The wound was stitched, which was already helping the healing process, and definitely reduced the pain, but laying on her front as they staked out their transportation wasn't helping it much. Valya was laid on her front, Kaz on her right, Jesper on her left, and Inej to Jesper's left.
"How many are there?" Inej inquired, looking at the men who'd come to take a look at the train.
"Two," Kaz replied. "At some point, at least one of them will have to go tell a superior what they've found. We'll go in then."
The Fold just beyond the train continued to flash with pale green lightning, and thunder rumbled. To think they'd have to go through there again was terrifying.
"Not to be that person, Kaz, but are you sure you can drive that thing?" Jesper questioned.
"Yes. On the way to Kribirsk, while you were busy hugging bait -"
"Milo! The goat's name was Milo!" Jesper protested.
"I was memorising Arken's timings."
"Not to gang up on you, Kaz, but Jes has a point," Valya stated, Kaz's head turning to look at her with somewhat of a scowl. "It's a complicated system, and the ride was chaotic to say the least. No one would blame you for missing a count."
"Jes?" Kaz repeated. Once again, the emotion in his voice was unplaceable.
"It's Suli, for friendship," Jesper told him, grinning and nudging Valya lightly.
"No, it's not," Inej and Valya said simultaneously.
"I'm not even Suli," Valya pointed out.
"Trust me, Arken and I think alike," Kaz said, moving back to the subject.
There was a loud explosion, and they all looked at the train, at the flame and smoke erupting upwards, the bits of metal flying through the air and landing near them with a clang. Well, there goes that plan.
"Too soon to appreciate the irony, am I right?" Jesper asked. Kaz hung his head in annoyance, Jesper nodding to himself. "Yeah. Too soon."
𓄿
"The skiff is still here," Inej said, removing her scarf when she'd cone back from scouting. Valya had been made to stay behind, because according to all three of them, she wasn't in the right shape to be going scouting. She needed to save her strength and not worsen the wound. In spite of how much she'd assured them she was fine, and she really was. "Travellers downstairs are complaining. They were due to cross this morning."
"Orders from the Black General. He plans to cross on it tomorrow," Kaz said.
"The general?" Jesper repeated, squinting. "Is that the same general who tried to... Oh, yeah, kill us all. That one?"
"He has the Sun Summoner."
"Was this your plan all along?" Inej asked. "To have the general get her back so you can take her again?"
"My plan is to get us across the Fold," Kas answered. "We aren't prepared for another fight."
He looked over at Valya, and she sighed. "I don't know why you all keep treating me like a kicked puppy. I'm fine." She crossed her arms lightly over herself.
"So you're not going to take another run at Alina? And you're really willing to let a million kruge go?" Inej inquired.
Kaz looked over at Jesper, then at the two girls. "Jesper and I can't do it without the two of you," he admitted. Valya was glad to hear him say it.
"Been saying that since day one," Jesper said. Kaz's eyes flicked over to Jesper for a second, before back to the girls.
"And you've both made your position perfectly clear."
"So all you want is to cross the Fold?" Valya checked.
Kaz stayed silent a few seconds, nodding. "Once we land in Novokribirsk, it's your choice what you do next."
Valya and Inej looked at each other, then Jesper, and nodded. "Okay."
Kaz stood, but Jesper moved forwards. "Hang on. Are we talking about boarding a skiff with people who will recognise us? People who don't like us much."
"We'll have to blend in. Who else was on that skiff?"
"Some people from the winter fete. Dignitaries from Kerch and Novyi Zem on their way back home," Inej replied.
"Now they're audience to one more light show. Jesper, how did you enjoy playing a Zemeni guard?"
𓄿
Valya had insisted that she be a part of this plan, so she took perch on a balcony, once again masked by darkness. She kept an eye out for the men they were targeting. When she caught sight of them, she blew a paralysing dart, which hit him in the neck, and his hand moved to the area, falling forwards in shock and pain as the dart took effect.
The men accompanying the dart's victim moved to help him. She watched Kaz and Jesper step out, knocking out the other men.
𓄿
Jesper checked himself in the mirror, fixing his tie while the others finished getting ready. Valya couldn't wait to be back in her own clothes, after all the awful outfits of this job. Jesper was in a nice red plaid suit, while the girls had changed into all grey outfits that fit slightly weirdly.
"You look fine," Inej told the sharpshooter.
Jesper laughed. "Oh, I look more than fine."
"Yeah, you do," Valya agreed, smirking at him. She felt the opposite about her own appearance. The suit did her no real favours, considering it was meant for a man. She wouldn't deny that she didn't look awful, of course not, but she wasn't particularly keen. But this was her talent, blending in, disguising and camouflaging herself to fit into anywhere she needed to be.
"I made some edits to their papers," Kaz said, handing out the papers to them all. "Should be enough to get us through the checkpoint and onto the skiff."
Jesper scoffed at his. "Huh? No one is ever going to believe I'm that old." He put his hat on.
The other Crows shared a look, Kaz looking back up at Jesper as he said, "You tell yourself that."
Jesper took the paper frustratedly, walking off as the three of them smirked.
𓄿
It was another cool morning, the sky hidden behind light grey clouds. It was like the weather had sensed something was off about today, and had reacted in the same tone. The sun was nowhere to be seen, she was kept hidden.
Jesper played his part excellently, walking up to the registry with all the confidence in the world. Ahead, a soldier was speaking to someone who was handing over their papers. "You should consider yourself lucky," the soldier said. "You're travelling with the Black General and the Sun Summoner, which means you're about to witness the destruction of the Fold."
Valya fought the sneer that wanted to take its place on her features. If she had the opportunity, she'd love almost nothing more than to drive a knife into the Darkling. And she was certain that whatever the Darkling intended, it wasn't to destroy the Fold. He was a man of evil intentions, and shadows and monsters that ate everything was surely one of the best weapons.
Jesper moved confidently forwards, handing the papers over to the soldier, who eyed him a little warily. Jesper being Jesper couldn't stay quiet, and smirked as he spoke. "I know. I look amazing for my age."
"Well, I thought you looked older," the soldier said with a sort of smile.
Jesper laughed lightly but awkwardly as Valya fought her own chuckle, the four of them walking away.
As they headed towards the skiff, they heard some whispers behind them, turning to see Alina walking out of the tent, followed by the Darkling. This time around, Valya's sneer couldn't be stopped. It was also invisible to anyone important, so her disdain for the Shadow Summoner was well hidden, which kept her from being noticed as a risk by either the Darkling or his favourite Heartrender.
She noticed Inej's own sneer too, the two of them meeting eyes. Alina wasn't safe under the Darkling's oversight. The four of them continued onto the skiff, watching the two summoners lead several other Grisha through the camp, while multiple soldiers made symbols of faith as their eyes followed Alina. This was hope, once again dangerous. A weapon that could be used at any moment to betray you.
The skiff set off when everyone was on board, the Squallers pushing the sails forwards so they approached the Fold at a steady pace. Alina's coat was removed, revealing her gold and black dress underneath, and Valya was quite certain that she caught sight of something sticking up from her shoulders, but she couldn't tell what it was.
"Good news? It's just as terrifying as I remember," Jesper said.
"Except this time, we're going in completely exposed," Inej muttered.
"If I'm meant to die today, and any of you survive, make sure I have an open casket."
"Jesper, if you die, I'll find a Heartrender strong enough to bring you back so I can punch you," Valya told him.
"No one's dying today, so don't any of you go trying to make your peace," Kaz stated. "No mourners."
"No funerals," the others finished.
And then, the darkness consumed them.