chapter thirty-two,     dolled up

    INEJ HAS DELIVERED A MESSAGE to the Ravkan embassy to meet them at the Geldrenner's baths to discuss the upcoming auction. It was a risk they were willing to take, knowing well that it could be a trap. They needed all the help they could get.

A handful of them were getting down to the baths with the lift. Nina made a reservation earlier for Mister Rietveld, which indicated that he'd need to be in the baths alone. Wylan and Jesper stood in front of the lift and Kaz with Lavender stood behind them. Kaz didn't look fine even if he managed to rest for about three hours. The swelling eased a bit, and he had difficulty walking, but he was determined to do this. Besides, he said that he looked exactly like from the Barrel and it didn't bother him.

As soon as they reached the baths, the lift doors opened to show them pure luxury. Running water surrounded them, little golden fountains at each side of the long corridor. Statues of fishes and plants were beside the fountains while the marble underneath their feet was painted in sheer gold a gentle purple. The scent of herbs mixed in the air, making their noses itch slightly.

At the end of the corridor, there was a huge pool where they were supposed to meet two people from the Triumvirate. However, there stood three. Two women were accompanied by a man, who was standing behind them with a wicked little smile. His attire was made from brown leather, tailored to fit every curve of his body. A pair of Zemeni revolvers clung around his hips and Lavender saw how Jesper was eyeing them.

"We were expecting only Grisha," Kaz said.

The man's face only shone with wickedness. "I'm afraid that was not possible. Even if they're capable of dealing on their own, but if we're talking about physical confrontation, I can assure you, I'm well suited to all forms of confrontation, though I'm particularly fond of the physical."

"Strumhond," Kaz acknowledged him.

The man snapped his fingers, giving a woman with many scars and a covered eye a nudge with his elbow. "Told you I'm famous!"

The other woman with long black hair frowned, rolling her eyes as she looked at Strumhond. "Thank you," she deadpanned. "He's already insufferable."

"He's authorised to negotiate on behalf of the Ravkan throne," the scarred woman said.

"A pirate?" asked Jesper.

"A privateer," corrected Strumhond.

Lavender shrugged. "A prince."

The trio in front of them were taken aback, dead silence surrounding them only to be interrupted by the little water drops falling into the pool.

The prince's lips curled into a smile as he looked at her. "How did you know?"

"I know about Ravka enough," Lavender stated. She has spent many years travelling with the Healers. She knew a lot about the affairs of Ravka. "Besides, if the King can't participate, who else can?"

"Oh, I like her." Nikolai wasn't concerned about this at all. He felt even better. Not only was he recognized as a privateer, but also as a prince. It only meant that he was standing in front of people who knew more than anyone else. "I can see why there were talks in the streets that Mister Brekker's wife was quite like her husband."

Kaz eyed the prince.

"Right," Nikolai cleared his throat. "Nina's note claimed that you have Kuwei Yul-Bo. I want the confirmation of that and the details of your plan."

"All right," Kaz agreed. "Let's talk it over in the solarium. I'd prefer not to sweat through my suit." All of them walked right behind them, but Kaz sharply turned back, giving them a warning: "Just me and Strumhond."

"We are the Triumvirate. All that is said must be heard by all of us," the dark-haired woman disagreed.

"I can phrase it as a question if it will make your feathers lie flat," Kaz said.

"You insolent—"

"Zoya," said Sturmhond smoothly. "Let's not antagonize our new friends before they've even had a chance to cheat us. Lead on, Mister Brekker." With these words, both left the room.

Zoya turned to Lavender, "What do you see in him?"

"He always speaks so sweetly, what's not to like?" Lavender teased, smiling gently. She turned to the scarred woman. "Nina told me that you could help me fix my eye. I'd like to see better again."

Genya smiled softly, giving her a motherly look. "Of course." She turned to Wylan. "And you must be the boy Nina tailored to look like Kuwei."

Wylan took a deep breath, fidgeting with his fingers. "Yes, about that... Ma'am—miss Genya... Would you be able to bring my face back?" He stuttered.

It was clear that Wylan's charm reached Genya's heart, but the dark-haired woman was anything but annoyed with all of this. She dramatically huffed out, crossing her arms over her chest. "You've gone soft. Can't say no to strays anymore."

Genya waved her hand dismissively, "We're making an alliance with them. Let's be on their good side, shall we?"

Zoya looked displeased. "If you want to waste your time and talent on these wretches, feel free. Saints know I can barely stand in front of them."

"Aren't you a little ray of sunshine?" Lavender murmured.

The woman snapped at her, making Lavender understand she had a few anger issues that needed to be tamed. "In a filthy country like this?" She huffed out. "I'm going to find a dark room with a deep pool to try and wash this country away." And with those words, she left the room.

The auburn-haired woman looked at them all apologetically. "She's a lot, but she means well." She clasped her hands. "Well, let's start with you, Lavender. Fixing one eye will be far easier than recreating a whole face. If I'd known you before the changes were made... Do you perhaps have a portrait of yourself?" She asked Wylan.

Wylan took out a drawing out of his pocket. It was a little piece of paper, and he handed her his 'WANTED' posture. "It's an old portrait of me... But that's all I have."

Genya nodded, "I'll see what I can do." She looked at Wylan and Jesper. "Fetch my kit. It's by the main pool, right where the towels are."

"You brought your kit?" Jesper asked.

The woman shrugged. "The Suli girl suggested it."

Jesper and Wylan disappeared in the darkness and Lavender found the light switch to turn on the main lights. Taking a chair from a little room beside the pool, she carried it beside Genya. As she sat down on it, she took her time to look at Genya. Her face was scarred beyond and within, her right eye covered with a patch, while the other one shone in a beautiful amber colour.

"You're staring," Genya reminded her.

"You're beautiful," Lavender stated, and Genya's cheeks turned pink. "Your scars are beautiful."

The woman exhaled softly. "Well, thank you... I see you have them as well." Her eyes dropped on her neck, seeing a few rough scars. Not wanting to dwell on this topic for too long, she asked: "What has happened to your eye?"

"Fjerdans," Lavender answered.

The flame-haired woman's lips twisted in a frown. "I'll do my best to fix your eye so that there won't be a scar left."

It was something Lavender had wished to hear. Even if their main goal was to survive this mess, she didn't want to look in the mirror and remember the Fjerdans who had so much fun slashing her skin around. She wanted to see her mother again. She wanted to look in the mirror and not feel as if she was just an old rag, thrown away and unloved.

Soon the boys came back with a huge chest that was supposedly her kit. When she opened it, there were various powders, dyes and whatnots, stored in little jars in different compartments. Genya seemed focused and she took one jar, taking a bit of the see-through mass.

"Normally, just a bit of healing could get the eye back to its shape. But I can see that the slashing has affected the eye and I need to reshape the eye just the way it was. I must work with some human tissue." Genya explained what she was going to do.

"Oh, I'm going to throw up," Jesper mumbled.

"That's not the worst thing you can put on your face. Trust me..." She shook her head. Then she looked at Lavender, rubbing the see-through mass between her fingers. "It might sting just a little bit since your eye is still quite healthy underneath."

Lavender only nodded, closing her eyes and the Tailor started her work. It did sting a bit, but it wasn't anything she had experienced. It was as if little needles were pricking the skin around her eye with coldness and warmth at the same time. And when the stinging faded away, a cooling sensation rushed through her face. She gently moved her eyes right and left, feeling that it didn't feel so tight to move it around. And in just a few more minutes, she felt Genya pull away. "You can open your eyes."

Lavender pushed her head down, slowly opening her eyes. Her vision was slightly blurry, and she had to blink a few times, noticing that the vision was getting clearer and clearer. Looking down at her lap, she noticed that it wasn't as blurry. It was clear. Just like before. She raised her head, and Genya offered her a small mirror, placing it in her palm. Holding out the mirror, she saw Lily look back at her and the overflowing relief rushed to her chest.

There wasn't even a sign left that her eye was damaged once. No scar, no swelling – just the way it was. Blinking faster, she felt herself wanting to bawl her eyes out in front of everyone, but she tried to control her excitement, and she pushed the mirror down, turning to Genya, who seemed proud of herself. Standing up, she quickly hugged the Tailor, gently squeezing her. "Thank you so much," Lavender whispered. "You brought my mother back to me."

As they pulled away from the hug, Genya gently placed her palms on Lavender's face, smiling at her. "I told you I'll do my best."

Lavender smiled and turned to Jesper and Wylan, who were in awe to see that Lavender's eye wasn't injured one bit. This only meant that Genya was ridiculously good with her powers and now, Wylan was more than excited to get his old face back.

Wylan quickly took Lavender's seat and now what was five minutes with Lavender, turned into an hour with Wylan. They all were working with his face. Genya was patiently working with the shaping mould, stopping and asking both Jesper and Lavender if it was anything like his old face. They only had their memory and an old drawing of Wylan to work with, but he was slowly coming back to life.

Those bouncy orange curls, that innocent face with those wide blue eyes. Wylan was slowly getting impatient, looking at the mirror with wide eyes, his excitement bursting right through him.

"His brows should be a bit thinner, and his eyelashes were longer," Jesper commented.

Lavender said those words while she coughed to conceal them: "You're foolishly in love."

Jesper snapped his head at his sister and Wylan blushed. Lavender gave them both an innocent look and shrugged. "I didn't say anything!"

"Blushing is good for the circulation," Genya noted.

"Do you also teach Grisha who are a bit older?" Wylan quickly changed the subject.

"Of course," Genya nodded. "Alina Starkov only discovered her powers at seventeen and she was... Well, one the greatest Grisha amongst us. When you are smaller, it is only easier to learn. Everything's easier to learn when you are a child."

"And they're unafraid," said Wylan quietly. "It's other people who teach them their limits." Wylan's eyes met Jesper's over Genya's shoulder, fidgeting with his fingers. "I can't read," he stated, and his face became blotchy.

Lavender's look softened and Genya offered him a soft smile. Shrugging, the Tailor said, "That's because no one took their time to teach you. Many people can't read, you know. But that doesn't matter they never will learn how to."

"Lots of people took the time to teach me. They tried plenty of strategies too. I've had every opportunity. But it's something I can't do." Wylan admitted.

"You seem to be getting along well enough," said Genya. "Aside from your associations with street thugs and sharpshooters."

"Exactly," Lavender agreed. "You're incredibly smart with all that science stuff. Reading does not define you, Wy."

After a good half an hour, Jesper and Lavender have both fetched a cup of coffee and tea for Wylan and Genya, but as soon as they back – they saw Wylan sitting on the chair with a wide smile.

"Well?" Genya exhaled, clearly exhausted.

"That's our fresh-faced runaway merchling!" Jesper grinned. "You really are the best at what you do," he complimented her.

Genya gently bowed her head, almost visibly shining with happiness that she managed to bring back Wylan's face. "Good, because if I have to work another second with that clay, I'll go mad." She flopped on the chair. "It would be best to revisit the work anew in the morning, but I must get back to the embassy. And by tomorrow..." She shrugged.

Tomorrow the auction will be announced.

Soon enough, Jesper managed to drag Wylan back into the lift because he just couldn't stop thanking Genya. When the ladies were left alone, Genya took the teacup, sipping some of the liquid, relaxing.

"I can sense something with your lungs," Genya spoke up after a few minutes of silence.

Leaning back to the wall, Lavender crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm dying."

Genya moved the cup from her lips, placing it on the little plate. "And the Healers?"

"They can't help me. Maybe on Jurda Parem, but I'd never do that to another person." The red-haired woman shrugged.

"Have you used your powers?"

"We've figured it out that whatever is happening with my lungs was because I didn't use my powers. I didn't know I was a Grisha until I got taken by Fjerdans. But it's already too late."

The previous glimmering of her amber eye faded away; a veil of sadness covered her face. Genya placed the cup on the floor, standing up from her seat. "Come take a seat, I want to see what I can do."

"It's fine." Lavender shook her head. "I'm already making amends with the upcoming fate."

"It's that bad?"

"I've been coughing blood for months now," Lavender admitted.

Genya stood silent. She was thinking. After a few moments, she pointed at the chair. Complying, Lavender sat down, knowing that nothing would be changed, but she didn't want to get on the bad side of a woman who fixed her eye.

The Tailor placed her hand on her chest, above her lungs, closing her eyes. Genya felt how uneven Lavender's breathing was, how her lungs were expanding and collapsing faster than normal. She felt that disease in every part of her body, overtaking her from within.

"Can you heal her?" A sudden voice appeared in the room, complemented by the thudding of a cane against the floor.

Genya sighed. "I can feel the pain in her lungs... I can heal the wounds inside, but whatever it is... it's inherited. I can change and fix many things, but what's inside of you, what is given to you – I'm afraid it's not possible."

Kaz walked closer, looking at Lavender, forcing himself not to take a step back. Both of her beautiful eyes were looking at him and he almost forgot how wide they were. Not for a second has he thought that her injured eye made her worthless. It didn't define her to him. She was just as beautiful as him, but now... Those wide eyes, just like when she was little, were looking back at him and he felt so small. He felt vulnerable.

"It's okay, Genya," Lavender looked at the Tailor. "At least I know now for certain."

"I really think using your powers could help avert the condition," Genya suggested.

Lavender nodded, feeling a little wave of warmth on her chest, knowing well how it felt to be healed by a Healer. She gently smiled at the familiar sensation, feeling her heart pacing a bit faster as if there was a huge weight pushed off her chest. The air seemed a bit clearer, and she could identify the different herbs in the air. The struggle to breathe in remained, but it was easier to exhale. It gave a little bit more hope. A little bit more time.

"Thank you," Lavender whispered, placing her hand on top of Genya's and giving it a soft squeeze. "You're really kind."

Genya nodded, taking a step back from the woman. She turned to Kaz, extending her hand to the chair. "And now the husband."

Lavender was ready to hear some sort of bickering, but as soon as she stood up, Kaz took her place without a word. But it made sense why he obliged – the auction would be in about four days, and he suffered some damage. That's why, Kaz only let her fix his broken nose, remove some of the swelling around his eye that he could see, and some of the swelling around the ribs and the leg.

Lavender noticed how tense Kaz was sitting in the chair, trying his best not to flinch when Genya's hands came near his face. The little touches were making him hold his breath as his gloved hands tightened their grip on the cane. Kaz's words circled in her head, knowing why he couldn't touch someone. And it was beyond cruel... To see the death of his brother and never be able to touch someone without the image of his wet, cold body. A curse.

"I could make you walk again without the cane," Genya suggested, finally finishing mending everything he had asked her to.

Kaz stood up. "I like making people think I'm helpless because of it."

"Suit yourself. I just wanted to broaden my Tailoring," the flame-haired woman extended her hands defensively.

It was weird. Even three people got dolled up by the Tailor. It was incredible to understand that one person had this much power to alter someone's looks and heal. They were all used to so much pain and deception that Genya was like a fresh gust of wind. They will all be thankful to her, each in their own way.

Soon enough, they all parted their own ways, Lavender and Kaz standing in the lift, going up to the suite. She was holding the empty cups in her hands, leaning against the wall. Kaz, frankly, couldn't stop looking at her. He didn't even realise how much her eyes were affecting him. He didn't realise how much he wished to get lost in them.

"Nina will be furious," Lavender grinned.

"Why?"

"You got tailored."

"She'll live," Kaz mumbled.

"I really think I can make myself look like my mother," Lavender turned to Kaz, but he was already looking at her.

She looked so beautiful. "Good."

"How was the talk with Strumhond?"

"Apart from the fact that he was insufferable, there is a reason why he's a privateer. We got his word that he'll bet for Ravka just the right amount we need to eager up the others." Kaz said. "And he was smitten by the fact that you recognized him." He seemed bitter about it. But he wasn't bitter because she knew about him, he was bitter because Strumhond couldn't shut up about her.

Lavender smugly shrugged. "What can I say, you're not the only one who knows everything."

He side-eyed her.

"Why didn't you let Genya treat your lips? There will be a scar left." She asked instead.

"No one will believe that I fought my men if I get all dolled up," Kaz answered.

Lavender hummed. "I am not complaining. The scar is going to be hot."

"Shut up."

I love them with my whole heart, stop. I apologise for the late update - I am currently on an exchange program and I am taking time to get used to the new country and university!

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