𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞

Ⅸ 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕

IRA RESTED AGAINST THE WALL, HER HEAD ROLLED ONTO ONE OF HER SHOULDERS. The doors slowly rolled open and the quietest of thuds echoed across the wooden floor. Inej silently dropped from the roof, making no sound. Ohval took a breath and kicked her leg back, flinging Inej across the courtyard. Jesper, Ira, and Tolya rushed to their feet as Inej tossed a duo of knives at Ohval. She simply jumped over the knives, flipping over Inej, and landing behind her.

Tolya and Jesper pulled their guns out but Ohval simply flicked her wrists and Tolya's gun was tossed aside and Jesper twisted. "Foul play," Jesper commented. Ira crossed her arms before throwing them apart, a flurry of ice shards flew at Ohval. She bent to her knees, dodging the ice. Tolya attempted to pull his hand together but Tolya and Inej's blades were pulled and tossed back at them. The others dived to the sides as Ira summoned ice to catch Tolya's sword flying for her face. "Seriously offside," Jesper shouted.

Ohval scowled at him and flung the metal piece of her headpiece at Jesper, making it wrap around his throat and causing him to choke. Elvira grabbed her bone dagger and turned to Inej. "Get Jesper," She ordered before lunging at Ohval. Ohval grabbed Ira's wrist but she simply spun around her and pushed it toward Ohval's chest. Tolya tried to pull at Ohval's heart again, but Ohval knocked her head back into Elvira's nose cracking it and pulling the dagger from her grasp. She flung it at Tolya, piercing his shoulder.

Inej ran at Ohval, punching twice but Ohval swiped her hands away. Inej kicked Ohval but she grabbed her leg and threw her hand out flinging her across the courtyard. Ohval turned but her head whipped to the side as an ice shard cut through the skin of her cheek. Elvira stood, the blood from her broken nose lifting up to follow Ira's movements. Another two blood shards flung at Ohval, one cutting her sleeve another stabbing her shoulder. Elvira dodged under one of Ohval's swipes and kicked her in the stomach. Ohval grabbed her arm and swung Ira around kicking her into a large vase.

Ira groaned wincing as the shards shifted deeper into her skin. "Ira," Jesper croaked. He grunted in pain and pulled the necklace apart, throwing it to the floor. He rushed to Elvira, pulling her to her knees.

Inej and Ohval both grabbed knives. Inej swiped at Ohval twice then knocked the knife from Inej's hands. Ohval grabbed her hands and flipped Inej, slamming her into the floor. She drove the knife closer to Inej's face, both struggling; Inej trying to hold her back.

Tolya called Ohval, something in Shu Ira couldn't understand. Then he started to plead in Kerch, "This is only about Neyar's blade, not you." Ohval answered in Shu before getting flung back at the explosion that broke down the door. Inej rolled away as Zoya and Nina rushed through the doors.

Tenzin rushed to Ira's side as Zoya flung Ohval back with a gust of wind and then Nina moved her hands, pulling at Ohval's heart. Ohval stood, her posture tense as she stepped forward. She crossed her arms and pulled them apart, using their rings to pull Nina and Zoya's hands apart. And with another wave of her arm Zoya and Nina crumpled to the floor.

"This is taking longer than I'd like," Ohval hissed. "So perhaps we end it." Ohval threw her arms down and a wave of pain consumed Ira as Ohval pushed her power through everyone. "Fascinating, isn't it? The amount of trace metal there is in the body. Iron, for instance, in the blood."

Tenzin's arms gave out and he hit the floor, his hand sliding from Ira's arm. Elvira looked at Tenzin and then Jesper at her side. Elvira took a breath and pushed Ohval's hold of her blood and threw her arm out, filling Ohval's lungs with water. She coughed, trying to keep a straight face as she struggled to breathe. "Fascinating isn't it?" Elvira mocked. "The amount of water in someone's body. Like that in your lungs." Ohval's arms fell as she vomited up a large amount of water.

The doors behind her opened and Ira dropped her hands. "Here she is!" An old man called, Kaz rolling him out in a wheelchair. Ohval straightened and turned to the man smiling. "Sweetheart, we have visitors. Art collectors from Kerch."

"I know, dear," Ohval said sweetly. "I was just about to offer them tea."

Ira stepped back and rushed to Tenzin, pulling him to his feet. "You're bleeding," He said softly, gently taking her arm.

"I'm alright," She insisted. They turned back to Ohval, but Tenzin let his hand fall to rest on her back.

"These are the collectors I was telling you about," Kaz said, now standing at the man's side. "They'll be pleasantly surprised to meet you, the great thief of the art world. The Disciple."

"This is The Disciple?" Jesper asked, his voice breathy.

"Have we met before?" The man asked, looking up at Kaz.

"Yes, in your room just now," Kaz reminded with a smile.

"And I've met your wife. In Bhez Ju. We had tea there."

"Bhez Ju Museum," The man said, smiling brightly. "The support beams are under every second section of the floor. The others creak. Important to know the secrets of a place."

Kaz turned to Ohval, his smile shifting from bright to dark. "Truly."

Ohval turned to Tolya cursing at him in Shu. "All we want is the Neshyenyer," Tolya said softly.

"The Neshyenyer?" The man repeated, looking at Tolya. "I stole it for her."

"Please, dear," Ohval pleaded.

"It was the last piece I stole before we decided I should retire," He explained. "Anyway, you couldn't really call it stealing. It was hers to begin with. She made it."

"Sorry," Tenzin called, stepping in front of Ira. "Did you say she made it?"

"Hours of work," The man recalled, standing and walking to Ohval and taking her hands. "Prayers. And tears. To fight the unkillable army created by the clock worker Kho."

"Three days and nights she fought the unstoppable soldiers," Tolya recited. "And when the last soldier fell, she laid down the weapon. And it was named Neshyenyer. Relentless." He quickly knelt, bowing his head. "We are honored to be in your presence, Sankta Neyar." The others quickly followed him, Kaz and Ira being the only ones standing.

"Sankta Neyar?" Inej repeated with a smile as she knelt.

Ohval let the silence linger for a moment before encouraging her husband forward. "Come, my love. Let's get you to bed." She led him back to his wheelchair before looking up at Kaz. "This is our sanctuary. Where we can sleep peacefully. Not have to worry about thieves and bandits like you."

"We're not bandits," Kaz said quickly.

"No one gets past the poison," Ohval said, glancing back to the others. "You're just a child, really."

"A child who understood your weakness," Kaz said and Ohval looked up at Kaz.

She scoffed softly, "Weakness." She shook her head. "Four hundred years I've been alive. I've seen them all die. My family. All my loved ones. Taken away from me by time. Hundreds of years I closed my heart, as if that was the solution to ending all pain. What a safe way to live. What a small way, as well."

She turned to look at the others and shook her head. "You guard against pain. You guard against joy. But when you allow yourself to be blindsided by love two worlds make a universe." She run her hand down her husband's face and smiled softly. "He's not my weakness. He's my universe. And I will see him through his days. Sharing every moment until he is part of the night sky." She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his forehead before turning to look at Kaz. "What do I care about a blade? What do you care about a blade?"

"The Darkling has created an unkillable army made of shadow," Kaz relayed. "Your sword is the only one sharp enough to cut them down."

"That sounds like Ravka's problem," Ohval hissed.

"You think he would be stopped by a line on a map?"

She quickly covered her husband's ears, "I think I can still kill you where you stand before you can blink."

"Sankta Neyar," Tolya called, standing as the others did. "I have met the Sun Summoner who will take leadership in Ravka if the Darkling is gone She is benevolent, and she is also Shu. She could be the living bridge between our two countries, but that can only happen if you grant us use of the blade."

"Use of it?" Ohval repeated. "All this just to borrow the blade?"

"All this just to protect your husband in his sleep?" Kaz mocked. "We each fight for what matters most."

"And on my life, I will make sure that it is returned to its rightful home," Tolya promised. "With you, Sankta Neyar."

"Ohval," She corrected. "The last thing I need are pilgrims crowding my gate."

"Is it time for bed now, darling?" Her husband questioned.

"Fjerdan girl," Ohval called, and Tenzin looked back at Ira. "How long have you been able to bend blood and push Grisha's power from your body?"

Ira nervously glanced at Nina and Zoya before taking a breath, "Since I was three." Zoya's head snapped up, her eyes widening as she watched Ira step further behind Tenzin.

"All of you, out," Ohval ordered and everyone turned for the door. "Except for you, in the hat. I'll give the blade to you. Alone." Kaz turned walking with the others. Once they stepped outside, Ira turned to the rising sun that had started to rise over the mountains.

"Ira" Tenzin called, taking her arm. "Let me see." Ira winced as she pulled the blue spiked coat off her shoulders.

"Christ Ira," Nine cursed, rushing to her side. Tenzin took Ira's coat in one hand, the other pulling Ira's shirt back so Nina could see the cuts.

"It doesn't hurt that much," Ira insisted as Nina inspected the cuts along her back.

"Stop being so stubborn," Nina hissed, starting to heal the cuts.

Zoya walked to Ira, standing in front of her. "You can bend blood?" Zoya asked. Ira moved her arm to see the blood running down her arm. She moved her hands, the blood drop rising from her shirt and skin and let them dance around her fingers.

Elvira dropped her hand and the blood spattered onto the grass. "It would be greatly appreciated if you didn't tell anyone." Zoya nodded and turned away. "Same goes for you, Nina."

"I wasn't going to say anything," Nina said with an offended laugh. Elvira hummed and Nina pinched her side making her hiss. Nina laughed and stepped back. They barely registered Jesper running past until he shoved the Relentless blade into Ira's arms.

He called after Wylan who had started to walk ahead. Inej walked to Ira taking the blade from her. "Yeah, take it," Ira insisted, starting to walk. "You know how to use it more than I do." Inej smiled softly before lagging behind letting Tenzin and Ira walk together.

"Here," Tenzin said, handing her the coat.

Elvira smiled taking the coat. "Thanks." They walked for a moment in silence before Elvira pulled the wolf pin off her belt. "What's it say? The Suli words?" Elvira asked spinning the pin. "I read a ton of books and translations but I... I couldn't find it."

Tenzin smiled softly. "Some Suli words just don't exist, there's no word for sorry," Tenzin explained. "And Suli don't travel across seas, we just must across the fields."

"So no word for water?" Elvira questioned and Tenzin nodded. "Fjerdan's say wanden." The sun shone across Tenzins face, the sun making his coal hair shine chestnut. "So what did you write?"

"Selcouth," Tenzin said smiling to himself. "Unfamiliar, rare, strange, and yet marvellous. Water is a terror, get caught in a current and it can drown you. Yet it's beautiful, shining in the moon, quenching a thirst." He chuckled to himself. "You're a terror, you kill without thinking and sometimes you scare me. But you are marvellous, you are like no one I've ever seen. You cherish those around you and you... you look ethereal." Elvira stopped and Tenzin turned to face her. "I shouldn't have said that..."

Elvira smiled softly. "Men in Fjerda they said I was too loud, too brash, not a woman," Elvira said softly. "So I proved to them if I couldn't be a woman then I would fight like the rest of them. Being around you I get to be that person in between. You have no expectations other than me." Elvira took Tenzin's hand, running her finger over the silver bands on his fingers. "I like that you said it."

They started to walk again, letting their hands separate. "Once we get back, when there are no more shadow monsters, I'll take you out like a proper Fjerdan girl deserves."

Elvira laughed softly, "I'd like that." Elvira let her eyes wander to Jesper. "Just, let me talk to him for a sec."

"Why would I stop you?" Tenzin laughed. Elvira laughed softly and walked to Jesper's side. Wylan smiled at her before running to Tenzin.

Jesper held his arm out and looped it around Ira's. "So..." Elvira said softly. "You're a Durast. Why didn't you tell me?"

Jesper shrugged softly. "I don't know, guess I was scared."

"Is that why you were always asking about amplifiers?" Elvira asked and he shrugged again. "Hey..." Elvira called and he looked down at her. "Don't be scared of it. It's a part of you." Jesper hummed softly and Elvira dropped her head on his shoulder. "Can I have my knife back?"

Jesper fumbled, pulling the sheathed dagger from his pocket. "Shit, yeah." He tossed it in his hand before handing it back to Ira.

"It's good to see you and Wylan together again," Elvira hummed and Jesper huffed. "Everyone sensed the tension."

"Ira..." Jesper warned in a low voice.

"What? It's perfectly natural, kissing," Ira teased.

"Please stop talking," Jesper pleaded. "And what about you and Ten huh? Finally, confess your deep-rooted feelings?"

Elvira shrugged softly, "In a sense."

"Is that what you saw?" Jesper asked. "In that position trip?"

"No, but, it definitely made me see things," Elvira said with a heavy breath.

"Bad things?"

"No... well, something between good and bad. It was like a memory but darker and hopeful," Elvira explained.

"Well now I'm intrigued," Jesper mused.

"I had brothers, both older. I saw them." Elvira stopped taking glancing around to see if anyone could hear.

"You can tell me, Ira."

"Just between us?"

Jesper nodded, "Just between us."

"I want to tell you something. Something awful. And I don't know if you'll like me much after I tell you."

"I trust your judgement."

Elvira took a deep breath and met Jesper's dark copper eyes. "I killed my brother."

❆

❝ cold as 𝒊𝒄𝒆, sharp as a knife ❞