Elora Van Eck | Kaz Brekker

TWENTY-THREE | COLORLESS SCHEME

***

  k a z

  THE BOAT sharply docked at jetty number five.

  The harbor was a hive of activity, just as Kaz had predicted. A large number of visitors arrived in Shu-Han, and a great amount of merchants journeyed about or sent their wares on their way daily.

  Kaz paved the way across the dicey wooden boards that created up the entire harbor.

  While Kaz, Koralina, Dunyasha, Jesper, and Marcus moved discretely, Wylan's neck swung back and forth as he observed the various individuals, his focus attracted to the several crates with unknown contents being hoisted on and off vessels. Jesper tugged on his sleeve then, and the merchling's eyes tried to replicate his cronies' steely stares.

  The entire troop steadily moved toward a man. Small but muscular, hair as black as ebony. His skin blazed like fine porcelain once dropped to the ground and patched, for, a massive scar stretched from his left temple to just below the chin on the right side of his face. The tonality of his voice remained a mystery hidden inside his throat since his interaction with Kaz consisted of nothing but a respectful nod before he led the six ahead.

  A trek of hardly a few minutes carried them out of the port area, past a series of shops that lured tourists like parasites, and into a patch of woods that, in the scene, appeared much like a puzzle piece belonging to a foreign image, the broad blue flashing through the trunks.

  The mode of transportation Kaz had arranged, a coach, was sitting there among trees on a narrow trail. If Kaz didn't know there was no other alternative, he'd doubt the ride's ability to steer through the forest.

  Kaz gestured for everyone to board.

  The six crammed in among masses of wooden crates, Kaz the last to hoist his feet off the solid ground. And as soon as he did so, the coach set off on its path. Pulled by two majestic black horses, it was the most aged and yet the lowest priced form of transportation, for, engines were reserved for the rich in Shu-Han. Not that he could not afford it. He could do so without worry. But attention it would still arouse, and that he could not afford.

  There had been no words spoken thus far. But everyone's inquisitiveness was intense. Kaz's neutral expression made Koralina's throat bubble. "Will we get more details now?" the girl inquired, nearly rotating in a circle for approval from all others. "Eventually," Kaz dragged the word out needlessly.

  "I think we've waited long enough," Kora griped. Kaz sighed but did not speak further.

  "I'm with her." Marcus. "We've been good little pups, having obeyed all instructions. We've earned a treat now."

  "Marcus," Dunyasha hissed unexpectedly. The boy paused and looked at her, but all he obtained was her iron gaze and a spiky, "Shut up."

  "Excuse me?"

  "I can't abide it when you blather metaphorical malarkey like that."

  "Tss," the affronted boy grimaced, "then don't listen."

  "It's nearly impossible to ignore your dreadfully irksome voice."

  "Is that so?"

  "Muchly."

  "Dunya," Koralina cut in, "quit it."

  Dunyasha Lazareva turned a blind eye to commands that brought her neither repute nor fortune. Unless they were issued by Koralina. The Grisha girl was highly probable the sole person the redhead readily respected.

  Marcus's "Hah" drew a sharp look from the Heartrender. He instantly quieted, but not before declaring, "You're needlessly aggressive, Dunya."

  She rolled her eyes, but heeded Kora's warnings and remained silent.