CHAPTER FIVE

Improbable

     "Saints, I almost didn't recognize you."

Estelle looked up at Sturmhond from where she'd been looking out at the horizon, where the darkened waves met the equally dark sky. She raised her eyebrows, gesturing to her simple greatcoat and furry hat obscuring her dark features.

"It's not a disguise, just to keep me warm," she replied.

"Oh, love, if you needed to keep warm, you could've just asked," Sturmhond said, leaning down to her ear before adding huskily, "My bed has room for two."

She shoved him lightly away, rolling her eyes at his boyish antics. She certainly wouldn't say that she missed his shameless flirting, though she couldn't say that she wished for it every day she was away. That grin of his that was nothing but mischief, it didn't change when the rest of his features changed. The twinkle in his eye when he found something amusing. The tilt of his head whenever anything interesting happened that he wanted to remember.

Estelle took a step away from him when a crew member called out his name. Any rising butterflies were shoved back down her throat on purpose and kept far away from her stomach. It would be dangerous to them both anywhere else. She was a rare, hunted Grisha and he was a prince pretending to be a privateer.

Sturmhond winked at her before turning around to begin barking orders to those awake at this time of night. On the other side of the ship stood Ana, signing quickly and efficiently to Estelle's crew, preparing them for the journey. Many of them had never been on Sturmhond's contraptions before.

She caught Ana's gaze as she finished speaking to the women. Ana dismissed them and joined her captain by the rail.

"I thought that was your job."

Estelle gave her a sheepish smile. "But you do it so well."

"Flattery might work on your fellow captain, but not me. You forget where I come from."

"I could never forget," she replied, nudging her second-hand with her shoulder. "Thank you."

Ana shook her head, but a smirk found its way onto her face. "I take my payment in food and favors. Speaking of, you can pay up now. What is going on between my two favorite captains?"

Estelle's eyes snapped up to Ana's. "What? That's not a favor, that's a question."

"My favor is an answer to a question you've refused to answer for as long as I've known you. Even though I already know the answer, I'd like to hear it straight from your lips."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Estelle turned back to the waves.

Humming with dubiety, Ana took a step away. "Whatever you need to tell yourself. Time to cross the ocean and the Fold now, I guess."

Estelle turned her back to the ornate railing and watched Ana walk off, the light breeze blowing her dark hair. However her attention was otherwise grabbed by a figure emerging from belowdecks. Alina.

Mal had already made it above, and the twins reunited as he reached for Alina and rubbed her arms to get warmth into them.

"What's happening?" she asked.

"We're going ashore." Mal's jaw clenched at the lack of knowledge given to him.

Aline frowned, meeting Estelle's waiting eyes. "In the middle of the night?"

"The Volkvolny will raise my colors near the Fjerdan coast," said Sturmhond. "The Darkling doesn't need to know you're back on Ravkan soil just yet."

Sturmhond turned and bent his head down to whisper to Estelle, "Keep an eye on them, will you? If not Mal, then Alina."

"Putting me on babysitting duty? Why?"

"Because I know that she trusts you. The trick like you showed her can't be faked, she knows that. And you're both being hunted by the Darkling. You're alike, in more than one sense."

Estelle eyed him. "And you're sure you're not doing this to keep me out of the way? I know that I've been through some stuff, but I can fight, if it comes to it."

"I'm asking you because I trust you, Estelle." His voice was soft now, and his face was looking at her with an indescribable emotion. Either he'd gotten better at lying, or he was telling the truth.

"Alright, I'll watch out for her," she finally decided. "But if I find out you've been tricking me—"

"I swear this is all being done with the most sincerity I can muster."

Without another word, he turned back to Alina and Mal."Can we get to the cuddling later? I want us ashore before dawn."

Mal sighed, annoyed, but took Alina's hand and they joined the rest of the group by the starboard side.

Sturmhond handed Privyet an envelope sealed with a blob of pale blue wax, then clapped him on his back like an old friend. He looked on the verge of tears, which was certainly understandable. Privyet was a loyal friend, and Sturmhond certainly could die on this mission.

Tolya and Tamar slipped over the railing, climbing down the weighted ladder secured to the Volkvolny. Alina peered curiously over the side, before following the twins.

Sturmhond held out a hand, preventing Estelle from climbing down after. "Last chance. Are you sure about this?"

"If I'm going to risk my life," she said, "this is how I want to do it. Fighting against something that deserves to be six feet under already."

He stared at her for a long moment, deciding whether to let her pass or not. Then, as if realizing she would climb down regardless, he stepped aside. Estelle gave him a grateful look before swinging her leg over the rail and gripping the ladder. He reached out his hands—maybe to help—but after a second thought, they fell back at his sides.

Estelle hopped down onto the deck of the ship. It was a bustle of familiar faces, even in the dim light of the very early morning. She sought out Alina and Mal, who stood on the portside of the ship, staring at everything around them. Sturmhond leapt down after, then swung up onto the raised platform behind the cockpit and took his place at the ship's wheel.

"What is this thing?" Alina asked.

Sturmhond consulted a map as Estelle grabbed a pair of guns handed to her by Ana and began inspecting them. "I call her the Hummingbird," he said, "though I'm thinking of renaming her the Firebird." Alina's face paled slightly, but Sturmhond grinned and ordered, "Cut anchor and release!"

Tamar and Tolya unhitched the knots of the grapples that held the Hummingbird to the Volkvolny. Estelle placed the guns in a pair of holsters she'd strapped to her belt last minute. They felt heavy and awkward, but she certainly couldn't go on with just a sword to defend herself.

"Make sail," Sturmhond called.

The sails unfurled at his command. The double sails were huge and required two crewmen to maneuver them into position. As a light breeze caught the canvas, the Hummingbird pulled further away from the Volkvolny. Like Sturmhond, many crew members watched the schooner become further away, before seeming to snap out of it when he called out, "Squallers!"

The Grisha positioned in each hull raised their arms. Winds began to billow around the ship, filling the sails. Sturmhond adjusted the course, then called for more speed. Without question, the boat leapt forward on their Small Science.

"Estelle." She looked over at him just as he tossed her a pair of goggles. Catching it easily, Estelle put them on and gripped the edge of the Hummingbird again to keep from falling off.

He called for more speed. The ship sped over the water, its double hulls skidding over the waves, nearly at the right speed. Estelle closed her eyes and just barely leaned over the edge.

Water sprayed lightly on her face until she had the right feeling. Estelle glanced back at Sturmhond. He was waiting for her. She nodded and he turned back to the crew. "All right, Squallers, take us up. Sailors to wings, on my count."

Alina whirled on Mal. "What does that mean, 'take us up'?"

"Five!" shouted Sturmhond.

The crewmen started to move counterclockwise, pulling on the lines.

"Four!"

The Squallers spread their hands wider.

"Three!"

A boom lifted between the two masts, the sails gliding along its length.

"Two!"

"Heave!" cried the sailors. The Squallers lifted their arms in a massive swoop.

"One!" yelled Sturmhond.

The sails billowed up and out, snapping into place high above the deck like two gigantic wings. Estelle grinned as the unthinkable happened: The Hummingbird took flight.

Sturmhond laughed like a madman, the wind in his hair and billowing his greatcoat. The Squallers called out to each other, making sure they kept the craft afloat. Alina looked queasy, her eyes squeezed shut and her knuckles white from gripping her seat.

"Alina," Mal yelled over the rush of the wind.

"What?" Alina forced the word out through tightly clenched lips.

"Alina, open your eyes. You've got to see this."

She shook her head stubbornly.

Mal's hand slid into hers. "Just try it."

Alina took a trembling breath and forced her lids open. Her expression was one Estelle almost wished she could remember forever, one that described exactly what Estelle felt her first time.

The sky above was a canvas of navy and sparkling silver stars, not a cloud in sight. Estelle stared in wonder, as she'd done millions of times, just looking at the sight above. The glimpse of the night sky was just an experience that Estelle felt every time, all over again.

"This is impossible!" Alina yelled.

Sturmhond whooped, a glint in his eyes. "When people say impossible, they usually mean improbable." The moonlight gleamed off the lenses of his goggles as he turned his gaze to Estelle, noticing her giddy grin. "You want to, don't you?"

The pure moonlight, right there for the taking? Of course she did. She hated to be selfish often, but this was one thing she was happy to indulge in.

Estelle nodded and he chuckled. "Go ahead. We could all use a light show."

"Not a light show," she corrected, but stood nonetheless.

Estelle took a breath to center herself. Like always, the light came easily, brighter than it was in the dim cabin just a day ago.

The starlight tendrils surrounded her, illuminating the side of the hull she was on. Immediately, strength filled Estelle, replenishing her body with the energy she needed. She took a longer moment than usual letting herself soak it all up and watching the light around her, grateful to the lack of flashbacks of the Darkling.

Estelle took one last breath and let the light slither back into the sky. A lazy smile took over her features. She was in a euphoric state, unable to be brought down.

Until the sudden panicked shouts brought her back to reality.

"Sturmhond!" Alina had shouted. "What are you doing?"

Estelle glanced over the cockpit at the countryside below, passing by in a dark blur.

"You said you were taking us to Os Kervo—" Mal yelled.

Sturmhond kept his gaze on the sky in front of them. "I said I was taking you to meet my client."

"Forget that," cried Alina. "Where are we going to land?"

"Not to worry. I have a little lake in mind."

"How little?" Alina's face was white. Mal began climbing out of the cockpit, his face furious, aiming for Sturmhond. "Mal, sit down!"

"You lying, thieving—" Estelle stepped between him and Sturmhond quickly. "Get out of my way—"

"I'd stay where you are. I don't think you want to be jostling around when we enter the Fold," Sturmhond said, beginning his off-tune whistling as they froze.

Estelle sighed, squeezing her eyes shut and rubbing them. "You can't be serious," said Alina.

"Not on a regular basis, no," he said. "There's a rifle secured beneath your seat, Oretsev. You may want to grab it. Just in case."

"You can't take this thing into the Fold!" bellowed Mal.

"Why not? From what I understand, I'm traveling with the one person who can guarantee safe passage."

Alina clenched her hands into fists. What are you doing? Estelle wondered. If we survive, they're both going to kill you, Sturmhond. As if he could actually hear her. "Maybe I'll just let the volcra have you and your crew for a late-night snack!"

Sturmhond kept one hand on the wheel and consulted his timepiece. "More of an early breakfast. We really are behind schedule. Besides," he said, "it's a long way down. Even for a Sun Summoner."

Estelle glanced out, trying to see the Fold.

"Saints," Alina swore.

Behind them lay stars, moonlight, the living world. Ahead, there was nothing. The Fold.

"Gunners, at your stations," Sturmhond called. "Squallers, hold steady."

"Sturmhond, I'm going to kill you!" shouted Alina. "Turn this thing around right now!"

"Wish I could oblige. I'm afraid if you want to kill me, you'll just have to wait until we land. Ready?"

Even though he was talking to Alina, Sturmhond met Estelle's gaze. There was no fear for himself in his eyes, only fear for everyone else on the ship. Estelle offered him a tilt of her head and a lighthearted shrug before grabbing her revolvers from her holsters.

Alina shrieked something, but it was lost in the wind as the darkness of the Fold engulfed them. Suffocating blackness, it made Estelle want to jump off the Hummingbird. But she didn't. She swallowed her fear and stood her ground. This would not defeat her now.

a/n— I'm still covid positive, but here's another chapter! Hope you like it, lmk what y'all think!