Six of Crows Read Online Free PDF

,Geels.Tellthemtoshoot.”
    “Kaz—”saidJespernervously.
    “Goon.Findyourballsandgivetheorder.”
    WhatgamewasKazplaying?Hadheexpectedthis?HadhejustassumedInejwouldfindherway
    totheguardsintime?
    Sheglanceddownagain.Geelsradiatedanticipation.Hetookadeepbreath,puffingouthischest.
    Inej’sstepsfaltered,andshehadtofightnottogoslidingstraightofftheedgeoftheroof. He’sgoing todoit.I’mgoingtowatchKazdie.
    “Fire!”Geelsshouted.
    Agunshotsplittheair.BigBolligerletlooseacryandcrumpledtotheground.
    “Damn it!” shouted Jesper, dropping to one knee beside Bolliger and pressing his hand to the bulletwoundasthebigmanmoaned.“Youworthlesspodge!”heyelledatGeels.“Youjustviolated neutralterritory.”
    “Nothingtosayyoudidn’tshootfirst,”Geelsreplied.“Andwho’sgoingtoknow?Noneofyou
    arewalkingoutofhere.”
    Geels’voicesoundedtoohigh.Hewastryingtomaintainhiscomposure,butInejcouldhearpanic pulsingagainsthiswords,thestartledwingbeatofafrightenedbird.Why?Momentsbeforehe’dbeen allbluster.
    ThatwaswhenInejsawKazstillhadn’tmoved.“Youdon’tlookwell,Geels.”
    “I’mjustfine,”hesaid.Buthewasn’t.Helookedpaleandshaky.Hiseyesweredartingrightand leftasifsearchingtheshadowedwalkwayoftheroof.
    “Areyou?”Kazaskedconversationally.“Thingsaren’tgoingquiteasplanned,arethey?”
    “Kaz,”Jespersaid.“Bolliger ’sbleedingbad—”
    “Good,”Kazsaidignoringhim.
    “Kaz,heneedsamedik!”
    Kazsparedthewoundedmanthebarestglance.“Whatheneedstodoisstophisbellyachingandbe gladIdidn’thaveHolsttakehimdownwithaheadshot.”
    Evenfromabove,InejsawGeelsflinch.
    “That’s the guard’s name, isn’t it?” Kaz asked. “Willem Holst and Bert Van Daal – the two city guardsondutytonight.TheonesyouemptiedtheBlackTips’cofferstobribe?”
    Geelssaidnothing.
    “Willem Holst,” Kaz said loudly, his voice floating up to the roof, “likes to gamble almost as muchasJesperdoes,soyourmoneyheldalotofappeal.ButHolsthasmuchbiggerproblems–let’s call them urges. I won’t go into detail. A secret’s not like coin. It doesn’t keep its value in the spending. You’ll just have to trust me when I say this one would turn even your stomach. Isn’t that right,Holst?”
    The response was another gunshot. It struck the cobblestones near Geels’ feet. Geels released a shockedbleatandsprangback.
    This time Inej had a better chance to track the origin of the gunfire. The shot had come from somewherenearthewestsideofthebuilding.IfHolstwasthere,thatmeanttheotherguard–BertVan Daal – would be on the east side. Had Kaz managed to neutralise him, too? Or was he counting on her?Shespedoverthegables.
    “Justshoothim,Holst!”Geelsbellowed,desperationsawingathisvoice.“Shoothiminthehead!”
    Kaz snorted in disgust. “Do you really think that secret would die with me? Go on, Holst,” he called. “Put a bullet in my skull. There will be messengers sprinting to your wife and your watch captain’sdoorbeforeIhittheground.”
    Noshotcame.
    “How?”Geelssaidbitterly.“Howdidyouevenknowwhowouldbeondutytonight?Ihadtopay
    throughthegillstogetthatroster.Youcouldn’thaveoutbidme.”
    “Let’ssaymycurrencycarriesmoresway.”
    “Moneyismoney.”
    “Itradeininformation,Geels,thethingsmendowhentheythinknooneislooking.Shameholds morevaluethancoinevercan.”
    Hewasgrandstanding,Inejsawthat,buyinghertimeassheleapedovertheslateshingles.
    “Areyouworryingaboutthesecondguard?GoodoldBertVanDaal?”Kazasked.“Maybehe’sup
    thererightnow,wonderingwhatheshoulddo.Shootme?ShootHolst?OrmaybeIgottohim,too, and he’s getting ready to blow a hole in your chest, Geels.” He leaned in as if he and Geels were sharingagreatsecret.“WhynotgiveVanDaaltheorderandfindout?”
    Geelsopenedandclosedhismouthlikeacarp,thenbellowed,“VanDaal!”
    Just as Van Daal parted his lips to answer, Inej slipped up behind him and placed a blade to his throat.She’dbarelyhadtimetopickouthisshadowandslidedowntherooftiles.Saints,Kazlikedto