χαρμολύπη | K. Brekker

nine

Cecenia found this carriage ride much more pleasant than her last, her eyes resting shut as she let herself relax against Kaz. His arm was placed steadily around her, his breathing steady as multiple different plans worked through his mind. He was obnoxiously silent with these plans, but Cecenia didn't mind as it meant she got some much needed rest.

Kaz's steady breathing mixed with Cecenia's was the only sound that filled the carriage, beside the noises of the outside world which they both unconsciously were listening to. The affects of the Barrel were not something they thought about often but it pledged the very way they listened in peaceful times like this.

They jolted slightly when the carriage come to an abrupt stop, Cecenia's eyes opening quickly when they heard Jesper and Inej laughing loudly outside of the door. Cece flashed Kaz an annoyed glance as she sat up, the boy removing his arm reluctantly as he placed both of his hands back onto the head of his cane.

Opening the door, Jesper greeted them with a shit eating grin.

"Sleep well, lovebirds?" He asked, leaning on the side of the carriage with his hand as Cecenia climbed out. She merely flipped him off as she as stretched her arms over her head, relishing in the way her own clothes hugged her body now. A few minutes into the trip she has slipped off the uniform which had concealed her own clothes, Kaz doing the same albeit a bit less gracefully.

Kaz climbed out beside her, his usually scowl taking over his face as he looked toward the trunk. Knowing their target was in there for the whole journey made him want to go insane, but for the sake of the million Kruge, his kept his mind in place.

Inej strolled over to the two, eye brows raising slightly as she motioned to Cecenia's hair. The Ravkan girl's eyes widened slightly as she brought a hand up to feel that it was quite messy. She pulled the brown hair out of the braid, pulling it up into a half assed pony tail for the time being. She knew that it wasn't much but it was efficient.

Kaz motioned his Crows over toward the trunk with the small wave of his finger, the three flocking around it obediently. Cecenia's hands hovered over her knives casually, her stance feigning boredom as she watch the lock of the trunk just poked out.

The top of the trunk opened slowly, revealing a released looking Sun Summoner. Alina's face turned from relief to slight shock in a matter of seconds, Cecenia noting the way that she lifted the top with her foot.

Climbing out slowly, she scanned over the four Crows with her hands out. If it were supposed to be some sort of warning Cecenia couldn't really tell, but if it was it wasn't very threatening.

"We don't want any trouble." Jesper stated calmly, tilting his head to the side slightly as Alina looked toward him.

"Neither do I, so I'll just be on my way." As she went to turn, Kaz's cane shot out in front of her, banging again the carriage. Alina looked up at him for a moment, Kaz keeping his face stoic as he sneered down at her.

"Clearly, you want out of East Ravka. We can help you. We have a secure route through the Fold." Jesper explained, Alina looking over at Cecenia now. Recognition flashed through her eyes as she looked at the Shadow, Cece giving her a small nod as if telling her it was true.

"I prefer to travel alone." Alina replied, not taking her eyes off Cecenia who crossed her arms over her chest. She knew that Alina would recognize this as a way of her almost saying that she meant no harm. Alina was a smart girl, smarter than she let on that Cecenia could tell easily.

"Don't be rash. You stick with us, everybody gets what they want." Jesper tried, his voice a bit raspy as he kept it soft.

"I'm not being anyone's captive every again." The Shu girl stated, her eyes narrowing as she looked toward Kaz. "So step aside and let me pass."