The Seventh Crow

Part 39

"Jesper!" Wylan calls. He turns around, he gun at the ready.

"Chill!" I say.

Jesper lowers the gun as his eyes widen with confusion.

"What happened to you?" he asks. I freeze.

"Nothing," Wylan answered for me. "Don't you have somewhere to be."

"He's right," I say. "Two minutes to go until that bullet has to be lodged in Kuwei's chest. Hurry up."

Jesper nods and heads off with Wylan. Inej should be meeting with them. That is if nothing has happened to her.

"Wait," I said. "You seen Inej?" Jesper shakes his head. "I have to clean this blood off before we move Kuwei's body, keep an eye out for her."

"Of course," Jesper said.

I head towards a well of clean water. There's a lot of people on the streets. Not for much longer. If Nina is on time, the bells should start ringing in a minute and a half.

She better be on time or Kaz will have my head. It'd be my fault that the schedule wasn't followed precisely. 

But what if I actually did get taken by those Fjerdan's? Does Kaz have a backup for that situation? Or did he really trust that I was going to murder them?

I pull on the rope of the closest well. A half filled bucket emerges from below. I rip a small piece of cloth from my shirt, dump it in the water, and scrub the blood from my hands.

Once I finished, the bells started going off. People run in multiple different directions. Everyone is trying to find safety in shelter. Ignoring the massive amount of people all scrambling at the same time.

Great job, Nina. I thought.

I slowly make my way towards the small boat Nina should already be at. A change of clothes.

The boat comes into view. Nina was getting dressed. Everyone around was already inside or running. No one gave a second thought to the woman changing.

"There you are," she said.

"Got caught up in the chaos." I get into the boat.

Nina hands a change of clothes to me. I'm supposed to be an old crone who can't hear for the life of me.

I blame Kaz for even suggesting such annoying "backstories". One of these days something is going to bite him. Although he'd bite back.

"You're a lifesaver," I whisper.

"I get that a lot," Nina responds.

Minutes after I changed, Kuwei's body was being dragged out of the building. Matthias follows close behind. Kaz is still inside.

"It's starting," Nina whispers to me.

Kaz's plan is working.