A Gamblers Luck | Jesper Fahey

Betrayal

Eliana pulled on the silks of the Zemeni fawn costume. The hips were a little loose, but other than that it fit fine. She walked over to where Nina and Inej were standing.

"Ready?" asked Nina.

"For certain death or enslavement?" laughed Eliana. "Not really, but I'll be fine."

"Good, because we need to leave," said Inej. She shifted uncomfortably in her purple silks. Tante Heleen was known for a lot of things, kindness was not one. Eliana wondered what Inej experienced at the hands of that monster. Obviously nothing good.

The guards shouted at them to hurry up. Nina casted a glance back towards the closet to make sure the girls they'd stolen the costumes from were out of sight. She opened the doors and they stepped out into the room. They were guided to a checkpoint where the guards were to inspect their papers.

Would Mila and the others be okay? Eliana shifted uncomfortably. She was leaving her with Kaz, she'd be fine.

The guard had let Nina and Eliana through with little trouble. He stopped Inej. Nina visibly paled under face powder. Inej gave them a nod to continue without her.

Great, an hour in and the plans already fucked up.

Eliana was starting to wonder how she had ever thought this job would go well. They were a group of the worst thieves and Barrel rats. Was it greed that had gotten them this far? Sheer luck? Or the fact no one would miss them when they inevitably failed?

"Why do such pretty ladies look so troubled?" asked a voice from behind them. Eliana and Nina turned around and saw Jarl Brum standing there, his arm carelessly swung over the stair railing and a glass of kvas in his hand.

He made for a very lively corpse.

"We're just a little cold," said Nina, batting her dark lashes.

"Perhaps a walk around the grounds would help?"

This cannot be that easy.

"That would be lovely sir, but we can't miss the party," said Eliana, casting a glance towards where Tante Heleen sat.

"Nonsense, I am head Druskelle, and I insist."

"As you wish, sir," Eliana replied, feigning an embarrassed expression.

Brum led them out of room and through the grounds of the Ice Court. As much as it pained her to admit, the Ice Court was quite beautiful. Probably cause it was made by tortured fabrikators, she thought grimly.

Brum led them around a white, marble monument of Djel towards the treasury. Why are we going to the treasury? It's one of the most secure places in the Court, guarded by druskelle, and has no windows or over the top designs.

Bo Yul-Bayur is in the treasury.

They walked up to the door and watched as Brum held up a chain with a circular disk on it. He pressed it onto a matching indentation on the door. The door opened, giving way to a room lined with cells. There was another door in the back leading to a hallway. It opened, a druskelle entered.

No, not a druskelle. Matthias.

"Welcome Nina Zenik, and Miss Valentina, to the Ice Court," said Brum, a wicked glint in his eyes. The girls tried to run but Matthias stepped in front of the door.

"Yes," he growled. "Welcome."