CHAPTER FOUR

Silence

     The next day started just as the sun rose, the deck soon busy with the everyday activities of a ship on the sea. Estelle had been up for hours already, alone with the patrols and the sea, thinking mindless thoughts to keep her busy.

Soon enough, Sturmhond decided he wanted to have some fun. The sparring began.

It was really just Mal, Tolya, and him, but Tamar would occasionally jump in and put them in their place. Not Sturmhond, though. She wouldn't duel him, for no reason other than respect.

Estelle watched silently, a small smile tugging at her lips all the time. Sometimes she'd help out the rest of the crew, but watching kept her plenty busy.

Sturmhond beat Mal down, sword at his neck, then grinned. Mal was giddy to be in action, that much was obvious. It didn't matter if he lost, the only thing he mattered about was the sword held firmly in his grip. Sturmhond helped him up and they started again.

Estelle didn't notice Alina next to her until she spoke up. "How long have you known?"

She raised an eyebrow, taking in Alina's thin figure, a thick coat wrapped around her to defend her against the strong winds.

"Known what?"

"That you're a Star Summoner."

Briefly, Estelle considered lying. But what good would lying bring to her now? Sometimes, she could condone a few white lies to save a life. But here? Ridiculous.

"Since I was about thirteen." Met with Alina's blank stare, she added, "About six or seven years."

Alina nodded, turning to watch the two boys fight each other. "How long has it been since you used your powers last? Not including last night."

Estelle let out a breath, leaning over the rail that overlooked the main deck. "A few months."

"It's been longer than that," she remarked. "You don't look like you've been sleeping, either. How long is 'a few'?"

This girl was clever. Estelle didn't know what she was expecting, but she wouldn't have thought a Sun Summoner would know how to read someone like this. Especially one who'd only known she was a Summoner for less than a year.

"If I were to tell you, would you tell me about that fetter around your wrist?" Alina's eyes widened and she went to cover it up. "Don't act so surprised. I don't need to use my Small Science to figure things out. Do we have a deal?"

Alina thought about it for a minute, then nodded. "Fine. You first."

"I'd say about six months now. The fetter?"

"Um...the scales of the sea whip."

Estelle raised her eyebrows. "Really? The sea whip? Well, I'll be..."

It wasn't that she didn't believe in mythical creatures. It was the fact that they killed it, took its scales to turn into an amplifier, and she wasn't there to see it.

"Do you have an amplifier?" Alina asked.

"Not yet, no," Estelle replied with a reminiscent smile. "I almost did, I'm lucky I didn't, though."

Alina frowned. "Why?"

A thousand reasons. A thousand risks. "Too much power, I didn't want it to control me. Or someone else to control it."

"Svjeto!" Sturmhond gestured for her to come down on the main deck. "Let's see what you can do!"

Estelle spread her lips in a grin, leaving Alina to join him. "Sure you want to challenge me?"

"I've beaten you before, I'm sure I can do it again."

Mal held out his sword to Estelle, but she declined it and drew her own instead. Whispers floated around the ship as the crew all collectively stopped to watch them duel.

"Don't get too cocky," she replied, beginning to circle each other.

"No need," Sturmhond said. The entire ship was dead silent. "I'm just speaking my truth."

Estelle raised an eyebrow. "Your truth?"

"Indeed. I've convinced myself I can win, so therefore, I will." He shrugged nonchalantly. "It's that simple."

He lunged with his sword held out towards her. Estelle quickly dodged, turning back around as he faced her again. "Have you been practicing?"

"Not in several months," she said. "You?"

"Every day."

Sturmhond attacked again and she blocked him. "You sure about that?" Estelle asked him.

With a firm expression, he stepped out of the block and continued to come at her from every angle.

They fell into old times, easier times, when sparring was just a pastime. A fun sport to partake in when there was nothing else to do. Or when there were things to do, but they were just pushed aside to make time.

When one made a good move, the crew cheered and hooted in triumph.

Estelle was sweating from her neck and her forehead, the sun beating down relentlessly. Sturmhond grinned cockily at her.

"Ready to forfeit?" he asked.

"You wish," Estelle replied, before pushing him backwards. She used her sword to disarm him of his and held it to his throat. "I win."

The watching crowd clapped and hooted, but Sturmhond didn't take that as the end. He ducked underneath the sword and grabbed Estelle's outstretched arm, flipping her over him.

Estelle groaned at the impact of hitting the ground as Sturmhond hovered over her, mere inches from her face. Her sword that he'd stolen was at her throat, with no room to move.

This close, Estelle could see the ghost of his true face underneath, shifting to keep its shape. His breath fanned her face gently, his shadow shading her from the sun above.

Everything was silent, for just a second. It was just them, staring at each other like they'd never see each other again. Estelle could've sworn she saw a bit of hazel in Sturmhond's murky green eyes.

Then the cheers broke through their little bubble of peace and Sturmhond fixed his expression from puppy-in-distress to smug captain before he pushed himself off the deck floor. He held out his hand to Estelle to help her up.

They noticed everyone staring. "Well? Get back to work!" Sturmhond commanded, then turned to her once all the eyes were away from them, grinning. "I win."

She bumped her shoulder with his, rolling her eyes. "You cheated."

He raised his eyebrows as they strolled up to where Ana and the twins were standing. "Cheated? You're just afraid to admit that I'm better than you."

"At this, you might be," admitted Estelle. "But I am a far better host than you."

"That still remains to be seen. Why don't we ask our guests momentarily?"

"They're your guests, Sturmhond, not mine. They'd be biased."

"Would they? Saints, I didn't think of that."

Estelle glared playfully at him. "I wonder why."

"I wonder why..." he mused, trailing off to join the others. Estelle quickened her step to keep up with his long strides.

Ana gave Estelle a knowing look as they approached. "Anything you'd like to tell me?"

"Not a word, Arbana," she signed back.

Ana simply shrugged and turned back to the twins. "How far out are we?" Sturmhond asked.

"Tonight," Tamar replied. "I'll wake up Alina and Tolya'll wake up Mal just before three bells."

Sturmhond nodded. "Good. As soon as we get back, things will be easier."

"That depends on your definition of easier," Estelle pointed out. "You won't have to hide certain things from Alina and Mal anymore, but you will be put in the spotlight again. It'll be dangerous, that's for sure."

He winked at her. "Danger is my middle name."

She frowned, turning to him as he began to walk away. "It's Eugeny, actually."