Wylan woke from his sleep. It was all a dream. He vaguely remembered a charming fellow with gloves and a crow's head cane. He recalled a girl referred to as the Wraith, incredibly skilled with her many knives and blades. There was the Grisha and the Fjerdan as well. A Shu scientist's son, with something called parem. It seemed surreal. Then, there were the two he recognized in the dream: His father—the corrupt merchant—and Jesper. Wylan turned over in bed to see Jesper Fahey still in a deep sleep.

Wylan could remember how they had met as if it were yesterday. Wylan had decided to join some friends to have a little fun at one of the casinos in West Stave. From the get-go, it was something Jesper and Wylan had in common. Wylan found out Jesper used to go to the university where he was studying at the time, but soon stopped attending after feeling the thrill of chance and risk. It was merely luck that brought them together. "The best hand I could be dealt," Jesper would say. It was as he was losing badly at a table that Wylan, being the awkward and fumbling person he was, ended up tripping with a drink in hand he did not plan to consume anyway. It spilled onto Jesper's back and the glass broke upon impact with the carpeted ground. Jesper impulsively stood up to see what had happened and ended up forfeiting the game to clean up. According to Jesper, Wylan had saved him before he could lose whatever he had left of himself.

After that, Jesper and Wylan kept on bumping into each other purely out of coincidence (or so Jesper had admitted). They became better acquainted over time and before either of them realized what feelings had risen, Jesper found his way out of the casinos in hopes of meeting the curly redheaded boy with freckles and Wylan was searching for the Zemeni everywhere he went. The day Wylan lost a bet and was tailored by a Grisha to look like a Shu boy was when Jesper became so upset that he didn't even think before admitting how much he liked his stupid face.

It was a long road that got them to where they were now, and Wylan wasn't willing to trade any of it. Thinking back to his dream, the circumstances between the two were similar. However, there was more adventure to it.

Wylan recognized none of the other people from his dream, but did recall the Shu boy looking the way Wylan had on that crazy day. His father was very similar to the real counterpart. A merchant driven by money who hated his son. Wylan had been beaten countless times by his father that it all blurred together by now. He was able to convince Jan Van Eck to send him to the university so that he could escape. It has been a long time since they last spoke or saw one another, but it wasn't a big concern. In fact, it was more of a relief to Wylan.

Jesper began to stir, rustling the blankets around him. Wylan closed his eyes so he wouldn't be caught staring at Jesper. Pretending to wake up along with him, Wylan stretched and wearily said "Good morning".

"I know you were awake, merchling," Jesper replied with muddled words, his eyes still closed.

"How could you possibly know that?"

"I sensed you staring at me."

"That isn't very sound evidence," Wylan said in his own defense.

"So says the merchling with his great education."

Wylan got up in slight frustration. "I'm going downstairs," He declared.

"I wish you well."

Wylan rolled his eyes at the lazy reply but could not help the smile seeping through as he put on his boots and buttoned up a large coat.

Jesper and Wylan resided in an apartment above a small shop designed to attract tourists and steal their money. It wasn't perfect, but it was quaint and comfortable for the two. Wylan had asked if they should move to somewhere more agreeable, but Jesper insisted Ketterdam was the most agreeable place he could possibly be. So they stayed.

Wylan grabbed the mail waiting to be opened since the day before and brought it back to the flat. He could remember his inability to read in the dream, which was somewhat accurate. Wylan was always told he was a slow reader, especially by his father. The judgmental man was always difficult to please and Wylan hated him partially for that.

Once safely back inside, he sifted through the few envelopes, not expecting anything new. Then, he stopped.

Jesper, who was currently fixing breakfast (waffles they saved after eating out the night before), noticed the sudden change in Wylan's demeanor. "What do you have there?"

Wylan took a moment to reply, reading the name of the sender repeatedly, to make sure he wasn't mistaken. "My father."

"That worthless merchant? He sent you a letter?"

Wylan ripped open the envelope and pulled out the fine parchment that had Jan Van Eck's writing in black ink. He read the brief contents carefully with confusion in mind. Jesper came and leaned over his shoulder to read the curious letter. Wylan hoped it was a mistake, but there was no denying the print:

Wylan—

Come home. I'd like to speak with you.

The brief letter was ended with his father's elaborate signature.

Jesper scoffed as he went back to the waffles. "Do these rich people have any manners?"

"Do you think this is serious?" Wylan asked, disregarding Jesper's reaction.

"Does it matter? I'm sure it's nothing. I bet if you ignore it, nothing will come of it."

"But what if he means it?"

"Why would he send you a letter like that? For saints' sake, didn't you say he hates you?"

"I'm not sure, Jesper. If it were nothing, why would he waste the effort in sending this?" Wylan waved the letter in the air, waiting for a reply that did not come.

Jesper pursed his lips and furrowed his brow, trying to figure out what to say next.

"So when will we go?" Jesper finally asked after putting the heated waffles on two plates.

"You're going too?"

"Might as well. Let me see what this son of a bitch is like. May even be entertaining."

"How does this afternoon sound?"

Jesper looked to Wylan, realizing the set look he had in his eyes. Jesper always thought little of Wylan, but he knew just how capable the innocent looking merchling was. With a single nod, he agreed to setting out to meet Jan Van Eck with Wylan this afternoon.