Empyrean || Kaz Brekker

chapter ten

By the time Elham brought Inej and Nina back with her to the inn, the rest of the crew was gathered and ready to go. Kaz rounded the corner just as she stepped in the door, and she averted her eyes as she took her place beside Jesper. He would deal with her later, and she certainly wasn't looking forward to it.

"The Neshyenyer at Ahmrat Jen is definitely a fake," he informed the group, immediately noticing how Elham's eyes were conveniently able to be set on everything in the room but him.

"Which we told you," Zoya sighed, resting against the bar's countertop. "Perhaps now you'll tell us something we didn't know?"

"According to my contacts, it's been stolen by a thief known as The Disciple. He had a penchant for stealing Saint related relics while on jobs. He's retired, but he has since put a few pieces of his collection on the black market."

Tolya nodded his head. "So, to get to him, we go to his fence."

"Ohval Saran," Kaz finished. "She has a tea shop in Bhez Ju. To speak with her, we have to order yellow chrysanthemum tea, off menu."

"Yellow chrysanthemum tea," Nina repeated, and everyone's eyes widened when they realized she was speaking Shu.

Tolya gave her a bright smile, breathing out a laugh. "It pairs well with sesame rice cakes."

Nobody besides Nina understood what he was saying, but by the way her eyes brightened, Elham could tell it must have been something good. Knowing her, it was probably something about food. A good meal was one of the only things that could get Nina Zenik's head to turn. One of her many qualities that Elham loved about her.

"Let's discuss. Tell me more," Nina smiled, leading Tolya away from the bar.

With Nina gone, the group started to disperse. Wylan stayed at the bar, Jesper not far behind him as he ordered himself a drink. Zoya stayed as well, looking over her papers she had pulled from her coat pocket. Elham turned to Inej, only to realize Kaz's eyes were already on them. She groaned internally, turning to him.

She'd have to face him at some point. It might as well have been now.

"You have your freedom. Why would this be what you choose to do with it?" He asked when Inej turned to him as well.

"I'm not here for you, I'm here for Sankta Alina," she quickly responded, shifting her focus to Elham. "And I'm here for you. I'll be ready when you need me."

Elham gave her a grateful smile, watching Inej turn to join Nina and Tolya at a nearby table. Taking a breath, Elham prepared herself, turning back around to face him. She stilled as she took him in. She'd expected to see unforgiving eyes and a stern glare—which certainly was there—but she didn't expect it to be the second thing she noticed.

The first was the bruises littered across his face.

Elham hadn't forgotten about them. She could still feel fresh the bruises along her body herself, knowing that if she was still noticing hers, he was definitely noticing his. She was there when he took the blows that formed him. But what she had forgotten was just how bad his were. All muddled with hues of purple and garish blue, marked into his skin as a reminder to anyone who looked at him. Elham had fully prepared herself to throw a slew of sarcastic comments and snark his way, but she couldn't manage it when he looked like this.

He was still himself, just with physical scars to match the internal ones he bore every day. Himself, the little boy who had to grow up too fast, learning the concept of revenge for longer than he was able to learn the concept of family. Himself, who had been beaten and torn down by the very man who made a false promise to build him up.