The FlameKeeper - Kaz Brekker

CH.02 - What business?

(GIF ISN'T MINE, CREDITS TO THE MAKER)

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Kaz Brekker didn't need a reason. 

Those were the words whispered on the streets of Ketterdam, in the taverns and coffeehouses, in the dark and bleeding alleys of the pleasure district known as the Barrel.

The boy they called Dirtyhands didn't need a reason any more than he needed permission—to break a leg, sever an alliance, or change a man's fortunes with the turn of a card.

Kaz Brekker certainly didn't need a reason to contact the girl he hadn't seen in over a year.

He could write or visit her whenever he wanted. So why had he been searching for a reason desperately?

It had been a year since the Fold disappeared. A lot of things happened since.

It had been a year in which he distanced himself from her. A necessary precaution, a way to sever their bond to make sure that the only weakness in his life would be gone.

When Sabo left the crows, Kaz had promised that he would write her.

A year had passed and so far, he hadn't. He had no reason to, or so he told himself.

But then, a reason revealed itself.

'What business?' he'd asked Van Eck.

'I have a proposition for you. Rather, the Council does.'

A proposition that would make him and his crows the richest people in the barrel.

A proposition that would make his crew the most feared crew of Ketterdam.

A proposition that would give him a legitimate reason to write Sabo again. So he wrote her a letter, short and to the point.

He had written her about the job the moment he'd returned from Van Eck, a job that would require them to break into the prison she was famous for escaping, he needed her information but most of all he needed her.

Sabo hadn't responded. And even though Kaz had worked hard to make sure that he wouldn't care about her anymore, he couldn't help but worry. Maybe the reason why she hadn't sought contact, was because something had happened to her.

The evening had fallen. Kaz was tense as he walked toward the Crow Club with Jesper.

'Kaz?' Jesper asked as he stopped walking.

'Yes?' Kaz replied as he kept walking.

Jesper rolled his eyes as he caught up with him. 'What are we waiting for?'

Kaz frowned. 'What do you mean?'

'You told us about this grand job four days ago, why haven't we started yet?' Jesper replied with a level of urgency. Kaz looked at him sideways.

Jesper rested his hands on his revolvers. Whenever he got cranky, he liked to lay his hands on a gun, like a child seeking the comfort of a favored doll.

Maybe if Kaz hadn't been so busy with thinking about Sabo, he would've picked up on the urgency in Jesper's voice.

Jesper was right, Kaz thought, they had to start before another group got there.

'We'll start tomorrow evening.' Kaz replied.

-

Another prisoner had fallen, the crowd shouted annoyed as the guards removed another body.