Six of Crows Duology Fanfiction: Ketterdam's Secret

Chapter 6:

Chapter 6:

Doughty lumbered through the streets, dead at night. Carrying the black bag, he scuttled around the corner, making sure that nobody had seen him.

Then he heard a shuffle behind him.

He turned and saw a small creature scuttle by him.

Ghezen, was he losing his mind? Maybe it was time for him to quit.

He shook his head and strode confidently forward. Then he saw the dark shadow of two walking people coming towards him.

"Kaz! Over there! ", Inej whispered.

"I see it. ", Kaz hissed back.

"What do you want to do with him?"

"We can take him hostage. "

Kaz felt Inej leave his side and Doughty felt Inej land at his side.

Twin knives flashed, ready at Doughty's throat, Inej nodded at Kaz.

Doughty froze.

Had it not for the knives at his throat, he would have ran.

Kaz Brekker strode towards him.

"Doughty, we meet again. "
"Brekker. ", Doughty snarled.

"And the Wraith," Kaz said, nodding towards Inej.

"What do you want, Brekker?"

"Snarling like a dog does nothing for your complexion, Doughty. Inej, take him to the Slat. "
Doughty heard a whisper of cloth and instants later, with a blindfold on and hands bound, he was hurried through the city.

Kaz took Inej's hands off Doughty and placed the black bag into her hands.

The trio made an odd procession.

The man, bound and tied, with a boy pushing him forward. The girl, following, a ghost but for the heavy black bag.

Inej locked the warehouse door.

Kaz pushed Doughty roughly into a chair and he was bound more securely. Inej dropped off the black bag, glad to be free of its weight.

"What are you doing in Ketterdam?" Kaz's voice was low and smooth. Dangerously polite.

Doughty's head snapped up.

"Nothing. Just getting Pekka Rollins' old files. "
"Inej, darling, what is in the bag?"
"Kaz. " Her eyes stared at him, head shaking slightly.

He looked back, No I won't hurt him, he has a use.

She nodded and proceeded.

"Bars of gold and as he said, stacks of paper. "

"This isn't your city, Kaz. ", Doughty said meekly.

"Bloody right you are. Now, what is the gold for?"

"It's Pekka's. "
"Mine now. How have you gotten into the city?"

"Though the docks and the streets. "
"What are the files about?" You think you can lie to me?

"Property, taxes and stuff like that. " Doughty's right eye twitched.

"Inej?"

"Something about a contract with Van Eck. And yes, property taxes. I'll be right back, Kaz. "

A slender knife wove it's way between Kaz's fingers, its blade flipping between the black gloved fingers.

"Your right, it's not my city. " Kaz said, soothingly.

Doughty was glad he had not been part of the Ice Court Gang.

"You are free to go. Inej?"

The Wraith gilded forward, putting the papers into the bag. She handed it to Doughty and cut his bonds, shoving him forward.

Thank goodness that Rollins had the foresight to put the papers between property and tax pages.

Doughty scampered quickly out of the warehouse, still not believing two things.

One, that Kaz Brekker had let him go unhurt.

Two, that he wasn't dead and that his lies unfound.

Something must be up but he was happy to be alive.

Kaz watched Doughty's back leave, eyes hard.

Inej strode up beside him.
"Did you exchange the papers?"

"Yes, very interesting contract with Van Eck they have. " she murmured.

Kaz waited for her to continue.

"They get him out of prison and take Wylan's estate and money and Van Eck gives them half. They are planning a coup, Kaz. "

"And?"
"Other conditions state that Van Eck wants us dead. "
"Where do they get their resources, I wonder?"
"Van Eck made a plan with the Shu. After he takes control of Kerch, the trading will go greatly in their favor, no taxes or levies and all. "

"Damn. "

"Indeed. ""We need to send a message to Sturmhond. "