Intermix Nation

“I didn’t know how to,” Nazirah explains.They never had a need for their fireplace at home.

Adamek rolls his eyes. He picks up some logsfrom the corner and tosses them into the fireplace, bending down toignite them.

Aldrik rubs his hands together. “Moving on,”he slurs. “Let’s make it quick?” He has clearly tapped into hisflask. Nazirah doesn’t blame him. She would do the same thing, ifshe were married to Lady Luka.

“Go for it,” Adamek tells him.

“To reiterate,” Aldrik says, “Morgen and Imeet tomorrow afternoon with the mine owners. If we can’t bribethem to help us, we can at least bribe them to stay quiet.”

“Sounds promising,” Nazirah says.

“Shut it, Nation,” Aldrik grumbles. “I’vehad enough of you today to last me several lifetimes.”

“Anything else?” asks Adamek.

“That’s it,” Aldrik says. “We leave thefollowing morning for Valestream. Morgen, you do not leave yourroom except for the meeting tomorrow. Nation, you do not leave yourroom at all. Your meals will be brought to you. Think of it as areward for your hard work, ceaseless enthusiasm, and unparalleledcharm.”

Nazirah glares at him. “Wonderful.”

“Excellent,” Aldrik says, rising from thechair. His stiff joints crack and clack. “Oh, and Nation? Welcometo Zima.”

Aldrik slams the door shut and Nazirah facesAdamek. “Is he still upset about this morning?” she asks.

“Most definitely,” Adamek says. “But rightnow, I think he has more … preoccupying concerns.”

“Like how to get back into Luka’s goodgraces?”

“Like how to get back into Luka,period.”

“Ew.”

Nazirah makes a face, but can’t stifle agrin. Adamek stands before her, leaning casually against thebedframe. Nazirah is painfully aware they haven’t been alone sincethis morning. And the events of last night beat on her mind,restless little drummers, not letting her forget.

Adamek gently tugs a loose, platinumtendril. “What do you think of your new look?” he asks.

“I hate it.”

“Me too.”

“Really?” she says, raising an eyebrow. “Ithought you preferred blondes.”

“Are you jealous?”

“That’s laughable.”

“Who’s laughing?”

“Why don’t you like it?” she asks.

“You look exactly like everyone else now,”he says candidly. He untangles his hand from her hair. “It’s justnot you.”

Adamek glances out the window beside themand Nazirah follows his gaze. It’s snowing lightly. Nazirah pressesher face to the glass, wistful, fogging it up. The room may be acoffin, but the view is unearthly. The town spreads out below her,the mountain range rises in the distance, the deep ravine drops offto her right. Snowflakes melt centimeters away on the other side ofthe pane, untouchable, intangible.

“This whole campaign is becoming anightmare,” Nazirah says sadly. “I feel completely … useless.Everyone I care about is in danger. My home is …” she stops, unableto finish. “And to top it all off, my one day in Zima and I have tostay inside.”

Beside her, Adamek appears conflicted, thendetermined. There’s caution in his eyes, mixed with deliciousmischief. “Can you keep a secret, Nation?”

Can Nazirah keep a secret? Of course she cankeep a secret! Adamek still doesn’t know about her unescorted tripdown memory lane, after all. “Depends on the secret,” she says.

“A very big secret,” he teases, fire flamesdancing across his face. “Lord Luka would probably have a stroke ifshe ever found out.”

“But that’s the secret I would most love totell,” Nazirah replies, returning his half-smile.

#

Adamek and Nazirah walk quickly through thefrozen hallways. They pass several young maids and a few zimbaba,shuffling about in saffron robes. Hoods pulled up, heads turneddown, they both go completely u

“No,” he says, turning another corner.

“Then how do you know this manor sowell?”

“I’ve been here several times before.”

“Why?”

“What did I say about asking questions?”

“Don’t ask a question if you don’t want toknow the answer.”

Adamek gives her a meaningful look as theypass by yet another blonde maid. Nazirah realizes she probablydoesn’t want to know after all. He opens a nondescript door leadingoutside. Nazirah walks through, antsy, almost frantic. She inhalessharply, the deviant frost surging through her, so cold it burns.Nazirah lifts her arms up, spi

“I keep forgetting this isall new to you,” he says. Adamek stands before her, hood also down.He rubs some flakes off Nazirah’s nose before pulling back andshoving his hands into his pockets. White crystals frame hiseyelashes, salt his hair. A devildisguised as an angel, Nazirahthinks.

Or maybe she has it twisted.

Nazirah shivers lightly. “I never thought itwould be like this,” she says, unable to meet his eyes.

“The snow?”

She shakes her head, clearing it.“Right.”

“What were you expecting?”

“What door did we come through?” she asksquickly.

“Servants’ entrance.” Adamek shrugs. “Let’stake a walk.”

They trek along a deserted stone pathoverlooking the ravine. The snow has stopped falling, leaving onlya light, crunching dust. Adamek leads them away from Shizar, awayfrom civilization, and into the wilderness. Nazirah blows into herfrozen hands. “How’s your arm?”

“Fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Where are we going?”

Adamek sighs. “Patience is a virtue,Nation.”

“So is honesty.”

“So is silence.”

Adamek finally stops. He turns around,smirking. Nazirah peeks over his shoulder, peering curiously behindhim. “You’re joking,” she says.

“Come on, Nation.” Adamek takes aneffortless step backwards onto the narrow hanging bridge. The ropesgently give, swaying over the abyss. Wooden planks groan under hisweight. He smiles, completely at ease, wind ruffling his hair.

Nazirah wipes her hands, sweaty palms onblue jeans. “No way, Morgen!” she squeals. “I’m not intosuicide.”

Adamek takes another step backwards.“Where’s that Eridian, cliff-diving courage?” he teases.

“Back in Eridies,” she answersseriously.

“You’ll be fine.”

“What if I fall?”

“I’ll catch you.”

“What if you miss?”

“I never miss,” he says, extending a hand toher.

Nazirah looks at it, hesitating. It’s hishand all right. The same long fingers, trim nails, callousedknuckles, bruised from last night. The same black scratches,prominent as ever. This hand traced the lines of her face, lacedthrough her fingers. It helped her fight, saved Cayu. It killedRiva, Kasimir, and countless others. A hand of life and death. Ahand that gives and takes. And it waits for her to decide, steady,unshaken.

She grabs it.

The air crackles. Adamek pulls her onto therickety bridge. With knees knocking, Nazirah clutches the ropes.Adamek holds her waist securely, making sure she doesn’t lose herfooting. They begin walking across. “You do this for fun orsomething?” she asks, shaking.

“Not exactly,” he replies. “It’s better notto look down.”

Nazirah looks at him. “Where does thislead?”

“You’ll find out.”

“If you won’t answer any of my questions,”she huffs, “why bring me along?”

Adamek steps onto solid ground, shrugging.“Because everyone should experience snow,” he says, “at leastonce.”

“And we couldn’t do that by the manor?” shegrumbles, hopping onto the ground beside him. There is a hugemonastery before her. It is carved entirely into the face of themountain. The setting sun, peeking through receding storm clouds,bathes the monastery in orange and golden light, giving it theillusion of being aflame. Nazirah knows immediately where they are.“This is where you trained?” she asks, astonished.