I am waiting outside in the freezing cold, waiting for Kaz and Wylan to come out of the gambling hall with the keys to the house of a rich mercher; Smeet. It has been a couple of days since Kaz had his outburst and things have been awkward, we have been trying to dodge each other. Nether of us wanting to embrace this shift between us.

The rest of our group noticed this shift between us immediately although no one brave or stupid enough to ask. Well except for Jesper, who asked Kaz and got a glare in answer. I told Inej what happened, the only person I trust with all of my secrets and she didn't seem surprised but instead shrugged and carried on. It's easy being with Inej, not like with Jesper who is constantly bouncing with energy or Wylan who has so many questions or Matthias with his cold calm. Inej gets me, understands that maybe I can't let Kaz in even if I want to, Aleksander still hanging over me like a dark shadow.

Suddenly Wylan and Kaz appear and we head down the busy street, "everything go as planned?" I ask breaking the silence and Kaz nods stiffly. Wylan bites his lip before saying "Jesper just used his guns to keep Smeet at the table" I raise an eyebrow as Matthias comes into view "good for Jesper" Wylan looks shocked at my reaction. "What? Jesper needs to learn responsibility" I give in answer to his unspoken question, Jesper does need to learn how to have money without spending it all at once and maybe this will help him do that.

"All clear?" Kaz asks the Fjerdan when he comes closer and he nods "all clear" Matthias says "the lights went out on the top floor of Smeet's house more than an hour ago, but I don't know if the servants are still awake" the cold wine whips around and I say "he only has a daily maid and a cook" it was job to find out as much as I could about the inside of the march's house and the people in it. It is usually Inej's job but...... "he is too cheap for full time servants" I add wringing my hands nervously. "How is-" Matthias asks before Kaz interrupts him by answering "Nina is fine. Jesper is fine. Everyone is fine except me because I am stuck with a gang of handwringing nurse maids. Keep watch" I bite my lip, looking between Kaz and Matthias as Wylan gives a sympathetic shrug. Matthias looks like he is about to dash Kaz's skull against a wall as we watch Wylan and Kaz walk over to Smeet's house.

As they enter I lean against a wall putting a leg up against it "that man is infuriating, how do you put up with him?" Matthias asks and I shrug looking down at my dark boots, "Kaz doesn't always say the right thing but most of time he means good" he snorts at that. I reach for the blade tucked into my side for comfort and look up "you cant stand there and judge him when you hunted my kind as a living" this makes Matthias go white and shift uncomfortably "I have changed, Kaz hasn't" I shake my head pushing myself off of the wall "no one truly changes Matthias, that's the one constant in this world. We just adapt, move into who we were always supposed to be" I don't tell him I know this because I still feel a pull towards Aleksander or that I want nothing more then to be in the safety of the little palace again with my old friends. Maybe once we get the money.

I think back to seeing Kirigan on the docks and I wander what would have happened if I had gone back with him. I would have been in the little palace probably eating with Karlan and Darla. I would share a room with Aleksander, sit in meetings with him and maybe just maybe the old king would have stepped down for me. But it no good to dwell on what might have been only what is now, so I shake myself out of my thoughts and focus on standing watch on the job.