Heirot

Tenara slipped back into the rhythm of their dance. "Employer?" she asked, glancing around the room. "Now I'm even more curious. Who's so frightened of our little banquet that they hired a mage with a soul-bound blade to accompany them? You are a mage, aren't you?" She glanced him over, frowning. "Perhaps not."

"A mage?" the man said. He tilted his head, amused. "Nothing so flamboyant as that. I'm merely a businessman. You, on the other hand, seem to have quite the magical talent."

Tenara forced a smile. Her family, when the decision was made to bind her, had did well to hide her magic and, aside from her most recent missteps, most people didn't know about it. Surely some random business associate of some nameless, frightened noble or merchant shouldn't know. The only people who might truly know what she was capable of were the ones who had kidnapped her and kept her drugged to the point the bind she wore wouldn’t release.

She feigned bashfulness to hide her unease. "It's nothing so special," she said. "My mother is the incarnation of Attara, so some gifts were bound to bleed over." She spotted Havi in the crowd speaking with a vaguely familiar noble, though it looked more like he was being forced to listen rather than holding a conversation.

Her gaze drifted back to the red-haired man, appraising his face with bright eyes. He wasn't a mage, then. Good. No magic to contend with. But, she needed more information before she tried to rob him of that dagger.

"So, just a businessman. That's quite the special weapon for an entrepreneur. Who's your employer?" She leaned forward. "He must be a person of note to afford someone with such a weapon.”

The man smiled. "Attara, eh?" He let the topic slide. "I'm here with Lord Preshton, of Preshton Industries." He gestured with his eyes to a middle-aged gentleman near the edge of the room who appeared to be in a heated debate with some other guests. "The majority of the steel traded across the Border passes through his company's hands, and plenty of people aren't happy about it, including the Queens. Makes him a good target. He needed a plus one who was well connected, yet neutral, so I offered my support."

Tenara had never heard of him, but as she looked at Preshton of Preshton Industries, the tension in her body subsided. Could it be a coincidence? The man didn't seem like some mastermind who worked with Arken.

"Well, he has nothing to worry about here," Tenara said, smiling. "We're trying to mend fences, not break them." Even if Tenara didn't think they had anything to mend. It was all Arken's fault... She glanced at Elias at one of the tables. He was drinking and watching Havi talk to the noble. She reminded herself this was keeping a lot of young Hajaran men off the front lines of whatever battle these people in this room were itching to start.

The song began to wind down and Tenara spotted the eager gazes of would-be partners lurking at the edge of the dance floor. She didn't feel done with her questions, though—even if it seemed this man had nothing to do with her kidnapping or mean Havi any harm. "Call me curious, but where did you get this?" she asked, slipping her hand beneath his lapel again, feeling along his chest for the dagger. It seemed like a terribly intimate gesture from an outsider's perspective."Mr...?"

Tenara wondered if she could call the Ivis out, if her magic would have the same effect on this blade or if it was only Havi's sword she could control.

"Laurius. Laurius Mar," he responded, drawing her hand away from the dagger and placing a cordial kiss at her fingertips. "As for how I got this, well, it was a prototype for a commission. A wealthy patron was looking for a... unique weapon. It took several attempts to get the methodology down before I could fulfill the order. Very strange... other than my client, I was sure I was the sole wielder of this knowledge, but your guardian bears an uncanny resemblance to my own."

Tenara's mind reeled. Prototype? She forced a smile. "Havitharon's my new guard. Nothing more than that. As you can see, I'm not wearing any weapons, and... unlike yours, people can see him." She nodded to where Havitharon was still occupied by the noble. She felt bad for leaving him stranded in such a situation, but the need for information was important for both of them to remain safe.

And the song was over. Tenara inwardly screamed because she needed just a little more time. Just as the nobles were closing in on them like hounds with the scent of blood, the music transitioned into a traditional Hajaran number. It quickly spooked them all away. It was almost comical how many did an about-face rather than attempt to muddle their way through. She didn't blame them, Hajaran dances tended to be a lot more intimate in proximity than other foreign waltzes. Tenara cast a glance at the orchestra and found her Aunt with a glass raised in her direction and a wink in her eye. Tenara wasn't certain if the woman had requested the song to give her a break from dancing at all, or to help her buy some more time with Laurius Mar—though, she doubted he knew anything about this style of dancing.

"I shouldn't monopolize your time," Tenara said, curtsying in front of him. She rose and drummed her hand over his jacket and the dagger within. A thousand questions wanted to burst out of her. Do you treat your Ivis kindly? How do you handle his ruts? Can you make him physically whole? All of those would give away Havitharon's secret. "You made another for your client? After this one?"

He shrugged. "I only sold the method. We had some creative differences. But here I am doing all the talking. I should like to know more about you as well, your majesty. Do let Lord Preshton know if you'd like to arrange some time to become better acquainted." He smiled at her knowingly as Havitharon finally freed himself from the conversation he'd been snared in and made his way toward them.

Tenara curtsied again. "Of course. I'll reach out. Thank you for the dance, Mr. Mar." She exited the dance floor, moving towards Havitharon. She felt jittery and uncertain. He knew how to make blades like Havitharon? He'd sold the method? How any people had he sold it to? Was one of them Arken?

When she reached Havitharon, she grabbed hold of him to steady herself. "I'm sorry... I couldn't just sit there and feel terrorized in my own home. I needed to know who he was..."

Havi had to fight the instinct to wrap his arms around her. He'd been firmly briefed beforehand by Atul about what behavior was considered believable coming from a guard, and embracing his ward was not one of them. He placed his hand over hers on his arm and conveyed as much security as he could through the small contact. Too many questions ran through his head, but none were appropriate to discuss here. He settled for the most important one. "Are you safe here? Is he a threat?"

Tenara glanced back at Laurius briefly. "I'm safe. At least, he doesn't seem to be a threat. I don't know about anyone else in this room," she muttered, glancing around. "He wants to... meet again. To get to know me. I can ask him more questions then, but... Havi, it seems like he is the one who discovered how to make your sword. I think he sold Arken the instructions."

Havi grimaced. He wanted to know why that man wanted to get to know her. Was a like the other men in the room - a potential suitor? Or maybe an informant for their rival kingdom?
Or a sorcerer who wanted to employ her in another dangerous spell? Dozens of theories ran through his head, but none of them were good. "What do you want to do?"

Tenara bit her lip, thinking. "I'll meet with him. I think we need to know more about him, and who he's sold this information to. I can charm him if he wants to be charmed. Maybe I can arrange for you to speak to his Ivis? You could get answers from him?"

"Good idea. It goes against some of our social customs, but in this situation, I doubt the rules apply. If he's not too afraid. It seems he knows me."

As they were speaking, one of the guests approached. "Princess Tenara? Jim Preshton. I noticed you've met my traveling companion. Would you care to dance?"

Tenara smiled politely at him and squeezed Havitharon's arm reassuringly. She didn't feel like dancing anymore, but it would be impolite to refuse and she could also get more information about Laurius out of his employer. "Of course. I'd love to." Tenara placed her hand in the older gentleman's palm and let him lead her to the dance floor. She spared a glance back at Havitharon, eyes widening as she spotted Elias approach him.

"Must be a nightmare guarding that one," he said to Havi, slipping his hands into his pockets to hide his missing fingers. "She's popular. I bet her feet will be sore tomorrow." The prince eyed the Ivis up suspiciously. "Where are you from? Never seen the likes of you before. Hajara's hoping you spook any would-be kidnappers in the future?"