Cursebird On A Wire

There's No Party Like a Cursed Party...

Ibram Ucalegon is an arm-for-hire with a slight problem. He's had a good five years traveling the Vissilian Empire, playing the magpie for Lady Azadiya Hobon, alchemist extraordinaire and hoarder of information. He should be coming home to the village of Lityen flush with success. Sadly, he's committed the mortal sin of working for one noble while poking through the house of another. Worst of all, he was caught!

In return for his freedom, Ibram swore if Lord Halfrey let him out of his cage, Ibram would supply an introduction to Lady Azadiya. The Halfreys gain the opportunity to offload a spare child as specialty importers in a new market and gain the favor of a noble alchemist in one fell swoop.  But on the day of the party, a cursebird flies in the face of everyone's plans. Can Lady Azadiya discover the culprit and save the party before Ibram trades in his smooth sailing for a hard landing?