The Sins of a Hero

Sins of a Hero

Of all Ketterdam's stories, in this city so grim,

The greatest tales whispered are ones about him.

In hushed tones 'round a bar or through streets of delict,

You'll know the name feared as your pocket gets picked.

Of one who knows not what the word mercy means,

Or cares at all to bother with masking their screams.

He lurks through the darkness with his silver-topped cane,

Kaz Brekker, the demon, this capital's true bane.

In this city of plundering, smothering sin,

Where the only choice given is to just give in,

To the time of your life with the cards and the booze,

Beware who you anger for your breath you could lose.

If you cross him, provoke him your life will turn quick,

Into hell as he tears it apart brick by brick.

With a single command all you love and hold dear,

Could fall dead at your feet as he looks on and sneers.

Toiling souls and hopeless faces turned up towards the sky,

To the thick black smoke and falling ash, wondering who has died.

Patrons of the Menagerie gawked in disbelief,

As Brekker dusts his hands of soot and slinks off like a thief.

What had they done to make him burn that brothel to the ground?

He'd carried out his plans with care, no one heard a sound.

They stood amid the ruins until one question remained,

What could have caused his fury's flight, and could it be contained?

The city held its breath as a storm began to churn,

They hid inside and prayed to gods for Kaz Brekker to burn.

But he played their games with loaded dice and so with great design,

He tore apart a slaving ship and then sipped on some wine.

He did not stop, he just went on and soon some men lay dead,

As the foul boy with a horrid limp filled them all with dread.

What had those men done with their lives to warrant such a fate?

How'd they managed to incur Kaz Brekker's immortal hate?

"He's mad," they hissed and glared towards the Crow Club, his vile lair.

No rhyme or reason led his hand, he never learned to care.

And that was what they truly feared, his stoic face and heart,

His wants and fears could not be used against him. He was smart.

And so his reign of terror swept the streets in waves of death.

They wished to end him but they knew he'd never lose his breath.

A businessman and thief alike, his cunning knew no bounds,

If they dared to even try, they'd fall six feet underground.

His suit and shoes of polished night went stalking through the streets,

Limp and cane a jarring sight from once when he'd been beat.

No one had lived from asking how but still, they stared in awe,

Wondering what the handsome beast planned next to break the law.

They dared not step across his path or bothered calling aid,

He'd bribed off every guard in town and Brekker always paid.

He strode up to the flower stand sniffed each lovely bloom,

Then geraniums sat in his arm, red and gold of plume.

What purpose could a heart of ice have for that grand bouquet?

The people stopped to wonder as his shadow slunk away.

And if, by chance, their eyes had turned towards his roof that night,

They might have glimpsed a wraith of perfect grace in the moonlight.

She picked his lock then soundlessly dropped down onto his floor,

Then rose to face him where he stood just waiting by the door.

A moment passed in silence where his darkened eyes met hers,

Then he drew her close and held her after so many long years.

They spent the night recalling the adventures that they'd shared,

And took a moment to remember those who were not spared.

He slowly stood and walked to look for something in his drawer,

She watched him dig around and tapped her foot upon the floor.

A peacock feather burned and black, a torn-up slaver flag,

A mess of items, old and faded tied up in a bag.

Staring at these cursed parts the girl began to weep,

Inej Ghafa then stood and thanked him with her heart so deep.

For long ago, from her home, a girl was seized and taken,

Across a sea and sold into a life that left her shaken.

A slave to men and their desires she barely kept her faith,

Until the day she met the thief and he made her his Wraith.

He saved her from that house of sin and showed her how to heal,

She learned to bring him secrets then she earned her knives of steel.

The pair they made, the feared duet, soon Ketterdam was won,

But despite their triumph with this damn city, she was done.

Kaz knew that after everything, her freedom she deserved,

For long enough she'd lived for others, long enough she'd served.

And yet despite his logic and the sense that this all made,

He could not bear to watch the girl he loved leave him and fade.

Still so, the day arrived and there they stood upon the pier,

He felt the moments fleeting past and knew farewell was near.

So he made her a promise to avenge the girl she'd been,

Then with a single parting kiss, he let his work begin.

Time went on, the seasons passed, his reputation grew.

Dirtyhands they called him for there was nothing he'd not do.

He stole and lied, cheated and killed, his name became a curse,

But he fulfilled his vow to her facing what was adverse.

And so they sat upon the roof and watched the gold sunrise,

His flower tucked behind her ear and love deep in their eyes.

He'd told her once that he was not a hero, not a knight,

But she knew better as they sat there bathed by early light.