The protagonist is tasked with secretly attending a meeting on Thistledown Street with Kelwyn, a fence for stolen goods.
The protagonist uses magic to bypass wards and gains access to the shop through a window.
The shop belongs to Kelwyn and is filled with antique trinkets and possessions.
The protagonist eavesdrops on a meeting between Kelwyn and Arcady, the protagonist's current companion, regarding a job.
Arcady proposes to steal Girazin’s Claw, a highly valuable relic, and sell it on the black market.
Larkin and Wren, former associates of Arcady, are also part of the meeting. They are initially hesitant but are intrigued by Arcady's plan to impersonate a powerful merchant, Sar Ikari Dwell, and gain access to the relic during an auction.
Arcady promises the Marricks (presumably Larkin and Kelwyn, as the group name) half of the final cut, which he estimates will earn them forty wraithwright suls, a large sum.
Larkin and Kelwyn are skeptical about the plan but are eventually swayed by the promise of a sizable profit. The split of the profit is negotiated and it's decided that Arcady and his partner will get 80, the Marricks will get 80 and Kelwyn will receive 20.
Arcady reveals that the protagonist is his partner for this job. The protagonist had shifted to his human shape just before Arcady mentioned his participation.