INEFFABLE | kaz brekker

chapter fifteen

Once all the attention was on the Darkling and the Fold, the Crows quickly lifted a cargo hold, scrambling below deck. The volcra could be heard in the distance, and it sent a chill down Elham's spine.

Jesper was cleaning his revolvers, groaning. "This is a bad idea."

Kaz sounded calm, but Elham could feel the worry in his tone. "I think it's rather practical."

Jesper scoffed. "What? Why?"

"I don't see how we step off this boat without you pulling those guns. So, cleaning them is a good idea."

A screech was heard in the distance.

Jesper chuckled, motioning from his guns to the skiff around them. "Oh, I don't mean this. I mean this! We are in the worst place in the world on a ship full of people who want us dead, surrounded by monsters who want us in their gullets. I should have brought Milo."

Inej was glancing around towards the upper deck. "Who's Milo?"

"The goat!"

Elham rolled her eyes, chuckling. "Jesper, those guns, the goat, my powers, all of it doesn't matter, it'll do fuck all if the Darkling intends on using his powers against us. We get it, you miss Milo, and we're all scared without any comfort, but your constant need to list off the reasons we're in danger is no comfort to any of us. Do you need a hug or something?"

It was quiet for a minute. Jesper pondered for a moment, before standing and moving towards her. "Yeah, I do, actually. It's been a shit day."

Elham let out an actual laugh at that, wrapping her arms tight around his neck. She could feel his hands shaking against her back, and she squeezed him tighter. She put her hands on his shoulders, pushing him out and holding him at arm's length away from her.

"It has been a shitty day. But listen to me, we're gonna be fine, yeah? Have you seen how many times we've all been in a situation where we should have died? How many times have we saved each other's asses? We'll make it...well, at least Kaz will. He's got the survival instincts of a cockroach, I suspect he'll outlive us all."

Kaz almost grinned, and Elham could feel the sarcasm laced in his voice. "Someone has to run the Barrel. Might as well be me. I'll miss you all dearly, though. I'll make sure to light a candle for you."

Jesper seemed to relax, and Kaz nodded at him. "How many bullets do you have?"

Another screech was heard in the distance, this one closer than the last.

"Not enough."

---

The Crows had been standing for a while, listening to the screeches in the distance, as well as the uneasy murmurs of guests on deck. All of a sudden, a giant rumble came from above, and a small light was cast over the slats in the ceiling. The Crows looked around uneasily, trying to gage what had occurred.

"So? What's our play?"

Kaz was still looking up. "We wait."

"For what?"

He spoke like it was obvious. "For whatever the general has planned."

"You figured him out?"

Elham scoffed. It would take a century to figure out the depths of the Darkling, and she suspected no one would still be around by then to pick his brain. No one except Alina, that is. She felt pity for the girl who would be the only person in their lifetime to live long enough to see the Darkling rise and fall.

Kaz just shook his head. "Not quite. Consider the scenario. The Sun Summoner fled from his palace, and now she's tied to the deck. We're sailing for a city where another general hired Arken to kill her. And I saw his face as he boarded. I know that look. He's a man consumed with vengeance."