❝ 𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍 ❞ | kaz brekker

⁰⁷ silks

❝ 𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍 ❞

silks

"Got any plans up your sleeve?" Inej asked Kaz as they gathered along the bar. 

"I mean, Kribirsk isn't the worst," Jesper muttered. "We can open up a bar, brew East Ravkan beer for the Westerners?"

"That's an awful idea." Paedyn mumbled, Inej nodding in agreement.

He sighed. "I miss Milo."

"Who?" Inej asked. Jesper rolled his eyes and she turned to Paedyn, who shrugged.

"Friends," the Conductor said, leading a shorter gentleman behind him. Paedyn's nose scrunched. They were barely acquaintances, much less friends.

Kaz glared at him. "What are you so cheery about?"

"This is Marko." Arken pointed to the other man, who had many tears streaming down his face. "Marko here is the leader of the traveling troupe known as the Pomdrakon Players. They have been invited to perform in this year's winter fete."

"A lifelong dream," Marko added.

"Yes, yes," Arken nodded with sympathy, "A chance to get inside the Little Palace. But they lost their star performer due to an unfortunate freak accident."

Paedyn furrowed her eyebrows. A strange coincidence, but one look at Arken's face told her that he had something to do with it. He was a bit extra cheery today.

The Conductor continued, "They are in desperate need of someone with the skills to replace their star performer, and as Ketterdam's premier talent manager, I had an idea."

Everyone turned to look at Inej. She took a deep breath and nodded. "As a friend once said, 'If I can't crack this, none of us are going anywhere.'"

"Oh, but then I had another idea, something to help dear Marko here feel even better about the situation." Arken glanced towards Paedyn. "Not one, but two temporary stars to keep their invitation."

Now, everyone's eyes were on Paedyn. She glanced at Arken, her tongue poking the inside of her mouth. Then her eyes met Kaz's, and she found herself agreeing.

Overly enthusiastic, Marko led Inej and Paedyn to the rest of his crew, where they could find something to wear as well as use for their performance.

The girls grabbed tank tops and tighter pants before moving to look through the boxes Marko gave them.

"What are you thinking?" Inej asked, pulling out some silk.

"A duo show," Paedyn grinned, grabbing the same color.

It wasn't long before the girls were in the air, performing a rhythmic dance with the silks in time with each other. 

It felt as though they were flying gracefully through the air, but it was so much more than that. It involved strength and muscle as well as rhythm. 

The crowd's eyes followed their every move, gasping as some of the moves appeared riskier than others. 

Then the two girls let themselves fall, using the silks to land effortlessly on their feet. The crowd leapt up and cheered as soon as they were standing back on the stage. 

Marko pulled them close into a tight embrace, more tears on his cheeks. "The Saints must have sent you. Yes. The show will go on. Now..." He snapped his fingers, and someone thrusted two matching leotards into his hands. "Can the two of you... fit into these?"

"Those are their colors, but the thing is..." Jesper trailed off and gestured to Kaz and Arken, "Inej and Paedyn come as a package deal."

"No free rides," Marko replied, narrowing his eyes. "What are your talents?"

Jesper smirked, whispering into the girls' ears. Paedyn shoved him lightly with a glare.

"Cannot believe I'm doing this," she mumbled as she and Inej climbed up the silks again. Once they were high enough, they both slipped a card into their mouths and hung upside down.

Paedyn eyed Jesper as he used the reflection of mirror to aim. He shot Inej's card right after, then her own. The bullets sliced the cards right in half and to show the crowd they were alright, both girls pulled the other half out and held it up for the crowd to see.

They all rose to their feet and clapped once more as the girls landed again. The trio bowed, Paedyn sending another playful glare Jesper's way as she made her way off the stage.

Marko turned towards Kaz. "Stage is yours, sir."

"I'll make my own way," Kaz said without hesitation.

─ ☆ ─

"We need to go, we can't stay here," an eighteen-year-old Evangeline whispered, throwing whatever she could of their clothes into small bags. Paedyn, twelve years old with a quiet mouth, stood silently by the door as her sister ran around frantically.

The bags she was shoving clothes as well as personal belongings into were small enough to be kept on their backs. 

Grabbing a hat, Evangeline placed it on Paedyn's head. She didn't say anything as she walked back to the bed, where their bags were, and wrapped a cloak around her head and shoulders.

Paedyn reached up and touched the hat. It was big, nearly falling off her small head from a simple touch.

The door swung open, and Paedyn crouched underneath the vanity to avoid getting hit. She looked up at General Kirigan, the man who brought them here. He had seemed kind and caring over the last few weeks, so the young and innocent girl was confused when her sister's usually bright and happy face turned pale.

"Evangeline," he spoke, his tone icy. Paedyn's eyes widened, growing nervous. "Going somewhere?"

"Please," her sister begged, her knees nearing the ground, "Let us go."

"Us?" He asked, his fingers tracing the curve of the older girl's cheeks. "Where is Paedyn?"

The too-big hat fell off her head when Paedyn moved, trying to ease the growing pain from her awkward position.

It didn't make a loud sound, but it was loud enough to reach the General's ears.

"There you are. Come here, my dear," he held out a hand for her and Paedyn found herself almost reaching for it.

"No!" Her sister screamed, the sound reverberating throughout the room. "Paedyn, run!"

And so, she did. Without a second thought. She never turned back, never looked back to see her sister's beautiful face. Smooth as ever, with a soft tone to it. Deep, warm brown eyes that could tell you a story with just one look. Long and flowy brown hair, a shade lighter than Paedyn's. 

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she ran, ran through the halls, barely missing the guards and their grabby hands. On foot till she reached the Fold, through the Fold, and beyond it.

To a place where she would no longer be innocent little Paedyn Anders, daughter of the sea. 

To Ketterdam, she would just be Paedyn, the girl in purple silks.

┌───────────── ☆ ─────────────┐

author's note: and there's the rest of Paedyn's history!