𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

ⅰ 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔

ONCE THE HUMMINGBIRD, ONE OF KING NIKOLAI'S GLYING SHIPS, HAD GOTTEN THE CREW CLOSE TO EAST RAVKA, THE PLAN HAD STARTED TO FALL INTO PLACE. Ace and Inej, each with one of the relentless blades, would go with Nina and Zoya to protect Alina. The others will go to the King and Toyla's sister Tamar and get them to safety. "Since I will have the Neshyenyer," Ace started, walking to Brey who looked over the side of the ship. "I thought you might want my daggers... but you have the Cut, I didn't really think this through."

"I would be more than happy to take them," Breydon said with a smile. "I may not use them, but I will gladly keep them safe." The ship lowered close to the ground just outside the fold and Brey took the daggers, adding them to the holsters on her thighs. "Keep your Katana though," Brey insisted. "In case of the Volcra, they slice easily."

"Come on Brey," Jesper called, jumping over the side of the ship.

"Come back to me, yeah?" Ace called as Brey started to walk away. "I want my daggers back." Breydon laughed softly and nodded.

"You stay alive," Breydon ordered, before spinning around. Once Brey and the boys departed the ship, Zoya lifted the hummingbird back into the air.

They pushed further into the fold and the hairs on the back of Ace's neck stood. Ace's hand came up to squeeze the stone on the necklace Brey had fashioned to match hers. Nina noticed Ace's nerves and she moved to squeeze Ace's shoulder.

"I don't know if I'll stand any chance against the Volcra," Nina joked, letting her hand slide from Ace's shoulder and onto the side of the ship. "You might have to protect me Ace Rafan."

Ace laughed softly resting one of their hands on each sword. "Consider done Nina Zenik," Ace said with a nod.

The boat carried on in silence for a few minutes before Inej moved suddenly. "There!" Inej called, noticing the bright blue rays of light shoot through the darkness.

Zoya set the ship down and Ace and Inej jumped over the side. One of the shadow monsters had lifted Alina into the air, it was easily nine feet tall and disturbingly humanoid. Another had appeared and grabbed the boy trying to shoot at the nightmare holding Alina. Ace slid under the monster that grabbed Alina and sliced through the monster that held the boy. Inej jumped and killed the monster holding Alina. Both monsters lit up with a gold light before fading.

The two fell into each other's arms as Ace made their way to stand by Inej, sheathing their sword as they did. Inej flipped the sword and Alina's eyes widened. "Inej, is that really you?" Alina asked in surprise.

Inej pulled her mask off and smiled. "Sankta Alina," Inej mused, kneeling. Ace copied the action, bowing their head.

"Please, there's no need for such courtesies," Alina instead, rushing to Inej and pulling her into a tight hug. "Not amongst friends. I can't believe you're here risking your life for me again."

They pulled away and Inej sheathed the sword. "Someone had to find this." She held it out but Alina denied the offer.

"No one can wield it like you," Alina said with a smile before turning to Ace. "Or you."

"Thank you," The boy said, stepping forward and offering his hand. "Mal Oretsev."

"Ace Rafan," Ace introduced, shaking his hand.

"Yes, yes. Happy reunion!" Zoya yelled, leaning against the edge of the boat. "Can we get on with it?"

"Zoya, thank you," Alina called. "If you'd been a moment later, we-" Nina looked over the edge and Alina stammered. "Oh, hello."

"You know I'm not one to resist dramatic timing," Zoya said with a shrug.

"I remember you. You were on the ship to Ketterdam."

"Nina Zenik. Heartrender. Big fan," Nina said quickly.

"We need to get further into the Fold to destroy it."

"Let's go then," Ace encouraged, they and Inej made their way to the boat as Mal turned back for his gun. "Quicker now!" Ace yelled. "You'd be terrible in the army."

"I was," Mal called, helping Alina up.

"Yes, was."

𓅨

TOYLA AND THE CROWS WALKED ACROSS THE FEILDS OF RAVKA UNTIL THE FIGHTING GREW LOUD IN THEIR EARS. "There's another route to the left," Toyla spoke up, his vest discarded long ago, making him carry his sword.

"It'll be crowded with Kirigan Grisha," Kaz recognised.

"Clear it then," Breydon suggested. Toyla nodded and ran to the left, dropping down a small ledge. They slid down a small ledge where Brey caught a glimpse of the Grisha. Wylan moved to start walking again but Breydon grabbed his arm, pulling him down. "I saw the Grisha," Breydon reasoned to the confused crows. "Tidemaker, two Squallers and an Inferni."

"Okay demo man," Jesper mused, turning to Wylan with a smile. "Blow something up." Wylan took out a hand-sized round bomb and a small slab of flint. He hit it against a stone making a spark that lit the end. Wylan reeled his arm back and lobbed it high over the ledge. Brey peeked over the edge, watching as the bomb landed at the foot of the Inferni. A moment later the bomb exploded and the crows stood, looking over the edge. The girl was thrown back and the female Squaller made a shield of air.

"Where did that come from?!" A familiar voice yelled.

"My demolitions expert!" Kaz shouted, drawing attention his way. They looked down at the Shu girl hiding with two Zemeni siblings and Sturmhond in a First Army uniform.

"Expert?" Wylan repeated but he cleared his throat and nodded. "I mean, yes. Expert." Jesper smiled proudly and Breydon nodded.

They slid off the roof and Jesper ran forward, unmolding the gate, letting them pass through. "What nightmare have we gotten ourselves into?" Kaz muttered.

"A bad one probably. Just stay behind me," Breydon ordered. Wylan and Jesper dived behind a barricade with Tamar and two squallers as Kaz and Breydon moved to kneel with Sturmhond. "What are you doing here Sturmhond?" Breydon asked, knocking his knee.

"Around here he goes by Nikolai," Tamar collected.

Jesper pulled a face before realising. "Nikolai Lantsov," Jesper muttered,

"I didn't pitch you for a liar," Breydon said with a laugh and Nikolai shrugged.

"And-And you are?" Tamar stammered, looking between the crows.

"You must be Tamar," Wylan said. "We came with your brother."

"And Ha-Eun," Brey called and Tamar's eyebrows shot up.

The Tidemaker stood, pulling pillars of water from the air and to her palms. Jesper looked at Breydon, spinning the barrel of his gun. Breydon smiled and they jumped out at once. Breydon moved her hands, stopping the water in the air as Jesper sent out a flurry of shots. Jesper spun, his kilt flying as he sent out duel shots. Breydon dropped her hands and the water crashed making the Squallers stumble and lose the air shield. Jesper cracked his gun against the right one, landing a shot on the male Squaller's hand. Jesper spun the gun and clicked his tongue. "Hello, gorgeous," Jesper mused.

The Tidemaker clicked her fingers and his guns froze. Jesper winced and dropped the guns as the Ice burnt his hands. "If only you'd been born Grisha, you'd know what it means-"

"To be blessed?" Jesper finished. He plucked his buttons off, throwing them out and cutting the girl's fingers off. The male Squaller straightened and brought bound of lightning to his palms. Kaz cursed and tossed his cane forward to the ground. The lightning attached to the metal conduit, melting the golden crow's head.

"Jesper! Breydon! Move!" Wyaln shouted, throwing his arm out. The pair moved back as the Datura Meloxia flew out and crashed into the Squaller's face. Tamar stood and flung her axe out. It barreled forward and dug into the man's head. The second Squaller screamed and lightning shot from the sky.

"Take cover!" Tamar yelled, and everyone dove. Breydon stood and pulled her hands together. A golden light ran down her arms and into her hands before flinging them out. A golden Cut raced out, twice the size of her and split the ground and the Squaller in half. She fell to the floor, guts and blood filling the crack in the ground.

The Tidemaker stood across from Breydon, moving her left hand, the other missing fingers. "What are you?" The Tidemaker muttered. Breydon brought her hands out like a Heartrender, and the green clocks covered both her arms. Breydon pulled her hands back and the woman stumbled. Her skin sagged and turned grey as Breydon made her age at an impossible rate. The Tidemaker wobbled on weak knees before falling forward into a pile of dust.

"What was that?" Tamar squeaked.

Breydon grabbed Tamar's axe and pulled Kaz's cane from the ground and tossed it at him. Bryedon walked to Tamar, her axe in one hand that Tamar took. "Breydon Hanser, Time Manipulator."

"A Time- Time manipulator?" One of the Squallers stammered.

Toyla jumped over the fence making every look his way. "Don't call her a Siant," He shouted before scooping Tamar into his arms. "Sister!" The two laughed as Toyla swung them around.

"The blade. Did you find it?" Nikolai asked as Toyla set Tamar down.

"Inej has one. Ace has the other. They've gone to find Alina and Mal," Kaz relayed.

"Two blades?" Tamar asked.

"You might need to fix the stories," Breydon suggested.

"We have to do the same," Nikolai said sternly. "If Kirigan brought the fight here, he's gunning for her."

"I've cleared us a way into the fort," Toyla said with a nod. "Come on."

𓅨

ACE AND THE OTHERS SET OUT ON FOOT FOR THE CENTRE OF THE FOLD. Alina created a dome of light around them as they headed towards an old broken mansion. Pillars of old monsters and stone walls lined the cracked rock steps. Alina pushed her arms out setting the large dome in place over the group. "This is it," Alina called, her voice fighting over the growls of the volcra. "The heart of the Fold. Where Kirigan first damned this country into darkness. This is where we stand a chance of bringing it down."

Mal nodded and walked to Alina, reaching for one of his daggers. Alina's hands moved quickly to stop him. "No. No. We can do this." Alina slowly brought her hand up and Mal wrapped his hand around her wrist before pressing it to his chest. Rays of bright red light poured out of Alina's body, illuminating the dome and everyone's face with pure light.

Inej gasped softly and took Zoya's hand. Nina smiled and looked at Ace whose eyes darted around. Nina took Ace's and Zoya's hands and they all smiled in awe. "It's beautiful," Nina mused. Inej preyed to herself and Ace held out their hand, swiping through one of the red lights. I have to tell Breydon about this, Ace thought to themself. Alina pulled Mal close and kissed him as the dome pushed outwards.

"How touching," A voice called. Alina jumped in surprise and the red lights left. Nina pulled Ace closer as they caught sight of the Darkling. Alina readied herself, holding her arms out. "I almost feel bad for what I have to do now. He is family after all."

The Darkling pulled his arms apart and a low gurgling sound behind Inej. "Get down!" Ace yelled. Ace spun the sword and slashed upwards through the Shadow monster that tried to push through the shield of light. The girls dropped as Alina and the Darkling sent Cuts toward each other. They smashed together, shattering and sending shards of shadow and light into the Darklings and Mal's side. A shard of light flung out hitting the top of Ace's arm.

Ace cursed in Shu and Nina ran to them, pressing against the wound. "It's fine, it's fine," Ace muttered. Alina fell to her knees by Mal, pressing her hands to the cut against Mal's side. Another monster materialized, throwing Ace to the side and grabbing Nina. "Nina no!" Ace screamed and Inej and Zoya spun. "Stay with Alina!"Ace shouted at Inej before running into the darkness after Nina.

𓅨

❝ i am never bound by 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 ❞