Page 56 of Tides of Shadows

Aidenar was sitting beside me. Watching from the corner of his eye. At times he raised a brow, at times he toyed with his cup, at times he sent a short and ironic word, as if to remind me that he was noticing my every move.

Marcus’s smile lengthened, and his look was that of a wolf keen on blood.

“You are a hazardous, redhead. Not every woman has the courage to wager all,” he said, slipping a coin between his fingers and casting it upon the heap. “I wonder how much courage you shall have to lose.”

I tightened my hold upon the cards and schooled my face. A pair of kings burned my palms like heated iron. My fingers slid upon the figures, yet I kept my face unshaken. Marcus’s smile curled beneath his dark beard. He was around forty years old, with the stare of an old fox, and hands trained to hold a cup and a woman’s hips.

“I think the time has come to raise the stake beyond a pile of coins. Say, a contract for four transport runs to White City,” I said, letting the words fall like bait.

Marcus snorted and shook his head. “Two. I risk too much as it stands.”

His gaze wandered over my meager stack.

“The trouble is, little siren, you have nothing in return.” He smiled, then added, drawing out the words, “Though, looking upon you, I fancy you hold far more than you show.”

I did not lift my eyes. I kept them upon the table, upon my cards. But from the edge of my sight I saw Aidenar’s knuckles whitening upon his cup. Then his voice cut through my thoughts.

“We play the three of us,” he said, chill and clear, pinning Marcus with silver eyes. “Do not barter what I don’t require.”

He did not require me. The words shouldn’t have meant anything to me. I should have felt nothing. Yet something in me sank. I didn’t know why he said it. Was he so eager just to win more money?

The air went tight. I gritted my teeth and offered the last treasure I possessed, the jewel my mother had given me, our Family sapphire the size of a walnut, blue as the sea that bore me.

“What do you say now?” I asked, lifting it so the lamplight danced within the stone.

Marcus wet his lips. Greed lit his gaze.

“Let’s play this hand to its end,” I said. “And in the next, you shall name the stakes.” I set the sapphire necklace at the center. Aidenar seemed to ease his breath.

Roderick appeared like a shadow at my shoulder with contract parchment ready. Swollen with confidence, Marcus signed the contract before we laid our cards down. A hill of palladium lay upon the table as well, a generous stake from Aidenar, who had no fear of emptying his coffers. I had a knife to my throat. Nevertheless fickle fortune chose, for once, to favor me.

“A pair of kings,” I said, turning my cards.

Marcus cursed under his breath. Queens lay in his hands.

Aidenar placed his cards face down and pushed them away. He yielded.

“You managed to sail your siren’s ship through that storm,” Marcus hissed, lifting his cup and draining it. He leaned close, wine and smoke upon his breath. “If you ever want a taste of a true man, you know where to find me.” His fingers brushed my shoulder. Aidenar’s face went hard as stone, and his stare fixed Marcus like cold steel.

Without waiting on my answer, Marcus moved off and soon had two women trapped against the bar, as though nothing had passed. I was left with Aidenar and a mound of winnings. We both rose from the table.

Cavareth came to me slowly, smiling as though he praised my victory, as though the whole scene amused him. His hand caught me firm at the waist, his body turned to mine. I felt the scent of his skin, the weight of his palm. His lips came near my ear.

“Never do that again,” he said firmly through clenched teeth. “Never put your body on the line. You do not know these men. You have no idea what you are stepping into. You have what you wanted and now leave this place.”

He was angered, more than I had ever seen him.

He turned his head toward Roderick, still holding me close and spoke louder. “Take her to the palace, and make sure she is safe.” Before I could draw breath, he was gone towards the bar.

I stood stunned until Roderick’s strong grip closed upon my arm.

“Come, my Lady.” His voice rang hard.

We were about to leave when I stopped and turned Aidenar’s cards up.

A pair of aces.

My heart struck my chest.