Page 121 of A Crown of Lies

“No? Am I misinformed?” Niro asked.

Aryn met Niro’s eyes with a cold glare. “How do you know about that?”

“The government is excellent at doublespeak and denial, but coin never lies, and I have access to every ledger in the history of D’thallanar. Do you really believe I’m unaware of how my predecessors chose to use you?” He tossed the taarasin to Aryn, who caught it. “Play.”

Aryn frowned down at the instrument. “I doubt I’ll be any good. I haven’t practiced in years.”

“Music is like sex. You don’t forget how to do it. You only forget how good it feels to do it.” Niro nodded to him. “Now play.”

Aryn sighed and shifted the instrument on his lap. It felt strange in his hands, but not unfamiliar.Let’s see. What to play?Did he even know any songs? Not after so long. But maybe a few bars of a song would be enough to appease Niro.

He positioned his fingers and struck the paddle to the strings. The chorus of notes that came out was like a trip back in time. Everything suddenly came back to him as if it’d only been a day since he’d played and not a decade.

He played a few more notes, slowly.

Niro answered on the obata, echoing the notes back to him. “Don’t stop. Keep playing!”

Aryn plucked a few more notes, a little faster this time, and Niro did the same, playing the same notes but adding a few more. He copied the same melody, adding a few of his own before Niro cut in, playing it even faster. “Faster!” he urged. “Don’t think. Just play!”

Before he knew it, they were playing together, working through a traditional ballad with Niro carrying the harmony on the obata. Though the song was familiar, they were moving through it at twice the normal speed, fingers moving so fast that Aryn couldn’t even think. It was pure muscle memory playing the tune, and not him.

Applause sounded through the little courtyard when their song came to an end, though it was only Saya and Mercia clapping. Niro found his feet and gave an exaggerated bow while Mercia came over to stand next to Aryn.

“I didn’t know you played an instrument,” Mercia whispered.

Aryn shrugged. “Neither did I until just now.”

“Thank you for indulging me,” Niro offered. “It’s been a long time since I’ve played with anyone.”

“I don’t have the ear for it,” Saya said apologetically.

“But gods above, can you dance!” Niro put an arm around her waist and kissed her tenderly. Not in the way a husband in a political marriage kissed his wife, but as if they actually cared about one another.

They walked out of the private courtyard, and along the walkway that ran alongside the public courtyard, Mercia and Saya leading the way. The two women spoke in hushed tones, and Mercia laughed. She was more at ease than Aryn had seen her ever since they arrived. Perhaps this would be good for her.

“I’m surprised you accepted my invitation,” Niro said, brushing dirt from his clothes, “especially after how readily you rebuffed me at the Starfall estate.”

Aryn couldn’t stop himself from smirking. So, he did know. He folded his hands behind his back. “That was business. I was working, as you well know.”

“And are you working now?”

Aryn halted and turned to face Niro. “I am always working.”

Niro’s face fell.

“But,” Aryn continued, “I am no stranger to mixing work and pleasure, as I’m sure you are aware.”

Niro sprouted a wide grin. “Ah, you want to know how I know all about you when you had to work so hard to learn about me. Well, you will have to keep guessing. I’m afraid that is a source I cannot yet reveal.” He gestured for Aryn to continue down the path.

Aryn didn’t like walking ahead of anyone. He dipped his head and copied the gesture. “After you.”

Niro’s lips twitched into a smirk, but he went.

“Why did you give me that information?” Aryn asked.

Niro shrugged. “I wanted to see what you would do with it. It was a calculated risk, but a good way to find out if I was right about you.”

“And were you?” Aryn said, looking over at him. “Right about me?”

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