Enchanted -N. Lantsov

There's A Murder of Crows in the Lowlight

"We told the Grisha to come alone." His eyes flickered to the two uninvited presences.

"I'm afraid that wasn't possible," The man sighed with a fake apology. "Though Zoya is, of course, a force to be reckoned with, Genya's extraordinary gifts are ill-suited to physical confrontation." He smirked over to the unknown woman. "Olysia here is scary but she prefers not being the center of attention. I, on the other hand, am well suited to all forms of confrontation, though I'm particularly fond of the physical."

"Sturmhond." Kaz's eyes narrowed.

"He knows me!" Sturmhond cheered, delighted. He nudged Genya with an elbow. "I told you I'm famous."

"Thank you." Zoya blew out an exasperated breath. "He's going to be twice as insufferable now."

"When isn't he?" The brunette next to him deadpanned.

The voice sounded familiar.

"Isn't that what you're here for, Olysia my darling?" Sturmhond grinned brightly at her. "To keep it in check?

"Olysia?" Jesper perked up the slightest bit. "As in the Olysia Kuznetsova? The Fabrikator?"

That was a name that sounded familiar. A dangerous woman who had begun to change the way people looked at the purple cladded Grisha order. Inej had told him the whispers of her reputation and how many coward away in fear but no one truly knew who she truly was which led to all the more fear.

"And who exactly is asking?" The woman gave Jesper a once over with a small glare.

"Jesper Fahey," He gave a nervous grin and seemed to want to shrink under her stare but gave his best attempt at an easy going grin. "I just hear a lot about you but no one seems to really know who you are, just what you've done."

"Perhaps that's the point." She lightly sneered.

"That's our Olysia. Quite brilliant-"

"It was you." Kaz interrupted, turning his own glare from Sturmhond onto Olysia who quickly matched it. "You kicked my cane."

"Did I? Perhaps you are simply uncoordinated." Olysia raised an eyebrow. "Your cane looks like a toddler made it. It wouldn't surprise me if that is what caused your little tumble."

Kaz felt his face fall into the smallest scowl.

"Sturmhond has been authorized to negotiate on behalf of the Ravkan throne." Genya attempted to steer the conversation to the topic at hand. Kaz kept his deadly glaring match with Olysia.

"A pirate?" asked Jesper.

"Privateer," Sturmhond corrected. "You can't expect the king to participate in an auction like this himself."

"Why not?" Jesper challenged.

"Because he might lose. And it looks very bad when kings lose."

"Do you really have a flying ship?" Jesper blurted.

"No."

"Oh."

"I have several."

"Take me with you."

Kaz took his eyes off of Olysia to switch his attention onto the privateer. "The Ravkan king lets you negotiate for him in matters of state?" He asked skeptically. He was not remotely entertained.

"Occasionally," Sturmhond shrugged non committedly. "Especially if less than savory personages are involved. You have a reputation, Mister Brekker."

"So do you."

"Not quite a Barrel rat though." Olysia sniffed.

"Now, now, what he said is fair enough. So let's say we've both earned the right to have our names bandied about in the worst circles. The king won't drag Ravka into one of your schemes blindly. Nina's note claimed that you have Kuwei Yul-Bo in your possession. I want confirmation of that fact, and I want the details of your plan."