A Crucible of Souls (Book One of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence) (37 page)

Caldan frowned at the cryptic writing.
“
What’s this?
”

The attendant approached and asked to see the paper. Caldan handed it over while Izak smiled. The attendant scrutinized the paper then, satisfied they weren’t cheating, handed it back with a nod.

Izak held another piece of paper in his other hand.
“
It’s your wager, and this is mine. You can give me the ducats I spent placing the bet later, after you win.
”

“
My what?
”
Caldan screeched, turning heads in the crowd. He tugged Izak’s arm through his coat and drew him closer.
“
You made a wager in my name? For how much?
”

Izak squirmed in his grasp.
“
Easy lad, you’ve quite a grip there. I’d like to use this arm later.
”

“
How much?
”
grated Caldan.

“
It says right there. Two gold. Have to make the most when the odds are good. If you win they’ll come down a bit.
”

Caldan sat stunned. Two gold ducats. He didn’t have two gold ducats.

“
What’s the problem? You think you’ll win,
”
explained Izak.
“
We’ll both make out like bandits. No one here seriously thinks she will lose.
”

Caldan clenched a fist. The one holding Izak by the arm. Izak’s mouth opened in pain.

“
I don’t have two gold ducats. Let alone two to spare on a wager.
”

Izak tried to pry Caldan’s fingers off his arm.
“
Steady on, eh? I’m sure you said you wanted to win some ducats tonight.
”

“
Not by betting coins I don’t have. What happens if I lose?
”
In debt two gold ducats and unspecified services to Lady Felicienne. His stomach churned.

“
I thought you said you’d win?
”

“
I… it’s… probably. But that’s not the point. What if I don’t? I can’t pay.
”

“
Hmmm.
”
Izak blinked.
“
Then you’ll probably go to prison or the work gangs. Owww!
”
He clutched at Caldan’s hand on his arm.
“
Let go!
”

“
What does the paper say?
”
demanded Caldan.

“
Well, C, that’s you, Caldan. 2G, that’s obvious…
”
He glanced at Caldan, whose expression made him quickly return to the paper.
“
Um, T7 — that’s table seven. This table. LF is the dear lady here. And the last numbers are the odds. Fifteen to one.
”
He swallowed.
“
So..er… that’s thirty gold to you, if you win, less three as commission.
”

Caldan shook his head in disgust then released Izak’s arm.

“
Is there a problem, gentlemen?
”
Lady Felicienne’s words drifted across the Dominion table to them. Caldan quailed inside, and Izak went as still as a statue.

“
Er…no, not at all,
”
replied Caldan.
“
A friendly disagreement.
”

Felicienne wrinkled her nose.
“
Ah, the worst kind.
”
Her eyes shifted to Izak then returned to Caldan.
“
Has Izak done something regrettable?
”

“
I barely know her,
”
whispered Izak.
“
We may have met before. Though there was that night at last year’s Autumn Festival, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t her.
”

Caldan frowned in confusion.
“
What night?
”

“
Nothing… No, it couldn’t have been…
”
Izak rocked in his chair, eyes on the floor.

“
I hope you placed a wager on me.
”
She smiled at Caldan.
“
I’m about to crack this egg open, and about time too. For two silvers, I wasn’t expecting this much resistance.
”

A pain in his jaw made Caldan aware he was grinding his teeth. Hard. Two gold and more in debt if he didn’t win, and Lady Felicienne making light of the game. His face was hot, and the air around the table was all of a sudden stale, the crowd surrounding them too close for comfort. He shut his eyes and took a few deep breaths.

“
Are you all right?
”
came Izak’s voice, as if from a distance.

Opening his eyes, Caldan shook his head.
“
No, not really. Especially if I lose.
”

“
But you said you’d win.
”

Izak was beginning to annoy him.
“
No, I didn’t.
”

“
You did. You said…
”

“
Can you please be quiet? I have to concentrate.
”

“
Oh, of course.
”
Izak held a finger to his lips.
“
You can count on me.
”

Caldan nodded.
“
Could you do me a favor? A glass of water would help.
”

“
Water? What you need is a good strong drink. Something to…
”

“
No. Water, please.
”

“
I’ll be back shortly. Don’t make any moves until I return.
”
Izak weaved unsteadily through the crowd, and Caldan sighed with relief.

“
Good friends, are you?
”
inquired Lady Felicienne.
“
With Izak?
”

“
No…my lady. I just met him tonight.
”

“
My lady?
”
She smiled at him.
“
So formal?
”

Caldan squirmed in his chair.

Felicienne continued.
“
If we ever have occasion to meet formally, you can call me my lady, but here you can call me Felice.
”

A sharp intake of breath could be heard from a few onlookers, and a sneer appeared on Felicienne’s face.
“
A good game deserves some reward, does it not? Though in the end, learning from a loss can also be a reward for those less skilled.
”
She met his eye.
“
I look forward to those unspecified services.
”

Heat rose to Caldan’s face at her words. He swallowed.
“
Felice it is. You can call me Caldan.
”

Felice nodded once.
“
And what is it you do, Caldan?
”
Her eyes traveled down his torso.
“
For someone who plays Dominion with no little skill, you seem a bit… muscular.
”

Caldan cleared his throat, deciding not to tell her he was with the Protectors.
“
I’m a sorcerer.
”

Felice raised an eyebrow at him.
“
Indeed. Well, a valuable calling, to be sure.
”

The air grew thicker with each passing moment. Caldan decided to make his move.
“
I believe it is my turn?
”

“
You would believe correctly.
”

Caldan nodded.
“
I choose to use my five extra turns now.
”

He looked up to see Felice scowling in confusion, brow furrowed. His normal turn plus five extra turns made it a total of six moves he could make. Caldan stood and, in quick succession, moved his pieces over the boards.

Lady Felicienne’s mouth opened in surprise.

Izak returned to find the crowd buzzing with excitement. Lady Felicienne sat with an unblinking gaze focused on Caldan, who placed a piece on the board. A quick look told him each must have had a few turns, maybe more than a few from the changed position of the pieces. But what struck him was that Felicienne’s game had become disorganized, chaotic.

Caldan returned to his chair and sat with a sigh of relief, the piece of paper with the wager on it clutched in a sweaty hand. Seeing Izak, he eagerly reached out for the glass of water he carried and drank it in a few gulps.

“
What happened?
”
hissed Izak.
“
I told you not to make any moves until I got back!
”

“
I took a chance,
”
replied Caldan.
“
Moved a little early, but it worked out still.
”

“
She looks angry. At you.
”

Caldan studiously avoided Felice’s gaze.
“
I take it she doesn’t lose often?
”

“
Ah, no. Not often. Rarely, you could say.
”
Izak looked at his empty hands.
“
Where did my drink go?
”

“
Forget your drink. We’re lucky I’m not being hauled off to prison now.
”
He glared at Izak, though Izak was peering at the Dominion board.

Izak tilted his head and blinked.
“
I think she has lost,
”
he said with a tinge of wonder.

“
She has, and she knows it. Luckily for both of us, since I dare say prison wouldn’t be a good place to be.
”

“
Oh, it’s not so bad, once you get used to it. Excellent! A rather interesting night so far! Who do you think you should play next? We can make some coin before word of your play gets out.
”

“
I’m not playing anyone else tonight.
”

“
But you must! The opportunity is tonight. Tomorrow, people will be warier… more wary.
”

Lady Felicienne stood abruptly. All eyes turned to her. She gave a bow to Caldan.
“
I concede defeat,
”
she said plainly.
“
Well played.
”

Gasps could be heard from the crowd, and the buzz of conversation rose in volume. Not knowing the usual protocol, Caldan nodded in return. After hesitating a moment, he walked around the board and held out his hand.
“
It was a good game. I’d be happy to play you again soon.
”

Felicienne looked at Caldan’s extended hand then grasped it firmly.
“
Likewise. I do believe we’ll be seeing more of each other. It’s not often someone teaches me something new with Dominion. And I fear I underestimated you, which won’t happen again.
”

Caldan gave a wry smile.
“
I’m sure it won’t.
”

Felicienne gestured to the silver ducats on the table, two of Caldan’s and two of hers.
“
Your winnings.
”

He thanked her and accepted the coins.

She brushed a stray strand of hair back over an ear.
“
There is still the matter of the unspecified information. Izak here will know how to contact me, and I always repay my debts. I’ll arrange for someone to meet you and discuss what you need. Will that be sufficient, or would you like me to provide some kind of collateral before I leave?
”

“
That… will not be necessary. I trust you.
”

At his words, Felice raised an eyebrow and smirked.
“
I believe I’ve learnt more than enough for tonight so will be leaving. Can I offer you an escort back to the Sorcerers’ Guild?
”

Was she really suggesting…?
“
Ah, no… thank you. I can look after myself.
”

Felicienne paused.
“
I’m sure you can.
”
She glanced at the thinning crowd around the table.
“
Still, perhaps instead you can escort me to my apartments and we can discuss your needs in more detail tonight?
”