𝕬𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝕷𝖚𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖇𝖞 - [𝗞𝗮𝘇 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗿]

𝐱𝐱𝐱𝐢𝐢𝐢. 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰, 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘢

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 — hello, nina

━━━━━━━

 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐊𝐑𝐔𝐆𝐄. That was the prize for a heist well-done. However, even as Aleksa and Kaz walked side by side down the cobbled streets of murky little Ketetrdam... Kaz still hadn't spilled what exactly their job entailed.

 Following the curved lanes, stepping over puddles and splashes of blood was like second nature now, and Aleksa hopped over yet another murky little ditch flooded with swarthy water, "You have yet to tell me... what's the job? I'd like to know what I'm risking my pretty neck for."

 "You'll be risking it for Kruge."

 "You're not nearly as enigmatic and mysterious as you try to be. Tell me, pretty boy."

 Kaz felt the lump of gold still hidden within his pocket... he'd gotten jumped on the streets by a Grisha doing things he'd never once heard of; turning their bodies into mist, drifting through walls as though they were nothing than a mere ghost before his eyes... but there was only one ghost within Kaz Brekkers life, and that hadn't been Jordie. Soon enough, he'd been dragged to face the truth. Jurda Parem.

 Jurda was known worldwide as nothing more than a little orange flower grown in the depths of Novyi Zem; it was meant to be chewed and then spat out, all to get a hike lift in the mood, and add little spark in one's energy. Much like the coffee Kaz Brekker would guzzle cup by cup.

 But Jurda Parem... It was far more than a mere stimulant. He glanced at Aleksa, feeling her eyes still burning holes within the side of his cheek... he wondered what it would do to her. If a Healer could tap into the mind... if a Tidemaker could render their body as nothing more than molecules of moisture to manipulate, what could a Shadow Summoner of such a high calibre achieve?

 Kaz dipped his gloved fingers into the depths of his pockets, then tossed a hunk of gold her way.

 Aleksa caught it without a single fumble, snatching it from the sky as though it was nothing more than a fluttering feather. She twisted it and it was heavy upon her palm, solid, "Gold?"

 Kaz hummed, "That started as nothing more than lead."

 Aleksa halted, bringing the piece of shining material ever closer to her eyes. She scanned the surface, and rubbed the pad of her thumb over the smoothness... "Lead?"

 "Van Eck..." Kaz kept his eyes forth as he spilled. Why couldn't he ever keep his mouth shut around her? "He was the one who had me jumped. He had Grisha working for him, Grisha under the effects of Jurda Parem."

 Now that was something Aleksa had heard about. She thought it to be mere folly, gossip spread around the palace just as always. But she had to admit, that if someone had the brains to do so, someone like David, then of course Jurda could be manipulated and its effects could be broadened.