The Barrel was home, but I wasn't happy about being back. The further we walked the colder the chill in my bones got. I felt like every time we turn a corner someone is going to jump us. Kill us. Hurt us. I wanted to run right back onto that ship.
'Home sweet home,' Jesper drawled out. 'Straight off the boat from Ravka, and no one was waiting to kill us as soon as we arrived. Yay! That's a good sign. I think I might celebrate with a little dice and debauchery.'
'No debauchery,' Kaz spoke for the first time since we entered Ketterdam.
'Dice, then.'
'No dice. We have stops to make.'
'What first?' Inej asks. 'Tante Heleen?'
'We get to the Crow Club,' Kaz said, turning down an alley way.
We all followed closely behind him through the familiar paths and alley ways to our home. I blended right into the shadows remembering the quickest ways back to the Club and the ways Kaz goes to help his leg. I remember nights spent scurrying through the alleys trying to figure out the city all those years ago. There was no doubt that this was home. Minus the fact we were probably being hunted.
Finally, we turned the corner to the Crow Club. Except it didn't seem to be the Crow Club anymore. The sign that used to hang over the Club was gone, replaced by a circular green sign with a crown logo interwoven in the center. Kerch writing wrapped all the way around the perimeter of the sign, and I had to squint to read it.
'The Kaelish Prince?' I said, feeling the last bit of hope completely drain from my body.
'What kind of name is that?' Jesper said, confused. 'Where's our sign?'
'It's been replaced,' Kaz said.
'Dime Lions,' I whisper.
Inej turns to us. 'Pekka Rollins owns the Crow Club?'
'Where does that leave us?' Jesper asks. 'Are you saying we have no home? My suits. All my hats.'
I looked at Kaz but he didn't seem to be able to help any of us. 'Kaz? Kaz, come on.'
He shook his head. 'What?'
'We need to split up,' I say to him and the others. 'It can't be safe here.'
Just as we all turn around to leave, a shrill whistle blew a few feet away from us. Suddenly, the Stadwatch came through the alley way, cornering us with only one exit point.
'Halt! You four! Hands up!'
We all slowly raise our hands up. I look at Inej and she looks back at me. We both nod at each other, and I know she understands.
'Kaz Brekker,' a Stadwatch says walking up to us. 'Natalia Geminuse. Jesper Fahey. Inej Ghafa. Only a matter of time before you turned up.'
'Is there a problem?' Kaz asks.
'For you? Yeah. You're wanted for murder.'
Jesper sighed. 'What? We just got back in town. Unless it's a crime to kill Volcra.'
'Very funny, gunslinger. Now, slowly hand over those shooters. You hand over the sword, and you give up the cane. And you, spy—' The man turned to Inej who was already long gone. 'Oi! Where'd she go?'
