Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)

by Leigh Bardugo

Now he did laugh, long and hard. His body twitched with it, as if it were poison constricting his muscles. The others watched him with some concern. “Just how crazy is he?” asked Jesper, fingers drumming on the pearl handles of his revolvers. Brekker shrugged. “He’s not what I’d call reliable, but he’s all we’ve got.”

“And get me clean clothes and fresh water.” “Since when am I your valet?” “Man with a knife, remember?” he said over his shoulder. “Man with a gun!” Jesper called after him. Kaz replied with a time-saving gesture that relied heavily on his middle finger and disappeared belowdecks.

“Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get Wylan’s ghost to teach my ghost how to play the flute just so that I can annoy the hell out of your ghost.” Brekker’s lips quirked. “I’ll just hire Matthias’ ghost to kick your ghost’s ass.” “My ghost won’t associate with your ghost,” Matthias said primly, and then wondered if the sea air was rotting his brain.

“Would it kill him to smile every once in a while?” Jesper asked. “Very possibly.”

“Kaz is … I don’t know, he’s like nobody else I’ve ever known. He surprises me.” “Yes. Like a hive of bees in your dresser drawer.”

“What do you want, then?” The old answers came easily to mind. Money. Vengeance. Jordie’s voice in my head silenced forever. But a different reply roared to life inside him, loud, insistent, and unwelcome. You, Inej. You.

“It’s not natural for women to fight.” “It’s not natural for someone to be as stupid as he is tall, and yet there you stand.

“You’re welcome, you big idiot.” He’d lied. He did like the way she talked.

“Discipline. Routine. Does it mean nothing to you? Djel, I can’t wait to have a bed to myself again.” “Right,” said Nina. “I can feel just how much you hate sleeping next to me. I feel it every morning.”

Would that be so terrible?” “I do like you.” “What was that?” “I do like you,” he said angrily. She’d beamed, feeling a well of pleasure erupt through her. “Now, really, is that so bad?” “Yes!” he roared. “Why?” “Because you’re horrible. You’re loud and lewd and … treacherous. Brum warned us that Grisha could be charming.” “Oh, I see. I’m the wicked Grisha seductress. I have beguiled you with my Grisha wiles!” She poked him in the chest. “Stop that.” “No. I’m beguiling you.” “Quit it.”

“You must find a way to make peace,” said Inej. “At least for a while.” “This is not your concern,” Matthias growled. Kaz stepped forward, his expression dangerous. “It is very much our concern. And watch your tone.”

Jesper shouldered his rifle. “Wylan earned his keep.” Wylan gave a little jump at the sound of his name. “I did?” “Well, you made a down payment.”

“Those guns are there to stop invading armadas,” Jesper said confidently. “Good luck hitting a skinny little schooner cutting through the waves bound for fortune and glory.” “I’ll quote you on that when a cannonball lands in my lap,” said Nina.

“Hooded, chained, and shackled?” said Jesper. “You’re sure we can’t go in as entertainers? I hear Wylan really kills it on the flute.” “We go in as we are,” said Kaz, “as criminals.”

“If only I’d thought of that,” Kaz said drily. “I can tell you’ve never picked a pocket.” “And I can tell you’ve never given enough thought to your haircut.” Kaz frowned and ran a self-conscious hand along the side of his head.

“That’s only because you never have anything in your wallet,” Nina shot back. “Mean.” “Factual.” “Facts are for the unimaginative,” Jesper said with a dismissive wave.

“Nina is everything you say. It’s too much.” “Mmm,” Inej murmured, taking a sip from her mug. “Maybe you’re just not enough.”

Mic drop

“Well, we’ve managed to get ourselves locked into the most secure prison in the world. We’re either geniuses or the dumbest sons of bitches to ever breathe air.” “We’ll know soon enough.”

“My father used to take me everywhere with him.” “Until?” “Until what?” “Until. My father took me everywhere until I contracted terrible seasickness, until I vomited at a royal wedding, until I tried to hump the ambassador’s leg.” “The leg was asking for it.”

“What is he doing?” asked Matthias. “Performing an ancient Zemeni ritual,” Kaz said. “Really?” “No.”

“Let’s start by getting out of here and finding you some proper clothes. Oh, and Inej,” he said as he led her out of the salon, “don’t ever sneak up on me again.”

“He wouldn’t approve.” “He doesn’t approve of anything about you. But when you laugh, he perks up like a tulip in fresh water.” Nina snorted. “Matthias the tulip.” “The big, brooding, yellow tulip.”

And you’re right. I don’t have any business criticizing you.” “Don’t start doing that.” “What?” “Agreeing with me,” said Jesper. “Sure path to destruction.”

Then he cupped her face in his hands. “Jer molle pe oonet. Enel mörd je nej afva trohem verret.” Nina swallowed hard. She remembered those words and what they truly meant. I have been made to protect you. Only in death will I be kept from this oath. It was the vow of the drüskelle to Fjerda. And now it was Matthias’ promise to her.

They’re in trouble, Kaz had thought. Or you were dead wrong about Matthias, and you’re about to pay for all of those talking tree jokes.

Nina threw up her hands. “You’re welcome, you ungrateful wretch.” “I’ll thank you when we’re aboard the Ferolind. Move.” He was already dragging himself up the boulders that lined the far side of the gorge. “You can explain why our illustrious Shu scientist looks like one of Wylan’s school pals along the way.”

“He’s a friend?” asked Kuwei in skeptical Shu. “On occasion.”

Nina let out a victorious whoop as Matthias stared in disbelief. When Nina looked at Kaz, she couldn’t quite believe her eyes. “Saints, Kaz, you actually look happy.” “Don’t be ridiculous,” he snapped. But there was no mistaking it. Kaz Brekker was grinning like an idiot. “I’m assuming we know them?” asked Kuwei.

I can hear the change in Kaz’s breathing when he looks at you.” “You … you can?” “It catches every time, like he’s never seen you before.”

“I didn’t think you’d let those men live, back at the harbor.” “I’m not sure it was the right thing to do. I’ll become one more Grisha horror story for them to tell their children.” “Behave or Nina Zenik will get you?” Nina considered. “Well, I do like the sound of that.”

Kaz seized her hand, keeping it on the railing. He didn’t look at her. “Stay,” he said, his voice rough stone. “Stay in Ketterdam. Stay with me.”

Maybe it was because his back was to her that she could finally speak the words. “I will have you without armor, Kaz Brekker. Or I will not have you at all.”

Inej is my favorite

“Stay,” she panted. Tears leaked from her eyes. “Stay till the end.” “And after,” he said. “And always.”