Six of Crows, #2
Crooked Kingdom
by Leigh Bardugo
Contents
6. Nina
Overview
Nina’s perspective reveals how deeply parem withdrawal has damaged her confidence and her powers, even as the crew prepares to rescue Inej. Jesper’s father, Colm, becomes both an emotional pressure point and a possible liability after Kaz realizes he was used to lure Jesper into an ambush.
Kaz hides Colm, restores Jesper’s guns, and pushes the crew into the night’s operation despite uncertainty about whether Van Eck, Pekka Rollins, or both are moving against them. During the infiltration, Nina’s power fails in its old form but manifests terrifyingly through dust, killing a guard and suggesting that parem has changed what she can do.
Summary
Nina watches Colm Fahey in the Black Veil mausoleum and is struck by how wholesome Jesper’s father seems among Ketterdam criminals. Her worry for Inej sharpens Nina’s sense that she cannot afford weakness, but the Cornelis Smeet job and her lingering addiction to jurda parem have made the day brutal.
Nina recalls her withdrawal after Djerholm, including Matthias enduring her pleas, insults, and desperation for more parem. After Kaz hid the crew on Black Veil, Nina asked Kuwei for another dose and learned he had given the remaining drug to Matthias; later, Matthias revealed Kaz has it. Matthias refused to help Nina relapse, then comforted her through the craving by talking with her until she slept.
When Kaz, Matthias, Jesper, and Wylan return from the university with Colm, Kaz questions whether they were followed and quickly concludes Colm was used as bait through his bank loan. Colm confronts Jesper about the farm, Jesper’s missing studies, and the danger of Ketterdam, while Wylan, Nina, and Kaz improvise a false story about Jesper working for a gunsmith and being swindled. Kaz tells Colm that the authorities will not help in Ketterdam and promises to recover the money within three days.
Colm initially refuses to stay involved and wants to leave with Jesper, but Jesper pleads for one more chance to make things right and save the farm. Kaz arranges for Rotty and Specht to hide Colm at the Geldrenner Hotel under another name, warning that enemies may try to use him again. After Colm leaves, the crew considers whether Van Eck, Pekka Rollins, or both might be behind the ambush, but Kaz insists the night’s mission must proceed and returns Jesper’s revolvers.
That night the crew travels by boat toward the rescue operation. Kuwei remains on Black Veil with Rotty and Specht, while Kaz, Matthias, Wylan, Jesper, and Nina move into position. Nina carries a pistol because she no longer trusts her Corporalnik power, and she fears that if she fails, Inej may die or the plan may collapse.
Nina and Jesper encounter two guards on the western perimeter. Nina tries to slow their pulses, but her familiar power seems absent, and one guard notices them. Under pressure, Nina’s rage focuses into an unexpected ability: a cloud of dust rushes into the standing guard’s mouth and nostrils, killing him. Shocked that she has manipulated matter in a way unlike normal Corporalnik work, Nina chooses to keep moving because the guards are down and Inej still needs rescuing.
Who Appears
- Nina ZenikPoint-of-view character battling parem withdrawal and discovering a frightening new dust-based power.
- Colm FaheyJesper’s father, used as bait through his bank loan and hidden for safety.
- Jesper FaheyAshamed son confronted by Colm, reunited with his revolvers, and assigned to Nina’s team.
- Kaz BrekkerAnalyzes Colm’s role in the trap, protects him, and drives the rescue plan forward.
- Matthias HelvarSupports Nina through cravings, challenges lies, and joins the night infiltration.
- Wylan Van EckHelps invent a cover story for Jesper and worries his father may be ready for them.
- Kuwei Yul-BoReveals the remaining parem was passed on and stays behind on Black Veil.
- RottyReceives Kaz’s instructions and helps escort Colm to safer lodgings.
- SpechtHelps move Colm from Black Veil and later remains to guard Kuwei.