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Nina gulped down the last bit of her hot chocolate and purred and stretched out of satisfaction making herself comfortable on the large and fluffy couch.
<< I missed comfort. >> she said as she plunged down framed in pillows.
<< Since when? We never had much down at the Slat. >>
As much as he missed the old days in the Barrel, Jesper wouldn’t actually trade his merchant bed for the old shakedowns he used to sleep in back then. Dawdling with his glass of fine Scotch in his hand, he tried to relax and give credit to his armchair as well, but the constant bouncing and shifting wasn’t helping.
<< That’s why I’ve always preferred the White Rose better. >>
<< Too bad they never considered me up for the job. >>
Wylan would have scowled at that, but thank Saints he’d retired to his chambers already. Not much of a night owl, unless half of Ketterdam or a Fjerdan army were on their tail. Good old merchling’s habits were hard to kill, apparently. Saints knew they were not the only ones.
Distracted, his wandering eyes sauntered back on their honoured guest and Nina Zenik, back from her long journey to the Fjerdan shore and beyond, was staring at him intently. Too intently, for his liking.
<< What? >> he asked.
He knew that look and he didn’t like it one bit.
<< Oh, well, I was just thinking... >>
Except it wasn’t true. Sure, his gunslinger sense was tingling for danger but, Saints, he’d missed the feeling.
<< What? >>
Nina made a show of studying her fingernails with great care.
<< I was just wondering if you had, you know, made any new discovery about... >> she looked up suggestively.
Jesper grinned to himself. That was to be expected. Honestly, she had managed to be surprisingly quiet about it so far.
<< Nina... I don’t think... >>
<< What? I’m not saying you should go on and tell everyone, of course. >> she interrupted him. << Or get on the first ride to Ravka either, but still... >>
Jesper looked up curious to hear the actual ending of that sentence.
<< Still I think you should deal with that. >>
<< Oh yeah? And how would you suggest to do that? Would you like me to change the colour of the curtains? ‘Cause I could try, but I’m pretty sure that by the time I’m finished half of Ketterdam would know about it. >>
Those were Kaz’s words, actually.
“You should be more careful with your servants.” he’d said. “A drunken maid is the easiest way into a merchant’s mansion.”
Good thing they had the prince of Ketterdam thieves on their side.
He profoundly doubted that Wylan’s poor security management would have kept them that safe, if Dirtyhands hadn’t been watching over them all that time.
<< Then how about a little trip? >>
Jesper’s ears perked up a little more than they should have.
Since Kaz had banished him from all of his gambling parlours, and Wylan had begun to press his lips together every time some supposedly respectable name came out from Kaz’s mouth, Jesper’s days had become unbearably long, his restlessness reverberating harshly in the silent corridors of the mansion, unlikely shooting sessions held underneath the sound of Wylan and his mother’s duets in the music room.
<< You had something specific in mind or... ? >>
Nina eyes glowed dangerously as she straightened her back about the pillows.
<< Fjerdan border. >>
<< What better place for a conspicuous Zemeni Grisha to start practicing. >>
Nina ignored him.
<< A couple of brigs might use some clearing. >> she said as a sort of military tone kicked in. << Free the prisoners, cut the railway connections to the Ice Court. >>
<< Are we talking Grisha prisoners? >>
<< Fjerdans. >>
Jesper couldn’t help noticing the slight change in her voice.
<< Fjerdan dissidents. Some of them helped to smuggle Grisha away from the country. >>
When she looked at him again her eyes were practically pleading.
<< Are you absolutely sure of this? >> he asked carefully.
<< A cargo of refugees got to Ravka less than a month ago. Mainly Grisha children. They’d been hiding in the woods close to the Sikurzoi, sheltered by the locals. Our intelligence reports recent druskelle raids in the same area. >>
<< Is the Second Army going to be involved? >>
Nina looked away, a weird expression taking over her whole face.
<< They’re Fjerdans, Jesper. >> she finally said. << No one in Ravka is going to lift a finger for them. >>
Jesper downed his drink and laid back on his armchair, taking the whole situation in.
He remembered the Ice Court, the keftas hung like grim trophies in the druskelle’s quarters, the blood of the Squallers who’d attacked them on Parem. He wondered what progresses Kuwei had managed to make on the antidote.
<< I guess I should have suspected something like that. >> he said with a sigh. << With all the properly trained Grisha you know, you must be truly desperate to ask me for help. >>
<< I promised Matthias. >>
Jesper looked up. They’d never talked about him since... Well, let's just say it had been a long time.
<< I promised I would try to save them as well. >>
It had been a long time since he’d last seen her too. And she looked different from what he remembered. Then again, the one he remembered was the rosy and plump girl he’d met in the Barrel. Parem had taken away much of that, and her later journeys to the north hadn’t helped take back much colour on her cheeks either.
A pang of guilt stang a little inside him.
Even though he knew how much stronger a warrior forged by the Little Palace would be, he had never quite shaken away the feeling that he should have volunteered, back in Fjerda. That he should have tried the Parem in her place, putting to use the little he could.
<< I’ll do it on my own, if I have to. I just thought asking was worth a shot, but I understand if that’s too much to... >>
<< I’ll do it. >>
And that was it. Better not think about it too long.
He snorted a laugh at Nina’s incredulous face.
<< Are you sure you don’t want to think about it? >>
<< Nina, dear, your timing couldn’t be better than this. I’m bored out of my wits, and to be honest this sounds like a mission full of possible side perks. >> he smiled naughtily. << Nothing would make me give up my share of songs over my good deeds. Jesper, the magnificent exotic hero who would risk his life just to save the people. >>
A little shade of colour flushed back on Nina’s cheeks.
<< Fjerdan girls and boys would surely fall for the charm of Sankt Jesper of the Snow. >>
<< Sankt Jesper. >> he muttered to himself savouring the sound. << It sounds good, doesn’t it? >>
Oh, Wylan was up for a big surprise the next morning.