3. Siderus

Striding up the paved walkway, I take in the sprawling Liaric estate lit up for tonight"s lavish masquerade ball. The grand home towers, imposing and elegant, above me as I mount the front steps undeterred. Strains of music and chatter drift from the brilliantly illuminated ballroom.

Nobles pour in through the unguarded entryway, adorned in elaborate costumes of vivid silks and velvets. Their faces are obscured by decorative masks glinting with crystals and feathers that conceal their identities.

"Simply divine decor this year..." one woman breathes to her companion as they sweep past me into the crowded foyer.

"And have you heard? The Marquis has hired the most exclusive orchestra in the city—" comes a man"s excited whisper behind his iypin mask.

It"s all too easy to blend in, to become just another anonymous partygoer in an ornate disguise. I straighten my jacket and procure a crystal glass of mogabii from a passing servant. Sipping from the glass, I wind through the crowd as if I belong here.

A live orchestra fills the hall with sweeping music, servants weave through the revelers proffering drinks and hors d"oeuvres, and the dance floor is filled with couples spinning gracefully. Laughter and conversation echo off the vaulted ceilings. What foolish decadence.

I wind through the maze of guests unnoticed, cataloging everything I see. The utter lack of security is appalling, but it will make stealthily accessing the Marquis"s private study child"s play. These oblivious elves have no notion an enemy moves freely in their midst, that danger lurks behind one of these masks.

For now, I mingle discreetly, blending into the anonymity of the crowd. I gather what intel I can, memorizing the manor"s layout, watching for any obstacles between me and my target. When the timing is right, I will slip away to execute my revenge. Until then, I am just another nameless partygoer enjoying the Marquis"s unearned hospitality.

Fragments of conversation reach my ears over the soaring music as I continue to move around with my drink in my hand, trying to appear as if I'm looking for someone before I get sucked into incessant small talk I have no interest in.

"The Marquis has truly outdone himself with this one!"

"Have you tried the roasted dripir? Simply divine."

Useless prattle. I tune it out, focusing on my mission. Scanning the room, I look for guards or anything out of place. Instead, I find only revelry and opulence on display. These nobles are far too comfortable in their decadence.

I pass by a woman in a bejeweled pavo mask, hanging on the arm of a taller gentleman. "Darling, we must secure a dance before the night ends," she fusses. He nods indulgently.

"Of course, my pet. But first, I must sample more of the vintage rirzed wine..."

Fools, all of them. Do they not realize how vulnerable they are tonight? I am not the only dark elf who will slip into a party like this, looking for intel on their enemies. And here, so many of the khuzuth are gathered, becoming too relaxed with wine and gossip. Anyone could overhear, steal, or worse tonight and they do not care. I am practically seething when I catch where my thoughts have gone.

Shaking myself, I continue on. The sweeping orchestra music shifts into an upbeat waltz. I pass chatting groups, snagging another glass, this one of the rirzed wine. The sweet liquid dances on my tongue.

"The Marquis"s fortune is obscene..." comes a grumbling voice. I pause, listening. To my right, a man in a likar mask continues. "He flaunts his wealth after stealing the Slayers" business."

I lean casually against a pillar, tracking the conversation while feigning indifference.

"Come now," his companion chides. "That was years ago."

The likar-masked man snorts. "Yes, and the Slayers have neither forgotten nor forgiven."

Interesting. I tuck away that kernel of information and move on. The night is still young, plenty of time remains to explore unseen corners of the estate. I must learn all I can about the Marquis and his dealings.

As I meander through the ballroom, a nobleman in a karasu mask sidles up to me.

"Quite a celebration, isn"t it?" He comments, sipping his wine.

I nod politely. "The Marquis has outdone himself, though that"s no surprise."

"Too true," the karasu-masked man agrees. "His wealth elevates him beyond most, yet he lords it over everyone." His words drip bitterness.

I seize the opportunity. "Forgive me, I"m only visiting from Vhoig. My cousin dragged me here, and I've heard some interesting murmurings. How exactly did the Marquis come by such fortune? It doesn't seem to be by marriage or lineage," I ask innocently.

The nobleman leans in, eager to gossip. "Rumors say he swindled the Slayers some years back in a business arrangement. Doubled his wealth overnight while they lost a fortune."

I widen my eyes in faux shock. "That seems quite underhanded."

He chuckles. "No honor among thieves, as they say. The Marquis is not one to be trusted."

I nod thoughtfully, as if this information is new to me. Inwardly I smirk, pleased with this insider knowledge.

"If you"ll excuse me, I should take refreshments to my wife," I lie smoothly, knowing it will allow me to get away before too many people notice me.

The karasu-masked man nods and I slip away, blending into the crowd. One more piece of the puzzle falls into place. Soon the Marquis will pay for his treachery. But first, more intelligence gathering is in order. I continue circulating, hungry for more insider details.

Instead of overhearing gossip, though, my gaze lands on none other than the Marquis himself. He is gracefully leading a noblewoman in an intricate dance, the dancers swirling around him. His anserinae-plumed mask does nothing to hide his identity.

The Marquis is fully distracted and away from his private rooms. Now is my chance. As the music crescendos, he deftly twirls his partner. Their eyes meet for a moment over her shoulder, and his brow furrows.

Has he seen through my disguise? No, impossible. I avert my eyes and slip casually behind a large group of revelers. When I glance back, the Marquis is focused again on his dance partner.

It was nothing. Still, I must move quickly. Using the boisterous guests as cover, I weave toward an exit at the back of the ballroom. The Marquis is occupied on the dance floor for now, but that could change at any moment.

Walking the perimeter of the ballroom, I eventually come to an ornate doorway draped in gossamer fabric. Slipping through, I find myself in a long, empty hallway. Perfect. Time to do some uninvited snooping.

Creeping down the darkened corridor, the muted sounds of revelry fading behind me, I"m focused solely on accessing the Marquis"s private study. My pulse thrums with anticipation—finally, his closely guarded documents and secrets will be laid bare.

Rounding a corner, movement catches my eye. There, stepping gracefully from a side passage, is a woman in an ornate mask shimmering and silvery in the moonlight. Even cast in shadow, her beauty gives me pause. Strange, I overlooked no detail scrutinizing the ballroom, yet I have no memory of this alluring creature.

She glides toward the light and laughter spilling from the ball, unaware of my presence. Something about her pulls at me, demands my attention. I should be hurrying to my objective, but instead I find myself unable to look away, thoughts of the Marquis momentarily forgotten.

As she nears a flickering sconce, the warm light caresses her bare shoulders and I inhale sharply. Lust wells up, sudden and visceral. I want her, need to possess this mysterious temptation. My fingers twitch with the urge to reach out and stroke her smooth skin, to trail down the curve of her neck, across her collarbones. Heat courses through me as my imagination runs wild.

With effort, I remain still, not daring to alert her to my presence. But I cannot tear my eyes away, drinking in every detail—the elegant angle of her jaw, the sculpted lines of muscle and curve perfectly illuminated. She is a vision I wish to capture for myself alone.

Every instinct screams to go to her, to possess this intoxicating creature who has ensnared me so completely.

Before I can think better of it, I stop her. "My lady," I call softly, not wanting to startle her.

She pauses, turning toward me with a look of surprise that shifts quickly to curiosity. Even with her mask I can tell she is exquisite, staring up at me from beneath long lashes.

It sucks me in, stealing my breath away, and I find my feet moving toward her. I don't know what I even plan to do or why I'm drawing attention to myself when I should be slipping away unnoticed, but this woman… I can't just let her walk away.

She tips her head back as I approach, her green eyes striking with the mask she's wearing, and I have to refrain from cupping her face as I stop before her. Her curly dark hair is twisting with silvery ribbons and pulled back from her face, showing off her delicate cheekbones and strong jaw. She's enticing, so much so that I can barely contain myself.

There's barely any space between us now, but she doesn't seem to mind as a smile spreads across her face, nearly knocking me to my knees. Every other thought leaves my brain besides, I have to have her.

And then speaks, her voice so beautiful that I nearly lose all pretense and self control. I want to take every bit of her for myself as she says in a soft voice, "Do I know you?"