Page 94 of The Sundered Realms

She hardly noticed when Shry vanished into the shadows; she was too busy making the rounds of all the people who wanted to meet her—but of course not the real her, but the trained puppet of her.

Well, let them see the mask.

Liris was focused behind it.

She smiled and deflected questions more deftly than Vhannor without hesitation. She asked after the individual business and personal interests of people she’d never met, dropped hints, and catalogued a dizzying array of responses—those words were a lie, that was a look hiding better secrets—and Vhannor picked up on her signals as if they’d been working together for years, not weeks. As if they had a secret language between them, not just heightened awareness of each other’s movements and actions from careful attention.

They broke away from their latest interaction, and Liris cunningly drew them aside to a food station serving the fanciest imaginable dough filled with stuff she’d encountered. Although he didn’t otherwise react, Vhannor’s eyes glinted in amusement, and they held position outside another gathering for a long enough moment to send another signal.

Princess Nysia reached them, radiant in a full gown of gold. Without speaking, they subtly rearranged themselves so onlookers could notice that Liris matched the Lord of Embhullor and complemented the driving force behind the Coalition of Tethered Realms.

Liris inclined her head to Nysia’s calculated look of professional acknowledgement.

“You certainly have their attention,” the princess murmured. “Well done. Can you hold it?”

They’d find out.

Liris’ palms dampened as she nodded matter-of-factly and turned to Vhannor. “Yes. I think it’s time we split up, see if people will say more to me alone.” To discover what their partnership was “really” all about when Liris could be “honest” out of his earshot.

“Incoming,” Princess Nysia said against the crystal rim of her cider glass.

Vhannor murmured in Liris’ ear, his breath making her shiver, “Looks like your strategy of not approaching Belighia until she felt left out of the gossip at her own party hooked her perfectly.”

A welcome confidence boost as they were poised to shift into the next stage of the plan.

Minister Belighia of Tellianghu was the Speaker for Tellianghu’s Ministry as the ranking member of her party, the probable force behind whatever was going on with Tellianghu’s avoidance and stalling of the Coalition deal, and thus their primary target.

She was the kind of woman who’d gone gray young and leaned into it: now in her early forties, her white hair gave her the impression of elder wisdom, while her sharp jaw and sharper blue eyes conveyed vitality. Her charisma combined with a mercenary mindset had revitalized her party and made her its undisputed leader.

Interestingly, the minister arrived at their circle without an aide: alone.

“Nysia, Vhannor, no greetings for your host this evening?” Belighia asked loudly, a mocking smile on her lips.

Impugning their etiquette.

The princess cocked her head. “Oh? I wasn’t aware you wished to have anything to do with me, Belighia.”

Liris almost frowned. That was a misstep from Nysia: too direct, leaving her looking wounded or needing to be soothed, with no graceful exit for the minister.

Serenthuar’s briefs on the princess had focused on her drive and persistence, not her ability to play court games. Everything for her was serious: she couldn’t pretend to keep things light.

Fine. Liris could account for that.

She shifted slightly, the beading on her dress catching the light just so as she smiled at Belighia and shaded her accent to excessive crispness like a society elite. “I’m sure we’re all honored by your notice, Minister Belighia, but I don’t believe I’ve yet had the pleasure of your acquaintance.”

That got her attention. She smirked at Liris. “Indeed, you’re quite the topic of speculation this evening, my dear. Liris, I believe?”

Liris inclined her head, noting that she’d dropped any honorifics.

“My partner,” Vhannor murmured in a way that suggested more than spellcasting.

“I do hope, Minister Belighia,” Liris said, lifting her eyebrows slightly, “we might speak privately about... opportunities that could be mutually beneficial.”

Belighia’s smile widened, and Liris caught the light of avarice in her eyes before she said smoothly, “Perhaps another time.”

Interesting indeed.

The minister thought she could get a better deal than she would from the Coalition, or from Liris’ hint-laden mystery.

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