The FlameKeeper - Kaz Brekker

CH.14 - Black Protocol

(GIF ISN'T MINE, CREDITS TO THE MAKER!)

~~~

As soon as they opened the door to the hallway, the guards were waving them over impatiently. Sabo watched as one of the guards suddenly had a large nosebleed. Soon after the other guard suddenly held his stomach. Nina winked at Sabo before she looked sideways to Inej. 'Your hem.' Nina spoke calmly.

The guard began puking as Inej gathered up her cape. Nina, Sabo, and Inej sailed by, emitting appropriate squeals of disgust.

'The nosebleed probably would have done the trick.' Inej whispered.

'Best to be thorough.' Nina replied.

'Very thorough when it comes to the drüskelle.' Sabo laughed.

'Yes, Nina. If I didn't know you better, I'd think you liked making Fjerdans suffer.' Inej laughed.

They kept their heads down and entered the swell of people filling the rotunda.

Sabo saw that there were three lines.

'This one,' Inej said as she steered them into a line far from the other members of the Menagerie. They needed not to be seen together. The girls would know in an instant that they were frauds. The guard behind the small desk held out his hand for Nina's papers and scrutinized them with cold blue eyes.

'This description says you have freckles,' he said.

'I do,' Nina said smoothly. 'They're just not visible right now, want to see?'

'No,' the Fjerdan replied icily. 'You're taller than described here.'

'Boots.' Nina said. 'I like to be able to look a man in the eye. You have very pretty eyes.'

Sabo and Inej shared a look trying not to laugh at their friend.

The drüskelle looked at the paper, then took in her ensemble.

'You're heavier than it says on this paper, I'll wager.'

Nina shrugged artfully, the scales of her neckline slipping lower. 'I like to eat when I'm in the mood.' she said. 'And I'm always in the mood.'

Inej struggled to keep a straight face.

'Move along.,' the Fjerdan said gruffly before he gave her papers back to her. 'I... I may be at the party later.'

Nina smiled before she ran a finger down his arm. 'I'll save you a dance.'

The Fjerdan grinned like a fool before he cleared his throat and his stern expression fell back into place. Now it was Inej's turn. The guard glanced cursorily at Inej's papers before waving her past. Inej stepped forward but stumbled over her cloak.

'Wait.' the guard said.

Inej stopped and Nina looked back over her shoulder. Sabo stood behind Inej, waiting for whatever the guard was going to say.

'What's wrong with your shoes?' he asked Inej.

'Just a bit big.' Inej said. 'They stretched more than expected.'

'Show me your arms.' the guard said as he stood up from his post.

'Why?' Inej said nervously.

'Just do it.' the guard replied harshly.

Sabo took in a breath as Inej held out her arms, displaying the lumpy peacock feather tattoo.

A guard in captain's stripes who noticed the delay wandered over. 'What is it?' he asked.