You just found out you were playing for the small bits. You found out there are smarter, more ruthless streetlords in the world.

Han was badly wounded—in all ways. And his instinct was to withdraw from the cause of that pain.

He looked up at Dancer, who met his eyes directly. Cat and Dancer hadn’t needed to return from Oden’s Ford. They could have stayed there, snug and safe, while the Fells disintegrated into civil war. And once the war began, it was likely invaders would be up from the south to split the spoils. If things had been bad in Ragmarket and Southbridge before, what would it be like in the middle of a war? And if the Bayars won, how long would he, Han Alister, last?

He’d thought he had no money on the table, but he did, in fact .

As if he’d overheard Han’s thoughts, Dancer said, “I will not let Lord Bayar win this. I’ll die before I let that happen, and not because I’ve made any bargain with the Demonai. I’d like to have you with me in this fight, but if need be, I’ll go it alone.” Dancer’s blue eyes burned with an intensity Han had never seen before.

“You won’t be alone,” Cat said, putting her hand on Dancer’s arm. “Whatever Cuffs decides to do.”

Han didn’t have to play for Rebecca Morley, who’d gammoned him and lied to him, used him and made a fool of him. He could do it for pride, for reputation, for payback, and for Cat and Dancer, who would die alongside him if they didn’t win.

He’d do it for himself while he licked his wounds and decided how to go forward from here. It would give him time to sort out his feelings about Rebecca. Raisa, he corrected himself. Avoiding her wouldn’t help. He needed time with her, one-on-one. Time to figure out who she really was, and whether she’d been playing him for real.

Only this time he’d be more careful about giving his heart.

Han sighed. “All right,” he said. “I’m in. All the way. I’m still angry, but I’m done sulking.”

They nodded solemnly, eyes averted, as if not wanting to cause him further embarrassment.

“Cat,” Han said. “Are you still crewing for me?”

Cat eyed him suspiciously, then nodded. “I swore to you, didn’t I?”

“Good. Corporal Byrne and Averill Demonai are riding back to Fellsmarch this afternoon. I want you to go with them.”

Cat’s looked from Dancer to Han. “What? You want me to go off with a bluejacket and a copperhead? What do you take me for?”

“Do you want to help me or not? Remember what I said? That you couldn’t just do the jobs you liked?”