“Ah, Lady Tsukaka,†the man bowed deeply, a smile upon his lips. Gently, he kissed her hand, then rose, letting go of her fingers again.
Stare gave the small, but sure man before her a single, elegant nod that extended into a shallow bow of her own. “Lord Durvaney. Allow me to introduce my friends. Miss Ophelia Black and Miss … Fire. Cecilia Fire.â€
The man’s eyes moved to either of Stare’s sides, touching briefly on the flaming red hair of Blaze and the dark hair of Sable. His eyes blinked a number of times before he replied. “Miss Black and Miss Fire of course.â€
“And Sir Elssmith? He does not accompany you this evening?â€
Stare looked back at the aristocrat, who had first called her Lady Tsukaka when he found out her name, assuming she was also nobility. Others too, now called her Lady Tsukaka, and neither her, nor, more importantly, Vitruvion had ever disagreed. She had never brought up the subject with him, and he never with her. It was a mild joy in her life, but nowhere nearing enough to take away the pain of a lot more else.
“No, he is out of town,†Stare said formally, “I can send him your regards if you wish.â€
Lord Durvaney shook his head. “No, Lady Tsukaka, I am sure it is quite fine. I will see him soon. Now, I must find Mr Frendir Lorne.â€
The name made Stare blink and by her side Blaze and Sable look alarmed. “Mr Lorne is here tonight?†Stare asked slowly, trying to hide the apprehension in her voice. Frendir was certainly not someone she wanted to see, not even in this grand entrance hall of the Beinost Central Theatre.
The noble smiled, looking right at her. “Of course, I invited him!â€
Stare took a quick breath in, knowing it was most definitely time to get away. “Well, give him my felicitations, when you see him. Your lordship,†she inclined her head in farewell.
“Your ladyship,†Durvaney politely responded in kind. “Miss Black, and Miss Fire, and Mr Faren, as always.â€
The last he addressed to Zulon, who nodded back. Then the lord smiled once more at them all before twisting on his heel and marching away.
Stare took in a long breath. Then -
“Miss Fire and Miss Black?! Really?â€
“Lady Tsukaka?â€
“Frendir? As in the Frendir?â€
“Miss Stare, I think we should …â€
It was too this last one that Stare responded. She grunted at the speaker - Zulon, or Mr Faren - and began to shift. As she did the retinue of around ten guards, most of them at least in some way dressed like they were going out for the evening, began to move also. Some were close, such as Zulon, but others were taking a wider berth to be more cautious than outright obvious.
Even so, they followed Stare’s guidance, eyes fixed upon her as she turned and began to head towards an elegant, wondering staircase. Behind her, Sable and Blaze guards pressed in, as much for Stare as the other two. Zulon pushed himself around to close to the front, his fingers tapping at the pocket where his hidden dagger was. Probably several..
They passed a young woman in neat uniform who recognised Stare and gave her a curt nod. There was no speaking as Stare climbed up the stairs, fingers intertwined, and back straight. They passed various people - lords, ladies, a duke and various diplomats - as they came into a long, curving corridor. It snaked around, was bathed in a deep red from the panelled walls, and had doors set into the innermost curved wall. Steadily they went, still in silence, until a single door marked 'Elmssith’ in small, golden script.
Stare had to admit it. There were definitely perks about her jobs. Her eyes shone with glee as she took a small key from the pouch at her belt and slid it into a lock. It clicked, and with a gentle push they came onto a box seat, with the curtains fully drawn across the balcony. Four seats were arranged in a rough square, one clearly grander than the rest. Tables were set between the two pairs of seats, with a pair of small binoculars set on each.
“This is it,†Stare grunted. “Curtains are in … twenty minutes or so.â€