𝕬𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝕷𝖚𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖇𝖞 - [𝗞𝗮𝘇 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗿]

𝐢𝐱. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 — the conductor

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 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐃 divulged all the information that they needed.

 She had fled alongside her daughter from the mines of Sikursk when her child had begun to show the telltale signs of a Grisha; neither wanted the young girl to be taken from her home and thrust into war and thus the older woman had done everything within her power to find a way through the dark abyss that was the Fold.

 The Conductor was the only name she could supply for them, as well as the stage performer he'd left the woman and her daughter with for the night; Poppy.

 Poppy was rather well known within Ketterdam, and Aleksa was very much acquainted with them; they were neither friends nor enemies, despite the different turfs they ran with... But they had mutual respect for one another. Pretty faces with short tempers who had managed to make a living in Ketterdam.

 Whilst Aleksa's rocky relationship with Poppy might have proved beneficial to them, the very place Poppy worked — The Emerald Palace — was Diam Lion turf... Pekka Rollins' pride and joy.

 The Emerald Palace was located on Ketterdam's East Stave and was a bustling gambling hall that was decorated as a tribute to Pekka Rollins' Kaelish heritage. The mixture of greens made Aleksa queasy whenever she passed it by.

 Everything about the place was fake; which was fair enough in Ketterdam. It was a glaringly green building smothered with artificial trees that had been doused with perfume to make them seem more alive. Fake golden and silver coins lined the trees like ornaments... And Aleksa had certainly seen a tourist or two try to pry them from fake leaves and branches.

 There were Dregs dotted around the area, aptly named The Steerers, whose jobs were to draw away Pekka's customers and lure them closer to the Crow Club; ensnaring as many flocking pigeons as they possibly could. That was the exact reason Kaz wouldn't be able to simply stroll through the ugly emerald doors.

 He was one of the most recognisable people within the murky depths of the Barrel, and his ugly crow-head cane didn't help him in that department. As soon as people heard that dull thunk against the cobble, they'd turn and stare, or scuttle like mice

 As for Aleksa; whilst she might have been able to distract those at the doors for the entire night with a few fluttery lashes, dazzling smiles and rosy cheeks; Kaz likely needed her to speak with Poppy herself... After all, Kaz and Poppy didn't exactly get along.

 Aleksa could recall him mentioning some sort of deal going somewhat sour; he, of course, believed the deal to be true whilst Poppy had concluded that the Bastard had stolen from them. It was nothing new in Ketterdam.