The Fox and The Crow [Kaz Brekker]

chapter 18

Italics - Sign Language

The Fold was just as dark as Daemon had imagined. Black shadows covered every inch of it, only lit up once in a while with a flash of lightning. Daemon could smell the fear thick in the air along with the scents of the Fold, Alina, lots of perfume, and the death of the volcra. It made her head pound.

Once they were sure no one was looking, the Crows climbed down below. The cabin was lit up by lanterns.

Jesper began loading his guns frantically and cleaning them off as volcra screamed and growled. Kaz sat down, his face calm. Inej was pacing. And Daemon was excitedly looking up, wishing she could watch the volcra in their natural habitat.

"This is a bad idea," Jesper said.

Kaz shrugged, "I think it's rather practical."

Jesper scoffed, "What? Why?"

"I don't see how we step off this boat without you pulling those guns. So, cleaning them is a good idea."

"I don't mean this. I mean this," Jesper gestured to everything around them, "We are in the worst place in the world, on a ship full of people who want us dead, surrounded by monsters who want us in their gullets. Oh, I should've brought Milo."

"Who's Milo?" Inej looked confused.

Daemon answered, "His goat."

"How many bullets do you have?"

"Not enough. Daemon, do me a favor, love?"

Daemon hmmed and looked to him.

"Stop smiling like this is a bloody party."

She clicked her tongue, "What?"

"It is a bit weird that you look so excited," Inej agreed.

Daemon huffed, "You guys need to lighten up."

Suddenly, a bright light shone from above. It wasn't hard to guess that Alina had shown her power.

"So? What's our play?"

"We wait."

"For what?"

Kaz paused for a moment, "For whatever the general has planned."

"You figured him out?" Jesper questioned.

"Not quite. Consider the scenario. The Sun Summoner fled from his palace, now she's tied to the deck. We're sailing for a city where another Ravkan general hired Arken to kill her. And I saw his face as he boarded. I know that look. He's a man consumed with vengeance."

"See it enough in the mirror, do you?" Jesper commented, "So? What kind of revenge is he planning, exactly?"

Daemon suddenly caught the scent of blood and tapped Inej, signing low, "I smell blood. Old. And it's not yours."

Inej nodded, "I'll sweep the room."

Kaz answered Jesper, "We know it requires the Sun Summoner, which makes her valuable to us. She's the one keeping everyone safe in here. If we have control of her, then we call the shots. We need to threaten her life."

Inej brought out a strange man at gunpoint, but they were both surprised hearing Kaz say that.

"What?" they said simultaneously while Daemon scoffed.

"Who's this? Who are you?" Jesper asked, whipping out his own gun.

"A stowaway," Inej answered, "Why pick this of all skiffs?"