Six of Crows, #1
Six of Crows
by Leigh Bardugo
Contents
Chapter 45: Kaz
Overview
Van Eck reveals that he acted without the Merchant Council and intends to weaponize parem for personal profit, turning the crew’s completed job into a private betrayal. Kaz’s counter-trick is exposed when the supposed Kuwei is revealed to be Wylan in disguise, but Van Eck still escapes with the money and captures Inej.
The chapter shifts the conflict from the Ice Court heist to a direct war against Van Eck. Kaz loses his leverage, recognizes Inej as the vulnerability Van Eck can use against him, and rallies the fractured crew around a new plan to rescue her and recover what they are owed.
Summary
Kaz confronts Van Eck after the failed exchange and realizes the Merchant Council was never involved. Van Eck admits he hired the crew privately to obtain Bo Yul-Bayur and the parem formula, having already invested in jurda fields so he can profit when the drug creates worldwide chaos and nations enslave Grisha for power.
Van Eck orders his Tidemakers to destroy the crew’s longboat and then prepares to crush the Ferolind, but Kaz tries to stop him by claiming Wylan is aboard. Van Eck reveals his contempt for Wylan, explaining that he considers his son a disgrace because Wylan cannot read or write, and that his new child will replace Wylan as heir. Van Eck then destroys the ship anyway, apparently killing Wylan and Nina.
Kaz reveals the truth: the boy Van Eck believes is Kuwei is actually Wylan, tailored by Nina while she was under the influence of parem. Wylan had agreed to the disguise because he wanted to know whether his father truly valued his life, and Van Eck’s willingness to kill him gives Wylan the answer. Kaz uses this to show that Van Eck never had Kuwei, but Van Eck responds by ordering his forces to kill the crew except Kaz.
During the attack, Van Eck notices Kaz’s instinctive concern for Inej and changes tactics, ordering his Grisha to seize the money and the girl. Inej kills the first Tidemakers who try to take her, and Jesper shoots down one Squaller, but another Squaller lifts Inej into the air. A third catches her before she hits the ground, knocks her unconscious, and carries her away while Kaz stops Jesper from shooting because Inej would fall too.
Van Eck escapes by brigantine with the money and Inej, threatening to torture her unless Kaz brings him the real Kuwei within a week. Kaz reveals afterward that Nina and Kuwei were never on the Ferolind; Specht hid them in the abandoned cages beneath Hellgate. The crew’s tensions erupt when Kaz exposes that Jesper’s gambling debt led him to mention their departure and expected money to a Dime Lion, which caused Pekka Rollins to ambush them before the job.
Although Kaz feels helpless and blames himself for letting Inej become his vulnerability, he begins forming a new scheme. Jesper, Wylan, and Matthias commit to helping rescue Inej, and Kaz resolves to reclaim both the money and the freedom he promised her. Dirtyhands reasserts himself, ready to invent a trick Van Eck will not forget.
Who Appears
- Kaz BrekkerExposes Wylan’s disguise, loses Inej to Van Eck, and begins planning revenge.
- Jan Van EckReveals his private parem scheme, disowns Wylan, steals the money, and captures Inej.
- Inej GhafaFights off Grisha attackers but is knocked unconscious and taken hostage.
- Wylan Van EckDisguised as Kuwei, learns his father would sacrifice him without hesitation.
- Jesper FaheyGrieves, defends Wylan, and is confronted over the mistake that exposed the crew.
- Matthias HelvarKeeps Jesper and Kaz from fighting and supports the plan to rescue Inej.
- RottySurvives when Van Eck’s Tidemakers smash the crew’s longboat.
- Van Eck’s GrishaTidemakers and Squallers attack the crew, destroy the ship, and help abduct Inej.
- Nina ZenikAbsent but crucial; previously tailored Wylan and is hidden with Kuwei at Hellgate.
- Kuwei Yul-BoThe true target of Van Eck’s scheme, secretly hidden away from the exchange.