said Nina, licking strawberry juice from her fingers in a way that thoroughly defeated Matthias’ ability to form a rational thought. “When you say an auction, you don’t actually mean—”
“Kuwei is going to sell himself.”
“Are you mad?”
“I’d probably be happier if I was,” said Kaz. He rested one gloved hand on his cane. “Any Kerch citizen and any free citizen who travels to Kerch has the right to sell his own indenture. It isn’t just the law, it’s trade, and there’s nothing more holy in Kerch. Kuwei Yul-Bo has the sacred right—as sanctioned by Ghezen, god of industry and commerce—to submit his life to the will of the market. He can offer his service at auction.”
“You want him to sell himself to the highest bidder?” Inej said incredulously.
“To our highest bidder. We’re going to fix the outcome so Kuwei gets his fondest wish—a life sipping tea from a samovar in Ravka.”
“My father will never allow it,” said Wylan.
“Van Eck will be powerless to stop it. The auction of an indenture is protected by the highest laws in the city—secular and religious. Once Kuwei declares his contract open, no one can stop the auction until bidding has closed.”
Nina was shaking her head. “If we announce an auction, the Shu will know exactly when and where to find him.”
“This is not Ravka,” said Kaz. “This is Kerch. Trade is sacred, protected by law. The Merchant Council are duty bound to make sure an auction proceeds without interference. The stadwatch will be out in force, and the auction statutes demand that the Council of Tides provide their assistance too. The Merchant Council, the stadwatch , the Tides—all required to protect Kuwei.”
Kuwei set his notebook down. “The Shu may still have parem and Fabrikators.”
“That’s right,” said Jesper. “If that’s true, they can make all the gold they want. There would be no way to outbid them.”
“That’s assuming they have Fabrikators in the city already. Van Eck has done us the courtesy of blockading the harbor.”
“Even so—”
“Let me worry about the Shu,” said Kaz. “I can control the bidding. But we’ll need to make contact with the Ravkans again. They’ll have to know what we’re planning. At least part of it.”
“I can get through to the embassy,” said Inej, “if Nina will write the message.”
“The streets are closed down by barricades,” protested Wylan.
“But not the rooftops,” Inej replied.
“Inej,” said Nina. “Don’t you think you should tell them a bit more about your new friend?”
“Yeah,” said Jesper. “Who’s this new acquaintance who poked a bunch of holes in you?”
Inej glanced through the window. “There’s a new player on the field, a mercenary hired by Pekka Rollins.”
“You were defeated in single combat?” Matthias asked in surprise. He had seen the Wraith fight. It would be no small thing to best her.
“Mercenary is a little bit of an understatement,” said Nina. “She followed Inej onto the high wire and then threw knives at her.”
“Not knives, exactly,” said Inej.
“Pointy death doilies?”
Inej rose from the sill. She reached into her pocket and let a pile of what looked like small silver suns clatter onto the table.
Kaz leaned forward and picked one up. “Who is she?”
“Her name is Dunyasha,” Inej said. “She called herself the White Blade and a variety of other things. She’s very good.”
“How good?” asked Kaz.
“Better than me.”
“I’ve heard of her,” said Matthias. “Her name came up in an intelligence report the drüskelle gathered on Ravka.”
“Ravka?” Inej said. “She said she was trained in Ahmrat Jen.”
“She claims she has Lantsov blood and that she’s a contender for the Ravkan throne.”
Nina released a hoot of laughter. “You can’t be serious.”
“We considered backing her claim to undermine Nikolai Lantsov’s regime.”
“Smart,” said Kaz.
“Evil,” said Nina.
Matthias cleared his throat. “He’s a new king, vulnerable. There are some questions regarding his own lineage. But the report suggested that Dunyasha is erratic, possibly delusional. We determined she was too unpredictable for such a venture.”
“Pekka could have had her follow us from Black Veil last night,” Inej said.
“Do we know how Pekka found the hideout?” Nina asked.
“One of his people must have spotted one of us,” Kaz replied. “That’s all it would take.”
Matthias wondered if it was better that they couldn’t be sure who was responsible. That way no one had to bear the guilt or the blame.
“Dunyasha had the advantage of surprise,” said Inej. “If the hotel is still uncompromised, I can get to the embassy and back unseen.”
“Good,” said Kaz, but the answer didn’t come as quickly as Matthias might have expected. He