The waves of the Guildriden Gulf are choppy and chaotic. I clutch tightly onto the ferry's railing as we sail across the sea. A wave of nausea runs through me, and I vomit my breakfast over the side. More annoying than my upset stomach is Vasa's hand rubbing up and down my back.

"Always difficult - those first few months of pregnancy," he says to some nearby passengers as I continue expelling the remainder of my stomach.

I shoot him a glare full of daggers. His hand recoils from my back. I know he is trying to keep attention away from me, but my churning stomach only makes his touch more unwanted than it already is.

I gaze down at the rolling waves, hoping the ferry ride to Flumensia will be an easier journey than our trip to Gracesard Isle. In the distance, the island is becoming more distinguishable. Its green hills look warm and inviting, but the massive structure of the largest Maguvian prison makes it anything but. And yet, I long to arrive on the island if doing so will sooth my upset stomach.

Kesuk approaches with some damp towels and hands them to me. I wipe my mouth with one and place another on my forehead. The coolness against my skin brings slight relief from the nausea. I let out a deep groan of misery and turn to my two travelling partners.

"How come you two aren't sick?" I ask.

"I used to fish back home. Compared to the small size of those boats, this is nothing," Vasa says.

Kesuk shrugs. "I suppose it doesn't affect me."

I sigh and lean back over the edge as another wave of nausea runs through me.

"We should be there within the next hour," Kesuk says. "Just hold on a little longer."

"I'm trying my best," I murmur.

"Keep that towel to your forehead," Kesuk advises. He lets out a loud yawn. "If you two are all right, then can I nap for a bit on the bench behind you?"

"Go ahead," I say. As it is, I feel guilty that I have forced him to stay awake so long already. As soon as I give my approval though, I realize annoyingly that this leaves Vasa and I completely alone. However, my stomach hurts so badly that I barely have the energy to be upset about keeping up the charade of being his wife.

Kesuk passes out in a matter of minutes, leaving Vasa to stand next to me as we gaze out over the ocean. I look towards the island, wishing we would pick up speed.

"Fetia," Vasa says.

My eyes widen at the use of my real name.

"Sorry – Alea. I just wanted to say I'm sorry if I am making you uncomfortable. I know you don't enjoy it." The sincerity in his voice makes me feel guilty for my previous annoyance with him.

I let out a sigh. "We have to do what we can to survive. I could be more polite about it. Though I cannot say I'm fond of the fact that I'm now pregnant."

Vasa flashes me a weak smile. "It was the best I could come up with."

"Being seasick is a perfectly reasonable excuse," I argue.

"I'll share that with the next set of passengers that look concerned," Vasa says.

"Hopefully the waves will be more calm on the ride to Fehrbridge," I say. I lean my head against the railing and let out a deep groan.

"You should go lie down, too," Vasa says.

"I won't be able to sleep feeling like this."

"But it might help you feel better."

"In a minute, then," I say. The nausea subsides slightly, and I glance up at Vasa.

"What?" he asks.

I take a deep breath and find the courage to swallow my pride for the first time since Vasa joined our team. "I'm sorry for being annoyed with you. Truly, you are a nice man, and I am sorry I have been taking my anger out on you."

"Anger from what?" Vasa asks curiously.

I suddenly wish to tell him then about Asteria, how my indifference towards him is borne from my attraction to women, and not necessarily his actions. However, I think it is best all of that remains a secret for now. A ferry seems like the last place to share the tale, especially when there could be plenty of eavesdroppers nearby.

"Just...everything that has happened," I say. "Thank you for being a good ally. I am sorry I did not say it earlier."

"Of course," Vasa says. "Do you want to lie down now?"

I give in and nod.

I curl up on the bench adjacent to where Kesuk is napping and shut my eyes, trying to breathe deeply. The nausea does not go away entirely, but it lessens. I only find that it finally ceases when we dock at Gracesard Isle in the afternoon.

Kesuk wakes from his nap as we dock. Though he appears groggy, I can tell the sleep has done him some good. He seems more alert and energetic as we depart the ship. I keep close to him and Vasa, thrilled we have made it to our halfway mark without being noticed.

"It will take an hour to refuel. We should stay away from the main square," Kesuk says, referring to a series of shops and restaurants near the dock that are there to service those who are travelling to and from the isle.

"I'll go find food," Vasa offers.

"Don't bother for me. I'm not hungry," I say.

"You should eat something," Kesuk urges.

"I'll nibble on some fruit you packed."

Vasa heads off, while Kesuk and I find a secluded corner on the outskirts of the port, tucked away under some trees. I have only just sat down when Kesuk hands me some fruit. I frown, but he looks at me, concerned.

"I know, but you need to keep your strength up," Kesuk urges.

I sigh and bite into a fresh apple, eating it slowly. I glance behind me, where the prison looms in the distance. The stone towers rise high into the sky. I can only imagine how many prisoners Magnuvia keeps in there. Are the prison rooms cold and drafty? Do the prisoners ever see the sunlight? Are their tortured screams audible from down below?

I remember King Ruben's threat to Asteria, and I want to vomit again at the thought of her ever being trapped there.

"Quite the eyesore, isn't it?" Kesuk says, noticing my gaze.

I want to tell him that was not what I was thinking of, but just as I kept my feelings for Asteria secret from Vasa earlier in the day, I do the same with Kesuk.

"Indeed," I murmur.

I can only hope that Asteria is not there now. I have not told anyone of our love affair, and I imagine she would have not either for her own safety. For both our sakes, I hope it is never found out. I turn my head away from the prison, unable to stand looking at it any longer.

Vasa returns a little while later with some food, but I abstain. The apple I ate sits somewhat comfortably, but I fear vomiting up whatever I eat on the next ferry ride to Fehrbridge. After Kesuk and Vasa eat, Vasa lies down in the grass to get some well-deserved rest, while Kesuk and I strategize.

"Once we arrive to Fehrbridge, we should try to exit the city as soon as possible, even if on foot," Kesuk says.

"Right. I am sure there will be a plethora of soldiers," I say.

Kesuk's fingers point downward on the map, to where the lakes of Flumensia are located. "From my understanding of Flumensia, the regions south of Fehrbridge are more populated in the summer. I am sure many have seasonal homes that are not in use. Our aim should be to move south, perhaps to Cantersard Lake," he says. He points to the large lake situated south of Fehrbridge.

"Sounds like a plan to me," I say.

The ferry's horn echoes through the air, a signal that our boat will be departing again soon. My limbs feel restless when I think of how we will arrive to Flumensia by sunset. I know little about the country, but I am thankful that it will at least not be covered in snow like Kilneu.

Vasa awakes, startled by the horn.

"Just the ferry," Kesuk assures him. "But I'm afraid your nap must end."

Vasa nods and rises. I glance ahead into the horizon, nervous. A warm smile from Kesuk reassures me. "It will be okay, Fetia. Just let Vasa and I do any of the talking. Keep your head low," he says.

I nod and draw my hood over my face as I walk with them back into the port. The crowds worry me as we approach the ship. There are many who could discover me, but Kesuk and Vasa keep close, partially masking my appearance. I lock arms with Vasa, hoping I can hide behind his larger frame if need be. He says nothing, but the discomfort on both of our faces must be evident. At least we will only have to pretend to be a married couple for a little while longer.

Kesuk hands our tickets forward to a crewman. I clutch a little closer to Vasa, trying to keep my face hidden.

Vasa wraps his arm around me and rubs my shoulder. "The sea makes my wife nervous," he explains. "The journey to Gracesard Isle was difficult."

"Perhaps sitting inside will be better for the lady?" the crewman suggests.

"Thank you. Perhaps we will try that," Vasa says.

The crewman lets us forward, and we head onto the boat. I quickly recoil from Vasa and let out a sigh of relief. Vasa seems satisfied with himself too. At the very least, he is good at talking himself out of a situation.

"Perhaps we should go inside," Kesuk suggests. "We can find a secluded corner."

I nod, and we follow him into the interior of the ship. Warm air greets me, far removed from the chilly ocean breeze that surrounds the outside deck. I glance around, seeing windows surrounding us on nearly all sides. Though it must allow passengers a view of the ocean, I wish the windows were not so transparent. Anyone looking in might be able to catch a glimpse of my face.

"Over here," Kesuk says. He glances at the room's corner, where a pair of seats are situated adjacent to a wall, rather than a window. I follow eagerly and sit. Kesuk begins to pull out more food from his sack and offers some to me, but I shake my head.

"I am afraid it will all come up again," I admit.

"You should try resting again," Vasa says. "It helped last time, didn't it?"

"I suppose," I say. I shift uncomfortably in my seat, nervous of what will happen while I nap. "I'll shut my eyes for a bit. But if either of you become tired, please wake me, and we can take shifts.

They nod, and I sprawl out on the bench I am seated on. In the distance, I can see the boat pulling away from Gracesard Isle. The prison is burned into my brain. I shut my eyes, thankful to not look at it any longer. I drift off slowly, managing to fall asleep in a matter of minutes.

I wake groggily a little while later and glance over at Kesuk and Vasa. They are staring out the window, and around us, people are beginning to rise.

Kesuk turns and notices me. "Good timing," he says.

I blink and sit up. "Did you let me sleep the whole time? You should have woken me so one of you could rest!"

"Don't worry. We were reviewing the map and discussing our plans in the meantime," Vasa says.

"How do you feel?" Kesuk wonders.

I survey my body for a moment. "Fine, surprisingly. I suppose lying down and resting did help."

"Good, because we've arrived to Flumensia. We'll have to be on high alert from this point forward," Kesuk says.

I sit up and give myself a few seconds to wake before following Kesuk and Vasa out of the interior of the boat to the deck. The sun is rapidly descending, casting orange hues across the ocean. I want to stop and watch the sun disappear behind the waves, but we have other matters to attend to. As we head towards the offboarding platform, we face Fehrbridge, and I encounter my first views of the country of Flumensia.

Rows of brick buildings and rolling green hills invade my vision. A shiver runs through my spine.

"Cold?" Vasa asks.

I shake my head. "Flumensia reminds me of Esterpool."

Memories of Esterpool flood my brain. I think of the rolling hills that stretched miles into the distance, the quaint brick estate the princess lived in, and the country roads and small woods that encompassed the town. Looking around, Fehrbridge is all that but on a much larger scale.

"Let's not linger," Kesuk says, breaking my train of thought.

I follow him off the platform, keeping my head lowered as Kesuk and Vasa thank the crew for their service. I glance slightly ahead, now seeing Fehrbridge more clearly. The city does not match the grand magnitude of Magewell. In fact, I would say it is most similar to Arkford, where Maria and I once visited when we were serving as maids.

The streets are crowded and busy even as the day concludes, and the buildings are lined in close proximity to each other. The familiar horn of a motorcar causes me to jolt. I had not realized they were available in Flumensia, but judging by their neat cobblestone roads, Fehrbridge is surely designed for them.

"This place is more crowded than I thought," Vasa admits nervously.

"Let's try to make it out of the city as quickly as possible," Kesuk suggests.

Vasa extends his hand. "One more time?"

I nod and grip it, knowing at least he will be effective in helping me navigate through the crowds. We begin our journey immediately, keeping up at a hastened pace down the city streets of Fehrbridge. I desperately want to look around and admire a city I have never seen, but to do so might be a death sentence. I can already see various soldiers stationed around with my limited vision, and though many appear to be heading towards the local bars now that the day's work is done, I do not trust that they will be carefree enough to let me go if I am noticed. I keep my head low and stare down at my feet, hoping Kesuk is skillful enough in figuring out the layout of the city.

We are not far into our excursion when I hear a man's gruff voice ring out. "You there?! Is that a military-issued weapon?"

I feel Vasa's hand tense in mine. "No," he says back, much too quickly.

I hear approaching footsteps and grip Vasa's hand tighter. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kesuk draw nearer to me, most likely ready to draw me away if needed.

"Are you a soldier?" the man asks. From my limited vision, I can make out his heavy boots, and I realize he must be a soldier.

Vasa does not answer the question. "My wife and I are on our honeymoon. Perhaps we could have this discussion at a later time?"

There is a pause.

"You're Landiani, aren't you?" the man asks. There is a sick satisfaction in his voice that makes my skin crawl. My hopes that this man was a Flumensian soldier are shattered. His disdain for Landiani must make him Magnuvian through and through. "Perhaps you and your wife would not mind answering a few questions? We have to be careful about what Landiani we welcome into the city these days."

I look desperately at Kesuk, and he makes a motion with his hands that I know only means one thing.

Run.

Kesuk takes off first, and I pull Vasa along with me as we begin racing through the streets of Fehrbridge. The soldier immediately calls for backup, and I hope that him doing so buys us enough time to lose him. However, just as the thought passes through my head, I begin to hear footsteps pursuing us in the distance. I quicken my pace, hoping that we can outrun them. At the very least, I do not expect them to shoot with civilians around.

"Kesuk, think of something," Vasa hisses.

"I'm trying," Kesuk replies. He nearly collides into an older woman with a heavy basket in her hands. The slight hesitation causes the soldiers to grow closer to us. We run faster, but I know that my legs can only carry me so far. We travelled for many miles the day prior, and our energy levels are sapped as it is.

"There's an alley here," Vasa says. He nearly drags me with him as he makes a sharp turn, and I only look back once to see Kesuk has successfully followed us. The alley is dark and narrow, but it will not keep us concealed from the soldiers. We continue racing down it, and I can only hope there may be a place to hide or at least a spot where we can reemerge on a street far removed from the one the soldiers were pursuing us through.

As we run, I make out the silhouette of a woman carrying what appears to be a heavy bag of trash. The back door to her home is open, and the lights coming from inside illuminate her face. As I grow closer, a gasp rises in my throat.

Vasa notices beside me. "What is it?"

I break free from Vasa's grip and run quicker. The woman turns just in time to see me approach her, and her eyes widen. Whether she is shocked due to recognition or fear, I cannot tell.

"Arabelle," I gasp. Though harder to recognize without a proper's maid uniform, I have not forgotten her wavy brown hair, dark eyes, and creamy skin. As I grip onto her shoulders, that is when I see clear recognition form.

"Please, let us in," I beg.

Arabelle opens her mouth, and I can hear the faint sounds of a scream arising from her throat. That is when I hear the click of a gun. Vasa points his rifle towards her. I turn to tell him to stop, but that is when he speaks.

"Please," Vasa says.

Arabelle shoves me away. Vasa points his gun towards her chest.

"Lower your gun," Arabelle hisses. She turns and stares at me in annoyance before motioning me forward. "Follow me."