WHISPER- shadow and bone

Chapter 5

As Ezra shuffled in his seat in a dingy Ketterdam pub, Jesper beside him anxiously looking for Stadwatch, he wondered what on earth he'd got himself into. 

Jesper and Inej had attempted to explain the goings on of Ketterdam, the gangs and the sides. It all became redundant however when the group arrived back and found themselves chased by the police, bundled off to prison, forced into hiding and then blowing up what was explained to be an extremely important club. It wasn't exactly the gambling holiday Ezra had expected.

New additions to the group had trickled in through the Heartrender Nina Zenik and the bombs specialist Wylan who Kaz seemed to have picked up off the street. Ezra had gotten along well with both of them. All three weren't used to life under an instructor like Kaz and all three were just about getting used to it.

So as Ezra sat at the table, tired and aching, all he wanted was to go home to his friends and to Ada. He'd write to her soon. He needed to feel as if he were in communication with her, the silence was too deafening without her voice.

As Jesper sipped his coffee nervously, Inej warily slipped in the door and sat beside Ezra. She was so silent he didnt realise she was sat next to him until she spoke.

"Started to wonder if we had the wrong time or place," Jesper sighed.

"Right can you explain why everyone in Ketterdam seems to want you dead," Ezra put his hands in his head. 

"Couldn't tell you myself," Jesper groaned.

"This is where Kaz left word to meet. So you know. It's worse today," Inej sat, slightly lifted from the table as if she would have to make a breakaway at any moment. The girl seemed to live life on edge, always wary of what was behind her.

"Worse how? We had to sleep on that novice's floor. This body deserves a proper bed," Jesper groaned.

"Word is we also killed a constable," Inej winced as she furrowed her brow.

Ezra widened his eyes. "What have you lot been doing to make everyone hate you here," he gasped.

"What? I have so many questions. How? Why? Who? Where? When? I guess... Yeah, I guess that's all of them," Jesper shook his head.

"Last night, after you escaped from the wagon. Constable Sem was his name. Shot with his own weapon. Stadwatch are shaking down every informant they know," Inej continued. 

"Jesper wouldn't, that's unspoken law not to do that" Ezra exclaimed in shock. 

"That's true! I would never shoot someone with their own gun. Besides, it's not even a good frame-up," Jesper scoffed in annoyance.

"Have you seen him today?" Jesper put the stress on the word him. Ezra hadn't really got round the persona of Kaz Brekker. The man, the myth, the mystery. Ezra felt he had millions of secrets that everyone was just ok with not knowing. Ezra didn't like that, he didn't like the unknown. 

 "Avoiding questions, I suspect," Inej replied.

"Yeah, from all of us. Blowing up the Crow Club... Makes you wonder what else he's willing to destroy," Jesper winced as mentioned the club once again.

The tap of a cane echoed through the pub and the trio locked eyes in recognition. 

"There is our great and wondrous leader," Ezra muttered. Inej jabbed him in the side to be quiet. 

"Made sure you weren't followed? " Kaz spoke bitterly as he pulled himself into the booth.

"Always," Inej nodded and Jesper rolled his eyes at the fact Kaz would even ask the question.