"Watch me."

"I will."

Off to work, then.

Off to work indeed.

And then next morning, Kaz and Inej and a tall black horse approach the gates of the Little Palace.

Most of the guards don't move from their posts, though two step forward to ask their business. 

"We're here to speak to Val." Whoever that is. If it's actually anyone at all.

The guards exchange glances, then - "We'll send word."

"We'll be waiting."

They're given instructions - where to stand, what not to do - and, in fact, left to wait. 

Not entirely too long, though. 

"I heard I had guests," says a woman emerging from the Little Palace. She's in a rather scandalously short green dress that swirls about her thighs (by Ravkan fashions; she'd fit right in in Ketterdam). 

"It would seem so."

"Very lovely guests, at that." Grin. "So, which one of you is our little shadow?"

"Does it matter?"

Thoughtful hum. "Svetka said she had a pretty voice... Was it you?"

"Maybe you should check with her."

"Not one for giving away secrets?"

"Not for free."

"A woman who knows what she wants, then." 

"That's me."

"Let's get somewhere you can talk payment, then." She gestures them to a side door - one large enough for the horse as well. 

Cool. That's step one down. Kaz walks through, cane clicking with every other step.

She leads them to a large oval arena, with an office overlooking it. 

The horse pricks up his ears and whickers - 

And there's a woman standing at the other end, near the base of the stairs up to the office. A very dangerous woman. 

"The Darkling, I presume." She leans on her cane in front of her with both hands. "This is your horse. We return him, as a show of good faith."