Rule of Saints {The Red Ribbon Sequel}

Wherever the Wind Blows

~ Y/N Pov ~

After trudging through the thick crowd of onlookers, we all walk aimlessly towards the dead sands in the distance. None of us look back, yet we know the crowd is following our every step. My every step.

Jesper slowly blows air out of his mouth. "The whole world is looking for us now."

"So?" Kaz asks in his typical calm fashion. His brow is furrowed.

"Well, before, it was just the whole of Ketterdam. A city. Now we've got nations that will be searching for Y/N of the True Sea."

I poke his ribs. "Call me that again and the sea won't part for you."

"Ouch," he says, putting a hand to his heart. "Hey, you know that's not a bad catchphrase. May the sea part for you..."

Inej laughs. "That actually a really good idea, Jes."

Despite my heavy eyelids, I stare at my group and their strangely calm demeanors. "How are you all so fine with me being a Saint? Can't you see how wrong this all is?"

No one says anything for a moment before Nina speaks up. "You knew you were meant to take down the Darkling from the start. I see nothing wrong with you being the Saint to put him in his place."

"But the miracle was a setup!" I exclaim, fighting my fatigue. "Honestly, there are no Saints here."

Nina grabs my shoulders to steady me. "Miracles are just a way for the people to recognize a Saint. You have always had strong powers long before you came to Ravka. You've always been a Saint, the world just needed to provide you with a circumstance to show yourself off."

"Show myself off!? I'm not fucking prize cattle. Are the Ravkans always so materialistic?"

Kaz clears his throat. "As a girl who once referred to herself as a Ravkan, I think you know the answer to that question very well."

I turn my glare to him as he keeps looking forward, his eyes concentrated on something none of us can see.

"Since you seem to be scheming, what is your plan then, Brekker?"

His stride doesn't falter, he has been planning this for a while. "Since you are now Sankta Y/N, everyone will know who you are. That makes it even easier for the Darkling to know your location. If you want to kill him, you need more help. I have a feeling that he doesn't play nice when he really wants something."

"What are you suggesting?"

A small smile plays at the edge of his lips. I open my mouth to question his motives, but Nina beats me to it.

"We should stop at towns so the people can see you, Y/N! Sankta Alina did the same thing with Nikolai when he was still a prince. Not only will it boost morale, but perhaps it will scare off any Pro-Darkling Ravkans who want to stop you."

"Pro-Darkling what now?" I ask.

"They call themselves the Starless," Kaz intervenes. "They want the Darkling to be put back into power. Long story short, they won't like the sound of Sankta Y/N very much."