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By all that was holy, nothing could motivate the Kerch like cash.
“Not if you’re rich,” Jesper added. “Then they take you to a cemetery in the country, where your corpse can enjoy the fresh air.”
He had often wondered how people survived this city, but it was possible Ketterdam would not survive Kaz Brekker.
So, Kuwei, you’ll go to the Southern Colonies, and when the heat has died down, you can find your way to Ravka or Matthias’ grandmother’s house for all I care.” “Leave my grandmother out of this,” Matthias said.
“If I live, I’ll buy you waffles.” “You don’t have enough money to buy her waffles,” Wylan grumbled. “Be quiet. We’re in a library.”
Jesper rubbed his hands over his face. “All the Saints and your Aunt Eva, let’s hope not.”
Matthias would be atoning for the mistakes he’d made in this life long into the next one, but he’d always believed that despite his crimes and failings, there was a core of decency inside him that could never be breached. And yet, he felt sure that if he had to spend another hour with Alys Van Eck, he might murder her just for the sake of a little quiet.
Kaz had tapped his crow’s head cane on the flagstones of the tomb floor. “Do you know what Van Eck’s problem is?” “No honor?” said Matthias. “Rotten parenting skills?” said Nina. “Receding hairline?” offered Jesper.
Matthias rolled his eyes heavenward. These lunatics all needed a solid six months in boot camp and possibly a sound beating.
“So,” Jesper said, throwing an arm around Alys’ shoulder. “Tell us about your stepson.” “Why?” Alys asked. “Are you going to kidnap him too?” Jesper scoffed, “I doubt it. I hear he’s twelve kinds of trouble to keep around.” Wylan crossed his arms. “I hear he’s talented and misunderstood.”
Matthias gave Nina a meaningful look. She scowled. “Why do you assume I know how to arrange hair?” “Because yours always looks so nice.” “Wait,” said Jesper. “Is he being charming?” He peered at Matthias. “How do we know this isn’t an impostor?”
Nina sighed. “How can I walk by a window full of wheels of cheese and feel nothing? I don’t even know myself anymore.”
And that's valid
“Mother, Father, pay the rent!” Nina said in a singsong voice. Matthias stared at her. “Is it possible you’re running a fever?”
Nina shoved her veil up onto her head so he could experience the full force of her glare.
As she should
“I doubt it’s true. It’s just what happens when you let men name the bridges.”
Sage wisdom
“Tailors blur the line between Fabrikator and Corporalnik,” said Nina. “I had a teacher in Ravka, Genya Safin. She could have been either a Heartrender or a Fabrikator if she’d wanted to—instead she became a great Tailor.
“Where do you think the money went?” he repeated. “Guns?” asked Jesper. “Ships?” queried Inej. “Bombs?” suggested Wylan. “Political bribes?” offered Nina. They all looked at Matthias. “This is where you tell us how awful we are,” she whispered. He shrugged. “They all seem like practical choices.”
“I don’t like speculation,” said Matthias. “Of course you don’t. You like things you can see. Like piles of snow and benevolent tree gods.”
“Kaz can pick the locks,” said Wylan. “No,” said Kaz, “I can’t.” “I don’t think I’ve ever heard those words leave your lips,” said Nina. “Say it again, nice and slow.”
So I’m asking, do you want to beat Van Eck?” “Yes,” said Inej. She wanted some kind of justice. “Soundly,” said Nina. “Around the ears with Wylan’s flute,” said Jesper.
“Inej,” Jesper whispered. She leaned forward, peering at Wylan. “Is that scheming face?” “Possibly.” Wylan seemed to snap back to reality. “It is not.
“I would come for you,” he said, and when he saw the wary look she shot him, he said it again. “I would come for you. And if I couldn’t walk, I’d crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we’d fight our way out together—knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that’s what we do. We never stop fighting.”
“You’re very welcome, Nina Zenik. You may repay me in the customary way.” “Waffles?” “Lots of them.”
fear is a phoenix. You can watch it burn a thousand times and still it will return.”
I’m supposed to be your sister, stop looking at me like that.” “Like what?” “Like I’m made of ice cream.” “I don’t care for ice cream.” “Matthias,” Nina said, “I’m not sure we can continue to spend time together.”
Nina picked up a pair of embroidered gloves from another stand. “Do you like these? Maybe we could get Kaz to wear something with flowers. Liven up his look.”
Jesper looked around. “This place reminds me of home. Fields as far as the eye can see, quiet broken by nothing but the hum of bees, fresh air.” He shuddered. “Disgusting.”
He turned to Nina and said in Fjerdan, “Do not let them cow you. You are not the girl you were. You are not just a soldier to command.” “So why do I feel like finding a corner to sob in?” “This is a round room. There are no corners.”
Jesper, you’re tall, brown, and conspicuous—” “All synonyms for delightful.” “And that means you’ll have to be twice as careful.” “There’s always a price to be paid for greatness.”
“Will there be champagne?” Nina finished the last of the crackers, licking her fingers. “I’ll be there, and I’m effervescent.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” said Kaz. “I don’t hold a grudge. I cradle it. I coddle it. I feed it fine cuts of meat and send it to the best schools. I nurture my grudges, Rollins.”
To hell with revenge, to hell with his schemes. If Rollins had done something to Inej, Kaz would paint East Stave with his entrails.
Nina glanced from Inej to Kaz and saw they both wore the same expression. Nina knew that look. It came after the shipwreck, when the tide moved against you and the sky had gone dark. It was the first sight of land, the hope of shelter and even salvation that might await you on a distant shore.
“So,” Jesper said, adding sugar to his coffee. “Other than Inej making a new pal, what the hell happened out there?” “Let’s see,” said Nina. “Inej fell twenty stories.” “We put a serious hole in my father’s dining room ceiling,” Wylan offered. “Nina can raise the dead,” said Inej.
She rested her head on his shoulder. “You’re better than waffles, Matthias Helvar.”
True romance
Jesper walked to the west-facing window where Kaz was standing. “All the Saints and your Aunt Eva,”
Kuwei moaned and slumped down against the wall. He cast a baleful glance at Nina. “You should have killed me at the Ice Court.” Nina shrugged. “But then Kaz would have killed me and Matthias would have killed Kaz and it would have gotten incredibly messy.”
“Yup,” said Jesper. “We are well and truly cooked.”
Pretty much sums up the series
I want you down here before I count ten or I will tan your hide so you don’t sit for two weeks.” Colm’s head vanished back down the stairs. The silence stretched. Then Nina giggled. “You are in so much trouble.” Jesper scowled. “Matthias, Nina let Cornelis Smeet grope her bottom.”
Nina stopped laughing. “I am going to turn your teeth inside out.” “That is physically impossible.” “I just raised the dead. Do you really want to argue with me?”
“Scheming face?” said Jesper. Matthias nodded. “Definitely.”
Sure, a Zemeni as tall as a modestly ambitious tree and carrying a price on his head wouldn’t be noticed at all.
"A modestly ambitious tree" 💀
Two of the deadliest people the Barrel had to offer and they could barely touch each other without both of them keeling over.
“Same thing that’s always wrong with him,” said Jesper. “He’s Kaz Brekker.”
“Do you really have a flying ship?” blurted Jesper. “No.” “Oh.” “I have several.” “Take me with you.”
Zoya tossed her glorious black mane and said, “We are the Triumvirate. We do not take orders from Kerch street rats with dubious haircuts.”
As she shouldn't
And that was what destroyed you in the end: the longing for something you could never have.
Nina didn’t care if it was Djel or the Saints or a brigade of fire-breathing kittens;
She was the Queen of Mourning, and in its depths, she would never drown.
Jesper released a yelp of pain, wondering if he’d broken a rib. It’s good for you. Jogs the liver.
