The Seventh Crow

Part 16

I stand at the aft of the ship. Fjerda was slowly making its way into the distance. I finally had my freedom. I won't have to look at those four walls every night. Waiting for death to take me.

I can meet Alev in Ravka. 

Alev. I know he can take care of himself, but why am I feeling like I've messed everything up. It's always me. The day I was arrested. Escaping the Ice Court. Everything. I can only hope he made it to Ravka. Found a pretty woman to help forget about me.

You don't believe that, my thoughts laugh at me. 

If he found a way to get a job in the Ice Court, he isn't going to forget about me so easily.

Strange to see how far someone has come. From only working together to actually caring about the person's well being.

"The job is simple," Alev says. "Just get them over while we create a distraction. Which won't be necessary since you'll do it perfectly the first time." He folds his arms across his chest. His face looked at me with a hint of annoyance.

"Do you hate me, Alev?"

"What gave that away?"

"Is it because I came in and three days later took your place?"

"It was two and a half days, thank you very much." He shakes his head and heads towards the door. 

It's funny to see him so threatened by a fourteen year old girl. For someone who had a higher rank in the organization and is only two years older than me, he doesn't take well to competition.

I open the door and follow him out. His brown hair glistened with the rain. I notice he stiffens when I slide next to him.

"Aren't we working this together?" I ask.

"Not if I can help it."

"Barge isn't going to be pleased with that. Alev we are supposed to be working together, if we don’t then-"

"Then what? I know the risks and I still do it. Do you know the risks?"

"Of course I do! I'm not just here for a moment, Alev, whatever you may think. These people have done nothing wrong and shouldn't be prosecuted."

"Then at least we can agree on one thing." He takes off. From his whole demeanor, I gather that I should leave him alone for a little while. 

Shaking my head, I turn to walk in the opposite direction.

Always the stubborn one. More stubborn than I am. And here he is calling me the stubborn one? He really doesn't understand.

"Nox?" Matthias says behind me. I turn to see he has been standing next to me for a while. He looks concerned but I ignore it. Probably for Nina. It should be for Nina.

"Matthias?" I mimic his concern.

"What happened to you in the Ice Court? You changed."

"Doesn't prison do that to you?" I let out a forced laugh. He didn't think it was funny. 

I look at Matthias, he has also changed. Yet, here he is asking me why I changed? I haven't changed as much as he has. 

"What happened to you?" I snap. "Please tell me. What changed?"

Matthias looks for any hidden meaning in my words. "I was in prison."

"That's not what I meant." 

Matthias tries to hide a hurt expression but it still makes its way on his face. I don't even care. He has explaining to do. Something that is the truth and not some fabricated story to help set me at ease.

"Explain to me then," he said.

"Nina. She's a wej. You're a Drüskelle. A very loyal one at that. Picking favorites? Because last time we spoke you hated them with a passion."

"She saved my life, Nox."

"So, wej aren't demjins after all? Who tried to explain that to you? Who tried to explain that to you!" 

I felt everyone on the upper deck look over to us. I took a deep breath and looked up at the night sky. Slightly annoyed at Matthias. Not slightly, very annoyed.

"I was a Drüskelle," he whispers. "My oath is to Nina now."

"You should probably go deal with her. I'm sure the jurda parem will wear off soon."

Matthias opens his mouth to say something else but decides against it at the last second. He turns to leave and my heart sinks. 

I didn't think he would actually leave. I don't want him to leave. The same feeling of learning of his supposed death enters my stomach.

"Matthias," I hurried. Spinning around I see him stop short. He turns to face me. He looks hurt and I helped cause that. It's not our fault for our upbringing. 

That we were dealt two different sides of the coin and ended up in the same place.

"I really am glad you're alive," I whisper to him. "After mother and father, I- It was difficult to live knowing that I outlived my older brother."

"I'm not going anywhere, Nox. I'll be with you until you take your last breath. Je trohem verret." He turns to leave, a smile replacing his sullen expression.

I will keep this oath. The same words he whispered to me the night mother and father died. Holding me under that stupid tree to protect me from the cold.

"I don't want to watch more people die," I whispered that fateful night.

"You never will. Not while I'm around."

"You can't be certain, Matthias."

"I will protect you, Nox. No one will hurt you or take you away. No more death."

"Promise?"

"Je trohem verret."

An oath he had no hand in breaking.