thecrowskeep

[thecrowskeep]

Bait.

Jesper Fahey x platonic!reader - but it can also be read as Jesper x reader? It’s a blurry line when it comes to Jesper, I guess.

Words: 1.1k

Warnings: mention of a gun/shooting, swearing.

Summary: You’re a bit of a chaos magnet. So obviously when you joined the Dregs Jesper became your new best friend.

Alternative summary: “So, why am I here?” You asked Jesper. Surely he could take on this guy alone. Jesper shot you a grin. “You’re the bait.”

A/N: This is really short, but I love writing Jesper dialogue so... He’s just such a fun character. I hope I did him some justice!

“So, what’s on the agenda for tonight, then?” You turned to the lanky boy next to you, as you both headed down the main street of the East Stave. It was close to midnight, and since you both had the night off, curtesy of Kaz, Jesper had invited you to join him on an evening stroll. Though, you assumed the evening stroll part was not the main event. Jesper shot you a grin, all but confirming he had something in mind.

“How do you feel about some light thievery?” You tilted your head, pretending to consider, though you knew your mind was already made up. “What am I getting out of it? I assume it’s because someone owes you something.” “Well, yes. One of the Dime Lions owes me from a bet last week.” Jesper looked down at you, with an affronted look. “And you get the pleasure of my company, obviously.” “Oh, is that all?” You scrunched your nose. “I guess I’ll head back to the Slat then…” Jesper stopped, mid stride and you let out a laugh, linking arms with him and pulling him along the cobbled street. “You better be joking.” “I am. Did I bruise your ego?” “Yes. Obviously, Y/N. I’m fantastic company.” Jesper let out a dramatic sigh. “If you help me I’ll buy you those sweets you like.” His voice was low, hoping you wouldn’t hear, but you had. You let out a whoop and added a little skip to your step. “Where are we going, then?”

—

It turned out you were headed to the Emerald Palace. Pekka Rollins’ and the Dime Lion’s pride and joy. You and Jesper stood across the street, pretending to converse amongst yourselves while keeping an eye on the garish green and gold building. Jesper had described the man you were looking for on the walk over. A big man, with a beard and dark hair. You’d rolled your eyes at him. It was the vaguest description you’d ever heard, but Jesper had assured you that he’d know the guy when he saw him. “Jes, I’m bored. We’ve been here for like an hour.” You’d noticed Jesper had also been getting twitchy. He hated being in one place for too long, so this debt was clearly important to him. “How much does this guy owe you, anyway?” Jesper looked at you, then back at the door. “A few kruge. It’s more about making a point.” Of course it is. You sighed. “I feel like you owe me waffles now, too.”

It was only a few minutes later that you felt Jesper stand up straighter beside you. You’d been distracted watching a group of men fighting a few streets away, but looked back at the doorway when you’d felt Jesper move. “That’s him.” “Are you sure?” You asked, squinting at the man who’d just left the Emerald Palace. “He looks the same as the rest of them.” “I’m sure.” Jesper replied, pushing off the wall he was leaning against and starting after the bearded man. “Let’s go.” He angled his head, a nod for you to follow. The man was alone, which was helpful if Jesper intended to rob him. It’d be easy enough on the quieter streets. “So, why am I here?” You asked Jesper. Surely he could take on this guy alone. Jesper shot you a grin. “You’re the bait.” “What?”

—

Jesper hadn’t been joking. He’d given you the basic idea of the plan in hushed tones as you walked. You were supposed to lure the man down a quieter street, off his usual path, so that Jesper could come up behind him and block the only exit.

You had both followed the man for a few blocks before Jesper had you run ahead of him down a side alley that would put you back on the main street not too far ahead. It was easy enough to spot the target in the meagre crown once you’d returned to the main walkway. He wore the most awful green vest. “Excuse me?” You called, waving him over. “What?” The man took a cautious step toward you, checking behind him in case you were directing the call to someone else. “Could you help me?” Your mind raced, trying to come up with something believable. “I’ve lost my ring, I need help to find it. It was my mothers.” The man scoffed. “Ask someone else.” He moved to keep walking. “I can pay.” It really was the magic phrase in Ketterdam. The man’s eyes lit up. “Alright, I’ll help. Where did you lose it?” You gave him a winning smile. “Somewhere on this street I think.” You gestured behind you. “Thank you, sir. You’re too kind.” “Yeah, yeah. What does it look like?” He asked, following you down the quiet street. You described the imaginary ring to the man before you both set off to look for it. It wasn’t long before you heard the familiar click of Jesper’s revolver. He was stood behind the man, the barrel aimed squarely against the man’s temple. “You owe me money, Filip.” The man, Filip, gulped. He had much less confidence with a gun now pointed at his skull. You stood up straight, brushing off your palms. “You tricked me, you little who—“ He was clearly talking to you. “Ah, don’t be like that.” Jesper taunted, pushing the barrel harder against the man, leaving a little indentation in the skin. “You should’ve just paid me before, and we wouldn’t have had to go to all this trouble.” Jesper pouted dramatically and reached down to pull a leather coin purse off of the man’s belt. The man remained silent, wary of the gun to his head. Jesper turned and gave him a shove back toward the main street. “You can go, now.” The man stumbled and took off at a run, not bothering to look back. Jesper had a grin on his face as he turned back to you. “I guess I owe you waffles?” “You’re damn right you do.” You gave Jesper a sideways glance. “Why do I always have to be the bait?” He shrugged, counting the kruge in the coin purse before looking up at you, a cheeky glint in his eye. “Because you’re excellent at it, Y/N.”

[thecrowskeep]

Ch. 6 - The third option.

Kaz Brekker x OC

Words: 2.3k

Warnings: very small mention of blood?

A/N: I mean, I know I said I wouldn’t be updating as often, but here I am again. I’ve been avoiding all my responsibilities while writing this chapter, and I’ve decided I’m okay with that. Also! If it wasn’t very clear (which it definitely wasn’t), I’m writing this with all characters in their late teens/early 20s because thats kind of the age I see them, and in a sort of AU where the whole ice court thing never happened I guess??? Like, same place they started (physically - like Nina/Matthias aren’t with the group yet) and same stage of character progression as in the start of SoC, but just older... if that makes sense? I hope it does.

Masterlist

It was closer to midday the next day when Aeyla was awoken by a knock at the door of the small room she’d spent the night in. She stood and stretched her arms. She didn’t recall when she had fallen asleep, but it was definitely closer to dawn. Aeyla took a few steps forward and opened the door. Inej stood holding a bundle of clothing, all dark coloured. She handed the pile to Aeyla, who realised she was still wearing the dark green dress, now torn and dirty at the hem.

“For you.” Inej said. “They’re mine, but I think they’ll fit you.”

“Thank you.” Inej gave her a small smile.

“You can relax for the afternoon, but don’t leave the Slat. Pekka Rollins will be looking for you. We can start your training tonight.” Aeyla blinked at the Suli girl, feeling as if things were moving rather quickly.

“Training?” She felt vulnerable asking. Aeyla knew she should have asked what she was getting herself into before she left the Emerald Palace, but the urge to escape had overtaken her rational thoughts.

“You’ll be a spider for the Dregs. Collect secrets.” Inej said, simply. “You’re small, and I’ve seen you dodge Rollins’ men in the markets. I think you’ll be good at it.”

“Like a spy?” Aeyla asked, and Inej truly smiled.

“Yes, like a spy. I’ll come find you tonight?” Aeyla nodded, giving Inej a small smile of her own. The Suli girl turned and left down the corridor, again leaving Aeyla’s door open for her to close when she was ready.

After Inej had taken her leave, Aeyla dressed in the dark gear she had been provided with. The dark breeches and tunic smelled like soap, a welcome change from the cloying perfume she was required to wear at the Emerald Palace. She pulled her red hair back into a tight and practical braid, and slipped on the pair of simple, thin-soled leather slippers. Inej had also provided her with a dark hooded cloak, which Aeyla folded and placed in the dresser, knowing she likely wouldn’t need it until the evening chill settled over the city. She could feel anticipation creeping up on her. Even through the fear and the pain, last night had been exhilarating. Aeyla was used to the rush of adrenaline she got from picking pockets, but it was nothing compared to what she felt climbing the Emerald Palace and the steady jog through the streets and back alleys in the heart of Ketterdam. After months holed up in a casino it was freeing. Aeyla was looking forward to the training with Inej. She found herself liking the other girl’s quiet manner. The evening wouldn’t come fast enough.

Aeyla spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the quieter areas of the Slat — as Inej had called the run down building. It was much quieter in the mid-afternoon that it had been in the early hours of the morning, and Aeyla figured that said a lot about the inhabitants of the place. The floor she had resided on for the night appeared to be mostly made up of more bedrooms and storage space. There were two floors above, the first mainly made up of what appeared to be bedrooms spanning down crooked hallways. The top floor of the house had only a single door at the top of the stairs. Aeyla had assumed it led to some kind of attic space, but had found the door locked when she’d tried the handle.

“I wouldn’t go in there, if I were you.” Aeyla spun on the spot, startled by the voice behind her. It was the Zemeni boy from the casino. He was leant on the banister of the stairway, picking at his nails. “Kaz doesn’t like his scheming time interrupted.” Jesper, Aeyla recalled. He squinted at her. “Hey, aren’t you one of Rollins’ girls?”

“No.” She moved to walk past the boy, who stepped into her path.

“Should you be here?” His tone was accusatory, and Aeyla didn’t appreciate it.

“Let me past.” Jesper scoffed at the request.

“Yeah, like that’s likely.” Sarcasm dripped from his tone, he was clearly still offended by what had happened at the Emerald Palace. He moved to grab hold of Aeyla’s arm, in the same way Eldar did. In her panic she went for the knife still strapped to her thigh and pushed the tip against his open hand, drawing a bead of blood.

“Don’t touch me.” The boy raised the hand, palm out, as if signalling he wouldn’t, but Aeyla hadn’t missed the fact that his other hand had moved toward the holster on his hip.

“Leave her alone, Jes.” Inej’s voice came from behind the boy. Aeyla hadn’t seen her arrive past the boy’s tall frame, and knew she wouldn’t’ve heard her either. Jesper turned around, his posture relaxing visibly as he registered the situation.

“Ah!” He clapped his hands together, weapon forgotten. “Kaz has finally let you have a protégé?” Inej nodded, looking past him at Aeyla.

“Ready to go?” She asked, and Aeyla realised she meant it was time to begin training. She nodded an ascent, stepping past Jesper, who’d moved to the side to let her pass.

“Y’know, I liked you better before you stole from me.” He said as she passed, matter-of-factly. Aeyla ignored the jab. Inej raised a challenging eyebrow at him, and he again raised his palms in defence, miming locking his mouth and dropping the imaginary key.

—

“You fight too…” Inej hesitated, thinking of the word. “Properly.”

“Oh.” Was all Aeyla could muster in her out of breath state. Her and Inej had been sparring on the roof of one of the taller buildings in the Barrel for the better part of an hour, and she was starting to wear out. Inej had bested her each time. It made sense, though. Aeyla had been trained to fight at the Little Palace, where fighting ‘properly’ was encouraged. Not that Inej knew that. She had asked where Aeyla had learnt, and Aeyla had lied and said she’d been taught by a friend who had been a soldier. Aeyla had never been the best while training at the Little Palace, though she was never the worst. She had been slightly above average, overall, but definitely one of the better healers when it came to hand-to-hand combat.

“Again.” Inej said, raising her hands in a defensive position. Aeyla stood up straighter, mimicking the stance. “You don’t have to fight so properly. Try not to think about it.” Inej suggested. Aeyla nodded, her eyes tracking the other girls movements as she took a wary step forward. Inej ducked quickly and swung a leg out, clearly meaning to sweep Aeyla’s feet out from underneath her. Aeyla jumped, reflexively, and threw a kick at Inej. It barely brushed the other girl’s side as she spun out of reach. Inej was taunting her, staying just out of reach of every blow, and getting in little jabs here and there at Aeyla’s body where she could. Aeyla was getting frustrated. She was exhausted and her hits weren’t landing like they did at the start of the night. Would Inej ever tire?

Aeyla’s tipping point came when Inej landed a particularly hard kick to the side of her shin, knocking the leg out from underneath her and sending her sprawling onto the concrete of the roof.

“You’re getting sloppy.” Inej said, stepping backwards to observe the girl.

“I’ll show you sloppy.” Growled Aeyla under her breath. She moved her hands underneath her body, pushing up from the ground to stand, and at the same time gathering a handful of small, pointed stones that had been poking her ribs into her fist. In the same swift movement in which Aeyla used to stand, she flung the fistful of stones at the other girl’s face. Inej, not expecting it the onslaught of pebbles, flinched, giving time for Aeyla to launch her full body at the other girl. Inej fell with a light ‘oof’ from the weight on top of her as they both hit the concrete. Aeyla rolled away to lay flat on her back, giving in to the exhaustion. Inej sat up and let out a short laugh.

“I wasn’t expecting that, that was good.” Aeyla just grunted in response, still needing a minute to catch her breath, but she realised she was smiling.

The pair rested for a while on the rooftop in silence before it was broken by the chiming of the city bells, indicating the late hour. Lying flat on the rooftop still, Aeyla gazed over at Inej who was facing the sky.

“How long have you been with the Dregs?” She couldn’t help but be curious about the Suli girl. Inej spoke, without looking at Aeyla.

“A few years now, I think.” Why? Aeyla wanted to ask, but Inej spoke again, answering the question without it being asked. “I was indentured at the Menagerie. Kaz thought I’d be useful to him, so he bought my indenture and trained me as a spider.” Aeyla recognised the Menagerie as the name of one of the pleasure houses on Ketterdam’s West Stave. It made sense. She was reminded of the way Inej tried to step forward when Pekka Rollins had grabbed her at the Emerald Palace.

“So, Kaz is the leader of the Dregs?” Inej laughed at the question, but also appeared relieved by the change of topic.

“Not officially. Per Haskell leads the Dregs, but he lets Kaz do all the dirty work while he drinks and gambles.”

“Is he always so…?” Aeyla scrunched her nose, thinking of a word to describe the boy.

“Abrasive?” Inej suggested. “Usually. You either like him or you don’t.” She said simply, with a smile and a shrug of her narrow shoulders.

“There’s no third option?” Aeyla asked, trying her hand at a joke. To her credit, Inej did give a short laugh before they both lapsed back into the comfortable silence for a few minutes more.

Inej stood first, brushing off her palms. Aeyla followed with a groan, her ribs still ached from the sparring practice and she was almost certain she had a bruise forming on her jawline. It had been satisfying, though. To use muscles she hadn’t worked in months.

“We should go back to the Slat.” Inej said, stretching her arms over her head. “You should rest tonight. Tomorrow night I’ll show you around Ketterdam. I’m guessing you haven’t seen much more than the markets at the East Stave?” Aeyla shook her head. She hadn’t had a chance to explore much of the city while she’d been indentured at the Emerald Palace, but she’d managed to gain a general understanding of Ketterdam’s layout from conversations she’d been a party to and exchanges she’d overheard. Inej shot Aeyla a sudden grin, as if she’d come up with the world’s most brilliant idea. “Try to keep up with me.”

Inej took a few steps backward, away from Aeyla, then took off at a sprint towards the edge of the roof. She leapt easily over the gap to a slightly lower but angled roof a few feet away, continuing the run. Aeyla hesitated for a second, surprised. It was long enough for Inej to gain a decent head start, before Aeyla took off after the other girl. The first leap was the most nerve wracking, being so high above the Ketterdam skyline. Upon landing on the angled roof, Aeyla’s foot skittered out from under her on the dew dampened tiling. Her heart skipped a beat, before it regained its rhythm as her foot found a hold. Aeyla didn’t know how she was managing to keep up with Inej, but she was. Though, she suspected the other girl had slowed her pace at certain points to make sure Aeyla was able to follow the path she was creating for them both. With every step Aeyla found herself becoming more comfortable in knowing her own body and testing the limitations of that knowledge. She was shocked, a little, at her own abilities. Though her ribs ached still from sparing at every sharp intake of breath, she couldn’t help but push herself faster and faster over rooftops and around obstacles, chasing Inej’s shadow. The adrenaline was intoxicating, and nothing like she’d ever felt before. And it felt like it was over before it had even really begin, as both girls arrived back at the Slat. They were on a nearby roof this time, rather than at the front door. Inej took a running leap across quite a significant gap, and swung through one of the Slat’s open upper windows using the window frame as leverage. Aeyla followed suit, landing with a much clumsier thud than Inej’s silent drop onto the hardwood flooring, but landing all the same. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Inej said, with a smile and nod at the red-haired girl. Aeyla, still out of breath, just nodded back, a grin plastered on her wind-numbed cheeks. She was still buzzing with adrenaline as she took the route downstairs to her cramped bedroom.

It wasn’t hard to fall asleep after the excitement had started wearing off. Aeyla was exhausted, though thoughts still spun in her head as she drifted off, wrapped up in the blankets. Someone had left old clothes in her room that she’d changed into to sleep in. Aeyla found herself realising she was growing fond of the Suli girl, despite her wariness of the situation surrounding her new indenture with the Dregs. She just seemed so genuine. It didn’t fit with the picture of hardened gang thugs that Aeyla had created in her mind, and it was disorientating. And as much as she had been enjoying herself so far with the Dregs, working at the Emerald Palace had started off in the same way before it had devolved into a nightmare. Aeyla had to keep her guard up. 

[thecrowskeep]

~Masterlist~

Series:

The Third Option (Kaz Brekker x OC):

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

One-shots/Requests:

Bait - Jesper x platonic!reader

Feel free to send any requests/prompts to my asks for one-shots! I will write for any character in the Six of Crows Duology + I will add to this list when I feel confident about writing for other series. I don’t write smut, so please don’t ask for that.

[thecrowskeep]

Ch. 5 - The third option.

Kaz Brekker x OC

Words: 2.7k

Warnings: I can’t remember, but nothing any worse than the previous chapters.

A/N: Another chapter! This time with some POV changes. I feel like I’m really starting to get into the story I want to tell now, but updates might be a little slower due to goings on in my personal life, so sorry! Also, thank you all for the likes and follows so far, and again I’d love to hear any thoughts you have on the story.

Masterlist

It was the next day at the markets when Aeyla could’ve sworn she’d seen the Suli girl, Inej, again. Flitting across nearby rooftops in her near-black attire. The shadow had a scarf pulled across the bottom half of her face and hair, but Aeyla recognised the slight figure from the way she moved weightlessly, like candle smoke caught in the lightest puff of air. It was curious, that she was seeing Inej so soon after the events of the previous evening, after having never seen her in her previous months in Ketterdam. She was likely on more business for Brekker. Aeyla figured. Shrugging off the thoughts into the calm morning air.

The markets were extra busy this morning, owing to the fact a ship had docked in 5th harbour at early dawn, releasing a gaggle of tourists. Their bumbling nature and the way they didn’t know which stall they’d wanted to see first made it easy for Aeyla to slip away from her guard. It wasn’t Eldar, this morning, however, she didn’t care to ponder the reason why. Perhaps Eldar was too busy murdering and thieving today.

Once out of sight of the guard, Aeyla took off toward the market vendor who’d been reliable in buying the goods she’d collected throughout her shifts at the Emerald Palace. She had only a pocket-watch to sell today, the Palace had been slimmer pickings than usual, and it didn’t help that Aeyla’s confidence had taken a knock after being caught by Brekker.

“One kruge.” Aeyla gaped at the stall vendors offer. “It’s worth at least three kruge.” She argued, but the bearded man raised his hands to stop her from arguing further. “I buy everything you bring, but it ain’t selling. My family still has to eat.” He gestured to a few items at the stall that Aeyla recognised from weeks past. “One kruge. Take it or leave it.” It was true. Aeyla figured the vendor had some pity for her, and she’d banked on that every time she came to sell to him. “Fine.” Aeyla handed over the watch and pocketed the kruge. It was better than nothing and more useful the keeping the watch, unless she really needed to tell the time. Which she didn’t. “Next time bring me something people will buy.” The vendor called as she took her leave. Aeyla raised a hand to acknowledge she’d heard him, as she prepared to put her damsel in distress act on for her new guard.

—

“She’s clever, and she’s quick — without any training. I can train her, Kaz. She’ll be useful.” Kaz sighed and ran a hand over his face. He and Inej stood in his office at the Slat. He was behind his desk with his back to her, though, he could imagine the pleading look in Inej’s eye. They’d had this same conversation many times before today. “You can’t save every indentured girl in this saints forsaken city, Inej.” He snapped. Kaz hadn’t meant it to come out so harshly, but it had, as it so often did. “But I can save this one.” He turned to her. Inej’s mouth was set in a determined line, her chin jutted out stubbornly. He found her willingness to take on training a new prospective spider equally as admirable as it was irritating. He knew she preferred to work alone. Kaz also knew exactly when Inej had decided she’d wanted to rescue Pekka Rollins’ new trophy. He’d noted the furious glint in her eye when Pekka had grabbed the girl around the neck in his office, and had been expecting this conversation ever since. He’d planned on denying her in that moment, but the fact that Rollins’ had backed out of a chance to pull one over on the Dregs crew for this girls safety had piqued his interest. And the fact that Rollins never let her outside the Emerald Palace without a guard. There had to be a reason. Kaz just needed to find out what it was. Plus, Kaz couldn’t help but take pleasure in stealing Pekka Rollins’ new favourite toy. “Fine.” “I—“ Inej started to argue, but cut herself off. She blinked at Kaz, surprised. “Fine?” “Yes, fine.” Kaz sighed. “But she’ll be your responsibility until she’s useful to me.” He could see Inej’s pitiful attempt at disguising her triumphant glee. “Thank you, Kaz.” “Don’t thank me yet. You’ll still need to steal the indenture contract and get her out of the Emerald Palace.” Inej nodded. “I can do that.” Her confidence in her own ability was well justified, and Kaz hoped her confidence in this girl was, too. “Go, then. Before I change my mind.” Inej took off out of the office without another word. He didn’t miss the extra spring in her quiet step.

—

Inej had waited until the city was cloaked by the blanket of night before she left the Slat for the Emerald Palace. It wasn’t a long trip, but it had giver her enough time to develop a plan. She planned to case the joint, essentially, while she knew the majority of the upstairs of the Place would be empty during the casino’s opening hours. She’d have to find a way in and out of Pekka Rollins’ office in order to steal the Kaelish girls indenture contract. Inej knew she’d also need to speak to the girl, to make sure this was something she wanted. Life with the Dregs wasn’t perfect. Or easy, thought Inej. But it was likely better than any prospective future this girl had working for Pekka Rollins. Inej could offer her a way out.

Finding Pekka Rollins’ office was simple. Inej knew the man was prideful and it was obvious he’d have a space that looked down over the floor of the casino. She’d also been taught enough about picking locks by Kaz to feel confident that she would be able to get into the room once the Emerald Palace had closed. Now it was a waiting game.

Inej perched on the roof of the building across from the side of the Palace. From here she could see into a window looking down the main corridor where the majority of the girls who lived in the Palace resided. Slowly, they’d been returning from their work, still clad in their green silk uniforms. Some had arrived in groups, laughing and chatting about the evening, some had returned alone and yawning. From this distance it was difficult for Inej to see their faces, and it didn’t help that the girls all had the same Kaelish colouring to their hair. But, judging by demeanour she didn’t think the girl she was looking for had yet returned from her work. Odd, Inej thought, after the tide of workers returning had begun to slow. The girl didn’t seem the type to hang about and gossip after a shift. Had she not been working tonight?.

Inej had almost given up for the night when a figure rounded the corner of the stairwell doorway. She’d perked up, recognising the red-haired girls manner of walking from the night they’d met. She was graceful, but in the way a fighter was, rather than a dancer. The Kaelish girl rubbed her neck, absentmindedly as she reached her own door in the hallway, fiddling with the lock. Inej noted it was on the closer side, about 3 doors in. She knew from her initial survey of the building the girls room had one of the more difficult to get to windows, likely intentionally, but it wouldn’t be an issue for her in any case. It would maybe be an issue to get the girl out of the Palace through the window, but Inej would cross that bridge when she arrived at it.

—

Aeyla almost dropped the facecloth she was carrying in surprise when she spotted a pair of dark eyes through the washroom window. She had felt for a few minutes beforehand like she was being watched, though thought nothing of it, initially, considering she was in a locked room on an upper floor. Though a scarf covered the bottom half of the girls face, Aeyla immediately recognised the Suli girl from the other night — Inej. They stared at each other for a moment before Aeyla took a step toward the window, her guard rising. “What are you doing here? Does your boss need me as insurance again?” Aeyla narrowed her eyes, keeping her voice low enough that it wouldn’t drift through the open windows of other rooms. “I won’t be passed around like an object.” The Suli girl flinched at that. “I’m here to offer you a position with the Dregs.” Aeyla raised a brow, an indication for the other girl to continue. “You’ll train with me. It won’t be as easy as your life here—“ Inej was cut off by Aeyla’s scoff, but continued after a brief hesitation. “But I’m sure it will be preferable.” Aeyla knew she’d do almost anything to escape Pekka Rollins’ grasp, though she still hesitated, wary of the catch. “And if I agree?” “I’ll steal your indenture contract from Rollins. You’ll be indentured to the Dregs, instead, but you’ll be able to pay it off. It’s a way out. You’ll leave here tonight.” Inej spoke with a surety that felt comforting. It’s a way out. Aeyla shoved her hopes down, as they rose up in her chest. “And the catch?” “Like I said, it won’t be easy. But I saw the way Rollins was treating you—“ Aeyla felt the familiar shame filled flush creep into her cheeks as she cut Inej off. “Stop. I’ll do it.” Inej nodded once, she was nothing if not efficient. “I’ll be back within the hour. Be ready to leave.” Aeyla didn’t have a chance to reply before Inej had disappeared downwards, and out of her view.

Aeyla turned to the room behind her. Was she really about to escape the Palace? She had no reason not to trust Inej, but also no real reason to trust her either. Anything was better than staying here.

—

Aeyla had collected her meagre belongings in a ripped piece of an old dress, tied tightly into a sort of sack. At the bottom was her stash of kruge, and tied tightly to her thigh under her dress was the knife she’d kept tucked under her pillow for weeks. She wrapped a section of the ripped silk carrying her stash around her shoulder and back, to carry it as a satchel and leave her hands free. She wore the green dress she’d be given to wear at the Emerald Palace during the day. It wasn’t the ideal escape outfit, but it was more reasonable than wearing her silks, and Aeyla owned nothing else. It would have to do for the time being. Nerves and excitement tinged her every action as she waited for Inej’s return, pacing the room from the door to the washroom window. She figured close to an hour had passed while she debated what to bring with her a what to leave behind.

A creaking noise at the window caught Aeyla’s attention. She moved quickly over towards the it only to watch as the bars fell away to reveal Inej, a crowbar grasped tightly in one small hand and her other hand gripping the window frame. Aeyla heard the bars clatter on the cobbled alley below, a reminder of how far up they were. “Can you climb?” Inej asked, with an urgency in her voice that Aeyla hadn’t heard from the girl before. She nodded, her mouth dry. It was a lie, but she knew she’d have to believe it if she wanted to be free of this place. “Good, follow me.” Inej moved sideways away from the window frame, gripping handholds on the rough stone wall that were invisible to red-haired girl. Aeyla shoved her fear aside and gripped the window frame in the same way Inej had, manoeuvring her body through the tight space. Her fingers searched tentatively for grip on the outer wall of the Palace, eventually finding cracks in the stone facade big enough for her to hold on to. Aeyla’s fear only increased when she realised she’d have to forgo the safety of her footholds on the window frame if she was going to follow Inej, who was already feet above her as she scaled the wall. A cold breeze whipped at Aeyla’s ankles as she moved a foot sideways onto the stone of the wall, searching for grip like she had with her hands. She wasn’t able to feel for the cracks with her leather clad feet like she had with her fingers. A breath caught in her throat, panic threatening to swallow her rational thoughts. She moved her foot back to the safety of the window ledge and kicked off the shoes she wore, not daring to watch as they tumbled to the street below. Now shoeless, Aeyla was able to locate footholds in the stone. She was much slower than Inej, but slowly ascended the building after the Suli girl, her arms burning with the effort by the time she was close to the top.

Aeyla hauled herself over the edge of the roof, on to the flat surface, just as she heard voices in the alley below. They had likely been alerted by the sounds of the iron bars clattering on the stone, and Aeyla was thankful that  she’d made it up the wall in time. She couldn’t turn back now. Her arms shook, but she wasn’t sure if it was from fear, cold, or the adrenaline coursing through her body. Likely a combination of all three. She didn’t even have time to catch her breath before Inej was off again, leading her down a ladder on the far side of the roof into an alleyway Aeyla recognised as being out the back of the Emerald Palace. The pair wound their way silently through a similar route as their previous journey to the Crow Club, but passed by the club this time instead of entering. Aeyla guessed Inej was likely taking her to Dregs headquarters, rather than the casino facade they had built themselves.

Aeyla’s bare feet stung from the cold and the harsh cut of stone by the time they’d reached their destination. Inej hadn’t slowed her pace to account for the fact, and Aeyla found herself breathless, not use to this kind of constant exertion from her months at the Emerald Palace. “In here.” Inej nodded Aeyla toward a crooked, wooden building sandwiched between larger structures on either side, that appeared to be keeping the wooden structure standing. She could hear laughter and yelling from inside, more rowdy than the Emerald Palace, and hesitated at the door. Was this what she wanted? To be in the same debt, just to a different master? Aeyla shrugged the doubt off and squared her shoulders. In the time it took her to make the decision, Inej had moved past her and opened the door. Aeyla followed her into the establishment.

The room was crowded by mainly rough looking men, yelling and hollering over drinks and card games. The inside was also a good reflection of the outside, with tilting support beams and dark wood walls, though Aeyla didn’t have much of a chance to get a look at the interior as she followed Inej, who was slipping through the crowd like a shadow.

Up the stairs, Inej led Aeyla to a small room. It was similar in size and content to her room at the Emerald Palace, but was closer to her memories of her farm home in its rustic decor. A patched armchair sat opposite a bed and dresser. The bed was draped in a maroon blanket and covered in an assortment of mismatched and misshapen pillows, and the dresser was scratched and worn from use. “You can stay here the night.” Inej’s voice was quiet from the doorway. “I’ll see you in the morning?” The fact that it was a question rather than a statement softened Aeyla. She turned to the girl and nodded. She dropped her makeshift satchel on to the bed covers, the kruge inside clinking lightly against each other. “Thank you.” Inej gave her a soft smile in response, and disappeared in her usual way, leaving Aeyla to close and lock the door in her own time. Inej likely thought nothing of it, but to Aeyla it was a hint at the freedom and independence she might soon have with the Dregs.

[thecrowskeep]

Ch. 4 - The third option.

Kaz Brekker x OC

Words: 2.6k

Warnings: Not as many this chapter, mentions of killing/sexual assault?

A/N: This chapter has taken a little longer than usual as I was really trying to get the characters right, so I hope I have! Also, this is like the third time i’ve written out this post because tumblr keep deleting it so, yeah. Apologies for any formatting mistakes, im annoyed.

Masterlist

Aeyla felt her heart rate spike as she got closer to Rollins’ office. She could still feel the cool weight of the revolver she’d stolen from the Zemeni boy on her thigh. If this meeting went well for Rollins, he’d likely find the gun when he forced himself upon her. Unless she killed him, first. The thought made Aeyla’s head spin. She’d never killed before. She was a healer. But she definitely hated Pekka Rollins enough to do it. 

She couldn’t help it as her fear seeped in to the thoughts. What if she froze? What would happen to her? She’d almost definitely be killed by Eldar, whether she managed to kill Rollins or not. She could see his own gun holstered on his hip as he opened the door to the office for her, a gentlemanly action as he led her to her the metaphorical gallows. Did it matter if she was killed? Aeyla figured it was not as though she had much to live for anymore. No one to miss her. She steeled her resolve. If Pekka Rollins went to touch her tonight, she’d kill him. And maybe she’d do it anyway, even if he didn’t.

Once in Rollins office he’d waved her to fetch him a drink, distracted, thankfully, by the paperwork on his desk he was shuffling through. When the drink had been delivered, she stood behind him on the opposite side to Eldar, as was typical during the meetings, hands clasped behind her back to hide the anticipatory shake. Aeyla was surprised the other men couldn’t hear her heart thudding against her ribcage in the quiet of the room, to her it felt thunderous.

“What business, Brekker?” Aeyla started from her thoughts at the sudden breaking of the silence. She hadn’t noticed anyone enter the room, too distracted by planning Rollins’ demise. Pekka Rollins hadn’t even looked up from his papers to greet the three stood in front of him. It was the boy with the cane from the casino who’d led the group, behind him on either side was the dark-skinned Zemeni boy, and a Suli girl who Aeyla hadn’t seen before. They all looked of a similar age to her. What business could they have with Rollins? She was used to him meeting businessmen, merchers, other gang leaders… Not a trio of teenagers. Aeyla’s mind skipped to the gun still hung on her thigh. Were they here to rat her out to Rollins? No. She shook the thought. Rollins had been expecting them. “Rollins.” The dark haired boy’s voice was raspy, in a way that matched his demeanour perfectly. He gave a curt nod, as was curtesy. “I need to send a crew through Dime Lions territory.” Rollins looked up at that, and Aeyla realised the trio must be associated with a gang. Aeyla ran through the one’s she’d heard of in her mind. The Black Tips? Possibly. “On what business?” Aeyla didn’t need to see his face to know he had a greedy glint in his gaze. There was nothing Pekka Rollins loved more than kruge. “A job.” Clearly the boy wasn’t keen to elaborate. “And what’s in it for me?” Rollins leant back in his chair, sizing up the boy, who appeared to be expecting this question. “A ten percent cut of the profits.” Rollins laughed at that. “Fifteen percent and we have a deal, boy.” The boy, Brekker, nodded once. His face was grim. “Fifteen percent. And the Dregs go through, unharmed.” “No harm will come to your crew from the Lions.” Rollins agreed with a nod. “Good.” Brekker looked over, suddenly, at Aeyla. He didn’t look at her like Rollins’ other associates did, taking in her figure. Instead, he’d looked her directly in the eye, then back at Rollins, his eyes narrowed. “Then we’ll take the girl with us. As insurance.” It was clearly a challenge to Rollins’ honesty. “She’ll be returned to you in the morning, so long as no harm comes to my crew.” Rollins’ lip curled, but he’d nodded an assent. “The deal is the deal.” “The deal is the deal.” The boy repeated, clasping both hands together on the grip of his cane. His face remained impassive.

Rollins stood from his desk. He turned to Aeyla so unexpectedly that she felt her heart stutter. She tried to step back, but Rollins had already wrapped a meaty hand around her jaw, angling her eyes up to meet his own. From the corner of her eye, Aeyla saw the Suli girl, who had been still up until this point, step forward. The boy lifted his cane in a practiced movement, the grip coming to rest at the height of the Suli girl’s chest, barring her from going any further.

Rollins’ breath was hot and rancid on Aeyla’s face, dragging her memories of the night he’d bought her from the slavers to the surface. She felt as if she were drowning in the stench of the ship once again. “Any funny business, girl, and I’ll kill that Kaelish boy you’re friendly with.” His voice was so low, and his face so close to her own, that she doubted anyone inside the room apart from her had heard him. Aeyla’s cheeks burned in shame, and in anger at herself. She was the one with a weapon, and yet once again she found herself frozen in place by a threat. He dropped her chin and stepped back to his desk. “Go.” The way the Suli girl looked at her, when Rollins let her go, sent another wave of suffocating shame and anger through Aeyla’s veins.

Aeyla followed the dark haired boy, Brekker, and the Zemeni boy, who she’d been close to forgetting was there during the preceding meeting, out of the office in silence. She assumed the Suli girl was following, though she could not hear any footfalls behind her. Her mind ticked over with the implications of the situation. That she was being treated like an object, to be passed amongst these people like a bartering chip in a game. Was this what her life was to be, now?

Once outside the Emerald Palace, the air was crisp and abuzz with the noise of the night. Street lamps shone spotlights on the seedy goings on of the Stave at this hour, and the cobbled street crawled with unsavoury characters who were all ignored by the group as they stepped to the side of the entrance to the Palace. The boy in charge of the trio turned to Aeyla, all business as he rested his cane against a nearby wall and adjusted the leather gloves that clad his hands. Up close, she was able to get a better look at the cane. The grip was moulded metal made to look like a crows head. It looked weighty and vicious. Aeyla’s brow furrowed. She vaguely recalled a crow being the symbol of one of the gangs of Ketterdam. The Dregs. Corym had told her they were a lesser gang, one made up of petty thieves, mostly. Though, this boy didn’t give off the image of a simple petty thief. He was dressed like a mercher, in his tailored black clothes, and Aeyla would’ve sworn he could have been one in a different life based on nothing but the intelligent gleam in his dark coffee eyes. Like a crow. She thought, appreciating the dark humour of whatever entity had created the boy.

“Inej will see to accommodation for you. You’ll be returned to Pekka Rollins in the morning, if all goes to plan.” Brekker hadn’t look at her as he spoke. She was just a pawn in his deal with Rollins. Bastard. The Suli girl, Inej, who Aeyla hadn’t heard or seen since the office seemed to appear at her side as if out of the hazy night air, itself. She nodded, once, to the dark boy, acknowledging the order. Inej was around the same height as Aeyla, perhaps slightly shorter, and was dressed practically, in a dark tunic and cloak, breeches, and a quilted vest. Her mouth was set with a serious determination as she looked at the boy in front of her, and then at Aeyla. Brekker turned to the Zemeni boy, who bounced on the balls of his feet, appearing energised by the cool night air. “Jesper, you’re with me.” “Finally, some action.” Jesper looked like a child who’d been presented a basket of sweets, fizzing with excited energy. “I was starting to think you brought me along just to bore me to death, Kaz.” He spoke with the same cheeky confidence he’d had shown at the tables. “You’ll need your guns.” “I always—“ The boy with the cane, Kaz, cut Jesper off. He held out a hand toward Aeyla, gloved palm up. Her stomach sank. She’d been close to believing she’d gotten away with it. Jesper’s brows met in confusion.

Aeyla shifted aside the fabric of her dress at the slit that ran to her mid-thigh, and removed the revolver from its makeshift holster, placing it handle side first in Brekker’s hand. Jesper’s jaw had dropped almost comically as he recognised his weapon. His hands flew, automatically, to the holsters on his hip, and at finding one empty he looked appalled. “You little…” Jesper didn’t finish the thought, just shook his head at Aeyla in disbelief. The Suli girl, Inej, let out a short laugh. The corner of Brekker’s mouth quirked, almost imperceptibly, in amusement, as he handed the weapon back to the Zemeni boy, Jesper. “You’re too much of a flirt, Jes.” Inej smiled and shook her head, patting the boy once on the shoulder, in mock condolence. “No such thing.” Jesper grumbled, re-holstering the revolver on his hip, a wary eye on Aeyla. She looked blankly back at him, annoyed at herself for losing her advantage over Pekka Rollins. “Let’s go, Jesper.” Brekker angled his head in a nod toward the far side of the street, before stepping away, grabbing his cane off the wall it was leaning against in a single, swift movement. With a final curt nod toward Inej and Aeyla, he turned his back completely to them, his cane clicking audibly on the cobbles as he walked. Jesper, still looking sheepish, followed.

“You’ll stay at the Crow Club, tonight.” Inej turned to Aeyla, after watching Kaz and Jesper melt into an alley on the far side of the cobbled street. Aeyla had heard of the Crow Club. It was another gambling den further south on the Ketterdam’s East Stave than the Emerald Palace. It was owned by the Dregs, Aeyla recalled. She hadn’t been there herself, but there were often men outside the Palace talking in loud voices about how much kruge they’d made at the Crow Club that night. They were likely Brekker’s men, attempting to pull patrons further south. It usually worked, too. Aeyla just nodded to the Suli girl.

The walk was short. Inej kept a quick pace through the night air, wary of drunk passers by. Though Aeyla figured Inej was skilled enough to watch out for them both, since Brekker had not seemed concerned, she couldn’t help but wrap her arms tightly around herself as large groups of raucous men passed. They were still just two girls alone in the early hours of the morning, in a city not known for its pleasantness.

Inej guided her into a building with a black and crimson facade. There was no name printed in bold letters above the doorway, like at the emerald palace. Instead the way was marked by a large silver crow, its wings spread above the width of the entrance. A bouncer at the door gave Inej a nod as they passed, which she returned politely. Inside the club was quiet. The main hall of the den consisted of a few card tables decorated in red and black fabric, matching the exterior. Doors around the sides of the room hinted at enclosed private gambling parlours that Aeyla knew many of the clubs housed for more esteemed or private customers. The hall appeared smaller than the Emerald Palace, though Aeyla knew it was likely only due to the lacquered black walls and dark wood flooring. Like the Emerald Palace, the Crow Club had no visible windows, either. The combination of this with the dark interior had Aeyla feeling claustrophobic. The feeling only intensified when Inej led her through a doorway and up a staircase into a tight hallway lined with doors. Aeyla had to steady herself on a doorframe. It was a repeat of her first night at the Emerald Palace. If Inej noticed the hitch in Aeyla’s breathing, she said nothing.

Inej opened a door down the further end of the corridor, indicating gently for Aeyla to enter, as if encouraging a scared animal. The room was much nicer than hers at the Palace. It was small, still, but furnished with a soft black velvet chair in one corner, and a bed with a black cover tucked into another. The room was clearly for paying clients of the Crow Club who’d decided to call it a night and stay, rather than traveling back to their own cushy living space outside of the East Stave.

Aeyla turned to Inej, who stood statue still in the doorway. She’d opened her mouth to say something to Aeyla, who’d been silent the whole trip so far, but seemed to think better of it as she closed her mouth again. The sympathy in her eyes spoke volumes, however. “I’ll be nearby. If you need anything.” Inej said finally, before giving Aeyla a slight nod, and vanishing beyond the edge of the doorframe.

Aeyla closed the door, clicking the internal locking mechanism. She figured Inej, or someone nearby, likely had a key, but locking the door still felt at least a little reassuring.

The night was a sleepless one for Aeyla. She found herself curled on the chair for the majority of it, craning her neck at every noise from the hall. She had no watch on her to tell the time, but kept track of the bells that rang, echoing throughout the city, and watched the sun rise through the haze of smog from a gap in the dark curtains of the room’s only window.

It was only a few short hours later that Aeyla had been guided back to the Emerald Palace and back to Pekka Rollins, true to Kaz Brekker’s deal. Again, she had followed Inej’s brisk pace through the streets. It had been busier than the previous night, but Aeyla knew the streets of the East Stave didn’t truly come alive until the early evening when the majority of the gambling dens opened to the public.

Rollins dismissed Inej with a wave of his hand after he had checked Aeyla over for any damage, like a shipment he’d been expecting. Aeyla clenched her jaw, frustrated at being handed around like an object, though she did her best to hide it for fear of Rollins’ hand hovering near the corner of her vision. It may have been her imagination, but Aeyla was sure she’d seen Inej hesitate at the door before she took her leave. Likely to report back to Brekker.

“You said nothing to them, girl?” Rollins asked, after watching Inej leave the Emerald Palace from the window in which he had a clear view of the casino floor. “No, sir.” Aeyla had replied. He hadn’t looked at her when he’d asked, just gone back to the papers on his desk. A good sign. “Leave, then.” Aeyla let out the breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding as she’d turned to leave the office. Her head throbbed with exhaustion, and for once she couldn’t wait to get back to her room.

[thecrowskeep]

Ch. 3 - The third option.

Kaz Brekker x OC

Words: 2.5k

Warnings: Physical abuse, sexual assault (mostly implied), mentions of blood/gore/vomit.

A/N: The story is getting a little darker in this chapter. It's more about Aeyla's life at the Emerald Palace. There might even be a few familiar faces this chapter. I'm really enjoying writing this, so please let me know if you are enjoying reading - it's super motivating to have a little feedback!

Masterlist

It’d been a few weeks since Aeyla had become indentured to Pekka Rollins. She’d learnt a lot in those few weeks, about Pekka Rollins and the Dime Lions, and about the city — though she still hadn’t been allowed out of the Emerald Palace. In all honesty, it hadn’t been that bad. Aeyla was adaptable, and she’d never really felt at home since she’d left the Wandering Isle as a child. So, this new situation was no different, really.

She got along with Shea well while they worked together in the evenings, and during the day she spent time with Corym. He’d been working at the bar of the Emerald Palace, mostly. But he’d also been out with some of Rollins’ other men, drumming up customers. Corym had been teaching Aeyla to pick pockets in his free time away from the Dime Lions. He said it’d been how he was caught by the slavers. Picked the wrong pocket. Aeyla was getting good at it, too. She quickly realised she could manipulate the moods of patrons in the Palace, and then swipe what she could while they were relaxed. It helped when they’d had a bit to drink and were distracted by the cards, alongside a bit of well timed flirting. Corym sold what Aeyla collected while he was out — pocket watches and jewellery, mostly. He took a small cut of the profits, for the risk of having to sneak away to sell the items. There was risk for Aeyla, too. If she was caught stealing from Rollins’ patrons she didn’t know what would happen to her. But the thrill was addictive, and the kruge was piling up. Her stash was hidden under a floorboard in her room that she’d pried loose with a pretty knife she’d stolen from a particularly handsy gambler. She’d kept the knife, too. Aeyla had slept better at night with it tucked under her pillow.

Over the weeks Aeyla hadn’t had much to do in regard to healing Rollins’ men. There were a few bullet wounds, and a couple of stab wounds. It appeared she was only healing the men that Rollins trusted not to reveal her identity, as the lower ranked members of the Lions never seemed to be the ones she was healing. The wounds were nothing Aeyla hadn’t dealt with before with the First Army. It had turned out that the reason for the slow work was Rollins and his main men had been away for the majority of the time Aeyla had been indentured. Though, nobody knew where they had gone, and if they did they weren’t saying anything.

It was a few nights after Pekka Rollins had returned that he’d called Aeyla into his office again. She was worried she’d been caught in her pick-pocket act, and was relieved when he’d only told her he was to have a meeting shortly and she was to be in the room. Though, the relief didn’t last long. Aeyla realised she was to act as a trophy for Rollins in front of his associates. She was the pretty Kaelish girl indentured to him. His new favourite toy. When Rollins told her to fetch him a drink and had slapped her ass when she’d turned around, the men he was meeting just laughed. Aeyla had gritted her teeth and said nothing, a flush of anger creeping onto her cheeks. He’d dismissed her back to her room at the end of the night, after he was done with her, and the sleazy men in their merch getups had said their goodbyes. Aeyla had wanted to scream, but she hadn’t.

—

The next time, it was worse. Pekka Rollins had had a meeting with the head of another gang to make a deal, going halves on a crew to pirate a new shipping route. He’d ended up drinking with the man. More than his fill. He was ecstatic about the deal, and had bragged and boasted to Aeyla when the other man had left. He’d poured another glass of drink, and then a second for Aeyla. He’d slapped her when she’d first refused the glass, so she drank it. The liquid was bitter and harsh on her throat, but she refused to react to it. Aeyla had know what had been coming from the glint in his eye, and the way his hands roamed over her waist, and her hips, and her thighs. She’d had been expecting it. She’d also expected that when it happened, that she’d fight him. But she’d frozen. She’d frozen because he’d told her if she fought him, he’d send her to the Sweet Shop where she could learn how to please a man properly.

Aeyla had vomited in the basin when she’d returned to her room. The alcohol burned the same coming up as it had when she’d drank it. She was sweating and shaking when she’d crawled into bed. She hated Pekka Rollins. She hated the Emerald Palace. She hated the slavers that had brought her here. She hated Ketterdam. But mostly, she hated herself. She hadn’t fought him. She hadn’t even tried.

—

The next time Aeyla had been invited to Rollins’ office, the deal hadn’t gone well. Rollins was drunk again, but this time he’d raged when his associates had left. Smashing glasses against the cabinets and throwing papers off his desk. Aeyla, in a panic, had tried to soothe his mood. That had only made him angrier. She hadn’t been subtle, and he’d known what she was doing. Rollins had slapped her hard across the face, and sent a great, meaty fist into her stomach. When Aeyla had doubled over in pain, he’d kicked her and she’d fallen onto her side onto the shards of broken glass littering the hardwood floor.

She’d spent that night awake in her room. Picking glass shards out of open wounds with only her fingers, one by one, and closing the gashes they’d left. Again, she was shaking and sweaty when she’d climbed into bed. She hadn’t bothered to clean off the blood. The glass shards had remained in the basin until the morning, when Aeyla had woken from a nightmare and gathered the glass up. She’d tossed it out through the bars on her window, and listened to it shatter in the alley below.

—

The pattern continued over the next few weeks. Rollins would invite her to his office before important meetings. She knew what to expect either way — if it went well, or if it didn’t. Aeyla didn’t know which was worse. But she was angry. Angry and ashamed. She felt herself withdrawing from the meagre relationships she had built during her time at the Emerald Palace. Withdrawing from Shea and Corym. She became bolder in her pick-pocketing in the evenings, no longer afraid of getting caught. What would Pekka Rollins do to her that he hadn’t already? What could he do?. Aeyla had stopped giving Corym the trinkets she’d collected to sell. Rollins had allowed her to start leaving the Palace during the day, escorted by Eldar. She’d pretended to lose him in the crowds at the market, the first time she’d snuck away. Ducking under arms and twisting around corners. She’d sold a few watches to a market stall vendor Corym had told her about, pocket the kruge, and pretended to be lost and scared when Eldar had finally caught up with her. He’d grasped her by the upper arm, not unlike the way he had on the slavers ship, and half dragged her back to the Emerald Palace. Aeyla knew he wouldn’t tell Rollins that he’d lost her for a period of time, for fear of punishment. And she figured once she had enough kruge saved up, she’d loose Eldar at the markets one last time and disappear for good. It’d only take a few months. Maybe more. Then she’d have enough for passage back to Ravka.

—

The night had started the same as the other had these past few weeks. Aeyla had kept to herself in the dressing room of the Emerald Palace. She’d missed the worried glances from Shea as she dusted gold powder across her freckled cheeks and inspected herself in the mirror before brushing past the other girl on her way out of the room.

The casino itself hadn’t changed in the past few weeks, and Aeyla still wore the same green silk dress. Though, she’d had to ask for a new one after most of her run-ins with Pekka Rollins. It was slowly increasing her indenture. A few of the other girls were already on the casino floor, milling around as patrons filed in for the night through the just-opened doors. Aeyla scanned the crowd for anyone who looked like they might be carrying something expensive. She noticed a wealthy looking merch touch a hand briefly to a pocket on his vest as he passed the men on the doors. Likely checking something important was there. She would make a note of that for later. Another man who’d entered nearer the end of the cue had caught Aeyla’s attention. He looked Zemeni, or half Zemeni at least, and walked with a confidence that piqued her interest. He likely had a weapon on him, with confidence like that in this area of town, and Aeyla was looking to upgrade.

She kept an eye on him while she served men at the same table. He was losing, badly, though Aeyla kept his interest on the game. She’d noticed the outlines of two holsters, one on either hip, under the thin fabric of his shirt. The boy had been unconsciously touching his hand to them every so often during the game. Clearly, he was attached to the guns. At this point Aeyla figured she’d have to wait until later in the night if she’d wanted to have a go at nicking them. And she’d only be able to if the holsters covered the ends of the pistols, otherwise the boy would feel one missing as soon as he moved to touch them the next time he lost a hand. Aeyla realised it was a gamble, but a rare smile tugged at the corners of her lips at the prospect of owning the weapon herself. Wasn’t that what gambling dens were for?

The Zemeni boy was still at the tables as the night wore on and other patrons had slowly abandoned the cards. Aeyla had kept him interested in the game by making every win more exciting, though, the boy hadn’t needed much encouragement. It was near closing when she’d decided to make her move. She hadn’t picked any other pockets that evening, so she would be going back to her room empty handed if she didn’t lift the pistol. It was a motivating thought.

Aeyla sidled over to the table, letting her silks brush the boy’s arm to get his attention. He’d lost another hand.

“You haven’t been having much luck this evening.” It was a line Shea had taught her, to reel men in. It made the men think that the girls had been watching them all night. It was an ego boosting tactic. But it almost always worked, since no one had much luck with Pekka Rollins’ dealers. The Zemeni boy looked up at her, a brilliant grin splitting his features.

“Maybe I just need a lucky charm?” He raised an eyebrow suggestively and shifted his chair back, patting his lap. Too easy.

“I’ve been told I’m the luckiest.” Aeyla gave him a suggestive smile and sat down on the boy’s lap, wrapping one arm around his waist and letting the other drape across his chest. Aeyla could almost reach the holster’s buckle from here. She had to fight her own disgust at the body contact, but the idea of her own pistol pushed her on.

“Well, I need all the luck I can get.” Aeyla hummed an agreement and traced circles on the boy’s chest with a delicate finger while the next hand was dealt.

The boy had been dealt an almost perfect hand, and when he’d won, he’d won big. He’d let out a whoop and leant forward against Aeyla to collect his winnings. She clapped her hand delicately on his chest and laughed, putting on a show. She used the boy’s movement to disguise her own, as she flicked open the holster with practiced ease. The back of the boy’s chair blocked the view of her antics from the majority of the floor, but still she worked quickly to lift the revolver, and tucked it into a ribbon that she’d started tying around her thigh when she first started pocketing items at the casino. It was hidden easily by the flowing silk dress when she was standing. The boy appeared to be none the wiser about the robbery that had occurred, still counting the kruge he had won. He turned to look at her with a grin that almost made him look drunk on joy.

“Maybe you are good luck.” Aeyla just smiled enticingly and ran a hand down his back.

“I told you I was.” She looked up to see Eldar crossing the room toward her. Her stomach dropped. Pekka Rollins had sent for her. The show must go on. She forced herself to pretended to pout at the boy, “But unfortunately, I have to go. Duty calls.” The boy’s expression dropped. He truly believed she was good luck. Superstitious gamblers. Aeyla did her best to curb his disappointment as she stood up off his lap. The relief at no longer having to touch the boy was immense.

“Next time?” His voice was hopeful.

“Next time.” She winked at him and ran her hand across his chest a final time, before stepping away from the table, toward Eldar. She could feel the cool surface of the revolver on her upper thigh.

As Aeyla walked away from the table she saw a dark shape move over to the Zemeni boy — another boy of a similar age. His face was obscured by the angle, and for the fact he had his hat tilted downward, casting his features in shadow. She jumped as the dark haired boy dropped the end of the cane he was carrying down on the table in front of the Zemeni boy with a crack, knocking the cards out of his hand. He said something to the boy at the table that Aeyla couldn’t quite make out before he looked up and caught her grey eyes, his own dark and clouded by anger. Aeyla felt a chill pass over her skin, but she didn’t look away. She realised in her own stubbornness she didn’t want to give the boy the satisfaction. Eventually, the boy had looked away first, a slight crease between his arched brows, just as Eldar had taken her by the upper arm in his usual manner, and led her toward the staircase to Rollins’ office.

[thecrowskeep]

Ch. 2 - The third option.

Kaz Brekker x OC

Words: 2.3k

A/N: I’m really into writing this at the moment, so another chapter has been done! This is more about Aeyla’s life at the Emerald Palace, and the next chapter will likely be similar before she meets a few of the other main characters. This fic will be a bit of a slow burn and a longer term project, so bear with me! Also, I’m not sure how to link chapter 1? So check that out on my blog if you need to.

Masterlist

Once in Rollins’ office, Aeyla had been forced into a leather chair in front of the man’s desk. Her back was to a large glass window overlooking the casino floor, still empty this early in the morning. Rollins looked up at her from the paperwork on his desk that he was inspecting.

“You speak Kerch, girl?” Aeyla nodded. She couldn’t lie — her guard had probably already told Rollins that she spoke enough to understand his instructions. He stood over Rollins’ right shoulder, his hand on his holstered pistol and a grim look on his face. Rollins leant back in his own chair, clasping his hands together atop his rotund middle. “And you’re a healer?” Aeyla nodded again. “Speak, girl.”

“Yes.” Rollins raised an eyebrow and Aeyla knew immediately what he expected of her. “Yes, sir.” She kept her expression neutral, though the look he gave her made her skin crawl.

“Can you tailor?” Aeyla hesitated. She could, but it was a slow and difficult process. She’d never been as good at it as healing. Though, she was afraid to lie, not knowing what the man already knew about her.

“Very little, sir.” He pursed his lips.

“Alter moods?” Aeyla nodded.

“Yes, sir.” It was something she was better at. She would often alter moods at the same time as healing. It made the wounded feel better and made her own job easier when they were more relaxed. Rollins looked pleased at this.

“And can you fight?” Aeyla was never one of the best at the Little Palace, where she was required to learn the skill, but she could hold her own. Though, this was something she’d rather Rollins not know. It was worth the risk to lie.

“No, sir. I’m a healer.” He nodded. This appeared to be the right answer.

“Right.” Rollins leant forward and reshuffled the papers on his desk. “You’ll sign this contract.” He pulled a small stack of paper from the pile and slapped it down in front of her. It wasn’t a question, only an order. “You’ll be indentured to me. I’ll provide you with food, water, shelter, protection… Necessities.” He waved his hand vaguely. “In exchange for your services.” Aeyla stared blankly at him. “You’ll work in the casino. Serving drinks and food, entertaining customers. You’ll keep them in a good mood when they’re losing at the tables, and you’ll keep them spending money.” Aeyla nodded. “And when required, you’ll heal my men.” The deal didn’t seem too bad, from Aeyla’s perspective. Though, she knew to be wary. “You’ll have time off during the day, but you’ll stay here during that time until you’ve earned my trust. Eldar will keep an eye on you until then.” He gestured at Aeyla’s guard, stood behind him.

“And this contract ends…?”

“When you’ve paid me back.” Rollins was matter of fact, but there was a glint in his eye. 

There’s the catch. Aeyla thought.

“For what I paid for you, the cost of your upkeep and safety…” Rollins pretended to ponder for a moment. “It’ll take you some time, anyway.”

Legal slavery. Charming.

“You’ll sign here.” Rollins gestured at an empty dotted line at the bottom of the page. Eldar handed her a pen.

“And if I don’t?”

“Not an option, sweetheart.” Rollins’ smile was smug. Aeyla felt nauseous, realising she was being forced to sign her life over to this man. 

There’d be a way out, eventually. Surely.

Aeyla pressed the tip of the pen to the page.

—

Eldar had guided Aeyla back to her cramped bedroom.

“Sleep.” He’d ordered as he closed and locked the door in her face once again. Aeyla had sat on the bed, leant up against the wall, and wrapped the scratchy woollen blankets tightly around herself. Though she was exhausted, sleep wouldn’t come.

After she’d signed Rollins’ contract he’d offered her a celebratory drink. The facade of the kind boss still in place. Aeyla had declined, and the facade had slipped for a second, before it was righted. It frightened her a little, if she was honest with herself. Rollins had told her not to divulge her Grisha status to anyone. That it was dangerous. And customers would not appreciate a Grisha altering their moods in his casino. He’d assured he’d only tell who needed to know, and that his men would keep her secret. He’d gestured at Eldar at the last comment, and then he’d dismissed her, ordering Eldar to ‘bring the boy.’ Corym.

—

Eventually, Aeyla had fallen asleep. She’d slept until dawn the next morning, when she was roused by a knock on her door. Again, Eldar opened it with little other warning, and Aeyla was grateful she’d fallen asleep still wearing the green silk dress. She’d been given nothing else to wear, and her clothes from the ship had been taken.

“Up.” Eldar commanded, tossing a more practical dark green dress onto the bed. Aeyla shifted up in surprise, clutching the brown wool blanket to her chest as she did so. Eldar left a quickly as he’d appeared, but she didn’t hear him walk from her door. He was waiting for her to get dressed and follow, she realised, still slow from sleep.

Aeyla slipped the new dress over the silk one, pulling it out from underneath as she wiggled the dark green fabric over her hips. She was wary to change without being covered, knowing the guard could open her door any second. The new dress was plain, but long sleeved and far thicker than the silk. It was much more reminiscent of something a woman may actually feel comfortable wearing in public, though the neckline was still low cut. Lovely. Aeyla almost rolled her eyes at the predictability.

Aeyla picked up the silk dress from the floor, and folded it neatly to store in the dresser. There was nothing else inside. Once it was tucked away, Aeyla had unbraided her sleep mused hair and tied it back into a practical knot, rolled her shoulders back and steeled her nerves before reaching for the door handle.

Eldar stood to one side of the door. He looked Aeyla over briefly, before departing down the hall, his expression giving nothing away. She trailed after him, actually taking in her surroundings now that she was no longer plagued by exhaustion. The corridor was narrow and quiet. It continued further in the opposite direction, away from Aeyla’s room and the way to the staircase, with doors lining either side before a turn at the end that she could not see past. There were a few plinths lining the walls, with little fake bushes decorated with gold and silver coins, like miniature versions of the trees in the casino. One of the doors Eldar led her past was cracked open slightly. The room looked the same as Aeyla’s, from the brief glimpse she got of the room, except for the few personal belongings of the occupier strewn about haphazardly. Aeyla realised most of the employees of Rollins must live up here.

Upon arrival at the casino floor, Eldar introduced Aeyla to Yara, a stern looking Kerch woman who looked to be in her late 20s. She was to ‘show her the ropes’ as Eldar put it. He moved off to the bar to talk to a sullen looking barkeep who was polishing the glasses. Eldar still keeping Aeyla in the corner of his vision, as Aeyla expected he’d been ordered to by Rollins. The woman looked Aeyla over, hands on her hips. She wore the same dark green dress as Aeyla, though a delicate gold chain around her neck indicated she was higher in Rollins’ rankings.

“Do you know how to play cards?” Yara had asked. Aeyla shook her head. There’d never been time when she was a child, nor was there at the Little Palace. The soldiers in the First Army had played cards, though Aeyla had never shown an interest.

Yara spent the morning explaining the basics of the card games played at the casino to Aeyla, so she would know what to look for if a player was losing and subtly boost their mood to keep them playing. Rollins must have told Yara that Aeyla was Grisha. Yara had also gone over other jobs that she was to keep up with. Serving drinks to guests and cleaning, amongst the many others. Aeyla was finding it difficult to keep things straight in her mind. An unusual problem for her, she thought, until she’d realised her stomach was growling. Yara had noticed first, however, and had pursed her lips.

“Of course he hasn’t fed you yet.” She grumbled, leading Aeyla into a side room that had turned out to be a kind of messy kitchen. She assumed the woman had meant either Eldar or Rollins.

Soon, Aeyla was sitting at a makeshift table in the kitchens, a hot bowl of soup and chunk of bread had been placed in front of her by a cheerful looking cook. 

“Thank you.” She’d said to him,  but he’d just smiled.

“He doesn’t speak Kerch.” Yara explained. Dipping a corner of bread delicately into her own soup.

“What does he speak?”

“Nothing.” Yara shrugged. “As far as I’m aware, anyway.” She looked up at Aeyla. “Your Kerch is good. Bit of an accent, but better than most.”

“Thank you.” Aeyla said again. She wasn’t bothered about explaining where she’d learnt Kerch. She figured Yara would assume she’d learnt at the Little Palace. Most Grisha learnt a few languages there, depending on where they were needed when they’d completed their training.

“It’s not bad, here y’know.” Yara spoke with a mouthful of bread. “Mr. Rollins will treat you alright if you follow the rules. And you’re pretty. And actually Kaelish, by the look of you. So that will help.” Aeyla just nodded, not really listening. She was more focused on her soup and bread than anything else in that moment.

—

The rest of they day went quickly before Yara sent Aeyla back to her room to put her work ‘uniform’ on. The green silk dress from the day before. Aeyla was then supposed to meet back with Yara to get ready with the other girls working that evening. Yara explained that it was a good time to gossip and have a drink or two together. Aeyla was apprehensive about the kinds of people who she’d be serving at the casino, but otherwise the work seemed relatively straight forward. She knew she could put on a mask and just get on with it. The less run-ins she had with Rollins, the better.

The dressing room of the Emerald Palace was nicer than Aeyla thought it would be. It was more subtly decorated than the garish interior of the casino itself, with light green walls and gold trimmed plush seats. When Aeyla arrived with Yara, most of the seats in front of mirrors were taken by girls around her own age with red hair, the majority dyed that colour, and the same green silks on. They all seemed in a good mood, laughing and talking amongst each other. Yara sat Aeyla down beside a pretty girl who introduced herself as Shea. She had kind blue-grey eyes, and looked part Kaelish.

“You’ll be fine tonight.” Shea had said to her matter of factly, while showing Aeyla how to apply a black paste to her eyelashes to make them appear longer. “I’ll keep and eye on you anyway, and so will Yara. She looks after us girls.” Aeyla smiled weakly. The day had been a whirlwind, but she was grateful she wasn’t alone with her thoughts.

Shea had dusted both herself and Aeyla across the cheeks and shoulders with a shimmering gold powder, before deeming them both ready for the night ahead. They still had a while before they were required to be out on the floor of the casino for opening, so Shea had introduced Aeyla to a few of the other girls. Aeyla had engaged in polite conversation. Though, she didn’t offer much information about herself, no matter how well the other girls fished for it.

Once out on the casino floor, the night had gone well. Shea had encouraged Aeyla to flirt a little while delivering drinks to men at the card tables.

“You can pocket any extra Kruge they give you, and you get more when you flirt.” She’d winked at Aeyla before sauntering away in a flutter of green silks to the furthest table from the bar.

Aeyla had done as Rollins had asked and boosted the moods of men at the table who were clearly losing. She’d felt a little guilty initially as the pile of Kruge in front of them had dwindled, but that quickly faded when she saw how they leered at her and the other girls after a few glasses of drink. She’d even been given a few Kruge herself, by a portly man who’d won a few hands while she’d served him. Aeyla had taken Shea’s advice and batted her lashes, even smiled coyly when he’d asked what she thought of his hand. She hadn’t the vaguest idea of how good the cards were, but it had kept the man pleased.

Yara had flitted around the room throughout the evening, warning men who got a little too handsy with the girls. 

“It’s a casino, not a pleasure house.” She’d heard Yara tell one of the men who’d argued with her. Though, it appeared most of the girls didn’t have much of an issue with it, if it made them a few extra Kruge. Aeyla still dodged the grabbing hands of the men at the tables. She figured she’d have nowhere to spend the money. Not yet, anyway.

By the end of the night, Aeyla was exhausted again. She’d gone back to her room to find a plain shirt and pair of pants folded on the bed, and dressed herself in those before clambering into bed. She’d wondered what had become of Corym as she drifted into a restless sleep.

[thecrowskeep]

Ch. 1 - The third option.

Kaz Brekker x OC

Words: 2k

Masterlist

The clanking of heavy irons and quiet whisper of water brushing against wood were the only sounds breaking the night’s silence, as Aeyla Flint felt the ship, one she had been aboard for months, dock at a quiet harbour. 

Slaves were illegal in Ketterdam, a fact she knew from her extensive education in Ravka, though she knew the rich turned a blind eye as long as it benefitted them. That was why the slaver ship docked in the early morning, while the majority of the city, the respectable parts at least, was sleeping soundly. She, along with several of the other prisoners who had also woken to the unusual sounds of water against the docks, watched as lamplight wavered against the walls of the hull. A handful of slavers made their way down the stairs of the ship. A man, whom Aeyla hadn’t seen before, wandered the aisles of the cages they were kept in, appraising a few of the girls and some of the men. She noted he stopped more often and for longer at the cages holding Kaelish looking slaves. The man was large, and dressed in a ridiculous fashion. Striped trousers and a green vest under a maroon waistcoat. His face was red and blotchy in places, and a tuft of red hair above greying sideburns gave away his own Kaelish heritage. A gaudy pocket watch hung off him, glinting in the low light in the hull of the ship. Aeyla kept her head down, though her red curls were sure to draw the man’s attention. She was right. She watched his feet, in maroon leather dress shoes, come to a halt in front of her. She knew he had seen her wrists clasped in iron, differentiating her from the majority of other prisoners, who were shackle-less but still caged. “Grisha?” She heard him ask to the nearby ship captain. Aeyla spoke enough Kerch to follow the conversation. She didn’t hear a reply, so she assumed the captain had given him a nod. He was a man of few words. “Inferni?” The man was still looking at her when he asked. “Healer.” Was the captains reply. The man grunted, sounding vaguely disappointed. “Look at me, girl.” Aeyla didn’t move. She heard one of the slavers reach for his keys, likely to open the cage door for this man to get a better look at her. The door opened with a creak and a calloused hand grasped her chin roughly, angling her face up toward the slaver’s lamplight. The round man’s breath was hot and rancid on her face, and Aeyla forced herself not to flinch away, though her own breath was ragged with fear and she knew her hands would have been shaking if not for the weight of the irons around her wrists. She was almost grateful for them.

When the man dropped his hand and stepped out of the cell, Aeyla felt nauseous. She could tell he liked what he saw by the greedy glint in his eyes. It was only confirmed when he turned and spoke to the captain. “I’ll take her. And the boy.” He inclined his head to a Kaelish boy, caged but not shackled, across from where Aeyla stood. His name was Corym. He’d been on the ship longer than her, picked up in the Wandering Isle. Aeyla’s own home land, the one she had fled when her Grisha powers were discovered, out of fear she would have been killed for it.

Once the round man and the captain had retreated back up the ship’s stairs, most likely to the captains office to make the deal official, the slavers moved her and Corym out of their respective holding cells. They clamped a spare set of irons on Corym, cautious of the surly red-headed boy, and led both the captives up the same set of stairs.

The fresh air was a shock to Aeyla’s system, after months locked in the stinking hull of the ship. She barely felt the chill of the wind across her skin, or cared that the air felt heavy with pollution, it was still fresher than any air she’d breathed in months.

The slavers handed her and Corym off to men who appeared to be the round man’s guards. They were both dressed in shades of the same vibrant green, though not nearly as pristine and flashy as the round man’s clothing. They also carried pistols on their hip, holstered still, but easily accessible. One of the men reached out to hold Aeyla roughly around the upper arm, the other tugging Corym’s irons, forcing them to stand to one side of the entrance to the captains office.

Eventually, after what felt like hours standing and waiting, the round man emerged from the captain’s office, his cheeks alcohol flushed and with a smug grin across his face. He did not acknowledge any of the four stood outside, instead, walked past and down the plank leading to the dock. Aeyla’s guard shoved her roughly after his boss. She was glad the chains around her ankles had been removed during the wait or she would have stumbled at the force of the push. Aeyla clenched her jaw and stepped on to the plank leading off the ship, not sure if this new turn of events would be worse or better than the past few months she’d endured.

—

Aeyla had been led into a large building in what she assumed was the gambling district of Ketterdam. It looked to be several stories tall, one of the largest buildings on the street, with heavy gold and green doors. Once inside Aeyla recognised the theme as a mockery of the Wandering Isle. Fake trees around the main room were decorated with gold and silver coins. It was quiet, except for girls in green silks mopping floors and wiping countertops. They all had red hair, like Kaelish girls, though most were clearly Kerch born. Aeyla was led up a grand staircase from the centre of the room, and then up several more flights of stairs to what she assumed was close to the highest floor of the building. It was at this point her and Corym were separated, with him guided down a different hall on the same floor. The hall was lined with doors, each numbered like an inn. Aeyla’s guard led her to a room numbered ’11’, opened the door, and pushed her inside. She noted a small bed, a dresser, a lamp, and a second door inside the room. There were no windows. The guard turned her around, and Aeyla was able to get a better look at him while he fumbled with the keys to her irons. He looked reasonably young. Early 20s, maybe. Older than Aeyla, anyway. He was clean shaven and would have been almost handsome, if it hadn’t been for a scar that ran from his temple to his jaw, ragged and badly healed. “Clean up.” He’d instructed her gruffly, once her irons were loose. “And no funny business.” Aeyla said nothing. She hadn’t the energy for any funny business. The door had been closed in her face, and she’d heard the turn and click of a lock.

Aeyla turned away from the door. Instinctively wrapping her arms around herself. Her wrists, now freed, still itched and ached from the irons. A band of red still adorning where they once were. She took a cautious step toward the second door in the room, another few and she’d be able to touch the handle. The room was small, but it was comforting that Aeyla could see almost every inch, knowing no one would be hiding around the corners or in the shadows.

The door turned out to lead to a small washroom. Much to Aeyla’s relief this room had a small window. That was more than she’d had on the ship. The view was of the back of another, larger, building. But that didn’t matter. The light breeze that fluttered in was soothing on its own. Aeyla stood at the basin, cloth in hand, staring at herself in the mirror. Her cheeks were gaunt from the time spent on the ship, and she was more pale than usual. Pale even for a Kaelish girl. That was something. Her red hair was tangled and knotted into a rope ending at her mid-back. She was a sorry sight. While she’d never cared excessively for her own appearance, her hair had been an important part of her. It reminded her of her mother. How she used to braid it early in the mornings before they went out together to tend to the animals. It hurt Aeyla a little to see it in such a mess, knowing her mother would not approve. Opening the little cupboard under the basin, Aeyla found a bar of soap, a small bottle of perfume, and a comb.

—

A dress of green silk had been lain out across the bed, the same as what she had seen the girls down stairs wearing. Someone must have brought it in whilst Aeyla was washing. She’d ended up spending the better part of an hour untangling and braiding her hair in a thick rope down her back. From a distance the dress looked expensive and extravagant, but up close Aeyla realised the tailoring was shoddy, with loose threads visible along the seams and frayed edges inside that she could tell would make her itch once the gown was on.

She removed the torn and dirty clothes she’d be given upon boarding the slavers ship and shrugged on the silken dress. It felt nice to be free of the built up grime, but Aeyla felt exposed in the sheer fabric. Before the events of the past months, she had worn only the thick Grisha’s kefta in the presence of others, as was required of her. She ached for its comforting weight, feeling as if she had been stripped of her armour.

—

When Aeyla had first arrived at the Little Palace, she’d felt out of place. It was grand, and busy. Two things she wasn’t used to at home. Her mother had bought her passage on a ship bound for Ravka as soon as she’d discovered her powers, scared for her only daughters’ safety. Over time at the Little Palace she’d grown accustomed to the business, liked it even. It meant she could blend into a crowd. She hadn’t made many friends during her time there, preferring to keep to herself, but she found she had many acquaintances whom she was happy to greet in the halls. It never went further than that. The other Grisha were mostly loud and boisterous Ravkans, but they were always polite. They didn’t have much in common with the quiet Kaelish girl, and never showed much interest either. Aeyla had planned on getting through her studies so she could return home once she was able to protect herself. Though, she was never sure if that was what she wanted. She enjoyed the healing work, and she was good at it. When she’d been deemed good enough for placement within the First Army as a healer, Aeyla was ecstatic. She’d felt almost at home again amongst the quieter hustle and bustle of the army camps. She’d befriended a few First Army soldiers even, ones that had reminded her of her brothers. They’d respected her, and she’d respected them. They’d often ask her about the Wandering Isle, and enjoyed her stories, even when there wasn’t much to tell. They shared their own stories with her, too. She’d learnt more about everyday Ravkan culture in the span of a few months than she ever had at the Little Palace. Eventually, Aeyla had found herself enjoying her life amongst the soldiers, until it had been ripped away from her again.

—

A knock at the door startled Aeyla out of her memories. The guard with the scar opened the door with little other warning. He looked her up and down. Aeyla fought the urge to wrap her arms around herself. “You’re to see Mr. Rollins in his office, now.”