The FlameKeeper - Kaz Brekker

CH.18 - Rietveld

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

~~~

The Ferolind had left the harbor of Djerholm. They'd been blessed with a strong wind.

Jesper had helped Sabo get aboard the ship, but he held her tightly as if he were afraid that she would disappear. They leaned against the railing as they waited for Nina and Matthias to board.

Jesper observed Sabo, taking in her new look and truly seeing her for who she really was. 'Wait a minute, you were with us at Hellgate!' he realized.

'Couldn't miss a prisonbreak even if I wanted to,' Sabo joked.

Jesper's expression fell. 'And you knew,' Jesper said as he pointed at Kaz.

'He found out,' Sabo explained.

'Of course he did.' Wylan spoke.

'When?' Jesper asked bewildered.

'When we were at the Little Palace.' Kaz replied as he leaned on his cane. Kaz noticed how Jesper was holding onto Sabo. Jesper met his gaze and noticed an indescribable look in Kaz's eyes.

'So, you're that Grisha,' Wylan asked.

'Sankta Arabella,' Inej beamed as she held onto her sister's necklace. 'That's how you met my sister, you were locked up with her.'

Sabo nodded. 'We weren't exactly bunk buddies, but the Ice Court is where we met.'

'I have so many questions,' Inej replied.

'And I will answer every one of them. After I've changed into some real clothes.'

Matthias and Nina joined them on the main deck. Matthias avoided Sabo's gaze as he turned to Kuwei. 'How long does she have?'

Kuwei spoke to Nina in Shu. Nina translated his words. 'The high will last one hour, maybe two. It depends on how long it takes her body to process a dose of that size.'

Nina didn't look at them as she translated.

'Can't you purge it from your body?' Sabo asked. 'Can't we burn it out or something?'

'We won't burn her,' Matthias fumed while his eyes rested on her. 'You don't even go near her.'

Sabo met his gaze. She could see the hate he held for her; it matched the hate she felt for him, she realized.

Sabo wondered what he would do, now that he knew that she was alive.

'Watch your tone, Helvar.' Kaz responded calmly, but as Matthias looked at him he realized that Kaz was anything but calm.

'We all want what's best for Nina.' Jesper spoke. Matthias looked away from them and glanced at Nina.

'It won't work,' Kuwei replied to Sabo's question. 'Even if she could overcome the craving for long enough to start purging it from her body, she'll lose the ability to pull the parem from her system before it's all gone. You'd need another Corporalnik using parem to accomplish it.'

'What will it do to her?' Wylan asked.

'You've seen for yourself,' Matthias replied bitterly. 'We know what's going to happen.'

Specht ran to Kaz. 'We have two ships following us.'

The others looked behind them and saw two ships with dark blue flags.

'Let them follow,' Kaz replied as he shared a look with Sabo. 'They're with us.'

'Those are the Grisha prisoners,' Nina realized as she looked from the prisoners to Sabo. 'You've freed them.'