The Devil's in the Wind

Chapter Twenty-Four

              Natalia knew the second they entered West Stave. She was flanked by at least three guards, but she couldn't see anything. Van Eck just had to keep her blindfolded. Not to mention shackled at the ankles and ropes tied around her wrists. She wanted to see Kaz. She wanted to be able to see the Barrel. She didn't know what Van Eck had planned but it couldn't be good.

   Suddenly she was forced to stop but right before she caught the briefest sound of a cane on the stone.

   'You say you were bringing me to Jan,' a young women objected. Alys.

   'And here you are,' said a voice, stone on stone. Hearing his voice brought relief straight through Natalia. 'Now be still.'

   'Jan!' she yelped sharply. 'It's me!'

   'I know, my dear,' Van Eck said calmly. His voice lowered. 'This isn't over Brekker. I want Kuwei Yul-Bo.'

   'Are we here to repeat ourselves? You want the secret to jurda parem, and I want my money. The deal is the deal.'

   'I don't have thirty million kruge to part with.'

   'Isn't that a shame? I'm sure someone else does.'

   'And have you had any luck securing a new buyer?'

   'Don't trouble yourself on my account, merch. The market will provide. Do you want your wife back or did I drag poor Alys here for nothing?'

   'Just a moment,' said Van Eck. 'Alys, what are we naming the child?'

   'Very good,' Kaz said. Their team had passed off Wylan as Kuwei Yul-Bo on Vellgeluk, and Van Eck had been well fooled. Now the merch wanted confirmation he was actually getting his wife and not some girl with a radically tailored face and a false belly. 'Seems an old dog can learn a new trick. Besides rolling over.'

   Van Eck ignored him. 'Alys,' he repeated, 'what name are we giving the child?'

   'The baby?' replied Alys in confusion. 'Jan if it's a boy. Plumje if it's a girl.'

   'We agreed Plumje is what you're naming your new parakeet.'

   'I never agreed.'

   'Oh, I think Plumje is a lovely name for a girl,' said Kaz. 'Satisfied, merch?'

   'Come,' Van Eck said.

   Suddenly Natalia's hood was being ripped off her face. She caught eyes with Kaz in the next second and she almost felt like she could breathe better. As Natalia passed Van Eck, she turned her face to him and murmured, 'One day, you're gonna see me again. Once, and only once. Let's see how brave you are then.'

   Mean words, words she learned from Dirtyhands himself. She shuffled forward, trying not to fall. Slowly the distance between her and Kaz lessened and lessened before it was finally gone. She knew she was skinny, sickly looking. But Kaz did not seem to care. They still needed to get clear of the bridge. Van Eck would not let them go this easily.

   'Do you have my sword?' was the first thing she said to Kaz.

   Kaz nodded. 'Of course, I do. Have any knives?'

   Natalia nods. 'Inside my coat.'

   Van Eck had released Alys, and she was being led away by his guards.

   'Let's get out of here,' Kaz said, an oyster knife in his hands to see to her ropes.

   'Mister Brekker,' Van Eck said. Natalia heard the excitement in the merchers voice and both her and Kaz froze. 'You gave me your word, Kaz Brekker!' Van Eck shouted in theatrical tones. Everyone within earshot on the Stave turned to stare. 'You swore you would return my wife and son to me! Where are you keeping Wylan?'