Crooked Kingdom (The Six of Crows Duology #2) - Leigh Bardugo Page 0,198

it into the ground,” said Wylan.

“And you, Kaz?” Nina asked.

“Build something new,” he said with a shrug. “Watch it burn.”

Jesper braced himself and said, “Actually, you should put my share in my father’s name. I don’t think … I don’t think I’m ready for that kind of money just yet.”

Kaz watched him for a long moment. “That’s the right move, Jes.”

It was a little like forgiveness.

Jesper felt sorrow dragging at his heart. He was flush with funds for the first time in years. His father’s farm was safe. But none of it felt right.

“I thought being rich would make everything better,” he said.

Wylan glanced back at his father’s mansion. “I could have told you it doesn’t work that way.”

In the distance, bells began to chime. Jesper went to get his father from the garden. Colm stood near the steps of the house, crumpled hat in his hands.

“At least now we can afford to get you a new hat,” said Jesper.

“This one’s comfortable.”

“I’ll come home, Da. When the city is open again. After Wylan gets settled.”

“He’s a good lad.” Too good for me , thought Jesper. “I hope you really will come home to visit.” Colm looked down at his big hands. “You should meet your mother’s people. The girl your mother saved all those years ago … I’ve heard she’s very powerful.”

Jesper didn’t know what to say.

“I … I’d like that. I’m sorry for all of this. For getting you mixed up in it. For almost losing what you worked so hard to build. I … I guess what I mean is, this action will have no echo.”

“ Pardon?”

“It sounds better in Suli. I’m going to try, Da.”

“You’re my son, Jesper. I can’t protect you. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried. But I will be there even when you falter. Every time.”

Jesper hugged his father tight. Remember this feeling , he told himself. Remember all you have to lose. He didn’t know if he was strong enough to keep to the promises he’d made tonight, but he could try to be.

They walked back down to the boathouse and joined the others.

Inej placed her hands on Nina’s shoulders. “We’ll see each other again.”

“Of course we will. You’ve saved my life. I’ve saved yours.”

“I think you’re ahead on that count.”

“No, I don’t mean in the big ways.” Nina’s eyes took them all in. “I mean the little rescues. Laughing at my jokes. Forgiving me when I was foolish. Never trying to make me feel small. It doesn’t matter if it’s next month, or next year, or ten years from now, those will be the things I remember when I see you again.”

Kaz offered his gloved hand to Nina. “Until then, Zenik.”

“Count on it, Brekker.” They shook.

Rotty climbed down into the sickboat. “Ready?”

Kuwei turned to Jesper. “You should visit me in Ravka. We could learn to use our powers together .”

“How about I push you in the canal and we see if you know how to swim?” Wylan said with a very passable imitation of Kaz’s glare.

Jesper shrugged. “I’ve heard he’s one of the richest men in Ketterdam. I wouldn’t cross him.”

Kuwei gave an affronted sniff and lowered himself onto the floor of the sickboat. He folded his arms neatly over his chest.

“No,” said Kaz. “No. The bodymen don’t bother to arrange them.”

Kuwei let his hands flop to his sides. Colm was next, and Jesper instantly wanted to forget the image of his father laid out like a corpse.

They used the blanket to lift Matthias onto the boat, then slid the fabric from beneath him. Nina took the clutch of tulips from his chest and scattered them on the water. She lay down beside him.

Rotty pushed the long wooden pole against the sandy bottom of the canal. The barge drifted away from the dock. In the dark, he looked like any other bodyman ferrying his grim cargo through the canals. Only the sickboats could pass freely through the city and out of the harbor, collecting the dead to take to the Reaper’s Barge for burning.

Rotty would bring them up through the manufacturing district, where the Grisha refugees had fled after the auction, after discarding the blue robes they’d worn to pretend to be the Council of Tides. Kaz had known there was no way to transport that many Grisha without attracting notice. So they’d taken the secret passage from the embassy to the tavern, and then paraded down the street in billowing blue robes, faces shrouded in mist, declaring their power instead of attempting