Six of Crows Duology Fanfiction: Ketterdam's Secret

Chapter 16:

Inej with a mug of tea approached Zoya the next day. 

"Miss Nazyalensky, would you care for a cup of tea?" 

Zoya nodded warily. She and Brekker had many disputes and Inej and Brekker seemed especially close. 

But even though Brekker was a rat, the Suli girl was better than him in many ways. 

Inej passed Zoya a mug of tea. 

"Has Nina shown you the waffles?" 

"She couldn't stop ranting about them. I think we are going in an hour or two? Are you coming?" Zoya laughed as she recalled Nina ranting about waffles as if it was her lost love. 

Inej shook her head. "I would love to, but Kaz and I have a job planned. Actually, thats why I'm here to take to you about. " 

Ah, this was the actual reason. Zoya didn't blame Inej. 

Zoya nodded. "Go ahead. "

"As you know, Kaz plans to give Pekka Rollins and Van Eck a scare out of their bones. Actually, Kaz should be talking to Nikolai right now. We need you to help act a part. Think of it as a drama, a play. We all have our part. "
Inej wrinkled her brow, this was the hardest part. 

"We need you to help. "
"Well, you've got to be more specific than that. "

Inej nodded. "Kaz doesn't like bits of his plans floating around. We know that Nikolai can turn into something horrifying. Why else the sleeping drops and the gloves and scars? The rumors made that true. Honestly I don't see how he can survive on that sleepin-"

Zoya cut her of, "Does anyone know of this?" she snarled. 

Inej shook her head. "Just Kaz and I. We won't tell, but Kaz wants to use it for the plan. "

"How did you find out? If you know this, you could be executed. "
"I repeat, we have no intnetion of disclosing this to the public. Kaz may be as tricky and sly as a fox, but his word is stone. You have our word. "

"I want insurance. "
"You'll get your country out of most debt if this goes well. "
"Why is Brekker doing this job, really? I know its not out of the goodness of his heart. "

Zoya scowled. She hated being trapped in a situation. 

"Well?" she demanded. 

Inej knew that she had gotten what she wanted. 

"You can ask Kaz yourself. "

"Well, what do I have to during this job?" Zoya would not have given up this easily, she would have been thrown in a rage, but this was Nikolai's secret at large. And Ravaka's. 

Inej's lips tilted up a bit:" For the most part, just keep Pekka Rollins and Van Eck suspended in air. And keep Nikolai under control. "
"What do you mean keep him under control? " But Inej would not answer more. 

"He's talking to Nikolai. So you agree with the plan then?"
"I don't even know all the details. Do I look like I have a choice?" 

"We just want your word. Nothing will go wrong. "
"Oh, I can think of hundreds of things that can go wrong. "
"Tell that to Kaz. So you'll do it?" 
Zoya reluctantly nodded. Inej was just doing her job. She'd rant to Kaz later. And she'd have to talk to Nikolai.