either, (Alina shook her head) I'll keep that secret to. But if you want help with your training I can do that to."

Alina lifted her head, "Thank you I don't want the others to know about what we spoke about and yes if you can help me with my training I will be grateful, by the way my true name Alina. But when we are around the group call me Maria"

"Okay" Nina replied.

As the journey was going to take another 3 weeks to get to Ketterdam Nina and Alina organise to meet up over random time during that period in hiding spots around the boat away from the other so Alina can increase her skills.

Meanwhile back at the Fold

The Darkling had just come out of the fold bloody and battered, but he also invite to more beings out of the fold. He asked them to hide whilst he made his way back to his camp, it took him several day to walk there. When he arrived his soilder ran to him and grabbed him as he collapsed they took him straight to his tent and called for the healers. It took the healers to fix most of his injuries but in the mean time they kept him asleep to heal, his main guards wanted to know what happen to him and the others but would have to wait for when the Darkling would wake.

"Alina" he breathed out when he finally awoke a week later.

"General you are awake" the healers said getting some water for the General to drink.

Once he had a sip of the water the healer asked, "How are you feeling sir"

"Like I have been run over by a horse" he grimace as he tried to sit up.

"Sir I know its none of my business but what happen out there, what happen to Alina?" she asked

The General narrowed his eye at her trying to tell her it was not her business but she kept going, "I'm sorry sir the reason why I asked is when you asked me to check on the Sun Summoner before you left on your trip I did a test on her but the result came back after you had left"

"What was the test?" Kirigin said angrily

The healer looked down and then back up, "Sir Alina is pregnant"