"I am Madame Lenska," the woman said. "My husband and I are in Bela on trade."
"What trade would that be?" Leesil asked.
Madame Lenska laughed, whispering in a conspirator's tone, "Snails."
The young gentleman to her side blinked in surprise. "Snails?"
"Yes," she went on. "It sounds appalling, but the demand for this delicacy is almost insatiable. We've been settling contracts with the better establishments." She leaned toward Leesil. "Personally, I can't stand the disgusting little things."
Leesil chatted politely while the cards were dealt. Two Kings was a relatively simple game. Though the odds favored the house, as always, the stakes tended to be low. Winning meant coming as close to twenty points as possible without going over, and anyone dealt two kings in the first round won automatically. With a queen of spades and nine of diamonds on the first pass, Leesil decided to stay the hand and bet everything in his pocket-which amounted to three copper pennies. He won, and the small pile of coins grew.
Several men looked at him in displeasure, but Madame Lenska laughed again.
"I've heard beginners are fortunate company, and I'm feeling generous toward the lucky. Would you like a goblet of wine? The burgundy from southern Droevinka is quite excellent."
Leesil's attention wavered. How long since he'd tasted it? He'd sworn to himself, never again, but the image of Magiere storming up the staircase rose in his mind. She thought him nothing more than a gambling drunk, and a "second-rate" one at that.
Well, why not have just one goblet? He could live up to her low expectations, and enjoy himself at that.
"Thank you," he replied. "You are most kind."
Madame Lenska snapped her fingers, murmured to a serving girl, and moments later, a large pewter goblet brimming with burgundy was placed beside Leesil.
He forgot to watch the dealer while taking a long, slow sip, and the wine slipped dry and sweet down his throat. He made small bets, lost two hands and won four, and realized his goblet was empty. Studying his amassed coins, he saw there was enough to purchase one refill and still continue playing. He signaled to the serving girl.
The wine was strong and made him light-headed, but he wasn't drunk. He knew well enough when "drunk" was approaching, and it was a long way off. He made a larger bet on a new hand.
As he absently stacked his coins, one toppled and rolled off to the floor, and he leaned down to retrieve it. Under the table, Madame Lenska's legs were crossed, exposing a bare ankle and a touch of calf, and he froze. Her boots were weatherworn, and a king of diamonds peeked from the top of one.
Leesil sat up slowly, fingering his cards with a sidelong glance at the woman.
Madame Lenska's gown was very traditional. Too much so, now that he thought about it, worn only by women from old houses he remembered from his days in the Warlands in service to Lord Dartmouth. The dress was in a fine state but unlikely to be worn by a lady out for a little leisure. He suddenly realized why she'd been so inviting to him.
If the players and dealer were watching an underdressed lowborn, no one would pay attention to her as she slipped in a card or two. She'd even bought him a drink to keep him at the table.
At the draw of the cards, the dealer exceeded twenty, and Leesil won again.
The house should win Two Kings at least two thirds of the time. If someone became suspicious, who would they point to first-an old-world lady or a half-blood outside his place?
Leesil stood and gathered his coins. "Well, I'm off to sup-per."
Several gentlemen looked openly relieved, and the one who'd offered him a chair gave a polite nod of farewell. Madame Lenska frowned.
"So soon? But you've only just started. Let me buy you another goblet."
The server walked over with the wine he'd ordered, and he quickly paid for it himself.
"You're most kind," he said for the second time. "But I've won a few coins and need to refresh before continuing."
With a slight bow, Leesil left the room carrying his goblet.
An entryway guard gave him an appraising look but no more. Entering the dining chamber, Leesil watched lavish trays of seafood and roasted birds sweep by in the servers' hands, and he realized even his winnings might not cover the price of a meal. Several polished stools by the room's bar were empty, so he perched to watch the people as he sipped his wine.
Then she walked in.
Leesil was certainly light-headed now, but his vision was still clear, and the flash of lavender silk burst through the archway without warning. He spared little attention for rich, useless women, and only Magiere filled his heart, but he couldn't help staring.
The low-cut neckline exposed mounds of creamy, pale bosom pushing up from a tight bodice. Ringlets of perfectly curled hair hung across her shoulders and back, and her neck and fingers shimmered in jewels. Like the game room, she was an infectious sight. With eagerness in her eyes, she looked about. Then she noticed his attention and smiled.
Leesil grew mildly uncomfortable. He returned a polite smile and spun around to face the bar. As light steps approached from behind, she floated up beside him.
"Have we met before, sir?" she said. Her gazed moved almost hungrily over his face. "You look very familiar to me."
He raised one eyebrow. "I don't think so. I believe I would remember you, miss."
"Was that a compliment?" She tilted her head slightly. "May I join you? I'm without an escort at the moment and would be so much more at ease in good company."
His guarded surprise increased but so did his reluctance. He didn't wish to encourage her. Neither did he wish to be rude and attract further attention.
"Please," he said finally, and gestured to the stool on his far side.
"Wouldn't this be more splendid?" She raised one hand toward an empty table nearby with a coy drop of her lashes.
As Leesil stood up, he noticed her eyes resting on his half-open shirt, across his collarbone and chest. Again, he wondered how to politely escape the situation as they settled at the table.
"I'm Sapphire," she said, with a touch of fingertips to her throat.
"Leesil," he replied.
"Are you just visiting Bela?" she asked.
"Yes, on business," he answered shortly. After a moment's silence, he cleared his throat. "And you?"
"Oh, no. I have a lovely three-story home in the city. For anyone interested in real society, I think Bela is the only place to live."
He nodded politely.
"Your eyes-so unusual," she said. "Where are you from?"
"I don't know." He hesitated, then added, "My mother was elven."
"An elf?" she replied with interest. "Ah, but I think your father was human, yes? You're half-elven?"
"Yes," he answered flatly. "I'm a half-blood."
"Oh, I didn't mean that. It's just… I've heard elves live a very long time. That their life force is much stronger than humans. Is that true?"
For the first time, he smiled. "Where'd you hear such a thing?"
She laughed, but it was forced, as if she were embarrassed by her own bluntness. "If all half-elves look like you, I should be glad to meet more of them."
The second those words left her mouth, Leesil tensed in his chair.
"Well, thank you," he said. "But if you're a wealthy man's daughter or wife looking for a unique diversion, I don't think I'm your man."
He stood up, took his goblet, walked toward the game room, and didn't bother looking back to see her expression.
The game room was hectic, but it didn't take long to find a seat at an empty table. He settled to sip his wine and watch the faro game.
Another flash of lavender caught his eye. Sapphire had followed him.
He began to stand, but she stopped him with a delicate hand on his shoulder. Before he could blink, she pressed him back into his chair and settled sleekly into his lap.