Snippet #1410943

Victoria watched with cool curiosity as the women and their bodyguards entered the room. She could not help but admire the eunuchs and their well muscled bodies. However it was the women that most piqued her interest. They were dressed in the exotic and lavish garb of Sarifen nobles. She wondered what business they had at the party. Most of the Sarifen lords and their families openly spurned the Valanians and their functions. She regarded them from the corners of her eyes.

Lysander reached to his waist for the sword that hung from his belt, gripping the hilt so tight in his hand that his knuckles blanched. One of his entourage steadied him, placing a hand on his arm and the boy quivered with anger, sneering at Amres as the man left. Lucenzio, for his part seemed to have already forgotten the other in the split second it took him to avert his gaze and he now ambled over to another part of the hall. Suddenly and without warning he felt someone seize him by the arm and Lucenzio whirled.

"You made it then, Lucenzio!" The man holding his arm said happily. He beamed at him with a wide grin beneath a dark moustache. "You and I must talk. It has been too long." Jean wagged his finger as though lecturing a child. Lucenzio smiled.

"You are right. It has been too long." Amres nodded with a shrug of acquiescence. "And I would appreciate the intelligent conversation. I just spent the last few precious minutes of my life conversing with that fool Asturia boy." He snorted, sipping from his wine.

"You never were the best at making friends." Jean laughed, looking over to the furious young man as he left the hall and Jean clapped Lucenzio on the back.

"Your sister seems well." Amres gestured to Victoria, still chatting idly with Sir Gideon and his knights.

"As always, she takes care of herself. She keeps harrying me to ask you about your brother." Jean smiled, casting his gaze over to where Victoria stood.

"She is not his type." Lucenzio remarked slyly. Victoria had always been too brazen in her attempts to ingratiate herself with the King. It was all too obvious that she was interested only in setting her son on the throne.

"It seems no one is." Jean barked with laughter. "Watch yourself. If he doesn't produce an heir you'll be the one to take his place." Lucenzio's shoulders shook in a snorted laugh.

"Over my dead body."

"In any case. I shall let you be off. Remember, come and see me when you are free. We have much to talk about." Jean smiled boldly and Lucenzio nodded, making his way slowly to a group of closely clustered men and women in one corner of the hall.

"Lord Amres!" There came a cry and one of the men beckoned him over. "We were just discussing business. Maybe you can offer some advice." Baron Anhalt suggested. As Lucenzio approached he half listened to the conversation, allowing his gaze, along with most of his attention, to wander. He spied a shy looking woman by immersed in the crowds, her dark hair tied back by two braids. His expression softened as he beheld Margaret and they exchanged a playful glance before his attention was drawn suddenly back to the conversation.

"I can assure you, Baron, your investment will be safe. Cornsilk from the West is a prized commodity in Sarife. The women, they use it in their makeup." The man, Galli, rubbed his fingers together as though grinding powder. "And if we can ensure monopoly on the route, then we will make a killing!" He exclaimed. Lucenzio couldn't help but smirk. He hummed to himself as though trying to place a thought and the others looked at him.

"Galli. Wasn't it your advice that the Veronas invest in the northern mines?" Amres said.

"What of it?" The man spat back, guarded.

"Well that venture left them out of pocket by some margin. They had to sell half of their land to cover the debt." Lucenzio smiled grimly. "I merely wish to save the Baron such a costly investment." He could feel the spite rise from Galli like a black cloud. The man's eyes were like daggers. Lucenzio shrugged. "Of course, you've always been know to as one who is careful with his money." He turned to Anhalt.

"A backhanded complement if ever I heard one." Anhalt said, his expression hardening and he frowned.

"I assure you I meant nothing by it." Lucenzio raised his hands in supplication, and yet the mischeivous smile on his face did not fade. Galli sloped off quietly sneering at the tall man.