𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐒 | 𝐤.𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐤𝐤𝐞𝐫

FIVE

"What was that?" Inej asked, stood next to Valya across the desk from Kaz back in his office. Valya was thankful to be away from the stench of Dreesen's cellar. "You want to tell us?"

"Be more specific," Kaz told her, looking through papers.

"It was one thing when we had a week to plan our way across the Fold. But sunrise, Kaz?" Valya questioned. "Ravka has spent centuries looking for safe passage through. Even we can't achieve it in a few hours. It's impossible."

"Nothing's impossible, Valya," he told her, glancing up at her as she sighed, rolling her eyes. Saints, he was so stubborn! He was so wrong. This was impossible.

"We have to say no," Inej said, urging him to see reason.

"No." All his brain power was going into planning how to make it across the Fold and survive it. And how to ensure Valya and Inej could come too. He couldn't leave them behind.

"No to the job?" Inej asked.

"No to saying no," Kaz stated, meeting her eyes.

"We can't go," Valya told him. She held hardly any malice in her voice, but more desperation and solemnity.

"Can't we?" Kaz replied, a harsh edge to his voice. He regretted the tone when he saw the way she recoiled, stepping away from him.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it," she said, holding up her wrist. "We can't go." Inej held her own wrist up, displaying her identical tattoo from the Menagerie. She saw him swallow as he looked at the tattoos, his eyes meeting her for the briefest of moments, before he looked back at the tattoo, then away.

"You will. Both of you. I have a plan."

Valya sighed in annoyance. "No, you don't."

"Valya!"

"Don't lie, Kaz! I know you well enough to know when you have a plan and when you don't. And you most certainly don;t know how to pull off this job!"

"I still have six hours, and right now, you aren't helping."

"Centuries of research and attempts have failed, Kaz! Six hours isn't going to solve anything!"

"Alright, maybe you crack a way across, but that doesn't solve this problem!" Inej exclaimed, holding up her wrist once again.

"If I can't crack this, no one's going."

"And if you do?" Valya inquired.

"Then maybe you stay here," Kaz snapped, eyes meeting hers. She searched his eyes as regret crushed him. Her eyes had become sad, offence clear on her face.

"Maybe we won't be here when you get back," Inej said, beginning to walk away.

Valya shook her head. "Val," Kaz tried. She turned to walk away, following behind Inej. "Valya."

She stopped at the window, perched on the frame, looking back at where he stood in the archway. "I hope you can come up with a plan, Kaz. And I'll be right next to you when you do. You know I will."

And then she was gone, pulling up her hood to protect herself against the chill in the air. Kaz sighed, hanging his head.

𓄿

A floorboard creaked behind Kaz, and he turned away from where he stared down into the club. He slid closed the small hatch, turning fully. He expected Valya was back. Or Inej. He knew how well Valya could hold a grudge, and how long her mood carried. But he hoped she'd maybe returned so that he could try to settle things. Apologise.