We asked around to see if anyone knew anything about the Fold. The answers we got were far from helpful.
"Here's what I don't get..." Jesper started once we got back to the Crow Club.
"We're going to be here all night." Inej groaned.
"Rude." Jesper defended.
I laughed at this.
"Why haven't they tried going under?" Jesper continued. "Just dig a tunnel."
"Tried that. More than a century ago. Something...heard them digging." Kaz locked a missile onto Jesper's hope and destroyed it. Leaving nothing but ashes that turned to dust when you touched them. It was Kaz's specialty. Destroying hope...in a good way.
"It was made a hundred years ago by that crazy Grisha..." Jesper started.
"The Black Heretic." Inej corrected.
"Yeah, the one who controls shadow. They've got one in their army now. General Kirigan?" Jesper continued. This man–I mean boy–is always getting interrupted.
"Your point, Jes?" I asked.
"Well, if one of his kind made it, can't he unmake it?" Jesper asked.
"Have you ever put out fire with more fire?" I asked.
"No."
"Then you can't get rid of shadow with more shadow."
"Then what's the opposite of this?" Jesper asked. He also asks alot of questions.
"A Sun Summoner." I answered.
"Right, then, one of those."
"Doesn't exist." Kaz blurted.
I looked at him. Seriously?
"Doesn't exist, yet." Inej corrected.
"Dreesen comes into town, doesn't waste a minute. Sends out for a crew to steal something but doesn't specify what. What is it? Is it heavy, large, worth more than a million on the black market? Maybe he doesn't know." Kaz most definitely likes ranting.
"We can let this one go, Kaz." Inej said.
"Hell no!" I argued.
I love crime.
"Sounds like a trap, anyway." Jesper said.
"A trap would sound easy. This is something else." Kaz said.
At least we were on the same page when it came to crime.
"Boss, boss." A man said from the doorway.
"We intercepted a note from Dreesen." The man said before Kaz had a chance to ask.
"Did you, now?" Kaz asked. His face hardened once the man entered the room.
"It's for the owner of the Orchid. Says they require the services of a Heartrender. Tonight."
"A Heartrender? Why?"
"Doesn't say. Just they need it before midnight."
"You don't bring in a Heartrender unless you need an answer out of someone who isn't willing to talk. That's how we get this job before anyone else." I was not following Kaz. "Bring Dreesen a Heartrender." I like how he thinks.
Kaz got up to leave as did I.
"Boss, just one problem." He seemed almost scared to continue. "Pekka Rollins knows."
"Pekka Rollins." Kaz echoed.
Pekka Rollins is Kaz's enemy. The one person he wants to kill most but is just as skilled as he is.
Inej and Jesper got up and the four of us left the Crow Club.
Less than an hour later
We walked out of the Orchid with Milana, a Heartrender.
"I don't really appreciate new business but you've only paid for an hour of my time and I have to be back at the Orchid." Milana stated.
"The Orchid isn't safe tonight. Your life's in danger with this job. Make yourself scarce for a few days afterwards. " Kaz said.
"Mr. Brekker, are you threatening me? Really? Even if I'm nice my boss will call the stadwatch on you."
Why does everyone have to be so lippy?
"It's not me you're in danger with. It's Pekka Rollins."
"My boss would call the stadwatch on him as well."
"Which is why your boss is already dead."
Finally! Some murder. It's been too boring recently.
We had approached Dreesen's residence at this time.
"Who are you lot?" A guard asked.
"We're here to see Dreesen." I answered.
My pretty and innocent looks can help me get things I want. If that doesn't work I have my weapons and threats.
"You're not with Pekka's crew."
"And you're not in Pekka's pocket anymore if you don't owe him." Kaz butted in. He tossed the guard a sack of coins.
He's always there to save me.
"Hey, where'd you get that coin?" Jepser asked.
"Hey! One of these has a hole in it!" The guard yelled.
"Saints, Kaz." I exclaimed from the other side of Jesper.
"Inside. Inside." Kaz ushered us inside like sheep.
I laughed. Kaz seems to be able to make me do that often.
We walked into Dreesen's office.
"One look and I can tell. Criminals." Dreesen exclaimed.
"No shit." I mumbled.
"I'm not meeting anyone tonight." He continued.
"We heard you needed a Heartrender." Kaz said.
Dreesen stood up from his chair. "Hmm. Alright, she stays as well as her, the rest of you, out. " He pointed at me.
I stepped closer to Kaz while Milana stepped forward. Kaz grabbed my arm while he held out his cane to stop Milana. The touch of his cold gloves on my bare arm sent shivers up my spine.
"The Heartrender stays but she doesn't. And we have an exclusive on this job." Kaz bargained.
"Mr. Brekker, no businessman worth his salt hires his first applicant."
"No. No, I understand. Of course, I'll have to report you to the guild for kidnapping and harboring a prisoner without chain of title."
I love the business side of Kaz.
"You wouldn't."
Bet.
"No businessman worth his salt bargains for what he can take."
Kaz let go of my arm and lowered his cane.
Dreesen stepped closer to Kaz. They made silent eye contact.
"I have to be back in an hour." Milana burst the bubble of silence.
I mildly want to kill her. Scratch that, I most definitely want to kill her.
"Alright, come on." Dreesen said as he walked out of the room. We followed close behind.
He led us down to a basement where a bedraggled man was tied to a chair. He looked physically and weather beaten. It was quite a disturbing sight.
"Who's this?" Kaz asked.
"So you don't know everything after all." Dreesen chided.
Now I want to kill two people.
"This...is Alexei Stepanov. Two weeks ago, young Alexei here crossed through the Fold on foot. Alone."
My breath hitched for two reasons. One. The shock of someone surviving the Fold on foot. Two. Kaz's hand brushed against mine. His leather gloves cold against my bare hand. It sent tingles up my arm and throughout my body.
"How?" I asked.
"They're keeping it quiet but allegedly he was one of the few witnesses to...an event."
"Water." Alexei moaned in a raspy voice. I pitied him. I walked over to the table and poured him a glass before leaning down next to his chair as he drank it.
"What kind of event?" Kaz asked as Alexei drank.
"I know an expedition was swarmed by volcra. Should've been a total loss but something happened. Some device detonated obliterated the volcra, lit up the dark like a forest fire. I know it wasn't a fire otherwise no one would have survived. This was some invention no one had seen before. He knows. But he doesn't seem to be able to articulate his account of events. Some form of traumatic lapse." Dreesen was talking about Alexei. "So..."
Milana walked towards Alexei and crouched down in front of him.
"You're safe now." She whispered. She slowly traced her fingers over his hand and wrist. "Now you can just speak and I will just listen."
"Alright." Alexei managed to get out. His breathes quickened.
"Tell me what happened in the Fold. What saved you?"
"You won't believe me but...it was a sun summoner."
We all gasped.
"Who was it?" Dreesen prodded.
"If I tell you, you'll set me free?" Alexei asked.
"You have my word. I'll set you free. You're in Ketterdam now, Alexei. You can go anywhere in the world from here. Just imagine. Come on."
"Her name is...Alina Starkov."
"Alina Starkov?"
Alexei nodded.
"Good boy. Show me the manifest."
Dreesen looked through a few papers.
"Perfect."
"You'll set me free now?"
"Thank you. Of course."
Dreesen grabbed a gun and shot and shot Alexei in the head.
I jumped and grabbed Kaz's arm.
"We are now the only people west of the Fold with this information. My ship sails for West Ravka at dawn. If you can prove you have a way through the Fold and back, I'll put you on that ship with an advance."
I really hope Kaz turns this down. This guy is unpredictable.
I realized I was still holding onto Kaz's arm and quickly let go.
Dreesen continued. "If you don't, I'm giving this job to Pekka Rollins."
He turned to leave the room.
"Give me a day. I'll have a plan." Kaz said.
I knew that Kaz was going to take the job once Pekka Rollins was mentioned.
"You have until sunrise, then your ship will have sailed, Mr. Brekker."
I wish I could kill Dreesen here and now.
He continued. "The prize is one million kruge. Now bring me Alina Starkov." And with that Dreesen left the room.