if anyone wants to dare | Glowfic Constellation

the-truth-is-never-straight

Sergeant Valeriya Oretsev - or just Val - had tracked Bo Yul-Bayur all the way to the (very frustrating) shootout between Shu and Fjerda that ended in his death and the capture of his daughter, Kuwei Kir-Bo, by Fjerdan witch-hunters.

Val isn't well suited to breaking into Shu research facilities, so if the Darkling wants to get her hands on jurda parem that way, she's going to have to send someone else.

But she is exceptionally well suited to pursuing the witch-hunters up the coast -

She isn't fast enough, though, and they get Kuwei Kir-Bo behind the unbroken walls of the Ice Court before she can do more than take down a few witch-hunters. (Assholes.) They didn't get a good look at her face, at least, which means a short run and a quick change of clothes lets her blend into the city, where she tracks down one of Ravka's spies (giving the appropriate code words, and also advice on being less embarrassingly easy to track) and then cools her heels until the Darkling can figure out a way to get a team into the fucking Ice Court. Or until she just calls Val back, but Val's got a hunch that she's not about to let Kuwei slip through her fingers.

Confirmation of that hunch comes in the form of Sturmhund, legendary pirate - unofficial Ravkan privateer, which is the extent of her identity that Val has clearance for - who's somehow swanned her way into an invitation to Hringkalla, the massive spring festival. Val's swept into her 'entourage' - not the Ravkan diplomatic team, who probably at best will be able to provide extraction backup in case of catastrophic failure to sneak away, with how closely they're being watched - and that somehow gets them all the way to White Island (Val is seriously impressed), where Val quietly scopes out the crowd while Sturmhund draws attention (apparently via vying for an 'audience' with the Crown Princess, which, good luck to her) -

And then she sees Kaz Brekker, of all people.

Well, they knew they wouldn't be the only ones after Kuwei - the Dregs' presence just means their competition is actually serious -

At which point she follows Kaz's gaze to a building ruckus at the center of the court, near the throne -

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Feilan

the-ice

"Don't take long. We have two different groups of bastards to track down and kill."

Kaz Brekker

dirtyhands

"I know."

Feilan

the-ice

Another shaky breath. What was that thing the Dregs always say to reach other - ?

"No mourners."

Kaz Brekker

dirtyhands

"No funerals."

the-truth-is-never-straight

Meanwhile...

"So that's Ketterdam," she says as the city hoves into view over the water. She's having to squint a bit past the bright sun on the waves, so it's more of a dark blob, but it's definitely the biggest city she's ever seen, just from how it stretches across the horizon.

or-near-enough

"That's Ketterdam," Sturmhund agrees. "Jewel of the True Sea. Or festering boil, one of those. Depends how much money you have, I guess. And your attitude towards making more."

the-truth-is-never-straight

"Don't have much, and don't care about more... I'll have to see it a bit closer to see if I think it's a Jewel or not, though."

or-near-enough

"We'll be docking soon enough."

the-truth-is-never-straight

True. And, speaking of:

There's more harbors than she would've expected... Though, hm, looking at the map... Fifth Harbor seems like a pretty likely place if you're trying to sneak into the city, doesn't it?

or-near-enough

Good eye. It was dredged out pretty recently, and there's lots of little corners.

the-truth-is-never-straight

It's right near at the top of what her street map labels 'East Stave', too, which lines up with Kaz's directions to the Crow Club... If they cut across the 'lid' and then head down the West Stave canal, the Crow Club's off to the left - a good bit down, not prime real estate, but not difficult to reach either.

or-near-enough

Ah, right in the tourist areas.

the-truth-is-never-straight

Kaz said something about plucking pigeons who fly in.

or-near-enough

Let's hope she didn't mean them.

the-truth-is-never-straight

Well, if they're planning to spend money at her establishments... They probably count.

or-near-enough

Alas!

the-truth-is-never-straight

Though she might not mind getting plucked by Kaz...

or-near-enough

If it's all in good fun. And she doesn't lose the ship.

the-truth-is-never-straight

Stay away from the gambling tables, then.

or-near-enough

That's the key to a happy visit to Ketterdam.

the-truth-is-never-straight

"You've been here before?"

or-near-enough

"A few times, yeah. Good place to stop for rumors. The port sees a lot of trade."

the-truth-is-never-straight

"Any good contacts here, other than mine in the Dregs?"

or-near-enough

"One or two bartenders down by First Harbor. And I know some people in Little Ravka."

the-truth-is-never-straight