Where are lost things found?

Always in the last place you look

Chapter Eight

IRIN

Irin Yul-Yun was a simple man. An only child with a dead mother and senile father, the responsibilities of Clan Head were passed to him unanimously when he was seventeen. And though he was still quite young, he was more than capable of being a leader. It was his birthright, after all.

In the Fall when he got the invitation for the Winter Fete, addressed to "The Young Master of the House of Clouds," it was natural, of course, to go. Despite the overwhelming fact that the Shu were at war with Ravka, the House was allied to the Darkling, before it was either ruling family. It was a transactional relationship, one his father had set up almost fifteen years ago in order to take the title of Clan Leader from his mother.

These were changing times, what with the advancements the Fjerdans had made with ballistics, not to mention other technology across the world. Both the time of Grisha power and the Noble Houses of Shu Han were coming to an end; and it was for survival. It was for survival that his father had sat him in this unanimous position.

Yes, it was for survival that led him here to Ravka, he thought; as he sat at the desk of a lavish inn room in the Upper city. They were diplomatic guests, there not only to enjoy the festivities but to discuss with the Ravkans about the ongoing war. Although most diplomats were under the jurisdiction of the country's government, this invitation wasn't on behalf of the Taban family.

The event invitation and some parchment was laid out on the desk surface. Guards were posted at the entrances of the suite, so it was quite therapeutic at the moment to take a moment for oneself and read before the events of the Fete progressed and he was needed in the Palace.

A shuffling outside caused Irin to raise an eyebrow, though he just shuffled in his chair. They were Shu in Ravka, it wasn't surprising if there were nationalists who wanted to have a word with him. He had faith that the guards outside would defeat any who came with ill intentions. They were from the House of Clouds, they were trained to fight and kill and there were not many people who could defeat them easily. And besides, it wasn't like Irin was defenseless himself. From the House's main family, he had been training since he could crawl in their own style of martial skill, if the sheathed blade leaning on the desk next to him was any indication. As the only child, the only one capable of taking over the clan; his training had furthered with even more rigor. As the leader of the House of Clouds, he had to be the best.

So, when the doors opened, he was not worried as he stood from his chair and his hand found the hilt of his blade. From the figure, he could tell it was a girl who stepped into the dark light. First, he caught a glimpse of the sword glinting in her hand as she turned to close the doors behind her. His eyes trailed from the blood dripping off the end of the blade to the hilt, inlaid with ruby and cast in silver. It couldn't be– but he knew it was as the sword caught more of the light streaming through the drawn curtains. Emblazoned in the hilt's scarlet center was the crest of the House of Clouds: a simple character, Yun.

But this was the sword that belonged to his late mother, and when people were sent for reconnaissance at the scene of her death all those years ago, it hadn't been found. It was presumed that bandits had gotten to the tragic scene first, taking what seemed to be of value, and surely such an ornate blade would be the envy of many. At the time it was a loss for the House, because not only was it decorated richly, the sword was a true show of Grisha Fabrikation. Its strength, sharpness, and durability created quite a reputation for the sword, not to mention the skills of its holder. His mother's blade had been passed down for many generations to the House Leader, meaning that now, that blade should have been in his hand instead.

"Have you come to return what you've stolen?" Irin abruptly asked the girl, who had caught his line of sight towards the sword.

She turned fully towards him now, her long jacket rippling at the fast motion. Looking him up and down, the girl scoffed, and that was when her face caught in the light. "Return? I fear you have much more to return to me, dear brother."

CARMEN

Ketterdam, a couple weeks ago

Carmen let out a sound of disgust as she ran her hands under the faucet in her apartment. She had worn gloves, but a stain of blood still managed to evade her and settle onto her palm, running down under nails. Scrubbing at her skin and picking at her nails, the red finally began to disappear and was swallowed by the sink. Drying her hands with the towel hung nearby, she went to her bedroom to change her clothes.

She had dispatched the body closer to the Barrel, less people asked questions there, and less investigation would be done when the corpse would inevitably be found. She had thought of tossing it into the canal, but she had done that with the third and the loud 'Splash!' the body made when it hit the water made her grimace with embarrassment at the thought.

It seemed that it only took four people to get the information she needed about the House of Clouds' whereabouts– in Shu Han it would be too hard to infiltrate their home, but if they were to leave or travel somewhere–there would be an opening for Carmen.

Earlier that night, when the man had finally let slip that the House was working with General Kirigan and the Leader of the Clan himself would be attending the Winter Fete, Carmen knew that she had to get there, somehow. But passage across the Fold was treacherous at best, and she had reservations about going South through Shu Han. She didn't plan on making her hit at the Winter Fete itself, maybe a couple weeks later when they were making the return trip? Carmen wasn't sure how to plan this excursion well, and most of all, didn't know if she was ready for whatever would happen next.

It would be by mere chance that an opportunity arose for her to travel there with some criminals from the Barrel soon after. At least now, she wouldn't be returning to Ravka alone.

Novokribirsk, a few days ago

In the market, Carmen nudged Jesper. "When he said 'no detours' it was only a loose instruction, right?"

Jesper nodded, eyes wandering over the many stalls and not paying her much attention.

"Alright then. I'm just going to check out something over there," She pointed to a restaurant in the distance, "but I'll be right back."

"Yeah, sure," Jesper absentmindedly responded, turning to his left only to find her long gone. "Good for me then," he laughed, giddily eyeing an alley where a few men sat playing cards.

Though she shared some of Jesper's affinity for games of chance, sometimes she did worry that his affinity was more of a troubling addiction. Fiddling with the bracelet he gave her on her wrist, Carmen wondered just how her friendship with the outgoing man had gotten her into this situation, and then remembered, oh right, in the end it was I who decided to go on this trip. A free ride through the Fold to kill my Father, and I only had to sell out my dearest friend.

As she made it to the other side of town, a tiny Shu enclave she had been to once before when she had left Keramzin for Ketterdam, she pushed open the door to a small tavern. She ordered an ale, not that she was thinking of drinking tonight, but to fit in with the other customers around her. To listen to and learn more information about Shu politics in Ravka. It had been a few years since she was last here, she needed to catch up on the popular opinion.

"...invited to the Winter Fete," her ears immediately caught, attention shifting wholly to the voices sitting in a booth behind her. It seemed she had gotten very lucky with the topic of conversation.

"I don't understand why the Tabans even continue sending people over here to 'negotiate.' Especially if it's the Young Master of the House of Clouds. I would much rather he be sent as an assassin to the Black General than as a diplomat."

"The Young Master?" Carmen turned around in her seat to face the two men talking. "I was under the impression that the Leader of the House of Clouds was an old man," she was referring to her father, who she assumed had taken over control of the House after her mother's, (and, herself's) untimely death.

The man in front of her laughed, taking a swig of his drink. "That man hasn't even left the House's estate for years! I don't even think he's capable of picking up a sword anymore. Of course they would send the younger one, I think his name is Irin?" He looked to his companion for reassurance, "Yes, Irin Yul-Yun, The Great Metal Thunder is his title. He has quite the skilled reputation, after taking over his father's duties in the Clan. He'll surely be the one attending the Fete. A right shame such a talent is forced to converse with the Ravkans," the man concluded, bringing his glass to his lips once more.

Carmen nodded in understanding. It seemed like it would be her brother attending the party. Despite how the drunkards described him, with a 'skilled reputation,' Carmen was relieved. When they were younger, her only memory of Irin was surpassing him in everything they decided to do together.

Setting her full glass on the table and sliding it towards the man, Carmen smiled. "Well, thanks for enlightening me," I'll surely have lots to do with this information, she thought, exiting the tavern and walking back to meet the rest at the spot Arken had mentioned. Her brother had always looked up towards her, didn't he?

Os Alta, minutes prior

Ditching Kaz at the line for the performer's entrance, Carmen was walking as fast as she could towards the Inn she had seen a gray-robed man enter during their carriage ride into the city. Suddenly realizing her unintentional brisk pace, she slowed down lest she catch attention from the passerby. It'll be a leisurely stroll, she said to herself, but she was itching to take the blade off her back and stretch her arms.

There was still light in the day, so no rush. There would be no rush as she stepped into the lobby of the inn, and spoke to the girl at the front desk. The girl who only gave her a slight look of distaste as she stated, "If you're with the other Shu people staying here, just go up to the third floor. No need to hang out in the lobby."

Carmen nodded in acknowledgement. Perhaps she would have said something to the girl there if she actually cared about what the Ravkan general population thought of her. But alas, Carmen headed towards the stairwell with a set look in her eye. She didn't rush up the flights of stairs in the ostentatiously decorated interior, and she certainly took her time coming up on the landing of the third floor. She brushed her hand on the stair's railing as she turned towards the hallway. She took notice of the two robed men standing guard in front of the door at the end of the hall. She pulled her right arm over her body, to stretch, and she did the same to the left.

Taking measured breaths, she noticed how the two men turned towards her after eyeing her presence. She held her arms in front of her, pulling her fingers back on each hand.

She wouldn't rush, but she would take delight in each second of this. Starting her walk towards the two gray-robed men, her hand instinctively went to the back of her neck and pulled upwards, unsheathing the brilliant crimson blade that had become a hidden part of her. It had been a while since there was a need for swift killing, but it's not like she could help it if their life ended quicker than expected. Perhaps they should have put more time into practicing drills.

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author's note

there's a slightly different chapter structure this time around, so i hope things aren't too confusing. let me know what you think!

and don't worry, the crows will be back in the next one, carmen just has some business to attend to first :)

also, s2 comes out in ten days!! i'm so excited, especially to see nikolai since he was one of my favorites in the books. i watched the preview with him in it and i admit, i had a few doubts about him when the casting was announced a while ago, but it seemed like he really fit the character so i can't wait! fun fact, i actually planned to finish this fanfic before s2 came out, but uhhh not sure if that'll actually happen. at the very least, i'm proud of myself for posting chapters more often now.

have a great day!