We were all sitting around a fire as Kaz went to collect a change of clothes from the schooner. He just didn't seem to be able to sit still. I sat next to Inej who sat next to Alina. Inej was full of nervous energy. Jesper stood up as Kaz was slowly making his way back.
'I've never met a Saint before,' Inej said.
Alina smiled. 'I've never been a Saint before.'
Inej gripped Alina's hand. 'Wherever you are, whatever you need... my hand is yours.'
Alina raised a brow. 'I think I like that hand with a dagger in it.' She picked up her own dagger. 'I couldn't hold onto yours, so take mine as a replacement. It's not much, but it'll fend off a bully or two.'
'I love her,' I say, looking at Kaz. 'I mean, I don't believe in Saints, no offense, but she's so cool.'
Alina smiled. 'So are you.'
'Powerful Squaller,' Zoya said. 'You're interesting at the very least.'
I hesitate. 'Coming from you I don't know if that was a compliment or not.'
'It was,' Alina said. 'You're one of us. You'll have a home with the rest of the Grisha if you ever need it.'
'Step one, for any good plan, a change of clothes,' Jesper said, handing Mal the bag. 'It's worked for me.'
We all stand up and Alina looks around at us. 'So... will you still be trying to kidnap me?'
Jesper shook his head. 'Of course not.'
Kaz eyed Jesper. 'Have you found religion, too?'
'No, it's just...' Jesper groans. 'I'm exhausted! Besides, it'd be bad form to kidnap someone after they saved your life.'
'You are quite valuable, you know?' Kaz said to Alina.
Alina nodded, slowly making her way over to stand in front of Kaz. She pulled an entirely too flashy necklace out of her pocket, holding it out. It was potentially the most expensive object I had ever seen.
'So is this.' Alina held out the necklace, and Kaz slowly took it from her, eyeing it.
'I saw this on a portrait of one of the queens in the Little Palace.'
'It's not a gift. It's to keep quiet about who I am. Where I go from here.'
Kaz eyed her, before nodding. He held a gloved hand out for her to shake. 'The deal is the deal.'
Alina shook his hand as Kaz put the necklace into his pocket. Alina and Mal walked far enough out to have some privacy to change, and soon after made their way back to us Crows and Zoya, still around the fire. Alina walked up to the fire, tossing her black and gold kefta into the flames.
Mal watched the kefta slowly catch fire. 'I didn't expect it to burn at all. But it can be destroyed in the end. Just like him.'
Alina stepped away from the fire, turning to face the Fold. Mal sighed, moving to stand beside her.
'I know that look. You're staring down your new bully.'
She shook her head. 'We're worse off than we were before, Mal. Kirigan turned on his own people—'
Sensing how upset she was, Mal put a hand on her arm, sliding it down to grab her hand, stopping her. 'Okay. You're not ready yet.'
She finally looked away from the Fold and turned to him. 'Neither were they.'
