THESE BROKEN VOWS (Kazbrekker x Fem!reader) [ book version]

CHAPTER 31

-🧤KAZ P.O.V🧤-

"The deal is the deal, Van Eck," Kaz said over the sounds of the growing
storm." If the Merchant Council fails to honour its end of this bargain, no
one from the Barrel will ever traffic with any of you again. Your word will be meaningless."

"That would be a problem, Mister Brekker, if the Council knew
anything about this deal."

Understanding came in a terrible flash.

"They were never involved,"
Kaz said.

Why had he believed Van Eck had the blessing of the Merchant Council?

Because he was a rich, upstanding mercher?

Because he'd dressed his own servants and soldiers in the purple uniforms of the stadwatch?

Kaz had met with Van Eck in a quarantined mercher's house, not a government building, but he'd been taken in by a little set dressing.

It was Hertzoon and his coffeehouse all over again, only now Kaz was old
enough to know better.

"You wanted Yul-Bayur. You wanted the formula for parem."

Van Eck conceded the truth with an easy nod. "Neutrality is a luxury
Kerch has too long enjoyed. The members of the Council think that their wealth protects them, that they can sit back and count their money while the world squabbles, ja."

"And you know better?"

"Indeed, I do. Jurda parem is not a secret that can be kept or quashed or
stashed in a cabin on the Zemeni frontier."

"So all your talk of trade lines and markets collapsing-"

"Oh, it will all happen just as I predicted, Mister Brekker. I'm counting on it. As soon as the Council received Bo Yul-Bayur's message, I began buying up jurda fields in Novyi Zem. When parem is unleashed on the world, every country, every government will be clamouring for a ready supply of it to use on their Grisha."

"Chaos," said Y/N.

"Yes," said Van Eck. "Chaos will come, and I will be its master. Its very
wealthy master."

"You will be ensuring slavery and death for Grisha everywhere," Inej
said.

Van Eck raised a brow. "How old are you, girl? Sixteen? Seventeen? Nations rise and fall. Markets are made and unmade. When power shifts, someone always suffers."

"When profit shifts," Jesper shot back.

Van Eck's expression was bemused. "Aren't they one and the same?"

"When the Council finds out-" Matthias began.

"The Council will never hear of this," Van Eck said. "Why do you think
I chose scum from the Barrel as my champions? Oh, you are resourceful
and far more clever than any mercenaries, I give you that. But more important, you will not be missed."

Van Eck lifted his hand.

The Tidemakers spun their arms.

Kaz heard a yell and turned to see a coil of water looming over Rotty.

It slammed down on the longboat, smashing it to bits as he dove for cover.

"None of you will leave this island, Mister Brekker. All of you will
vanish, and nobody will care." He raised his hand again, and the
Tidemakers responded.

A massive wave roared towards the Ferolind.

"No!" cried Jesper.

"Van Eck!" shouted Kaz. "Your son is on that ship."