Six of Crows, #2
Crooked Kingdom
by Leigh Bardugo
Contents
41. Wylan
Overview
In the cathedral after the auction, the political fallout turns against Jan Van Eck when documents expose the vanished Merchant Council funds. Kaz’s deeper trap is revealed: Van Eck’s will has been replaced so Wylan can control the estate, and Wylan defeats his father’s attempt to expose his illiteracy by reciting a legal document from memory. Van Eck is taken away in disgrace, while Wylan begins to inherit the life and power his father tried to deny him.
Summary
Wylan sits near the front of the church with Jesper, Alys, and Alys’ maid while the aftermath of the auction settles into political chaos. The Ravkans, Shu, and Fjerdans have fought, the Shu have left threatening military action, and the Fjerdans have been forced back to their embassy under plague restrictions. Wylan is injured and nervous under stadwatch guard, but he feels a quiet triumph because Kaz’s scheme has likely kept Kuwei safe and helped prevent a war.
A messenger brings Gemensbank papers to Jellen Radmakker, exposing the false jurda fund that moved the Merchant Council’s money toward the Shu. Jan Van Eck is shackled as the Council turns on him for fraud, treasonous market manipulation, and the loss of seventy million kruge. Wylan realizes that if Van Eck is convicted, Van Eck’s fortune should pass to Alys and her unborn child, leaving Alys vulnerable and confused.
Kaz arrives and reveals that Alys may not control the estate after all: Wylan may have authority over Van Eck’s funds. Van Eck insists Wylan was written out of the will, but Kaz’s comments make Wylan understand that Kaz replaced the will in Van Eck’s safe and has also neutralized the attorney’s copy. Wylan recognizes that Kaz’s earlier warning about stealing Wylan’s money meant Kaz intended to hand Van Eck’s empire to Wylan.
Desperate, Van Eck publicly declares that Wylan cannot inherit because Wylan cannot read, exposing the shame Van Eck has used against Wylan since childhood. Wylan turns the accusation into a trap by asking for a Transfer of Authority and pretending to read it. Using memory from Jesper’s earlier reading, Wylan recites enough legal language to convince the Council that Van Eck is raving, not that Wylan is illiterate.
Van Eck attacks, but Jesper blocks him and quietly tells Van Eck that he can read to Wylan. The guards haul Van Eck away as the Council concludes he has become unhinged. Wylan delays signing anything, is treated as the new authority at the Geldstraat house, and Kaz persuades Alys to leave for the country for the baby’s sake, where she can continue music lessons with Mister Bajan.
Who Appears
- Wylan Van EckFaces his father’s accusations, proves himself publicly, and gains control of the Van Eck estate.
- Jesper FaheySupports Wylan, worries about his father, and protects Wylan from Van Eck.
- Jan Van EckArrested for the Council’s missing money and disgraced after attacking Wylan’s abilities.
- Kaz BrekkerReveals the final layer of his scheme by securing Wylan’s authority over Van Eck’s funds.
- Alys Van EckConfused by Jan’s arrest and persuaded to wait safely in the country.
- Jellen RadmakkerMerchant Council member who receives the evidence and helps manage Van Eck’s arrest.
- Karl DrydenCouncil member angered by Van Eck’s damage to Kerch and convinced of his instability.