Two hours. She'd been on the boat for two hours.
"I swear Cassian if you don't come out in the next five minutes, I'll rip your heart out," she screamed.
She was met with silence.
Aelin groaned in annoyance. "Cassian I need that dagger back, I swear I will cut your tongue out and feed it to you if I don't get it back," she screamed again, her voice monotonous.
"You want the dagger come get it," he hissed a few feet away from her. His voice was full of amusement.
"You little-"
She was going to run after him if it weren't for a large blighting shadow that streamed over the boat.
Aelin froze in her place, reaching for her sword. She looked up at the humongous thing that passed over them.
It was. . . water. A sea dragon. . .
A sea dragon made out of water.
Its scales gleamed with light, long tail slithering behind it. That was all she was able to witness before it dived into the water, water splashing behind it.
She looked at everyone on the boat. Each busy and relaxed.
"Unless all of you have had your eyes eaten I'm pretty sure there was a rutting sea dragon over us not seconds ago," she emphasized gesturing her hand in the air. Before anyone could answer the dragon emerged again, soundless but viscous.
That was when Aelin saw one for the first time.
As much as it was deadly, Aelin was awe-struck by it. It opened its mouth, the millions of honed, long teeth sparkling. Its face was pointed from the front like a bird. Nose connecting with its jaw right underneath. Its head had fins from behind its pointed eyes all the way down its long neck, rustled with scales. The fins stood upright, inches long as they made their way down. Nostrils flared as it dived in backwards.
"That was Esma's trick," Jude replied, without looking up at her. His voice was calm as he searched his pack for something.
Aelin only silently walked over to Esma still mesmerized by the dragon.
There was no doubt they had used little amounts of their powers in front of her, suggesting that they shall need them in Findara.
Esma sat to the side looking at the water as she played with small droplets of water. A tendril of water curled around her bony finger as she moved it around aimlessly. Her long hair shifted as she sat up looking in Aelin's direction.
"That wasn't half good as they really are. The real ones," she said grinning as she cocked her head to the side. Her light blue eyes glinted as she looked at Aelin all over. "Even though they were the most beautiful creatures I've seen, I'm sorry to break it to you but they don't exist," Aelin answered casually.
"Of course they are, have you not heard about the La Someras?" Esma questioned, pity shone in her eyes. Aelin only furrowed her eyebrows as she crossed her arms, lips pressing into a straight line.
Esma merely shrugged, walking towards her.
"La Someras was a long forgotten tribe. It was known for the ferocious beasts it had tamed. The mighty sea dragons. While they won battle after battle, fierce and brutal, the beasts cruised with them. But after the Cramoisa War no sea dragons remained. They were killed to extinction in the war. Devastated and remorseful of their loss, the remaining people of that tribe, went into hiding, never to be seen again. Yet the only promise they left was that when the sea dragons return so will they."
Aelin listened carefully as Esma recited the story. She clenched her jaw tightly, as she started, "It's a myth. A stupid story that has been told for centuries."
Esma rolled her eyes, jerking her shoulders forwards, "Say what you wish. I believe in it and I know one day they will return."
Aelin only raised an eyebrow as she walked back in the direction of Cassian and Jude. She placed both her hands on their shoulders as they turned their heads towards her.
"Did either of you ask them?" She questioned amused.
"No we didn't, it's so hard to get him alone, he's basically glued to her," Cassian replied. Jude scoffed at him before walking off.
"Both of you are idiots and this is stupid, now run of and do something functional," he said while running off.
Aelin scoffed at the sudden change in behaviour.
"Did some fish bite him or does he have diarrhea?" Fennis asked from behind them.
Aelin and Cassian only stared at each other blankly. She was anxious about Fennis telling Atarah before they got a chance to ask, and losing a two gold coins, she wasn't in the mood for that.
"Oh come on, you don't think I know about your stupid little bet?" he questioned. They only stared at him. Though Aelin was surprised he was even talking to her.
Amusement streamed through her, as she grinned at him. "You wanna add to it?"
"Oh no, I'm good though I really think Jude is going to win. There's no way they've done anything like that," Fennis chuckled.
"I can't believe we are discussing someone's personal life," Cassian murmured. "Well you started it," Aelin suggested.
~
Atarah stared at the group intently, scanning their faces as they mustered in their conversations. Even Aelin continued rambling about something.
"No if I was in your place I would have already killed the man," Aelin sputtered. "No you wouldn't he would have killed you already. I survived because I'm immortal." Esma seemed rather comfortable, so did her twin who chuckled darkly at the conversation.
"Well then you should be happy! You're practically immortal," Aelin screamed contently, mischief gleaming in her eyes.
"And why is that?" Esma asked, confused.
"Stupidity lasts forever," Aelin replied proudly, shaking her head as she did.
A burst of laughter filled the room, as Aelin tutted disapprovingly and Esma stared at her. Even Atarah managed a silent laugh.
"So Atarah," Aelin started turning to her.
Even though Aelin had been rather friendly and gotten along with the group, the part of trusting her was still a little uneasy to cope with. Enough so, that they hadn't told her one of the very important details to this mission. And she decided to keep it that way.
Atarah snapped her head up, her smile drifting away. "I had a question." Aelin hummed in merriment. Most of them confused, started mumbling to themselves but Aelin kept her attention on Atarah.
"Have you and Lucien done it?" She said in an undertone.
She and Lucien shared a glance, both confused.
"Done- Done what?" Atarah whispered back. "You know," Aelin said cocking her head to the side.
"What's going on? Is there a joke we aren't in on?" Esma questioned from behind, anger sounding in her voice.
Atarah had no idea what was going on. She furrowed her eyebrows, eyes narrowed as she scanned Aelin's face, who was only smiling, eyes glimmering with mischief. Aelin looked over to Fennis who only nodded. He then leaned over to whisper something in Zavia's ear. It was so quiet that even her fae hearing couldn't sort the words out.
She noticed as Zavia passed on the message to Ailani, to Esma and so on. Each of their faces went pale, eyes twitching as they took deep breaths. Before she knew it they slowly started exiting the room.
"What's going on?" Atarah squeaked. Her head burned with questions, fire twirling inside her. But none of them stopped. Without turning around they left the room.
"So I got the-" Jude stopped half way as he entered. He had gone to get something from his pack. But even he stood stilled in his place as all of them left.
It was as if realization struck him. Even his face went pale, lips dry as he stuttered, "I, um, I am going to go help Atlas drink water." With that he ran out of the room, hands slightly shaking.
Thus only Aelin, her, Cassian, Fennis and Lucien stayed in the room as the three of them looked at each other. Lucien came to stand behind Atarah, towering over her as he pulled his arm around her waist. His hot breath was soothing against her neck, grip firm as his strong arm tightened.
"We're waiting for the answer you know." Aelin regarded, her lips curling into a wider grin as she watched Jude run out. Everyone except Atarah and Lucien knew what was going on and this frustrated her. Immensely.
"Aelin, what are you guys talking about?" she deadpanned slightly angry as she gawked at her.
"Oh my god! Have you guys had sex?" Aelin groaned, recklessly eyeing Lucien and Atarah.
The awkwardness welcomed them quite soon. Lucien moved his hand from her waist as quickly as he could, Atarah shuddering a breath, while they passed another glance. She swallowed quickly, as she saw the anger and embarrassment in Lucien's eyes.
"What did you just say?" he deadpanned. Coldness clouded his features, grey eyes gleaming with rage. Even as the rest of them took a step back, staring at the ground, Aelin hardly seemed affected as she tusked disappointingly.
"Oh please, its a bet. Cassian said you guys had then Jude said you guys hadn't then I said you had," Aelin quickly rambled. But she looked at Lucien all over, grinning when she said the last words. "More than once."
Atarah's legs got wobbly, heart pounding loudly as she sighed.
"So uh have you guys-"
"Stop it!" Atarah screamed before walking out of the room. She didn't feel embarrassed, just awkward discussing her personal life with them.
So she demanded her fire to settle down one more time as she stepped out the compact room, Fennis following behind her.
~
The hand gripped her throat tightly. But Aelin's grin only extended as she scanned Lucien's cold face. He was angry. Really angry.
His furrowed eyebrows and frown were only the beginning of it. Eyes sparkled as they stared into his searching for any sign of timidness. As for his hand, its grip only tightened with each passing second. It still felt warm and soft against her skin.
"I swear to god Aelin," he started, his voice toneless, "If you do not stop doing these stupid little things, I'll strangle you."
She scoffed.
She wasn't angry, not at all. She was intrigued by this. Out of all of them, this male, this bastard got on her nerves like no one else did. Her nerves shot at the state of him like this.
"I'll stop, just tell me have you guys done it? More than once?"
Even though she would have bit his hand or punched him in the face or slid a dagger into his throat she needed an answer. Winning this bet was rather important now.
Closing his eyes in annoyance he answered in a huffed voice. "Yes we have, more than once."
Aelin screamed loudly as she removed his large hand from her throat. Even though it was a stupid little bet, that hardly meant anything. She won.
She turned to face Cassian who was slightly frowning. "Go get Jude," she said happily.
Lucian snapped his head towards Cassian, who gulped quickly.
"You're telling me he started this stupid bet," Lucien growled. Cassian's eyes shone with timidness as he opened his mouth to reply.
"It was a mutual thing," Aelin cut him off, "And ask Jude to bring the coins as well." She sounded rather casual. Unbothered by Lucien's daggering stare. Before Cassian could run off, Fennis entered the room, gasping for breath, face whipped of color.
"I- Jude- Scared-" Fennis took big gulps of breaths between his words murmuring ununderstandable words.
"You're going to have to form actual sentences for us to understand. We don't really get that language." Aelin held a laugh, eyeing Lucien before she walked over to Fennis, stroking his back.
Once he settled down, she asked him patiently, "Now, where's Jude?" Fennis looked at Lucien who had his arms crossed, tunic tight around his muscles.
"Jude said he won't come because he's scared Lucien will try and kill him," Fennis replied, finally relaxing as he settled into the chair. Cassian muttered something and silently left the room before he narrowed his eyes at Aelin.
"Damn right I will," Lucien dead panned, frowning. Aelin rolled her eyes at him. Excitement shot through her, adrenaline pumping through her veins.
"Just tell him I said something," she suggested playing with her fingers.
"Like what?" Lucien questioned, anger slightly settling as his voice grew calmer.
She smiled at it.
"Just anything factually incorrect," she replied, smirking as Fennis got up as soon as he could running out of the room.
Leaving Lucien and Aelin alone.
"So can you atleast try and not kill me for the next two days. I'll really like to get to Findara and do stuff before you strangle me," Aelin started fidgeting in her seat as she waited for Jude and Fennis.
"Well then maybe you stop being such an irritating little moron," Lucien replied just as casually, a sarcastic smile now welcomed on his face.
"Just can't change can you," she tsked disapprovingly, "I wonder how Atarah deals with a rabid dog like you."
Any signs of remorse disappeared from Lucien's face but returned soon again, warmth setting in his features as he sighed, shaking his head.
"I'm not this bad with everyone, you just seem to be more. . . bitchier," he laughed, which to Aelin's surprise was rather shocking as his body vibrated through it.
She narrowed her eyes, smiling genuinely but before she could say anything, the doors shot open and Jude stepped in, fuming with anger. His chest rose and settled abruptly as Fennis stepped behind him grinning.
Aelin raised her eyebrow, scrunching her nose as she looked at Fennis who only winked at her.
"AELIN RUTTING MORGENSTERN," he screamed boiling with anger, "Did you just say that the Sun is a planet?"
She let out a low chuckle, and so did Lucien who came to stand beside her.
As if realization struck him, Jude's expression changed to a pale one, frustration and guilt stuck on his face as he pouted slightly twitching his eyebrows. A few strands of his golden escaped his hair and fell on his forehead as he took deep breaths.
He leaped faster than she thought was possible storming out the room. Lucien let out a sigh, "Idiots, I swear, all of you," he whispered, leaning to Aelin's ear, sending chills through her before sprinting behind Jude.
She was confused by the sudden shivers that illuminated her body, calming her racing nerves but burst down laughing with Fennis.
~
The next day went by rather swiftly. Aelin trained with Atarah and Ailani, working on her skills, even though she swore she was good enough. Lucien surprisingly hadn't frowned at her since yesterday and would eventually smile at her every now and then. Jude was rather moody, Cassian and Fennis the same while she joked around with Atlas and Esma, hearing stories about their battle and every now and then bickering with them.
Last day on the boat had them all tenser, nervous and timid about the approaching city that became visible with every wave pushing them forward. Even Aelin's heart thundered, bones shaking as the city approached.
All of them minded their business that day keeping to themselves, cruising with their own unmindful things. They hardly paid attention to each other as they spent the day praying to their gods, going over their plans, training and waiting.
Waiting for the city that hushed closer to death. The task they had in mind wouldn't be easy. Gods they hardly knew if they would make it out.
So Aelin took deep breaths trying to calm herself as she held her shaking hand. She took a minute to look at all of them.
Atarah stood with Lucien, hand in hand as they looked at each other. Disgusting.
Atlas and Esma continued talking while Colton, Jude and Fennis sharpened their daggers and swords.
None of them moved when the boat stopped. So Aelin, for the sake of the world, for the sake of her Amulet, for the sake of these bastards stepped down first.
The rest followed behind closely but she didn't dare turn around. She already knew everyone was gushed with timidness, as their staggering breaths and whimpering bodies became forseen.
Her daggers felt rather heavy, swords weighing her down as she walked through the port. It was rather empty at such an early hour. The sun only peaked at them.
When the gates appeared she didn't look back at them, only exchanged a glance with Lucien, which she didn't know was what exactly. Another question she couldn't answer.
So Aelin took one step then another Lucien and the others following behind as she entered Findara. The heart of Belarus, the home of his highness and his son.