planed starter for @languageofsuffering
A deep breath filled her lungs with the cold, crisp air of winter. The skies were so clear out in the country of Kerch that it left Inej longing for the widened rodes of Ravka. The endless trails the Suli caravans that followed from town to city to the borders into Fjerda and Shu Han. Her hand wandered to the knife sheathed right over her heart, Sankt Petyr, the name left her lips, escaping from her lips as a whisp of smoke. Her first protector, the first knife she ever named... the knife Kaz gave her when he taught her to fight. Her hand held the leather wrapped handle gently as the steady thump of Kaz's cane interrupted the silence between them.
The ground around them was frozen as they made their way to the top of the hill, fields lay barren, the trees had shed their leaves and the Saints left the land to sleep and rest, awaiting the warmth of spring. Despite the sun and bright blue sky, it was freezing, tufts of snow and ice glittered with the sunlight while the silence continued to stretch on between them.
Inej had arrived in Ketterdam to deliver a pair of slavers to the Council to recieve their judgement when a message intercepted her departure. Written in the neat scrawl that belonged to Kaz Brekker, he'd ask for her help on a job. The Suli wasn't one to deny him, especially now that they tried to be whatever they were. It still felt vulnerable and new, but Inej was glad to be close to him again. That, however, didn't explain why they took a barge to Belent and then continued on foot and wagon ride until they reached a small settlement sorrounded by nothing but farmland.
As they reached the top of the hill Inej stopped next to Kaz, who seemed to be frozen. In front of them lay miles and miles of fields, unkempt and overgrown by straw like shrubs and bushes who seemed too stubborn to give into the cold onset of winter. Gnarled fruit trees seemed to form a small orchard around a modest farm house and a spacious barn, but the fence was old and broken in places as if this place had been left unattended for a long time.
Inej took a step closer towards Kaz, her shoulder nearly touching his and she could feel his warmth through the fabric of her dark teal cloak. "What are we really doing here, Kaz?" She asked, her voice was soft as to not startle him from his thoughts. Whatever this place was... it held the ghost of the past and Inej was not about to let Kaz get haunted by old fears again. They both still struggled enough with their demons as it were.
