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Chapter Text

Nikolai and his court/advisors/friends (That consisted of: himself, Zoya, Genya and her husband, David. Tolya, Tamar, Nadia and Adrik.) Where sat in their private room, drinking whiskey around the blazing fire as they usually did on a saturday afternoon.

The atmosphere, was dreamy, most people talked in quiet voices, some where on the verge of sleep. Sometimes the loudest noises in the room were the fire crackling and the furniture creaking. This night was no different. Zoya at the bar, watching Nikolai from a distance as his eyes lit up in the fire. Genya half asleep on David’s shoulder and he discussed some new inventions with Nikolai. Nadia and Tamar, who were slightly more drunk than the rest, were acting out a play they had just made up, as Adrik and Tolya watched warily as they inched closer to the fire.

Two thuds and a cat’s hiss from the back of the room brought everyone out of whatever daze they were in. followed by the thuds were groans of pain and confusion and the pitter patter of little cat paws running off some where.

The eight of them stood and turned quickly,  fighting stances and the odd gun and axe at the ready. All of which were quickly relaxed when the duo at the back of the room stood up.

A boy, their age, his brown hair longer than the last time they saw him. A girl, also their age, her long stark white hair covering her face as she stood up, and an interesting book in her hand. In the corner of the room, fur raised as if she’d been struck by lightning, an orange cat cowered, as confused as everyone else.

“Alina?!” Genya exclaimed with confusion but a wide smile, suddenly very awake.

“Genya!?” Alina responded the same, her hair finally out of her face.

“What are you doing here? What just happened?” Genya asked, walking with haste around the couch her and David were sitting on, towards Alina and Mal.

“I’m not sure, we’re as confused as you.” Taking Alina by her hands and dragging her towards the centre of the room, followed by Mal. “We just sort of appeared I suppose?”

“Oretsev.” Nikolai nodded towards him, reaching out his hand

“Lanstov.” Mal nodded back, shaking the kings hand.

Alina and Mal sat down on the sofa, the book in Alina’s lap. Zoya headed off to the corner of the room to where the cat was, Nikolai watching her carefully. She held out her hand and the cat walked tentatively forward.

“Hello Oncat, how are you?” The cat pressed herself into Zoya’s hand, purring gently and a hum of a conversation happened behind them. Zoya chuckled quietly “I know, it’s been a while.” gently she picked up the cat and returned to the others.

“What’s that?” She nodded towards the book, then taking a seat opposite Alina.

“I don’t know. It was in my hand when we got- fell here.” She said flicking through the book, slowly.

“So you just fell from saints know where?” Tamar asked.

“Well we where at the orphanage. And then we were falling I guess?” Mal said

“Right then. Brilliant. Fantastic.”

Alina continued to tentatively flick through the pages, a conversation bumbling around her. A darker colour of paper caught her eye, it clearly was handwritten and not printed like the rest of the book. Carefully she pulled it out with the tips of her finger, grabbing everyone’s attention.

“A clue!” Nikolai said unenthusiastically

“Okay….

To Whomever it may concern, The book you have been given is the story following a group of six teenagers-“

“For saints sake.” Zoya muttered.

“And their… interesting adventures.” Alina continued with a playful roll of her eyes. “Most of these names will be unknown to you, I assume. However there are a few you will know and some you won’t be pleased with. Please go into this with an open mind as I know this may be hard for you. However, much like all of you, these teenagers pulled off the impossible. Maybe it’s not destroying the fold, and maybe the morals are questionable. But I believe their story is worthy to be told so please enjoy this as much as you can. You also can’t leave and have to read this. I’ve locked the door,

-sincerely, the universe”

“The universe?” Zoya raised an eyebrow and Tamar let out a laugh.

“The universe.” Alina confirmed with a shrug and confused smile.

“Is there a list of names.” David asked

“Mhm, right here: Kaz Brekker.”

“Oh! I’ve heard about him.” Nikolai said, suddenly more enthusiastic. “Hadn’t a clue he was a teenager with all the things i’ve heard about him.” after a few confused looks, he went on “He’s like a gang leader of one of the gangs in Ketterdam. I’ve heard he’s utterly merciless and possibly deranged.”

“Lovely, Next: Jesper Fahey?” she looked around to see if anyone recognised it, just as she was about to move on, Mal grabbed her arm gently as if he had just realised something.

“What was that kids name, you know who helped us out in Novyi Zem during the war?”

“Saints! This can’t be him, can it? Why is he involved with a gang leader, he was a farmer.” Mal shrugged at this, “I hope not.” Alina mumbled.

“Inej Ghafa?” Silence, except Zoya’s uncomfortable shuffle at the sound of a Suli name.

“No? Wylan Van Eck? Definitely a Kerch name.”

“I don’t know a Wylan, but i’ve definitely heard of Van Eck. He’s a ridiculously wealthy mercher, One of the richest I think.” Nikolai explained.

“Matthias Helvar?” Everyone had a reaction to the Fjerdan name.

“I wonder if he’s the one we’re not going to be happy with?” Adrik laughed humourlessly, Genya scoffed, shaking her head.

“Finally: Nina Zenik.” The room went still.

“Nina’s dead.” Zoya said. No emotion behind her voice, her eyes unfocused.

“Nina is- Nina’s alive?” Genya gasped, looking around the room at the faces all plastered with some sort of conflict.  “She’s been…alive this whole time. And we- we did nothing.” Genya’s voice cracked, David reached over and took her hand, as did Alina.

Adrik slowly sank to a chair, tears silently falling down his face, his brows knitted.

“Are you ok?” Nadia whispered.

“No.” He answered shortly, staring unwaveringly at the corner of the room. She placed a soft hand on his shoulder.

“You knew her?” Mal asked slowly, careful not to upset anyone.

“She was captured by Drükelle on a wandering isle mission five months ago.” Zoya said, her eyes slightly glassy, her voice hollow. “We haven’t seen or heard from her since.”

“How old was she?” Alina asked softly.

“She would be seventeen now.” Zoya replied.

“She is seventeen. She’s alive. She’s alive and we left her.” Adrik, voice got louder.

“Saints.” Tolya cursed under his breath, walking away, followed by Nikolai. The atmosphere in the room had completely changed. No one spoke. The silence was only broken by Genya’s sniffles and Adrik hitting the arm of the chair he was sitting in with anger. They all sat in it. Zoya’s face scrunched up, the guilt practically radiating off her.

Sighing loudly and blinking away tears, Zoya stood up, placing Oncat on the floor gently, before taking the book out of Alina’s lap. “Let’s just read it. Get it over with. We’ll figure out what to do after.”

“Okay.” Genya agreed quietly with a nod.

Zoya opened the first page.

Chapter One

Joost

Joost had two problems: The moon and his moustache.

Chapter Text

Chapter One: Joost

Joost had two problems: The moon and his moustache.

”Who the hell is Joost?” Zoya paused, looking at Alina, “There wasn’t a Joost on the list was there?” 

Alina checked the letter, and shrugged, “Nope, Only a Jesper.” 

“Alright then.” Zoya shrugged and continued.

He was supposed to be making his rounds at the Hoede house, but for the last fifteen minutes he’d been hovering around the south east wall of the gardens, trying to think of something clever and romantic to say to Anya. 

“Oh dear.” Genya sighed, shaking her head with pity for this so called Joost. 

“So he’s a guard then?” Nikolai asked, trying to confirm his theory.

”It appears so.” Tolya agreed, “And is Hoede Kerch?” 

“Erm yes I think so, you don’t think this takes place in Kerch do you?” Alina asked the room.

”Let’s just keep going we’ve got a lot to get through.” Nikolai gestured for Zoya to continue. 

If only her eyes were like the sea or green like an emerald. Instead her eyes were brown- lovely, dreamy

Nikolai couldn’t stop himself from thinking of Zoya’s eyes. Although they weren’t brown like Anya’s they were lovely and dreamy to him all the same. In some way he annoyingly related to this poor hopeless Joost.

“Just tell her she’s got skin like moonlight” his friend, pieter had said. “Girls love that.”

The women in the room scoffed.

”Sounds like a decent compliment to me.” Nikolai mumbled, looking away from the group. Zoya rolled her eyes. 

A perfect solution, but the Ketterdam weather was not cooperating.

”So it is Kerch!” Alina smiled at Tolya.

”Ketterdam too. Saints, Ketterdam is meant to be awful outside of the tourist attractions.” Mal said ,grimacing 

“He’s right it’s all good for tourists but the moment you go into it, it’s a hell hole.” added Nikolai with a nonchalant shrug. He got glares from Genya and Zoya, to which he threw up his hands in surrender, “But i’m sure Zenik isn’t there.” 

The full moon looked less like a jewel than a yellowy blister in need of lancing

”Oh! So that’s his first problem!” Nadia looked up, smiling widely. Tamar gently patted her wife on the knee with a nod.

”Yes well done my love.” Nadia swatted her away.

Maybe he could compliment Anya’s laugh? Except he’d never heard her laugh. He wasn’t very good with jokes.

“Awh bless him” said Genya. “He’s never heard the girl he likes laugh.”

”Or tell a joke, the poor man.” Tamar snorted.

If only his moustache would come in. It definitely felt thicker than yesterday.

”Problem number two.” Nadia mumbled under he breath. Both Tamar and Adrik slowly turned their heads to look at her with exasperated looks.

He’d been a guard in the stadwatch less than six weeks, and it wasn’t nearly as exciting as he’d hoped. He thought he’d be running down thieves in the Barrel  or patrolling the harbors, getting first look at cargo coming in on the docks. 

“What’s the Barrel?” Adrik asked. 

“Basically any criminal’s heaven. It’s where all the main Ketterdam gangs have their territory.” David answered, receiving an odd look from Genya. Sometimes she wondered where he learned all of this random information from, and where he kept it. 

“Oh so like the bottom of the barrel, very smart,” 

Not just any mercher, though. Councilman Hoede was about as high placed in Ketterdam government as a man could be.

They all turned to face Nikolai waiting for him to tell them he’d heard or met him before.

”Yes i’ve heard of him. No i haven’t met him.”

”Anything else?” Alina raised her eyebrows 

“Yes, like the book said he’s incredibly high up, incredibly wealthy, incredibly stuck up and horrible. Or so i’ve heard, He’s not the kind of guy you would want to take to court because he can and will and has bought his way out, Like most of the merchant council to be fair.”

”Wonderful.” Adrik deadpanned, Nikolai hummed in agreement. 

Rutger elbowed Henk. “That means he’s going to stick his head in the Grisha workshop to get a look at his girl.”

So she was Grisha. Under the command of a wealthy businessman. The thought sat with all of them even as Zoya continued to read on.” 

“Oh Anya, won’t you use your Grisha magic to make my moustache grow?” Henk mocked. 

“What do you recon, Heartrender or Healer?” Nadia asked, her curiosity peaked.

”Could be a Tailor.” David said.

”She probably isn’t a Tailor, dear.” Genya patted his knee affectionately.

Before he rounded the corner, Joost took a deep breath. Anya, your eyes are brown like … tree bark? He’d think of something better. He was better off being spontaneous anyway.

”Oh Joost.” Nikolai whispered shaking his head in disappointment.

”Tree bark.” Zoya scoffed “Tree Bark.” 

“Saints be dammed, we’ve found someone worse at flirting than David.” Alina giggled, catching the attention of Mal. And Genya and David.

”Hey now, David has gotten better.” Genya grinned at Alina, who did the same back.

Grisha indentures didn’t come cheap and Hoede had three of them.

”Indentures?” Genya said quietly. 

“Like I said, Ketterdam is a hell hole.” Nikolai said but he didn’t sound at all proud of himself for being proven right. 

“Nina-“ Genya looked up and caught Zoya’s hardened eyes.

”Will be fine.” Zoya interrupted, stopping the sentence she knew Genya was about to say.

”We don’t know that will you please hurry up and read so we can find out.” Adrik said quickly looking forward at the book in Zoya’s hand. 

But Yuri wasn’t seated at the long worktable, and Anya was nowhere to be seen.

Nadia reached out for Tamar’s hand ”Oh that cannot be good. That cannot be good at all.” 

Tamar took her hand and squeezed it. “It’s Ketterdam. I have a feeling it won’t be”

Only Retvenko was there. Sprawled out on a chair in dark blue robes, eyes shut, a book open on his chest. 

“Retvenko sounds Ravkan.” Tolya said, taking a sip of Kvas, and looking around for someone to answer him.

”Sounds very Ravkan.” Nikolai answered, also taking a sip of Kvas.

There were rumours he’d fought for the losing side in Ravka’s civil war and had fled to Kerch after the fighting

Everyone in the room became enraged. To think that someone could support The Darkling knocked a lot of them sick. Zoya Genya and Alina looked as if they could explode.

“Coward! If you’re going to support him at least be loyal and suffer the consequences of your actions don’t fucking run away!” Alina seethed, sitting up straight, now on edge.

Zoya cleared her throat, clearly an attempt to rid her anger (it didn’t work) and continued on, through her rage.

“I think Yuri might be quarantined.” 

A few eyebrows raised.

”Oh?” Nadia tilted her head.

”I don’t think Yuri is alive.” Mal said darkly. He made a valid point, quarantines were very uncommon, only for very serious illnesses would someone be quarantined.

”We only isolated people in the Little Palace when it would of had an effect on a lot of students, we always have, but it said they only had three so it can’t be contagious otherwise they’d all be dead.” Adrik pointed out. 

“Listen we don’t know if he’s sick, Joost may be wrong let’s just keep going.” Nadia said, in the hopes of keeping things positive, even though it was proving to be very difficult.

“One hour ago, Hoede takes her. Same as night he came for Yuri.”

”Oh so they’re both dead then!” Nikolai said in a fake cheerful manner. Zoya looked up from the book and glared at him.

“What do you mean, ‘he came for Yuri’? Yuri fell ill.” “Hoede comes for Yuri, Yuri comes back sick. Two days later, Yuri vanishes for good. Now Anya.”

”Have they poisoned them?” Genya asked, her eyebrows knitted together in concern.

”Whatever it is, I don’t think they caught it. I think they were given it.” Nikolai said grimly, looking down the Kvas in his hand. 

“It sounds like they’re doing tests on them.” Tolya said. “They’re only taking the Grisha and they’re not coming back. Sounds like they’re running tests and either they’re working or they’re trying to figure it out.”

”He’s right,” Tamar weighed in, “Besides it said that Grisha indentures are expensive, they wouldn’t just be killing them for no reason.” 

“And I doubt they’re just letting them go home.” Mal scoffed.

“First Yuri, now Anya. I will be next.”

”Oh well, that’s too bad.” Genya said with absolutely no sincerity.

To walk the streets without protection was to risk getting plucked up by a slaver and never seen again.

Zoya inhaled sharply.

”We don’t know that she’s in Ketterdam.” Nikolai reminded her softly.

“Then where is she, Nikolai!?” her eyes became glassy as she looked him in the eyes with a deadly gaze. “She’s obviously going to be in Ketterdam, this chapter takes place there and two of the six people on the list have Kerch names! She’s in Ketterdam and if i know Nina Zenik, she’s probably managed to get tangled up in this!” 

Adrik’s eyes once again lost focus as he stared into the corner of the room. His brain running a hundred thoughts at once, none of them positive apart from: Nina’s alive.

”She’s in the book, Zoya.” Tamar said gently, “That means she’s alive and she clearly knows people if they’re also in this book and by the sounds of things two of them at least have some sort of power or something. i’m sure she’ll be fine.” 

A lot of the people in the room had known Nina Zenik in some way, whether it be they taught her, dragged her into Zoya’s office to be berated and then held her whilst she cried, or been a friend of hers. Either way it was killing them all to sit there and know nothing about Nina, who they know all knew was alive after mourning and planting flowers for her.

His thoughts were interrupted by the blaze of light and activity down by the boathouse that faced the canal.

The glass had a wavy bent, and through it, Joost could see a girl seated at the table, clutching her red silks tight around her. 

Everyone became intrigued, this had finally become something more than a boy having a crush.

”This probably has something to do with the ‘illness’ then” Mal had air quotations around illness, not a single person in the room was believing it to be any natural illness that one could catch.

Anya Joost realised with a start. 

“Oh Saints.” Nikolai groaned running his hand over his face, a deep feeling of dread overcame him.

Her brown eyes were wide and frightened, her skin pale. The little boy siting across from her looked doubly terrified. His hair was sleep-tousled and his legs dangled from the chair, kicking nervously at the air. 

“Shit.” Adrik muttered.

“Do as you’re told, and this will soon be over, ja?”

Genya went stiff, the phrase sounded all too familiar to her.

The door shut with a loud clang, and Hoede slid a heavy lock into place

Wary looks were passed around the room but no one said anything and they let Zoya keep reading.

“And you’ve lowered the dose?”

“The dose? Dose of what?” Genya looked at Zoya, who shrugged stiffly.

”Are they drugging her?” Alina asked

“I think we’re about to find out.” Nikolai took another sip of Kvas.

The guard gave the boy a pat then slashed a bright red cut across his forearm.”

”Saints.” Nadia gasped.

“Shhhhh” she said softly, “Let me help.”

”Will it hurt?” the boy gulped

She smiled, “Not at all. Just a little itch. Try to hold still for me?”

”She seems so nice. I wonder where she was trained.” Nadia commented. Everyone agreed. It was no mystery why Joost liked the girl.

“Good, good,” Hoede said impatiently. “Now the parem.”

“What’s parem?” Alina asked. No one answered.

”Probably what made Yuri disappear.” Mal finally said, sharing a look with her.

Anya inhaled sharply. Her hands seized the table, her pupils dilating enough that her eyes looked nearly black.

”What the fuck.” Tamar said. “So she’s been drugged. They’re drugging grisha.” She threw her arms up with exasperation.

”By the looks of it, quite a strong drug too.” David pointed out.

”Cut off the boys thumb.” 

“What?!” Genya, Nadia and Alina shouted at the same time. Anger shock and confusion covered their faces.

Anya merely smiled and tilted her head back so she was looking at the sergeant. “Shoot the glass.”

No one spoke

”Shoot the glass,” Anya repeated. The sergeant’s face went slack. He cocked his head to one side as if listening to a distant melody, then unslung his rifle and aimed at the observation window.

“Forgive me, i’m no Corporalki myself, but i’m almost certain that you can’t do that.” Nikolai laughed humourlessly 

“Like I said,” David looked at Nikolai, “Quite a strong drug.”

“Open the door and come in Hoede.” 

”Do as you’re told, and this will be over ja” Anya murmured with a smile. Her eyes were black and bottomless pools. Her skin was alight, glowing, incandescent. 

”Now.” She said to Hoede. “Pick up the knife.”

The room was silent as Zoya trailed off. No one dared to speak. Maybe if they didn’t speak it won’t be real. Nikolai downed the rest of his kvas and got up to head to the bar.

”Saints.” Alina fell back into the cushions, staring into the ceiling with confusion and concerns written on her features.

“I don’t even- I don’t know what to say…” Genya couldn’t keep her eyes focused on anything.

”I think we should move on. Quickly.” Tamar shared a look with Genya. “I’m sure we’ll find out what it is and how to stop it but we can’t without finishing the book.” 

“She’s right.” Adrik said, receiving an affectionate nod from his sister in law. “We can’t help if we’re stuck in here so we might as well not dwell on it right now.”

”Adrik Zhabin not dwelling on something, Saints the world really has gone to insane!” Nikolai grinned, returning from the bar.

”Har har,” Adrik deadpanned, giving him a gesture anyone outside the room could be hung for.

”Okay if we’re moving on who wants to read next?” Zoya asked, holding the book up.

”Who’s chapter is it?” Alina asked.

“One of the teenagers, Inej Ghana.” 

“I’ll do it.” Alina said with a smile, taking the book back from Zoya. “Everyone ready?” She received nods and hums from around the room and began 

Chapter Two: Inej

Kaz Brekker didn’t need a reason.

Chapter Text

Chapter Two: Inej

Kaz Brekker didn’t need a reason.

A few raised eyebrows and scoffs came from around the room.

”Isn’t this kid… a kid?” Tamar frowned looking around the room.

“Pretty sure this book is about literal children.” Nadia looked at her wife laughing to cover her nerves.

”Well it isn’t for children, we know that, we just read about some healer mind control a group of people.” Nikolai smiled warily casting a quick look to Alina to continue reading.

Chapter Text

Chapter Three: Kaz 

Beneath all that jostling and whooping, there was fear. Good. Kaz relied on the fact that the Dregs were all murderers, thieves, and liars. He just had to make sure they didn’t make a habit of lying to him

Nikolai’s mind immediately thought of Zoya. Zoya, who frightened all of her students. Zoya, who could make grown men weep. Zoya who could kill with just a single glare. Zoya, who would probably murder him if he said any of it out loud. Thankfully, it was clear he wasn’t the only one thinking the same as he watched as people around the room quickly glanced at Zoya.

Dirtyhands would get crazier and more ruthless.

Genya scoffed “What kind of teenager is like that.”

“To be fair,” Alina started, leaning back into the sofa, “Zoya did break my ribs around that age.”

Zoya laughed “Please! I watched you slice men in half during the war!”

”To be fair to both of you, it was a different circumstance, this kid is just deranged.” Adrik said. Nikolai laughed in agreement with the younger man, despite only being three chapters in the boy on the pages was something entirely new and quite frankly insane.

”Well let’s not judge a book by it’s conver, keep going.” Nadia moved a hand in Nikolai’s direction, sending a breeze making the pages wave slightly.

”You are aware of the irony in that?” Tamar mumbled into her wife’s ear, but still loud enough for others to hear and laugh. 

”Yes yes. Just continue will you!” And so he did.

“Dont tell me by business Jes.”

”Someone needs a nap.” Nikolai muttered to himself 

Kaz could have told Jesper that he knew he wasn’t dirty, reminded him that he’d trusted him enough to make him his only real second in a fight that could have gone badly wrong tonight. Instead, he said,

”Oh no Kaz, Just leave it there it’s not even a bad thing to say!” The sun saint whined, burying her head into Mal’s shoulder, her long white hair falling over both their shoulders.

“Go on, Jesper. There’s a line of credit waiting for you at the Crow Club. Play till morning or your luck runs out, whichever comes first”

“Ugh! That is so infuriating!” Alina huffed from the crook of Mal’s neck. 

When he’d officially become a member of the Dregs, he’d been twelve

“Twelve!?” Genya exclaimed, everyone else in the room shared the same bewilderment. ”How do you even end up in a gang when you’re twelve that is appalling.” 

“Well Inej was only fourteen.” Alina added

”You and Inej.” Mal chuckled quietly to Alina who gently nudged him.

“With everything we know about Ketterdam I can’t say I’m surprised” Tolya said.

”He could have done anything but that.” 

“Like what, prostitution?” Adrik deadpanned.

”No! Obviously not but maybe he could have gotten an honest job like a waiter!” Genya looked around the room for support that wasn’t the there.

”Genya, darling, there’s no such thing as honest work in Ketterdam.” Nikolai reached across the counter for his drink.

Affectionately, Zoya rolled her eyes at his dramatics, “Just read.”

Now the Dregs were feared, Kaz had given them that.

“He’s good at what he does at least.” Mal said with a shrug and a slight bit of admiration for the boy.

”A job he shouldn’t be doing.” Genya muttered. 

Saints, he almost felt hopeful. Maybe he should see a medik.

“Oh, definitely!” Tamar laughed loudly.

He knew Inej was shadowing him. She’d been with him all the way from the Exchange

Zoya smiled to herself, smugness overcoming her. Oh how she couldn’t wait to send Nadia and Tamar to a first army base.

Inej was always trying to wring little bits of decency from him.

”How is she in a gang, she’s too…morally sound.” Tamar scrunched hair face up in contemplation.

“Because my Inej is the best.” Alina sunk in the sofa again, this time Mal nudged her gently.    

“When everyone knows you’re a monster, you needn’t waste time doing every monstrous thing.”

”That’s some poetic shit Tolya would say.” Nikolai teased sending a smirk in the direction of the Heartrender.

”My poetry isn’t that depressing.” Tolya deadpanned.

“You were nearly killed. So was Jesper.”

”Yes that whole shoot me situation was so fun to watch and not stressful at all” A fake smile was plastered upon Genya’s face. 

Despite everything she’d been through, Inej still believed her Suli Saints were watching over her.

 
Eyes turned towards Alina, who looked puzzled at the sudden attention. “What?”

”She thinks you’re watching over her.” Genya smiled. Alina’s face lit up, a genuine, warm smile grew on her face.

”It’s a good thing I love her then.” She said quickly, realising that she was grinning like a fool and promptly covering her face. She felt her cheeks burn behind her hands at the flattery, she had become used to people worshipping her, but something about someone so flawed but still grounded in her morals as Inej believing in her made her feel like the whole horrible saint thing might just have been worth it.

Kaz knew it, and for some reason he loved to rile her. He wished he could read her expression now. There was always something so satisfying about the little furrow between her black brows

Nadia and Tamar shared a worried look, as Zoya smirked to herself.

“I thought your saints would appreciate the challenge.”

“Men mock the Gods until they need them, Kaz”

“The Saints do not appreciate the challenge.” The saint herself said.

A fist connected with Kaz’s jaw.

”Oh!” Genya audibly gasped, along with most in the room.

I’m going to pry that fat jewel from its setting and jab the pin right through your mercher neck for chaining me to a chair, Kaz thought. But all he said was, “Van Eck.”

“I take it this is Van Eck senior.” Adrik nodded, mainly to himself.

“I hope he does jab the pin right through his mercher neck.” Nikolai muttered, knowing everything he did about the man Saints know he deserves it.

Not Jordie you podge

“Jordie?” David asked the room. Mal shrugged inaudibly.

“You were first arrested when you were ten.”

“Everyone remembers his first time”

Nikolai tried to hold in a laugh but failed, earning yet another glare from Zoya.

prosperous, pious, a widower recently remarried to a bride not much older than Kaz himself. And, of course, there was the mystery of Van Eck’s son

“He didn’t kill his son did he?” Nadia asked hesitantly.

”Probably not he was on the list, unless, of course someone can reanimate corpses but that’s impossible.” Adrik assured his sister.

“I don’t think I need to waste breath on threats,” Kaz said. “Tell me how to get to the door or I’m taking you through the window with me.”

“Dramatic.” Said Nadia

”Reasonable.” Said Tamar

And then it happened again, a boy walked through the library wall. He was as pale as a corpse and wore and embroidered blue Grisha Tidemakers coat.

“Okay, actually what the fuck, that’s some jurda parem shit isn’t it?” Nikolai said, suddenly a lot more serious. 

“Sounds like it, and if the boy is a Tidemaker it would make sense for that to be what happens to his abilities.” David replied with a shrug, “I would love to know it works.” 

Van Eck huffed a short, shaky breath. “What you’re seeing are the effects of Jurda Parem.”

”You have to admit it is quite impressive.”  Tolya said.

”It is, but it’s so.. unnatural, Grisha powers aren’t meant to work in that kind of way. If the wrong person gets their hands on it the effect it could have on the world could be detrimental.” David looked around the room at the faces that were suddenly realising the severity of the situation.

The pistol was more useful, but the cane brought Kaz a relief he did care to quantify.

Looks were passed around the room. Surely a pistol would bring more relief in that situation?

”So the cane is important, I take it.” Nikolai said the obvious.

”Well he probably needs it to walk.” Zoya deadpanned with a smirk, Genya shook her head at the two with a knowing smile creeping up on her lips, Alina looked at Genya and then the pair, and a matching smile grew on her lips.

It was in fact, the work of a Grisha Fabrikator, lead-lined and perfectly weighted for breaking bones.

“Fucking hell.” Mal breathed out, eyes wide and leaning back into the sofa.

“Tidemakers can alter his own state from solid to liquid to gas and back again, and do the same thing with other objects. Even a wall.”

“Saints.” Tamar whistled.

“You’re aware of the amplifiers some Grisha wear?”

“I’ve seen them,” Kaz said. Animal bones, teeth, scales. “I heard they’re hard to come by.”

“Pft, understatement of the century.” Alina said, receiving some laughs as they remembered tunnelling for weeks looking for the Firebird.

“No with Fjerdans.”

“Is this how the Fjerdan boy comes in to this?” Zoya asked no one in particularly with disdain

“Our sources say he is very much alive and that he is awaiting trial.” Van eck cleared his throat. “At the Ice Court.”

”What!?” Alina nearly shouted, sitting up right. Adrik laughed, to the point he was wheezing as the group of friends started discussing all the ways this could go wrong. 

“So this is a book about a group of teenagers getting brutally murdered by Fjerdans.” Zoya took Nikolai’s drink and downed what was remaining. 

“For Saints sake, Nina’s going to try break into the Ice Court isn’t she?” Genya sighed, leaning into David. “Alina make her stop.” 

”I’ll try.” The white haired girl patted her friends knee sympathetically.

Zoya simply stood up with the now empty glass, took Adrik’s half empty glass from where Nadia banished it, and refilled both, handing Adrik’s back to him. This time Nadia didn’t protest.

“I’d need to convince a team to walk into a suicide mission. That won’t come cheap.”

“Nina’s on that team.” Adrik groaned, tilting his head to look at the ceiling.

“I think they all are. What did the note say? They do something impossible?” David reached for the note that had been left on the table. “Presumably this is the impossible and I think they achieve it.” 

“When people say impossible, they usually mean improbable.” Nikolai said wistfully before being hit with a pillow thrown by Alina.

His dept to jordie would be paid at last

“Right, who the hell is Jordie?” Nikolai looked around the room for answers that he never got.

“How old are you Mister Brekker?”

“Seventeen.”

“If he manages to orchestrate an invasion, of the sort, into the Ice Court, at the age of seventeen, I think we should hire him.” Nikolai said, although it was unclear if he was serious or not.

and for a moment, Kaz wasn’t walking through the canal-side garden of a rich merch, he was knee-deep in spring grasses, hot sun beating down on his cheeks, his brother’s voice calling him home. Kaz gave himself a shake.

”Maybe Jordie is his brother?” Mal proposed. Many in the room stopped to wonder for a moment before collectively nodding and humming in agreement.

”Not bad Oretsev.” Nikolai winked over exaggeratedly at the young man, who rolled his eyes.

The captain didn’t flinch, didn’t react. His pupils didn’t contract.

“Ok so jurda parem is bad in the hands of anyone but it’s bad for everyone when it comes to Corporalki.” Adrik concluded looking not at all pleased, looking intently into the drink in his hand.

”I agree, it doesn’t seem so bad for Etherealki and Materialki in terms of other people and the effects that have on others but I really think we need to be wary of jurda parem especially around Corpooralki.” Zoya said, with her commander of the second army face on. 

The Grisha was a Corporalnik serving her indenture with CouncilmanHoede’s household. He thought because she was a Healer and not a Heartrender, he was making the safe choice to test the parem.”

”So how bad would a Heartrender be?” Tamar looked at her twin, her features were sad. Everyone knew what this drug meant. Not only could it start wars and diminish the Grisha population again it could also ruin everything Grisha had been trying to do since the beginning. If people became scared I of Grisha again, and this time for a good reason, who knows what kind of torture they might be put through,

Kaz had seen Heartrenders at work. They could rupture your cells, burst your heart in your chest, steal the breath from your lungs, or lower your pulse so that you dropped into a coma, all while never laying a finger on you.

“If that Heartrender is Nina I swear to all Saints I-“ The drink in Zoya’s hand began to shake slightly. 

“-Will be happy she’s alive!” Genya took the glass gently away from the squaller, with a wide encouraging smile on her face.

He wouldn’t be surprised if Hoede deserved whatever he'd gotten. During Ravka's civil war, a lot of Grisha had fled the fighting and paid their way to Kerch by becoming indentures without realizing that they'd essentially sold  themselves into slavery.

The room was silent. As much as they wanted to believe they had gotten far with the treatment of Grisha, they all still knew there was a far and tedious road ahead of them.

“it leaves the Grisha's body weakened and the craving is intense. It's quite debilitating.”

“As soon as we leave this room, we’re setting up task forces against this, this drug cannot spread, Fjerda can’t get its grubby little Grisha hating hands on it, we’ll find the scientist and shut this whole thing down before it gets out of hand.” Zoya sternly addressed everyone, looking them in the eyes as she spoke. No one disagreed. Even if they did, it would be stupid to disagree with Zoya Nazyalensky at any time but especially when she was in full general mode.

“Thirty million kruge.”

“Seems completely fair to me.” Nikolai muttered, and continued to read without stopping to hear other opinions that probably disagreed with his own.

“If you fail, all the world will suffer for it.”

“Oh it’s worse than that Van Eck. If I fail, I don’t get paid.”

The room erupted into laughter.

”I appreciate the dedication.” Alina laughed, getting up to get herself and Mal a drink from the bar Nikolai was sitting at.

Kaz had heard them, too. Brekker ’s hands were stained with blood. Brekker’s hands were covered in scars. Brekker had claws and not fingers because he was part demon. Brekker ’s touch burned like brimstone a single brush of his bare skin caused your flesh to wither and die

“This is a child.” Concern was plastered on Genya’s face. “These characters- people are children.”

”So were we.” Alina said quietly. Nikolai didn’t continue to read as everyone grew quiet for a minute. They were children. They went through so much so young but they also achieved so so much. 

“They’re all true enough.”

“Anddd that’s the end of that chapter.” Nikolai announced, closing the book dramatically but keeping a finger in the book ready for the next reader. 

“Who is it?” Genya raised her chin.

Opening the book where he left off, Nikolai signed dramatically, “Inej.” 

Alina giggled, putting her drink on the table in front of her and reached for the book with both hands like a child trying to win a prize.

Chapter Four: Inej

Inej knew the moment Kaz entered The Slat.

Chapter Text

Chapter Four: Inej

Inej knew the moment Kaz entered the  Slat.

”Of course she did.” Zoya said, folding her arms across her chest, her chin held high in a defying smugness. “Do you know why?”

”Oh pray tell, Zoya, do let us know your great and unending wisdom.” Nikolai held his hand on allowing the blue eyed woman to continue, playing a long with her games. Sulking, Tamar and Nadia refused to look in the direction of the general.

”Well, it is incredibly clear that the two of them are madly in love with another!” Zoya looked pointedly at the couple, a wide grin growing across her gorgeous face.

Kaz spent his own money to have the Slat’s drafts shorn up and it’s windows insulated. It was ugly, crooked, and crowded, but the Slat was gloriously dry.

“Who would’ve guessed, he has some decency.” Nikolai shrugged.

”He could just be doing that for himself.” Mal countered.

”Can’t you let me have some hope in humanity, Oretsev,” The King sighed dramatically.

“Take it up with Kaz,” Inej had replied quietly. “And keep your voice down,” Jesper added, glancing at the tourists and sailors seated at neighbouring tables.

“I love their dynamic.” Alina said offhandedly.

”They’ve interacted a whole like two times.”  Tamar rolled her eyes playfully.

“Saints, I don’t remember you being such a cynic, Tamar.” Alina retorted, the same playful tone in her voice.

Nikolai sighed loudly, announcing his entrance in the conversation, “This world needs more dreamers like us Leens.” 

“Leens?!” ‘Leens’ burst out laughing.

”Shhh just go with it.”

“You always know everything about everything.”

”Of course she does, she’s amazing.” Alina mumbled.

"He can't even face me?”

”To be perfectly fair- ” Nikolai held up his hands “He was just kidnapped.”

“Sends a little girl to give me the boot? Maybe I’ll just shake a few coins out of you.”

”This feels like a bad idea on his part.” Adrik said but without any sympathy for the man.

He’d reached to grab her by the collar of her shirt.

“Oh, definitely a bad idea.” Genya smirked slightly.

Out of the corner of her eye, Inej saw Jesper rise from his seat.

”See Tamar! Great dynamic!” Alina practically shouted across the room.

”Yeah yeah whatever.” Tamar laughed heartily.

She gave Rojakke a swift crack across the left cheek.

Whoops filled the room, louder cheers coming from especially Alina Genya, and surprisingly the very usually-collected Zoya.

“He’s right you know. Kaz shouldn’t send you to do his dirty work.”

“I know right! He’s so demanding!” Alina exclaimed, flailing her arms around.

“We’ve only read four chapter.” Genya raised an eyebrow accompanied by a scoff.
“No I know, I just feel like-“ 

“No no we’ve only read four chapters, he’s presumably going to get a lot worse.” Genya reached for Nikolai’s drink, turning the glass around to avoid where his mouth had been and sending an exaggerated wink in his direction, which was gladly returned. 

She’d left her luck behind in a Sufi camp on the shores of West Ravka. She doubted she’d ever see again.

Zoya’s shoulders tensed. She couldn’t help it. She knew it was bad to have any sort of negative feelings towards her roots but it was hard after everything she had been through and everything her mother put her through.

“Why would she never see them again?” Genya asked.

”Indentures probably, they’re made to be essentially impossible to pay off, trapping a person in a place.” David answered immediately.

Kaz had been gone longer than anyone had expected.

”Again,” Nikolai said, “He has just been kidnapped.”

No one went as far as to pat Kaz on the back, though - that was a good way to loose a hand.

“I think he has haphephobia.” David said, mainly to himself, Genya looked at him puzzled, “The fear of being touched.” 

“Why do you think that?” 

“The gloves, he has an attachment to them, unless he is terrified of getting cold then I can’t think of any other reason-“

”Fashion.” Nikolai displayed his gloved hands before everyone.

”You don’t wear them for fashion reasons though.” Genya looked at him amused.

”Yes well-“ 

“You can take them off as well, it’s just us in here, and the door’s locked.” Zoya pointed out, her usual stoic face on display but Nikolai could hear the sympathy in her voice.

“It’s a bit chilly.” He said quickly. “David please continue.” The gloved man pleaded.

”Right, anyway. I can’t think of another good reason - besides fashion - in which he’d need to constantly wearing gloved if he wanted to avoid contact with other people. And it seems a bit dramatic to remove of people’s limbs for patting you on the back affectionately.” 

“You’re so good at people reading when they aren’t in front of you.” Genya patted his knee lovingly.

She felt slightly guilty for eavesdropping on Kaz, but he was the one who had turned her into a spy.

“It’s his own doing then, he can get over it.” Zoya rolled her eyes apathetically 

"You're smart, Brekker, but you need to learn patience." "Yes, sir."

“Why is he acting like this?” asked Adrik. “It seems out of character for him.”

”He’s definitely building up to something.” Nikolai answered him, taking his drink away from Genya, who put up no fight.

The old man barked a laugh.  "Yes, sir. No, sir," he mocked.

“He’s being unnecessarily rude, it’s better him being polite than him tearing limbs off.” Muttered Alina angrily.

" I know you're up to something when you start getting polite. Just what have you got brewing.”

”Be quiet!” Alina groaned, already sick of the old man.

“Rich as Saints in crowns of gold.”

“I’m a saint, albeit against my will, but I’m not rich and in crowns of gold!” Alina wined, looking at Mal annoyed. 

“You could’ve been.” Nikolai winked suggestively but without meaning at her. Alina, Zoya and Mal scowled at the blonde man.

“Long as I don’t have to live like one.”

“Eh I mean it’s fine.” Alina contemplated her entire existence in a whole five seconds, “It could be better but what can you do.” 

He hadn't mentioned any big job to her. And why Pim?

“Probably because he’s going to ask you to go with him.” Adrik said plainly.

Because I’m smarter than Pim. Because Kaz trusts me more.

“Yeah, get fucked Pim.” Alina said jutting out her chin as threateningly as she could.

only two years out of the brothels, not even seventeen years old.

”I’m sorry, did I miss hear you, only two years out of the brothels?” Genya laughed with zero humour “Making her only fourteen! In a brothel! Working there! At the age of fourteen! Fourteen!”

She wore her sleeves long and the sheath of her knife mostly hid the scar inside her left forearm where the Menagerie tattoo had once been, but they all knew it was there.

The room was mostly quiet apart from the few curses sworn quietly.

" Not what I asked."

“Just get to the point Kaz! Saints!” Tamar threw her arms in the air, frustrated. 

“I’ve got a job for you,”

”That was easy. Just lead with that next time.”

“We’ll be kings and queens, Inej. Kings and queen.”

“Been there, done that.” Nikolai smirked, earning groans from around the room, and a stray shoe from Genya being thrown at his head and narrowly missing him.

but only two tattoos-  the Dregs' crow and cup on his forearm and, above it, a black R on his bicep.

“Oh?” Genya raised an eyebrow inquisitively 

“Any Ketterdam gangs with any association to R?” Nadia asked no one in particular.

“No and normally you get gang tattoos on your forearm, and only one you know because, if you’re in two gangs you get battered.” Nikolai answered using his vast knowledge on Ketterdam’s gangs to good use. 

It was his hands that drew her attention as he shucked off his leather gloves

They all turned to a David. “He clearly feels safe around her. And besides he’s not touching her.”

and dipped a cloth in the washbasin.  He only ever removed them in these  chambers, and as far as she knew, only in front of her.

“Yes did you hear that you two?” Zoya looked over to Nadia and Tamar smugness written all over her face. 

“And I'll need Wylan waiting at the Crow Club tomorrow night."

”Another main character!” Nikolai exclaimed.

”So what’s that now, four?” Tolya asked.

”Yes, Kaz, Inej, Jesper and now Wylan. Although he’s not in it yet he’s only been mentioned.” Genya answered.

Alina turned to Mal, “I swear this Jesper is the same Jesper from that farm in Novyi Zem.”

“It could be, but I can imagine there’s gotta be a lot of Jespers over there.”

“Wylan? If this is a big job-“ “just do it.”

”There we are again so demanding.” Nadia sighed with fake exhaustion, “Saints I just cannot stand men.” She dramatically folded her arms over her chest slouching in seat.

"Please, my darling Inej, treasure of my  heart, won't you do me the honor of acquiring me a new hat?"

“You should talk to me like that more often. So formal.” Nadia joked.

“Yes so romantic and sincere.” Tamar leaned in and pecked her wife’s lips while Adrik was busy looking disgusted and ready to leave.

“Have a long trip down.”

”I hope he breaks his neck.” Alina muttered but loud enough for people to hear.

”He’s only seventeen!” Genya laughed.

”Oh boo hoo, he was rude to Inej.” She turned the page to see the next chapter. “It’s a Kaz chapter next.” She scowled.

”Ooh! That’s me!” Nikolai reached for the book with now gloveless hands. 

Chapter Five: Kaz

Kaz followed East Stave towards the harbour, through the beginnings of the Barrel’s gambling district.

Chapter Text

Chapter Five: Kaz

Brick by brick. It was the promise that let him sleep at night, that drove him every day, that kept Jordie’s ghost at bay. Because a quick death was too good for Pekka Rollins.

"So we don't like Pekka Rollins then." Genya nodded to herself, as if taking a mental note.

"What're you talking about, clearly they're really close." Nikolai smirked, looking up from the pages. His ungloved fingers tapping against the back of the book.

He leached away the Emerald’s business.

"So the little creep is good at business who would've thought?" Alina giggled, burying herself in pillows.

"I'd presume running a gang would involve a lot of business skills. You know, who when and how to murder someone and such." Mal grinned, the same grin he had as a boy running though the meadows with Alina.

Kaz wasn’t a bastard. He wasn’t even from Ketterdam.

"Plot twist of the century!" Nikolai cried dramatically, slamming the book closed with both hands. "My whole life is a lie." 

"You're whole life was a lie anyway, your father was unknown for most of your life." Zoya smirked looking up at the king, who sat at the bar facing the room, through her eyelashes, her eyes screaming at him, daring him to look away. Of course, Zoya was only messing with him, and he knew that, and the saints knew that if no one else was in the room with them right now, he would kiss her senseless. But she would probably kill him. probably.

"You'll pay for that." He swore sending a fake glare her way. She rolled her eyes in an equally fake way and he knew full well that she was looking forward to it.

"So he's basically lying about his identity just for his image." Tolya more stated than asked.

"Everyone in Ketterdam is lying about something." Nikolai said as he returned to the book.

He'd been nine and Jordie thirteen when they’d first arrived in the city 

Adrik let out a loud breath, looking deeply concerned. "Well that's not great." Nadia hit his arm, as if scolding him for pointing out the obvious 

"Hang on. He's been in Ketterdam for less than a decade and is already effectively a leader of a massive gang?" Nadia looked astonished and worried at the same time. 

"To be fair, Alina took down The Darkling and The Fold in around a year." Genya gestured to the blushing sun saint.

"I don't think the two are really comparable." David chuckled.

But those boys were long gone and only Pekka Rollins was left to punish. 

A sad silence hung in the air. Each of them had pity and sympathy for the boys. 

But if Kaz had any hope of getting into the Ice Court, he needed the right crew.

"Oh Saints." Zoya groaned, rubbing her temple already feeling a Nina Zenik Headache coming.

“Fate has plans for all of us, Kaz”

“Was it fate that took you from your family and stuck you in a pleasure house in Ketterdam? Or was it just very bad luck.”

"Was that at all called for?" Genya frowned.

"I'll beat him up." Alina said, still leaning back into the sofa and cracking her knuckles theatrically. 

"Calm it Leens, you'd snap the poor sod in half." Nikolai howled with laughter as the white haired woman glared at him with the power of a hundred suns.

In moments like that, he thought she might hate him.

"Completely understandable."

"I hate him."

"She should."

"Rightfully so"

"Fair enough."

"I'll tear him apart."

Inej had been forced to don fake Suli silks.

The thought made Zoya shudder. Although she was still on the way to accepting her roots it made her feel violently ill that anyone's culture, never mind her own, would be used in such a grotesque way. Especially involving a fourteen year old girl.

She ran the Menagerie, procured the girls, made sure they behaved.

Nikolai stole a glance at Zoya who looked as if she was either about to be sick or destroy the whole room out of anger. 

"Do we have any jurisdiction over there?" Genya asked quietly. 

"Sadly, no." Nikolai stared at the words on the page. "Even if we did, I am not sure if things like that are illegal." The amber eyed woman nodded slowly, sniffing slightly. David gently took her scarred hand. 

"It's not fair." She whispered to him. 

"I know, my love, I know." 

He had white hair and eyes the colour of boiled eggs. Barring the eyes he looked like an albino, but Kaz happened to know that he’d been tailored to match the decor of the House by a certain Grisha on the payroll.

Genya's head snapped up immediately and suddenly everyone else's attention was strongly grabbed. 

"Forgive me for my lack of knowledge, however," Adrik laughed nervously and expectantly, "No one outside of Genya is a Tailor Tailor and the only other people with the skill set for that amount of tailoring are Corporalki trained in the Little Palace-"

"Apart from me." Tolya said smugly 

"- apart from Tolya." the giant man nodded in approval.

"Adrik's right. I'm the only Tailor and believe me I teach my students brilliantly." Genya said rushed, waiting impatiently for Nikolai to continue. Everyone sat up straighter, anxiously. 

“Mr Brekker,” the boy said “Nina is with a client.”

"Oh Nina." Genya sighed putting her head in her hands. 

"Saints!" Adrik hissed angrily, frustrated at himself. He should've looked for her.

Zoya had chosen an unlucky part of the floor to glare daggers into.

"Shit." Tamar deadpanned. 

Besides, he knew that anyone looking through this particular peephole and hoping for excitement would be sorely disappointed.

"Oh!?" Nadia gasped

Nina Zenik stood behind him 

Unexpectantly, but understandably so, Genya let out a heart wrenching sob. "I- just- there was a possibility it wasn't her. And- and I- I've known her since she was seven. Saints! I read her bedtime stories when she was homesick! I taught her everyday! I promised her- I promised her she was safe and- I- I feel like I've let her down. I feel- I feel I've failed her. 'cause now- now she's in this horrible horrible place alone and in a ple- pleasure house and I-" She let out a sigh, and accepted the tissue Tolya offered her.

There wasn’t even a bed in the room, just a narrow settee where Nina curled up every night.

"That's heart breaking saints-" Tamar sighed 

Adrik's jaw was clenched so hard it looked like he might break it. There were so many emotions fighting behind his pupils.

"Alina make it stop." Genya said, sounding like a little girl. Alina took her friends other hand and squeezed twice.

Her membership in the Dregs

"She's in a gang!" Zoya all but shrieked, "She is going to send me into cardiac arrest." Zoya mumbled

"I can do that for you know, get it over with." Tamar winked at her, Zoya simply scowled.

"I can't believe she's in a gang." Adrik gaped looking mindlessly into the distance. 

"Will she have a tattoo?" Nadia asked Nikolai.

"She'll have one for the White Rose, all pleasure houses have them so you don't get nicked by another house. And yes she will have one for being in the Dregs."

"I can't believe this." Genya whispered hollowly. 

Nina just liked to flirt with everything. He’d once seen her make eyes at a pair of shoes she fancied in a shop window.

Everyone laughed a little at that. It sounded exactly like something Nina would do. Zoya shook her head, letting the corners of her mouth curl into a small smile. A watery laugh escaped Genya. 

“You have crumbs in your cleavage.” 

“Don’t care.” she said.

Adrik chuckled, rolling his eyes. He was quickly hit with a wave of sadness saints he missed his friend.

Kaz shook his head, amused and impressed at how quickly Nina dropped the wise Grisha priestess act. She’d missed her true calling on the stage.

"I've always said that to her." Tolya smiled softly, "You should hear some of her poetry renditions they're very well performed." 

"You and your poetry." Nikolai laughed. 

She had a lucrative side business as a Tailor, seeing to wrinkles and jowls of the wealthy Kerch, but her chief income came from altering moods.

Zoya let a wave of relief wash over her. At least she wasn't selling her body. She was being as safe and as resourceful as she could be. Part of Zoya was proud, the other half was a range of emotions from happiness and anger.

Most were on the run from something, eager to avoid drawing attention of slavers or the interest from the Ravkan government.

"So what's keeping Zenik in Ketterdam then?" Nikolai muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear though.

"She better have a good reason." Zoya said angrily, although it wasn't fooling anyone. They all knew Zoya didn't care why Nina hadn't come back as much as sh cared about Nina being alive.

"Nina loved - loves - Ravka, she wouldn't be defecting." Adrik said strongly, looking Zoya Nazyalensky dead in the eye.

But sitting there with her brow furrowed and her feet tucked under her, she looked like what she truly was: a girl of seventeen, raised in the sheltered luxury of the Little Palace, far from home and barely getting by every day. 

Yet again, the room was quiet. This was unmarked territory for all of them. No one really new how to approach it.

“If this is all true, then Bo Yul-Bayur needs to be eliminated.”

"Smart girl." Zoya nodded in agreement. The same sense of pride washing over.

Nina’s friends back in Ravka believed she was dead, a victim of Fjerdan witchhunters, and for now, she wanted it to stay that way. 

"What?" Adrik asked with a shocked smile, to cover his anger and confusion.

"She's done something stupid." Zoya stated angrily.

"Here we were worried sick and she doesn't even care." Nikolai held a hand to his heart dramatically. Nikolai didn't know the girl well, if at all. But the people he loved did and were clearly affected by this, so if he needed to make a stupid joke to get them to be mad at him and not upset at Nina Zenik and distract them from the pain momentarily then so be it.

And it worked.

“The Ice Court,” Nina repeated, and Kaz knew she’d begun to put the pieces together. “You don’t just need a Corporalnik, do you?”

"The Fjerdan boy!" Tamar pointed out.

"But why is he connected through Nina. Why can't Brekker go straight to him?" Zoya asked furiously.

“No. I need someone who knows the Ice Court inside and out.”

"I think the Fjerdan boy might be a bit more than just a Fjerdan boy." Nikolai said awkwardly smiling.

"What do you mean?" Mal asked.

"The only people who would know the Ice Court in detail would be royalty or Druskelle." David said grimly, "And we can assume he is not Fjerdan royalty." Genya paled.

"Why is Nina going on this.. this impossible heist with a Druskelle?!" Zoya nearly shouted, there was suddenly a slight breeze in the room.

"Improbable." Nikolai mumbled. Thankfully it went unheard.

“You're a little skiv you know what? How many times have I come to you, begging you to help Matthias? And now that you want something…”

"What?!" many cried out

"Help the Fjerdan?!" Nadia's eyes were as wide as dinner plates.

"Not to prematurely assume things," Alina started, receiving a glare from Adrik who had figured out where she was going with this, "However, I think I know why she's stayed in Ketterdam and doesn't want you guys knowing she's alive...." slowly one by one the people in the room connected the dots.

Zoya groaned, "For Saints sake!"

"No, she wouldn't. Would she?" Genya laughed nervously.

"Begging to help' doesn't sound as if they met just once and exchanged pleasantries and moved on." Tolya pointed out. Zoya threw a pillow at his head. 

“How many bribes I'd have to pay to get Matthias Helvar out of prison?”

"Prison!? It just keeps getting worse oh my-" Alina exhaled.

“Even if you could get to him, Matthias would never agree to help you.” 

"She knows him very well then." Tolya quickly raised his hands in surrender, as if he were just making an innocent observation. 

"She doesn't know what she's talking about." Zoya shook her head, for some unknown reason, a lot of the happiness she was previously feeling had dispersed.

“Hes a person like any other, driven by greed and pride and pain. You should understand that better than anyone.” 

The room stopped feeling their anger and bewildered feelings temporarily and remembered the situation.

"No. Don't stop, don't let me feel sorry for her keep going." Zoya gestured for Nikolai to continue and he saw that she wasn't trying to be rude or dismissive she was just overwhelmed.

"Zoya, we don't even know anything yet." Nikolai tried

"Oh don't be naive, Nikolai."

“Helvar is driven by honour and only honour. You can’t bribe or bully that.”

"How Druskelle of him." Genya rolled her eyes.

"Again-" Tolya started 

"Shut your mouth Yul-Bataar!" Zoya raised another pillow.

“You’ve seen him?” Her green eyes were wide, eager. ‘There’ though Kaz, ‘the Barrel hasn’t beaten the hope out of you yet.’

"I'm not naive anymore." Nikolai whispered.

"I don't want the barrel to beat the hope out of her." Genya crossed her arms sternly, "Even if it's about a Druskelle." she mumbled.

"You don't think it's one of the Druskelle that kidnapped her do you?" Tamar inquired, looking genuinely curious. 

"Let's not think about that right now." Nadia patted her wife's knee.

Nina took a deep, shuddering breath. “He wants revenge, Kaz.”

"Oh so she's also pissed off a Druskelle! Great!" Adrik laughed humourlessly, immediately feeling guilty. He didn't know the situation, he didn't even know if she actually knew him. They knew nothing.

"We don't actually think she's fallen for a Druskelle do we?" Alina looked around the room sceptically. "Do we?"

"I mean- clearly they have history, if he's in prison and he wants revenge but she still wants him to be free." Mal offered.

"Well I'm sure we will find out, It's a Nina chapter next!" Nikolai smiled joyfully. "Who wants it?" He held the book up. 

"I will." Zoya said, to everyone's surprise. Nikolai handed her the book.

"Be nice." He whispered.

"I'll try." She whispered back.

Chapter six: Nina

The sick feeling in Nina's stomach had nothing to do with the rocking of the rowboat.

Chapter Text

Chapter Six: Nina

The sick feeling in Nina's stomach had nothing to do with the rocking of the rowboat.

"Saint's here we go." Zoya breathed out, exasperated.

He knew he didn’t have to tell her anything because the lure of Matthias’ freedom had already overridden every bit of her good sense.

Zoya closed her eyes, as if praying to the Saints to knock some sense into Nina.

"Zoya if this is going to be too difficult for you to read-" Nikolai started, eye brows raised with a smirk on his face.

"It's fine!" Zoya snapped, glaring at the no longer smirking king.

No one else moved like that, as if the world was smoke and she was just passing through.

"That's beautiful." Tolya said whistfully.

"Is it beautiful because it's poetic?" Alina grinned at the tall man.

"You know it." he winked at her.

“Once a week they do,” Inej said, her little imp horns bobbing along with her head.

“What do you mean once a -”

Everyone looked to Nikolai - The resident Ketterdam expert.

"Why do you assume I'd know anything about hellgate?" The king looked slightly insulted but sighed as no one broke their gaze, "I haven't a clue what she's talking about."

"Are you sure?" Genya tilted her head smirking.

"Yes!" 

“Don’t shush me, Brekker.”

Adrik smirked, glad to know her attitude towards authority hadn't been wavered. 

“Welcome to the Hellshow.”

"Sounds cheery." Adrik rolled his eyes.

"Like you!" Nikolai nodded towards the squaller, who stared at him blankly.

That condescending tone made Kaz so slappable.

"Do it!" Alina shouted, determination in her voice, if she couldn't slap some sense into the boy, then someone should. "Slap the shit out of him!"

Desperate as she’d been to return to her country, she’d known she couldn’t leave Matthias to languish in Hellgate

Zoya scowled, shockingly for the first time during the chapter.

"If anything it's sweet." Tamar shrugged wariness in her eyes but also something of optimism - truly Tamar didn't care what Nina was doing, only that she was safe.. as possible. As she earned some concerned looks, she continued, "It's sweet she cares so much about someone enough to go to such lengths." 

Zoya scoffed, looking outraged, "If anything it's blasphemy!" 

"Are there any laws about Fjerdans and Grisha... courting?" Genya asked. hesitantly, although genuinely curious. 

"Why do you want her to court a Fjerdan?" Zoya raised an incredulous brow at the tailor.

Genya was silent for a moment, contemplating an answer that would receive the least anger, "No... I'm just wondering how much legal trouble she would get into." 

"It definetly won't be a law in Kerch, if that's what you're thinking." David supplied.

"Kerch is irrelevant, she'll be in Ravka the minute I leave this room and legal or not she will be in trouble." Zoya said sternly, gripping the book tightly.

"We still don't know if they are anything but acquaintance," Nikolai said, "Well nothing more than friends." Zoya and Mal laughed at that.

"Oh please." Alina looked at Nikolai as if he'd lost his mind, "Right, 15 vlachki on them being more than friends." She pulled the money out of her pocket and placed it on the table, along with Zoya, Mal, Tamar, Nadia, David, Genya, Adrik and Tolya. "I thought you weren't being nieve anymore."

"I'm not being nieve, i'm being optimistic." He said, also placing the money on the table. "Right then, go forth my dear Zoya." 

Zoya scowled for the second time but continued reading nevertheless.

She had no idea what to do, but it seemed rumours of a new Grisha Corporalnik in Ketterdam had already circulated through the city.

They all winced at the possibilities that possessed.

Pekka himself leaned heavily on Nina to join the Dime Lions and had offered to set her up in business at the Sweet Shop.

Genya cringed inwardly.

Inej had crawled through her window on the top floor of the Emerald Palace with a Proposal from Kaz Brekker in hand.

"Never thought I'd thank the Saints for Kaz Brekker" Genya sighed, Alina winked at her, causing the tailor to grin.

"Thank the Saints for Inej Ghafa while you're are it." Zoya muttered.

“I may. But i’ll die on my feet with a knife in my hands.” 

"Better to die fighting than to die peacefully." Nikolai said, taking a sip of his drink.

"Is it?" Alina looked at him almost laughing out of disbelief.

"Yes....?"

Nina had trusted Inej, and she hadn’t been sorry for it, though right now she just felt furious with everyone.

"So jealous she's best friends with Inej and I'm not." Alina acted wounded. In reality she was quite relieved the girl had found allies to trust and care about.

Kaz Shrugged. “Only thing disgusting about it is that I didn’t think about it first.”

"Just when I was starting to like him." Genya groaned, leaning back into the pillows behind her.

"That's grim." Nadia's lip curled in disgust.

Beyond Slappable, “Are you aware that I could waggle my fingers and make you wet your trousers.”

Light chuckles passed through the room.

"Good to know she remembers the most vital part of her training." Tolya laughed heartly.

“I don’t know yet, I just am.”

"Valid logic." Nikolai nodded.

"That's something you'd say." Zoya shook her head, hiding a smile.

"I know. I wasn't being sarcastic."

Inej gave Nina’s hand a brief squeeze, and after a moment, Nina squeezed back.

"Okay that's sweet." Tamar smiled.

"It's very sweet actually." Genya said, taking Alina's hand and whispering, "Reminds me of us." Alina smiled sweetly, pressing a dramatic kiss into Genya's scarred cheek.

Nina remembered the first time she’d seen Matthias in a moonlit Kaelish wood.

"So he did take part in her kidnapping." Adrik deadpanned looking utterly furious

"Wait sorry - Why is Nina in Ketterdam?" Nadia asked the room. "She was taken from the Wandering Isle so how is she in Kerch?

"Maybe she escaped Fjerda?" Mal proposed his eyebrows furrowed.

"No, she would've been taken to the Ice Court and it's impossible - Nikolai don't you dare - to esacpe the Ice Court." Zoya said

"And she came to Ketterdam, presumably with the Fjerdan." David pointed out, making the conversation more confusing.

"Let's just read, I'm sure we'll figure it out later, now is not the time." Nikolai said, trying not to scramble his brain even more.

His beauty had seemed unfair to her.

"Oh saints." Zoya scowled for the third time, rolling her eyes. Nikolai feared if she rolled them any harder they would get stuck.

"I take it I've already lost this bet then." Nikolai looked at the pile of money on the table sadly.

Matthias Helvar was Duskelle

"Fucks sake." Zoya hissed.

"She wouldn't be Nina Zenik if she didn't make bad decisions." Genya offered however she looked equally angry and confused.

"Don't try and justify this. I can't believe her. I know she knows what they do to us. She's experienced it! I- I don't understand!" 

Though to her he’d always resembled a warrior Saint, illuminated in gold.

"Sounds a bit like blasphemy." Tamar shrugged, "Still a little sweet though."

And yet, he was beautiful still.

"Is she done talking about how beautiful he is yet?" Adrik groaned feeling weird that his friend was practically in love with some Druskelle.

"It is very poetic." Tolya said, mainly to himself.

“No,” Nina said when she saw where the needle was pointing.

"It's not the lizard again is it?" Nikolai asked, the attempt at humour failing miserably. Truthfully, he wasn't sure what he thought of this situation. Matthias Helvar was Fjerdan, Druskelle at that. That objectively made him a bad person but clearly something about him made Nina Zenik trust him.

"I hope it is, I hope is kills him." Zoya said, clearly without thinking, after realising the looks she was being given, "I hope it hurts him greatly."

"I know we do not like him, but he is just a kid." Genya said sympathetically. 

Nina gave a frustrated shake of her head. “You don’t get it.”

"Nor do we! please give us context!" Nikolai went to take another sip of his drink only to realise he'd drank it all already.

But Matthias stood silent, unmoving even when the gate opened, even when the wolves charged out of the tunnel.

"Oh." The king sighed.

"What?" Alina looked at man who was pouring himself a new drink.

"Wolves are sacred to Fjerdans, especially Druskelle. They're like their companions or whatever. It'd be cute if they weren't trained to rip Grisha apart, but they are very important to Fjerdan culture." 

"Oh." Alina echoed Nikolai's previous reaction. "I really don't want to feel bad for him but.."

‘Move matthias,” she thought desperately 

Genya sighed, It was painfully clear how much Nina cared about the boy.

The creatures body stilled.

"Mother of Saints." Adrik breathed out unsteadily, "He just killed three wolves." 

"Oh my...." Genya trailed off, "He killed three wolves but didn't kill Nina."

"That is the bare minimum to be fair." Alina said, "but for a druskelle that's pretty good!" she flailed her arms.

"Sorry are we brushing past the fact he singlehandedly killed three wolves." Adrik gaped. "Three wolved! With his bare hands!"

"You almost sound impressed." Nikolai smirked. Adrik rolled his eyes.

Tears streaked the dirt on Matthias’ face.

The room was quiet as they all had a moment to think about the boy.

This is what Hellgate had done to him. And it was her fault.

"If she put him in Hellgate, why does she feel bad?" David asked looking perplexed.

“I had a question,” said Kaz. Beneath her cape, Nina lifted her hands, sensing the flow of blood in the guard’s veins, the tissue of his lung, “About your mother and whether the rumours are true.”

The room erupted into laughter, even Zoya had a smirk playing on her lips.

"What an odd little boy." Alina giggled.

She rolled her eyes, then lifted her hands, concentrating. With a sharp slice of her right hand over her left, she snapped Muzzens’ ribs.

Her teachers were silent. Her powers weren't meant to be used like that. Of course her powers were her weapons but they were only meant to be used like that in a battle, not so casually. It felt like a grotesque misuse of her power.

"I forgot that she's technically a criminal." Genya laughed humourlessly

She let her hands travel over the bruised line on his jaw, resisting the urge to linger there.

"Oh Nina." Genya sighed softly. She forced herself to look at it from Nina's point of view, and accepted how hard this must be for her. To love someone she couldn't be with.

Zoya scowled for the fourth time. Genya glared at her, "What?" 

"She clearly cares about the boy immensely - I don't know if I've seen her care for something more than this in a while- if you won't have empathy for him at least have some for her." 

Zoya was silent as she thought for a moment. Everyone in the room sat still, waiting for a response. The general simply nodded and continued.

A lump rose in her throat, and she felt the ache of tears threatening. She pressed a kiss into his temple. 

"So, just checking, we're all equally conflicted right now?" Nikolai chuckled nervously, everyone in the room hummed in agreement.

"She's infatuated with him." Alina murmured to Mal.

She knew that Kaz and the others were watching 

"She's so in love with him." Nadia said, softly, there was a bittersweet tone in her voice.

“Nina?” His voice was raw but as lovely as she remembered.

The silence in the room was loud as the unwanted anticipation was growing.

His knuckles brushed her cheek; his rough hand cupped her face tentatively.

"Is he in love with her?" Nadia asked her head tilted to the side, inquisitively.

"Him being in love with her is more preposterous than her being in love with him." Zoya said simply.

Then his hands closed around her throat.

The room was once again silent, this time out of pure unadulterated shock. Mouths wide open, eyes the sizes of dinner plates.

"We really shouldn't be surprised." Nikolai muttered under his breathe

"I'll fucking kill him." Adrik hissed, although Zoya was practically on fire, seething from rage.

"Someone take the book." Zoya held it infront of her waitjng for someone to take it, as if she'd tear is apart if no one took is in the next few seconds "It's his chapter next." 

No one moved from their seats, until Genya quietly leaned forward, gently taking to book and opening it in her lap.

Chapter Seven: Matthias

Matthias was dreaming again. Dreaming of her.

Chapter Text

Chapter Seven: Matthias

Matthias was dreaming again. Dreaming of her.

Zoya scowled and rolled her eyes, "Saints." 

"Zoya.." Genya warned, with a small smile playing at her mouth. Such reaction was expected from Zoya at this point but Genya was determined to remain as empathetic as possible.

"Shall we take a shot every time Zoya scowls this chapter?" Alina smiled brightly, mischief lit up behind her eyes.

Nikolai laughed boisterously, "Our livers would shut down within five pages." Zoya looked at the king with a look that could kill. 

"Forgive me for finding this situation absolutely ludicrous." 

"Well we've got about four hundred pages of this, so it'd be best if you get over it soon." Tamar smirked, already feeling an affinity towards the weird relationship between Nina and the Fjerdan boy. Beside her wife, Adrik grimaced, rolling his head back to look at the ceiling, probably asking the Saints to forgive him for whatever landed him trapped in the room, having to listen to this 'story'.  Zoya stood up and headed towards the small bar in the room, where Nikolai was situated, and poured herself a drink. Nikolai chuckled to himself, looking down suddenly finding his shoes very interesting as Zoya poured the Kvas to the brink of her glass. 

In the good dreams, he slammed her to the ground and throttled her, watching the life drain from her eyes, heart full of vengeance- finally, finally.

"How Fjerdan of him!" Nadia exclaimed scornfully.

Zoya, who was no sat back down, took a large swig of her drink. 

"No one does murderous tendencies quite like the Fjerdans." Nikolai said humourlessly, scratching the back of his head uncomfortably. 

In the bad dream, he kissed her.

"Oh." Genya breathed out gently, completely caught off guard.

"Bad dreams', okay." Nikolai smirked a little, before he let himself think. He thought about Nina Zenik, and the Fjerdan, and their situation and circumstance that he knew very little about. He couldn't help feel bad for the boy but the feeling made him feel worse. Everyone knew what they did. What they would do to everyone in this room given the chance - what they would do to his friends. But still. The Druskelle was just a boy. A boy doing what he was told to do, doing what he thought was right. Nikolai thought of the Saints. He thought of Djel and his silly trees and wolves. "No one does religious trauma quite like the Fjerdans."

Saints he loved it when he quoted himself.

"Sure the bad dreams, I believe you." Alina rolled her eyes. Zoya took another swig of her Kvas.

And he felt that if he could just hold her a little longer, every wound, every hurt, every bad thing would melt away.

The room was quiet. A roomful of people just thinking. Genya broke the fragile silence with deep sigh, her deep auburn brows knitted.

"Are you okay?" Alina put her hand on the tailor's knee.

"Yes," Genya chuckled quietly, "It's just bizarre, isn't it?" 

Sometimes she pleaded for mercy. Sometimes there were other things she begged for.

Adrik chocked on the air in his lungs. Almost every mouth in the room was agape with shock. Nadia let a giggle escape her and Tamar turned to face her, her mouth still wide enough to catch flies. Genya raised a scarred hand to cover her mouth and the small shocked smile that was growing on her face. Alina laughed, clearly accidently as she quickly clasped two hands over her mouth. David scratched the back of his head looking away from the group. He couldn't figure out who this was embarrassing for: Nina, the Fjerdan or them.

Zoya quickly cleared her throat, "It didn't happen. It was a dream that none of us, even him, wanted to happen so can we please continue." Genya let out a high pitched hum of agreement and resumed reading.

She had the softest skin. He had laughed at her for it once. 

"Ignoring the implications of that- who knew he could laugh!" Alina grinned, still slightly in shock.

"I do not want to ignore the implications of that." Adrik looked angry enough to take down a whole Fjerdan army.

"I think you should ignore the implications of that." Nikolai raised his eyebrows, Adrik and Zoya scowled at him.

He'd mocked the lushness of her body, ashamed of his own response to her.

Adrik and Zoya looked as if they were on the edge of quite literally exploding out of anger. Tamar had to cover her whole face to stop herself from giggling like a child.

He heard a click, and a gravelly voice said, “Hands of her, Helvar.”

"Thank the Saints, I was worried no one was going to help." Genya murmured. 

“Go ahead, shoot me.”

"Back at it again with the whole 'shoot me' thing. It's getting out of hand." Alina fell back into Mal with a dramatic huff, who rolled his eyes affectionately.

Traitor, witch, abomination. All those words came to him, but others crowded in too: beautiful, charmed one, roed fetla.

Zoya scowled, (Nikolai coincidentally took a shot at the same time) everyone else, bar Adrik, looked conflicted. Confusion from why he had anything but homicidal thoughts about her, to questioning if it was bad to be already rooting for him to get a grip and admit his feelings to himself. 

Said the strange pale boy.

Alina squawked with laughter. 

He refused to look in her direction. If he did, he’d loose all sense of reality. He was barely hanging on as it was.

Once again Zoya scowled. (Nikolai took another shot) 

"I can't believe Nina managed to charm a Fjerdan practically to insanity." Nadia laughed.

Adrik grinned, "I can. She's a fucking menace." 

The little bronze girl.

"The little bronze girl?" Zoya raised an incredulous eyebrow with a small smirk.

An elephant charged.

"I pray for the poor sod who had to fight an elephant." Tamar cackled, she didn't feel much sympathy for the criminals whoever fought the elephant probably deserved a painful, crushing death.

‘You’ve never seen a fighter survive until now,’ he corrected himself, ‘the bronze girl’s daggers merit watching’

"She's the first one of them he respects." Alina noted, "Me too honestly."

“Thank you, Jesper” Nina said. “You’re welcome, gorgeous. See, Kaz? That’s how the civilised folk do it.”

Genya smiled, that boy sounded sweet. He reminded her of Nikolai a little bit.

She stepped aside as if she;d known he was coming, languidly hooking her foot behind his ankle.

"Yes!" Alina shouted as if she were watching a horse race and her horse won. "Inej Ghafa!" 

“Put him under, Nina.” commanded Kaz

“Don’t,” Matthias protested, panic surging through him.

"It is sad though." Tolya said.

"What is?" Mal asked.

"That they fear us so much. Obviously he has his... own issues with Nina regardless of her being grisha, but he's only been angry. It's sad that he's scared. Scared of her power- our power."

“Stay away from me, witch.” Matthias growled at Nina.

She gave a tight nod, “With pleasure.” 

"Witch." Zoya grimaced, distaste written all over her features.

"Nina's trying to hate him as if she didn't just cry over him." Adrik muttered and rolled his eyes, although the tone wasn't clear so no one said anything.

"That's how she should be acting." Zoya scowled, her posture rigid.

The pale freakish boy.

Alina (and Zoya, despite herself) chuckled to herself.

Matthias knew monsters, and one glance at Kaz Brekker had told him this was a creature who had spent too much time in the dark.

"Saints he's only seventeen." Nadia breathed out.

"To be fair, Brekker have you seen the state Brekker is in. He's a creepy little mastermind I wouldn't out it past him." Nikolai laughed slightly, "Besides the rumours about his gloves alone have had to come from somewhere." Nikolai noticed glances at his own gloves as he said that.

But he trusted his gut. Or he had until Nina.

"Wretched girl." Zoya muttered and although she sounded utterly fed up, everyone saw the small smile on her face. "You almost sound proud Zoya." Genya raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not proud that she's managed to personally piss of a Druskelle that is going to be in close proximity to her." The smile fell from Zoya's lips however the glint in her eyes was still there.

"If anyone was going to destroy a Druskelle's life in the most blasphemous way possible, it would be Nina Zenik." Genya smiled wickedly, with some sense of pride for the weird 'accomplishment'.

That had been one of the worst effects of her betrayal, the way he’d been forced to second guess himself.

"Betrayal?" Tolya raised his eyebrows, now very invested in the drama. "

That means they definitely trusted each other a lot if she could betray him." Nikolai said taking a small sip of his drink to hide the smirk he was hiding from Zoya.

"Oh please," Genya laughed, when all eyes turned to her, bewildered. "What? It's obvious they had some sort of a relationship!" 

"I think for Zoya's sake we're ignoring that." Alina laughed, looking at the displeasure plastered on Zoya's face, who, once again, scowled.

‘Again,’ Matthias corrected himself. ‘I’d be committing treason again.’

Bewildered looks went around the room, what had Nina and the Fjredan gotten up to.

“You can’t break into the Ice Court at all.”

"Exactly." David nodded.

"I hate to break it to you, my love, but I think they do given what we were told." Genya smiled softly at her husband.

"But it's not possible-"

"Probable." Nikolai coughed.

"I will kill you." Zoya glared daggers into the king so hard it might have been considered treason.

“Guilty of what?” Nina asked softly.

“Crime against the people.” Which people?”

He could hear the barely leashed anger in her voice.

"Good girl." whispered Genya, as she smiled, nodding her head whilst she read, an intense feeling of pride washed over her similar to the one she felt whenever she taught Nina something. Saints she missed the girls fiery passion. 

It shamed Matthias to say the words, but he spoke them anyway, “If you let me kill Nina Zenik.”

"Then don't say them!" Alina nearly screamed, "Saints!"

“It seems Nina Zenik has recanted her statements. She will face charged of perjury.”

"Saints Nina!" Zoya groaned. Adrik rolled his eyes again, anger and confusion practically radiating from him.

"She's doing the noble thing-" Tolya tried to say carefully.

"-For a Fjerdan!" Zoya shouted, sounding more hurt and betrayed than angry, "A Druskelle!"

Genya looked at the blue eyes woman softly, "It's okay Zoya-" 

"No it's not! she abandoned us- the Second Army for a Druskelle!"  "I know it's infuriating but we still don't know the whole story." Zoya looked at Genya, a war waging behind her flaming eyes, before she exhaled slowly and gesturing for Genya to continue.

Now he did look at her: he couldn’t stop himself.

'He's in love.' Genya thought to herself wistfully, trying to hide the small smile that threatened to show.

He’d left bruises on her graceful throat. He told himself to be glad of it.

"Bastard." Adrik ground out, Nadia slowly leant forward taking his previously banished glass from the table and handing it to him.

The others just watched him with concern “Just how crazy is he?” said Jesper, fingers drumming on the pearl handles of him revolvers.

Nikolai whistled and nodded at the mention of the revolvers.

"Fucking mental." Zoya hissed at the same time.

Brekker winked at Nina, and Matthias wanted to knock his teeth in.

"Do it, we'd all benefit." Alina whispered making Mal bark with laughter 

“And this is Wylan, best demolitions expert in the barrel.”

"New name from the list." Mal noted, they'd now been introduced to all the characters from the list.

“Of course he’s new, he looks about twelve.” Retorted Matthias.

They all laughed despite themselves.

In fact, at eighteen, Matthias suspected he was the oldest of the bunch.

Tamar exhaled loudly, "It's annoying when they're young."

"Why because he's so young that what he's doing is the only thing he's every known or because they're all so young in this fucked up place?" Tolya asked his twin.

Tamar let herself think for a moment before answering, "Both."

“Meet Wylan Van Eck, “ Said Kaz Brekker, as the boy’s cheeks flooded crimson. “Jan Van Eck’s son and our guarantee on thirty million kruge.”

"That's annoyingly smart." Alina frowned. "Poor Wylan, bless him." Nadia laughed softly.

"It's Jesper next who wants to take this one?" Genya asked looking around the group, the book now closed with only her thumb keeping her from loosing the page.

"I will. Saints knows Tolya will read it like poetry." Tamar took the book from Genya whilst grinning at her brother who rolled his eyes playfully.

Chapter Eight: Jesper

Jesper stared at Wylan. "Of course you're a councilman's kid." He burst out laughing. "That explains everything."

Chapter Text

Chapter Eight: Jesper

Jesper tried to ignore the pang of jealousy he felt at that.

"Did he now..." Nadia said slyly smirking. Tamar rolled her eyes, but then she also raised an eyebrow at the statement, considering, despite only being eight chapters in, Kaz and Inej clearly had something going on. She felt a pang of sympathy for Jesper.

“Don’t I have some say in this?” complained Wylan, “I’m standing right here.”

"Awh, bless him." Genya smiled endearingly.

“Kaz always has his reasons.” Murmered Inej. 

"You would know that wouldn't you, Inej." Alina grinned.

“Why did you move out of your father’s house” Jesper asked
“It was time.” Wylan said tightly.

Nikolai laughed loudly at this, Zoya looked at him, perplexed. "Please, that's such bullshit."

"Okay, then what happened Nikolai?" Zoya challenged, not that she was wrong in the assumption that he didn't know but he does love a challenge. 

He shrugged, "No one says 'it was time' tightly to moving out of your richer than rich father's house at the age of 16." 

David bobbed his head from side to side, in consideration, "He makes a valid point." 

Nikolai pointed at David in triumph, whereas Zoya just rolled her eyes.

The Fjerdan scowled furiously, and Wylan looked a little ill.

"Just kick him in the shins, Wylan." Tamar mumbled, Nadia snorted.

Jesper noted the way Matthias’ shoulders bunched everytime Nina talked. He didn’t know what history they were chewing on, but they’d probably kill each other before they got to Fjerda.

"I hope Nina tears him apart." Zoya mumbled into her drink as she took a swig.

"If Nina wanted to, she very easily could tear him apart." Tolya smirked, a weird sense of pride shone through in his tone.

Jesper could imagine his father saying, ‘land yourself in a pile of shit twice as big’ Saints he missed him. 

Genya smiled softly, pitying the boy, as did many in the room. Tolya sighed, and closed his eyes as if he were ending a quick, silent, and unnoticed prayer to his father. Tamar nodded her head gently, understanding his pain. Tamar didn't think about her father as much as she used to, maybe she just had less to dwell on now, and had more than her twin to keep her going. But in small moments she remembered her father and remembered her father's laugh and his voice and his words. Of him carrying her after a long day and humming tavern songs gently making her sleepy. Of him encouraging her to fight against adversity and to fight for her dreams. Of him just being there, and existing with her and Tolya. Saints, she missed him.

Finally the Fjerdan shut his eyes, took a deep breath and said:

Mal snorted, "Didn't take long for him to cave." 

"Surprising for a Druskelle." Zoya rolled her eyes.

“It’s where they keep the most dangerous criminals. Assassins, terrorists-”
“Grisha?” Nina asked.
“Exactly.” He replied grimly

"Bastard." Zoya practically growled.

"Nina already knew that, she's challenging him." Adrik scoffed, unsure whether to be annoyed at her sheer determination to be killed by the Fjerdan, or her having the pure nerve to get on his nerves.

“You guys are going to make this really fun aren’t you?” asked Jesper. “Usually people don’t start hating each other until a week into the job, but you two have a head start.”

A few laughed at this. Zoya was not one of them, neither was Adrik.

They cast him twin glare, and Jesper beamed back at them.

"Twin glares, twin flames, twin souls." Tolya mumbled very quietly, but not quiet enough.

"What was that?" Zoya tilted her chin up to tall man, Nikolai snickered, sending a sorry look his way.

"Nothing, just something about twin glares and souls and what not." 

"You were calling them twin souls and flames, my dear brother." Tamar grinned, mischief playing behind her eyes. Tolya looked at her blankly.

"Not them specifically, I was just acknowledging that.. there was a connection is all."

"Ah, well you know what they say about twin flames," Nikolai grinned lazily at Zoya, waiting for the fire in her eyes to be set alight, although he was certain there was always something burning in those blue eyes of hers, "They are two souls that are always meant to be together and-"

"Don't even-" Zoya glared at him, the fire he was so desperate for was present.

"-and, the thing about them, is that nothing can keep them apart, not even different universes... never mind feuding countries." His grin got wider for the last part, knowing it would almost send her over the edge,

"Nikolai Lanstov I swear to all Saints-" She growled, before Tamar cut her off by continuing reading.

Matthias smiled. Actually, it was less a smile than a baring of teeth. ‘He learned that grin at Hellgate.’ thought Jesper.

"He's going to be delightful isn't he." Nikolai deadpanned.

"I do feel a little bad for him, though." Genya said, earning some interesting looks, "Oh come on! He's only eighteen and he's been through hell."

"Good, he deserved it." Zoya sat back.

Nikolai winced, "I wouldn't put it like that, but it is a little hard to be sympathetic for him.. you know, considering the Druskelle thing."

"And, he kidnapped, and tried to kill Nina." Adrik pointed out.

"I know, and do not get me wrong, if I ever run in to him, I will hit him so hard that he'll be knocked out for days, but we don't even know why he was in prison in the first place, we don't know anything, really."

Nina batted her glossy eyelashes at him, “You wouldn’t know a good time if it sidled up to you and stuck a lollipop into your mouth.”

Zoya did chuckle at that though. 

“Scheming face,” Jesper whispered to Inej.
She nodded, “Definitely.”

"I'd love to see this scheming face in action." Nikolai mused, "Trip to Ketterdam anyone?"

"Oh absolutely!" Genya replied, sarcastically.

“Who’s Mark?” Wylan asked.

The room of government and military officials, a saint and a blade, erupted into laughter at the boy. 

Wylan drew himself up. “I may not have your… education, but I’m sure I know plenty of words that you don’t”
“Also the proper way to fold a napkin, and dance a minuet. Oh and you can play the flute. Marketable skills, merchling. Marketable skills.”

"Pft, Merchling." Nadia giggled. Tamar smiled at the sound of her.

“No one dances the minuet anymore.” grumbled Wylan. 

A scoff came from the king, "For good reason, it is vile."

Kaz leaned back. “What’s the easiest way to steal a man’s wallet?”
“Knife to the throat?” asked Inej.
“Gun to the back?” said Jesper.
“Poison in his cup?” suggested Nina.
“You’re all horrible.” said Matthias.

Zoya huffed and folded her arms over her chest, clearly upset that she agreed with the Druskelle. Genya, in stark contrast, smiled sweetly at the teenagers interacting with each other without committing crimes.

“Moose is probably your native tongue.” mumbled Wylan.

"You tell him, Wylan!" Alina cheered, whilst laughing at his retort.

“We enter as we are,” Kaz said. “As criminals. The prison is our front door.”

"Sounds pretty fucking stupid to me." Tamar said, thinking out loud.

"Let's just hope it works and they don't all get killed." Adrik said, shockingly optimistic, if not in a pessimistic manner.

Nina rubbed her hands over her arms, “I don’t want to be locked up in a Fjerdan cell.”

Everyone grimaced at the thought.

“Sesh-uyeh,” Wylan repeated, trying the syllables clumsily on his tongue. “What does it mean?”

Nina examined a spot on the floor and said, “Heartsick.”

Tamar grinned, nodding her head, "Nice to see she's keeping up with her languages."

"She was always one of the best at languages." Genya said fondly.

"No she was the best and she wouldn't let anyone forget it." Adrik rolled his eyes.

"It was one of the reasons she had when she begged me to let her go on that Wandering Isle mission," Zoya said softly, "That she spoke the best Kaelish out of anyone in the Little Palace." 

"Was she?" Mal asked.

"Unfortunately, yes, if she wasn't then I wouldn't have caved and let her go, and she wouldn't be in this fucking book." 

"Zoya, it's not your fault, she made her own choices." Genya said.

"But she was my responsibility." She said quietly.

Inej traced her fingers over the rough sketch Wylan had produced, a series of embedded circles. “It really does look like the rings of a tree.” she said.
“No,” said Kaz. “It looks like a target.”

"Little fucking creep, he is." Alina muttered.

"As true as that is, it's his chapter next." Tamar smiled expectantly at Nikolai as she passed him the book.

"Lucky you guys, getting to hear the sound of my voice for a whole chapter." 

"Yes, lucky us." Mal sighed, exasperatedly, Nikolai winked at him. 

Chapter Nine: Kaz

"We're done here," Kaz told the others.

Chapter Text

Chapter Nine: Kaz

Keeping Wylan Van Eck around meant he could at least make sure they got their reward

"I hate him so much!" Alina huffed, although everyone doubted the truth behind her statement, "He's so smart but in the worst way."

He wasn’t much younger than Kaz, but somehow he looked like a child

"Probably because he hasn't been in a gang and living in the slums of Ketterdam." Genya muttered, "He probably looks like he is thirty with all this nonsense."

Alina snickered.

“Keep Wylan out of trouble,” he told Jesper as he dismissed them.

“Why me?”

“You’re unlucky enough to be in my line of sight, and I don’t want any sudden reconciliations between father and son before we set sail.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.” said Wylan.

Nikolai raised an eyebrow at the last comment, while Nadia and Tamar were giggling to each other.

"What?" Zoya said monotonously to the point in which it didn't sound like a question.

"Nothing it's just-" Tamar said, a grin on her face, "It's nothing don't worry about it." Nadia giggled again.

Zoya looked at the pair, before looking at Nikolai as a gesture to continue reading.

“I worry about everything, merchling. That’s why I’m still alive. And you can keep an eye on Jesper, too.”

"Ha!" Tamar laughed, more squawked, loudly.

He saw a shadow pass over Inej’s face. She wouldn’t like being without her knives anymore than he liked being without his cane.

Everyone looked quite sad, just thinking about the events that had to have led to a sixteen year old girl relying on her knives as though they were a literal crutch.

Her voice was disinterested, but the performance was only for Helvar. They’d all seen her tears at Hellgate.

Zoya rolled her eyes (somehow) loudly.

"Oh come on, Zoya! It's not that bad at least she's pretending to hate him." Tamar teased. 

"It would be better if she actually hated him. This is insane! Nina Zenik of all people, crying over a Druskelle!" Zoya said angrily.

"Well to be fair, she became obsessed with learning about them and the whole of Fjerda so she wouldn't be scared of them. Maybe it worked." Genya considered.

Though he knew asking Jesper to spend the night in a gambling den without placing a bet was a particular kind of cruelty.

"Is it safe to assume Jesper has issues with gambling?" David asked.

"Yes, probably." Genya answered him with a wince, "He can't be over eighteen either."

"If he does, then it is incredibly cruel." Alina muttered.

"It's better him staying there though, so he cannot accidentally spread information about the job." Zoya said, Nikolai looked at her questioningly, "What?"

"Why do you care whether he spreads information?" He grinned.

"I don't," She said tightly, "However, if it were me in this situation, that would be my thought process."

"Are you saying you have the same thought process as Kaz Brekker?" Alina teased, leaning forward, a grin appearing on her face as well. Zoya stared at the Sun Summoner blankly, as if she were having a conversation with herself.

"I am not saying anything, keep reading."

"Yes ma'am." Nikolai snickered.

“Can you behave?” Kaz asked the Fjerdan.

His eyes looked murder, but he nodded.

A few people laughed at the absurdity of the situation.

"How humiliating for him." Zoya smirked slyly.

"So we're glossing over the murder in his eyes part?" Adrik muttered.

“What did I tell you?” Jesper said cheerfully as he headed through the door, “Useless.”

"Completely uncalled for." Alina mumbled

"Rude." Mal said at the same time.

Inej cast Kaz a warning glance. Kaz ignored it. She didn’t think he could handle a lump of country muscle like Matthias Helvar?

"I think you should listen to Inej." Alina whispered as if she didn't want Kaz to hear her advice.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Matthias lunged for him.

Nikolai nodded, "Seems about right." 

"We all saw that coming, right?" Alina looked around, they all responded with mumbles and nods.

"Oh absolutely." Genya leaned back into the cushions behind her.

The sensation of skin on skin set off a riot of revulsion in Kaz’s head, but because he’d been anticipating the attack, he managed to control the sickness that overcame him.

Confused looks were shared around the room.

"Is that the reason for the gloves?" Tolya asked no one in particular.

"Maybe." considered his twin.

The big Fjerdan collapsed.

"Fucking hell." Adrik breathed out.

"I hate to say that maybe Inej was wrong." Alina looked dumbfounded, whereas Zoya looked incredibly pleased.

“Move again and I’ll smash your jaw so badly you’ll be drinking your meals for the rest of your life.”

Zoya sniggered to herself, realising she liked Kaz more than she thought she did.

“Demjin.” muttered Helvar.

"I agree." Alina said proudly.

Kaz rose, snatched his new hat from his desk where he’d left it, and gave the Fjerdan one last kick.

"And did he ever said thank you for the hat?" Alina questioned rhetorically, "Bastard."

"Is that all?" Zoya asked Nikolai.

"Indeed it is my dearest darlingest general," Zoya rolled her eyes, "It's Inej next."

"Thank the Saints." Alina smiled widely, taking the book.

Chapter Ten: Inej

Over the next day, Inej saw Kaz begin to move the pieces of his scheme into position.

Chapter Text

Chapter Ten: Inej

“But it hasn’t been built to keep us out.”

"I can appreciate his confidence." Nikolai said genuinely.

"It's foolishness and arrogance, Nikolai." Zoya cringed slightly at the inevitability of such idiocy. 

"We'll see." The king winked at his general, who rolled her eyes.

“Matthias isn’t the only irreplaceable member of this crew, Kaz. You need me.”

Alina smirked and nodded her head enthusiastically as if she were watching a sports game and her team was winning,

"Correct me if I am wrong," David spoke, a thoughtful look on his face (a common occurrence for the durast) "But aren't most of them irreplaceable?"

"I suppose so, yes." Genya pondered, looking at her husband.

"Yes, because no one has the same skills as Inej, Matthias and Wylan know the Ice Court, and Kaz needs Wylan for insurance. And Kaz seems to trust Jesper greatly, which mind you is not a skill, but Brekker doesn't seem like the trusting type. Also Nina is corporalki." Alina said nodding along to her words.

"Nina is also fluent in Fjerdan, and I can't imagine many Kerch gang members speak that atrocious language." Zoya added.

"Do you not speak Fjerdan?" Alina cocked her head.

"I do. Not fluently though, I think I was too spiteful to properly want to learn it."

"I only know 'tig'" Mal frowned, although didn't seem to upset over it.

"G'wan Oretsev," Nikolai grinned, "What does it mean?" He tested.

"Haven't a fucking clue." Nikolai laughed.

“Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday you'll meet a boy who will learn your favourite flower, your favourite song, your favourite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won't matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.”

Alina smiled widely up at Mal, who leant down to whisper in her ear, "Blue irises." 

She laughed slightly, "Saints forbid white irises."

Nikolai looked at Zoya, did he know he favourite flower? he knew she liked flowers, he had seen her taking flower seeds out of the palace at night and they were all different every single time. Maybe her favourite was cornflowers. They were blue like her eyes but far too common. Zoya Nazyalensky was not common, she was not normal or ordinary, so maybe it wasn't cornflowers she liked the most.

But tonight, her heart was pounding, and she could hear the roar of blood in her ears as the gilded facade came into view.

"Oh, Inej." Genya sighed, frowning, her brows furrowed sympathetically.

If you had a taste for a Shu girl, a Fjerdan giant, a red head from the Wandering Isle, a dark skinned Zemeni, the Menagerie was your destination. 

Everyone looked ill, Genya shuddered.

And the Menagerie always stocked a Suli girl

"That's sick." Nadia spat.

Zoya's spine straightened her face unreadable, "We'll get it shut down." all eyes turned to her.

"I thought you said we don't have jurisdiction." Genya said, looking confused.

"We don't-" Nikolai started looking equally confused, he looked at Zoya hoping he was conveying some sort of warning look before he was cut off.

"I don't care. We'll find a way." And that was that. She had decided.

Whatever was facing her in Fjerda, she could face it.

"Yes! You can!" Alina smiled proudly.

“Hello, little lynx.”

They all grimaced. 

"Kill yourself." Alina muttered as if she were trying to speak directly into the book.

“Lynx is your only name.”

Genya looked like she was going to march herself over to Ketterdam and give her a piece of her mind.

“I can bide my time, little lynx. You’ll wear my silks again, I promise.”

Zoya gripped the arm of the couch with all her strength, and yet the candle lit beside her still flickered. "I'll kill her."

The slender bone-handled blade she’d named Sankta Alina on the left

Alina gasped, and placed a hand on her heart, her eyes becoming a little glassy, "It is an honour to have been chosen to protect you, I only wish I could've been there to do so." she whispered so quietly, only Mal heard her, who smiled at her softly.

There was a knife in his abdomen and his eyes were glassy.

"Shit." Adrik swore.

"For Saints sake." Nadia hissed.

But it was too late. The schooner exploded, knocking Inej off her feet and showering the docks in flames.

No one spoke.

"What?" Genya gapped, "Where are they all, Where's Nina?"

"I- Maybe she- they weren't there yet." Zoya tried to reason.

"But Inej just said-"

"It's okay. The book hasn't ended remember." Nikolai said, despite the anxiety he was feeling was very real.

Tamar nodded, "and we won't find out if we don't carry on reading."

"Okay," Genya breathed, trying to collect herself, "Who is reading next."

"It is Jesper next so that's Tamar right?" Alina said, looking at the axe wielding heartrender, who grinned.

"Indeed it is!"

Chapter Eleven: Jesper

Jesper always felt better when people were shooting at him.