The lounge of Raven's Crow's guild was packed as every member who'd survived the Crimson Hollows stood gathered around the central table, their faces lit by flickering lamplight.
Rook stood at the head of the table, his arms crossed and his expression looked like a person's about to declare war. The room quieted as he surveyed his people, and when he spoke, his voice was commanding.
"It's time to crush Silver Tail."
Those few words made the room erupt in cheers and fist-pounding. Emma grinned like a wolf scenting blood and Lizzie leaned on a counter, carving her name on the surface with a knife while twirling her head with excitement.
Rook continued, raising his voice over the noise. "They think they're better than us just because they're in the B-district? Fuck that. They sabotaged the Hollows. They tried to kill us." His gaze swept the room. "We don't let that slide. We hit them. We hit them hard. And we don't stop until Silver Tail is dust."
Another roar of approval followed and Kurt leaned against the wall near the back, cigarette smoldering between his fingers, watching the energy in the room build like pressure in a boiler.
"Alright," Rook said, slamming his hand on the table. "Ideas. Let's hear them?"
Emma yelled out first, her voice sharp and eager with murder in her mind. "Kill 'em all!"
People banged their mugs against tables as screams exploded across the guild.
"Direct," Rook said. "And we're definitely outnumbered three to one. But I'll definitely take that into consideration."
Kurt raised his hand lazily, grinning. "Now hear me out... we fuck all the Silver Tail ladies. Destroy morale from the inside. It's very strategic, plus I hear they're all beauties."
The room went silent for a beat, and then half the guild burst into laughter.
Emma was definitely not among those laughing and threw a cup at his head, causing Kurt to duck, still grinning.
"You're an idiot," Emma said.
"I'm a visionary, love," Kurt shot back.
Lizzie who was still carving weird shit on the bar counter suddenly jumped up, eyes gleaming with wild excitement. "Burn the guild building! Just... whoosh! light the whole thing up and watch it go!"
"Subtle," Rook muttered, but there was a small smirk on his face.
The room then descended into more chaos. Voices overlapping as people shouted over each other with increasingly ridiculous suggestions.
Poison the water supply. Challenge Braun to single combat. Steal all their alcohol. Frame them for a crime. The noise grew louder, people gesturing wildly, some laughing, others deadly serious.
Kurt tuned it out and let his gaze drift to the corner of the room where Cassandra stood apart from the group. She hadn't said a word, and when someone pitched another absurd idea, she scoffed in a quiet, dismissive sound that only Kurt seemed to catch.
He watched her with curiosity. She'd been with them for days now, fought alongside them, but she still held herself separate. Guarded and closed off.
Rook must have noticed too, because he raised his hand and the room quieted. "Cassandra," Rook said, his tone shifting to something more serious. "You've been with Silver Tail. You know how they operate. What do you think?"
All eyes turned to her and Kurt straightened slightly.
Cassandra hesitated as her lips tensed, and for a moment, Kurt imagined she might refuse to answer. But then she uncrossed her arms and stepped forward.
"If you really want to hit him where it hurts," Cassandra said, and her voice was cold and calm, "you go after his loot."
Rook frowned but it was a frown that meant he was interested. "His loot?"
"Braun hoards everything," Cassandra began. "Cores, weapons, gold... anything valuable. He keeps it in hidden loot houses scattered across multiple districts. Even as one of his lieutenants, he didn't share the locations with us. He's paranoid and doesn't trust anyone."
Emma leaned forward. "So how do we find them?"
Cassandra paused to think, then a cold smile appeared on her face. "There's a place. The Foxhole. It's a brothel in the E-rank district Braun visits regularly. It's the only place he ever truly relaxes. Drinks too much, talks too freely. If anyone knows where those loot houses are, it's the women there. He's probably spilled something without even realizing it."
The room buzzed with murmurs while Rook nodded slowly, processing the information. "The Foxhole. I've heard of that place. Scary vixen running that joint."
Kurt left for his room and returned minutes later with a crumpled piece of paper he'd picked up weeks ago in the F-rank district.
He unfolded it and the name was printed across the top in faded ink: The Foxhole, followed by an address.
"I've got an address here," Kurt said, his voice cutting through the noise as he lifted his arm with the paper in it.
Everyone looked at him and Cassandra's eyes narrowed slightly.
Kurt held up the paper. "Found this a while back. Didn't think much of it." He grinned around his cigarette. "Guess fate's telling me to pay a visit."
Rook studied him, then nodded. "You'll go gather intel. Find out what Braun's told them."
"What if they don't talk?" Kurt asked.
"You're supposed to be charming right?" Emma said casually with a grin that showed feral teeth. "Figure it out."
"Figures," Kurt smirked.
Cassandra stepped closer to the table and grabbed a piece of parchment from a nearby shelf. She began sketching rough maps and routes as she spoke.
"While Kurt's working the Foxhole angle, we hit the convoys. I know some of the transport routes. Not all of them, but enough. Braun moves loot between districts regularly. Small shipments, heavily guarded, but not impossible to intercept."
Rook leaned over the table, studying her notes. "So you've been planning this."
"Other than the fact that he left me to die? Braun has something of mine," Cassandra said. "A necklace. It's been in my family for generations."
Kurt raised an eyebrow. "That valuable?"
"To me." Her voice was cold. "He took it when he abandoned me. Called it 'severance pay.'" Her hand moved unconsciously to her bare neck, then dropped. "I want it back."
Rook nodded. "Then we take it. We'll hit the convoys with small strikes, fast and hard. We bleed him dry one shipment at a time until we know where the real stashes are."
"Now we're talking." Emma cracked her knuckles with excitement now that a plan was coming together.
Lizzie grabbed the arm of a random guild member and shook relentlessly while grinning wide. "Ooh, this is gonna be fun! Like a heist movie!"
Rook straightened and addressed the room. "We're gonna be smart about this. We don't wanna give Silver Tail time to react. Everyone clear?"
A chorus of agreement rang out.
Kurt flicked his cigarette into a nearby ashtray and pushed off the wall. "Right then. Guess I'm going whoring."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Of course you are."
"For intel, love," Kurt said, grinning. "Purely professional." He tucked on his trench coat and smoothened it out.
"Sure," Emma muttered.
As the meeting broke up, Kurt found himself watching Cassandra sketch convoy routes. Her focus was intense, and his gaze drifted to her bare neck, pale skin where a necklace might have once sat.
He'd seen her touch that spot unconsciously a few times now. Whatever that necklace was, it mattered.
It wasn't his problem, though. He had a brothel to infiltrate.
Kurt then looked down at the crumpled paper in his hand again. 'The Foxhole,' he pondered on the name for no apparent reason.
Catching himself, he shoved the paper back into his pocket and headed for the door. Behind him, Rook was already organizing teams for the convoy strikes, his voice calm and commanding.
Kurt stepped out into the night air, lit another cigarette, and stared up at the sky. A plan was coming together nicely, and knowing his luck, trouble would be right there with them.