@sixofcrowsnet heist: epilogue
running her nails through her hair, inej wondered if it was possible for her heart to leap from her chest. saints, she was nervous. it had been over 3 months since she’d seen them all; she missed them more with every passing moment she had been at sea. she missed the smell of kaz’ blueberry pancakes waking her in the morning; the rumbling sound of jesper’s infectious laughter; sitting in wylan’s study, admiring the burnt orange, jasmine blue, citris green paints that he adored almost as much as he adored jes; kuwei’s knowing eyes and hidden talents and nina; nina, her friend and ally who was so brave, so strong, so amazing, she missed hearing stories from nina and antonia, her girlfriend, about their wild adventures educating druskelle on grisha and their powers. they were all there, waiting for her. home.
the boat that slavers had come to fear the very name of, “iustitia”, docked in the port. stepping forward, a wretched smell travelled through the air and under inej’ nose: death. heart beating wildy and the joyful smile wiped from her face, inej worried for the very worse. they hadn’t return her last letter.
peering down the dock’s stained path, her wide eyes glanced at the signs surrounding the wooden post at the enterance of the city, ones that weren't there when she left. as the faint ringing of sirens reached her ears, she forced herself to breath air into her lungs. squinting, she made out the words printed in red on the sign...
“BEWARE: this city has been infected with the queen’s lady plague.”
