Inej watched the dark harbor with careful interest, keeping her eyes trained on a strange ship that had recently docked. Kaz was suspicious of the meeting with the crew; she could see why.
A boy about Kaz's age walked with too much ease around the deck of the ship, acting as though he were captain. He strode down the ramp to their meeting point, closely flanked by two rough looking Shu. Inej's eyes narrowed. What would this golden-hair lynx be doing with Shu warriors?
Kaz and Jesper waited below her hidden perch. Inej didn't have to look to see how restless Jesper was; even one night away from the tables at the Crow Club gave him horrible withdrawal.
The lynx boy approached without caution, but also without arrogance. He carried himself like a man, and again, Inej couldn't help but wonder who this boy thought he was. She couldn't see his face very well from a distance, though. She hoped Kaz knew what he was getting into.
"Good evening," called out the lynx boy as he approached. Inej adjusted slightly to keep her eyes on him as he got closer to Kaz. "I hope this meeting hasn't disturbed anything important for you. The name is Sturmhond." He held out his hand. The two warriors on either side of him remained impassive.
Kaz reached out a gloved hand and shook. "My name is Kaz, and this is Jesper. Pleasure to meet you. I hear you have a job for us?"
He nodded, his lips turning up a sly grin. "I need information and I hear you're the people to go to."
Kaz held out his hands. "You've come to the right place. I have information on every merchant on this island."
Sturmhond glanced at his companions. "You see, the trouble is that the people I need information on don't quite live on this island. They're a band of slavers who traverse these waters plundering human lives. My crew and I have been trying to hunt them, but our efforts have been in vain. So, I came to the central hub of slaving."
Inej was at full attention now, her eyes dancing over this mysterious boy. She wanted to do something—anything—to help him and his crew. But what could this one little lynx boy do to hundreds of slave ships?
Kaz seemed to be thinking the same thing. "What is your one ship going to do against their army?" he questioned, gesturing toward the harbor.
Sturmhond grinned a wicked grin. "Leave that part to me. All I need is info—their routes, their leaders, their numbers. I pay handsomely."
Inej could almost feel the skepticism rolling off of Kaz. He didn't look like he could hardly pay for one night's stay in the barrel, let alone pay a gang to do his dirty work.
"What are you offering?" Kaz asked, his tone light. Only Inej knew better. He was trying to be polite. But he was already done with this boy.
Sturmhond looked to the girl at his side. She stared directly and Inej. "First, I'll spare your little spy's life," growled the girl.
Inej's heart sank. She slipped easily down from the crates, landing lightly on her feet next to Kaz. The girl gave her a scrutinizing look.
"You have Grisha in your service," Kaz noted, expressionless.
Inej studied the boy closely now. He had hazel eyes with handsome features framed by sweeping golden blonde hair. He looked strangely familiar.
"Look any longer at me like that and I'll have to charge you," he said with a wink. Inej reeled back, startled.
"I know you," she responded, folding her arms.
"I certainly wish we had met before, but I'm afraid you've mistaken me for someone else." A nervous look flashed across his eyes, but it was quickly replaced with arrogance. "Of course, I'm sure we will have plenty of time to get to know each other during my stay…" He took a step forward, grinning mischievously.
Kaz stepped in front of Inej, blocking him. "Pay up front or no deal."
He shrugged. "I expected as much. Can I offer you a deposit?" He pulled a pouch out from the inside of his jacket.
Jesper took it quickly, glaring pointedly at Sturmhond before checking inside the pouch. His mouth dropped open.
Kaz sighed, not even having to look. "How long?"
"Three days."
Kaz nodded resolutely before sticking out his hand again. Sturmhond shook it with relish, seeming relieved behind his arrogant demeanor. "Thank you."
He turned to Jesper and shook his hand as well. Jesper was still ogling over whatever was in the bag, returning the handshake in a daze. When Sturmhond turned to Inej, he held out his hand. As she started to hold out hers in polite response, he gripped it quickly and placed a graceful kiss on the top of her hand.
Kaz looked murderous.
"Pleasure doing business with all of you. Hopefully I can be of some help this week in gathering information," Sturmhond said as he and his guards backed away.
"We don't need your help," growled Kaz.
"Need it, or want it?" he said with a wink before turning around to vanish into the darkness. Kaz let out a slow exhale.
Inej brushed her fingers against his shoulder, knowing this was the most physical contact she could give him to comfort him. "Let it go, Kaz. The Lynx cannot hurt us."
"Are all of those pretty-boy pirates this rich? Because I think I've found myself a new target," Jesper said, greedily shaking the coin pouch. "Those pigeons won't know what hit 'em."
"He's far from a pigeon," Kaz muttered, turning away from them and stalking off toward the Barrel. "He's something else entirely."