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Chapter Text

Attention!

Under new regulation decreed by the Merchant Council all those of Suli heritage living in Kerch must report to the Stadwatch. Failure to do so will result in imprisonment effective immediately.

A reward will be granted to Kerch citizens who alert the Stadwatch to Suli presence.

Yours in Ghezen,

The Merchant Council.

When Kaz first saw the announcement pinned to the outer window of Lij’s post office he’d torn it down. Of course Wylan had warned him that such an idea was in the works, saying that he’d do what he could to prevent the decree but with him being the only one against the action there was only so much he could do. And now judging by the announcement Wylan had failed to stop it.

Kaz shoved the paper into his pocket and hurried home, his cane clacking on the road as he went. They lived just outside the township on the small farm that had once been run by his father. It still felt surreal that he had returned to this place to raise his own family.

He opened the front door to the clamour that was his family. He could the crashing of various pots and pans coming from the kitchen; an indicator that six-year-old Noor was trying to help cook as she so often wanted to do. All the while Isha was yelling across the house about something that was almost impossible to discern over Noor’s racket. Somewhere in the middle he knew Inej would be found undoubtedly trying to stop Noor from pulling apart the kitchen. He heard her voice call out in response to whatever their elder daughter was yelling about.

It ended up being Isha who spotted his arrival first. “PAPA’S HOME!” She yelled into the house.

There was a series of clattering bangs to herald the appearance of Noor, who ran over to him. He bent down, scooping her up into his arms.

“Noori! How are you today?” He asked, standing up with her still in his arms.

She smiled, giggled, and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.

“Good then, huh?” He said. Noor, at six-years-old, was yet to speak. She could make various sounds and was able to say shorted versions of her family members’ names but that was the extent of her verbal vocabulary. It didn’t matter to Kaz and Inej that their daughter couldn’t talk, she had her own way of communicating.

Kaz looked over to Isha who was hanging half upside-down on a chair. “Where’s my hug from you, Isha?” He asked.

She rolled her eyes. “Papa, I’m nine. I’m too old for that.”

“Right, of course.” A small part of him ached at how grown up and independent Isha had become. She was no longer constantly after cuddles and stories. Now she was longing for adventure and excitement, though there was little of that to be had in Lij. He still loved how she was becoming her own person and would always be endlessly proud of her.

He placed Noor back down on the floor. “Where’s mama?” He asked her. He needed to let Inej know that the decree had come into affect. That they should probably leave Kerch.

Noor took hold of the hand that wasn’t holding his cane and marched him through the house until they reached the kitchen where Inej was picking up the various pots and pans that Noor had pulled out of the cupboards. She walked right up to her mother and pointed, turning back to make sure Kaz had spotted her.

“Thanks Noori.” He said ruffling her dark hair. Noor was steadily growing to be the spitting image of her mother.

Inej turned upon hearing his voice. “Kaz, can you keep her occupied while I clear up here?” She nodded at their younger daughter who had started opening up various cupboards to see what was inside.

Kaz quickly pulled her out of a cupboard of baking pans. They had tried various different locks on the cupboards to try and keep Noor out of them, but she was always able to unlock them. “Sure. Did you want me to help clean up?”

“No, that’s alright. I just need her occupied elsewhere for ten minutes.”

Noor huffed and whined as Kaz took hold of her hand. He still needed to tell Inej about the decree. “Come on, Noori, you can show me what you did at school today.” He’d have to tell her later.

Kaz didn’t get an opportunity to talk to Inej until after their two children had been put to bed. He sat down heavily beside where she had curled up on the couch reading a book. It had taken Kaz longer than usual to get Noor to stay in her bed long enough to sleep. While she was usually very cuddly around bedtime, tonight she was decidedly full of energy.

“Hey.” Inej said in greeting, shifting herself so that instead of leaning against the arm of the couch she was now leaning against him.

“Hey.” He took hold of her hand, taking a second to breath in the peace that now settled over the house. He knew he now had to disturb it. “I need to show you something.” He pulled the crumpled announcement from his pocket, handing it to her.

She put her book down, having marked her place and sat up, taking the paper from him and smoothing it out. Her eyes quickly scanned the words. “Well, Wylan warned us this may happen.”

“What do we do?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” He was perplexed as to why she seemed so calm.

“Nothing.” She confirmed. She saw the confusion in his face and elaborated. “Kaz, for centuries different governments have tried to round up the Suli and ship us off someplace else or make us conform to their societies, but it’s never worked. It’s all empty threats to try and scare us into doing what they want. But if you’re really worried we can go stay with my parents until this all blows over.”

“Didn’t you read the bit about imprisonment? About how there’s a reward out for anyone who dobs in Suli whereabouts? You know how the Kerch are motivated by money.”

Inej squeezed his hand. “I know you’re scared,” Scared was an understatement. His was absolutely terrified of her being taken away. Of their children being taken away. He couldn’t lose them. Couldn’t fathom it. “But this,” she waves the announcement, “is just a piece of paper. It’s more than likely just an empty threat to scare us. We can write to Wylan and ask for more details. Until we know more I’m not going to let this scare me.”

“They’re threatening to throw you in prison, Inej. To throw the girls in prison.”

“We’re going to prison?”

Kaz and Inej both turned, finding Isha standing in the doorway to the living room, eyes wide, moth slightly agape, voice trembling.

“Isha, how long have you been standing there?” Kaz asked.

Isha ignored the question, turning to Inej. “Mama, why are we going to prison?”

“We’re not going to prison.”

“But papa said—”

“I know what he said, but none of us are going to prison.” Inej spoke with determination in her voice.

“Papa?” Isha then turned to him, waiting for his explanation.

“Come sit down, Isha.” He patted the section of couch on his other side.

Isha hesitated for a second before following the instruction, sitting down and hugging her knees to her chest.

He passed her the announcement, giving her a moment to read it before he began to speak. “There are people on the Merchant Council who don’t like the Suli and don’t want them in Kerch. So they’ve decided to try and get rid of all the Suli by sending the Stadwatch to round them up.”

“But mama’s Suli and me and Noori are Suli.” Isha looked up from the paper, eyes darting between her parents. “Is the Stadwatch going to come and take us away? Are they going to put us in prison?”

“They’re not going to take us anywhere.” Inej responded. “Right now they are trying to scare us into leaving.”

“But why do they want us to leave?”

“Because the Suli are a free people who move around the land as they wish.” Inej leaned past Kaz to brush Isha’s messy bed hair from her face. “And there are people in charge who don’t like that, who want the Suli to follow their rules and live as they do. But we Suli are stubborn and like the way we live. We don’t listen to governments. So the governments don’t tend to like us.”

Isha thought through this information. “I don’t want to leave.” She turned then to Kaz. “Isn’t Wylan on the Merchant Council? Can’t he tell them to leave us alone?” She had only met Wylan on a handful of occasions but his name, along with Jesper’s, cropped up often in conversation.

“He is, and we’re going to write to him and ask what’s going on.” He said. He was still worried about the unknown of this situation, but he had realised Inej was right. It’s better to wait for more information than letting a piece of paper scare them out of their home. Though that wasn’t going to stop him from writing to Specht and having him dock The Wraith in fifth harbour just in case.

When Wylan’s response arrived several days later it was accompanied by a copy of The Ketterdam Times newspaper. Kaz read the bold headline first.

Stadwatch Bring Dangerous Suli Into Custody After Attack; 3 Injured

Kaz immediately unfolds the newspaper and begins to read the article.

Residents of West Stave were awoken late last night to the sounds of a shootout. Stadwatch guards caught a group of Suli vigilantes trying to sneak out of the city armed with various stolen weapons including six revolvers. When asked for immediate surrender the Suli turned hostile, shooting at the Stadwatch injuring three before the authorities were able to rectify the situation. Thirteen Suli have been taken into custody and will await trial. Cont. page 3.

Wordlessly he passed the paper to Inej who had just sat down for her breakfast, a frown furrowing her brow as she read the headline.

She looked up after finishing the front page. “This is ridiculous.” She declared. “No Suli would initiate an attack or even sneak around smuggling weapons! And they mentioned three Stadwatch injured but how many Suli? How many did they kill and paint as villains?”

Isha, who had paused eating her own breakfast to listen grabbed the newspaper from Inej, reading the headline. She then looks between her parents. “Is the Stadwatch going to come and kill us?”

Even Noor was paying attention now, a look of concern across her features.

“No.” Kaz said firmly. There was no chance he’d let things come to that.

Isha still appeared unsure. “What’s going to happen then?”

“How about we see what Wylan says.” Inej said, giving Isha’s arm a reassuring squeeze.Kaz tore into Wylan’s accompanying letter quickly reading aloud the words written in Jesper’s hand.

“Dear Inej and Kaz,

As you can see from the paper I sent this decree has brought forth more than just scare mongering. I’ve done all I can to stop any attacks on Suli, but with the rest of the Merchant Council against me I fear my efforts are futile. The Stadwatch have started rounding up Suli in Ketterdam and will start moving outwards from the city. I’d say you have about a week before they reach Lij. If you want my opinion on whether to stay or go, I’d say you should go until everything calms down. I can send word when you’re safe to return should you want to.

All my love,

Wylan

p.s. From Jesper: I agree with Wylan, you should go someplace else for the time being. Tell Isha and Noor I say hi. Don’t let them forget their cool uncle Jesper.”

Silence ensured.

“Where are we gonna go?” Isha asked, her voice small and shaky.

Kaz and Inej looked to each other. “We’ll go to Ravka.” Kaz said.

“What if they try to hurt us in Ravka?”

“They won’t.” Inej said, turning her attention back to Isha. “Ravka has a Suli Queen. We’ll be safe there.”

Isha nodded.

“Noor, what’s wrong?” Kaz asked noticing that his younger daughter’s eyes were brimming with tears. He reaches out to her but she bats his hand away, one tear escaping as she flees the room.

“I’ll talk to her.” Inej said, rising from her seat. “You write to Specht and make sure he’s able to transport us.”

Kaz nods, watching after Inej as she follows Noor. Noor always made it clear when she didn’t want a particular person’s comfort. It still hurt his heart every time though.

“Papa, what do I do?” Isha asked, standing from the table.

He looked at her. He knew she was scared but from the look of determination on her face he knew that there was no stopping her from helping. “Start packing up your things. Pack lightly and
essentials only. I don’t know how much we’ll be able to take with us and we may need to leave in a hurry.”

Chapter Text

They had decided that it would be best for Inej, Isha, and Noor to stay on the property, to stay out of sight and out of mind while they waited upon The Wraith to dock at fifth harbour. Only Kaz ever left the house, and only if necessary. Inej doubted he would admit it allowed but she knew he was scared of something happening should he go out. But they needed more food, their kitchen pantry was looking dismally empty, it already having been running low when they received Wylan’s letter two days earlier.

So Kaz had set out that morning with the promise of being as quick as possible.
It left the house being rather quiet. Isha who was starting to get a little stir crazy had gone outside to climb a tree. She had always been a skilled climber. And Noor was sprawled out on the floor fiddling with a puzzle. Inej decided to use the moment of peace to double check that they had everything packed that they’d need. She had been doing this at least twice a day since they’d decided to leave, but she still wanted to make sure everything was in order in the event that they had to leave without much notice.

She was just checking Noor’s bag which sat on the end of her bed when she glanced out the window and her heart stopped. Three Standwatch men were walking with purpose down the path that led to their front door, a rather imposing box-shaped coach waiting on the road.

Inej dropped the bag and ran through the house, opening the back door and looking up at the nearby tree. “Isha!” She called out in a hushed voice. “Get inside now!”

Isha frowned, but dropped to the ground anyway, following her mother as Inej reentered the house, picking up Noor from the floor and marching the two girls into her and Kaz’s bedroom which was situated to the back of the house.

“Mama, what’s going on?” Isha asked.

Just then there was a banging at the door, making her jump.

“You need to hide.” Inej handed Noor to Isha, pushing both girls beneath the bed. “Don’t make a sound no matter what you see or hear. Only come out to me or papa. Do you understand?”

Noor nodded, though she looked about to cry as Isha said “But—”

“No arguing.”

The banging sounded again.

Inej glanced towards the door before looking back at her daughters. “Do you understand?”

“Yes.” Isha said, her voice sounding small.

Inej took a steadying breath, cupping one of their cheeks in each hand. “I love you both.” She then left the room, heading towards the front door, only pausing to sweep Noor’s puzzle beneath the couch before pulling the door open just as they knocked a third time.

“Can I help you?” She asked.

There were three men, one at the front who was clearly in charge with two others flanking him. As soon as the leader saw her a smile stretched across his face. It was a sinister thing that suggested no good would come from it.

“We’re from the Stadwatch.” The leader said. “We’re here to find any Suli that have failed to report their presence to the authorities.” His eyes gleamed with a hunger that made Inej feel ill, clearly noting that she was Suli. “We would like to ask you some questions if that’s alright.”

“That’s fine.”

“Excellent. How—” He cut himself off, his eyes darting to something behind Inej just as she felt a pair of small arms wrap around her. Noor.

Inej closed her eyes and tried to breath away the sudden wave of fear that washed over her. Fear for her daughter’s safety. Why had she left her hiding place? Inej had hoped that if the Stadwatch tried to take her away then at least the girls would be safe and hidden.

“Who is this?” The leader asked, bending down to get a look at Noor.

She shied away, pressing her face into Inej’s side.

Inej placed a hand on Noor’s back feeling her shuddering breaths. “This is my daughter.” She informed him. She now realised why Noor had left the hiding spot. She was scared and uncertain as to what was going on. Of course she had wanted the comfort of her mother. Noor wouldn’t have known the danger she had thrust herself into.

“And how old is she?” The leader asked.

“Six.”

“Are there any other children in the house?”

“No.” She sent a prayer to the Saints that Isha would stay put.

“When we asked around the village we were told that there were two little girls who lived here.”

“They must have been referring to my niece.” She said, hoping they would buy the lie. “She stayed here for the summer but has gone back to Ravka now.” They had known in coming that there were two Suli children living here. Someone from the village had told them. The thought filled her with dread.

“Are you from Ravka?”

“Yes.”

“And what of the girl’s father.” The leader looked around. “Where is he?”

“He went into the village, but he will be back soon.”

“And is this man your husband?” He looked pointedly at the ring she wore.

“He is.”

“Is he also Suli?”

“No.”

The leader’s face fell slightly, taking on an expression akin to disgust. “What is he then?”

“Kerch.” She wasn’t too keen on the tone the leader had taken on. It was clear he didn’t approve of interracial couples. “If you wish to speak to him, he’ll be home any minute now.”

Her words seem to push the Stadwatch into motion.

“If you just come along with us we can get you and your daughter registered.” The leader said, grabbing hold of Inej’s upper arm.

She shook of his hold. “We’re not going anywhere.”

“I think it best you not resist.” The leader said, sinister smile returning to his face as the familiar click of a loaded revolver sounded.

One of the other men had moved closer, his revolver pointed squarely at Noor’s head.

Inej’s blood ran cold. She gripped Noor tighter.

“I suggest the two of you come with us.”

Wordlessly she went with them, Noor still clutched to her side. The Stadwatch escorted them over to the coach, one of the men opened the door and gestured with his drawn revolver for them to step inside. Inej helped Noor up the step before following, taking a seat on the hard wooden bench. The door slammed shut behind them, it’s singular small window letting in a small beam of sunlight.

Inej drew Noor onto her lap as the unmistakable sound of a lock snicking into place echoed within the cabin.

Noor let out a small sob, tears streaking down her face.

Inej pulled her closer, arms encircling her tightly. “We’ll be alright.” She whispered. “We’ll be back home soon. Nothing bad is going to happen to you.”

“I-Ish.” Noor said looking back in the direction of the house as the coach began rattling down the road.

“Isha will be alright too. Papa will be home soon. He’ll find her.” She pressed a kiss into Noor’s hair before resting her cheek atop her daughter’s head. “Everything will be alright.” It had to be.

Chapter Text

Kaz had gone to the market as soon as it opened. Very few people were wandering the streets at that time so he was able to quickly make his purchases. He was just about to head back home, the streets now coming to life with the regular hustle and bustle when someone called out to him.

“Excuse me mister!” One of the boys employed at the post office waved him down. “Letter for you.”

“Thank you.” Kaz passed the boy a coin before looking at the envelope. He recognised Specht’s handwriting and tore it open.

Kaz

She’ll be ready to set sail tomorrow morning

Specht

He took out a pencil and hurriedly wrote a response on the back of the letter.

We’ll be there

He wrote down the address before slipping it into the post box. When he looked up again his eyes landed on a Stadwatch officer. His blood ran cold. He scanned the now crowded market, spotting more and more Stadwatch uniforms dotted about. He saw officers asking questions of shoppers, officers knocking on doors. He had to get home. He should never have left in the first place.

He moved as swiftly as he could through the crowd, not wanting to start running and cause a scene, but as soon as he was free from the busy streets he bean moving as fast as he was able, ignoring the twinge in his bad leg. He needed to make sure his family was alright.

He spotted the house from a distance and found a small piece of comfort in the fact that there was no Stadwatch out the front. But that comfort soon fell to dust as he drew nearer and saw the front door was left open, the house beyond dark and empty. He stopped moving, his legs suddenly filled with lead, his heart in his throat.

“No.” He whispered, starring at the open doorway. They couldn’t be gone, they couldn’t have been taken in the one moment he stepped away. Had the Stadwatch been watching? Had they been waiting for him to leave? He had no way of knowing for sure.

Kaz forced himself to walk forwards, to step beyond the door frame and into the house. Within all was quiet and undisturbed.

“Inej?” He called out into the emptiness. “Isha? Noor?” There was no response. He frantically began searching the house, continuing to call out their names. There was no response. After searching the living room he paused, chest filling with despair.

Then he heard it. The sound of quiet crying. He didn’t dare breathe, listening intently to ensure the sound wasn’t his imagination but it continued.

He followed it, finding himself in the bedroom he shared with Inej. He crouched down and looked beneath the bed. There starring back at him with scared, tear-filled eyes was Isha.

“Isha.” He breathed her name, pulling her out from beneath the bed.

“Papa.” She clung on to him, wrapping her arms and legs around him as she shuddered, her crying intensifying as it mixed with relief.

He held her in return, not wanting to let go. It was clear that she was the only one here. So, what had happened to Inej and Noor?

“It’s all my fault, papa.” She cried, her words muffled as she pressed her face into his chest.

“What’s your fault?”

“Mama told me and Noori to hide while she talked to the people banging on the door. She said to stay hidden no matter what but Noori ran off and I couldn’t stop her and now they’re gone!” Isha let out a sob.

Kaz tightened his grip. “That wasn’t your fault, Isha.” At least she hadn’t been taken. At least she was safe. Even if it felt like his heart was splintering knowing that the Stadwatcg had taken half his family.

“But mama and Noori are gone, papa!”

“And we’ll get them back. Everything is going to be alright.” It had to be.

Chapter Text

Isha had always thought of herself as brave. Fearless even. She could climb to the top of the highest tree without a care in the world. Papa said she was just like her mama in that way.

She had always thought of herself as brave until she was left hiding while someone banged on the door. She was brave until she saw that her mama was scared. That’s when Isha realised that it was the Stadwatch banging at the door. They had come to take them away. Why hadn’t mama hidden with her and Noor? Then they all would’ve been safe.

Isha had to pretend to be brave then as she huddled beneath her parents’ bed. Noor was crying, but mama had said not to make a sound so Isha tried to shush her sister. But Noor was scared and didn’t know what was happening so she ran from beneath the bed. And Isha was too scared to go after her.

She could hear mama talking to the Stadwatch but she couldn’t make out the words, only that the Stadwatch seemed to be asking questions and mama giving short answers. And then there was silence.

When she hadn’t heard a sound in several minutes she realised that the Stadwatch had taken mama and Noor. That she was now alone. That she wasn’t brave at all, that she was in fact very, very scared.

This was all her fault. She should’ve stopped Noor from leaving the hiding spot.

When tears built up in her eyes and began rolling down her cheeks she didn’t stop them. She let them fall. She didn’t leave her hiding spot, trying to reassure herself that papa would be home soon. He would find her and he would find mama and Noor too.

She sobbed until she heard someone enter the house. She froze, absolutely terrified. The footsteps sounded like papa and his cane. When she was little she used to say that he had three legs. She heard him call out and it sounded like papa but Isha was still too scared to emerge. What if the Stadwatch were making him call out?

She remained hidden, though her crying continued. She tried to stifle it, tried to be quiet, but it wasn’t working. She could hear papa moving towards her. He must have heard her. Had the Stadwatch heard her too?

And then papa was crouched before her, pulling her into his arms. She clung on to him and she suddenly didn’t feel so scared anymore. Because he was there and she knew he would take care of her.

But still mama and Noor were gone and it was still her fault.

But papa said that it wasn’t her fault, that they would find them and everything would be all right.

Isha began to allow herself to calm down, though she still clung on to her father. They remained in silence until she at last spoke, tears now drying on her cheeks. “Why didn’t mama hide with us? If she had hidden with us the Stadwatch wouldn’t have known we were there at all.”

He shook his head. “If mama had hidden with you then the Stadwatch would have broken down the door and searched through the house for you. I think mama went and spoke to them to distract them away from you and Noor, to make them think that she was the only Suli that lived here.”

“Would they have still taken her if Noori hadn’t run out?”

“Yes, I think they would have.”

Isha sat there, thinking. Surely mama would have known that the Stadwatch wanted to take her away. So that meant that she would have been going with them willingly to stop them from searching the house and finding her and Noor. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks as she realised that her mother was willing to sacrifice herself to keep her and Noor safe.

She looked up at papa. “Mama was protecting us.”

He nodded. “She was.”

“What’s going to happen to her and Noori?”

“I don’t know.” He looked out the window as if he could see through the walls and all the way to where the Stadwatch had taken them.

Chapter Text

As soon as night fell Kaz grabbed the bags Inej had overseen the packing of and slung them over his shoulder. He shoved Isha into a cardigan, wrapping a scarf around her head despite the warmth of the evening.

“Papa, I’m going to cook.” She said, going to pull the extra clothing on.

“Leave it on.” He said readjusting the scarf. “It’ll help disguise the fact that you’re Suli.” He takes hold of his cane in one hand and Isha’s hand in the other before going out the door, heading towards the nearest brow boat stop.

“Papa, where are we going?” She asked, keeping her voice low.

“Tonight we’ll be going to Ketterdam.”

“What about mama and Noori? We need to find them.”

“And we will.” He said, tightening his grip slightly on her hand. While he was relieved that Isha hadn’t been taken his mind was full of worry for Inej and Noor. “I’ll have better resources to do so in Ketterdam, and if the Stadwatch are trying to make them leave the country they’ll most likely be putting them on a ship in Ketterdam.” He explained.

“So, we’ll meet them there?”

“Hopefully.” He new it would be far easier to track down Inej and Noor before they left Kerch. He knew the Merchant Council wanted to remove the Suli from Kerch, though he had no idea where they were planning to remove them to, though hopefully he could garner that information from Wylan.

They continued to approach the river where they would be picked up by a brow boat. A few times needing to duck off the main road and hide in the bushes as Stadwatch officers walked by. But eventually they arrived at the river, its’ waters reflecting the moonlight. A small dock had been built where the brow boat would moor, though there was no sign of it now.

Had they missed the last boat? It was late, but Kaz was sure there was a boat that would go by at about eight bells.

But eight bells came and went with no sign of a brow boat.

“I’m tired, papa.” Isha said. She had sat down on the dry grass while they waited, leaning up against his good leg.

“I know, sweet heart, but we have to wait a little longer.”

But as time progressed there was still no sign of a brow boat. They couldn’t stay by the dock, for surely the Stadwatch would come by at some point. Kaz took hold of Isha’s hand once more, hauling her to her feet.

“We’re going to have to walk a bit more I’m afraid.” He said, beginning to walk with her along the river heading in the direction of Ketterdam.

Isha didn’t complain, but he could tell she was exhausted. He would carry her if he could but with him already carrying their bags and with his bad leg throbbing painfully with each step he doubted it would survive any more additional weight.

“Papa, can we take a break?” Isha asked, half stumbling with fatigue.

He looked around, making sure no one was near. “Alright.” He relented. He knew realistically that Isha wouldn’t be able to walk through the night and it wasn’t something he would ask of her. He was just filled with fear of the Stadwatch finding her and taking her away.

Isha curled up on the prickly grass, though didn’t close her eyes. Instead she looked out over the water, a worried crease to her brow. “When will we get to go home?”

“Soon.” He had no idea when they’d get to go back. Part of him wondered if they’d ever get to go back. But he wouldn’t tell Isha any of that tonight.

“Where are mama and Noori are now?”

“Hopefully they’ll be waiting for us in Ketterdam.” He needed to find them. And find them soon before they were shipped somewhere else.

“Will we get to go home once we find them?”

“I don’t know.”

“But papa, you know everything.”

“This is something I don’t know.” He wished he had the answers she wanted to hear, but he didn’t. There was so much uncertainty. Too much. Kaz didn’t like not knowing. He didn’t like not having a plan of action. It was difficult coming up with one when he didn’t even know where Inej and Noor were. All he had was the suspicion they would have been taken first to Ketterdam.

“Papa, what’s that?” Isha pointed out onto the river.

Kaz followed the direction of her gaze, noting a dark shape bobbing atop the water. “It’s a boat.” A dim spark of something like hope flickered into being in his chest. He approached the water’s edge, kneeling on the ground and reaching out he was able to grab hold of the boat and pulled it to shore. It appeared to have come loose from whatever dock it had once moored at, the dangling piece of rope attached to the prow telling as much.

Kaz placed one foot in the boat and the other on land, tossing their bags and his cane inside. “Isha, come here.” Upon her approach he picked her up and lowered her gently into the boat, ignoring the sharp pain that ran down his bad leg before climbing the rest of the way in.

The boat was small with a single oar and one bench for sitting. He sat down next to Isha, who quickly curled up once more, this time using his lap as a pillow. Kaz pushed off from the river bank and soon they were making steady progress down stream towards Ketterdam. They were making progress, they would get to Ketterdam on time.

“Papa?”

“Yes, Isha?”

She yawned. “Can you tell me a story? Like you did when I was little?”

He smiled softly down at her. “Of course I can.” And he began telling the tale of one of the many jobs he’d done in years past.

Chapter Text

They had been stopped just outside Ketterdam for what must have been several hours by this point. Noor had slept on and off for the most part, remaining curled up on Inej’s lap. Inej hadn’t dared try to sleep. She needed to stay alert and find some sort of opening she could use to try and escape.

The door of the coach was locked from the outside, and the window was too small for her to be able to reach out and unpick the lock. So, she would need to wait for one of the Stadwatch to open it. From there she didn’t know what she could do. It would be easy for her to slip away into the streets of Ketterdam, though they were likely crawling with Stadwatch. Even if she did manage it there was still Noor. Noor who was very easily scared. Noor who couldn’t climb very well. Inej remembered very clearly the time that Noor had climbed a tree, following Isha, only to fall out and give herself a concussion. If she were to make use of Ketterdam’s rooves she would need to carry Noor.

It wasn’t until nightfall that Inej heard the lock click open. She pulled Noor closer to her as the door opened. The Stadwatch leader stood by the entrance, revolver raised.

“Out.” He said.

Wordlessly Inej did as he said, climbing to the ground before helping Noor down.

“Follow along and don’t make a sound. Any fuss and the girl dies.” He focused his revolver on the back of Noor’s head.

Inej gripped onto Noor’s hand as her daughter shrunk into her side.

It soon became clear that the Stadwatch didn’t want them to be seen as they traversed back streets and kept to the shadows. By the direction in which they were travelling Inej knew they were headed towards fourth harbour, and likely a ship moored at one of its’ berths.

Her heart rate steadily increased the closer they drew to the harbour. A nondescript ship soon came into view. Its’ flags held no adornments, no indication as to where it came from or as to what cargo it carried. Inej knew immediately this was their destination.

The Stadwatch leader had them walk up the gangway and onto the deck before he walked over to a hatch and pulled it open. “In.” He said, gesturing with his revolver.

Inej’s heart stuttered, cold sweat dripping down her neck. She felt as if she were fourteen again, being forced aboard another ship. Being shoved down into the darkness and fear and confusion. She did her best to shake the memory from her mind, focusing on Noor. Noor who she needed to protect.

Through the hatch and down a set of stairs they found themselves in the hold. Several cells lined the wall, most of them full of other Suli prisoners. Revolver pointed threateningly, the leader unlocked one of the cell doors and had Inej and Noor shoved inside, the door locking with a clang behind them.

Without a word the Stadwatch left, shutting the hatch behind them and leaving the hold in utter darkness.

Noor whined, pressing herself closer to Inej.

“It’s going to be all right.” Inej said, wrapping her arms around her daughter. “We’ll find a way out of here.” It was hard to disguise the tremor in her voice, though she didn’t think Noor noticed it.

Chapter Text

Dawn light filtered across Ketterdam as Kaz hammered on the front door of the Van Eck mansion. He leaned heavily on his cane, despite resting it whilst rowing into the city it wasn’t enough to ease away the pain built up from hours of walking. Isha stood close by his side, yawning.

After several minutes of loud knocking a servant opened the door, clearly unimpressed with the early morning visit.

“Mister Van Eck is asleep at this time.” The servant said.

“I don’t care.” Kaz shouldered past the servant, pulling Isha inside behind him.

“I really must protest—”

“Save it.” Kaz made his way through the house and up the stairs to the bedroom Wylan and Jesper shared, Isha trailing along beside him.

Upon entering the bedroom Kaz ripped open the curtains, letting the early morning light filter inside before tugging off the bedspread.

Jesper groaned, shielding his eyes with a hand. “Kaz, what the fuck?”

“Watch your language.”

Jesper looked around and noted Isha. “Hey Ish.” He gave her a tired wave, which she returned. “Where’s Inej and Noor?”

“Excellent question, Jesper.” Kaz then turned to Wylan. “I was wondering that myself.” He tightened his grip on his cane in an almost threatening manner.

Wylan sat up, wide-eyed. “Why are you looking at me? How would I know?”

“You’re on the Merchant Council, Wylan.” He took a few steps closer. “Was it not the council who ordered that all the Suli be rounded up?”

“Yes, but you know that I stood opposed to that.”

“I am aware, but that doesn’t negate the fact that yesterday the Stadwatch came knocking, leaving with Inej and Noor. I would very much like to know where they are.”

“I don’t know where they are.” Wylan said. “Honest. You know I’d tell you if I did. Because I was so against the idea the Council started keeping me in the dark. I don’t know where they have been taking the Suli.”

Kaz studied his face. He believed him. Wylan had no reason to lie.

“How are we gonna find mama and Noori?” Isha asked.

“We’re still going to find them.” Kaz said, turning to her. “We’ll just have to figure something else out.” He had hoped that Wylan would have had at least some slue as to where the Suli were being taken.

“What if I spied on the Stadwatch?”

“No.”

“But, papa—”

“No.”

“I want to help!” She declared. “I can be your spider.” To prove her point she scales the door frame, moves to hang off the door itself before dropping to the floor without making a sound. Just as her mother had taught her. “See I can do it. And you can’t do it because your not as good at climbing and I know that your leg is hurting and mama says that you should rest it when it’s bothering you.” As she spoke she moved to stand atop the bed so that she was now eye level with him.

“I said no. I need you to stay where you’ll be safe.” Kaz took a few steps toward her. He understood her want to help, especially if she was still feeling guilty, but he wasn’t going to put her in danger just for a bit of information.

“Where is safe? You thought home was safe but they still took away mama and Noori and we don’t know where they are. I could find them!”

“I’m not going to let you run around Ketterdam by yourself spying on the Stadwatch.”

“Why? I can take care of myself.” She dug into her pocket and pulled out a knife Kaz instantly recognised as Inej’s Sankt Petyr.

“Isha, where did you get that.” He said, it being the first thing he could think of, having not expected to see her withdraw the blade.

“I know where you and mama keep them.”

It was no secret that he and Inej kept their weapons in a lock box on top of their wardrobe. It was too high for Noor to get into but not for Isha who could climb up anything and was just as good at unlocking things. Though they had trusted her to know that the weapons weren’t to be touched or played with.

“That’s not a toy, Isha, and you shouldn’t have it. Give it to me.” He held out his hand.

“No.” She clutched the blade to her chest. “I want to help. I can be a spider for you just like mama was. I can take care of myself.”

“No, Isha. It’s too dangerous.”

“I’m not a little kid! I can take care of myself! I can help!” Her voice was growing louder and louder.

“Isha, it’s best if you just let me—”

“They’re my family too!” She yelled the words at the top of her lungs snatching Kaz’s cane from his hand before darting out of the room.

“Isha—” He went to follow her, but Jesper stepped in the way.

“Let her cool off.” he said.

Kaz glared long and hard at Jesper. “Let me pass.” He needed to follow Isha and make sure she didn’t go off into the streets on her own thinking she could single handedly take down the Stadwatch.

Seemingly having read his mind Jesper said. “She’s not going to go anywhere. She’s smart enough to wait until dark.”

“Jesper.” He knew what Jesper said was true, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to make sure his daughter hadn’t run off somewhere. Inej and Noor had already been taken, he’d be damned if something happened to Isha as well.

“You should let her help.”

“I am not putting her in danger.” His voice turned dark. The fact that Jesper was even suggesting such a thing was inconceivable.

“Not in the way she wants.” Jesper added hurriedly. “But let her do something small. Let her feel useful.” He placed a hand on Kaz’s shoulder. “She’s just like you. I mean she doesn’t just look like you, but she is you. She wants to be involved and she’ll refuse to be left behind. She wants to make you proud.”

“She doesn’t need to do anything to make me proud.” He’d been proud of her since the day she was born. He always had been and always would be proud of her. “How do you know all this?”

“Because,” Jesper said, “anyone who’d ever been around you at one point or another has wanted to impress you.”

Kaz nodded, looking off to the doorway that Isha had disappeared through. He needed to come up with a plan. He needed to figure out where Inej and Noor had been taken. But first he’d need to talk to his eldest daughter.

Chapter Text

Inej had spent the past few hours trying not to sink into the past as memories continued to threaten to take over. The best strategy she’d found was to card her fingers through Noor’s hair. The action kept her connected to the present, though at the moment the present wasn’t looking much better than the past.

The first hour or so they were aboard the ship Noor had cried. She was hungry and thirsty and the Stadwatch hadn’t bothered to change that. When the ship had begun to sail out of the harbour, Noor had perked up a bit. Inej could only hope her daughter was connecting the rocking of the ship as it made its’ way out onto the True Sea to the times they had boarded The Wraith as a family to visit Ravka. She would deal with the disappointment Noor would undoubtedly feel when she found out they weren’t going to visit her grandparents later. Right now Noor was occupied trying to fit two puzzle pieces she’d pulled from her pocket, seeing by the sliver of moonlight that had managed to penetrate the ship’s hull.

“She’s you daughter?” An older woman asked in Suli, nodding at Noor.

“She is.” Inej said, continuing to stroke her daughter’s hair.

“What’s her name?”

“Noor.”

The woman nodded approvingly. “That’s a good Suli name.”

Inej nodded along.

“She’s very pale. Do you keep her locked inside?”

By Suli standards Noor did look quite pale. “No.” Inej said. “Her father’s Kerch.” It was a conversation she’d had many times before whenever someone questioned the differing skin tones between her and her children. She knew Kaz had also had similar conversations.

The woman looked as if she didn’t entirely approve, though didn’t say so. Instead she said, “And they still took her. What did the Stadwatch do with her father?”

“He wasn’t at home when they took us.” Inej said. “With any luck he would have taken our other daughter somewhere where she’ll be safe.”

It was only when daylight filtered between the wood of the ship that a member of the Stadwatch came below decks bearing a bucket of water and a basket of crusty bread. He ordered them to all stand against the back wall while he opened up the cell door, dumping the two containers just inside before closing and locking it again. If she had only a set of lock picks Inej knew that even someone of her meagre talent would be able to get the door open. Perhaps Noor would be able to get it open.

That was an idea to explore later as for when the door was locked the other Suli locked in the cell with her moved straight for the food and water. Noor began crying as she was accidentally shoved aside.

Inej picked her up out of the way. “It was just an accident, Noori. We’ll get our turn soon.” Sure enough as each of them collected their share of food and water the crowd began to dissipate.

Inej put Noor back down so that the two of them could get their portion, though after watching Noor devour her food and water, Inej handed over her share. Noor clearly needed it more than she did, and besides Inej had lived off little nutrition before.