It was yet another night of the usual. Music, laughter, and the smell of wine mixed in with the feelings of lust permeating the halls.

One by one, the pavilions' regulars piled in, their expressions betraying their hopes of a night of pleasure.

Much was the same as the previous night, except for Poppy's absence tonight. She'd been distraught for much of the day, so much so that Madam Selene had decided to let her skip the evening's responsibilities.

If you asked Selene, she might have said Poppy would only ruin the atmosphere, but we all got the scene that she was just as worried about Poppy, who hadn't seemed all the way present the whole day.

The worst part is, I didn't know how to help her. I'd tried to get her to speak to me, but both Cressida and Bria had insisted I leave her be.

"Still thinking about Poppy?" A voice asked to my left. It belonged to Lyra, Poppy's replacement in the atrium.

Not that she would be here long anyway. Lyra was so popular lately that she barely spent any nights in her own bed. Before long, her beauty would enchant one of the arriving guests, prompting them to request a night together.

That didn’t stop her from putting on a show, however. Even as she spoke to me, her playful smile kept drifting toward one of our new arrivals. Her robe had slipped just enough to bare a gleaming shoulder, and when she crossed her legs, the slits revealed oiled skin beneath them. She loved the attention, and she took every drop of it for herself.

A different courtesan might have been jealous, I think. I don't even think she did it on purpose. That's just how she was, an all-consuming personality. I had hoped her presence would spell a quiet night for me. It didn't.

I nodded in response to her question, "I don't know how to help her."

"Well, smothering her isn't helping," she said before turning to wave flirtatiously to someone else. It was shaping up to be a packed night. There had been no end to the patrons that were walking through those doors.

I followed the gesture to its intended, and my heart nearly skipped a beat. It was Lord Bram. And here I was thinking I was rid of his presence after he hadn't shown his face here in some time.

"Leave her be." Lyra echoed Cressida's and Bria's sentiments, "The first time can have that effect. I was in a terrible state as well. It's just the way of things."

Somehow, I didn't think Poppy and Lyra were the same sort of person.

"I think someone has their eye on you," she whispered to me with a sly smile.

"My dear, would you join my companion and me in the wine room this evening?" I heard Lord Bram ask.

I equipped my mask, smiling back at him, "It would be my pleasure, my lord."

There was no point in throwing a tantrum over his invitation. Borrowing Lyra's words, this was the way. A guest had chosen men, and I had no choice but to attend to him.

He outstretched his hand to help me to my feet, and I took it. A calculated move, as it turned out, because he didn't let go of me when I found my feet; instead, he took the lead, ushering me along toward the wine room, leaving his companion trailing behind.

I squirmed over the appearance of my manicured and painted fingers enveloped by his thick fingers adorned by heavy signet rings.

Such was his nature, a thick man with broad shoulders. Everything about him pointed to a life of indulgence. As though he didn't know what it was to be refused.

"Have fun," I heard Lyra giggle.

=^..^=

He took the liberty of finding us a secluded corner in the already dimly lit room, making sure I was between him and the wall, while his companion sat across from us.

Regardless of how I felt about him, I had a job to do. I reached out for the pitcher, and with it, I filled Lord Bram's cup first and then that of the other man.

I got my first chance to examine the unfamiliar man as I did and took note of his spectacles. Function aside, they served to tell everyone of his wealth and status.

Lens making was an extremely specialized skill, and as such the items were very expensive. I myself had only seen my first one here in the pavilion. I wondered if he was a lord himself, and then I wondered why he hadn't taken a courtesan for himself. Not that it was so uncommon in this room.

After pouring, I glanced around the room. As expected, some were in deep conversation with their peers, while others sought a more personal time with a courtesan. Ione herself was engaged in a one-on-one with a guest on the other end of the room, laughing animatedly. It seemed as though they were nearing the point where the upper floor was inevitable.

That made me wonder about Lord Bram's intention.

I turned back to him to note that half the wine in his cup was already missing. At this rate, my wrist will be sore by the end of the night.

"How is the wine, my lord?" I asked him with a smile.

He grunted, "Decent. Keep ready to pour." Turning to the other man, he asked, "So, war may yet be avoided then?"

The other man eyed me cautiously. "I don't think we should talk about this here."

I made a quiet move to reach for the pitcher, raising it to fill Lord Bram's cup once again, carefully appearing disinterested.

"You needn't worry about that," Lord Bram assured him. "The girls here know to keep their mouths shut. Even if this one isn't one of them, isn't that right?" He turned to me.

I smiled. "I am no different from my sisters, my lord."

He chuckled in response, "You see?"

"Very well," the other man replied despite not seeming convinced. Still, he raised his full cup to his lips and proceeded, "There is a chance these border skirmishes remain that way. But in any case, production is likely to slow down. If it does come to war and the kingdom must rely on the granaries, I'm afraid it will mean our heads."

Lord Bram sighed, "We must halt sales then?"

"Immediately," the man confirmed, "it is a perilous position to be in as it is."

Lord Bram let out a frustrated sigh. "Let our friends know that our doors are closed until further notice. I'm sure they won't be happy to hear that, but it must be done."

"Very well," the other man replied, causing Lord Bram to sigh once again.

I wasn't sure what to make of their conversation at that point. Talk of war and granaries—it sounded valuable. It had only been my intention to press the conversation.

"Is something wrong, my lord?" I asked.

"Why?" His expression softened as he turned to me. "Are you offering to help me feel better about my worries?"

His gaze seemed to linger on my lips before he made a move.

He reached out and placed a finger beneath my chin, guiding my head forward and simultaneously inching closer.

I unconsciously shifted backward when it became clear he was attempting to kiss me. My reaction annoyed him.

I quickly attempted to soothe him. Softly I whispered, "Not here, my lord. The wine room is a place of conversation. We mustn't disrespect the other guests."

"Conversation," he mocked. "Let's have it then. What makes you so special that I can't take you upstairs and have my way with you right now?"

It was clear that the true nature of his business with the spectacled man had left him sour. My interest was piqued.

"Why do I even want to?" he asked after another drink from his cup. His companion mirrored him by raising his own cup. "I could step outside and have any effeminate boy I wanted, but not you?"

While I was busy trying to commit Lord Bram's exact words on war and granaries to memory, he had other ideas.

He forcefully grabbed my wrist. "Answer me. What makes you special?"

I winced, "My lord, please, control yourself."

"We shouldn't draw attention to ourselves right now," The other man helped.

Lord Bram hissed and let me go. "My mood has turned," he proclaimed. "Let us seek amusement elsewhere."

"Good idea," the other man agreed.

Lord Bram brought his cup to his lips, sending its contents down his throat so effortlessly that I had to wonder about where it all went.

"Be sure to tell Isolde of my displeasure tonight," he ordered, and soon after both men made their exit, leaving me to wonder whether I could have handled that better.

I couldn't help but feel like there had been valuable information somewhere in the midst of all that. Bits and pieces missing that would have unveiled a valuable plot, the kind of secrets I was after. Certainly more valuable than petty guild disputes.

I'd also begun to wonder about what Madam Selene would say regarding a frequent guest leaving so soon after arriving, and in a sour mood no less. As it turned out, I wouldn't have to wait long to get my answer.

Mere minutes later, silhouetted in the archway of the wine room, I noticed her gesturing me over. Quickly, I rose to my feet and made my way over to her, briefly nodding at Ione, who was ignoring her guest to stare worriedly at me as I exited. I had only time enough to flash her a smile that said I was alright.

"Come to the dressing room after breakfast tomorrow. I'll expect a report of what happened here," she said to me.

I'd detailed the events of the previous night earlier that afternoon, and thankfully, she'd found nothing wrong with the way I'd handled my first guest.

I could only hope that I would be equally justified in her eyes tomorrow.

I nodded to show my understanding.

"It's good timing," she told me. "The spymaster is waiting for you upstairs. Look for the room with the green velvet rope."

"The spymaster is here to see me?" I asked with no attempts to hide my surprise. "So soon?"

"It is not your place to question," she said to me while already turning away.

"I know, Madam, but is that wise?" I asked, "Everyone knows he is Sybil's patron."

Madam Selene turned and walked back up to me, using the opportunity to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind my ear. "It would seem he is yours now."

Even then, it worried me. I couldn't imagine Sybil would take that lying down, and the last thing I needed was friction at a time when I finally felt at ease around the girls.

I would have to make it clear to him that he is to favor Sybil once again if our arrangement is to work.

=^..^=

I did exactly as planned the moment I walked through the door of the private room to find him drinking by himself.

Fueled by both fear and concern for the fragile peace I'd found in the pavilion, I spoke rather rashly to a man many levels higher than my station.

"You can't come to see me so frequently," I said as I walked through the door. "In fact, I should leave, and you should invite someone else to share that drink with you."

"Was it with that attitude that you chased Bram away?" he asked me. He didn't seem upset, more amused.

And how did he know about that, I wondered. It had only happened.

"How...?"

"I saw him storm out," he replied, seemingly pleased with himself. "Come. Sit down."

I frowned but obeyed.

He began to pour wine into a cup for me and raised a silencing palm when I began to object.

"So much of information gathering is just being in the right place at the right time," he told me. "It could just be pure luck or be perfectly calculated."

He smiled as he held up the cup of wine to me. Nothing about him seemed genuine, down to his appearance. The hair, the perfectly tailored doublet, the leather boots—his appearance seemed just as thoroughly curated as that of a courtesan.

My instincts were screaming at me not to trust him, but what choice did I have?

"But of course, the bulk of the real work is getting the right person in the right place at the right time," he continued. "Within these walls, that person is you. But outside, it could be the investigator that I could order to look into the identity of your parents."

Naturally, I froze. I needed a moment to process what he'd said.

"I don't understand," I said to him.

Obviously I understood the words, but it just seemed so far out of the realm of expectation that it warranted explanation. I hadn't thought about my parents since I was a child, and the matrons wouldn't tell me anything.

I was just an orphan, and there was nothing more to it. So what was he saying now?

"Surely you'd like to know what became of them," he teased. "I know I would be beside myself not knowing the fate of those who brought me into this world."

He let me stew with his words for a moment and returned to his drink. When he was good and ready, he added, "Who knows, they may very well be alive. How wonderful would it be to be reunited with them when you are free from this place?"

He'd lit a fire under me where there once was indifference. The version of me from my childhood that had once been desperate to know the truth seemed to have been awakened.

Despite that, I knew nobody, and I'm sure Cassian, least of all, went so far out of their way to help someone out of the goodness of their heart.

"What do you want?" I asked him, clutching the skirt of my robe.

"Only what we've already agreed to," he told me. "Think of it as an added incentive if freedom wasn't enough. If you want to earn it, you can start by telling me what transpired with Bram this evening. He's seemed anxious as of late"

There wasn't much to tell, at least as I saw it. I recounted the events of the evening in as thorough a manner as I could, and when Cassian was satisfied with it, I recounted the previous night's events.

"Is that all?" he eventually asked me.

I nodded and once again equipped my mask when he stared at me intently with a look that told me not to keep anything from him.

When I didn't budge, he relented and reached for his cup. "You have done well. I will expect no less moving forward. Keep at it, and when the time comes, I will take you from this place."

"My lord, if I may ask, when will that be?"

"When you have served your duty to the king and not a moment before," he replied, "of course, this will be at my discretion. We mustn't forget our places."

I might have pressed for a more definite answer, but the expression on his face dissuaded me. Instead, I just nodded obediently.

"Good," he relaxed. "As you say, I will increase the interval between my visits. I only thought you might want to know of my efforts regarding your family. Hope can spur us along, wouldn't you say?"

I nodded again. I hadn't even had time to consider what I would do if they were still alive. What kind of people would they be? What would they say if they saw me? Would they even want me?

I had thought these questions didn't matter to me anymore. Clearly, I was mistaken.

"Drink with me now," Cassian said finally, "to family. May they not disappoint us."

=^..^=

It turned out to be another early retirement for me after Cassian bid me good night. I might have been better served seeking out a different guest to attend to that night, but I'd been worried about Poppy and had said as much to Madam Selene.

Little did I know that would turn out to be a mistake.

While the other girls were busy with their guests, I retired to the dressing room to hang up my robe, switch to a normal linen dress, and remove the paint.

I'd taken a few moments to eye myself in the mirror before returning to the dormitory. If you had told me even a few months ago that wearing dresses would become second nature, I would have called you crazy. But months and months of the same made it so I'd soon forget what breeches and a man's tunic felt like to wear.

I'd styled my hair into a quick bun to get it away from my face before leaving the main wing behind. After which, I embarked on the short journey to our room to find my friend curled up in her bed.

She wasn't asleep. I could tell by the sound of her uneven breaths. I made my way over to her bed and sat on the edge of it. My intentions had only been to comfort her, to let her know that she wasn't alone.

I placed a hand on her shoulder. No matter how much it was echoed, I couldn't just 'leave her be.'

"How are you feeling?" The moment I said the words, I felt her pull away.

"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly, and she pulled farther.

"Don't speak," she said to me while shifting to the other side of the bed. "Your voice-- it brings it back."

That was all she said before she settled away from me, leaving me stunned. I couldn't even say a single word after that. I just sat on the edge of her bed as she lay facing away from me.

Few things hurt as much as knowing the sound of my voice brought her pain.

I thought back to the moment I'd first arrived when Cressida had found my voice grating, the masculinity that even a forced softness couldn't hide.

That night, as I changed into my chemise and retired early, I quietly worked on my voice by sounding out different words. The goal wasn't simply to sound softer; it was to change it entirely.

=^..^=

At wash time the next morning, something devastating happened. As though it wasn't bad enough that I felt like I couldn't speak up even as Bria and the others chatted away in front of the basin, Madam Selene arrived with trouble in tow: Sybil and Sabine.

Sybil I hadn't had much of a run-in with him except the times when we passed each other in the halls of the main wing. Sabine I actively avoided outside our practice sessions. So just what were they doing here with Madam Selene?

"Girls," Madam Selene began, "this is possibly the last way in which I'd like to spend my morning. Your sister Sybil is missing a very valuable hair stick."

One by one we all glanced at each other, visible confusion on each and every face.

"Now she insists someone took it last night, as she had it before she left for preparation in the evening. I am afraid I am going to have to search your things so as to not let things fester." Madam Selene explained.

"I didn't take anything," Cressida argued. "You're not going to search through my things like I'm some common slave.

"Now girls, please, let's all return to our beds and open our trunks. This won't take long." Madame Selene sang, "The sooner we begin, the sooner we get this unpleasant business out of the way and turn to helping Sybil look for her missing item."

I had been naive enough to think it was all likely a misunderstanding. Surely it would be discovered that she'd simply forgotten where she'd left it. Nothing of the sort had ever happened in the months since I arrived.

'No one would be stupid enough to steal something they couldn't use or sell.' I thought to myself.

That lasted until I opened my trunk, eager to get it out of the way, and the color drained from my face.

"What is it?" Sybil immediately pounced. "Madam, please check him."

Madam Selene frowned but approached nonetheless, stopping in her tracks when she saw it.

"Rowen, I do hope you have an explanation for this." She reached into the trunk and retrieved the sleek, golden rod, adorned with gems, that was haphazardly stuck in the corner between my other dresses.

"I didn't—" I'd tried to say something but was immediately cut off.

"You filthy little thief!" Sybil spat.

=^..^=
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Hi, thanks for reading the latest chapter. Would love to hear your thoughts on the story so far.