Cingulomania | Kaz Brekker

05

The ship harbored in West Ravka and the Crows got found a carriage to bring them farther inland. Cordelia sat beside Kaz in the cramped carriage, pressing herself against the wall to give him enough room. Inej sat sandwiched between Jesper and Arken Visser, the Conductor. 

"I didn't hire you simply to get us across the Fold," Kaz said to Arken. "You're with us because you smuggle Grisha out of the Little Palace, and that's the location of our target."

"Sun Summoner," Inej commented. 

"Alleged," Kaz stated, still not a believer. 

"They wouldn't keep a fraud in the most secure location in all of Ravka," Inej countered. Cordelia sighed and leaned her head against the window of the carriage.

"You said you have a contact who can get us inside. A Heartrender." Kaz stated. 

Cordelia felt her heart still for a moment. A Heartrender who would sneak outsiders into the Little Palace? Arken nodded.

"How do I know we can trust her?" Kaz asked. That was a fair point. Most Grisha Cordelia knew were not ones to stray from the word of General Kirigan.

Arken stared into Kaz's eyes as he answered him. "Nina grew up there." Cordelia's heart dropped. Nina? She didn't know any other Ninas in the Little Palace. The only one she knew was her close friend Nina Zenik, who happened to be a Heartrender. Cordelia opened her eyes and turned back to the conversation. 

"Most Grisha grew up in the Little Palace," she stated, staring at Arken, almost daring him to say something. Kaz nodded at her side before supporting her point. "Very few would betray their general, and fewer still would help foreigners kidnap their most prized possession."

"Nina's a radical," Arken countered. "Thinks Grisha should get to choose if they serve the Crown. She despises involuntary service more than she does Fjerdans." Cordelia couldn't deny that Nina was always getting into a little bit of trouble at the Little Palace, but then again, she was right beside her friend most of those times. 

The group got out of the carriage at the inn where Nina was meant to be staying at and made their way up to her room. Once they were inside, they knew something was wrong. The room was a bit messy, even for Nina. 

"She knew to expect us," Arken said.

"She isn't missing. She's gone," Kaz stated. Obviously. Cordelia kept her comments to herself and began looking through Nina's things. 

"Yes but her things are all..." Arken stopped talking as Cordelia flipped the top of her bag. The bit of silver on the bed caused bile to rise in her throat. 

"What is it?" Jesper asked, mouth filled with pastry he found on a table. 

"Drüskelle," Cordelia choked out, trying her best to hide the terror in her voice. "They're ruthless Grisha hunters."

"That explains the Fjerdan krydda the innkeeper was counting when we arrived. It's likely he ratted her out," Kaz explained.

"She's probably captive on a ship to Fjerda by now," Arked said, voicing Cordelia's fears. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

If there was one thing that Cordelia knew how to do, it was shutting down her emotions. It was something she had learned some Spring day when she was six, and still used it to this day. Rolling back her shoulders, Cordelia let out a breath and let herself go numb. If she was going to get through this job alive, she couldn't let herself feel anything. 

"They had a clear line of attack," Inej broke her out of her daze. 

"Take a look. Make sure there aren't any more surprises," Kaz instructed her. The Suli girl pulled up her hood and walked out to the balcony.