They'd let her go. After dragging the morning out until she'd been shaky-kneed and trembling, they'd finally, smugly, allowed her to leave.
Starling rolled her eyes at the memory, dumping the mix into a chipped ceramic mug and pouring hot water over it like it might drown the thought.
The Crow Hall was its usual humming mess of noise and steel and too many egos in too little space. Tenna lounged in her usual spot near the hearth, giving her that sharp-eyed look that meant she knew something. And wasn't above poking at it.
"You're late often," Tenna said mildly, though the smirk curled her lips. "Poor time management?"
"Shut up." Starling muttered it, but without any real heat, stirring her tea.
Tenna didn't let up. "At least tell me if it's a Crow."
"Why would I?"
"To put me out of my misery."
"There are other ways of doing that."
"Mm," Tenna hummed.
Cade wandered in then, yawning, stretching, shirt only barely tucked in, and Tenna raised her eyebrows pointedly. Starling didn't miss a beat.
"Look, go hound Cade for who he's sleeping with."
Tenna scoffed. "Maker, who doesn't he sleep with? He'd consider a pillar if it were curvy enough."
Starling laughed into her tansy tea, the hot bitterness not quite masking the amusement that bubbled up unexpectedly.
"I've seen him eye a particularly suggestive-looking tree," Tenna added with mock solemnity.
Starling choked on her laugh, coughing a little as she grinned. "What does a suggestive tree even look like?"
But Tenna didn't get a chance to answer.
One of the handlers across the room snapped their names - "Tenna, Cade, Starling" - sharp and clipped, beckoning them with a curl of two fingers.
The three of them exchanged glances, a mix of curiosity, wariness, and resignation, before they stood. Cade bumped Starling's shoulder as they walked.
"Suggestive tree," he muttered with a grin. "I'll be thinking about that all day."
"Maybe you'll finally fall in love," she said, sipping her tea.
"Maker forbid," he said, hand to his heart.
And just like that, their faces lost all levity as they approached their handler. Starling's spine straightened. It was time to listen. Time to be useful. Time to earn more coin and hope it carried her closer to where she really wanted to be.
The trio followed Elihu to the room they were using. There were already others there, seven of them. That alone was strange enough to make the hair on the back of Starling's neck rise.
The table was old, battered and scarred with nicks and stains of a hundred meetings before this one. Around it sat a cluster of younger Crows, some lounging, some alert, some with arms crossed and faces unreadable. Ridge sat at her left, giving her a nod as they entered. Cade leaned back in his chair like he owned the place. Tenna sat straight-backed with her arms folded, sharp-eyed and sceptical. Across from her sat Brin. Jacek looked bored. Vasha and Neri shared a glance, one of those quick, knowing ones that always made Starling uneasy. Alis sat quietly, lips pressed in a thoughtful line, while Ledo looked far too interested in whatever was coming.
Elihu stood at the head of the table, his posture loose, but his eyes sharp. Watching and weighing them.
"This one," he said, voice calm and cool as always, "is not like the others."
That got their attention. Even Jacek's eyes lifted from the floor.
"You'll be working together," Elihu continued. "All of you. This contract is sensitive, high-profile, and must remain completely internal. That means no discussing it with other Crows, no involving handlers not cleared through me. You report to me, and me alone."
There was a moment of silence. Starling could feel it tighten around the room like a garrote.
"What's the contract?" Ridge asked, tone careful.
Elihu smiled slightly, a flicker of something almost like amusement, and laid a thick dossier on the table. "It's a heist."
There was a ripple of motion at that. Shifting in seats, narrowed eyes, furrowed brows, Starling even leaned forward a little.
"Target is a diplomat," Elihu continued, flipping open the dossier. "He's travelling with valuable documents, enchanted objects, and trade agreements that certain factions would prefer never reach their destination. This job requires a clean kill but also sabotage, theft, and a cover-up. Done properly, it'll look like a robbery gone wrong."
He let the words settle before continuing.
"You'll be working in teams. Two for the kill, three for the sabotage, three for theft and getaway, and two managing cleanup and covering the trail. I'll assign roles after this briefing. For now, understand this - this job is delicate. It cannot be traced back to the Crows."
Starling's brow furrowed. That was odd. Almost everything they did could be traced back, eventually. That was half the point. A silent message in blood and steel. Her gut twisted a little.
Elihu leaned forward slightly. "You're here because I trust your discretion. This is the kind of work that earns you more than coin. It earns protection. Favour. Power."
Brin grinned at that, and Ledo sat straighter. Even Vasha looked mildly impressed.
Starling kept her expression neutral. But inside, something cold and sharp scraped down her spine. Too many moving pieces. Too many people she didn't trust. And far too many secrets.
She glanced at Ridge beside her. He didn't look pleased either.
Elihu straightened. "Questions?"
None were asked. Starling just watched him, her tea long gone cold in her hands.
The flick of parchment was the only sound in the room for a moment, Elihu opening the dossier. His fingers were long and clean, his nails neatly trimmed. It always struck Starling how delicate they looked for someone who so often sent people to their deaths.
Inside were maps, sketches, and names. The face of the target stared back up at them in charcoal - an older man, hair greying at the temples, lines bracketing his mouth in a way that made him look both tired and smug. Diplomat. High profile. She'd seen this kind of mark before, but never one that required ten of them.
Elihu didn't waste time.
"Kill team - Starling, Jacek. You'll take the mark himself. He'll be in the ambassador's wing at the third hour past midnight. It'll be reinforced, so expect complications."
Jacek gave her a smug little nod. She didn't return it.
"Sabotage team - Ridge, Neri, Vasha. You're on magical interference. He's got a Circle mage travelling with him. I want his staff snapped and his wards disarmed before anyone makes a move."
Ridge looked down at the map. He didn't say anything, but she saw the tension in his shoulders.
"Theft - Cade, Tenna, Ledo. We want the chest he's carrying. Inside are documents and items we need. Don't open it. Don't look inside. Don't bleed on it. Cleanup - Brin, Alis. You're extraction. If anything goes sideways, you're the backup and the burn crew. Torch the place if you have to. You know what to do."
Alis stiffened slightly beside Brin but nodded. Brin looked bored. Starling wished she could be bored.
Elihu began passing pages around containing guard rosters, layout diagrams, rotations, and sketches. There were redacted lines. Several pages looked like they were written in cypher, hastily scratched out.
Tenna leaned toward her and whispered, "High profile my ass. This looks like a rush job."
Starling didn't answer. Her eyes were fixed on the diplomat's face. She wondered if he had a family. She forced the thought out of her head.
Elihu's voice cut through again, "You'll report only to me. If I hear this is being talked about outside this room, there will be consequences. Do not report to your usual handlers. If someone approaches you about this contract, say nothing. That includes Caterina. That includes Viago. That includes Teia. Understood?"
A murmur of acknowledgement circled the table. It felt strange, the way he said their names so pointedly. Like he wanted them to ask, like he was daring them to question him.
Starling glanced at Ridge. He was frowning at the map. Maybe he felt it too. Something not quite right. But they were Crows. Trained for obedience. For silence. For completing the contract. That was the job.
"This will not be repeated. Take your documents, prepare your kits, and be ready to move at nightfall tomorrow. You'll receive locations and timing in code via runner at the sixth bell."
Elihu closed the dossier with a neat snap.
"Dismissed."
Starling lingered a moment as the others rose. She gathered her set of documents, neatly folded, and tucked them against her chest. Ridge was beside her.
"Ever worked a job this big?" He asked quietly.
Starling shook her head. "You?"
"Once. But not like this. Too many people leaves too many chances to get it wrong."
"Yeah," she muttered. "That's what I was thinking."
But still... nothing strong enough to resist. No suspicion solid enough to justify asking questions. That would only mark her as a problem. So she turned and walked out with the others, her boots echoing against stone.
She'd prepare. She'd do the job.