I stay distanced from the others while they talk in hushed whispers, I keep my eyes trained on the man with the cane. Kaz. who is whispering to the other two, his face serious, aged as though he has been through things that made him grow up too quickly. After a while they stop talking and turn to me. A pit forms in my stomach as I look at each of their faces, they are going to say no and Aleksander is going to catch up to me. Who knows what the shadow summoner will do if I am ever back in his grasp, I shudder at the thought. Jesper steps forward his face the picture of maturity until he breaks out into a smile and opens his arms "you can stay with us" he says and I smiling stepping forward letting him embrace me. "Thank you so much" I say to the group, Kaz nod his head and limps off to the fire when the girl, Inej silently comes up beside me "would you like something to eat? we cooked some chicken" my mouth waters and I try to remember the last time I ate. Silently I nod my head and follow her to the fire along with Jesper.

The next morning I am shaken awake by Inej who gives me a small smile, I sit up stiff from lying on the floor and I see Kaz and Jesper standing a little further away "whats happening?" I ask my voice thick with sleep. The Suli girl helps me up and I stretch my back "we are crossing the Fold, well making our way to it at least" she explains and we head over to the boys. Kaz doesn't even look at me as he asks "how far is it from here to the Fold?" I glance at the map laying on the floor and frown "three, possibly four days. How do you propose we get there?" he rolls up the map and slides into a pocket, "horse obviously" he answers and stalks off in the direction of a farm. I start forward and say to the dark skinned male "charmer isn't he?" earning a grin.

We manage to steal horses, it doesn't sit right with me but if this is the only way to escape I will do anything. However we only managed to steal three without it being too obvious and someone has to ride double, "I ride double" I offer and they decide between them who I ride with. Kaz is immediately out of the equation after giving a stern look to his friends, it might be something to with the gloves he wears, I muse and listen to Jesper and Inej fighting. "Why me?" Jesper asks throwing his hands up in frustration "because you didn't do that job I asked of you back in Ketterdam" the girl shoots back and he falls silent, argument won I guess. I climb on behind Jesper and wrap my arms around his waist "lets go" Kaz says and we spurr our horses into action.

Half way through the journey we stop to rest our horses and get some food, "I'll go with Salem into town" Kaz says eyeing me suspiciously "so that she doesn't run off and tell on us" he still hasn't revealed how he knows who I am and I am thankful for that but he has little reason not to trust me and I tell him as much although it does little. Slowly we make our way into the little town and to break the silence Kaz asks "why did you save me?" his cane hitting the floor in a rhythmic pattern, "I wasn't trying to protect you" I tell him honestly as we whined through a small alleyway "I was trying to protect Alek- The Darkling" I slip up and he notices but doesn't push.

We find a little stall that sells fresh bread and other goods as he asks "and yet you changed your mind, why?" I say thank you to the seller before turning to him, he towers over me, made to look more dangerous in his all black outfit and golden cane. We make our way through the crowd and I take note of how he tries to dodge physical contact with anyone "I learned that he didn't have the same plan as me, he wants to control the Fold, we want to destroy it" I finish and as we start towards the others he stops and looks at me "I can't hide your secret forever, if you want to come to Ketterdam with us you will have to tell the others" my face lights up and I glance briefly at Jesper and Inej who are talking rapidly to each other. My plan was to break from the group once in West Ravka but if they are offering for me to go with them I won't pass that up, "why would you offer me that?" I ask quietly as we get closer to the others, "because" Kaz says his voice rough "we could use someone with your... talents. in the Crows".