Inej was rudely awoken from a peaceful sleep when a snotty, wet nose was shoved into her face. Startled, she jerked away and almost fell off her thin straw mattress.

     "Idiot," she muttered groggily.

     BAAAHH.

     Inej gasped in fright and jumped up, knives at the ready. She froze and squinted against the darkness. "Is that a ... goat?"

     "Put your knives away! You're scaring him!" Jesper complained from the other side of the hull.

     Inej pulled a face and slowly slipped her knives back into her belt. "Him?"

     The sharp scrape of a blade against flint sounded and a flickering flame appeared, outlining Jesper's tanned face. "Yes. Him."

     He turned the light towards the intruder – a small, long-haired goat with big buck teeth and a collar of bells that tinkled at every movement.

     BAAAHH.

     "Jesper!" Inej hissed. She cast a glance towards the sleeping forms of Nina and Kaz, bundled in blankets in the far corner. "Shut it up! They're gonna hear something's down here! And get that stupid collar off. That's just asking for trouble."

     "But Milo likes his collar," Jesper returned mournfully. "I don't want to be the one to take that away from him!"

     "Milo? You named it?"

     "Of course I did!"

     A clatter of boots and a series of shouts echoed suddenly throughout the ship. Jesper darted forward, grabbed Milo, and covered the goat's mouth with his hand to stop the scared creature from announcing its discomfort. Inej ducked down behind some wooden barrels, her blades ready in her hands, her eyes trained on the door.

     She cast a furious look at Jesper. "Now look what you've done! You're gonna get us all caught!"

     The air was thick with tension and adrenaline was pumping through Inej's veins. She tensed, waiting for the door to burst open, for the soldiers to come streaming in, for the fight to begin...but nothing happened.

     The loud footsteps moved away and the voices grew muffled. Inej lowered her head and let out a sigh of relief.

     Close call.

     "What was all that about?" Kaz abruptly sat up and glared daggers at both Jesper and Inej.

     Inej threw her hands in the air. "Why are you looking at me like that? Jesper's the one with the goat!" She pointed an accusing finger at him.

     "Goat? What goat?" he paused when he saw Jesper huddled in a ball, Milo held firmly in his arms. "You've got to be kidding me. How did that thing get in here?"

     "Don't speak that way to Milo!" Jesper retorted. "How many times do I have to tell you people?"

     "For the love of God," Kaz rolled his eyes and settled back down on his straw bed.

     "Can yall shut up? Your girl is trying to sleep over here!" Nina complained loudly.

     Inej puffed out her cheeks and glared angrily at everyone. They were all literal children. She didn't know how she was going to cope being stuck in the hull of a ship with them for four days.

     Slowly, she crawled back into bed but although her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, she could not sleep.

     Inej rolled over to face the wall. She screwed her eyes tightly shut and forced her hammering heart to still. If they were going to survive this, she needed to concentrate, and in order to concentrate she needed to rest.

     This was easier said than done, however.

     The next four days took a heavy toll on the Crows as they were relentlessly battered and bashed by heavy waves and strong winds. A simple crack in the floorboards led to ankle-deep saltwater dampening everything in the hold, even the beds and blankets. There was only a limited supply of food and fresh water and grumbling stomachs became a well-known tune. The stupid goat was bleating every five seconds and the old, crinkled sailor wouldn't stop shoving his rotten teeth and blood-shot eyes in Inej's face. She wanted to scream.

     At this point, Inej felt very tempted to just walk up onto the deck and surrender herself to the general. The odds of surviving that seemed way more desirable.

     She may have done it too if it hadn't been for Kaz. His presence alone seemed to anchor her through the storm. He was the only reason she was doing any of this, the only reason she had joined the Crows in the first place, and the only reason she had done any risky jobs. Hell, if it hadn't been for him, she would've left Ketterdam months ago.

     One day, she knew that these feelings she felt would be gone and she would look at him as he truly was - a lost, scared little boy with a hurting heart and a need to prove himself to the world. She didn't want to see it then. She wanted to believe there was more to Kaz Brekker than that but as the days in the hull stretched on, her hopes and her sanity began to diminish.

     She wanted to commit murder.

     The day of the landing couldn't come soon enough. The sun was streaking across the sky in gold and pink when the shore-line of Novyi Zem dipped into view. Jesper was keeping the crew updated from his peephole. The sailor was busy drawing the worst sketch of a map Inej had ever seen. Nina and Kaz were talking strategy and Milo was yelling his contributions to the conversation.

     "Keep that goat under control before I turn it into my next meal," Kaz growled, also thoroughly sick of the beast and wondering why he had let it live for so long.

     Inej and Nina both snickered behind their hands.

     Jesper huffed and stormed over to grab his precious goat. "I swear none of you have consciences." He ruffled Milo's hair. "Don't you pay them any mind."

     "Since when have you been on friendly terms with the animal kingdom?" Nina teased.

     Jesper sent her a sour look. "Since I grew up on a farm, hello. Pay attention."

     "What?" Nina shrugged. "I don't know your tragic backstory."

     "Well now you do."

     "Jesper!" Kaz hissed in an exasperated tone. "I've almost had it with you and your stupid goat. Shut the fuck up! Alright, listen up, getting off this ship isn't going to be easy. I need you all to focus."

     Inej flicked one of her knives skilfully over her fingers as she leaned back against the wall next to Jesper.

     Kaz snatched the map from Sailor Doug, or Sailor Douche as Jesper liked to called him, and laid it out in front of him. He used his cane to point to certain points on the paper. "I've been listening to the guards every day now and I know their routine. I assume Kirigan puts them in pairs of two - like we saw on the dock. We're going to need four of their uniforms."

     "Four?" Jesper questioned with a not-so-subtle look at Sailor Doug.

     "Yes, four," Kaz repeated. "Doug here smells so bad he can't pass as a soldier even if he tried. Besides, it'll be easier getting off the ship with a prisoner."

     "Ooh, a stowaway!" Nina clapped her hands together excitedly.

     "Every morning, a pair of sailors do an inspection and walk through the upper and middle sections of the ship," Kaz explained. "Usually, the others are put to work cleaning and counting the weaponry or scrubbing the cells. No one ever checks the lowest level because of the rats and," he crinkled up his nose, "the smell of old lovely Doug here."

     "Bit too good for the hold now are we?" Jesper let out a short laugh. "Entitled wimps."

     "Nina and Inej," Kaz nodded at both of them. "Your job is to put four of those guards to sleep and take their uniforms. Be as discreet as possible. Once we are disguised and in position, we'll take our places on the top deck with the rest of the army and once docked, escort our prisoner to the village barracks to await trail."

     "I-I don't want to go to jail..." Sailor Doug ventured, almost tearfully.

     "Relax big guy you're not going to jail," Jesper held out a reassuring hand. "We just want it to look like you are."

     "When we're out of sight of the ship, we'll go to the other side of town to avoid being seen. There'll be a boat waiting to take us the rest of the way to Great Britain," Kaz affirmed as he flipped the map shut. "Any questions?"

     Inej raised her hand mockingly. "What about the goat?"

     Kaz glanced over at the shaggy beast who, by this time, had wiggled it's way out of Jesper's arms and was halfway through eating Inej's bed.

     Inej scowled. "Can I kill it?"

     "If it comes down to it, I'll look the other way," Kaz smirked, a flicker of mirth crossing his dark eyes. Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, it was gone. A hard, firm look settled across his face. He tapped his cane on the ground and gave them all a tight nod. "Alright Crows, let the heist began."

     As it turns out, the whole plan was almost ruined by Jesper's stupid goat. Kaz had locked it in the hold after they had obtained the uniforms but somehow it had gotten out and followed them up onto the deck. Kirigan was in the middle of making a speech, something about patriarchy to the homeland, when he was interrupted by a loud bleat. Everyone had turned around to see Milo tugging on the bottom of Jesper's uniform.

     Kaz had kicked it back down the stairs, much to Jesper's horror, but the reprieve didn't last long. As they were marching off the ship, breaths baited and muscles tensed, Milo was, once again, nipping right at their heels.

     Inej wanted to throw it overboard and watch it drown.

     It was a miracle they had gotten off the ship at all. Kirigan was usually a very alert and highly attentive individual. He noticed the tiniest little discrepancies and remembered every single face. Perhaps that was why no enemy had ever been able to overcome him...he was always two hundred steps in front.

     Which is why, Inej reasoned, he was so disconcerted that he didn't even look twice at the raggedy crew of guards that took up the rear of his army. He was terrified, terrified that he would finally be defeated by the one they called the Sun Summoner.

     Inej had seen it, all those months ago, the way Alina's eyes lit up with sadness whenever Kirigan's name was mentioned. Something personal, something intimate had happened between them. It would explain Kirigan's border-line creepy obsession with her. Kaz had noticed it too, Inej knew that he had, that's why he had used that advantage to get them to Novyi Zem.

     Maybe the all-powerful Black Heretic, the one capable of destroying entire armies and wreaking havoc upon all who opposed him, had met his match in the petite form of a pretty Shu girl who could summon the light from her fingertips.

     Perhaps, she pondered, she too could help with the fight against Kirigan. Perhaps she could join Alina and her followers and use her part of the heist money to help with resources. Her heart soared with hope. It would give her what she needed - a life away from the slums of Ketterdam and the clutches of Kaz Brekker. It would give her purpose, something to look forward too, a death more honourable than anything Kerch could offer her.

     As they spilled off the ship and onto the docks, a smile found its way to Inej's face. Finally, after all this time, she had found a cause worth fighting for.

     This was going to be the Wraith's last job.

     "Hey!" A loud shout suddenly echoed across the wharf. "We need a Healer on-board! There's soldiers down, I repeat, there's soldiers down!"

     Kaz seized his cane from within the folds of his uniform and smacked Doug on the arm, propelling him forward. "Let's go!"

     Without looking back, the Crows weaved their way through the soldiers and fishermen swarming the docks. Friendly greetings were being exchanged and bundles of grain and boxes of fish bound for the next ship west were being inspected.

     Unlike the stench and mud of Fifth Harbour, the docks of Novyi Zem smelled of fresh wheat and saltwater. The water was clear and blue and swarming with fish. The houses were clean and freshly painted with rows of lavender and roses in the windows. Cobblestone paths wound their way between the buildings and joined perfectly paved roads that criss-crossed the middle of the town. Shop fronts, bars, restaurants and taverns lined the town square while stables, hotels, and houses lay on the outskirts. Fisherman huts and tackle sheds clustered the wharf. A dirt road wound along the coast leading to fields of gold and red where farmhouses with windmills and wells stood in perfect array.

     Everything was so well organised and clean. It was so different from Kerch. Inej looked around her in amazement.

     "What is this place?" Nina murmured in awe as they entered the city square and paused to get their bearings.

     "It's Shriftport," Jesper answered with a contented sigh. "It's home."

     Inej chanced a quick look at Kaz. She started with surprise when she saw his dark piercing eyes looking straight back at her. A flood of warmth filled her cheeks and she glanced away, hoping he wouldn't notice.

     Kaz shook open the map and pinpointed a place for their next stop – Tanner's Tavern. He waved for them to follow and started to limp across the square.

     "Yeah I kind of forgot," Inej addressed Jesper, hoping to divert her mind from what just happened. "You used to live here, didn't you."

     "This is where you farmed your way through childhood?" Nina queried disbelievingly.

     "Where else?" Jesper laughed. "In the snow of Fjerda? The mountains of Ravka? Please."

     "What about your father?" Inej asked. "Is he still here?"

     Jesper froze for the briefest moment. "I - I..." he drew a deep breath. "I honestly don't know."

     "Don't you want to know?" Inej prodded softly. She shot Kaz a knowing look. "Surely we have time to..."

     "No."

     Jesper, Inej and Nina all stopped at this. Kaz's voice, thick with tension and dark with steel, cut through the air like a knife. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "There's no time."

     "What?" Inej scoffed, trying to ignore the pang of pain that lingered in her own heart. Not knowing where her own family was, her empathetic side went out to Jesper. "We don't have a day to see if Jesper's father is still alive? C'mon, Kaz!"

     "It isn't part of the plan!" he shot back. "If Kirigan discovers we had anything to do with those Ravkan soldiers lying in the bottom of his ship, he'll have all of Novyi Zem searched. We don't have the time! Do we think we're up to battle the whole Grishan army? We get out now."

     Jesper stiffened but put out a hand as Inej stepped forward, ready to fight back. "Don't," he whispered. "It's fine. On the way back." He faked a smile and threw his hands up. "We can find him on the way back! C'mon Milo." He gestured to the goat and continued walking.

     "He's still here? Why?" Nina threw her head back in exasperation and stomped after Jesper.

     Kaz shoved Doug forward to join the others and waited for Inej to fall into step beside him.

     "Inej," he began. "I know you want to help Jesper but the plan..."

     "To hell with your stupid plan!" she burst out. "Do you know the amount of times we've almost died already? And we haven't even gotten to Great Britain yet! Do you think we're going to keep having this continuous streak of good luck and no one's gonna die? What if Jesper never gets the chance to come back? What then? Would you actually feel bad?"

     Kaz didn't respond.

     Inej dropped her hands so they loudly slapped against her thighs. "Exactly." She wanted to say more but knew she would regret it later so she strode on, putting distance between her and Kaz's limping gait. She couldn't stand to look at him. How did he do it? One minute Inej was melting under his gaze and the next she wanted to punch him out.

     Typical Kaz.

     They all made it to the tavern in one piece. Jesper stole three wallets on the way there with exclamations of how disappointing the insides looked but they had enough to pay board for one night. The bartender didn't dare to look them in the eye and hurried them to their rooms. Jesper and Nina made jokes about how powerful and intimidating they were in their Ravkan uniforms but Kaz and Inej ignored the banter and remained silent and brooding.

     And Inej had a lot to brood over.

     Leaving the others to squabble over what brand of whiskey they should order from the bar, Inej left the cramped room for the more spacious balcony. It wasn't perfect or comfortable but at least it provided some fresh air - something she had longed for during their stay in the hold.

     She leaned her forearms against the railing and placed her head down on top of them. She watched the buzz and bustle of Shriftport die as the sun began to set over the sea, casting long shadows that moved over the houses and streets.

     Shopkeepers turned over the signs in their windows and covered their displays as the errand boys swept the porch steps and collected their meager earnings from the day. Housewives brought in their washing and called in their children from playing ball in the street. Bartenders threw out rowdy patrons and locked the heavy wooden doors. People, late from work, scurried to their homes, ready for a hot, ready-made meal and a hug from their loved ones – something Inej never had the luxury of.

     And then there was Kirigan's ship, painted as black as the darkest night. It loomed menacingly over the town, an eerie reminder that no one could escape the wrath of the Black Heretic.

     Inej sighed and rubbed her eyes. Shit she was tired. It was time to turn in, prepare herself for the next day's dealings, as unpredictable as they would no doubt be. She let go of the railing and turned to go back but the pad of footsteps made her stop in her tracks. She looked to see Kaz standing beside her, his shoulders straight, his cane in hand, his focus straight ahead.

     She knew that look. Scheming face.

     Dirtyhands wanted to talk.