Contents
Chapter 7
Overview
Captain Gregor Dandolo investigates the waterfront fire and theft, taking his search to crime lord Antonin di Nove. Rebuffed and disgusted by Antonin’s child exploitation, Gregor violently dismantles Antonin’s operation and forces a lead: the fence Sark. Gregor frees the children and heads to confront Sark, escalating the hunt.
Summary
Captain Gregor Dandolo, reeling from disgrace after the waterfront fire and theft, pursues his own investigation. He traces the job’s improvised sailing rig to an independent thief likely tied to Foundryside and seeks information at the Perch and Lark, Antonin di Nove’s den. Antonin mocks Gregor’s failed reforms and reveals a profitable pivot to child exploitation, refusing a bribe and ordering Gregor out.
Shaken and enraged, Gregor removes his Waterwatch sash and returns armed with his scrived truncheon, Whip. He disables the door guards with precision, then storms the taverna. In the chaos, he drops the espringal gunner, collapses the floor to neutralize the Daulo-ax guard, and routs Antonin’s men.
Cornering Antonin, Gregor demands the thief’s identity. Antonin names Sark—a former canal man and fence—as the likely arranger, citing the crude sailing rig as proof, and gives Sark’s location: the Greens, Selvo Building, third floor. Gregor spares Antonin’s life but beats him as a statement against his crimes.
Gregor then opens the stalls, freeing four girls and two boys. Lacking any institution to help them, he offers five hundred duvots; the children snatch the money and scatter, arguing over the spoils. Resigned but focused, Gregor restores his sash and departs to find Sark before word of the raid spreads.
Who Appears
- Gregor DandoloWaterwatch captain investigating the waterfront fire/theft; assaults Antonin’s den with Whip, frees children, and secures a lead on Sark.
- Antonin di NoveFoundryside crime lord at the Perch and Lark; refuses cooperation, reveals child exploitation, then yields Sark’s location under duress.
- Toothless heavyDoor guard who extorts entry and is first disabled by Gregor’s Whip during the assault.
- Daulo-ax guardTrained enforcer who wounds Gregor’s shield arm before Gregor collapses the floor to drop him.
- Espringal guardCompetent crossbowman flushed from cover by fire and knocked out by Gregor.
- PietraYoung girl freed from the stalls; snatches Gregor’s duvots and flees as others give chase.
- SarkFormer canal man and fence, named by Antonin as the likely arranger; located in the Greens, Selvo Building, third floor.