Summary

In Chapter Eight: "Matthias," it is revealed that Kaz's information network had already spied on Bajan until he inadvertently led them to Alys. Thanks to Smeet's documents, the group tricked Van Eck into sending all of his forces to guard Inej instead of the lakehouse where Alys is hiding. From there, the group split up, knocked out most of the guards, and took Alys. However, when they return to the safe house, Wylan is worried about Kaz’s methods, but Kaz demands that Wylan never question him again.

After hours of Alys’s unbearable singing, Kaz goes over the plan as he knows Van Eck will not trade Alys quietly. Matthias tries to ask Jesper what happened to Nina without Success. Then, he thinks of when she, under the influence of parem, accused him of seeing her as a cause to...