Katerina Petrova was on the run and had to hide her past. But among thieves and murderers, did that really matter? All that mattered to Kaz Brekker was whether or not his prized grisha was up for the job. He didn't ask questions and that's what made...
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━━"see you in fjerholm harbour," specht called. "no mourners."
"no funerals," katerina and the others replied.
katerina could tell the others were annoyed at how frustratingly tight-lipped kaz was about how exactly they were going to reach bo yul-bayur and then get out of the ice court with the scientist in tow, but he'd been clear that once they had their prize, the ferolind was their escape route. it had papers bearing the kerch seal and indicating that all fees and applications had been made for representatives of the haanraadt bay company to transport furs and goods from fjerda to zierfoort, a port city in south kerch.
they began the march from the rocky shore up the cliff side. spring was coming, but ice was still thick on the ground, and it was a tough climb. when they reached the top of the cliff, they stopped to catch their breath. the ferolind was still visible on the horizon, its sails full of the wind that whipped at their cheeks.
"saints," said inej. "we're actually doing this."
"i've spent every minute of every miserable day wishing to be off that ship," said jesper. "so why do i suddenly miss it?" katerina laughed as the sharpshooter rolled his eyes at her, placing his arm around the girl. whether it was because of the weather or because he wanted to be near her was a tad unclear to katerina.
wylan stamped his boots. "maybe because it already feels like our feet are going to freeze off."
"when we get our money, you can burn kruge to keep you warm," said kaz. "let's go." he'd left his crow's head cane aboard the ferolind and substituted a less conspicuous walking stick. jesper had mournfully left behind his prized pearl-handled revolvers in favour of a pair of unornamented guns, and inej had done the same with her extraordinary set of knives and daggers, keeping only those she could bear to part with when they entered the prison.
practical choices, but katerina knew it hurt them a little.
jesper consulted his compass, and they turned south, seeking a path that would lead them to the main trading road. "i'm going to pay someone to burn my kruge for me."
kaz fell into step beside him. "why don't you pay someone else to pay someone to burn your kruge for you? that's what the big players do."
"you two are idiots," katerina said as she hit jesper in the back of his head.
but she couldn't help but cast a final backwards glance at the vanishing ferolind. the schooner was a part of kerch, a piece of home for them, and that last familiar thing was drifting further away with every moment.
home. that concept was so foreign to katerina at this point.
as she walked at the front with jesper and kaz, she could hear matthias' voice; "put your," he paused. "keep your eyes covered, or you could damage them permanently."
━━when the sun began to set, they ate their rations of dried beef and hardtack and collapsed into their tents without a word. but the next morning now that they were off the ship and away from its crew, kaz was ready to dig into the details of the plan.
