It was a slow night at the Bank, and Win was concerned she would fall asleep. Dal had kept her going until late that morning, and Win could only grab a few hours of sleep before having worked her at the bar.

Win was working a shift with Merro, an older Zemeni woman who was always cordial. She seemed around her mid-thirties, and every patron loved her. She was one of the few members of the Widows who was a part of the gang but only worked at the bar. It was rumoured she had a family with a husband.

"How's it going with Dal?" Merro asked sweetly. Everyone knew about Win trying to move up; a few had teased her and began calling her one of Clem's Mice.

"Honestly? I hate it. Dal is only showing me what they're good at. Which is the opposite of everything I'm good at. Dal can pick a pocket, pick a lock, and pick out a pigeon. They seldom get caught by the Stadwatch, regardless of how filthy they look. So how am I supposed to learn not to be noticed? I'm an adult hanging out with an orphan ten-year-old." Win couldn't help but vent. She knew she should be grateful, but she no longer cared. Dal was a terrible teacher, and it seemed like they were looking for ways to get Win caught holding something stolen.

"I think tonight I'm supposed to keep a lookout for a shipment of something coming in. How do I keep a lookout without knowing what I'm looking for? And why would I be hanging around the docks? It makes no sense. My talents are being wasted."

Merro chuckled.

"What talents are being wasted?"

"My charm, my looks, my age. I can distract people, maybe even get into high profile parties and case a merchant's house." Merro's eyebrow quirked.

"How do you think the Widows and Granny make money?" Merro asked.

Win hesitated and then replied.

"I have no idea. I have been trying to figure it out. The most I can surmise is that we own properties, some of which we rent out. We have The Warehouse, with this bar, the Study Hall, and recently jurda Sticks and that Granny also runs a gambling den and brothel, but they're smaller. I also think through some robberies, but that seems like it's more for the Mice to handle. I can't see how anyone but Granny can make real money. There are so many rules here with minimal reward."

Win hated to admit her final statement and realized she may have made a mistake. Questioning Granny out loud, with Zelda in the back, was not a good idea. Merro didn't seem to react, though.

"The real way to make money is through risk or ideas. You either get in on a bigger job, and negotiate a bigger cut based on your assessed risk, or you come up with an idea or investment and negotiate your cut. Granny doesn't negotiate the most fairly, but she won't completely rob you blind."

"Have you ever had a big risk or idea?" Win asked hopefully.

"Yes, but I refused the negotiated terms, and the risk went to someone else. Someone with less to lose. I make a wage here; they offer protection and don't steal from me. My father came from Novyi Zem; he had no money, and neither did I. I have no education or other skills. So, I consider myself lucky."

Win understood the message underneath. Stop complaining.

"I thought money could be made in Novyi Zem." Win thought aloud. Merro stared at her, and Win realized she had crossed a line. She had never struggled to find her place so much. "Do the other gangs have as many rules as this one?" She tried to change the subject quickly.

"I don't think so. Granny and the other Widows wanted to be different. They were already so different; they wanted to distinguish themselves and have a sense of order. Also, most people join the Widows because of their complete desperation. If people have a choice, they don't usually choose us first. When people are desperate, you can outline more rules and, therefore, more control." Win wasn't sure if she agreed, but then she wasn't sure she had seen desperation until she came to Ketterdam. It had only been six months since she joined the Widows, but the new members or workers were unlike any she had ever encountered. She usually stayed away from them, not wanting their level of desperation to rub off on her already desperate situation.

"I understand some of them, no stealing from the Widows, no help if you get put in prison unless it's on the job. If you use their service, there's a contract and indentured favour." Merro nodded, leaning against the bar as still, no new customers came in.

"But what's the revenge clause?" Win asked. Because she hadn't come in seeking revenge, she had only heard it mentioned casually in passing. She knew a few members only joined because The Widows had two significant reputations. They would provide a service no one else had known to offer and take on a revenge clause. Merro smiled gently.

"Some people join because they want payback but can't do it alone. A bad ex, a Stadwatch who got rough with them, or a mother stealing everything from them. The Widows will hear it and agree to take it as an indenture. If you have a service to provide, you get the privilege of providing it to the Widows, and you can get your revenge. They'll provide it if you find yourself in trouble or need backup. They refuse many people. So many think they want revenge and then back out. Those don't make good members and don't create loyalty. So, you're given two days to think over the terms." Win nodded, following along. Merro continued,

"But there are rules. So many are very young, 11, 12, 13; they are too young to know what they are doing or what kind of revenge they want. Those they want justice against are also usually young. Would you help Dal get revenge on another ten-year-old and kill them just because they stole Dal's shoes?" Win laughed and shook her head.

"Is that what Dal wanted?"

"It's not why Dal joined, but Dal did demand full Widow support on the revenge." Win laughed again, relieved that Dal didn't just drive her insane.

"So, there are rules on the clause. No full Widow support to anyone under 12. Unless they killed someone, we haven't seen that happen, or at least I haven't heard of it. If the incident occurred when the perpetrator was over 12, the revenge must happen before they turn 21. If no proper revenge plan is provided, it is not supported. Especially if the target is not just a nobody from East Stave, some people want revenge on a merchant's son, which requires a lifetime of service and a solid plan. If the perpetrator is over 21, it's for life but is more heavily considered before being taken on."

Win retained this information. Glad she currently had no plans of revenge. She couldn't think of where she would start with a revenge plan against someone. Why did Mouse consider me clever? Maybe Dal's right: I have no right being here. Win thought sullenly.

"Are many revenge clauses fulfilled?" She inquired.

"More than you realize. It creates a good incentive; people work harder when they have personal motivation. Once it is fulfilled, they have no other purpose and are loyal workers; what other purpose is necessary after a life goal is fulfilled at 20?" Desperation. Win was grateful that her goals were more ambitious. She dreamed of being wealthy, successful, and a merchant's wife or as prosperous as a merchant by having her own business. Not of something so simple as revenge. Maybe this explained why Mouse considered her clever. Or perhaps she liked how hopeful Win was and didn't want to see it squashed.

Win ran through all the members she knew in the Widows. She wondered how many of them had revenge clauses. She thought she could guess some of them.

Win waited thirty minutes outside the Bank for Dal to arrive. She was chatting outside with Rudy. Win considered running over to the Study Hall to see if Alivier had come by to see her, but she remembered that exams would be starting soon and that he would be already studying. She looked forward to summer coming and for him to have more free time. She wasn't sure how she would get around her excuse of not being in classes in the fall. The Widows enrolled 2-3 students under the names of selected members. To keep up an appearance that those members were upstanding members of society and hide their Widow's involvement from Stadwatch. Mouse benefited from this arrangement. Win wanted to suggest this for herself, but she had already tried University and failed. Despite all her parents' savings, she lasted only one semester. She hadn't told anyone. Alivier thought she had decided to take a semester off to have adventures. She wrote one letter to her parents, stating she was too busy to write anymore. Confident they wouldn't come looking for her if she didn't ask for any more money.

She was a good actress but not good enough to fake an interest in her studies. Where's Dal? Win wasn't sure what to do. She considered asking Zelda for advice but didn't want to perpetuate the joke that she was one of the Mice.

"Rudy, if Dal comes, tell them I am headed for the docks to wait for them there." Rudy did not like the sound of this.

"The docks? At night? Which harbour?"

"Fifth."

"Alone?" Win smiled, and she could tell Rudy melted; she loved the little crush he had on her.

"Come on, Rudy. I have to hold my own at some point. Don't worry. I carry a knife."

"What ya' even doin' there?" He asked, his face still filled with concern.

"We're trying to spot a shipment of something. Not sure." Win kept it vague; she was smart enough not to say more to anyone about what they did.

"How long before I send someone after you?"

Win considered; maybe it wouldn't hurt to wait, but she was so tired, and she was beginning to doubt whether she was supposed to meet Dal at the Bank first at all or if she was supposed to go straight to the docks. She didn't want to be late, but she also wasn't sure staying there alone for hours would be the best idea.

"If Dal shows up here, then send them after me quick. Otherwise, I'll wait an hour and come back. Thanks, Rudy." Win smiled again and briefly grabbed his hand and squeezed it. She saw him blush a little. She thought she should bug Clem to ask Rudy to join the Widows. He never seemed to mind working with women and was big enough not to be afraid of anything. She also had heard that he lived in a crummy shared room with ten other men and avoided labour work in a warehouse. 5 Fifth Harbour wasn't far from The Warehouse, and she could walk along the water the whole way, which always made her feel safer. There was always a warning story about water, but Win was always calmed by it. Confident in another life, she was a mermaid, luring sailors out to sea.

Dawn was coming soon; she supposed that's when shipments would begin rolling in. The sounds of crowds from the Barrel were easily drowned out next to the water. It was too dark to see any ships in the distance. She thought she should have brought a lantern, but Dal never instructed her to bring anything.

Win got closer to one of the more extensive docks; she could see piles of shipping containers and noticed a group of ten to twelve men sitting on the edge, laughing and drinking. Win's eyes widened as she realized she didn't think to hide her appearance. Dal could be hiding somewhere. She decided to go up further and away from the water before approaching them. Win also realized that she had never been this far from The Warehouse, alone, at night. She felt exposed and continued to walk away from the docks until she could no longer hear the voices of the group of men. She turned a corner down a street she didn't recognize and bumped into two men in the purple Stadwatch uniform.

"Oh, my god. I am so sorry, sir." Win backed up, putting her hands up in apology. They both grinned lazily. That is not a good sign. Stadwatch, in good humour, was more likely looking for entertainment. Mouse taught her this.

"You lost?" The shorter one asked. She could barely see his face due to his sizeable dark beard.

"Oh, no, just coming back late from a shift. On my way home. My father is expecting me."

"Your father? He lets you work on West Stave?"

"I don't work on West Stave, sir."

"No? I was sure I saw you there once, and I would ask you for a show here."

"I'm sure they could do a better job than I ever could." Win started to back away. The taller one said nothing, but she could feel something off about him. Her gut was telling her to run. She could probably outrun them, or they wouldn't even chase her. But I have the situation still under control. We're in public. People are nearby, and they're just bored.

"Well, I work at a pub near the Lid. You should come by there, I couldn't put on a show, but I can listen to a good story" That's it, flatter them. Didn't Mouse say they'll leave you alone now if they think they can get you later?

"A pub? No, no, no, that won't do. Can't a girl dance a little for us now?" The short, bearded one said, still sounding jovial. Win tried to take this as a good sign.

"No…no. I should get going. Someone is waiting for me. My father." Win said with a laugh, trying to keep it light. She could feel her adrenaline rise. She remembered her knife, but it was at her ankle, and what could it do against two rifles?

"What, you're going to insult the two of us like that?" A man's most prized possession is his pride, never let him lose his dignity, or he will see it as insulting him. Her mother's voice entered her mind as she recalled hearing this knowledge for the first time when she was eight.

"Oh god no, believe me, if I could, I would, but my father has the worst temper." Win laughed once more and then turned to leave, trying to look like she was walking but moving as fast as she could.

"Wait." She knew it wasn't the first voice. She stopped in her tracks. "Turn around." He said slowly. She saw the taller one with a rifle pointed at her. Win let out a squeal. The short one kept laughing.

"Just one dance?" He asked gently. Win wanted to swear under her breath. She could feel her breath becoming panicked. She didn't even understand what they wanted to see. A dance? What kind of dance? Do I have to strip? Why is no one walking by? Win saw the men walking by out of the corner of her eye. They glanced at the scene but kept talking. Win felt tears roll down her eyes. Don't cry; you might make it worse. Win could only let out a whisper.

"Please." The tall man continued to hold up his gun, staring at her. She could feel his hatred coming off him. In the distance, gunfire erupted. Both Stadwatch guards turned, and Win took her chance. She bolted towards the docks. The stacks of shipping containers. She crouched down, panting like a wild animal. She covered her mouth to stop herself from screaming. You're fine, you're fine, you're fine, you're fine. Win kept repeating the words over and over in her mind. She used her free hand to push away the tears pouring down her face. She tried hard to listen for footsteps but couldn't be sure over the sound of the water.

Win wasn't sure how long she stayed there. After what she calculated was at least two hours, she decided to emerge from her hiding spot come out. It was well past dawn, and the harbour had sprung to life. She knew it wouldn't be long before someone discovered her, and she didn't want that indignity. She tried to reveal herself as if it had been normal where she came from. People turned to her anyway. She realized how out of place she was and left the harbour towards the streets. She remembered her earlier thoughts about being a mermaid; all she felt now was that she had just drowned. She crept along the alleyways, not walking so brazenly as before, despite it being much busier out. Daytime is much less dangerous. She thought as her head spun around to watch for the two Stadwatch, uncertain if they would be done with their shift or waiting for her. She walked back towards the water when she was closer to the Lid and the Warehouse. She ran up to the water's edge and splashed some on her face, trying to hide all evidence of her crying. She brushed her fingers through her hair. Once she felt more composed, she proceeded quickly toward the Bank.

Upon her arrival, it was near empty. No activity happened around here during the day except in the Warehouse itself. She considered going in there to speak to someone, maybe Meg. She wasn't sure what she would say. She paced outside. She yearned for a jays but knew she didn't need to be more awake.

She decided to go in the direction of East Stave. She always had a bed in the Res if she needed it. And currently felt the Barrel was infinitely much safer.