Someone gently tapped his shoulder, and Rerdas looked up to see a full glass of wine hovering below his nose. It was not offered by Earl Heckly. Rerdas looked up to meet the Duke of Umber's eyes, somehow darker and softer in the shadow of the night. He took the wine glass by its delicate stem and stared hard at the tiny bubbles festooning the rim.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"You are most welcome," Umber replied. There was an awkward pause. Rerdas gulped at his wine as though he hoped to drown in it.

"So..." Rerdas began, casting around for something to break the silence. "Who will you send to fight against Imalroc, Your Grace?"

"I can hardly give away my strategy to my enemies," the duke replied smoothly.

Rerdas frowned into his drink. "I am not your enemy," he muttered.

"No? But you are not my friend."

"How can you know that?" Rerdas looked into the duke's face.

Umber smiled faintly. "Because my friends are never so deeply uncomfortable around me," he said.

Rerdas shook his head. "I am not uncomfortable because of you...but...this. I have no great love for all of this." He jerked his head back toward the sounds of talk and false laughter that spilled from the gathering hall.

Umber nodded and sank into a slouch against the terrace wall. Rerdas looked back out at the cloudy night. The wind carried the scents of lavender and rosemary overlaid with sweetbud blossoms. It sighed through his hair, cool against his clammy skin. He could feel the duke's gaze fastened on him.

"It's a pity your aunt could not attend tonight. I believe I've forgotten where you said she was?"

Rerdas looked up at him, far too sharply. It couldn't be a coincidence that a powerful ally of the Queen's was probing for information about Uralta. Dantin and Etiana might have misread everything.

He had let the silence run too long, and he realized belatedly that his expression was not exactly friendly. "I...don't think I mentioned it."

Umber gave him a smile that even Rerdas could tell was uncomfortable, still waiting for an answer. He could not ascertain whether the man really was just attempting harmless small talk, or if this was more sinister.

The duke reached out and snagged his wrist. His fingers curled against Rerdas' bare skin. "I seem to have disturbed you with the question. Is she...unwell?"

Rerdas' heart jammed up into his throat, his pulse leaping with it. The question was pointed, so very well-aimed, as if the duke already knew the truth. How could he possibly have discovered it? Rerdas clutched the glass, nearly swaying against the impulse to rip his hand free from Umber's grip.

He summoned a weak smile, dragging his unwilling mouth into the right shape. "Oh, not at all. Aunt Uralta is very well." A wild addition surfaced. "She's traveling. Researching tribal practices in the Southern Archipelago."

"Fascinating." Umber didn't sound fascinated in the slightest. He slid his hand up Rerdas' forearm with a gentle touch.

"Yes, it's...ah...well, I suppose it's intriguing if you prefer academic conversation." He was babbling. But better Umber think him an idiot than a lying traitor.

The duke laughed. He let go of Rerdas' arm, but only to set a hand against his shoulder. Rerdas twitched. Damn the earthbound gods, perhaps Dantin and Etiana had been exactly right.

"I cannot say that such lectures were ever my greatest joy," Umber said. "Tell me...what would be a more pleasing sort of conversation to you?"

"What other topics does Your Grace have in mind?" Rerdas hardly believed his own boldness.

It seemed to delight Umber, a smile blossoming across his face. "Don't tease. I'd like to know exactly what" –he drifted closer, voice going a bit breathless—"you find pleasing." He was an inch or two taller than Rerdas normally, but leaning against the wall his face was perfectly level.

"This is pleasurable enough for a lowly commoner in the Queen's employ," Rerdas said.

The duke tilted his head, and the light pouring from the ballroom glittered in his eyes. Something about the way his lips curled made the huntmaster feel as though he had misstepped. He took another long draught of wine.

"Surely Your Grace's interests are of more import. What do you prefer?" Rerdas asked, glancing up over the rim of the glass.

The sharp edge faded from Umber's expression. He looked forlorn. "Well. I had hoped I was making my preferences fairly obvious," he said.

Rerdas lifted his chin and the tip of his nose almost brushed against the duke's. He swallowed, but did not drop Umber's gaze. Held still when one of Umber's hands landed again on his shoulder. The duke squeezed slowly, and it was all Rerdas could do not to cringe away from him.

"You could..." Rerdas stopped and steadied his voice. "You could make it clearer. If you'd like."

"Ah, he thinks to grant a duke permission!" Umber seemed to consider this a very clever comment. A sly smile crept across his features as his hand slipped up along Rerdas' throat. Fingers curved under Rerdas' chin and a thumb pressed ever so lightly on his lower lip. His skin prickled with a sensation that was not quite pleasure.

"Since you're offering, then I can think of a few things I'd like to try," the duke murmured. Rerdas wanted to point out that he had yet to offer any damn thing. But then, perhaps the fact that he was standing still was all Umber needed.

The duke was a good man. Wasn't he? He was rich. He had power. He smelled like strawberries. Rerdas' head spun. Umber's face was too close. Close enough that Rerdas could make out the individual eyelashes that framed his eyes. His hand slid to the nape of Rerdas' neck. And Rerdas' stomach unmistakably sank.

He closed his eyes just before the duke's lips touched his. Kept himself still as the surface of a stagnant pond. One hand hung limp at his side and the other clenched around the empty glass. Earthbound gods. It was terrible, he'd forgotten how to kiss, and Umber was going to pull away and make an excuse to go find someone who knew how to unlock their damn jaw—

Umber's hands dropped to Rerdas' waist and hauled. Rerdas stiffened as he was dragged forward. The glass clattered free and rolled along the balcony, and his hands were empty and rising in instinctive defense. It took him a moment to remember that this was exactly the reaction he wanted. He relaxed his palms against the tops of the duke's shoulders and concentrated on not losing his balance while Umber smothered him.

Eternals, he wanted to feel something in the middle of this, but he was doing too much thinking and worrying. At least he could fake it. Rerdas looped his arms around the duke's neck and tilted his head slightly, allowing Umber to crush him closer. It had been a while since any man had kissed him so recklessly, but nothing he wanted to feel was there.

He broke away once he felt the duke's hands catching at the top button on his breeches. Too fast. Umber leaned toward him, expression darkened with lust, but Rerdas escaped his hold.

"I am very glad to be here with you, Your Grace, but now is neither the time nor place for us to get carried away," Rerdas managed breathlessly.

The duke sighed, and touched his cheek before straightening up. Rerdas eyed him, trying to look appropriately tempted by the idea of fucking the Duke of Umber on his damned terrace with most of the Queen's court on the other side of an open doorway.

"I suppose you are right, huntmaster. If I invite you back here...just you...would you come?" the duke pressed.

Rerdas hesitated, remembering Heckly's cautions. He went with his gut anyway. "Probably not," he said. "Not right away at least."

The duke's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but then his expression cleared and he let out a gentle laugh. "A hunter who wishes to be pursued. You shall have it as you wish, then."

"Your Grace is too kind," he mumbled, looking away.

A warm hand cupped his chin. "Am I to understand this is an imposition? I'd have thought you would welcome my attentions." Umber's gaze searched his, a frown tugging at one corner of his mouth.

Rerdas stared at him. It was such staggering arrogance, delivered in a way that made it all too clear the duke thought he was being a model of chivalry. This was not a man who had ever been refused something he had decided he wanted.

He took a steadying breath. "I...I do want this. I mean, uh, you. Your interest is flattering. I just...I'd rather not give the impression I'm at your every call and command."

"Of course not," the duke said. He dropped his hand. "It is not my intention to make you feel anything like that."

Another long pause, during which Rerdas floundered for something to say and came up with nothing.

Umber's somber expression vanished, and he grinned. "I think you'll find me far more patient than most. You don't have to worry about offending me with uncertainty. If anything," Umber chuckled, "I find it more than a little charming. Makes conquest all the sweeter in the end."

Rerdas barely held back his disbelieving laughter. Was this Umber's idea of flirting?

Umber dipped down toward and brushed a fleeting kiss across Rerdas' lips. "Come. We will return to the ball. I will soon have your trust. And you shall have of me what you like." Another grin, supremely confident.

"Your Grace has much trust already," Rerdas lied. Heckly could issue all the warnings he liked, but Rerdas was no stranger to men like Umber. The duke would take pleasure in the chase and enjoy being toyed with, just a little. Especially when they both knew that Rerdas was going to end up in his bed, exactly where the duke wanted him.

They returned to the great room together but Rerdas escaped when Umber was ensconced in a group of his sparkling friends. It took Rerdas some time to find Etiana in the crowd, which was by now bubbling over with wine and rumors. He spotted her in the middle of a large circle of ladies, and it was only with some rather ungentlemanly shoving that he was able to get close enough to poke her arm. She broke into a smile as soon as she saw him and followed him to a less hectic area of the ballroom, in the protective shadow of an immense marble pillar.

"Did you speak with him?" she asked.

"Yes."

"And? Did he hint at anything? Were Heckly and I correct?" she whispered, drawing close.

"We need to leave."

Etiana's smile flickered out. "What? What happened?"

"Nothing...precisely. He kissed me. But—"

"Sweet Eternals, it's exactly as we had hoped!"

"Not really," Rerdas muttered.

Etiana laughed. "What, it's fine for you to fling me at a powerful man, but when it's you he's interested in, you want to back out?" she said. Her amusement did not entirely disguise the edge of impatience in her words.

"I'm not backing out. But I'm not promising I can hold his attention for long, either. I'm a shiny bauble for now, but it's a whole damn world of shiny baubles to that sort of man. Besides, there's something else."

"What else?"

"Can't discuss it here," he said tersely. "In the carriage."

"I see." Etiana hesitated, looking back at the melee of courtiers. "Rumor has it that the Queen herself is coming soon. It's not every night that we get the chance to be in the company of Her Majesty." She looked eagerly at Rerdas, who forced a smile. He was getting tired of summoning the expression.

"We can wait, if you'd like," he said.

Etiana bit her lip, and then tossed her head back. "Don't be silly. We can go now. We've done what we needed to, and only the Eternals know when the Queen might finally condescend to show her face here. Let's leave."

"Are you sure?" He knew she would hear the relief seeping into his voice.

"Yes. Come on. Home we go, cousin dearest."

They stepped out of the shadows and angled toward the exit. It took them more time than was his preference, but Etiana made it a point to say a cheerful farewell to half the court. Once, he looked up and caught Umber's gaze. The duke did not go so far as to break away from his conversation partners, but he did flash a smile that purred with premature triumph. Rerdas' stomach flopped, yet again. He told himself it was from too much drink.

He did not dare speak to his cousin until they were safely off the duke's grounds.

Etiana shook her head, smoothing the dress over and over. "Gods. I've not been in high company for too long. Forgot that feeling of walking about on shards of glass."

"It's horrible," Rerdas agreed. He was still turning over the duke's expression. It had been almost taunting. Or was he simply too unsettled by the entire experience to read it properly?

"At least you befriended Umber."

Rerdas shot her a look, frowning before he could stop himself.

His cousin arched an eyebrow. "Listen," she began, "You're going to have to get better at faking it. He's not enough of a brute to force you. He's got to believe you want him."

"It won't take much for him to convince himself of that," Rerdas muttered. He shifted to stare at the city streets rolling by out the window.

"Rerdas," Etiana began. Her voice sounded more careful, and it put him on guard. When he glanced at her, the nervous pinch of her mouth told him what she was going to say before she spoke. "I know that...he's not Lokano, but—"

"Don't. Please don't. I don't want to talk about him."

"Very well," Etiana said, her voice small.

Rerdas stared out at the window, trying not to think about every ugly thing Etiana had just pulled half-way into the light.

"I don't think we can trust him," he burst out. Something else, anything else.

Etiana gave him a bewildered look. "Of course we can't trust him. But cultivating his friendship could prove valuable. Especially if rejecting him might mean creating a new enemy."

"I think...he might be an enemy already."

"Why?"

"He asked about Aunt Uralta. He wanted to know about her health."

Etiana jerked upright against her seat, her eyes wide. "You don't think he knows? He can't know. Gods, they'll take her away from us. You know what they do to anyone that they think has the Sleeping Sickness!"

Rerdas shook his head. "I don't think he knows with certainty. The Red Guard would be hunting for her if they even suspected a case in Kirinoll. And it's possible he was just asking as a courtesy. She was known in court. But...maybe we should leave before anyone catches on."

"And go where?" Etiana chewed her bottom lip. "You couldn't be a huntmaster if you're not at court, and we'd have to sell Imalroc. It's impractical."

"How much do you think we could get for the battleboxer?"

"It's not even worth considering, Rerdas. He's practically worthless right now. Until he wins, nobody is going to want him. But after he starts winning again, I promise you he'll be more valuable to us if we keep him than if we sell."

"All right. We'll see," Rerdas sighed, rubbing a hand across his eyes. He was tired of trying to point out to Etiana that the major flaw in all her reasoning was an absurd insistence that Imalroc would win as soon as they put him into a battlebox. Most of the time, her certainty convinced him. Sometimes it did not.

Rerdas saw the distant shape of the Toriem Estate, the only dark house among the twinkling lights of their neighbors. The memory of Umber's hand biting into his arm made him shiver. He would ask Dantin to look into country houses while Etiana focused on arranging the fight. They needed an escape route should things take a turn for the worse.