Page 23 of Six of Crows (Dregs 1)
“Idiot?” suggested Nina. “No one chooses to live in the Barrel if he has another option.”
“I’m not useless,” Wylan said.
“Raske is the better demo man—” Inej began.
“I’ve been to the Ice Court. With my father. We went to an embassy dinner. I can help with the plans.”
“See that? Hidden depths.” Kaz tapped his gloved fingers over the crow’s head of his cane. “And I don’t want our only leverage against Van Eck cooling his heels in Ketterdam while we head north. Wylan goes with us. He’s good enough at demo, and he’s got a fine hand for sketching, thanks to all those pricey tutors.”
Wylan blushed deeper, and Jesper shook his head. “Play piano, too?”
“Flute,” said Wylan defensively.
“Perfect.”
“And since Wylan has seen the Ice Court with his very own eyes,” Kaz continued, “he can help keep you honest, Helvar.”
The Fjerdan scowled furiously, and Wylan looked a little ill.
“Don’t worry,” Nina said. “The glower isn’t lethal.”
Jesper noted the way Matthias’ shoulders bunched every time Nina talked. He didn’t know what history they were chewing on, but they’d probably kill each other before they ever got to Fjerda.
Jesper rubbed his eyes. He was low on sleep and exhausted after the excitement of the prison break, and now his thoughts were buzzing and jumping at the possibility of thirty million kruge. Even after Per Haskell got his twenty percent, that would leave four million for each of them. What could he do with a pile of scratch that big? Jesper could just imagine his father saying, Land yourself in a pile of shit twice as big. Saints, he missed him.
Kaz tapped his cane on the polished wood floor.
“Take out your pen and proper paper, Wylan. Let’s put Helvar to work.”
Wylan reached into the satchel at his feet and pulled out a slender roll of butcher’s paper followed by a metal case that held an expensive-looking pen and ink set.
“How nice,” Jesper noted. “A nib for every occasion.”
“Start talking,” Kaz said to the Fjerdan. “It’s time to pay the rent.”
Matthias directed his furious gaze at Kaz. Definitely a mighty glower. It was almost fun to watch him pit it against Kaz’s sharklike stare.
Finally, the Fjerdan shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and said, “The Ice Court is on a bluff overlooking the harbor at Djerholm. It’s built in concentric circles, like the rings of a tree.” The words came slowly, as if speaking each one was causing him pain. “First, the ringwall, then the outer circle. It’s divided into three sectors. Beyond that is the ice moat, then at the center of everything, the White Island.”
Wylan began to sketch. Jesper peered over Wylan’s shoulder. “That doesn’t look like a tree, it looks like a cake.”
“Well, it is sort of like a cake,” Wylan said defensively. “The whole thing is built on a rise.”
Kaz gestured for Matthias to continue.
“The cliffs are unscalable, and the northern road is the only way in or out. You’ll have to get through a guarded checkpoint before you even reach the ringwall.”
“Two checkpoints,” said Wylan. “When I was there, there were two.”
“There you have it,” Kaz said to Jesper. “Marketable skills. Wylan is watching you, Helvar.”
“Why two checkpoints?” Inej asked.
Matthias stared at the black walnut slats of the floor and said, “It’s harder to bribe two sets of guards. The security at the Court is always built with multiple fail-safes. If you make it that far—”
“We, Helvar. If we make it that far,” corrected Kaz.
The Fjerdan gave the barest shrug. “If we make it that far, the outer circle is split into three sectors: the prison, the drüskelle facilities, and the embassy, each with its own gate in the ringwall. The prison gate is always functioning, but it’s kept under constant armed surveillance. Of the two others, only one is ever operational at any given time.”
“What determines which gate is used?” asked Jesper.
“The schedule changes each week, and guards are only given their postings the night before.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing,” said Jesper. “If we can figure out which gate isn’t running, it won’t be manned or guarded—”
“There are always at least four guards on duty even when the gate isn’t in use.”
“Pretty sure we can handle four guards.”
Matthias shook his head. “The gates weigh thousands of pounds and can only be operated from within the guardhouses. And even if you could raise one of them, opening a gate that isn’t scheduled for use would trigger Black Protocol. The entire Court would go on lockdown, and you’d give away your location.”
A ripple of unease passed through the room. Jesper shifted uncomfortably. If the expressions on the others’ faces were any indication, they were all having the same thought: Just what are we getting into? Only Kaz seemed unfazed.
“Put it all down,” Kaz said, tapping the paper. “Helvar, I expect you to describe the mechanics of the alarm system to Wylan later.”
Matthias frowned. “I don’t really know how it works. It’s some kind of series of cables and bells.”
“Tell him all you know. Where will they be keeping Bo Yul-Bayur?”
Slowly, Matthias rose and approached the plans taking shape beneath Wylan’s pen. His movements were reluctant, as wary as if Kaz had told him to pet a rattler.
“Probably here,” the Fjerdan said, resting his finger on the paper. “The prison sector. The high-security cells are on the topmost floor. It’s where they keep the most dangerous criminals. Assassins, terrorists—”
“Grisha?” Nina asked.
“Exactly,” he replied grimly.
“You guys are going to make this really fun, aren’t you?” asked Jesper. “Usually people don’t start hating each other until a week into the job, but you two have a head start.”
They cast him twin glares, and Jesper beamed back at them, but Kaz’s attention was focused on the plans.
“Bo Yul-Bayur isn’t dangerous,” he said thoughtfully. “At least not in that way. I don’t think they’ll keep him locked up with the rabble.”
“I think they’ll keep him in a grave,” said Matthias.
“Operate on the assumption that he isn’t dead. He’s a valued prisoner, one they don’t want falling into the wrong hands before he stands trial. Where would he be?”
r /> Matthias looked at the plan. “The buildings of the outer circle surround the ice moat, and at the moat’s center is the White Island, where the treasury and the Royal Palace are. It’s the most secure place in the Ice Court.”
“Then that’s where Bo Yul-Bayur will be,” said Kaz.
Matthias smiled. Actually, it was less a smile than a baring of teeth. He learned that grin at Hellgate, thought Jesper.
“Then your quest is pointless,” Matthias said. “There is no way a group of foreigners is going to make it to the White Island.”
“Don’t look so pleased, Helvar. We don’t get inside, you don’t get your pardon.”
Matthias shrugged. “I can’t change what is true. The ice moat is watched from multiple guard towers on the White Island and a lookout atop the Elderclock. It’s completely uncrossable except by way of the glass bridge, and there’s no way onto the glass bridge without clearance.”
“Hringkälla is coming,” Nina said.
“Be silent,” Matthias snapped at her.
“Pray, don’t,” said Kaz.
“Hringkälla. It’s the Day of Listening, when the new drüskelle are initiated on the White Island.”
Matthias’ knuckles flexed white. “You have no right to speak of those things. They’re holy.”
“They’re facts. The Fjerdan royals throw a huge party with guests from all over the world, and plenty of the entertainment comes straight from Ketterdam.”
“Entertainment?” Kaz asked.
“Actors, dancers, a Komedie Brute troupe, and the best talent from the pleasure houses of West Stave.”
“I thought Fjerdans didn’t go in for that sort of thing,” said Jesper.
Inej’s lips quirked. “You’ve never seen Fjerdan soldiers on the Staves?”
“I meant when they’re at home,” Jesper said.
“It’s the one day a year they all stop acting so miserable and actually let themselves have a good time,” Nina replied. “Besides, only the drüskelle live like monks.”
“A good time needn’t involve wine and … and flesh,” Matthias sputtered.
Nina batted her glossy lashes at him. “You wouldn’t know a good time if it sidled up to you and stuck a lollipop in your mouth.” She looked back at the plans. “The embassy gate will have to be open. Maybe we shouldn’t worry about breaking into the Ice Court. Maybe we should just walk in with the performers.”
