Two days before Antonetta Alleyne’s engagement party, Jerrod sits in his regular booth at the Yu-Shuang Noodle House on Yulan Road. He pays a criminal informant half a crown for news that the privateer Laurent Aden is hiding in a sea cave along the coast.

Jerrod considers the information only mildly interesting, but still worth passing to Andreyen, the Ragpicker King, because Andreyen has worked with Aden before and might find Aden useful again. Jerrod reflects that collecting and judging reports has always suited him better than Ji-An, who frightens people, or Merren, who becomes too absorbed in informants’ stories.

Jerrod is interrupted when Kaspar unexpectedly slides into the booth. Jerrod recognizes Kaspar as the man who stabbed the Prince’s cousin and notes that Kaspar had fled to Jahan afterward, but Kaspar says he has returned with a message.

Kaspar gives Jerrod a crumpled note written in disguised handwriting. The message says Prosper Beck may need Jerrod soon and orders Jerrod to tell Maeva, Bron, and the others to be ready, signaling that Prosper is preparing to call on his network.