Talons⛥Kaz Brekker

⛥𝔑𝔦𝔫𝔢𝔱𝔢𝔢𝔫⛥

Kaz told us all his plan and we got to work. Me, Kaz and Mathhias walked into the church with Kuwei when the auction started. We stood at the side as it started. Then the Tidemakers came in and chaos erupted. No one bat an eye when Kuwei got shot by Jesper. Me and Kaz went to the roof after that to see to Rollins. Kaz didn't want me to come but I insisted, "Kaz, I've been with you through every brick at destroying Pekka. I want to keep that tradition going."

Rollins had Kaz on the wall but, of course, Kaz wasn't fazed and told him he'd buried his boy. Now I knew it was Kaz and all but burying a child?

"You don't love anyone in the Barrel. That's how I get around,"Kaz shrugged. I knew it was true, but I have to admit that hurt. Kaz got Rollins on his knees and eventually told him where he was, we both watched as he ran off.

"Will he get there in time?" I asked Kaz.

"For what?" Kaz asked.

Then I realised. He hadn't buried a child, he probably has never even seen him. It was all a threat. How had I not realised sooner. "The Outbreak sights," I said.

"The Kaelish Prince. The Emerald Palace. The Sweet Shop. All business owned by Rollins. They'll be shut down for weeks," Kaz said.

"I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sights on the Stave," I said.

"I also stopped off at the Menagerie," Kaz replied and I let out a smile.

"We should go. This isn't over." Kaz said, holding out his gloved hand. I took it and he opened the door for me, "hey."

"Hm?" He asked.

"You outsmarted me," I said.

Kaz grinned slightly, "and you're admitting it."

I let out a laugh, "don't sound so surprised."

"Oh but I am."

I laughed again.

"How's my tie?" Kaz asked sarcastically. I smiled and grabbed it, pulling him down to kiss me only to pull away and let go. "Fine," I said, going down the stairs as he stood there in shock. Me, Kaz, Jesper, Alys and her maid all went back to Van Eck's house.

"They made it!" Wylan whooped. Jesper grabbed a lantern and the champagne we'd been chilling. We bounded across the garden, tore open the door, and streamed into the boathouse. Our greetings died on our lips. Inej and Rotty were helping Kuwei from the bottleboat. Though he looked rumpled and shaky, and his shirt hung open to reveal a chest still spattered with pig's blood, he was in one piece. Jesper's father sat in the boat, his shoulders slumped his freckled face creased with sadness. He rose slowly and climbed onto the dock. He clutched Jesper tightly and said, "You're all right. You're all right."

Nina remained in the boat, resting her head on Matthias' chest. He was laid out beside her, his eyes closed, his color ashen. I cast Inej a questioning look. Her face was tear stained. She gave a single shake of her head.

"How?" I said quietly.

Fresh tears gathered in Inej's eyes. "We still don't know."

Wylan retrieved a blanket from the house and they spread it in the corner of the boathouse, then me, Jesper and Rotty helped lift Matthias' massive body out of the boat. The process was awkward, undignified. I couldn't help but think the Fjerdan would have hated that. We laid him down on the blanket. Nina sat beside him, saying nothing, his hand clutched in hers.

Inej brought a shawl that she tucked over Nina's arms, then crouched silently next to her, head nestled against her shoulder. I joined them, crouching down next to Nina and wrapped her in a hug. For a while, none of us knew what to do, but eventually Kaz looked at his watch and signaled silently to us. There was still work that required our attention. We set about converting the bottleboat. By ten bells, it needed to lookless like a merchant's canal shop and more like a bodyman's sick-boat. We'd remade crafts many times, using the base of a single vessel as the skeleton for a flower barge, a fishing vessel, a floating market stall. Whatever was necessary for the job. This was an easier transformation. Nothing had to be built, only stripped away.