Page 98 of Death of the Glass Angel
Throat drying up, Janus spun around, spotting only blob-like shadows and hearing only the echo of unintelligible voices. She could not flee to Father’s side; he’d pull her to him and bid her introduce herself. Lady Tauret followed Eros around like a hovering shepherd and would repeat precisely what Evander had instructed before shooing Janus off.
Locking eyes on the one other person desperate to escape, Janus hurried through the crowd, flinching from anyone who might reach out and halt her.
Janus recognized the wiry woman by the dragon coiled around a clock emblazoned on her jacket. Though her name escaped Janus, she believed this was the Minister of Evocation.
“Valeria puts us to shame.” The woman said, words strung together in rapid tempo. “Didn’t you say you teach there?”
“Yes,” Gemellus answered.
“But you’re from Sigilus. The seat of a once great empire, and it defers to Dragos to train its finest.” The woman shifted closer to Gemellus as he shimmied away. “Thuatia should open its own school, lest we lose fresh talent to another country. Our brightest should not be poached by Dragos, of all places.”
“Yes, but Valeria is open to all in the Thruinc alliance, so why bother?” Gemellus noticed Janus’s approach. “Oh, look at that. Do you mind, Heba? An instructor must always make time for his students.”
Before Heba could respond, Gemellus grabbed his drink in one hand and wrapped the other around Janus’s shoulder, steering her away.
“Are you using me to escape the crowd?” He asked.
“Yes. Are you using me to escape Lady Heba?”
“I am indeed.” Gemellus pushed Janus towards a quiet table and leaned on the back of a chair. “She has good ideas, but she really needs to ask someone who isn’t me.”
“She must think highly of you.”
“She must-” Gemellus paused mid-sentence. “Well, this is as good a time as any to teach you something new. The art of observation, for one.”
“The art of what?” Janus asked.
Gemellus took her by the shoulders and turned her to face the crowd. “What do you see?”
“Um, people?”
“Sure, but look over them. Linger on the crowds, on people of importance. What can you glean from a mere cursory glance?”
Janus bit her lip and let her gaze sweep over the packed ballroom. People stood around and talked. Some ate, others chased down waiters to grab food from trays. Some were on their fourth drink, while others sipped their first. What Janus was supposed to learn from this, she had no idea.
“I don’t get it,” Janus said, looking up at Gemellus. “You can’t even see them.”
“No, but I can hear them.” He sighed. “Take Lord Abbas over there. Watch him for a bit. His mannerisms, where his eye lingers.”
Janus drummed her fingers on her thighs as she found the man in question. Tall, fair-skinned, black hair, and wide, pupil-less sea-gray eyes. A cefra from the west. He stood opposite Lady Tauret, attention wholly fixed on her. Eros lingered nearby, mouth repeatedly opening as he blabbered, heels bouncing on the floor as he attempted to raise himself to eye level with the two adults.
“What about him?” Janus asked.
“What does he think about your father?”
Frowning, Janus watched the man closer. Eros leaned in between Tauret and Abbas, and the man gently but firmly pushed him out of the way. After a second attempt to insert himself into the conversation, but receiving the same result, Eros’s shoulders slumped, and he walked away. Though instructed to watch Abbas, Janus followed Eros as he sought out a new group.
“I have no idea,” Janus admitted.
“He has little respect for him.” Gemellus pointed out another table. “How about him? What is he thinking?”
Following Gemellus’ finger, Janus found Evander leaning on their family’s table, hands tapping the edge of his seat as he shook his headat her, disapproving. He mouthed something at Janus. ‘Get away from Gemellus.’
“That he wants me to stop hiding behind you,” Janus answered.
“Take his advice.” Gemellus patted Janus on the back and pushed her away. “Oh, look at that. A vacancy by your father’s side. Would be a shame if I filled it before Lady Heba finds me again.” He scurried away, leaving Janus alone.
Janus saw Evander facepalm as she spun around and trotted after Gemellus. At least by Father’s side, he would do most of the talking. The king’s deep brown eyes lit up, and he beckoned her over, taking her by the shoulders and positioning her before him, presenting her to the two lords and ladies he spoke to.
