Kaz boards the schooner carrying the badly wounded Inej and orders Specht to get the ship out of Ketterdam's harbor. The crew is in disorder, and Kaz's injured leg is in severe pain, but Kaz refuses Jesper's help and takes Inej belowdecks to Nina.

Nina is already treating Wylan's minor bullet graze, but Kaz forces Wylan off the table so Inej can be treated. Nina warns that she is a Heartrender rather than a true Healer, but Kaz insists Inej will die without immediate help. Nina sends Kaz away because Kaz's fear and agitation are distracting her.

On deck, Kaz tries to understand how the Black Tips knew where to attack. Jesper suspects another spy, while Kaz argues that Geels could not have organized such a large, fast response alone. Kaz has Matthias Helvar and Jesper bring forward Oomen, the Black Tip enforcer who stabbed Inej.

Kaz interrogates Oomen and, driven by rage over Inej's condition, mutilates him to force answers. Oomen reveals that Geels was paid five thousand kruge to bring out the Black Tips and some Razorgulls, and that the ambush was meant to finish any survivors after the decoy boat exploded. When pressed for the employer's name, Oomen says it was Pekka Rollins.

Kaz is shaken by the revelation because Pekka Rollins is the man Kaz blames for destroying his past and Jordie. Although Kaz promised Oomen money and passage if Oomen talked, Kaz throws Oomen into the sea, explaining privately that Inej would have argued for mercy but cannot because of Oomen. Wylan protests the killing, but Jesper warns Wylan not to challenge Kaz while Kaz is covered in blood and armed.

Kaz orders Matthias shackled again and goes below to clean up. Alone, Kaz thinks about Pekka Rollins standing between the crew and the Ice Court prize. Rather than merely wanting Rollins dead, Kaz wants Rollins ruined, and Kaz sees stealing the thirty million kruge from under Rollins as the beginning of that revenge.