After dinner at Wylan’s house, Inej reflects on the strange comfort of being a guest rather than a thief. Jesper and Wylan try to cheer the household with music, while Marya continues a slow recovery. Inej misses Nina, wonders about visiting Ravka and finding her own family someday, and considers her new uncertainty: her contract is paid, she has money, and she is gathering information to hunt slavers through Kerch’s ports.

In her room, Inej finds a note from Kaz telling her to meet him at sunrise at Fifth Harbor. Inej recognizes that Kaz has changed in some ways, but Inej also fears he may retreat into cold distance. Inej decides she will meet him, end what has remained unresolved between them, and share useful information before moving on.

The next morning, Inej leaves Wylan’s house and meets Kaz on the quay. They speak quietly about Wylan, Jesper, and Jesper’s possible Fabrikator training, and Kaz admits in his guarded way that Jesper is missed at the Slat. Kaz then gives Inej a long glass and directs her to berth twenty-two, where she sees a small warship flying Kerch colors and bearing the name The Wraith.

Kaz reveals that the ship and its berth are Inej’s, bought from Wylan, with Specht ready to help hire a crew. The gift gives Inej the means to pursue slavers, but Inej says she is not done with Ketterdam and asks for Kaz’s help against the wider system that profits from exploitation. Kaz protests that he is not a hero, but Inej tells him the city needs his particular kind of fearsome power, not conventional goodness.

Inej brushes Kaz’s hand, and after struggling with himself, Kaz lets their fingers entwine. They stand together looking out at the sea, and Kaz explains that he chose the crow as a symbol because crows remember who has fed them, helped them, or wronged them. When Kaz directs Inej to look toward a Ravkan ship, she sees two Suli figures disembarking and realizes they are her parents.

Kaz explains that Sturmhond found Inej’s parents through scouts as part of their deal, though Kaz had feared the reunion might be a mistake. Overwhelmed, Inej weeps, laughs, and asks Kaz to come meet them. Kaz nervously checks his tie, and Inej runs down the quay calling for her mother and father as her parents run toward her.