Making our way to the harbour to meet with our crew, Matthias is hovering like a mother hen. "Seriously Matthias I am fine" I assure him wrapping Jesper's jacket around me, the cold wind biting into me, my teeth chattering like crazy. The blonde man just looks at me in disbelief "you almost died, none of us will take our eyes off you now" his accent thick, I roll my eyes and notice Wylan is also close to me.

I throw my arm over his shoulder, acting as aloof as I can muster. My head feels like it is about to explode and my chest feels like there is a heavy weight pressed against it but I am afraid that if I show any weakness right now all the boys will come down like a ton of bricks insisting they fuss over me. Although I doubt Kaz would do the same, he has grown distant in the days we have been traveling back to the True Sea.

"How is my favourite resident genius doing?" I ask the amber headed boy, he pulls closer to me thankful for the body heat "he is doing well" he answers and I beam. Jesper looks over and frowns "I thought I was the genius" I give him a sympathetic look before shaking my head. Matthias has moved ahead to speak with Nina and Inej has taken his place. She opens her mouth to say something and I put a finger up to stop her "if you ask me how I'm doing I might just push you into the sea once we get to it" and she closes her mouth and forms a smile.

"So you are doing great" she says and I nod still hanging on Wylan "like I have been since the last time you asked" I glance to the sky "a few minutes ago" she sighs and looks at me with sadness on her face "we just worry, we came so close to loosing you. It was terrifying" I haven't let myself think about my near death experience, of what I had seen, who I had seen but I also haven't stopped to think about what it must have been like for my friends, trying to bring me back to life and suddenly I feel really guilty.

Wylan gives my body a squeeze, sensing my mood shift "at least you are back" he says and I lean my head on his shoulder. I want to go home. We finally reach the docks and just as we are about to hit freedom with our prize a group of Druskellë appear in our way. Saints, we just can't catch a break can we?

"What is this?" Wylan asks Matthias "you never said...." He gets cut off "they must have changed deployment procedure" he answers gruffly. My pulse is racing and I wish I was a heartrender so I could calm my nerves enough to be of use. When the others question him Matthias growls "I've never seen Black Protocol engaged. Maybe they always had troops stationed in the harbour. I don't know" rotating my wrists I say "there is no point arguing about it now. It's happening" not that anyone of us like it.

"Be quiet" Inej says sharply "just stop", I see Nina jump as a voice echoes over the crowd. It spoke first in Fjerdan, then in Ravkan, then in Kerch and finally in Shu "release the prisoner Kuwei Yul-Bo and Put down your weapons" Matthias is by my side again, I didn't even notice and he makes me jump as he says "they can't just open fire. They won't risk hurting Kuwei" I bite my lip looking at the group in front of us "they don't have to" I nod my head in their direction "look".

A prisoner is being led through the rows of guards. His hair matter to his forehead and he wears a ragged red Kefta and is clutching the sleeve of the guard as though he can not stand on his own. "A heartrender" the Druskellë says grimly and my heart aches for the poor man. "He is so far away" Wylan protests and I move out of his grip "it won't matter" Nina says shaking her head. This isn't going to end well. Suddenly my mantra comes back, something I haven't thought about since I left Ravka. I am Salem Starkov and I am not afraid.

"I can see the Ferolind" whispers Inej and looking out at the sea I too can see our little boat. "Kaz, this would be a good time to say you saw this coming" Jesper asks all of us turning to look at him although he looks just as lost as the rest of us. We really are done for. The boy shifts slightly "I didn't see this coming" he admits "you told me one day I would run out of tricks, Helvar. Looks like you were right" that last sentence a punch in the gut. We got too far not to succeed now, freedom is in our grasp.

"I've had my fill of captivity. They won't take me alive" Inej promises and Wylan agrees. Jesper snorts still lighthearted "we really need to get him more suitable friends" I bite my lip hard, we are not going out like this I won't allow it. Clearly Nina agrees because she steps forward and looks at all of us "no" she says barely above a whisper, the Fjerdan's speak again "you have a count of ten to comply".

Sharply Nina turns to Kuwei and speaks quickly in Shu in which he replies in Kerch "you don't understand. One dose....." I know what she has asked him and I am about to protest before she says "I understand" and reaches for a pouch with a rust-coloured powder inside. Matthias steps forward, closer to her "no" he makes to grab the Parem but Nina is quicker. They converse in Fjerdan, none of us really understanding, "Kaz is out of tricks" she says in Kerch, she reaches into the pouch "I am not" I look over to said man who looks at me. The first type of communication we have had in days, he slowly nods his head as Matthias begs "please"

The Fjerdan's still counting down, Nina touches Matthias' cheek briefly and says "if it gets bad, find a way to end it Helvar. I'm trusting you to do the right thing. Again" she smiles as though this is the most easiest thing in the world. She inhails the powder and slowly she begins to change. Subtle changes that you would only notice if you spent a lot of time with each other.

"Nina?" Matthias asks gently and she stands up straight, her head held high "move" she demands and I move along side her. Ready to fight.