𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Ⅶ 𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒔𝒕

KAZ LED THE GROUP TO THE CARRIAGE, CLOSING THE DOOR ONCE THE FOUR WERE INSIDE. "All right. Royal Archives heist," Kaz started, pulling out blueprints of a building. "Here's the game plan. Watchmen are on guard around the clock. We want to get in and get out as quietly as possible. That means the hardware stays in the holster, Jesper," Kaz ordered, shooting a glare at Jesper.

"Ugh, fine," Jesper complained, slouching in his seat slightly.

"Brey is spotting you from the outside. You stay completely hidden, only step in if necessary," Kaz continued, moving his gaze to Brey.

"Understood," Brey nodded.

"Inej, the dome on the roof is directly above the repository where the blueprints to the Little Palace are kept," Kaz relayed, moving his hand across the map.

"Got it. That's my way in," Inej confirmed.

"I'll set a trail of phosphorus that will lead you straight to the target," Kaz went on. "The repository is secured at all times behind a two-part lock mechanism. So, Inej, you have to leave the way you came in." Inej nodded softly. "Two hours after sunset is when you'll go in, Jesper. You'll need to blend in," Kaz ordered.

"Easy," Jesper nodded.

"The lighting valves are on the second floor," Kaz explained, pointing to a position on a map.

"I'll take my cue once I see the lights go out," Inej confirmed. "And then follow your trail straight to the blueprints."

"The archivist has to pull them a number of times a day, so we can't steal them or they'll know something is up," Kaz explained.

"So? Make a copy," Inej nodded.

"But careful," Kaz warned. "If you're heavy-handed, you'll bleed the ink."

"I know what I'm doing," Inej confirmed.

𓅨

BREY PULLED HER BLACK MASK DOWN TO COVER TEH BOTTOM HALF OF HER FACE. In complete black, hidden by shadows Brey ran along the building's edge as she followed Jesper, keeping an eye on him through the windows. Once Jesper made it to the second floor, he spun the light valve nodding at Brey.

Brey stepped back from the window watching Inej's figure run for the dome. Brey looked back at the windows. Brey watched through the window next to Jesper's, spotting two guards. Brey nodded and motioned him towards the door and Jesper stepped out of the room. Brey grabbed a grappling hook from the back of her corset and hooked it to the side of the building, sliding down while the lights were still out, her gloves preventing her from getting rope burn.

Brey flicked the rope down just as the lights came on. Brey ducked and rolled the rope up, hooking it back on her body. Two guards walked from the building and she followed them, hidden in the darker parts of the building. The guards unlocked the door to the archive, and Brey slid behind a wall, just peeking over the top. The guards walked around for a minute, Inej trailing behind one.

Inej ducked behind a desk and the guard walked back to the door. Brey spun her hands together, waiting. Once the door was an inch from locking again Brey pulled her hands apart and the world slowed. Brey stood, carefully weaving past the guards as she opened the door further.

Brey knelt beside Inej at the desk, clutching Inej's wrist that held one of her knives, a green hand print where Brey had held. Inej caught up to her speed and Brey held a finger to her lips. Inej nodded and her body relaxed. Silently, Inej followed her back through the gate. Brey paused to pull the gate nearly closed again.

They slid behind the wall Brey hid behind earlier and Brey's clock light flicked and faded and time sped again. Once the guards walked out of sight, the girls stood and went out a side door, where a man in uniform stood. Inej held the knife high, creeping behind. A cane slammed down, however, stopping Inej's swing. "Bit slow on the draw there," Inej commented.

"Or just in time," Kaz replied. Jesper exited through the same door a few seconds later, and the group made a quick escape.

𓅨

THE GROUP STOOD AROUND THE TABLE AT THE TAVERN. Drinks in hand as Kaz unrolled the blueprints. The crows looked over the map, reading over the markings. "What about..." Jesper suggested, pointing to a spot on the map.

"No, look," Inej shot down, pointing to a wall in the way.

"Oh," Jesper mumbled.

"How about this hallway?" Inej suggested, pointing to the other end of the print.

"Guard tower, we'd be seen," Brey spoke, stealing Jesper's drink, and taking a sip.

The group fell into a defeated silence, looking over the map. "There's no way in," Inej spoke up, cutting through the silence.

"And no way out," Kaz agreed.

"Well, I thought this plan might not work," Arken sighed. A loud thud rang from the stage and they looked over their shoulders. The acrobat that was performing now laying on the floor and the crowd exclaimed in shock.

.

A while later, the crows still crowded around the table and Brey had started on her second scotch bottle in the past three days. "Got any plans up your sleeve?" Inej questioned, drawing shapes across the tabletop with her fingertip.

Kaz stayed silent, looking away at nothing. "I mean, Kribirsk isn't the worst," Jesper sounded after another pause of silence, Kaz and Inej looking over and glaring at him. "We can open up a bar. Brey can serve. Brew East Ravkan beer for the Westerners?"

"Shut up, Jesper," Kaz and Inej sounded at once making Brey chuckle softly. Jesper huffed and picked up his drink again.

Jesper took another sip of his scotch, staring off into space. "I miss Milo," Jesper huffed, setting his drink down. Brey reached out and squeezed his shoulder.

"Friends," Arken greeted in a happy tone, his hands pressed to the tabletop.

"What are you so cheery about?" Kaz questioned, his voice just as emotionless as usual.

"This is Marko," Arken introduced a man, who wandered up behind them. "Marko is the leader of the traveling troupe known as the Pomdrakon Players." Kaz raised his eyebrow, not understanding Arken's intention. "They have been invited to perform in this year's winter fete."

"A lifelong dream," Marko said sweetly.

"Yes, yes," Arken nodded. "A chance to get inside the Little Palace. But they lost their star performer due to an unfortunate freak accident. They are in desperate need of someone with the skills to replace their star performer-" A smirk grew on Jesper's face as he eyed Inej from the corner of his eye. "-and as Ketterdam's premier talent manager, I had an idea." Kaz turned around and looked at Inej, Brey and Jesper doing the same, but Jesper with a teasing smirk.

Inej straightened up, looking up at Kaz. "As a friend once said, 'If I can't crack this, none of us are going anywhere'." Inej took her knife from her corset, handing it to Kaz and then doing the same with one on her boot.

Brey's eyes widened slightly, as Inej's hands paused on Kaz's. Inej gave Kaz a smile before walking off. Brey slowly tilted her head to look at Jesper and he did the same.

"Did you notice that?" Brey whispered, picking up her drink again.

"Yeah, but I don't think Kaz did," Jesper whispered back.

"Well of course he didn't, he has the emotional intelligence of a brick," Brey mumbled, sipping from her drink. Jesper snorted slightly, choking on a laugh. "Kaz Brikker." Jesper laughed harder, slapping his hand against the table slightly.

"What's so funny?" Kaz questioned, looking down at the two.

"Hmph, uh, nothing," Jesper hummed, calming down his laughing. "Nothing boss." Kaz gave them a suspicious look but ignored them, moving to find a safe place for Inej's knives. Jesper and Brey looked at each other, laughing again and Jesper smiled harder hearing Brey laugh. Jesper tried to ignore the skip in his heart, the same one he knew Kaz felt when he looked at Inej.

𓅨

❝ 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 is a funny thing ❞