SHE DIDN'T LEAVE. She almost regrets not leaving, but Svetlana had all the information she needed.

Van Eck had kidnapped her and Brekker to work together to get Bo Yul-Bayur from the Ice Court— Brekker because he had a good record of not getting caught while doing his jobs, and Karina because she had a good sense of getting information and a ruthless hand. He told them the risks and how much he was willing to give them— thirty million kruge. But only if they worked together.

Kaz had told her just outside the Hoede mansion that he'd collect the crew they'd need, and he'd contact her once he does. She wasn't too worried about that, her mind was already preoccupied with other matters. She told him she'd collect the transport to Fjerda, and that he'd be able to find her at Phoenix Bay in Little Ravka, then disappeared into the night.

Natalia was at the Ice Court. Yul-Bayur was also at the Ice Court. Svetlana has been hired by a rich merchant to find one but not the other. If she planned this right and worked around it, she could kill two birds with one stone. She'd find Natalia, bring her back, and kill Yul-Bayur.

But if she killed Yul-Bayur, Brekker would kill her. Damn him, she thought, I won't betray my people for him.

She was in Phoenix Bay, her fingers moving a pencil on parchment addressed to the King of Ravka, but the address was an orphanage in Keramzin. She'd send it and hoped it would reach Nikolai by the time they'd be back in Ketterdam from Fjerda.

She still hadn't told Sophia, who questioned her every minute about where she went and what she found. Svetlana thought it'd be safer if she didn't know as much as she did, Sophia already knew too much. She tried to rest her mind by letting her know that she'd found a way to get Natalia and get kruge, and she would be safe because she wouldn't be alone. Then asked her to tell her everything she knew about Kaz Brekker.

Sophia was almost horrified that Svetlana even heard his name, then told her what she knows which was suspiciously little. But she was only Sophia, Karina Kozlov is the information broker.

He went by Dirtyhands because there wasn't a crime he wouldn't do for the right price. Everything had a price. He's an unfeeling monster who cares for nothing and no one but his kruge and his club. He had a girl from the Menagerie indentured to him and she was his spider, Sophia had seen her multiple times around the Staves. The club was one of the tourists' favorite places; they played good music, they won good money, and they drank good whiskey. His gang was large enough and they go by the Dregs, he works for Per Haskell and he has leverage over every judge and officer and merch in Ketterdam.

Svetlana was almost offended. She had left when he rose, and he took her place. But she wasn't a child anymore, and she wasn't interested in becoming the Queen of the Barrel. If Brekker wanted to become King, he can go ahead, but she was Karina Kozlov, and she'd have her leverage again.

Inej hated going to Little Ravka. First of all, it was so far away from the Slat. Secondly, it reminded her so much of home that it made an ache in her chest echo.

It took her an hour alone to get there, and another to find Phoenix Bay. And every minute of it she spent it cursing Kaz Brekker and his greed.

"I want you to round up Jesper and Muzzen. I want them here by dawn. And I'll need Wylan waiting at the Crow Club tomorrow night. Oh, and make sure to have time to go to Little Ravka, there's a shop there called Phoenix Bay, look for Karina Kozlov and tell her the same." He had told her earlier tonight, and she had stared at him with her jaw on the floor.

"Wait, wait, Little Ravka? You never had any business there."

"And we still don't, but do reach out to her."

"Who even is this Karina person?"

"Someone who'll help us with this impossible job."

She didn't dare ask more questions after that, he'd tell her sooner or later. She opted to go there as soon as she ended her meeting with Wylan, she needed to be back at the Slat by dawn.

The shop looked welcoming enough, and as she walked in and pressed the bell, a tall scrawny Zemini boy, around her age, walked out from behind a curtain with a dazzling, flashing smile. He reminded her so much of Jesper, but he looked more formal in his black linen pants and white tunic, more put together.

"Welcome to Phoenix Bay, found anything interesting?" He asked her, and if she wasn't on a mission she'd say he was a charmer. She stammered for a split second then glanced at the stacks of jewelry on a small stall on the desk. She grabbed the first necklace she saw, bird wings, and placed it on the counter. She smiled awkwardly at him and he only chuckled.

"Firebird wings, interesting choice indeed."

Inej cleared her throat, "I- uh, I'm looking for someone," she started, and the boy's smile immediately dimmed. He leaned closer, his face as serious as ever, "Are you in trouble?" He asked, and Inej almost felt bad. "No! Oh no, no, no. I'm looking for Karina Kozlov, I heard she... works here?"

He looked frightened for a moment, but immediately pulled himself together and smiled lightly. "She owns the place actually, one moment, please. I'll call for her." He turned to leave, then paused halfway, "Oh, uh, I have to ask, who's asking for her?"

Inej folded her arms, "Kaz Brekker."

His face visibly paled then, and he disappeared from sight. Svetlana came out a minute later with a smile, she was wiping her hands on a towel before tucking it in the pockets of the apron around her waist. She looked Suli, and her curls were tied at the top of her head with a ribbon, strands framing the sides of her face.

"Hello," she greeted Inej, the girl was small and thin and clashed in dark fabric, a hood on her head and harnesses around her with little knives tucked within them. Svetlana had no doubt that this was Dirtyhands' spider.

"Are you Karina Kozlov?"

Svetlana only nodded, taking the necklace on the counter and placing it in a small pouch before pulling the string on it shut. "Mhm, Mister Brekker is asking for me already?"

Inej's smile was almost sarcastic and Svetlana held back a cackle, "No. He's asked that you be at the Crow Club tomorrow night."

Svetlana tilted her head as she tried to locate the Crow Club in her mind, and Inej must've known. "It's on the South East side of the Barrel."

"Ah, alright. Thank you— what do they call you?"

Inej glanced at the pouch Svetlana pushed her way and picked it up, "The Wraith. But you can call me Inej."

Svetlana smiled at her, "Thank you Inej and please," she held up a hand to pause her movement when she tried to open the pocket in the harness at her hip to pull out some kruge. "It's on the house."

Inej nodded once in thanks and then she was out and Svetlana walked back into the building. She had agreed with Viktor that she'd make everyone dinner tonight, but they were a lot more than she had accounted for. Nevertheless, it was a fun activity to do for the night.

          THERE WERE MANY REASONS FOR SOMEONE TO HATE THE BARREL. Number one; the downright disgusting stench of death and rot that seemed to linger in the air, number two; the fact that it was bracketed by both Staves, and number three; the large men with goggling eyes and grabbing hands.

When you walk the wide streets of this canal, you see all kinds of things. From people in ridiculous costumes of the characters from the Komdie Brute to the wide and colorful buildings painted to attract as many tourists as they can.

By the time Svetlana made it to the Crow Club, she had yellow and blue bruises forming on her knuckles. She enjoyed the occasional street catfights but she appreciated it best when it didn't leave marks on her. Her body carried enough scars as it is.

When she was younger, she was told that those who carry scars are the bravest of all. Svetlana believed that the more scars you get the stronger you are. She grew to realize the truth behind that; the more scars you carried the more horror you've seen.

The Crow Club had a sign of a silver crow hanging above the door and a boulder of a man at its door, he spared her one glance as she made her way within, the hood over her head was pushed down and her flaming gaze washed over the people around the room. Men playing cards, others trying to flirt their way into a shag, and some sat by the bar.

Svetlana made herself comfortable on a stool and ordered a shot of kvas, the barmaid kept stealing glances her way after serving her and Svetlana played along with her game.

She winked at her, and when the barmaid made herself available again, she strode to Svetlana. She leaned on the counter, the buttons of her blouse undone, her cleavage on full display, and a sultry glint in her brown eyes.

What is it with me and brown-eyed people?

"Can I get you anything, sweet pie?"

Svetlana returned her smirk and parroted her stance, leaning on the counter. "I'd appreciate a meeting with your boss."

Her smile fell, and she stood upright. The glint in her eyes turned into a glare as she folded her arms across her chest, "what do you want with him?"

"Mister Brekker demanded me to be here tonight, no further explanation. If you'd point me to where I can find him, that'd be a great help dolly."

The woman scowled, then pointed with her thumb to the stairs, "He's got a meeting now but he should be in a private parlor, first room to the left."

Svetlana tapped her shot glass on the table after downing another pour, then dropped a small pouch of kruge on the counter for the girl, "Much appreciated. I like the hair by the way." Svetlana walked away, and the woman she left behind took a moment to run her fingers through the remaining blonde locks of her head, having shaved the other half a few nights before.

The halls of the Crow Club couldn't be leerier, the wood-laced floor creaked beneath the slightest of weight and Svetlana thought it might give away at the first body thrown at it. She found Kaz where the girl told her he'd be, and he wasn't alone.

"Miss Kozlov, right on time," Kaz said, stretching out his bad leg as he leaned back on his chair. Svetlana smirked, "I like to consider myself to be punctual." Her eyes surveyed the room, and she gave a brief nod to Inej.

She acknowledged the other people, and Kaz introduced them to her as she met their curious eyes. "This is Wylan, Jesper Fahey, Nina Zenik and Matthias Helvar."

Svetlana's eyes lingered on the blonde man tied to a chair, she tilted her head as a devilish grin slowly pulled at her lips, "Fjerdan." She whispered, then tilted her head back to Kaz. "I like the way you think." The corners of Kaz's lips almost turned upright into a smile, but he only smirked.

Svetlana folded her arms as she leaned on the wall, "So, has he told you why you're all here yet or were you just waiting for me to grace you with my presence?"

Kaz rolled his eyes, then slowly unfolded the events of the night before. He told them about jurda parem, about the reward they'd receive when they retrieve Bo Yul-Bayur, and about the impossible task of breaking into the Ice Court. Hearing him say it all out loud made Svetlana realize just how mad they were; they wanted to break into the Ice Court, the most secured prison ever. Maybe she has lost her mind.

So she understood when Matthias immediately rejected the offer, then sighed silently when his lips curled at the auburn girl beside her. "Don't pretend to know me, witch." He had snarled, but he didn't look at her.

Witch. That's what drüskelle called Grisha. Svetlana's eyes shifted to fixate on Nina, and she observed her as her eyes hardened and her jaw locked.

Jesper uncurled himself from the corner and folded his long arms across his chest, his long legs making him the tallest in the room. He was built like a toothpick. "Without him, there's no job," he said, "We can't break into the Ice Court blind."

Matthias snickered, "You can't break into the Ice Court at all." Svetlana tsked and tilted her head, eyes squinting. "Not necessarily. I've been to the Ice Court only once before, on business, and I've seen the blueprints and layout of the compound. I can tell you all that I know, but the details of it..." she trailed off, her eyes going from Kaz to Matthias, "We need his help for that."

Svetlana remembered the first time she stepped foot into the Saintsforsaken place, the shivers that were running down her spine. She was with Nikolai at the time, making deals and compromises between Ravka and the Fjerdans. That attempt at peace was futile and Svetlana left the prison walls with deeper hatred for the Fjerdans and their darling Djel.

Kaz nodded once at her, then turned to Matthias with the smile of the devil. "Come now, Helvar, surely there's something you want. The cause is righteous enough for a zealot like you. Fjerda may think they've caught a dragon by the tail, but they won't be able to hold on. Once Bo Yul-Bayur replicates his process, jurda parem will enter the market, and it's only a matter of time before others learn to manufacture it, too."

Matthias shook his head, "It will never happen. Yul-Bayur will stand trial, and if he is found guilty he will be put to death."

He was delusional, Svetlana realized. Fjerdans were anything but just, their trials were always full of lies. That's why people like her still get hung and burned on piers on their so-called sacred grounds.

Nina, the auburn-haired witch, pressed her lips together, "Guilty of what?" she breathed softly, and the blonde giant didn't even hesitate. "Crimes against people."

"Which people?" Svetlana couldn't help but smirk at the anger in her voice, maybe the two of them can be friends.

"Natural people," He said with a sneer directed at her, "People who live in harmony with the laws of this world instead of twisting them for their own gain."

"Laws that were set by men, of course, right?" Svetlana sneered back, her lip curled in disgust. Nina snorted loudly, and Matthias remained huffing under her mean glare. "Yeah, thought so."

"You're being shortsighted about this, Helvar." Kaz said, "Another team could get to Yul-Bayur first. The Shu. Maybe the Ravkans. All with their own agendas. Border disputes and old rivalries don't matter to the Kerch. All the Merchant Council cares about is trade, and they want to make sure jurda parem remains a rumor and nothing more."

"So leading criminals into the heart of Fjerda to steal a valued prisoner is a patriotic act?"

Svetlana was leaning on the wall beside the door she walked through, her arms folded. She held up a finger at his words, "Uh, excuse you. Kidnap, not steal. And you're no Saint, clearly. Where'd you nick him from?" she directed the question to Kaz and he waved a dismissive hand, "Hellgate." Svetlana released an amused sound that reminded Matthias too much of Nina.

"I don't suppose the promise of four million kruge will sway you either." Kaz tried, but Matthias growled at him. "You can keep your money. Choke on it."

His grumble wasn't at all amusing, but it was time-consuming. The wheels were twisting and turning in his head, Svetlana could see that much. She spared a glance to the woman he named witch earlier, a woman clad in red, a Heartrender most likely, and observed the way she stared at him.

Friends, Svetlana realized. They knew each other. And then-

Lovers. Betrayed by the circumstances, or each other, whichever came first. She understood their predicament.

"I'll make a deal with you." The big man spoke, his head cranked as far as it can go, his eyes trained on Kaz.

"I'm listening."

"I won't go with you, but I'll give you a plan for the layout of the Court. That should at least get you past the first checkpoint."

"And what will this valuable information cost me?"

Svetlana realized that Kaz was mocking him. He wasn't taking his words seriously because he knew this man's desires and the way his mind worked. He had him all figured out and he was just walking along with his game only to let him fall into a trap he designed.

"I don't want your money." Matthias said, "I'll give you the plans for nothing. If you let me have Nina Zenik."

Inej let out a sound of disgust and Svetlana shook her head along, an amused smirk playing on her lips.

"I can give you something better," Kaz said, shifting in his seat. "There's nothing else I want."

"There's always something else a man wants." Svetlana butted in, pushing herself off the uncomfortably cold wall to a seat at Jesper and Wylan's table.

"I can make you drüskelle again."

Svetlana giggled, "Please do, I'd love to kill him myself." Kaz turned to her with hardening eyes, "We're trying to recruit him to the crew, not scare him off." Svetlana shrugged t him, "He can still join and sleep with both eyes open." Kaz rolled his eyes at her.

Matthias curled his lips at the pair of them, "Are you a magician, then? A wej spirit who grants wishes? I'm superstitious, not stupid."

"You can be both. And be a giant fool, too." Lana replied as Kaz pushed a hand into his coat, "Here," he said as he handed a piece of parchment to Inej. She traded across the room with silent steps to Matthias and held open the document before him. After a minute, he turned to Kaz, "What new evidence?"

"It seems Nina Zenik has recanted her statements. She will face charges of perjury."

He turned to her, "Perjury? How long will you serve for that, Zenik?"

"Two months," She mumbled, and Svetlana suspected she may even feel ashamed of the sentence.

"Two months?" Matthias broke into a fit of laughter, it shook his very being. It was bitter and rough, "Exactly how crazy is he?" Jesper asked, his hands resting on the handles of his revolvers. Kaz shrugged, "He's not what I'd call reliable, but he's all we've got."

"She can't be trusted, you know." Matthias said, his eyes trained on Kaz once again, "Whatever secrets you hope to gain from Bo Yul-Bayur, she'll turn them over to Ravka."

Lana glanced at Nina to see her hold her head high, her eyes not moving from the giant strapped to the chair. She let out a single nod and paired it with a shrug. Saints know she'd do the same- She's done the same.

"Let me worry about that, Helvar. You do your part, and the secrets of Yul-Bayur and jurda parem will be in the hands of the people best equipped to make sure they stay rumors."

He was debating it, thoroughly, then his eyes turned into slits and glared through both Kaz and Svetlana, "What if Bo Yul-Bayur is dead?"

"Van Eck insists he isn't."

"But what if he is, Brekker?"

"You still get your pardon."

Svetlana understood what it meant to betray your country, your people- your friends, and your family. She's done it before, albeit she was merely a child back then, with her life on the line in more ways than one, but she had betrayed them nonetheless. She's never made that mistake again, because she swore she wouldn't, and no one had been neither brave enough nor stupid enough to do it.

Finally, Matthias raised his head and spoke; "I'll do it."

Inej folded back the document in her hand and gave it back to Kaz. "We're going to untie you," he said, "I hope prison hasn't robbed you of all your manners or good sense."

Matthias nodded and Lana sighed, she unhooked the collar of her cloak before dropping it to drape around the chair she was seated in. "I believe you know Nina. The lovely girl freeing you is Inej, our thief of secrets and the best in the trade. Jesper Fahey is our sharpshooter, Zemini-born but try not to hold it against him. Wylan there is the best demolitions expert in the Barrel, and Karina is more or less my partner in crime as of now, she's our supplier and broker of information."

Inej folded her arms, "I still think Raske is better."

Wylan looked up from his sketch, "He is not better, he is reckless."

"He knows his trade."

"So do I."

Jesper scoffed, "Barely."

"Wylan is new to the scene," Kaz admitted, rolling his eyes at the way his crew was grilling the boy.

"Of course he's new, he looks like he's about twelve."

Wylan's brows jumped to his forehead and his jaw dropped, "I'm eighteen!"

Matthias thinned his eyes, "Fifteen at best."

"We should be using Raske," Jesper said, "He's good under pressure."

"I don't like it." Inej agreed.

"I didn't ask," Kaz said, "Besides, Wylan isn't just good with the flint and fuss. He's our insurance."

Nina folded her arms, "Against what?"

Kaz only smirked, as if waiting for the question. "Meet Wylan Van Eck, Jan Van Eck's son, and our guarantee on thirty million kruge."