The Act of Duplicity [General Kirigan]

thirty

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    ''Who's this?'' asked Jesper, his gun cocked and pointed at the tracker. While at the same time Inej had another gun pointed at the back of his head. ''Who are you?'' Jesper raised his eyebrows at him.

    ''A stowaway'' Inej answered instead. ''Why pick this of all skiffs?''

    Nataliya tried hard to keep amusement off her face. She knew Mal and she knew his reasons. But she still kept quiet and let the Crows deal with this situation, her only part was raising attention that they have an eavesdropper. When Mal was first brought out gun held at his head he glanced at Nataliya for a mere second before all of his attention was on Kaz, as if he was sizing him up.

    When Inej pushed the gun harshly into his neck, Mal answered the question. ''To kill the general and save Alina.''

    This time Nataliya couldn't keep the frown off her face but she strategically turned her head away so he couldn't see it. Death on the General didn't sound good, come to think of it again all four people in that room wanted him dead. They didn't see his full power or his full potential and that was the core reason why Nataliya didn't really belong to their side. She always belonged to his side and she can't wait to be out of those damn tight ropes so she can finally act on her reason for being here. The more she thought about what these criminals are about to do, the more her chest was rising and falling with deeper breathing as she tried to contradict the plan. That was her job and she didn't intend to fail it.

    ''I'll ask again, who are you?'' Jesper repeated.

    ''Mal Oretsev.''

    Kaz made his way to the tracker. ''You know Alina?''

    ''I do.'' He answered.

    ''Who's in control of her?''

    ''The general I'm going to kill.''

    Keep it together Nataliya. She outright scolded herself in her head. She was pretty sure her nostrils were flaring but she had to keep calm for the time being. These people still don't know whose side you are on, make their minds stay that way. If she could use her powers, she would calm herself down. But soon enough luck would come on her side and it came right from the tracker.

    When Inej asked why Kaz wanted her to give Mal back his gun, his answer was, ''because if he isn't with Kirigan's crew, he's with ours.'' Inej offered the gun back to Mal and he accepted it with a nod.

    Then his eyes went back to Nataliya. ''She goes free.'' He stated.

    A ray of hope burst in Nataliya and she stood up ready to have her hands freed. And that hope diminished just as quickly as it came.

    ''No.'' Kaz immediately replied. ''She works with Kirigan.'' He ended the last of his argument with the full statement that he knew she's not on their side. The rest of his crew was pretty unconvinced by that as they all looked between Kaz and Nataliya with confusion.