𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐘-𝐎𝐍𝐄 — fjerda

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 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐎𝐅everything that had transpired in the White Cathedral was nothing less than hell.

 Apparently, all that time there had been an underground Church praising the Sun Saint; operated, no less, by the damned Apparat. He'd provided the soldiers tattooed with Alina's symbols, he'd been their only chance of survival... and he knew it.

 Aleksa could recall the retelling of Alina's time beneath the earth, sheltered from sunlight as her frail body and powerless hands grew weaker; the Apparat was restrictive of Alina's freedom, she was never permitted to see her friends, her people... and not once had she been allowed to bask within the light of the sun.

 Aleksa hadn't been there for this... no. The moment the Apparat's eyes had landed upon herself and Genya Saffin, they'd been taken away. The others had tried to fight. Zoya had bellowed, Mal had yelled, and even David had stomped forth. It was all to no avail.

 Aleksa and Genya were confined in a single room... under the impression that should either of the two so much as reach for the door handles, their friends would meet a fate far worse than death. This, of course, stunted Aleksa who could only call to the shadows within the dead of night, when their guards were far too bored to truly pay attention.

 Genya hardly spoke, and yet she had been the one to point to Aleksa — Lissa's face and keep up the ruse. She tailored her just once every few days, but it was enough of a facade to keep the Apparat at bay.

 Aleksa could hardly recall how they'd escaped... it had been some elaborate plan concocted of a bomb David had crafted, and a little show from Alina. Soon enough, they had found the surface once more.

 Alina plastered on the guise of the Sun Saint. She branded those who stepped forth with the promise of loyalty on their tongue with her bare palm.

 But throughout it all, throughout their escape and during their rather timely reconciliation with Nikolai, who had somehow escaped the Nichevo'ya with his life... Aleksa had been rather blank. It had been months beneath the surface, and while the shadows were there to coil around her fingers; it had been Genya Safin that got to her.

 The scars didn't matter, the trail of black across her paled skin was of little concern to Aleksa... it was the fact that her own blood had done it. Aleksa had taken her hand once, begging for the shadows to let Genya go, to give up their hold. Some retreated, others stayed and settled deep beneath her skin until she became a piece of patchwork.

 Until Aleksander was gone, her skin would forever bear his mark... and yet, even after she'd still have pale scars to remind her at every turn of the man who had tortured her.

 It was their arrival to Fjera in which Aleksa finally felt as though she could see again. As though she could breathe. Only... none of them quite knew just how short their time amidst the snow and frost would be, nor how much they'd lose to its lands.

 "Matthias?" Aleksa called, her voice muffled through the fur lining the hood atop her head. She was swamped with material. From her shirt to a waistcoat Kaz had tossed at her face, her jacket and billowing coat... It wasn't necessarily the cold getting to her, it was the snow pelting against her cheeks. She was sure her lips were blue, her nose as red as a bushel of cherries. Worst of all were the goggles perched on her nose.

 She could practically hear Matthias' eye roll, "Yes?"

 "I lied. I hate your country. I can't see a thing."

 Nina snorted into her own fur-lined hood, hands tucked safely away within her pockets. She toyed with a toffee, sure to sneak it out the second she knew Aleksa wouldn't whip her way like some monster in the night and pluck it from her fingers with terrifying glee.

 The march had begun at the rocky shore in which they'd docked. The black pebbles and rocks lining the craggy shore were a pain to scramble over, but the worst was the heavy blanket of snow on the ground. It looked like some marvellous fool had sprinkled sugar everywhere... Unfortunately, Aleksa was certain she and Nina couldn't shovel it into their mouths.

 Spring was coming, and thus Fjerda was as cold and icy as it possibly could be. Why couldn't it have been summer? They could have flounced around in short sleeves and — no, it was Fjerda. They'd still freeze.

 The cliff was a tricky path to navigate, what with ice and snow clogging the damned thing, yet in the end even through Aleksa and Jesper's pouting, Nina's lip-smacking and Matthias' grumbling from the back of the group... they reached the very top.

 Aleksa leaned over, hands planted on her knees as she squinted through the foggy skies. The Ferolind was still visible upon the horizon, the light flickers of the fishing villager's homes twinkled like stars in the night... Aleksa blew out a frozen breath.

 "Okay, I relent, it is pretty." She brushed aside a mass of snow from her shoulder and readjusted her boring old quiver as Inej stepped closer to the very edge.

 The Wraith held up a hand, watching as a few hefty snowflakes landed on her palm, "Saints, we're actually doing this."

 "I've spent every minute of every miserable day wishing to be off that ship," Jesper said as he batted away the snow from his goggles, "So why do I suddenly miss it?"

 Wylan stamped his frosted boots on the ground, watching with dismay as a hunk of ice toppled free and began to bounce down the cliff they'd somehow scaled, "Maybe because it already feels like our feet are going to freeze off."

 Aleksa found her own toes to be rather toasty. Her thick boots coddled her legs from the blanket of white surrounding them, she'd been sure to pull her trousers on over a snug pair of thick woollen stockings... if only to keep the water from seeping in.

 Still, while the frost was chewing on the very tip of her nose, and while she could very scarcely see throughout the snowy haze... what she could see was rather wonderful. Too bad it was all smeared with the reminder of what had happened the last time she'd been in Fjerda.

 Kaz tapped his cane upon a snow-smothered rock, "When we get our money, you can burn kruge to keep you warm," He'd left the cane Aleksa had gotten made for him behind on the Ferolind, sure it was as safe and snug as it could possibly be. He traded it for something less conspicuous, an old curled piece of carved wood. It was plain and boring, much like their new weapons.

 Jesper had rather mournfully left behind his beloved pearl-handled revolvers for a pair of dull guns. He'd quite literally stomped his feet when Kaz had handed them over. Inej was lined with only the knives she could bear to part with once they reached the prison. She'd left behind the ones named after her Saints, sure to polish her beloved Sankta Alina and Sankta Lissa before she left.

 Aleksa hopped forth as Kaz blazed ahead. He carved a little path behind them to which she swiftly followed.

 Kaz turned his head as she made it to his side, "Too short to shovel through on your own?"

 "I'm going to burn you in my pile of scorching kruge." Then, Aleksa flicked a piece of snow at him.

 Jesper pried an old compass from his trouser pocket. He pointed to a particularly snowy path with a disgruntled expression, yet soon spoke, "I'm going to pay someone to burn my kruge for me."

 He took Aleksa's other side, fingers scrambling to curl through her arm. He tugged her close and grinned as he felt her warmth encase him. The perks of being a Grisha that used their powers, he supposed.

 Kaz seemed to consider Jesper's words... then he cocked his head, a slight tick to his lips, "Why don't you pay someone else to pay someone to burn your kruge for you? That's what the big players do."

 Aleksa shook her head, paying no mind as Jesper spluttered at the snow that had toppled into his mouth, "That's where you're wrong, pretty boy."

 "Oh? Do enlighten us." There was a little gleam in his eyes... even after everything he could still join in with such senseless back and forth. It felt strange to him, but the grin on Jesper's face was broad, and the laughter from Aleksa only spurred him onwards like the smell of whiskey to a drunkard.

 "You see, what the big players actually do... is give me all their kruge to burn."

 "And then you steal it away?"

 "Precisely." Aleksa huddled closer to Jesper as she tipped the pair of them Kaz's way. They looked like a group of school children on a playground, ready to share a story they'd heard from their parents, "Now, you keep that plan quiet, and we can split it."

 "Oh!" Cried Jesper, "Then we'd have enough to pay someone, to pay someone else, to then pay someone else..."

 They continued like that for the better part of ten minutes, and it was odd, really. Kaz leaned into it for once, his tongue sharp and his lips curled. He looked quite delightful tucked away as snug in his boots and fur as the rest of them, the way his curled nose grew pinker and pinker.

 He'd caught her staring once, and all Aleksa had done was flick yet another piece of snow in his face... He'd very swiftly looked to Jesper with the promise of payment if he was the one to tackle her into the frozen heaps of white.

 Jesper had seriously debated it, and Aleksa could tell. His fingers inched closer and closer until she had to scuttle away. As she did, leaving snow fluttering down from her hasty departure, Matthias passed her with a face set in stone... or ice. They'd heard the hushed argument between the druskelle and Heartrender; it seemed like while their animosity grew, they simply couldn't stand the thought of silence passing between them.

 The first day of scaling the white wasteland of nothing but powdery snow was rather boring, really. Everything was the same; cold, bitter, dead and white. Aleksa had seen enough of all that in Ketterdam, just... in different ways. The poor trees scattered around them had lost their leaves, and the only ones left to thrive were huddles of pine that dropped their needles with every little breeze.

 But there were no outward complaints; Jesper trailed onwards and with the scent of kruge in the air, he had quite the pep in his step. Inej sauntered through the thick blanket of snow as though simply walking through thin air... even Wylan kept his head down, eyes upon his frozen toes as he chose the path with the least amount of snow to freeze him further.

 Kaz said nothing as he slowed and Aleksa matched his pace. The cold nights in Ketterdam were bad enough on his leg, forcing it to grow stiff with every little bite of cold air; she could hardly imagine the pain he was forcing himself through.

 Still, when the sun began to set amidst their journey each of them gathered around the little fire they'd managed to craft in the midst of a barren settlement. Trees surrounded them, and while they devoured the warmth of the fire Jesper had managed to erupt, it was Aleksa's job to keep the light to a minimum.

 The shadows jittered around them, and while Kaz, Inej and Jesper had grown rather fond of the little buzz that chittered and chirped as the darkness writhed... Aleksa could spot Wylan whipping his head back and forth. She watched as Nina kept her eyes upon a sliver of the shadows with a light twinkle in her eyes... Matthias... Oh, Matthias hated it.

 "Come now, druskelle," Aleksa sighed, slumping against the log behind her. She'd laid an old waterproof sheet below her and sprawled herself on top, it was rather comfy to have the snow melt beneath her, leaving the perfect little hole for her to sink into, "They won't bite."

 Matthias was stiff. His arms flexed, his jaw ticked and he scowled hard enough that Aleksa thought he might actually freeze the damned flames, "It's unnatural."

 The others all scoffed in unison, though Aleksa groaned as she tipped her head back, eyes cast to the bleak and starless sky, "Saints, you're irritating."

 "Drusje of any kind are an insult to Djel, but you —"

 "Are the worst of the worst? I know, I know. I can make the shadows move. I can make them dance and sing... or I can make them cut a man." Aleksa tapped her fingers as she listed her delightful properties. The shadows moved in time, and the scenery around them began to fade as the fire was further drowned out, "Full offence when I say this; I really don't care what Djel thinks of me, your silly little tree man can kiss my pretty ass."

 Nina turned away, her tongue poking at her cheek as she muffled her laughter... Jesper, well he outright snorted and it never ceased even as Matthias stood and directed a heavy-set glower upon the all. 

 The Fjerdan took a step, and yet when he moved, Kaz's wooden cane struck his knees, "I think it's past your bedtime, Helvar." He jutted his pale chin towards the druskelle's lopsided tent, a pearly scar on his neck glinting like a knife's edge as the flames grew and the shadows receded, "Go on."

 Aleksa couldn't help the grin that crawled over her lips, smearing them wide. She watched Matthias grind his teeth, watched the way his hands curled at his sides... Well, if he was going to get so very defensive he shouldn't have called her a witch or scowled at the only thing keeping their source of warmth hidden.

 Matthias eventually stomped off, though not before smacking away the cane that had likely carved bruises into his flesh. His boots thudded through the snow, kicking up powder in his wake. Like a child, he did his best to slam his tent flap shut... though it was of little effect, for the thing flopped rather pathetically.

 Aleksa met Kaz's blank look with a delightful grin. She plopped her chin into her hands, "Don't you start scowling at me, I don't want to see lines in your pretty face."

 But Kaz didn't scowl, he watched as she stared with that stupid smile. It was the same one he'd seen time and time again; the look of a smug win. The look of a girl who'd played her hand and gotten exactly what she wanted. Still, while he rather wanted to chastise her, he couldn't help but agree with her sentiments towards the brooding Fjerdan.

 "Do try not to provoke him," Kaz uttered, "When you have your shares, you can pay someone to bury him."

 "Nina?" Aleksa called, and she didn't even need to finish her sentence.

 "It's a date."

 Aleksa's brow climbed her forehead as she tipped closer to the fire. Her cheeks were illuminated, a pleasant glow buzzing beneath her skin as the shadows writhed around her, "A you and me date, or a you and Matthias date?"

 Nina chuckled, her fingers slipping into a pocket to procure three toffees. She tossed one as far as she could, blinking the moment a little tendril of darkness inched out to seize it from the air and pop it into Aleksa's awaiting palm. She threw another to Inej, pointedly ignoring Jesper's whine, "You and me, obviously."

 Jesper folded his arms, rather distraught that he didn't have a toffee to smack between his lips, "Of course the two of you would flirt, it's like seducing a mirror."

 Kaz dipped his head at that one, and Jesper's sourness seemed to fade.

 "Nina?" Wylan called, his freckled nose scrunching ever so slightly, "Could I?"

 And in a flash, Wylan had a toffee pinched between his fingers, leaving poor Jesper utterly disgruntled. He gestured at the boy, "Really? The merchling gets one, but not me? Not Jesper Fahey, the most talented and handsome sharpshooter who saved your asses?"

 Aleksa sighed as the last of the toffee dissolved on her tongue. She stared at Jesper for a moment, and then, "You're so pretty, Jes."

 Those around the fire dissolved into laughter, except dear Kaz Brekker of course. He only watched onwards with a slight tick upon his lips, hiking them just inches higher.

 Jesper waved a hand through the air, "Yeah, yeah, keep laughing. See who you turn to when you need somebody shot."

 "I have a bow and arrow."

 "Boring!"

 "You take that back, Fahey!"

 "Or what —" Jesper lowered his voice, "Can I use your real name or...?"

 Kaz stiffened. Morozova. That was a name known throughout every country. They associated it with the Black Heretic. With Alina Starkova and Lissa Morozova; it was dangerous to ever mention it at all, hence why Aleksa had always used her middle name; Corvina.

 But, really, it was quite obvious as to what name she bore when the shadows moved beneath her fingertips. Kaz watched her for a second, as she cocked her head, eyes flicking between Wylan and Nina... Nina wouldn't dare say a thing, for if there was something she was loyal to, it was her own kind.

 As for Wylan, the little merchling wouldn't dare. He knew what would await him; the shadows twisting around his ankles... and Kaz himself. He'd warned them all. He'd made his threat to Matthias, he'd told Nina Zenik not to start with her conspiring to rebuild Ravka, and he'd warned Wylan Van Eck that should anything about any of them weasel through his lips... Well, it was safe to say that Wylan had nodded without a second thought.

 Aleksa shrugged. What good was a name any more? Anybody could walk around and announce they were from the Morozova bloodline, but without the darkness to prove it, they'd be scoffed at, and completely ridiculed.

 So Jesper bobbed his head and repeated his words, though they were certainly lacklustre after that little pause, "Or what, Morozova?"

 Aleksa grimaced, "Ew. Just saying Morozova makes me think of an old man."

 Inej tossed a stick into the flames, a sly little smile upon her dark lips, "You're a pretty old man."

 "Is that any way to talk to your elder?"

 "I think I can see a grey hair... right —"

 "— I would look wonderful with grey hair, Wraith." Aleksa slid her eyes across her group, past the fire warming her numbing fingers and coiling with the shadows until she addressed Kaz who'd merely spectated silently, "Don't you think?"

 "I'm not entertaining you."

 The pout that befell Aleksa's lips almost made him reconsider. Those fluttering lashes tangled with snowflakes, the way her hair had been freed from the confines of her woolly hat and hung over her shoulders like a cloak.

 "I don't want your ego to grow," Kaz continued, fingers drumming upon his aching knee, but he wouldn't dare smooth his palm over the pain in an attempt to banish the slivers of fire coddling his veins... not in front of them all, "It's big enough as is."

 "You're a good liar, dear Brekker... But I know you quite love my ego."

 "You're flattering yourself."

 "Mhm." Aleksa wiggled her fingers just a tad more. This was how she toyed with him; touch was out of the equation and so she couldn't jab a finger into his ribs like she would with Jesper. The shadows made a delightful spectre of crawling closer and closer like a little puppy eager for a pet. They swirled around his boots, and coiled up his cane, "It's what I do."

 Kaz tapped his fingers against the old oak wood now utterly smothered in darkness; it had never bothered him. For a boy beaten and broken by the Barrel, shrouded in the darkness of damp-smelling alleys or rotting cardboard boxes, the shadows were an old friend. Something to almost confine in... it had only grown more evident when his office had been flooded with them.

 On the nights Aleksa would sit upon his window ledge, or toss her body over one of his chairs with a book in hand, while the other called upon the shadows... Those were the nights he felt most at ease.

 So as the rippling tethers of obsidian tickled the edges of his gloved hand, he simply raised a brow, "And you expect me to flatter you further?"

 "Yes. I'm so glad we cleared that up."

 "Aleksa?"

 "Yes, my most prettiest of boys?"

 "Go to bed."

  "Ooh, join me?"

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DATE: 19-07-2024

:･ﾟ★ i love my crows. also the aleksa and matthias' beef has me rolling

TWO UPDATES IN TWO DAYS??? WHO AM I?? 

luv u <3

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