LEGENDS

ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴀꜱ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ

CHAPTER SEVEN

KIRSI SCANNED THE ROOM AROUND THEM. It didn't look much out of the ordinary, except for the way the bed was slightly off-kilter, and the rug was rumpled in a way that suggested a scuffle. Foul play. She felt the annoyance begin to stir within her.

"She knew to expect us." Arken scratched his head in a confused manner, which only made Kirsi want to strangle the man all the more. It took every ounce of willpower within her body to simply take a breath, trying to calm the anger within her nerves.

"She isn't late." She answered through gritted teeth, shooting the man a look of great disdain. "She's gone."

"Yes, but-" The man's words were cut short as his eyes landed on something hidden within the haphazard sheets. He slowly picked up a small, golden pin in the shape of a wolf. Kirsi, herself, eyed the pin, then looked to Arken for an explanation. He breathed out, a smidge of fear creeping into his voice. "Drüskelle."

"What is it?" Jesper questioned, peering over Arken's shoulder to study the pin as well. His eyes squinted, blocking out the sunlight and focusing on the small object.

"They're Grisha hunters." Kirsi answered in realization, looking over to Kaz in a defeated manner. This revelation meant that their job was going to be a lot harder than they had originally thought. Kirsi could physically feel the million kruge draw further and further away from her reach.

Kaz matched her gaze, eyebrows furrowed. "Explains the Fjerdan krydda the innkeeper was counting when we arrived. It's likely he ratted her out."

Kirsi let out a dramatic, frustrated breath at this. Under her breath she growled, "Go figure. She's probably captive on a ship to Fjerda right about now." She honestly didn't know how their luck could get any worse than it already had, and she couldn't imagine a scenario in which the Crows would actually be granted their million kruge. It sent a wave of anger and anxiety through her.

"They had a clear line of attack." Inej mentioned, facing the balcony beyond the room. She peered out into the clear, Ravkan expanse. She turned to face Kaz in an instant, awaiting his instruction.

The boy weighed his options, then- "Take a look. Make sure there aren't any more surprises."

Kirsi watched as the Suli nodded, covering her head with her signature hood before hopping out into the fresh air, scouting along the roof. Then, she turned to Kaz, watching as his face contorted, thinking. Scheming face, she could practically hear Jesper note in a sing-song voice. It eased her nerves just slightly.

"Well, that's that." Arken sighed forlornly. "We've lost our way into the Little Palace."

Kirsi looked from Kaz to Jesper, then to Arken as she let out a gruff, irritated noise before starting to the door. She felt her blood pressure spike as she passed through the door, cursing under her breath in a tone that indicated that her anger was barely kept contained within her small frame. What was this?, she thought. Fucking amateur hour?

The room went silent as her presence disintegrated from their own. Then, Jesper blinked, picking up a piece of muffin from a plate placed on top of the vanity just beside him, staring after the girl inquisitively. "What's her deal?"

The girl brooded, bathing in the sour mood that took over every inch of muscle. She was tense, her shoulders taut and stagnate. The scowl on her face was enough to scare both Arken and Jesper, and to leave Inej quiet. This left her to be paired with Kaz, who was the only one of the group unfazed by the tension that she harbored, as they were sent their separate ways to gather supplies that Arken needed for their journey through the Fold. The duo walked down the streets, a goat within Kaz's grip as they traveled back to their designated meeting spot. The bleating of the small creature was enough to send Kirsi spiraling into a deeper kind of annoyance, the noise grating against her eardrums.