We were all standing in a room that we had rented. Inej was messing with a butterfly knife, Kaz was clutching onto his cane, Jesper was on the balcony, Tolya was passing around almonds to everyone else, and I was leaning against the wall. I felt angry at myself for going after Kaz when he freaked. I felt angry that I still cared about him. He made his view on me perfectly clear and yet I was still watching him, worried.
'Ohval's not just a fence,' Kaz started. 'She's The Disciple.'
'What—what tipped you off?' Wylan asks.
Jesper comes in from the balcony and closes the door.
'Her teacup,' Kaz said. 'When she set it down, she did so without a sound.'
'And her heartbeat never fluctuated once,' Nina said, fanning herself. 'It held at one beat a second like a clock.'
'So,' Tolya said, 'she can control her heart rate and her emotions.'
'Those are useful skills for a thief,' Wylan nods.
Nina took an almond from Tolya. 'Oh my, Saints!'
'This is where you tell us where the blade is,' Jesper said to Kaz.
'Ohval has is,' Kaz said. 'Her signal to the waitress to spill tea on me told me as much.'
'It's as if I know you,' Jesper whispered, eyes wide.
Kaz looked away from him. 'And if she's not going to sell it to us, we'll just have to take it. After Nina and I ordered the Chrysanthemum tea I had Inej follow the tea shop employee who was sent to notify Ohval.'
'She lives just outside the city,' Inej said. 'When she stopped at the tea shop, she placed an order at the apothecary that she'll be picking up tonight. I watched her at home for a while, no one came or went except her.'
Kaz nods. 'So, while she's out of the house, Nina will tail her to make sure she stays out of the house. The rest of us will grab the blade.'
Zoya scoffs. 'You don't seriously expect me to break into this woman's house.'
'Uh, why do you think we're here?' I say.
Zoya turns to look at me. 'I'm a soldier, not a thief. Why else would I need you criminals?'
'Oh, there's much less of a difference there than you think,' Tolya smiled.
'You just keep eating your walnuts,' Zoya said, annoyed. 'I'll go with Nina.'
Nina chokes. 'Are you sure you don't need me? I mean, Zoya can tail Ohval.'
'Nina and Zoya will wait for Ohval at the apothecary. Follow her. If she starts heading home, buy us some time. Distract her. The rest of us, we're breaking in.'
I nod. 'What we do best. I'll be back before night fall.'
'Where are you going?' Kaz askes, standing.
I shrug. 'Anywhere else.'
I push off the wall and head out the door, racing down the steps. I felt stuck. Like I couldn't breathe with Kaz looking at me.
'Natalia.'
Stone on stone. I freeze, only halfway down the steps. I don't turn around. I wait.
'You don't... You don't have to...'
I close my eyes. 'I'll be back before sundown,' I repeat.
---
