The Phoenix and the Crow

Vellgeluk

Vellgeluk was so flat it was barely visible once they were rowing through the water. The island was less than a mile wide, a barren patch of sand and rock distinguished only by the wrecked foundation of an old tower used by the Council of Tides. Smugglers called it Vellgeluk, "good luck," because of the paintings still visible around the base of what would have been the obelisk tower: golden circles meant to represent coins, symbols of favor from Ghezen, the god of industry and commerce. The island was far from Ketterdam's ports, well outside the patrol of the harbor watch, with no buildings of hidden coves from which to stage an ambush. An ideal meeting place for wary parties.

A brigantine was moored off the island's opposite shore, its sails hanging limp and useless. Y/N had heard the sailors calling to each other as they worked the oars. Now its crew lowered a longboat packed with men over the side.

When their own longboat reached the shore, Jesper and the others leaped out to pull it onto the sand. Y/N watched Jesper check his revolvers and Inej, her knives as Kaz helped her out of the boat. She quickly snapped her fingers, summoning what meant to be a small flame but turned out much larger than she intended pulling an almost silent gasp from her lips as she instantly snuffed it out before she could panic. Matthias adjusted the rifle strapped to his back and rolled his enormous shoulders. Kuwei watched it all in silence.

"All right," Kaz said. "Let's go get rich."

"No mourners," Rotty said, settling down to wait with the longboat.

"No funerals," they replied.

They strode toward the center of the island, Kuwei behind Kaz and Y/N, bracketed by Jesper and Inej. As they drew closer, Y/N saw someone in a black mercher's suit approaching, accompanied by a tall Shu man, dark hair bound at the nape of his neck, and followed by a contingent of the stadwatch in purple coats, all carrying batons and repeating rifles. Two men lugged a heavy trunk between them, staggering slightly with its weight.

"So that's what thirty million kruge looks like," said Kaz.

Y/N could see a ship nearing the deserted island behind Van Eck and his men through the thick fog and cloudy sky. 'Thank the Saints.'

Jesper gave a low whistle. "Hopefully, the longboat won't sink."

Kaz leaned ever-so-slightly closer to Y/N and murmured in a low tone. "Tell me that ship over there is with you."

She only nodded curtly, to not draw more attention to them or the ship.

"Just you, Van Eck?" Kaz asked the man in merch black. "The rest of the Council couldn't be bothered?"

"The Council felt I was best suited to this task, as we've had dealings before."

"Nice pin," Kaz said with a glance at the ruby stuck to Van Eck's tie. "Not as nice as the other one, though."

Van Eck's lips pursed slightly. "The other was an heirloom."

Y/N coughed to stifle her laugh at the memory of her stashing that very pin.

"Well?" The old man said to the Shu man beside him.

The Shu said, "That's Kuwei Yul-Bo. It's a year since I've seen him. He's quite a bit taller now but is a spitting image of his father." He said something to Kuwei in Shu that was too quick for Y/N's mind to translate and gave a short bow.

Kuwei glanced at Kaz, then bowed in return. Y/N could see a sheen of sweat on his brow.

Van Eck smiled. "I will confess I am surprised, Mister Brekker. Surprised but delighted."

"You didn't think we'd succeed."

"Let's say I thought you were a long shot."

"Is that why you hedged your bets?"

"Ah, so you've spoken to Pekka Rollins."

"He's quite a talker when you get him in the right frame of mind," said Kaz, and Y/N remembered the blood on Kaz's shirt at the prison. "He said you contracted him and the Dime Lions to go after Yul-Bayur for the Merchant Council as well."

Van Eck shrugged. "It was best to be safe."

Y/N cleared her throat as she rolled her eyes. "Let's get a move on with this, shall we?"

The older man threw her a sharp glance, "The Phoenix. Almost didn't see you there, hiding behind Brekker all shy-like."

She clenched her fists as she took a confident step forward. "Does it look like I'm hiding, Van Eck? And I don't think that's any way to speak to a royal official."

"You are no royalty, L/N. Just a soldier."

Kaz leaned forward on his cane in a threatening manner but another voice joined the conversation before he could say anything.

"I wouldn't think so highly of yourself either, Van Eck. She has a higher rank and more authority than you even as 'just a soldier'." Nikolai strode past Van Eck with Zoya and Genya in tow. All three Grisha shared a look that clearly said 'Here we go again'.

"Prince Nikolai," Van Eck bowed his head stiffly while eyeing Y/N and Kaz.

"King." Kaz corrected sharply causing Y/N to smirk proudly.

"My apologies."

"Thirty million Kruge will soothe our hurt feelings," said Kaz.

Van Eck gestured to the guards behind him. They hefted the trunk and set it down in front of Kaz. He crouched beside it and opened the lid. Row after row, stacks of bills in palest Kerch purple emblazoned with the three flying fish could be seen.

Y/N had looked over to Nikolai who only nodded silently. Ravka's business will be dealt with next.

Kaz pulled out one of the stacks and let his gloved thumb skim over it, then dug down another layer to make sure Van Eck hadn't tried to bunk them.

"It's all here," he said.

He looked over his shoulder and waved Kuwei forward. The boy crossed the short distance, and Van Eck gestured him over to his side.

Nikolai stepped forward extending his arm to block Kuwei's path. "This is where we step in."

"What's the meaning of this?" Van Eck asked markedly as he looked between the group of six directly in front of him. Fear was nothing short of obvious in his eyes.

"I took the liberty to talk to the Kerch government and the council, so there is no need to worry about that. But now the boy will be coming back with us."

"That wasn't the agreement." The older man faced Kaz sharply. "Brekker-"

"No no, this has nothing to do with your deal with Brekker. He completed his tasks, so his business is done. This is now Ravka's deal with Kerch, not you. But since you made this deal on behalf of your government I thought I'd cut the middle man out, the middle man being you," Nikolai spoke with his hands, "and go straight to the source. Much more efficient, wouldn't you agree?"

Van Eck shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, yes. Much more efficient."

"With that being said, I was shocked to hear that they had little to no recollection of your offer to work on their behalf." Nikolai turned to Zoya and Genya, "Wasn't it odd."

"Terribly unprofessional on their part." The redhead tutted.

"They had no paperwork or anything. Really does seem that an oral agreement is only as good as the paper it was written on. But thanks to one of my most trusted royal officials, I was quickly alerted about this meeting. I'm glad I was able to make it." 

~*~

A/N: i've said this toooo many times at this point.... but thank you for your patience!!! i haven't forgotten about this story, please know that! it owns my heart forever and i'm so sad it's slowly coming to an end. but here we are, another chapter! i hope y'all enjoyed it!

what are your ideas for the ending??👀