Apparently the group and my father returned later that night, when the only people supposed awake were the ones on watch, but I was awake too, unable to sleep from fear of nightmares, they had gotten worse since we left the little palace.

I heard struggling above deck and someone falling to the ground, unable to hold in my curiosity I loosely shrugged on my kefta over my night dress to keep the cold out.

I heard people coming down the stairs and waited until they passed, I poked my head out the door and saw a few heartrenders including Ivan turn a corner with something in their arms. I knew it was a lost cause to go after them, Ivan would surely just send me back to bed or even to my father for being up and about at this unsaintly hour, so instead I settled on going above deck for some "fresh air" that just so happened to be where more struggling could be heard.

Slowly, I crept up the stairs to the deck, poking my head out a small bit to see if anyone was there, the crew from the ship that was on watch were no longer present, instead the only people on the deck were two Oprichniki, an unknown man and my father.

The unknown man showed signs of resisting, his face was bloodied and bruises were starting to bloom like flowers around his ice blue eye, the Oprichniki were holding him back as he made attempts to attack and free himself.

I could tell that they were talking but could only catch snippets of what they were saying, and none of the words making sense together.

In response to one of the questions he was asked, the unknown man spat at the Darkling, the saliva shining on his boot, once he did one of the Oprichniki punched him in the gut, hard, he hunched over, the guards letting him fall to the ground with a loud thunk, he groaned in pain.

He opened his eyes, immediately they locked with mine and widened, "Alina?" He croaked, "No, it can't be, Rena?"

The Darkling looked over following his gaze and I ducked, hoping that he hadn't seen me, he said another inaudible order to the guards and I heard the man being dragged away, I tried to slowly sneak back down the steps without them creaking underneath me but I felt a strong hand on my shoulder, bringing me above deck, "Rena," my father greeted, turning me around to meet his eyes.

"Father," I responded, sensing his tone of voice.

"You shouldn't be awake, should you," he stated.

"No, father," I addressed him as my father in hopes that it might distract him enough to cool off a bit.

He led me to the rail, leaning against it, "Go on ask whatever's on your mind, I can basically see it lingering in your eyes."

I went over to the rail and leaned against it with him, "This Alina person," I said, "She's my mother isn't she?"

He continued staring out into the ocean, "What makes you say that?"

"You said that name when I first appeared to you, then you told me to forget I heard you say it," I stated, "And now, this man mistakes me for this Alina person, then he knows my name, so that means I look like her, and that this man knows her."

I looked up at him and finally he met my eyes, "You're right," he said.

"Could you tell me about her now?" I pressed, I knew I was pushing my luck but what's the worst that could happen?

He sighed and pulled me closer, "Her name is Alina Starkov," he told me, "Sankta Alina, the sun summoner. She was a very powerful Grisha with raw, untrained talent," he stared out to the ocean again, "Unlike most she didn't come to the little palace as a child, there was an incident on the fold with some volcra and her abilities protected her and what was left of her crew. She grew up at an orphanage so the little palace was very different for her-"

"Like me," I whispered.

"Like you," he confirmed.

"So she wasn't Shu?" I asked.

"Half, her mother was, but she ultimately grew up in an orphanage in Ravka." He answered, "But when it came time for us to travel to the fold, she betrayed us for that tracker, most of the Grisha on that skiff didn't make it out, only myself, Ivan and a few others, representatives and ambassadors were killed because of her actions, pushing more war onto our borders. And the king has come to the decision that apparently it was of my fault, but I loved her, and part of me still does."

We stood there in silence for a while, the only sound that of the waves lapping onto the side of the hull, "That's enough for tonight," he finally said leading me back to the stairs I had emerged from.

I looked back as my foot was hovering over the first step, "She's down there isn't she?" I asked, "She's the Grisha you brought back with the otkazat'sya, isn't she?"

He narrowed his eyes and then nodded, "But don't let that make you forget our agreement, she has no idea I know about you right now, I will let you meet her, but not yet, have patience," he went to walk away but turned back, "I hope you know that I only do what I must, Rena," he stated, I nodded slightly confused and he walked away.

As I turned the corner that my room was on I saw Genya and Ivan arguing outside it, "Where do you think you were?" Genya exclaimed once she saw me, "We were about to go tell your father that you were missing."

I shrugged, "I was with him." Ivan narrowed his eyes at me and I saw him clasp his hand, "Yes Ivan, I'm telling the truth," I rolled my eyes.

"I can't take this tonight, just please get back to bed," Genya sighed. I felt sorry for her, I knew from the small amount of information I had gathered that she and my mother had been close, closer than most, it must have been hard on her knowing that her beat friend was being held captive aboard the same ship.

I complied, 'accidentally' stepping on Ivan's foot as I passed him. I took off my kefta hanging it on the back of the chair and jumped up into my bunk. It was a crazy day, I was so close to finally meeting my mother, I had so many questions but mainly one, why did she give me up, why didn't she take me with her, questions that my father couldn't answer, but they would all have to wait.

"Are you alright?" I asked Genya softly, she didn't know that I knew about my mother yet so it was pointless to ask. I never got an answer, she was either ignoring me, or she was already fast asleep.