The Chronicles of Nir

24 | The Auction

As the night deepened, the ball continued, and the guests were treated to endless indulgences and delights.

The enchanting beauty, having made her rounds, sat at Lady Trinnian's side upon the dais in a seat only slightly lower than the lady's own. The gigantic wolf lounged at her feet. Despite having filled her dance card, she had not engaged in a single waltz, pavane, or cotillion, and fanned herself idly, as if indifferent to the discontent stirring among the many impatient admirers she'd gained.

At last, as the clock struck eleven, a pair of trim young stewards—one male and one female—slipped among the crowd bearing envelopes on silver trays. Everyone who'd signed the dance card got one.

Eri handed his to Maisie, being unable to read it himself.

"The bearer of this card is cordially invited to attend a special proceeding, to be held at midnight in the Blue Room. Please present your invitation at the door." Maisie glanced across the floor and saw Tallon frown as he and Grelorn Tremesian were each served a similar summons. "'Special proceeding?'" She repeated under her breath. "Is that where she auctions off her 'wares'?"

"Only one way to find out," Eri responded, holding out his arm. "Shall we?"

She bit her lip for only a moment before setting her chin and taking Eri's arm like a regal courtier.

Guiding Eri into the queue, she whispered, "Grelorn and Tallon both received a summons. It looks like Grelorn's leaving behind his 'beloved.'"

She almost choked on the word. Tallon's sister either had exceptionally poor judgment, or politics were at play.

"For the best, no doubt," Eri murmured. "I would spare you whatever sights await us, if I could but see them without your aid."

The doors opened, and the line filed inside. Maisie and Eri were swept along, pulled by the current of moving bodies. At the threshold, Maisie presented their invitation to a dour-faced doorman, who turned it over several times as if looking for signs of fraud. After a suitable delay, he waved them through, and the pair found themselves in a room resembling a modest theater, with sloping floors, lines of seating, and a raised stage.

"Well, this group is certainly a step up from the lower city guards," Maisie said with a chuckle. "They sniffed the papers, do you remember?"

Eri grinned at the memory. "Aye, and your married cover name was Mrs Bushtit."

In hushed giggles, Maisie and Eri found their seats somewhere in the middle of the auditorium.

Grelorn and Tallon entered shortly thereafter, with the latter acknowledging Liari's absence. "Thank you for not subjecting her to this."

A slight smirk raised the corner of Grelorn's mouth, revealing a dimple in his handsome features. "I would never dream of exposing a lady to such proceedings. Despite our rocky introduction, I want to assure you I have only the highest regards for your family. What interest have you in this auction though? You do not strike me as a man who seeks paid affections."

Past scruples aside (where Tallon most certainly had entered a brothel once or twice and participated in glorious orgies), he would never act without the full consent of all participants. However, there was more to this event than physical pleasure.

Sipping from a gold goblet a passing server had handed him, Tallon considered his words carefully. With a contemplative hum, he said, "This is an auction for rare items, is it not? Like you and my father, I work in trade and may find something of value as well as the opportunity to network with the world's elite. Besides, I was invited, and I gather it would be unwise to spurn Lady Trinnian."