Page 9 of Rune Assassin

I smile curled onto Tegan’s lip. “Cordelia Blost.”

The woman’s attention turned to Tegan and her eyes widened. She, too, showed off a slinky smile as she pushed off from the door frame. “My my, what do we have here? A touch of trouble?”

He chuckled. “Not as much as you and your scents.”

“Scents?” I repeated as Fidel, too, had a quizzical expression on his face.

“This vexing woman is able to create cocktails of aromas to delight or vex just about anyone,” Tegan informed Fidel and me.

“But not you, you silly little dragon,” Cordelia mused as she sauntered over to us with all the sway her hips could muster. She bent over in front of Tegan and her dress showed off nearly everything her chest could offer. “Your adorable little sniffer couldn’t be vexed.” She tapped the tip of his nose with one of her finely manicured fingers. “You still haven’t told me how you did it.”

He grinned. “It’s one of my trade secrets.”

“I see you two are acquainted.” The surprise came from Lusio in the doorway of the house.

I was less interested in his comment than the tall stranger at his side. The man was about sixty with gray flecks in his otherwise brown short hair and a short and equally speckled beard on his chin. He wore a shooting waistcoat of a tan color with billowing pants and matching shoes. The man held a plain wooden cane in one hand which he leaned against slightly and grasped an English cap in his other hand.

The stranger smiled at us and bowed low at the waist. “Good afternoon to you all. My name is Alan Beringer. I’m a contestant in this little game.”

“The final contestant,” Lusio added as he clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “Now let us eat and become better acquainted.”

CHAPTERSIX

Lusio ledour wary group inside and to the spacious dining room. A long table that could seat twenty stood in the middle of the room with a huge fancy rug beneath it. The wood-paneled walls were decorated with portraits of our host painted in poses that showed his prowess on the horse, aboard a large ship, and even in battle. The last one was a little ludicrous as it showed Lusio decked out in full armor wielding a sword above his head as his foes lay in a bloody mess at his feet.

“Some admirable portraits you have here,” Tegan mused as we congregated around the table. “Are they taken from specific events?”

The corners of Lusio’s lips twitched downward as he took the seat at the head of the table. “Of course. Why do you ask?”

“I was merely trying to place the boat,” Tegan assured him. I had to stifle a snort as Tegan purposely stared at the battle portrait as he answered.

“Yes, well, I can’t recall the name,” Lusio flippantly replied as he gestured to the seats stretched out in front of him. “Beringer, you will be on my right. Miss Blost, on my left.”

“Not your right?” she teased as she took a seat. “And here I thought I would be the one favored. To win, that is.” The seductive look she gave our flattered host was impossible to miss.

Lusio cleared his throat and resumed the seating. “Mr. Fidel Colombo, you may take a seat beside Miss Cordelia Blost.” Fidel seated himself on the lady’s left and she looked him over with more interest than was decent. Lusio turned his attention to Tegan and me and his mood darkened. “You two may take a seat on Mr. Alan Beringer’s other side.”

I was glad to plop myself down and Cordelia asked the question on everyone’s mind. “There are more people here than contestants.”

Lusio nodded at Tegan and me. “Those two are merely my guests. They are-” He struggled to remember our names and then I recalled that we hadn’t given them.

“Tegan and Kate,” Cordelia finished for him as she coyly smiled at Tegan. “And better company is hard to find.”

“But you told us we were all here,” Beringer reminded him.

Our host pursed his lips. “As you are but the other one has chosen to dine in his room-”

“But I will stand in his stead,” a voice spoke up and Morrigan made her appearance in the dining room. She reached our end of the table and smiled at all of us. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Miss Morrigan Shea.”

Cordelia didn’t look too happy with that introduction as she lifted an eyebrow. “The senator from Malartu?”

“Just so,” Morrigan confirmed as she looked about the chairs. “Where shall I sit?”

I didn’t like the look in Lusio’s eyes as he nodded at the empty seat beside me. “You may sit there.”

Morrigan’s lips twitched but she took the seat. I tried not to show my nervousness by leaning away from her and Tegan was rather stiff on my other side.

Lusio clapped his hands and the door to the kitchen opened. A parade of apron-clad servants marched into the room each carrying the dishes and glasses needed for our feast. They set the dishes in front of each of us before retreating. Lusio clapped his hands against and different servants entered, this time bearing large covered platters. Those were placed in a neat row in the center of the table and those servants vanished. A third clap brought the pitchers brimming with drink and the servants filled our glasses with a red substance. The scent tingled my nostrils and reminded me of wine, but not quite.

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