—𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 their little display, the group packs up, checks out, and heads out with Marko and his group. Slipping into one of the carriages behind the main one, they start on the plan. Working out any of the kinks, getting everything perfect in an attempt to not get killed. Anya had faith, this was a Kaz plan, his plans always - almost - worked. She was still suspicious about Arken, but trusted Kaz to know what to do about it. Kaz had told the group what their plan was, allowing him to slip out earlier than the rest. Pulling up the checkpoint, they clamber out of their carriage, allowing it to be checked. A guard checks over their papers, making sure everything is in line.

"That one is our invitation to perform, signed by the queen." Marko says. The guard looks at him unimpressed. He folds and hands Marko back the papers.

"This writ allows you access to the grounds, the main ballroom and nowhere else. You are being employed by the queen. You are not her guests." He starts to walk by the group. "You are to stay together as a group, at all times. No guns." Jesper pulls a face. "No knives." This time it's Anya and Inej who are making faces. "No weapons of any kind." The guard turns back around, causing the group to straighten out their faces. "Punishment for violation of these rules ranges from being fired to being fired upon. Now, do we all understand?"

"No." A muffled grunt sounds out. They watch as a man is pulled from under one of the carriages by a guard. He pushes them away and runs towards the group.

"Oh, for Saints' sake."

"The Sun Summoner! I just want to see her!" The man shouts. He continues to run forward, only to be punched in the gut by a stick by one of the guards. Anya watches the scuffle with a grimace. The man groans in pain. Anya notices Kaz in the crowd, knowing his leg is going to hurt.

"All right, that's enough. Do we really need the entire corps for one man? The rest of you, post up now." Kaz walks forward, sending a subtle head nod to Anya. Anya silently breaks off from the rest, following after Kaz, who leads her to a dark corner.

"Here." Kaz hands Anya one of the uniforms. She whispers a thank you and then goes to stand behind him to change. Kaz sends any potential eyes cowering away under his glare. "You good?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Let's go."

The two walk back into the crowds, acting like they belong. Which wasn't hard, seeing as they could blend in as well as a chameleon. Getting into the Little Palace was easy enough, no one questioning their presence or asking them to go someplace else. They were thankful, this allowed them to get their tasks done quicker. Walking through the hallways, acting as if they were patrolling - while the were actually looking for their target - they managed to cover a lot of ground.

Kaz refused to let Anya split up, fearing for her safety. They checked every nook and cranny, looking for something, even the smallest thing. The two walked the same route the Sun Summoner was going to take from the ballroom to the dinner event. Kaz stopped along the corner to rub his leg. Anya looked over at him, placing her hand on his arm.

"You good?"

"Yeah."

"Kaz Brekker, don't you dare lie to me."

"Fine. Some slight discomfort." Anya raised an eyebrow in response. Kaz curses under his breath, hating that she can read him so well. "I'm in pain. Happy?"

"Not happy you're in pain, but I am happy you told me." Anya places a kiss on his lips, allowing his mind to fix on something other than his leg. "Can you make it the rest of the day?"

"I could do this day and night, but I think you already know that." Anya lets out a chuckle, pressing one last kiss to his lips before they continue on their way. Kaz clenched his jaw, taking deep breaths, trying to not focus on the pain. Walking past a door, they continue, noticing the next wall doesn't have a door. Kaz pulls out a mini map of the area they are in, noticing a room that should be there. No door. Kaz steps closer to the wall trying to think of a way they can hide a door. Only Kaz Brekker would be able to notice a small indent on the wallpaper - one that would indicate a door - and pick it out. He traces his fingers along the edge, nodding his head towards Anya. The two try to open the door, but are unable to do so as footsteps come closer.

"This way." Kaz pulls Anya into a corner room, pressing themselves up against the wall, looking out the corner of the room. Kaz's body was pressed up against Anya. The two watched as an Alkemi opened the door doing signal movements. Through the crack in the door they notice two of the same keftas indicating that there were going to be two Sun Summoners. One is real and the other is a fake.

"That makes things interesting."

"Yes it does. The perfect way to get Arken out of our hair." Anya looks up at Kaz, wondering what plan is forming in that wonderful mind of his.

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Walking back into the main part of the fete, Kaz and Anya attempt to find the rest of their group. Locating them was harder than expected. Anya had managed to switch out of her uniform, placing on her normal clothes yet again. To everyone else it looked like a guard escorting one of the performers. Finding the bright red carriage was easy, slipping inside, the two noticed everyone else waiting for them. They each took their respective seats - close together, seeing as there wasn't a lot of room - waiting for the other to talk.

"You're sure it was her?" Kaz questions Jesper.

"I'm telling you, she's part Shu." Arken tilts his head.

"Well now it's easier to spot her." Anya says.

"When exactly did you see her?"

"Just after midday."

"What's in this room?"

"Fitting room. It's where she'll go to change for dinner." Anya knew better than to correct his answer, knowing this is what Arken needed to know.

"And that's where we'll grab her." Arken says. "Out of the way, clean lines of sight, easily controlled space. I like it."

"I'd like it, too, if it had a door."

"It doesn't have a door?" Inej questions.

"Nope." Anya says.

"Not one that we can use." Kaz says. "It's some sort of Grisha lock. It took a Materialnik to open it."

"Is there no way to pick the lock?"

"Actually, there is." Arken speaks up. "I can get through the door."

"How?"

"The locking mechanisms are Fabrikator-designed. Iron cogs that slide into place without a latch. But for one of us to open it, we'll need a lodestone. With a minimum 2,000 gauss external strength. Hard to find."

"It's not like we're just walking around with one of those in our pockets." Arken pulls his bag into his lap, reaching his hand inside.

"You have one don't you?" Anya questions.

"Yes. You don't want to keep it in your pocket for too long." Arken lets out a chuckle. "Not if you're intending on having children someday." Jesper scoots away from the rock, a disturbed look on his face.

"All right. Arken grabs the target."

"You want the new guy to grab the million-kruge package?" Inej questions.

"The new guy knows his way around Grisha locks." Anya points out.

"Our futures depend on this. The rest of us will be setting up a lynx flush." Anya sits up straighter, knowing this is the fake plan.

"We are?"

"What's a lynx flush?" Arken questions.

"Lynx are pack hunters." Anya says.

"Very smart." Inej continues.

"They'll clear a path for the prey." Anya finishes.

"Oh. So, I grab the Summoner, and you clear the path?"

"That's right. We do it before dinner." Kaz says. He starts to roll up the map. "You grab. Anya and I clear, and Jesper and Inej make sure there's a fast way out." Jesper smirks in response, grabbing the map out of Kazs' hands.

🃑🃑🃑

authors note: so it's 1 am on saturday and i just finished this so there is a chapter today! i'm watching fast and furious while writing this. longest chapter i have written in a long time, seeing as i thought everything went together better. kaz has a plan to get rid of arken, thank god. i hate that man. i'm halfway through episode five so that means this book is almsot done! i am so sad. ugh i cant. but NEW BOOKS SOON!!! i mean who can't be excited for that! ANYWAY, i hope you enjoyed!!!