Kaz Brekker had stuffed up. It had been a spur of the moment decision, a word spoken in haste that drifted away on the wind, an agreement that had been settled in passing, but it had changed everything.

     Kaz Brekker, the bastard of the Barrel, leader of the Dregs, most fearsome gang leader of Ketterdam, the one they called Dirtyhands, was currently on his knees with his hands behind his back and his own cane shoved beneath his chin, forcing him to look up at the man who had started it all.

     General Kirigan.

     Kaz strained so hard against the metal chains wrapped around his wrists that the veins in his neck popped out and his whole body shook. His eyes were glinting pools of black, reflecting the angry aura within that threatened to explode at any moment.

     But his fighting only seemed to make Kirigan all the more amused. A smirk found it's way to Kirigan's face and a mocking guffaw to his lips.

     "Oh dear, has the bastard finally found his match?" he tutted insincerely.

     Kaz didn't move his eyes from Kirigan's for even one second. He dared not stand down, he dared not show any sign of weakness. For if it was Kaz's turn to die that night, he determined he would die with his head held high and his hands around the general's throat.

     Kirigan seemed to know this was Kaz's thinking, however, for he removed the cane from beneath Kaz's chin with one fine flick and stepped away.

     Kaz tried to hold in a grunt of pain as he swallowed. For the first time since he had obtained that cane years ago, he regretted bringing it that night. The sharp beak of the crow's head that crowned the top had already caused a deep, dark bruise to blossom across his skin.

     Kaz narrowed his eyes in annoyance. He hated his men walking around looking like thugs, even worse, he hated looking like a thug. Now, after this, he would have to go see Nina and make sure no one, especially Inej, saw the bruises.

     He steeled his jaw as he glowered at Kirigan. This man was going to pay for putting Kaz Brekker in chains and making him bow at his feet. One of these days, he would use that same cane to put a hole in the back of Kirigan's head and watch him bleed out on the floor.

     Ever so slowly and tauntingly, Kirigan circled his prisoner, tapping the cane against the wooden floorboards. Almost uninterestingly he examined his gloved fingers and flexed them in front of his face as he walked.

     "Kaz Brekker," he murmured with a shake of his head. "When are you ever going to learn? You can't outsmart the Black Heretic." A deep chuckle resounded throughout the room as the two men came face-to-face once more. "So, I'm going to ask you only once...did you or did you not kill Arken Visser this afternoon?"

     "What is the point in me answering that if you already know?" Kaz hissed, spit flying with every word. "That man was worse than a traitor! He deserved what he got."

     "Am I to take that as a confession?" Kirigan raised his eyebrows.

     "Take it however you will," Kaz replied sarcastically. "I'm just sick of sitting on this floor. What is it that you want from me? To die a long and painful death or to repay you for letting me live with my suffering? I have to say, I'm confused by all these conflicting instructions."

     "Didn't you know," Kirigan smirked as he leaned in closer. "Death is too good for you, bastard. And there's no way you can ever pay me back. Mark my words, you'll be suffering by my hands until the day you rot, an old sack of bones that the whole world has forgotten. Don't kid yourself. You're not as important as you think you are."

     Kaz glared right back at him, unmoving, silent.

     Finally, Kirigan lent back on his heel and summoned one of his soldiers over with a quick flick of his wrist. The soldier's boots scuffled noisily across the floor and beads of sweat rolled down his face as he hurried to release Kaz from his chains.

     Kaz's hands fell free by his sides and he winced as he stretched out his fingers, numb from minimal blood-flow.

     Kirigan tossed the cane at him with one last glare. "Be on your way, bastard."

     Kirigan's dark threats rang in Kaz's brain as he limped along the cobblestone path that wound it's way through the dank, dark city of Ketterdam. A damp mist shrouded the demolished buildings and a sliver of moon hidden by a bank of thin clouds cast an eerie haze along the narrow streets.

Kaz's body hurt from the beating Kirigan's soldiers had inflicted upon him, but his pride hurt more. He knew the only reason Kirigan hadn't finished him then and there was because he needed him, needed to watch him suffer day in and day out, needed to watch him pay for daring to betray him.

     Kaz drew a long shaky breath and closed his eyes. He despised the day he had met General Kirigan, filled with lies and manipulations, deceits and deceptions, all sugarcoated with the allure of wealth and promise. And he had fallen for it, fallen for the temptation one million kruge had offered him. How much he wished that he had walked away that day.

     A gust of wind blew against his cheek and Kaz's eyes snapped open in time to see a dislodged cobblestone clatter near his feet.

     Inej.

     Kaz stopped and turned his head, looking directly into the inky black depths of the street corner.

     "Go back to the Crow Club, Inej," he said sternly. "I'll be there soon."

     "That's what you said last time but you didn't come back for days," Inej insisted as she emerged silently from the shadows. "What's happened? You must tell me. You cannot carry this burden on your own. We all suffer as much as you do."

     "No you don't!" Kaz shouted. Inej recoiled, surprised by how violently he had reacted. "You don't know what it's like," he continued furiously. "I go to bed every single night with the knowledge that everything bad that's happened here is my fault. The Dregs all despise me, the entire town despises me, my once brilliant gang of thieves has dispersed or been killed..." he trailed off, unable to finish for fear of showing the emotion in his voice.

     "Sounds like Kaz Brekker has a conscience after all," Inej stated dryly.

     Kaz sent her a withering look.

     "Just for future reference, not everyone despises you," Inej offered softly. "What happened here is our fault just as much as it is yours. We decided to double-cross Kirigan together. You did not make that decision alone."

     Kaz just ignored her. "Well, what's the real reason you came creeping up on me?"

     "What did you do to the conductor? Jesper and I found his body in Fifth Harbour."

     Kaz cracked a dry laugh. "I killed him."

     Inej's fingers tightened around the handle of her blade, one she always kept ready in hand. "What?"

     "I killed him, Inej," Kaz repeated, irritated. "I don't have to explain myself to you. Go home."

     "Oh yes you do, Kaz Brekker!" she exclaimed, her face flushed with fury. "And don't speak down on me like that! I deserve to have an explanation! He was one of us, one of the Dregs. Why would you do that?"

     "He wasn't one of us, Inej," Kaz tossed out. "He was working for Kirigan. He's the reason we got caught. His job was to report our every move to that son of a mother-fucking bitch. We could've lived here happy and free if it wasn't for him. So don't spare him any of your sympathy too fast."

     Inej sighed heavily. "Fuck."

     "That's one way to put it," Kaz shrugged. "I did what I had to do. Kirigan's pissed but it'll pass. He's got bigger things on his plate right now."

     Inej furrowed her eyebrows. "On that note, any news from her?"

     Kaz stiffened and glanced this way and that. "Quiet, Inej! This place is crawling with Kirigan's spies. Even the walls have ears here."

     Inej's face fell. "By saints, I hope she's safe. If something happens to her, it'll be on our heads too."

     "Doubtful," Kaz scoffed. "She's not our problem anymore. Getting out of here is."

     Inej noticed the daring twinkle that danced across his eyes. It appeared for only a moment but it was enough for her to know - Kaz Brekker had an idea.

     "What are you up too, Dirtyhands?"

     He smirked. "Why nothing, my dear lovely Inej, nothing at all."

~~~

     Inej placed her foot precariously on the tiny sill that jutted from her bedroom window. She glanced towards the ground, three stories below, and her breath hitched in her throat. For a moment, she waited, waited for a sound, any small, insignificant sound that might disturb the cold nighttime air. But there was nothing, only the faint fanning of the sea breeze against her hot cheeks and the rustling of the tattered Crow flag that hung limply from the front doorpost of the Crow Club.

     Once upon a time, the Crow Club had been Kaz Brekker's pride and joy, inviting unsuspecting tourists and sailors in from all over Ravka. It had been busy and bustling, filled with life and gambling tables. It brought in loads of money for Kaz and the rest of the Dregs, but along with success had come competition. Now, the once prosperous Crow Club was shut to the public for good. Kirigan had made sure of it. The Dregs still lived there, well, some of them did anyway. The others, the ones who had turned on Kaz, had dispersed across Kerch and personally, Inej hoped she would never see any of them again.

     Talk about traitors.

     Inej pushed away the swarm of angry thoughts and steadied herself on the windowsill. One gloved hand snaked behind her back and grasped one of the knives lining the inside of her belt. The other pressed against the window-pane and slowly pushed it open. She scanned the inside of the dark room with cautious eyes and then dropped from the sill to the floor with a gentle pad.

     As she glanced up, she noticed, with a jolt of surprise, that the door she always kept shut was ajar and that a tiny trickle of light from the hall lantern was dancing across the floorboards.

     Then, in the corner of her eye, she saw something move.

     She gasped and whipped out her knife, intent on pinning the intruder to the wall. Suddenly, the lamp by her bed flicked on and it's soft yellow glow revealed a tall, lanky lad lying full-length across the mattress, his arms behind his head and his ankles crossed.

     "Well, hello there beautiful."

    "For fuck's sake, Jesper!" Inej squealed. "I could've killed you!"

     "Not before I would've shot the blade out of your hand," Jesper chuckled, twirling one of his beloved pistols around on his finger. "Oh don't look so sad Inej. It's okay. I'm here."

     "Shut-up!" she hissed as she turned and slammed the window shut. "How many times have I told you not to sneak into my room at night?"

     "Well someone's got to keep an eye on you, don't they?" Jesper tut-tutted. "You naughty, naughty thing."

     Inej whirled around. "What do you mean?"

     "Aw, c'mon, don't think I'm stupid," Jesper snickered. "I see the way you make love heart eyes at Kaz. And now you're both sneaking out into the night together. How romantic."

     "That's it!" Inej sprinted across the room and tackled Jesper onto the bed.

     "Oh, I see, you're still in denial," Jesper giggled. Inej smacked him in the face with a pillow. "Ow!" he whined. "That hurt!"

     "I do not have a crush on Kaz you idiot!" Inej continued to pummel Jesper with pillows. "You're an absolute shit-stirrer."

     "I am, and I love it," Jesper agreed. "If he wasn't, you know, so serious, I might have a crush on him too. No one's denying the man's hot, Inej, so jump on that damn fine horse while you still can."

     Inej screwed up her face. "You're disgusting." She flopped down on the bed bedside him. "Now is not the time to start fucking your best friends especially in the middle of a war."

     "Well, if not now, when?" Jesper propped himself up on one elbow. "You never know, we could all be dead tomorrow."

     "Not if General Kirigan has anything to say about it," Inej spat his name out as if it were poisonous. "That man has no scruples at all! No respect for the saints! But I think Kaz has a plan."

     Jesper rolled his eyes. "Of course he does."

     Inej glared at him.

     "What?" Jesper threw up his hands in mock frustration. "Aw c'mon, Inej, no one can escape from the Black Heretic...not even Kaz Brekker. We tried it once remember?"

     "No, this time it's different," Inej shook her head thoughtfully. "Kirigan...his guard is down and his ego is higher than ever. Kaz has been waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. I wouldn't be surprised if that time's soon."

     "Yeah, Kaz and what army?" Jesper scoffed. "We're the only two that will still tolerate talking to him, let alone follow him. Everyone else here curses the day he was born."

     Inej sat up, fury pounding through her veins. "He did all of this to save us Jesper! Kirigan would've killed us all if Kaz hadn't made the sacrifices he did. He's done so much to protect us. We owe it to him to at least listen."

     "There you go, defending him as usual," Jesper raised his eyebrows knowingly. "Look, of course I appreciate everything Kaz has done for us and I would willingly follow him to the ends of the earth if need be."

     "Good."

     Inej and Jesper jumped up at the sound of Kaz's voice. They had both been so immersed in conversation they hadn't heard him come in. Now he was standing in the doorway, cane in hand, and a malicious look on his face.

     "Good?" Jesper repeated uneasily.

     "Yes, good," Kaz stated flatly, "Because if you're both willing to follow me, then you won't mind joining me on a little joy trip to Great Britain."

     Inej and Jesper exchanged confused glances.

     "Well, that's a good plan," Jesper shrugged. "Let's all commit suicide."

     "Kaz," Inej widened her eyes as she glanced back at him. "What are you on about?"

     Kaz just smirked. "It's time for one last job."