Shout out to Emjen Enla, MorganRobyn, cucumberpie8, and AshenMoon42 for following my story. I appreciate it!
INEJ
I can tell Kaz is uncomfortable with our shaky plan, which isn't really much of a plan of all. Without knowing much about the thing - or possibly things - we are after, it's difficult to formulate anything specific. The only surety is that whatever it is will put up a fight and it may well be a Grisha, making the job twice as hard. Ashiana doesn't have much familiarity with weapons; the exception being a bow and arrow. Fortunately, her father taught her archery skills as a child. Unfortunately, she hasn't used one for years.
We will just have to trust that the Saints will help us. It encourages me to know I have a partner that believes as I do. I've become accustomed to being alone in my beliefs. I had nearly forgotten what it's like to share faith with someone; of the bonds that are formed and strengthened by the understanding. It evokes familial feelings that run deeper than blood.
Finding a bow and some arrows turns out to be easier than expected. While it's an unusual weapon for the close proximity of Ketterdam, it might prove useful to have someone silently taking down attackers from above. It will also be safer for her.
Kaz finds poison to dip the arrowheads in as well. I can see Ashiana is uncomfortable with the addition but neither Kaz nor I back down on its use. I have a slightly sickening feeling she - we - are going to need all the help we can get.
"Are you ready?" I ask her again, for probably the seventh time today. I know she volunteered quickly and I can tell she does want to help but this isn't going to be easy.
"You can stop asking. I said I'm going and I am. You won't get rid of me that easily." While she says it with a smile, I can sense the unease beneath it. I return her smile, trying to infuse it with as much confidence as I can muster.
"I know. I just..." she waves me off.
"No more of it. We are friends, Inej. I'm not going to abandon you because it looks like it's going to be difficult. I'm a good tracker and, if that thing we saw in the alley is any indication, you will need a healer before the night is through."
"But this isn't your fight."
"It's been a long time since I had anything to fight for. It feels good. It feels right. It feels..." She looks across the room to the window. "It feels like the Saints have led us together. I felt like our destinies were interwoven from the first night. Do you understand?" I nod. I know exactly what she means.
"I do. Once we- when we shared our faith, I felt it solidified. We are meant to be together for this time. And I am thankful the Saints have provided me with a sister now; to walk alongside me through all this." Our eyes meet and she takes my hand.
"Sisters. Yes. That feels right too." I take a deep breath, ready to share my concerns with her.
"Something is very wrong. I get the sense we have only just scratched the surface of this situation; like that horror was just the beginning of something much worse. And I-" I shake my head. "I don't know how much horror I can face anymore, not on my own." My mind needles me a little as I speak, whispering not to discount Kaz's presence, however confusing, in my life and by my side.
It's not the same though. While I do appreciate him, often more than words can say (or I care to admit), there is something different in a sister-friend relationship that shares ideals higher than scraping out a living from the dirt of this world.
"I know. I can feel it too." We are almost whispering at this point; the gravity of the situation places a weight even on our voices. I know it is useless to theorize about it anymore. If we were going to figure out what was going on outside the safety of these walls, we would've done it with Kaz. I can feel her uncertainty as palpable as the floor beneath my feet.
"We will simply have to trust - trust that, despite whatever evil lurks out on those streets, we are being called together to fight it. And we are not alone." Ashiana gives me a long, measuring look until her face softens.
"We are not alone," she says in agreement, our hands tightly woven together as softly-spoken prayers whisper between us. For protection. For deliverance. But most of all, for direction. If we have been called, then we must depend on the powers above us to lead us forward.
Unsurprisingly, it's Kaz who breaks the time of petition with grim news. I hadn't even heard him approach, which is particularly odd. Usually his uneven footsteps reach my ears before I catch sight of him.
We turn together and I try very hard not to stare at him too long. He manages to look uncommonly handsome in a suit, scraped and scarred as he is. Then again, perhaps it is only I who thinks so. Doubtful though. I've seen women look at Kaz before. I've watched them drag their stares up and down his body before recognition, or good sense, widens their eyes and they hasten away. Why I seem to be lacking in the good sense category where Kaz is concerned continues to be a mystery to me.
"There have been more killings. Word on the street is best summarized as 'take cover.' None of the gang members with any sense are roaming the streets. Those without any sense are quickly disappearing.
"The merchers have been warned. The Stadwatch has put out a curfew and those who can afford it are being escorted out of the city under the Stadwatch's protection. I doubt that will last long though." My mind reels for a moment. So much in only a few hours. It was not just us who noticed the dark nature of the killings.
How many have died? How many bodies did it take to cause this kind of a response? The order to stay safe inside has been issued far quicker than I expected. Part of me is fiercely glad that the city is taking the necessary cautions - and they are necessary. Another part of me wants to take the orders to heart and stay hidden as long as possible.
So much for my grand thoughts of calling. Even as I think it, I know I will not heed the logical longings of my fearful heart. I look at Kaz and can clearly see, even through his carefully-crafted mask, that he wants us to follow the city's instructions - something we have never done before. Something akin to worry for me? clouds his heavy gaze. I turn my eyes back toward Ashiana and smile.
"Here we are, together, for such a time as this." I realize then that I am still gripping her hands and hers are steadily returning the pressure.
"For such a time as this," she affirms. If confusion flashes across Kaz's face, I don't see it, so marked am I by an all-consuming dedication to a cause that thrums through me as strongly as my efforts to deliver captives and bind up their brokenness has for the last year.
JESPER
When the Stadwatch arrived, I knew something was seriously wrong. This wasn't just Kaz with his dire but predictable, and usually self-focused, proclamations. This was Ketterdam's officers policing the streets and spreading orders to stay inside or leave immediately, but only under their care. Wylan's face blanches with fear as I close the door. We both know this is no ordinary warning.
"What do you think it means?" He asks, looking to me for an answer. My vague allusions of concern repeated, ad nauseam, to our multitude of departing guests now seem gravely insufficient. A sterner warning, especially to those gleefully guests, left weaving on the steps as they stumbled home, should have been issued. But then, how could I have known Kaz's concern, or rather, Inej's concern communicated through Kaz, was so warranted?
"I think I need to tell you what Kaz told me before he left." That I now wish I'd told you before is left unsaid. If Wylan's face could've become any paler, it would have. I'm suddenly very glad Alys and Marya have gone to bed. His look would've severely distressed them, as it does me now.
"You knew about this?" I try to ignore the accusatory tone. I know he's turning the accusation more on himself than on me. The idea of anyone leaving his house in danger will wear on his conscience.
"Kaz came to me before the party ended with a vague statement about guests needing warnings before they left. He didn't give any specific details, except to say Inej was going with him and that she'd insisted he communicate her concern to me."
"That's all?" I can hear relief warring with unwarranted blame now. Neither of us knew the extent of the problem, not then, not even now.
"Yes."
"And Inej is with him?" I don't even try to disguise my grimace as I nod. "What about Ashiana? I didn't see her leave the party but she doesn't seem to be here now. Perhaps she's already gone to bed..." I shrug.
"We can have a maid check her room but I have a sneaking suspicion that if she's missing, it's because of Inej. They've been a fairly inseparable pair since that night." I needn't specifically reference it. Ashiana appeared as a constant presence at Inej's side from the moment she entered the house. A heaviness settles over me as I envision both of them accompanying Kaz on whatever job he's running with this mess on the streets. I can see it mirrored in Wylan's eyes when our gazes meet.
"Do you think-"
"There's nothing we can do now. They're out there. Looking for them isn't going to help. It'll just get us in trouble. We have no idea where to look for them. It's best just to stay put." Part of me does want to be out there. I haven't had much experience in the danger department recently and I miss the feel of my guns firing, my shots true, during one of Kaz's ridiculous plans. Thankfully, my recent training as a Fabrikator has eased some of the nervous energy that often got me into those scrapes.
"Maybe we could send-" but I can see the sentence is destined to remain unfinished. There's no way he's going to risk anyone in his service out on the streets right now.
"I think we'd be best served by getting some rest. It's late. We're both exhausted from this party. We're not going to be any good by tomorrow morning if we don't sleep." I can see him giving into his proclivity to worry and try to head it off before he gets too far into it.
"Hey-" I tug on his sleeve, attempting to bring his focus back to me. He raises an eyebrow, already distracted by dwelling on difficulties he has no control over. I give another pull, this one more forceful, causing him to stumble slightly towards me.
"What-" I cut off his question as my lips cover his. I can feel him tense for a moment, wanting to remain focused on the problems at hand. It only takes a few seconds before he relaxes and moves closer. I run my hand down his back, pushing him flush against me. Another moment more and he responds with increased fervor. I pull away, my hands on his shoulders to keep him from approaching again. I can see his confusion and a grin quirks up the sides of my mouth. I run my hand down the lapels of his jacket, flipping the buttons below open easily. I imagine what it'd be like to strip him right here, in this gigantic ballroom. Unfortunately, I don't think the floor would be kind of either of us, regardless of what position we decided upon.
"I think it's time to go upstairs." I tug his shirt tails from his pants, eager to undress him even as the words leave my mouth, leaving him looking deliciously disheveled. I don't want for an answer as I turn on my heel and head toward the doors that hide the stairs to the upper rooms. I don't have to turn and look to know he's following.