WHISPER- shadow and bone

Chapter 9

"The Neshyenyer? Sankta Neyar's blade?" Nina laughed in disbelief, casting aside the letter and laughing to herself. Ada knew how it sounded, they were asking the Crows to help them hunt for a legendary blade that was nothing more than an idol of a storybook.

"So, you haven't completely forgotten what you were taught at the Little Palace. Just your loyalty to Ravka," Zoya bit.

"Zoya," Ada spoke warningly, giving the Squaller a glare. 

"Ravka? Or Kirigan? It didn't take him destroying a city for me to question my loyalty," Nina bit back, staring down Zoya with the same steely glare. Ada suppressed a laugh, it wasn't often that Zoya met her match but Nina sure was testing her.

"So, now that we all know that you two have history, what's the payment for this particular job?" Jesper butted in, an attempt to diffuse the tension.

"Name your price. It matters that much," Tolya spoke cooly as he munched on yet another snack.

"Is that the Lantsov crest?" Wylan asked curiously.

"You know it is because it's hideous," Nina spat, smirking at Zoya who narrowed her eyes and smirked back.

"Prince Nikolai requests your services to retrieve and deliver the Neshyenyer to Alina Starkov in East Ravka," Tolya delivered the command.

"She's returned and as has the Darkling. With an indestructible army of shadow monsters," Zoya explained.

"I do not like the sound of that," Jesper grimaced.

"She needs the blade to kill them. It's the only thing that might work," Ada continued.

"Retrieve the blade and the Prince will pay what you ask," Tolya lifted a glass towards Jesper whose ears pricked up at the sound of Kruge.  

"But I like the sound of that," he lifted his glass back to Tolya.

"Fun over danger always huh Jesper?" Ada laughed.

"You know me too well," Jesper nodded, chucking back his drink.

"I assume same goes for you?" Zoya nodded towards Kaz.

"I'd welcome the chance to help your prince spend his country's money," a smirk pulled at the side of Kaz's bruised face.

"I don't need kruge. I need to get someone out of Hellgate," Nina spoke desperately. " The Lantsovs must be able to pull strings with the Kerch government."

"For a certain Fjerdan? He must be quite the slab of fur," Zoya grinned wickedly as she caught onto Nina's desperation.

Ada stamped on Zoya's foot in an attempt to get her to stand down. Zoya frowned and glared at the girl before rolling her eyes and lifting her hands in surrender. 

"I'm sure we can arrange it," Ada nodded towards Nina who smiled gratefully.

"The offer is the offer. Prince Nikolai is a man of his word," Tolya nodded.

"But we need to go now," Zoya spoke firmly.

"It's settled. We're in," Kaz nodded as he glanced to his Crows.

"What about Inej? Where is she?" Ada questioned, furrowing her brow at the absence of the Wraith.

"She's gone," Kaz spoke bitterly.

"No, she's not. Not yet. She's..." Jesper shook his head furiously.

"Not an option," Kaz finished for him. 

"Give us... a moment," Jesper grimaced, grabbing Nina and heading upstairs to where Ada assumed Inej was residing.

"Come on, we've got a lot to catch up on and they might be a while," Ezra laughed as the pair scampered away.