Kaz held both hands on top of his crow-headed cane and looked out into the empty square. According to the clock on the opposite side, the other gang had a few minutes left before they could truly be considered late.
Kaz continued to scan the shadows despite not seeing any movement. He could sense Inej when she hid in shadows - a rare feat. He had no doubt that if the other gang were here, he would have seen them.
At the thought of Inej, he glanced up.
To anyone else, it would have appeared that he was scanning the stars. It was a warm, cloudless night. But he wasn't looking for that.
He was looking for Inej.
She'd be on the roof soon, if she wasn't yet.
He didn't see her.
Kaz looked behind him to Jesper and Nina.
They stood a few feet back, talking in hushed voices. They occasionally gave the area a quick look. It was a trait picked up by ever Barrel-goer.
The constant need to look over their shoulder. Check their six.
Nina spared a glance to a nearby building that had been abandon for years. Kaz bought it years ago and used it as a hideout for the Dregs when he had meetings with other gangs.
At the moment, Matthias and a group of Dreg's hid inside, waiting in case the meeting went wrong.
Since Big Bollinger's betrayal, Kaz had been even more careful about picking his seconds.
He usually alternated between Matthias, Nina and few other Crows.
Jesper was always at his right, no matter the other second.
Despite his past mistakes, Kaz trusted Jesper. Probably more than strictly safe.
He turned away from Nina and Jesper and zoned out their conversation about the newest Barrel fashion.
As he looked out to the courtyard, he saw the other gang's leader step out of the shadows.
"Jesper, Nina," Kaz said, readjusting his cane. "It's time."
The two looked up at the opposite trio making their way to the center. Jesper and Nina followed Kaz.
The other gang was new.
The Spider's hadn't been in the barrel long, but they were making a name for themselves fast. Faster than made Kaz comfortable.
A gang did not progress as the Spider's were without help. Normally he would not care that much.
But, Kaz watched them, or rather had a trusted member of his gang watch them and report back.
The Spider's were stealing from the Crow's crowds. They were looting customers and, by extent, money.
The sound of Kaz's cane hitting the cobblestones echoed of the buildings. He could feel Inej watching him.
He looked up to the roof again, this time easily finding her.
She was a shadow amongst shadows. Nearly impossible to see.
"Brekker," the other Gang leader said as a greeting.
Kaz nodded.
Even Inej had not been able to find a name on the woman across from him. Kaz braced the cane against the cobblestone, leaning against it.
"And your name is?"
The woman smiled. Her smile was shark-like. All teeth, no warmth.
It was a smile often seen in those who grew up in the Barrel. People who grew up in the Barrel could see through the pretty, bright colors to the filth underneath. They were pessimists in many ways, realists in others.
Kaz saw the look in each of the Dregs. He saw it every time he looked in the mirror.
He could not help but think what an amazing Dreg the woman in front of him would be.
But chances are that arrangement would end in one of their deaths.
People like them were not meant to work together in a ruthless business like this.
"Arachne," she said.
Kaz smiled. "The Spider."
Arachne smiled.
He had heard that name. Arachne. He had figured it was another version of their gang's name. A play on it. But all along it had been her name.
Kaz almost laughed at the simplicity of the puzzle they had not been able to solve.
Instead he turned his attention to the business at hand.
He did not want to be out in the courtyard all night.
"The Fifth Harbor belongs to the Dregs," he said. He was reminded again of the night he had shot Big Bollinger. Except this time, he knew his people were loyal.
"The Dregs made the Fifth Harbor what it is, I'll give you that," Arachne said. She flashed him that smile again. "But as you know, it only belongs to the Dreg's if you manage to keep it. Over the past three months, the pigeons from the Fifth have preferred our gambling house to yours."
"You know where they go isn't up to the people. They belong to the Dregs."
"Are the Dreg's even in the financial position to defend the Fifth Harbor? You know, if it came to that. Hypothetically of course."
This time Kaz almost smiled.
He always liked when people exposed the chink in their armor. And her pride was impossible to miss.
Pride wasn't as easy to control as greed, but it worked just as well.
Her pride and confidence in her gang was a card up his sleeve.
"It doesn't have to be hypothetical," Kaz said, tilting his head. He gave her a look that Matthias said made him appear twisted and warped. "The Dreg's aren't afraid of war. We don't fear blood, we crave it. And we're more than happy for the blood spilt to be yours and your gangs."
Arachne nodded.
"Well, I believe we've reached an understanding then." She glanced back at her seconds and Kaz felt she was giving them a signal.
Kaz tightened his hand on his cane.
"I only have one question, Brekker. The blood… You realized if you fight us the blood of your Dreg's will be spilt too?"
Kaz saw light bounce off the barrel as Arachne's second took the gun from beneath their clothes. They pointed it behind Kaz.
Without thinking, Kaz moved in front of Jesper. Between Jesper and the gun.
As soon as he moved, the second changed targets.
He should have seen in coming. He should have known.
The turned the barrel to the skyline and fired.
Kaz looked behind him in time to see Inej. She moved her hand to her abdomen.
He couldn't do anything but watch as Inej, the Wraith, his Wraith, fell.
Kaz's mind was a fog. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't think.
He didn't even notice Jesper's hand around his arm, until Jesper was dragging Kaz away.
Matthias was coming into the courtyard, backed by more Crows.
He was shooting, but Kaz could barely hear the gunshots as Matthias pulled the trigger.
He felt like he was drowning.
Only one thought made it through the fog.
Inej. Inej. Inej. Inej. Inej.
He'd lost her once to Jan Eck; he wasn't sure he could do it again. Last time she'd been taken but if she was—
"She's not dead!" Jesper was suddenly in Kaz's face and he realized he'd been speaking out loud. "But if you don't get out of your head, we're all going to be killed. So wake up!" Jesper looked over Kaz's shoulder and his eyes widened.
He pointed his pistol behind Kaz and fired.
Kaz turned to see the second who hadn't shot Inej, fall to the ground. He was dead before he hit the ground. He had a small pistol in his hand - probably intending to kill Kaz.
Kaz blinked and quickly looked around.
The Dreg's were in a corner and outnumbered.
Kaz realized this had been Arachne's plan all along. Of course she didn't care about the Dreg's claim on the Fifth Harbor.
She was planning to kill Kaz tonight. All of them tonight. And she started with the Wraith.
Kaz reached a hand out and he didn't look at which Dreg handed him the gun.
He lifted the rifle to his shoulder. It felt odd in his hands, but not unfamiliar.
It wasn't his weapon of choice, but he knew how to use it.
Eventually the Spider's retreated, and those who didn't bled out on the ground.
As soon as they were gone, Kaz pushed the gun into the chest of the nearest Dreg.
Even if he ran into any stray Spider's, they wouldn't stand a chance, gun or not.
Kaz ran to where he thought Inej fell. He could hear the Dregs behind him, calling him to come back. Matthias and Nina were the loudest. They didn't know where Arachne was but at the moment Kaz couldn't find it in himself to care.
He heard footsteps behind him and saw Jesper running after him.
He knew better than to try to call Kaz back, so he just went as backup instead.
It was easy to find her.
Usually blood didn't bother him. But when he saw it on her…
She wasn't moving. Usually when she fell, no one could stop Inej from getting up. But she. Wasn't. Getting. Up.
"Inej," he said the name like it was a lifeline. He stopped at her side, kneeling down. He put his hand against the side of her neck, finding a pulse. Her heart was still beating.
"Kaz, she's breathing," Jesper said.
Kaz didn't know he'd been holding his breath, but when he saw the rise and fall of her chest, he inhaled shakily.
She was bleeding so much.
He wasn't the type of person to make wishes, but at that moment he wished with everything he had that he could switch places. Because if something happened to him, it would be okay. Kaz didn't matter. Not really.
But Inej did. He wouldn't be able to continue without her.
Kaz removed his jacket in one fluid motion and pressed it to the wound.
Inej gasped in pain, her eyes opening.
"Inej, I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Kaz said. He didn't know what he was apologizing for. He had a list of things he should apologize for.
Say you're sorry.
The memory came to him unbidden.
For what?
The last time he thought he'd lost her.
Just say it.
When she'd been stabbed by that idiot, Ooman.
I'm sorry.
She passed out again before she could reply.
He knew Jesper and the rest of the Crows were watching, analyzing but he didn't care. He couldn't because Inej was hurt and that's all that mattered.
He picked her up and tried to ignore how light she was.
"Move," Kaz said, walking past Jesper.
She was breathing, and Kaz intended to make sure she didn't stop.
"Jesper, go to the Slat. Get the healer ready." Kaz had barely finished speaking before Jesper was gone. "Nina, with me. Don't let her—"
Kaz didn't finish the sentence, but looking at Nina's face, he didn't have to.
The Crows parted as he walked past. No one was willing to get in the way of Dirtyhand's trying to save his Wraith.
