Chapter 9
“Where are wegoing, exactly?” Reyn asked for the third time since Selona had told her they had plans for the evening. Selona had deigned to tell Reyn that their plans were relatively informal, and wouldn’t involve many people, but had refused to say anything else.
“You’ll see. We’re almost there.”
Where they were was one of the wealthier neighborhoods in Tryn. They had passed the Sablon’s house a block ago, and the others in the vicinity seemed to be similarly large homes, a luxury only the richest could afford. They were probably all residences of the primary branches of the highest-ranking families, though the Geratisi home was in a different part of the city.
“Which Families own these homes?” Reyn asked, hoping to get Selona to answer anything at all.
Selona pointed. “Dachsi, Medio, and our destination, Ferrini.”
Reyn stopped walking and stared at the mansion Selona had indicated. “We’re going to your uncle’s house? Visiting the king’s home is not informal, Selona! I don’t care how you are related to him.”
“It is the home of Lord Ferrini. Who doesn’t even reside here since he also happens to be the king at present.” Selona waved her hand, urging Reyn to start walking again. “You won’t run into my uncle tonight, I swear.”
Reyn went another three steps and froze again. “But will I be seeing your cousin?”
“Of course,” Selona smiled, as if she had never observed any animosity between Reyn and Velario. “We are here to play cards with him and Danten tonight.”
Reyn sighed. “I refuse to partner with Velario.”
“You and I will be a team, of course.”
With that underwhelming assurance, Reyn allowed her friend to usher her into Velario’s home. It did not bode well when Selona asked Reyn to wait in the foyer while she checked if everything was ready.
Reyn stood and admired the artwork on the wall, an oil painting of a dark, mountainous landscape. She tried not to worry about what Selona was up to. The creak of the stairs caused her to turn away from the painting in time to see Velario come down.
“What are you doing here?” He demanded, with no pretense at civility.
Reyn simpered. “Waiting, as I was asked.”
“But why are you here?”
“Because I was invited.”
“Lady Reyn—”
Velario looked ready to strangle her. He had to check the impulse, however, when a witness bounded down the stairs after him.
“There you are!” Danten slapped Velario on the shoulder. “I’ve been tearing all through the house looking for you.”
Velario turned his withering stare on the other gentleman. “Why are you roaming my house, Danten?”
Unlike when he addressed her, Velario’s question to Danten came out with resigned amusement, and not true anger.
“I was looking for you. I just told you that.”
Reyn smothered a snort. Of course Velario accepted such answers from his friend without pause, but bristled when Reyn replied in the same manner.
Selona’s head popped out of a nearby door. When she saw the three of them standing in the foyer, her eyes widened. Then she smiled brightly. “Good, we’re all here. The table is set up.”
Velario threw his hands up in the air. “What table? What in the five hells is going on here?”
He didn’t wait for an answer, striding over to the room Selona had appeared from. She, meanwhile, stepped out of his way and into the foyer. After Velario passed her, she looked at Danten. “You were supposed to have him ready and waiting by the time we got here.”
Danten shrugged and walked over to the doorway. “I couldn’t find him. This place is enormous.”
Selona rolled her eyes, then beckoned to Reyn. “Come on, we’re playing in here.”
