Chapter Text
Ketterdam, for all its violence and rampant moral corruption, has reached a tenuous state of stability. Aided by the funds from Kuwei’s action, Kaz quickly filled the power vacuum left by Pekka’s disappearance. Even the individual players with enough power to make a difference were being fairly well behaved. Except, that was, for Heleen Van Houden. The woman was attempting to take her own piece of the proverbial pie, trying to secure a more significant portion of the power in Ketterdam. And normally, this wouldn’t be too big of an issue for Kaz. Lesser players were always trying to take a piece of the empire he’d built. But this one was personal. And it reeked of danger.
He knew she was making a move when the tall-masted, haunted looking ship flying a peacock green flag drifted dramatically into his harbor. It had docked on a clear night just after eleven bells, which was practically midday by Barrel standards, accompanied by just the slightest amount of ominous mist. It was a slaver ship if Kaz had ever seen one, and it was flying the Peacock’s flag. This meant, very obviously, that she was growing bold. If she felt confident enough to not only sponsor but actively contribute to the city’s slave trade, it meant she was solidifying her power and influence.
So naturally, Kaz had to do his own research. He didn’t have a lot to lose exactly–one slave ship couldn’t exactly undo the empire he’d spent the last five years building–but he would take any excuse to obliterate a competitor. Especially this one.
It was a chilly mid-autumn day, one of the first in a while where it wasn’t raining. The bright sky was deceptive though, and as he stepped out of the Slat for what felt like the first time in a week, a wall of cold air hit him like a sledgehammer. He knew his leg would be hurting after this outing but it felt worth it in the far-off way of something that hadn’t yet harmed him.
Roeder and Rotty walked next to him. This little field trip didn’t exactly require a show of force but the Razorgulls had been getting a little rambunctious recently and he didn’t want to risk being outgunned. A part of him wished for the time, several months ago, when it would’ve been Inej and Jesper by his side. He pushed the thought away quickly. This was a job for Dirtyhands, not Kaz, and he wasn’t willing to let the two get mixed again. He now knew the consequences.
The streets of the Barrel were busier than usual. Kaz smiled sardonically. It was obvious the clearer-than-usual weather was inspiring both vendors and pigeons to leave their rooms and hidey holes. He anticipated good income for the Crow Club tonight.
The walk through the Barrel and into the in-between area between West Stave and the Lid was long but not unpleasant. It gave him plenty of time to think of his approach to this interaction and shove down any lingering hints of rage towards Tante Heleen. He needed to go into this as impassively as he could. He would get the best results if she believed he had good intentions.
A few blocks from the Menagerie, he motioned for Rotty and Roeder to pause. Kaz tilted his head up towards the sky, letting the pieces of his plan tip into place.
“Roeder, wait outside of Heleen’s window. Stay out of view and let me know if you notice any odd behavior. Watch her for a time after we leave as well, and rendezvous back at the Slat at 10 bells this evening.”
“Umm, boss, which one is Heleen’s window?” Kaz resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Inej would know . He pushed that thought down as well. Of course she would know. She spent a year there, slowly losing herself to abuse and cruelty. He could never ask her to do this. He would never. He needed to stop thinking of her. This was not the time nor the place to be distracted, but ever since she departed on the Wraith , he felt like the pieces of his plans never quite came together properly. He didn’t feel properly put together.
“It’s practically unmistakable. The one with the giant peacock.” He sneered in response and turned away, casting thoughts of Inej out of his mind.
Roeder nodded and walked away swiftly, entering a nearby alley. Unfortunately, Kaz could hear his first unsuccessful attempt to scale the building. He ignored it.
Rotty didn’t speak, awaiting instructions. Kaz appreciated his respect. He was one of the most loyal members of the Dregs and although Kaz wasn’t one for sentiment, he imagined that Rotty’s loyalty and devotion would pay dividends in the future.
“You’ll come in with me. Be prepared for a fight, but expect a chat. Don’t speak to Heleen or any of the girls. She is observant and can gain a lot of information from very little.” Kaz didn’t add that Heleen traded in secrets and anything she could get from either of them would inevitably be used against them. She had years of experience in acquiring and trading secrets. It was the source of her power. Rotty nodded and followed Kaz as he continued towards the Menagerie. The building hadn’t changed much in recent months. Despite its plague scare during Kuwei’s auction, it had bounced back quickly. However, Kaz anticipated that business wasn’t quite as booming as it was before. Heleen had needed some push to make bolder moves.
They entered through the front door and the semi-full main hall went silent almost instantly. The few lucky inhabitants of the Barrel who hadn’t known Kaz before the auction knew him now, and they knew his presence meant trouble.
A scrawny Zemeni boy who looked no older than fourteen ran up to Kaz and Rotty. He wore sparse gold silks and no shoes. His skin was decorated with what looked like fawn spots, and dustings of gold covered his cheeks. His eyes were a rich gold to match his makeup and he wore the scared expression of a deer caught in the headlights. Kaz smirked down at him.
“What brings you here, Mr. Brekker?” The boy asked.
“I’m here to see Tante Heleen.” His face paled by more than a few shades. Kaz knew he would likely be punished for interrupting whatever important business she currently found herself dealing with. He almost felt bad for the kid.
“She’s busy, sir. May I get you something while you wait? Refreshments? Company?”
“I’ll only say this once more. Bring me to Tante Heleen.” Kaz tapped his gloved fingers on the head of his cane to punctuate his command. The kid looked like he would’ve pissed himself if that wouldn’t have led to significantly worse punishment.
“As you wish.” He said, slightly inclining his head and turning around. He practically scampered to an inconspicuous door at the back of the room, and as the three of them went through, Kaz heard the main hall erupt once again in music, whispers, and refined laughter. This hallway was lined with extravagant teal wallpaper and gold carpeting, and dim, atmospheric lights provided it with a muted glow. He wondered if it led to some of the girls’ rooms or if this luxury was reserved for Heleen alone. He wouldn’t put it past her vanity.
Finally, they reached a door decorated with tufted teal velvet. It had delicate peacock feathers painted on the mounds of each of the pleats. Kaz’s office at the Slat was practically spartan by comparison.
The boy knocked on the door timidly.
“Who is it?” Heleen snapped, her voice muffled by the extravagant door.
“Kaz Brekker.” Kaz rasped, and a moment of silence elapsed before a lock clicked and her door swung open. A small girl had opened it, and as Heleen beckoned Kaz inside, the two children retreated back down the hall.
“Please tell your associate to wait outside.”
“He stays.” Heleen rolled her eyes dramatically before huffing a small “Fine” and beckoning the two men closer.
“Sit, sit.” She said, her words dripping with venom. She gestured towards two silken arm chairs that stood across from her desk. Kaz hoped Roeder was in position.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of you darkening my doorstep, Brekker? Do you need some satisfaction ?” Kaz scoffed. Never from this house .
“I’ve just come with a friendly inquiry, Heleen. Why did a slave ship flying your colors dock in my harbor?” She feigned shock.
“Why, Mr. Brekker, I’m an honorable business woman. Do you have any evidence to substantiate your claim? Or shall I see you out?” Her voice took on a flinty tone as she spoke. Kaz continued to make eye contact, slouching casually in the oversized chair. He had his cane slung across his lap.
“Why yes, in fact. Are you aware that all cargo coming in from Fifth Harbor is susceptible to random checks? While I’m sure you have an innocent explanation for the children crammed into the hold of your ship, I’d rather not hear it. Who are you selling to?” Kaz knew that there were two likely reasons she was placing herself and her business in danger by participating in the slave trade. While it was likely she had some legal protections in place to prevent her from taking the full responsibility of her actions, it was still a risk. Either she was trying to make money or she was trying to prove her loyalty to someone.
“Why should I tell you?” She smiled at him teasingly, her voice a relaxed drawl.
“Because I’m rather certain you wouldn’t like the government learning how you acquire your… employees.” Her expression faltered. She likely believed he didn’t have proof of her extortive contracts but it hadn’t taken a lot of effort to copy Inej’s contract when he purchased her indenture from Heleen.
“If you must know, Brekker, I intend to sell their indentures to a few local gambling halls and other such businesses. They will not be going to the pleasure houses and I don’t intend to keep any either. Now, please be on your way.” While Kaz normally wouldn’t take instructions from anyone in this manner, he had gotten the information he needed. Her dealings in the slave trade weren’t for money, then. The only way to get rich in that business was to stay in it, and those who intended to attract long-term buyers usually sold to pleasure houses. So who was she trying to prove her loyalty to? Kaz knew there was a long list of potential options, but he allowed himself a small, self-satisfied smirk. He had gotten his toe in the door of this mystery and if there was anything he could do, it was to keep pushing until the door was fully open and he had unravelled the mystery. And then he would act.
“Always a pleasure, Heleen.” He said as he stood, gesturing to Rotty to follow him out. Once again, as they made their way into the main hall, all conversation stopped. The boy who had shown him in was pressed into a corner with the girl from Heleen’s room. They both looked terrified. Against his better judgement, Kaz spent a moment hoping she wouldn’t harm them too much.
“That was useless, boss.” Rotty said as they exited back onto the street. He sounded slightly defeated, although Kaz suspected he just regretted the long walk for seemingly no return. Well, that was too bad. He’d be doing a lot more walking before the sun was down.
“Not nearly. Now, please go find Jesper Fahey and tell him to meet me at the Slat at eleven bells. He’s probably hanging around the Van Eck estate.” Rotty slumped slightly at the prospect of the added miles. Kaz set off on his walk back to the Slat. If anyone who knew him had seen him, they would’ve said that his signature scheming face was fixed on for the entire journey home.
–
Roeder was early for the first time in his career. Kaz had just reviewed the recent income of the Crow Club (it was doing better than he could’ve hoped) and was about to begin thinking about a meal when the man knocked on his office door. Oh well, eating would have to wait.
“Come in.” He rasped, and Roeder entered, looking exhausted and somewhat meek.
“What did you find?”
“Well, after you left, I stayed for a few hours. It didn’t seem like she was doing anything significant, but as I was gonna leave, she began writing a letter. It was short, only a few lines, and she sent it off with a messenger right away.”
“Did you see who it was addressed to? Did you intercept the messenger?” Roeder shook his head, and Kaz let an annoyed look creep across his face.
“I did follow the messenger.” Kaz nodded for Roeder to continue.
“He brought the letter to a small commercial ship at the Fifth Harbor. After asking ‘round a bit, I learned that it’s a ferry taking folks around towards Belendt.” Now this was some useful information. Assuming Heleen would send a letter to her associate after learning that Kaz was meddling in their affairs (which wasn’t much of an assumption given his propensity for taking down rivals), it would significantly pare down the list of possible recipients to those who weren’t currently in Ketterdam. It was possible that she was purposely trying to throw him off or the message was unrelated to her partnership, but it was a risk Kaz was willing to take.
“That’s very interesting.” Kaz’s mind continued wandering down the list of potential recipients, and when he looked up a few seconds later, Roeder was still waiting in his office. He bit back a wave of annoyance. Inej would’ve known that was a dismissal.
“Need anything else boss?”
“Unless you have more information, no. I’ll call you back when I have more work.” Roeder nodded and practically scampered out of the door. Before long, another knock came.
“Come in.” Kaz said, once again slightly annoyed at the disturbance from his thoughts.
“Hey, boss!” Called a familiar voice, and Kaz looked up to see Jesper, grinning like a madman. He also looked the part. Between his scarlet trousers and bright green duster, he was dressed like an overgrown strawberry. Kaz let a small smile creep across his face. Jesper collapsed into the (intentionally) shoddy chair across the desk from him.
“How’s life as a mercher?”
“Well, living with Wylan full time does have its benefits…” Jesper wiggled his eyebrows and Kaz rolled his eyes halfheartedly. This was a comfortable routine.
“What’d you call me in for? Need anyone shot? Or have you missed my contribution to the Crow Club’s income?”
“If you’re looking for an excuse to get back into gambling, you won’t find one here.”
“Wylan would assassinate you.”
“That sounds quite amusing.” Kaz let the smile drop from his lips. This was business, not a reunion.
“Tante Heleen has become more actively involved in the slave trade recently. I went to investigate why, and I’ve learned that she is working with someone. They are planning something.”
“Why does this concern us?” Because I want to get justice for Inej. I want to dismantle Heleen. Because I fear she’s working with Pekka Rollins.
“Because whoever she’s working with, she’s gone to great lengths to secure their trust. She purchased a ship, hired slavers, and put her neck on the line to sell them. She’d only do that if she needed to prove something to someone she really needs to work with. And why would she need the aid of someone else? She could have most anything in the Barrel with her current resources, if she applied herself. What’s one of the only things that’s out of her reach?”
“Forgiveness from the Saints?” Kaz’s lips twisted into a humorless smile. It was certainly true that, if the Saints existed, they would have a personal grudge against Heleen Van Houden.
“My power.” A flash of realization crossed Jesper’s face. There were countless people across Ketterdam that wanted Kaz dead (at the very least), but almost none that were powerful enough to do it. However, Heleen with a powerful and intelligent ally could prove to be an inconvenience. Maybe even a dangerous one.
“So what are we going to do about it?”
“We’re going to find out who she’s working with, then we’re going to dismantle them. Completely.”
“And how are you gonna find out who it is?” Jesper already knew. Jaz knew he knew.
“I’m going to contact Inej.”
It was nearly one bell by the time Jesper left. Kaz had forgotten his hunger, forgotten his tiredness. Even the pain in his leg had receded to a dull ache. Inej . It had been months since he’d spoken to her. After meeting her parents at the harbor, he had almost allowed himself to believe things were getting better for him. He was slowly but surely shedding his layers of armor. He could give her what she wanted, what she needed. But he knew she had to leave eventually. They were never meant to stay together, and although he wished their time had lasted longer, at the time he believed it was enough.
But it wasn’t. He had thought about her every single day since she left. He budgeted it, allowing himself ten minutes every night as he lay in bed, trying desperately to forget enough of the day to fall asleep. Sometimes he thought of her smile, her bright eyes, her long, flowing hair. Other times, he heard the sound of her laugh, clear as a bell. And sometimes he would shamefully think of her waist, her hips, her chest. He would think of the moment they shared in the bathroom, the sticky heat of his lips on her neck. And no matter how he thought of her, he longed to see her again. To touch her, if he could. To see her walk out of the shadows and know that he was safe. She was his safety net, and ever since she left, he had been walking the tightrope alone. He could do it, but the longer he walked, the more he wished for her safety.
However, as he wrote the letter, he avoided any of these sentiments. The message was short and practically cold. He needed her for a job, that was all. And deep down, Kaz knew that he could not yet give her what she wanted. He wouldn’t tease her with the hope of his affection.
–
Heleen knew she had misstepped. Her flair for the dramatic and healthy sense of vanity had caused her to plant her flag on that ship like it was a victory. Now she had to deal with Kaz Brekker meddling in their business. Well, that was okay. With Rollins, she had enough power to destroy Brekker. She had enough secrets, stolen away and carefully saved for the moment they’d become useful. And they always did.
She knew Brekker’s new spider was waiting for her to send the messenger. She knew that the boy would follow her messenger, desperate for any scrap of information to drag back to his employer. Heleen was beginning to understand Brekker and his Dregs. As the spider scurried off to follow her messenger, she began to pen a new letter. They had Brekker just where they wanted him. It was coming time to spring their trap.