Little Shadow//Shadow & Bone

two

"No point in denying it, Miss Starkov," Sturmhond tells her. "You are the Sun Summoner."

"You're right," Alina confesses. She holds up a ball of light in each hand.

Sturmhond whistles. "Impressive. And it's not often that I say that."

"Let us go," Alina tells him. "Or you'll be out 20 million kruge and a ship."

Sturmhond chuckles. "While I'm well aware you could consign us all to the watery deep, you should really consider how far from the docks we are. Besides, I'm not handing you over to the Fjerdans."

"You're not?" Alina asks.

"Saints, no," Sturmhond tells her. "Sorry, is it offensive to say that in the presence of a living Saint?"

Mal sits down in the chair in front of Sturmhond's desk. "Okay. What do you want with us then?"

"With you?" Sturmhond asks. "Nothing. Honestly, I'm not even sure who you are. But the Sun Summoner... Well, you have to know you're quite valuable."

"You just said you wouldn't turn her in for a bounty, pirate," Mal states.

"Privateer," Sturmhond corrects.

"Oh," Mal remarks.

"And what I said was I wouldn't hand her into the Fjerdans. I said nothing of the Kerch or Shu," Sturmhond says. "I paid a small fortune to empty the dock and make sure you got on my ship. And frankly, I think the Fjerdans are severely undervaluing you."

"You're right. They are. Because you'll be able to ask the King of Ravka for twice as much," Alina tells him.

"You know the King?" Sturmhond asks.

"I'm the Sun Summoner," Alina reasons.

"By all accounts, the First Army have now turned their sights on Grisha," Sturmhond informs us. "Thanks to what you and your conspirators did in the Fold."

"The Darkling and I were not partners," Alina insists. "You may believe otherwise, but once I tear down the Fold and reunite Ravka, the world will see I am not his ally. Help us and you'll be rewarded."

"To tear down the Fold?" Sturmhond scoffs. "And how do you plan on doing that exactly?"

"By hunting Morozova's Sea Whip," Alina informs him.

"Alina," Mal protests.

Sturmhond trills his lips before taking a sip from his glass. "I suppose if the Stag existed, the Sea Whip and the Firebird might as well. You couldn't do it with one amplifier, but two."

Alina nods her head. "Unburdened by General Kirigan, under my own power. Will you help us or not?"

"There's adventure, danger, money?" Sturmhond asks. "Now you're speaking my language."

Sturmhond leads us through the hull of the ship.

"What is the difference between a privateer and a pirate?" Mal asks.

"Yuri!" Sturmhond shouts. "I told you an apple would help. All right, listen up, everyone! We have guests! The Sun Summoner, the Shadow Summoner, and, uh..." He turns to Mal. "You are? "

"Malyen..." Mal starts.

Sturmhond cuts him off, "A guest of the Sun Summoner. I expect you'll treat them with the respect I've come to know from you pack of liars and thieves." Everyone laughs. "Come along, my darlings, come on, come on. Now, you can have the three in the back. It's the most private suite we have. See you in the morning, Miss Starkov." Sturmhond climbs up the steps beside us. "Night watch, joining you on deck."