The Queen's Coronation

     "I feel like I might throw up."

Inej's brow creased, pausing before continuing to silently touch each of her discreetly hidden knives, their names mere whispers on her lips. "Why?"

Sasha looked at her as if she'd asked what a ship was. "Why? I'm about to meet Queen Zoya, the Dragon Queen, Sankta Zoya of the Storm, the Storm Witch, the gorgeous Zoya Nazyalensky, former general to former King Nikolai Lantsov. I am obviously underdressed and I am not prepared to meet a queen—"

"Sasha, ne brinite," Inej said, switching between Kerch and Suli. "You look fine."

The Kaelish girl ran her fingers through her hair, cut to just above her chin in a flaming red bob. "Do I? I feel like I'm going to a ball in roughspun trousers and a loose brown tunic with bedhead." She glanced around at the other guests, who looked much nicer than the two sailors, Inej in her embroidered vest and Sasha with her corset and over-the-shoulder ruffled white blouse. Her sense of style had changed quite a lot since joining Inej's crew.

"But you're not," Inej pointed out. "You're at a queen's coronation and you look lovely. Not to mention all the people steering away from you because of those weapons on your hips."

Sasha's fingers brushed against the two halves of her break-apart staff hanging from her belt. Since joining the Suli girl on the Wraith, she'd decided she needed to know how to fight if she were to hunt slaves on the open seas. Sasha had specifically picked out the staff, though she wasn't sure why. When she pressed the bottom of the staff, the part where they connected, out protruded sharp points on the other side of each half. Sasha was actually pretty skilled with the weapon by now.

A charming man stepped up to them, with golden blonde hair, the lines of his face cut in the lines of a fairy tale prince. Not nearly as sharp as Kaz's face, but in Sasha's opinion, much more handsome.

He grinned at them. "Captain Ghafa and her First Mate Adala."

"Mister Lantsov," greeted Inej gracefully. "I wanted to thank you for inviting us. We don't get many civil requests for our presence."

"I'm well aware." There was a twinkle in Nikolai's eye, full of mischievousness. "And thank you for waiting. The queen is this way."

Sasha couldn't shake her nervousness the entire way through the throne room. She was about to meet the queen of Ravka! Her fingers touched her staff halves without thinking. They brought her some comfort. Knowing that she could defend herself if it ever came to it helped calm down her nerves, but only a little bit.

Finally, they reached the throne. Zoya, the gorgeous woman with long, black hair, her eyes blue and storming like a thunderstorm, wore a beautiful velvet gown, her crown perched atop her head. Nikolai sidled up next to her and said, "There's two someones I'd like you to meet."

Zoya's eyes flickered from where she had been looking before to scan over the two of them. Inej and Sasha curtsied, the Suli's bow much more graceful.

"Queen Zoya, it's an honor," gushed Sasha.

The queen studied them for a moment. "Captain Ghafa and First Lieutenant Adala," she said quietly, her voice low so as to not carry in the busy room.

Inej grinned. "You know my name."

Sasha had to remind her to blink and smile, trying to get over her own shock. "And mine. Oh my Saints, this is the greatest day of my life."

Zoya glanced at where the Kerch dignitaries had gathered in a corner. "A great many people are looking for you."

The gleam in the Suli girl's eye was wicked. "They'd best pray they don't find us."

"If there's anything you need—"

"They will have it," said Nikolai, with a smart bow. If Sasha was into boys, she would have been swooning big time.

"It's been my dream to visit this place," Inej said, surveying the throne room in awe. "To walk the same paths as the Sun Saint."

"Then we'll have to show you the Little Palace, where she trained to use her power."

Inej's grin widened. "Bhashe."

"Merema," Zoya replied in Suli. "You're welcome. And, Sasha." The girl perked up at her name. "Your sister says hello."

She grinned. "You've seen her? How is she?"

"Annoyingly omniscient."

"Of course."

A crease appeared between Inej's brows. Her dark eyes focused on someone moving through the crowd, white hair like foam on a wave. "That woman," she said, "in the shawl. Her hair—"

"Friends from the country," said Nikolai briskly. "Now let me introduce you to my sister Linnea. She'll want to hear of these new cannons you're using."

He turned them away, ushering them into the crowd of people. But one person caught Sasha's attention. While Inej walked on with Nikolai, talking about the new cannons on the Wraith they had just recently acquired, Sasha swerved to the right, dodging and weaving in between guests.

Her target was a pale Fjerdan girl, her hair slick and straight, nearly white. Her icy eyes were narrow, and she reminded Sasha of a white fox. But she watched Sasha carefully, only looking away to glance at the Fjerdan prince beside her.

Watching her feet, Sasha spun around but continued to walk backwards until she bumped into the girl, who couldn't have been much older than Brynn would've been. The girl cried out, the prince stepped forward to help her, and the Fjerdans they were speaking to shouted things at her in Fjerdan, probably scolding her.

"I'm so sorry," she apologized. "Are you okay?"

The girl nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."

Sasha curtsied to the prince. "Your Highness. I apologize greatly." She'd also been working on her acting skills.

He cut a hand through the air dismissively. "Don't worry about it. Accidents happen."

"Of course," said Sasha.

The prince offered his arm to the girl. "I believe the Kerch are waving us over for another one of their atrocious proposals. I'd hate to leave this pleasant conversation, but I must endure the Kerch for a little longer. It was nice meeting you."

The girl gave Sasha a smile and put her hand in the crook of the prince's arm, letting him lead the way. Sasha watched them go, then saw something on the ground behind them. She stepped forward to pick it up, stopping when she saw her name on the front in familiar handwriting.

It read: I told you I'd see you again. Congratulations on your newfound fame. Eat a few waffles for me. -N

N for Nina. Sasha didn't know if Nina might've been in this very room, or if she was all the way back in Fjerda, and she'd only sent the note along with the girl and the prince. But what she did know was that everything was going to be alright. She had her ship, the crew, and her sister and friends were thriving, as far as she knew.

Life isn't so bad after all.