bastard of the barrel

Home Coming

INEJ

The double knock comes to my office door just after twelve bells. Rider peaks his head in, "We'll be docking in just under an hour at Hellgate, Captain."

"Reroute to Fifth Harbor," I say without looking up. "I will be getting off there. Rotty can handle the transfer to Hellgate. I want to be in the city before sun up."

"Yes Ma'am," the lanky kid turns to go. He looks so much like Jesper, but has Wylan's talent around a chemistry set.

"Rider," I call and he turns again. "You did good work this trip. I am glad we have you on board." The Wraith shifts under us and he braces himself against my door frame. I catch my glass of wine before it can topple over the paperwork scattered across my desk.

"Thank you, Captain," he smiles at his feet. "I am just happy to be here." I offer him a smile and turn my attention back to my budgets. Rider dismisses himself.

The boat sways again and I decide I need some fresh air. I quickly plait my long black hair and twist it around into a bun at the base of my neck and pull on my jacket. I touch my fingertips to each of my knives sheathed inside the leather. I climb up the steps to the deck and creep into the shadows, melting into them as I so often do.

From here, I can see the faint outline of the Staves. They are the only parts of the city still alive this late into the night. Gambling parlors and pleasure houses filled to the brim with tourists and Merchers. I can not help but wonder what is happening at the Crow Club, at the Slat.

It has been four months since I left Kerch. My parents stayed in the city for a month. When they left to return to the Suli caravans in Ravka, I boarded my ship with my crew and left looking for the slavers. We take the captured slavers on board, waiting to deliver them to Hellgate or other prisons. We delivered many of the recovering people the slavers took to Nina in Ravka. She takes the Grisha and helps arrange transport home for the rest. I would have stayed on the seas longer had Nina not encouraged me to go home.

It is funny when she said home that I thought not of my family who I could so easily join, but a squat building in the Barrel

My berth comes into view on the dock.

"Inej!" Rotty yells from above me. I climb the wall quickly and swing up onto his level. "Hey, so I am taking the prisoners to Hellgate and handling the transfer?"

"Yes," I say flatly. "Was Rider not clear?"

"No ma'am he was," he hesitates like he searching for the right words. I raise my eyebrows and he looks down. "I can handle it."

"Thank you, Rotty," I touch my hand to his shoulder quickly. "I mean that."

The boat slows and we begin to dock. The boat drifts slowly and I pick out the Dregs lookouts along the guard towers of Fifth Harbor. The third tower is empty. Whoever was stationed there must have left as soon as my ship was visible from the harbor. I grab at the hem of my leather and think of what is waiting for me in Ketterdam, who is waiting for me.

I pull the hood up over my hair as soon as my feet touch the dock and slip two of my knives into my palms. I have no shortage of enemies anywhere but in Ketterdam, any shadow could be the demon to catch up to me. I climb up onto the buildings of the Barrel and breathe. Bread from the bakery, potatoes from the venders, even blood fill my senses as I make the journey home.

I finally let my mind drift to the boy with eyes the color of coffee who my feet are carrying me to. We made so much progress before I left. The last time I saw him he walked me to the ship he gifted me with his ungloved hand inside of mine. The leather I am wrapped in now was a parting gift. I miss the sound of his cane coming up the steps and the rough grind of his voice. I miss Kaz. I move across the rooftops of the Staves. My chest tightens at the sight of the Menagerie and Pekka Rollins Emerald Palace.