Valentin Karlovich is a vestnik of the Matriarchate of Periaslavl. He is usually assigned to watch happenings in the Kreisens south of the Rueckenberge, especially in Zweibruckenkreisen and on Burchardt Hasek, its kreisarch.
To aid in this, he has learned the skills of a tinker and plys that trade in the region.
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He and Irina join forces to discover what's been causing unrest in the Kreisens. While in Rajov, Zweibruckenkreisen, Egill catches up to them. They drive him off with the help of Terenti Vadikovich, who is another vestnik poising as the owner of the Rajovian Arms, Utz von Hanzekantoor. In the battle, Terenti, as well as a local, perish and Valentin and Irina must leave.
However, Egill has not given up and with the help of the tracker Tobias Siegel, he catches up to them once more. He captures Irina after tossing Valentin off a cliff.
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Valentin survives the fall and with the help of the famed vestniki salve and Trudi Blum, matriarch of the village Hartzau in Fritzlarkreisen, survives. He then heads back up to the mountains in the hopes of saving Irina.
Along the way, he meets up with Cynewulf Aelfwinson, Donnghal ui Cuinn, and Nkechi Abiodun, who are chasing after Egill for their own reasons. It becomes clear during the chase that Egill is actually trying to lure them somewhere.
In a mountain lea, Valentin and the others meet up with Ausartxango Belatz, Eleonore Drechsler, Geirr Stronghair, and Karl Josef Wagner. Together this combined force assaults the aerie stronghold of Cloud Sower.