prisoner (shadow & bone)

Chapter Twelve

THE CROWS

"Are you sure she's going to wake up? She's still looking a bit pale," Jesper said worriedly, as he eyed the limp girl on the chair in front of him. The crows had rented a private room in the nearest inn, and they smuggled the unconscious girl inside without too much trouble.

The only problem was that she still wasn't awake.

"She will wake," Inej snapped, overwhelmed with guilt as she feared the blow she delivered to the girl's head might have been a bit too hard.

"Quiet," Kaz hissed to shut the two of them up; the girl was stirring slightly.

Tatia's hands and feet were tied together, the rope digging into her skin painfully, as she slowly acquired consciousness. Her eyes flew open in panic and she started tugging at the rope frantically, but her efforts were futile.

She closed her eyes tightly and started breathing deeply, trying to keep calm.

None of the three crows spoke as they watched her keep her own panic at bay, though Inej and Jesper were looking at her sorrowfully. They were starting to feel bad for the girl, who was innocent in all of this.

Tatia reopened her eyes once her heartrate had gone down, and her eyes darted around the three figures before her, the fear barely noticeable in her eyes anymore.

"Who are you?" she whispered.

"I don't think you're in any position to be asking questions," Kaz said with narrowed eyes. Tatia flinched at his tone, every second she spent in the man's presence was like being back at the Fjerdan camp, where she was locked away and tormented for years.

Kaz noticed that he had scared her even further and softened his voice. "Where is the Sun Summoner?"

Tatia's eyes flickered to Jesper and Inej for help, but they didn't seem like they would be talking anytime soon. Interrogation was Kaz's strong suit.

"I don't know," the girl said honestly. She looked down sadly. "She left me alone not long after we escaped from you three."

Kaz cursed and turned away, racking his brain for a new plan.

A sudden wave of bravery washed over Tatia. "And if I did know, I wouldn't tell you," she said, voice shaking, but determination shining in her eyes. "Alina's my friend. I would never betray her like that."

"Your friend, huh?" Kaz said, scoffing. "Is that why she left you alone?"

Tatia's eyes burned. "She left to protect me."

Kaz turned around again, now facing her with a smirk covering his face. "Are you sure? Maybe she just didn't feel like she would get very far if she had to babysit you as well."

Tatia opened her mouth to retort, but no words passed her lips. Her expression faltered. What if that was exactly what Alina was thinking? Tatia could understand, but it still hurt.

"Now, Kaz, you're getting a bit ahead of yourself," Jesper butted in, shooting the man a warning look as he nudged his head over at Tatia, who was looking defeated. The Zemeni man turned to Tatia, a kind smile on his face. "I'm sure she was considering your safety in her decision, Miss..."

"Tatia," the girl replied softly, more at ease than before. Kaz had mouthed the name along with her, and Inej looked at him questioningly.

"How did you know her name already?" the Suli girl asked.

Kaz hesitated. "I ran into some trouble during our mission at the Winter Fete. This girl-"

"Tatia," Jesper interrupted pointedly.