"I have never heard of that. Veretian," Matthias says, trying the word out. He stares at the man, watching his every move. He realizes, also, that Dutch is no longer in bed, and his jaw clenches.

"Have you done something to Dutch?" he asks in a hard voice, stepping forward. They are alike in height and build, so for once Matthias can't use his size to intimidate and must instead use his cold eyes and the rough bite of his guttural, learned Kerch.