Time to find out if anyone else likes Six Of Crows

There were always whispers in Ketterdam. It's what the city thrived off. Whispers and pigeons and the rumours pigeons carried from door to door. That's why whispers of any kind weren't always so valuable.

But the whispers that dogged the streets now were important. The whispers that followed a Zemeni boy in a bright green waistcoat as he ran past mansions were important. The whispers that made him turn up his coat sleeves and finger the pearl hilts of his guns were more than important. They were vital.

Jesper ran past closed pleasure houses and open pubs. Gambling dens that would've once deterred him entirely from his trip passed him by as nothing but a slight want, not a need anymore. Whispers never held much substance.

"But when whispers make it to the mansions of Ketterdam," Jesper thought as he slowed to a half-jog, "by Saints, those are important whispers."

Jesper didn't bother to acknowledge the greetings from the Dregs as he ran up the narrow staircases of the Crow Club. He didn't bother to check his reflection in the mirror as he passed. No, this was a lot more important now.

"Kaz." Jesper said, bursting through the door. "Kaz, have you heard?"

"I've heard you galumphing up the stairs, is what I've heard." Kaz said calmly, not putting down his pen. "And I've heard it is customary to knock."

Jesper knocked on the open door once. "Kaz, it's important." He said.

"Is it now?" Kaz asked. "So is my contract."

"It's about Inej." Jesper said. Kaz froze and Jesper wondered briefly if he'd said something wrong. His eye fell upon the nasty crow head of Kaz's cane. That cane could take out a man, with enough strength.

A muscle worked in Kaz's jaw as he slowly put the cap on his pen and laid it on his desk. He flexed his gloved fingers and finally looked up at Jesper, unreadable as ever.

"What business, Jesper?" Kaz asked. He stood up and gripped his cane tightly. "And make it quick."

Jesper rolled his eyes and swallowed down his retort. "They say Inej's made port. Here."

There was a defiant edge to the lift of Kaz's chin as he looked out of his window. "Which harbour?"

"Third." Jesper said. "She hasn't made port in-"

"Over a year, I know." Kaz said. His bitter coffee eyes flicked to Jesper. "Anything else?" Jesper shook his head wordlessly. "Very well. Then go home, Jesper. I'd advise it'd be best."

Jesper took a breath to say something else but thought better of it and retreated.

"And close the door on your way-" Jesper shut the door with a snap. "- out." Kaz finished. He looked up at the rafters and let a small half-smile cross his face.

"Clever Wraith." Kaz murmured to himself. "Third Harbour, so I wouldn't know. Clever." He repeated. Calmly, carefully, he pulled his gloves off and set them down, one on top of the other. There was no need to rush.

Kaz felt another smile find its way onto his face. It was an odd feeling, to smile. He rid his face of the smile quickly.

"Still up to your old tricks, I see?" He asked. There was a laugh from his window, a laugh he hadn't heard in nearly two years. Still, it was the laugh Kaz had wanted to bottle up and remember from the first time he'd heard it.

"Damn you, Kaz." Inej said, sitting on his window sill. "I thought you'd forgotten my presence."

"I could never forget you." Kaz thought. He took a breath. "Evidently, Wraith, you were wrong." Kaz said instead, looking up at the smiling Inej. He felt his heart skip a beat.

It wasn't something he could play off on the light or being caught by surprise. No, it was just that Inej looked so healthy, so happy, so content. Kaz hadn't seen her look like that since he'd known her, not that he could remember anyway. And Kaz remembered everything about Inej.

Inej smiled. "Evidently so, Brekker." She said. "Anyway, what business?"

"I really should be asking you that." Kaz said, his cane stumping on the floor as he walked to the window. "Why did you come back? Why now?"

Inej shrugged. "I promised, didn't I?"

"Yes but why now?" Kaz pressed. "And why not dock in Fifth Harbour. You're not in any danger in Fifth Harbour and it's a far shorter journey to here." He nodded to himself. "You're hiding something from me, Wraith. You're hiding something or you want something. Or both."

Inej grinned a hidden smile. "Is it not enough to want to see you, Brekker?" She asked.

"When it's you?" Kaz asked with an almost hidden smile on his face. "Yes."

Inej laughed a little. "Fine, fine. Yeah, I need help with something. I need demo."

"Then why not go to Wylan and Jesper?" Kaz asked. His cane thumped against the floor as he went to the vanity in the corner of his room. He fixed the collar of his shirt and looked at Inej's reflection. "You know the way to the Van Eck place better than probably even Wylan. So why come here, to me?"

Inej shrugged. "I need a Kaz Brekker type too." She said. "And why seek someone else out when I have the real thing in Ketterdam?"

"Mhm, fair." Kaz looked down at his cane. "Question is now, what's in it for me?"

"Couple thousand kruge and a slaver brought to justice." Inej said easily.

"Only a thousand?" Kaz asked. "How much specifically."

Inej paused, looking down at her feet. "Seven." She said. "Seven thousand kruge."

"Only seven thousand?" Kaz asked. "You might need to up the price if you want me on your side, Wraith."

Inej threw her head back and laughed. "Don't I get a pass, seeing as I'm an old companion?"

"Seeing as you're an old companion, no." Kaz said. Inej shook her head.

"You've really not changed, Kaz." She said almost fondly. Her tone - the fact that she was still somewhat fond of him - sent a rush of heat to Kaz's heart. He'd have to get that checked, might be something wrong with him.

"Is it so bad that I haven't?" Kaz asked. Inej shrugged.

"Maybe not." She conceded. "I guess the Bastard of the Barrel can't change, can he?"

"Not without losing something." Kaz said, now limping over to his desk and pulling his gloves back on. "Or someone."

Inej looked out the window, over the rooftops of Ketterdam.

"I've missed this." She said. "Missed sitting here with the crows. Missed you and your silly reasons for why I shouldn't."

"But you're still leaving again?" Kaz asked. As always, he didn't let the slight hurt inside slip into his voice.

"I have to." Inej said. "Can't let my crew down, can't let all those wronged go without justice."

Kaz thought. If he helped Inej with this job, he'd be able to spend more time with her. It'd seem like she'd never left. But, he could risk his reputation. Kaz couldn't risk that, not even a little.

"I'll give you a deal-" Kaz was cut off by Inej's surprised laughter.

"I'm not here to bargain, Kaz." She said.

"Just... let me finish." Kaz said. "I'll give you a deal. You help me with a job of mine, I'll help you with yours."

Inej raised an eyebrow. "What's the job?" She asked. "I won't be killing again, Kaz." She said. "Not for you, not for anyone."

"It doesn't involve death." Kaz promised. "Not by your hand. No, I just want to make sure Jan Van Eck stays in prison for a lot longer."

"How much longer?" Inej asked. Kaz shrugged.

"A couple more years." He said. "Until Jesper and Wylan have all their affairs in order."

"And in return, you'll help me with the slaver?" Inej asked. Kaz nodded once.

"Yes."

"You promise?" Inej pressed.

"You know I never do." Kaz said. "But yes. To the best of my ability, I promise."

Inej laughed silently. "And you still get the seven thousand." She said with a shake of her head. "Honestly Kaz, you really haven't changed."

Kaz shrugged. "Would you have come back if I had?" He asked. It wasn't just a playful taunt, it was a question that bugged Kaz at night. Inej shrugged.

"Fine." She said. "I'll do it."

Kaz almost smiled. "The deal's the deal." He said. Inej nodded. "No mourners."

Inej pulled herself up to stand on the window sill. "No funerals." And just like that, the Wraith was gone. Back into Ketterdam.

I liked this a lot. Wonder if anyone will actually care about it, though-
Bye,
Blaize