𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐧𝐞

Ⅰ 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒆𝒏

ELVIRA WAITED BY ONE OF THE TABLES, SURVEYING THE GAMBILING TABLE JESPER SAT AT. A Ravkan imported cigarette rested between her fingers and smoke spilled from her lips. A man yelled in delight as he won another round of cards as he stood and called for a barmaid, "Yes! I love it! Darling, please. Drinks here. Drinks all round here, please." He picked up his shot of liquor before plopping himself back in his seat.

"Hey, you take Zemeni coin, yes?" The man asked, tossing a silver coin towards Bolliger who caught it in his fingers.

Elvira watched as Jesper's eye caught something Ira didn't. "Let me see that," Jesper ordered, his foot pressed against the gambling table, his hat by his foot. Bolliger tossed the coin his way and Jesper caught it with ease. Jesper dropped his foot and his chair swung back into place so he sat properly at the table.

 "Ira," The Zemeni boy called. Ira tapped the ash and made her way to stand next to the boy. Jesper rested his elbows on the wooden lining and flipped the coin in his fingers and faced his cards down on the table. "A little lesson for you love. You know the Lucky Nine casino up the block?" Ira nodded and Jesper continued. "They've had trouble with counterfeit coin lately. Heavy, but brittle," Jesper explained, displaying the coin with two fingers.

"Are you saying this man's coin is a fake?" Ira questioned, her thoughts running side by side with Jesper. Two of Kaz's larger men straightened, waiting for the order from Ira or Jesper.

 "Oh, come on, now. I've been here for hours," The man defined, his eyes moving between Bolliger and Elvira. "My money is good, no?"

"Zemeni coin can take a bullet. But the knockoff..." Jesper winked and flicked the coin in the air. Jesper pulled out his revolver and shot a bullet through the silver coin. The members of the table ducked back and covered their heads as the bullet crashed onto the table.

The Zemeni coin rested on the table, smoke floating up and a bullet hole in the center of the metal. "Busted," Jesper mused. Jesper flicked his gun around his finger before slotting it back in its holster.

"What does that prove?" The man scoffed.

"Take him out," Elvira ordered, bringing the cigarettes' to her lips.

Two Dregs grabbed the man's arms and forced him from his chair. "Hey! Wait! What are you doing? Get off me!"

Jesper drummed his hands against the table in happiness with a smug smile as he reached for his winnings. Ira laughed to herself at his giddy nature and tapped the ash of her smoke on his hat. A harsh crack hit the table and the bottom of Kaz's cane crashed against the cash. Jesper took his hands back and looked up at Kaz standing over him.

Kaz shook his head softly and moved his hand to rest atop the head on the cane. "No loud noises at the table, Jesper," Kaz reminded in a dark and warning tone. "You'll scare off the pigeons."

"Wouldn't want that, boss," Jesper agreed, leaning away from Kaz's stature and his eyes shifted from Kaz's dark glare.

"Shouldn't you be on the door?" Kaz questioned, looking down at Jesper.

"I warned him," Elvira spoke up, taking a swig from her drink.

Kaz looked back at Elvira for a second before back at Jesper with a dark stare. "Yeah, right away, boss," Jesper nodded, his eyes shooting away from Kaz again.

Kaz tossed his cane into his other hand and stepped away. "Early for action, innit, Kaz?" Rotty called, chasing after Kaz. Elvira shot a glance at Jesper before walking off to watch another table.

❅

SOMETIMES IRA WOULD CALL KAZ A MADMAN, THEN SHE REMBERD SHE'S FJERDAN AND LIVING IN KETTERDAM, SO SHE HELD HER TOUNGE. Kaz led Jesper, Inej and Elvira through different streets of Ketterdam hunting down leads and informants, looking for a way to cross the fold. Madman. Kaz led them to a brothel where a Shu woman sat with a cigarette in her left hand.

"Tell us how to safely cross the Fold," Kaz demanded, standing by the desk, Jesper leaning on the doorway.

"The Fold? If I knew safe passage through that, I'd be wealthier than the whole Merchant Council," The woman spat, tapping the ash off her cigarette.

"You told me you brought in girls from Os Alta. The other side," Inej recalled, sitting in the chair in front of the woman, Elvira standing beside her.

"Yeah. The hard way. Lost a few to those damn volcra, too," The woman said with disgust.

.

"Nah, there's no trick to it except how it makes people disappear from time to time," A man relayed, setting his cards on the floor in front of him with Jesper squatting down to his level.

"I heard you bragging of a way to make a path," Jesper reminded, his hands resting on his knees.

"I was taking kruge from a tourist. A little lie," The guy explained, looking up at the group. "The Fold keeps those Ravkan bastards and their Grisha attack dogs in check. Can you imagine how dangerous it would be if it wasn't there?"

.

"Just go around," The next man insisted.

"It stretches through to Fjerda," Elvira reminded as the man fixed his bandaged gloves.

"Ja. So go to Fjerda. March through the permafrost," The man encouraged.

"How long would that take?" Kaz questioned.

"From here? Five months," Elvira answered, spinning her claw rings.

"We don't have that kind of time," Kaz spoke up, looking down at the man who jumped up.

"Either you take your time or you take your chances," The man spat, punching the air. The boxing bell cut through the air and the crowd's cheers grew louder. Jesper nodded and the crows made their way out.

❅

THE CROWS SAT AROUND ONE OF THE TABLES IN THE CLUB, HIGHER UP AT ONE OF THE TRADING STATIONS. Elvira sat by Inej, her fingers tracing the top of the glass, chilling the condensation on the glass. Kaz slowly spun his cane, before moving to rest his hands on top. Inej spun one of her knives, the end creating a small dent in the wooden table.

"Here's what I don't get," Jesper spoke up, his feet resting on the table by Elvira.

"We're going to be here all night," Inej sassed shooting a glance his way. Elvira chuckled lightly and sipped her chilled rum.

"Rude," Jesper snapped, looking between the two. He moved his feet from the table and sat straight, extending his arms over the backs of the couch. His right arm extended fully behind Ira. "Why haven't they tried going under it? Just dig a tunnel."

"Tried that. More than a century ago," Kaz relayed. "Something... heard them digging."

"So it was made hundreds of years ago by that crazy Grisha-"

"The Black Heretic," Inej corrected, interrupting Jesper.

"Yeah, the one who controls shadow. They've got one in their army now don't they? General Kirigan?" Jesper questioned.

"Your point?" Elvira asked, taking her glass again.

"If one of his kind made it, can't he... un... make it?" Jesper questioned.

"Have you ever put out fire by adding more fire?" Inej sassed, moving her knife off the table.

"Then what's the opposite of this?"

"A very large glow worm," Ira suggested, hiding her grin behind her glass.

Inej furrowed her eyebrows slightly and shook her head. "A Sun Summoner," Inej answered.

"Right, then, one of those," Jesper nodded.

"It doesn't exist," Elvira mumbled.

"Doesn't exist... yet," Inej corrected, her eyes moving to Kaz as she finished her sentence.

"Dreesen comes into town, doesn't waste a minute," Kaz started, moving his body to face the others. Ira could see the gears clicking in his head. "Sends out for a crew to steal something but doesn't specify what." Jesper reached up and scratched his head in confusion. "Is it heavy, large, worth more than a million on the black market? Maybe he doesn't know."

"We can let this one go, Kaz," Inej insisted, her eyes moving to the others for support.

"And there's no other information on it," Elvira added.

"Sounds like a trap, anyway," Jesper agreed, lifting his glass.

"A trap would sound easy," Kaz countered. "This is something else."

"Boss, boss," One of Kaz's men called, rushing to him. "We intercepted a note from Dreesen."

"Did you, now?" Kaz questioned, leaning back in his seat slightly.

"It's for the owner of the Orchid. Says they require the services of a Heartrender. Tonight," The man relayed.

"A Heartrender? Why?" Kaz questioned, as the others glanced at him.

"Doesn't say. Just they need it before midnight."

"You don't bring in a Heartrender unless you need an answer out of someone who isn't willing to talk," Kaz thought, using his cane and pushing himself to stand. "That's how we get this job before anyone else. Bring Dreesen a Heartrender."

"Boss, just one problem," The man interrupted before Kaz could walk away. "Pekka Rollins knows."

"Pekka Rollins," Kaz repeated, his stare darkening as he muttered the words. Elvira had looked in the mirror enough to know that look. Kaz looked back at the others. "Ira." Kaz walked off and Elvira sighed softly. Elvira downed the rest of her drink and followed after Kaz.

❅

❝ swim to deep and the 𝒊𝒄𝒆 will claim you ❞