𝖈𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖆𝖎𝖓| Nikolai Lantsov

Ravka |

The lake was littered with broken pieces of the glorious Hummingbird. I'd taken a hard knock to the head and cut open my leg, but I seemed to be in one piece.

Water was flooding through the cockpit's floor. I heard splashing and people calling to one another. I frantically looked around. Nikolai was nowhere to be seen.

I threw myself into the water, kicking hard as the lake tried to swallow us along with the ship.

I saw Tolya and Tamar paddling free, followed by the other crewmen. And then I saw Nikolai. He swam behind them, supporting an unconscious sailor beneath his arm. I nearly wept with relief once I saw him.

My bruised limbs felt heavy, weighted down by my sodden clothes, my leg stung under the salty lake water, but finally we reached shallows. We hauled ourselves out of the water, slogging through patches of slimy reeds, and threw our bodies on the wide crescent beach.

Tolya was ministering to the injured squaller, finishing his business of caring for his arm.

Nikolai came ashore and handed the last sailor into Tamar's care.

"He's not breathing," he said. "And I don't feel a pulse."

I forced myself to wobble my way over to them. The sun was rising behind us, warming my back, gliding the lake and the edges of the trees. Tamar had her hand pressed to the sailor's chest. But she failed to bring him back.

"Let me try." I mumbled and leaned down, placing my hands over the sailor's chest, using my power to draw the water out from his lungs and drive life back into his heart. Seconds seemed to stretch into minutes as the sailor lay motionless on the sand.

Then he gasped. His eyes fluttered open, and he spewed lake water over his shirt. I heaved a sigh of relief. One less death on my conscience.

Another crewman was clutching his side, testing to see if he'd broken any ribs. Mal had a nasty gash across his forehead.

Nikolai waded back into the water. He stood knee deep in it, contemplating the small surface of the lake, his greatcoat pooling out behind him. There was no sign of the Humming bird.

"What happened back there?" A squaller asked Alina. "Kovu was almost killed. We all were!"

"I don't know," Alina said, resting her head against her knees.

"You don't know?" The squaller said incredulously.

"It wasn't her fault... I should've helped." A surge of anger and disappointment came with the words.

"No, it was my fault. I should've given her more time to train." Nikolai walked over to us shaking his head.

"Nikolai-" I began.

"Nikolai?" Alina interrupted me. Shit. With all the chaos around us, I had forgot about the secret.

Nikolai sighed and ran a hand over his face.

"Why would you do this?" Alina asked.

"It was essential that the Darkling did not recognise me. He hasn't seen me since Adelaide and I were 15." Nikolai said, shaking water out of one of his boots, holding onto my shoulder for support.

"Well what are we meant to call you?" Mal snarled.

"Nikolai." He stated. "But I've also been known to answer to 'sweetheart' or 'handsome'. " He winked at me as he said the last words.

Tamar leapt to her feet before he could reply.
"Someone's coming.

Everyone on the shore quieted, listening. I whimpered softly as Tolya began working on mu leg. The sounds came from beyond the wood surrounding the lake: hoofbeats-lots of them, the snap and rustle of broken branches as men moved through the trees.

Nikolai groaned. "I knew we'd been sighted. We spent too long on the Fold." He heaved a ragged sigh, his mistake weighing heavily on him. "A wrecked ship and a crew that looks like a bunch of drowned possums. This is not what I had in mind."

The trees parted, and a group of mounted men charged onto the beach. Ten ... twenty ... thirty soldiers of the First Army. King's men, heavily armed. They were probably from the nearby camp in Kribirsk.

"Well, looks like we're about to enjoy a traditional Ravkan welcome." Tolya laughed.

"You've crossed illegally onto Ravkan soil. Identify yourselves." The man who was leading the soldiers commanded. I instantly recognised him. Both Nikolai and I had trained with him before.

"I'll handle this." Nikolai said to me, begging to unbutton his teal coat.

"Identify yourselves at once or be shot!" The man said again.

"Have we really changed that much, Raevsky?" I chuckled.

"I know it's been a couple of years, but people swear I remain boyishly handsome." Nikolai had removed his greatcoat completely, and now stood wearing the Ravkan uniform in army green.

"It can't be!" Raevsky shook his head, no believing that we were standing in front of him.

"Yes it is." I corrected him, both Nikolai and I making our way over to him.

Abruptly, he dropped to one knee and bent his head. "Forgive me, moi Tsarevich, moya soverenyi," He said, gaze trained on the ground before him.

The soldiers exchanged confused glances. Then one, by one, the dropped to their knees, heads bent.

"I present Nikolai Lantsov, major of the 22nd Regiment, soldier of the king's army, grand Duke of Udova, and second son to his Most Royal Majesty, king Pyotr the third. Ruler of the double eagle throne." Raevsky introduced Nikolai to his crew.

"You've got to be kidding me." Mal rolled his eyes.

"Now, I present our most trusted General of the second Army, Saint of the moon and our protector. Sankta Adelaide."

"Sometimes saint." Nikolai added. "Rise," he commanded.

The soldiers got to their feet and stood at attention.

"It's been too long since we've been home," he boomed.

"Zhorvat kei?" How are you? I asked him.

"Eya brova!" I'm good! He announced and hugged both Nikolai and I.

"But, we did not come empty-handed." Nikolai stepped to the side, then threw his arm out, gesturing to Alina. Every face turned, waiting, expectant.

"Brothers," he said, "I have brought the Sun
Summoner back to Ravka."

"You lying bastard!" To little surprise, Alina hauled herself up and tried to punch him in the face. But I was quick to catch her punch before her boney hand made contact with his face.

The girl had one hell of a punch.