Session 34:Peregrine Tumbledown, Disappointing Reading Material, Lady Sass and her Wicked Wiles, Enigmatic Smiles, Do-Gooders Who Want to Destroy Things They Don’t Understand, Shaking Down People, Puzzles

General Summary

I do not know where alcohol I have worked so hard to consume has gone off to all of the sudden, but no longer do I feel even little bit drunk – just kind of the queasiness and tiredness. It has been long night. I do not think I am cut out for high society life.
I reach down and give bonds one last tug, then check gag I have made for him out of his cravat thingie. Good. This will hold long enough for me to get hell out of here. He is starting to get squirmy, but it is too late for him to be changing mind about little game. I give him pat on head, then lean down to whisper in his ear, “I can honestly say I’ve never been fucked quite like that before,” I chuckle softly. “I’ll be sure to tell everyone I meet about your stunning sexual prowess. Spokoynoy nochi, Pipsqueak.” He makes angry squeal behind gag, and I give him middle finger and cheerful smile, then step out door, closing it behind me with soft click.
I pause for moment to make sure I cannot hear him from outside room. But, this is nice thing about fancy hotels – sound proofing is excellent. I hear nothing… nothing but voice in my head which is scolding me for being rash. It was under control, voice says, we had it under control. You didn’t have to go that far, you had nothing to prove.
Fucking voice – always too loud, always too late. I fulfilled mission, and it did not leave me bloody. That is fucking win in my book.
Adjusting dress again, I stroll downstairs just as auction is concluding. Grandfather looks up at me as I approach, then grimaces before looking away. For bad guy, really he is so squeamish. I put on big grin to my face and extra slink in my walk as I cross in front of them to door, leaving without looking back to see if they follow.
They follow. Of course, they follow.

*****

Getting book from bank is no big deal. To tell truth, it makes me little bit suspicious, how smooth whole job has been. No one has even died! How is this possible? Sure, there was tiny, unpleasant thing which happened, but this is past, da? Hot bath washes away bad memories and spunk both. But still, I find myself feeling jitters in my body– it has been too long since I have killed someone. I would like very much if some asshole was to come up and start shit right now.
But I am not so lucky. We get back to hotel without anyone even looking at us funny, and I flop down in lumpy chair to read journal. Finally, I will get to know thoughts of great author, Valgrimenstein Ticklefeather! Not to mention, all of us, we are wondering what is it that has made Sass so interested in book, other than obvious literary significance.
Answer is… nothing. Well, at least we cannot be finding anything. It is not magical. We cannot find any secret codes or things like that. If I am telling truth, it really is kind of boring read – mostly just neighborhood gossip, and not even super juicy stuff! Such disappointment! No wonder he must write such fantastic stories – his life is one big yawn. I no longer feel the sadness and regret about having to give it to Sass later this afternoon.

*****

As soon as we walk in door, we are shown back to Sass's private office, to find her sitting at desk scribbling away. Immediately, she gets up to greet us, big smile on her face as she crosses room.
“My favorite little group of ragtag adventurers!” she says with much delight. “I was so pleased to hear about your success.” She stops in front of me, “You have something there for me, cutie pie?” She reaches down to take book from me, letting her fingers glide softly over backs of my hands, which are suddenly very sweaty.
“Tell me who you are wanting me to make dead, and I will make them dead.” There is tremble to my voice I cannot make stop.
She laughs and it is low and delicious, just like I knew it had to be. It worms into my mind, and fear is gone, like that. All I can think about is how beautiful she is, how perfect in every way. “Oh dear girl, who said anything about killing? Perhaps I am looking for another kind of service entirely.”
“I suggest you use me for the killing,” I manage to say, but murder is last thing on dumb brain right now. “It is what I am being best at.”
“Now honey,” she says, leaning in close to me, closer and closer, until I am forgetting pain, and fear, and own damn name. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
When I look at her now, it is not same – she is not doing… whatever it was she can do that makes you… I am fine. I am not thinking about tossing her up on that desk and…
Goddamnit.
“And here you thought you weren’t the right ones for the job,” she says, turning to place journal on desk behind her. “But, your work was exemplary, my dears. Exemplary.”
“And our debt? It is fully met, now?” Grandfather asks.
“Sure, handsome.” She glances over to me. “Consider yourselves free of all current obligations to me.” Oh, thank Boggie for that! I do not ever want to do job for this woman again. 
“That is good to hear,” Grandfather gives little bow with his head. “But perhaps, there is new project on which we might… collaborate?”
“Is there?” She turns and crosses back behind her desk, slipping into chair. Her smile, it is still lovely, but her eyes are ledgers. I am certain she would very much like to put back in hook that we have just removed from our mouths. She gestures to chairs in front of desk.
“It is, perhaps, not good for your business that Unseen is taking over Freehold?” Grandfather sits in one of chairs, crossing one leg over the other and making little tent with his fingers in front of his chest. “They will maybe be seeing you as competition? Maybe even you are threat to them?”
“I very much doubt it, sugar. They’re new to Freehold; they don’t know the lay of the land. I provide excellent navigation services at what I believe are quite reasonable prices. My little dabblings in vice are small potatoes in comparison to their operations, and my resources, they are much too valuable to just throw away.”
“Yeah,” I ignore empty chair, keeping my distance. “That thinking, maybe it works for you if you are dealing with old Unseen. Used to be, there was room for negotiation, room for understandings. Now, now things are not quite so… reasonable.” I try hard to keep face expressionless. “You know, I am sure, of this Kisha Kutznetsovya who is running operations here?”
“Certainly,” she pauses for moment. “I understand she’s an old friend of yours.” My left eye fucking twitches and she smiles, pleased with herself.
“Kisha does not have friends,” I growl. “Kisha knows only the knife, and who is holding it.”
“Yes, you’re right,” he says, his voice suddenly filled with contempt. “There are many things I don’t share with you Kisha. Do you want to know why? Because you’re reckless and self indulgent. You were under strict fucking orders here!”
“But…” Kisha doesn’t get more words out than that. He has a blade out and at her throat so fast that I can’t even tell where he pulled it from.
“Not. Another. Word,” he says softly.
Kisha nods slightly, ever so slightly, in acknowledgement, and I can see a thin trickle of blood appear on her neck where the movement has caused the blade to bite. He holds it there a moment longer, then it disappears just as quickly as it appeared. Kisha takes a shuddering breath and steps away from him. Huh. So there is someone even she’s afraid of. Good to know.
“She is complete, what is called, complete cuckoo bird.” I continue, shaking my head. “You cannot trust any deal she makes. It is bad for business, Sass. Very bad. Things would be better if you work with us to put stop to it.”
“I see,” she says with raised eyebrow. “And what is it you think I can do to help?”
“What you do best,” Grandfather says. I snort, and he waves hand at me in dismissive gesture. “You deal in secrets, Lady Sassafrass. We need to know everything we can about Kisha and her operation.”
She considers this for moment, then smiles. “Perhaps now is not the time to seek out information on Kisha. Things are happening, things which may well invalidate anything I could tell you today.”
“I see. And will these things affect us directly?” Grandfather asks with frown.
She smiles secret little smile. “Oh, it’s nothing to worry about, darlin’. Wait and see.”
Goddamn tease.
As we shuffle out door she pulls me aside.
“I hear you took a rather hands on approach to one of my little tasks?”
I roll my eyes and shrug. “It is nothing you would not have done yourself.”
She laughs, “Year ago, perhaps. But listen, sweetie pie – while I appreciate your level of commitment, not to mention your strong stomach, you've kicked over one hell of a hornets nest here. He's probably twice as angry as he is aroused, and he'll be out for blood. Don’t underestimate him, sugar."
“He should be blessing my name he got little pecker wet. I do not know what it is he has to be angry about.”
“Alyona…”
“Yeah, yeah. I do not underestimate him,” I say waving hands back and forth dismissively. Then I let little bit of shadows seep into my eyes. “But I think he may underestimate me.”
She throws her head back and laughs – probably most genuine laugh I have heard out of her. It is not so much beautiful tinkle of bells, more cheerful barmaid at low-rent pub. “I don’t doubt that for a minute,” she takes my hand and give it friendly little pat. “They always do, don’t they?”

*****

Zinalla does not choose to make the grand entrance this time. We are all again sitting around dining table at her house when she strides in through normal door, looking little bit frazzled. I give her grin and wink, but she just rolls her eyes and crosses to seat at head of table.
“I assume you have concluded your business?” We all nod. “Wonderful. So, let us discuss the task before us. I have, at some expense, gathered info on our mutual friend Kisha, and have begun to formulate a plan. I believe our goal should be, not simply to take her out - no, we must dismantle the entire operation.”
I lean over to Grandfather and whisper in Elvish, “Kill Kisha, obviously. But why not try to salvage the infrastructure that’s already in place? There’s opportunity here. Someone will take it. It should be us.”
“Do not worry, Granddaughter. It will be,” he says, and, for once, I am not so annoyed with his arrogance.
Zinalla pauses her talking to give us little glare – it is almost like she knows what things we are whispering about. We give back to her matching Belov smiles. She purses lips, takes deep breath, and continues.
“As you discovered, Kisha has been operating out of this base here,” she says indicating map which has been spread on table in front of us. “The arrival of the Unseen a year and half ago, has fractured the existing criminal hierarchy here in Freehold. Protection rackets have been their main inroad. Unfortunately, people have come to depend on the stability these new arrangements bring – they may be out of pocket every month, but Kisha’s crew is keeping the peace, as promised. Not everyone wants to see them go.
“Better the devil you know…” Baermek says.
“Exactly,” she agrees. “Now, the majority of her forces remain stationed here at the base, and, as far as we know, she doesn’t ever leave the compound herself. Of course, it’s possible she may have ventured out in disguise, but if so, we’ve never been able to catch her at it.” She looks up from map, “Which means, I’m afraid, we’re going to have to dig her out.”
“And how do you suggest we do that?” Grandfather asks.
“Disruption. Hit the bagmen and speak with local merchants – tell them that their current protection arrangements are no longer effective. Force the Unseen to respond in order to keep things under their control.
“They’re still targeting us here and there, but it seems they may be hesitant to engage further – perhaps due to the discrepancy in numbers. A few days to a week of hitting them where it hurts will reduce their forces further, and increase pressure on Kisha to confront us directly. However, if this does not draw them out, we believe our best course of action will be a combined assault on the base. A larger team will capture a merchant ship and use it as a trojan horse to get inside, where they will draw the attention of Kisha’s crew. A smaller team,” she waves hand at us, “will infiltrate covertly and go after Kisha.”
We look around at each other and have little conversation that is just raised eyebrows, shrugged shoulders and somber nods. Nobody seems to have problem with plan, although Skreek, he looks like how he always looks these days – angry at being stuck here, but resigned to mission.
“I love this plan! Let us do it!” I clap.
Zinalla looks around at rest of crew to make sure it not just me with enthusiasm for plan. “Excellent,” she says with nod. “We should begin immediately. Here’s a list of certain prominent businesses in town. I would like you to speak with some of the owners today – convince them that it’s in their best interest to stop the payments.” She hands list to Ingoria, who immediately passes it on to Baermek without reading it.
“It has also come to my attention,” she continues. “That a large quantity of Glow recently came on the market and was acquired by a certain influential but rather unsavory individual. This, of course, must be destroyed! We don’t know if this quantity is large enough to convert new Radiants or if it could be used to enhance Kisha’s abilities, but, either way, if she gets her hands on it it would be very bad.”
Grandfather and I exchange look. Martin (maybe you are remembering him as “Green Emerald” hottie) bought Glow for 5600 pp at auction. That is nice little chunk of change. We could certainly use it to start building our own operation. I am sure others would not approve, but that does not matter. We need to get our hands on that svetit’sya.
“I should be able to get you the location on the Glow by tomorrow, at the latest. In the meantime,” Zinalla nods toward list which Baermek is looking over, “if you would please speak to some of the shopowners?”
So, this is what we do. We split up – Skreek goes to talk to Prescott at Wunderbar, since already they have kind of relationship. Grandfather and Baermek go to speak with Death Dealer Dan. And I, lucky girl, get to talk to my old friend Luca Bucharov.
You remember him? He owns potion shop called “A Sip in Time” and for long time was person I could rely on to tell me what was going on in Unseen. But, since my little boat outing with Aleorman happened just after meeting I had with Luca, I do not trust him anymore. Sure, maybe is coincidence, but I would be stupid person to assume that. Beides, situation is different now. Unseen is no longer… Unseen.
It is not productive conversation I have with him. Maybe it is that I come on too hard and make him little bit skittish. Hey! Do not blame me. When I am seeing him I am also thinking of poisoned shuriken sinking into my back in nasty Bloodwater alley, and this does not help me be so good at the sweet talking! Besides, this never was my line of work anyway. Running protection is not, let us say, playing to my strengths. Sure, before I leave, he agrees to stop making payments to Kisha, but I doubt he will follow through when her toughs come knocking.
Whatever. I did what I could.
Next day is more to my liking. We get location of Glow from Zinalla – it is in warehouse in industrial area of midtown. Skreek scouts overhead, like is usual. Rest of us creep up and enter warehouse through opening in second floor where big crane loads crates.
Inside is couple of catwalks that stretch over main floor. Skreek and Ingoria zoom across to where there is office space and immediately get in big fight with whatever assholes are inside. Grandfather runs over to help them, and I think I hear him cast spell which holds people in place. Meanwhile, Baermek and I fight way downstairs. I am making good use of gifts Boggie gives to me – all around me are swirling shadow guardians which hurt anyone stupid enough to get close. And behind guards, I call up shadow weapon to annoy them while I dig through my big bag of fuck-your-shit-up spells, looking for perfect gift to give assholes who are standing between me and seed money for future enterprise.
Yelling and crashing noises from across warehouse die down – hopefully this means guards over there are dead and not my assholes, which would be very inconvenient thing right now. Baermek and I have killed all guards over here except one, who has jumped down some stairs to basement. Baermek manages to catch him right before he escapes through hatch to outside. This is lucky – we would have had bunch more guards to deal with if he sounded warning. Although, really we should be expecting more company any time now – we are not being so much silent killers in the night, are we? More like full-sized marching band of death.
B-Team joins us as we poke around in this basement area. It is good thing too, because from under tarps in middle of room, crawls out giant shiny guy all made of the metal! Fucking badass! I would like to take time to check out metal guy more, but, like so many people and creatures and things – he just wants to make us dead. Too bad! We bang on him like gong until he stops moving.
When nobody else shows up to enjoy unusual pleasure of seeing own entrails, we start poking around, looking for Glow. It does not take too long to find door which is hidden from view. We get it open, but, of course it cannot be so easy. There inside, we see this weird magical lock thing. It has five tuning forks with dials under them. And there is a musical tune which we must match forks to. 
We, all of us, look at each other and sigh.

---

Spokoynoy nochi = Goodnight

Report Date

08 Jun 2024