“I regret that I did.” Sephi clasped hands clad in skin-tight, green silken gloves atop each other over her waist. “But it was necessary for me to attend Halfar’s university ball on a perfunctory basis. Our families have an agreement to cooperate on certain things. I would also not give the public impression that I am retreating from the Greanderal’s aggressive tactics.”
We’d found out little more about the alleged agent. Records were lost as the clipper sank, with over a hundred passengers as potential suspects. We weren’t in a position to beat the identity out of Aldyr, and he appeared more frightened of whoever it was than of us. We’d taken the precaution of putting the journal in a safe deposit box, and made a copy as well, but Sephi believed the best insurance was convincing House Greanderal it was in their best interests not to try anything further. And I trusted her judgment.
“Theo’s been a gentleman to you,” said Brenda.
“He has.”
“I don’t know if I like you going to that other ball. I don’t know if I likeyou.”
“She had my full support.” I glanced at the settee, where I remained awkwardly boxed in on both sides. “It’s elven politics, that’s all.” I was about to ask Yoi and the others to let me out the other side when I caught a subtle head shake from Sephi.
“I also had a very private message for Halfar Greanderal, a message that I wished to deliver to him at the ball.”
I sighed. Politics. I’d have to get used to it.
“I suppose it’s some posh high-society secret?” said Brenda.
“I would be quite pleased to tell you word for word, if you wished.”
Brenda pursed her lips and nodded.
“Well then. It was in the middle of a waltz,” Sephi spoke in a soft, yet dispassionate tone, as if describing which style of porridge she preferred for breakfast. “I leaned close to him.”
I should have reacted jealously. But if she could trust me with her life, I could trust her with a few dances.
“And I said in a soft and pleasant voice, ‘Mister Greanderal, you probably know that I discovered your family’s antics. I chose not to respond this one time as a courtesy. However, should any such threats to my consort, Mister Thistlewood, or myself, occur in the future, I will slice off your head, I will slice off your nethers, and I will affix both to the unicorn statue in front of your family’s manor in a most scandalousfashion.’ ”
A smile spread ear to ear.That’s my Sephi.
She winked at me and continued. “And if I happened to be especially cross, I shan’t do it in that order.”
Brenda chewed her lip. “I changed my mind. Idolike her. Welcome to the gang.” She slid out.
Sephi slid next to me, immediately draping an arm around my shoulders. Not a possessive gesture, nor for show, just a simple, spontaneous show of affection.
“Consort, huh?” I said.
She sighed. “I could have used boyfriend or lover, but as traditional as House Greanderal is, I thought consort would be more effective.”
A warm blush breezed over me. It was the first time she’d used any such term for me.
The music changed.
“This, I believe, is an excellent song for the Ashryn Waltz. Would you care to dance, Mister Thistlewood?”
“I would, Lady Arazniros.” I preferred calling her Sephi, but was proud of the fact that I could now correctly pronounce her family name.
As we both stood, she glanced me up and down. “You have obtained dance shoes.”
“I have. Which have a bit of lift compared to my normal shoes. I thought it would be more convenient for you if we were closer to the same height.”
“Magnanimous, as always, Mister Thistlewood.”
We stepped into a gap in the crowd and fell intosync with each other.
One-two-three, four-five-six.
“You do not need to count,” she whispered.
