A Gamblers Luck | Jesper Fahey

Definitely Not Seasoning

It took three miserable days to get to the cliffs overlooking Djerholm. The wind was hitting Eliana's face like an invisible whip, and no matter how often she used her power to dry her clothes, the snow still seeped in. She felt like a swamp. Scratch that, swamps were warm. She felt like she was in an ice bath from hell. She would definitely rather feel like a swamp. As they neared Djerholm she could feel it getting warmer. She sighed with relief, her breath puffing out in great clouds. Upon entering the city she saw tons of tiny houses and businesses clustered together. They were all painted bright shades of red, blue, yellow, and pink. There were boats roaming around the harbor and people bustling around. It was the exact opposite of Ketterdams dark color pallet and questionable inhabitants. Eliana looked up towards the Ice Court. It stood upon a cliff overlooking the city. If everything went according to Kaz's plan, they would be walking away with Bo Yul-Bayur tomorrow. They walked through upper Djerholm until Kaz stopped them with a tap of his cane. 

"Here," he said, while looking towards a run-down tavern called the Gestinge. Eliana could smell the stench of garlic and fish wafting out of the building. 

"Here?" Eliana complained, while looking towards the run down building.

"Terrace," Kaz replied. Nina secured them a table on the near empty terrace. Eliana looked at the food that had arrived at their table. Herring cooked in rancid oil, stale bread, and butter flecked with 'spices' that looked more like mold. 

"This food looks gross," complained Nina. 

"We're here for the view not the food," replied Kaz. 

Before taking a bite of his buttered bread, Jesper said, "At least the butters seasoned." 

Eliana was about to say that the butter was in fact moldy, not seasoned, when Jesper spat out his food. 

"That is definitely not seasoning!" Gagged Jesper. A passing waiter gave him a dirty look. 

"I hope that doesn't make you sick. You still have to get through a high security prison," mused Nina. 

"Not if a waiter hears you and sabotages our plan," growled Kaz. He then passed around a backless book. Eliana took the book and looked towards the prison wagon nearing the Ice Court. After memorizing the times and schedule, they left the Gestinge. 

About an hour later, Eliana walked into the bakery the group now sat in. After the miserable excuse of a meal they had at the Gestinge, they had demanded Kaz provide them with something edible. Unlike the run-down tavern, the bakery smelled delicious. Eliana sat down and lifted a jelly filled pastry to her nose and inhaled the delectable scent strawberry jelly and pastry bread. 

"Correct me if I'm wrong," mused Jesper. "But I believe your supposed to eat pastries, not smell them." 

"I'm savoring it," replied Eliana, she took a bite and continued, "If we're going to die, I want to remember the taste of pastries as my last meal."

Jesper chuckled softly and said, "Well if I die, I want to remember your face right now." 

"Why right now? I looked much better when I helped steal that De'Kapple." 

"Because you have jelly all over your face." 

Eliana's cheeks reddened as she tried to lick away the jelly. Jesper burst out laughing. "You look like you're trying to catch a fly in your mouth." 

"You sure have a way with words Fahey," grumbled Eliana. 

"I'll get it," said Jesper, while raising brushing the jelly off with the pad of his thumb, lingering slightly over her lips. He drew his hand back and brushed it off on a napkin. 

"Awww, you guys are so cute," said Nina, her face glowing. Inej was hiding her smile in her napkin.

"Yes Nina dear, I am very cute," said Eliana with a wink. Kaz scoffed. She turned towards him, and with a raise of her eyebrow said, "Oh! I'm sorry, did the guy with a messed up haircut say something?" He ran a self conscious hand through his dark brown hair. 

"My haircut is fine," he retorted. 

"Whatever makes you sleep at night." 

"I don't think the demjn sleeps," said Matthias. 

"Enough joking around, we have stuff to do," said Kaz, while getting up from the table. And with that they left. Eliana started to think of all that could go wrong during tomorrows events. Jesper took her hand in his, and as if reading her mind said, "We're going to be okay." She started to reply when she heard a voice yelling, "Halt!" The voice sounded familiar, as if she heard it years ago. The group turned around slowly. She stared at the person that told them to stop. The Druskelle that killed her family stared right back at her.

Edit: I started a Kaz Brekker fanfic called "Queen of Crows" if anyone wants to read it! I'll still update this fanfic every few days though. Also, thank you guys for all the votes and comments, ily all sm!