25th of Glade, 121 Steel
“Tell me why I am doing this again?” Talon adjusted the sash around his waist. It sat just at the crest of his hips, accentuating the tight adonis belt that had formed from years of martial practice. Talon was dressed in a pair of perfectly tailored black velvet pants tucked into knee high leather boots. He wore only a silver sash around his waist accompanied with an ankle-length open robe. The sleeves stopped at his mid-biceps. Around his forearms were a pair of black leather bracers.
“Because I have promised to pay double what you’re bought for to rebuild older parts of the Low City, improving the community? You know, what upstanding nobles do and all that.” Rien, his clever and beloved brother, grinned at him from where he stood. The man’s wings were wrapped around him like a cloak as his eyes danced with mischief. “You also lost our bet.”
Talon resisted the urge to grumble under his breath. The two of them had made a wager on whether or not their mother would demand that he attend the annual cotillion. Talon had been banking on the fact that she had still wanted him watched like a hawk. Rien was betting on the fact that their parents wanted him to start making himself more available for a suitor. Talon had lost that bet. Rien had roped him into placing himself up for auction at the Velvet Cabaret.
“You are one of Kalzasi’s most eligible bachelors.” Rien unfolded his arms, stepping up to brush at Talon’s shoulders.
“I do have partners, Rien.” His thoughts went to Rickter and Aoren. His brother’s face softened.
“You do, big brother. But you do not have a wife or a husband, yet.” Once again Talon was faced with the reality of something that had been weighing on his mind. He sighed, running his hands through his hair.
“Relax, brother. No one would dare try anything too outlandish with you.” A rather loud and exuberant round of applause drew their attention as one of the prospective auctions got underway. Talon worried his lip.
“Define, outlandish.” Talon gave his brother a sideways glance. Rien just shrugged his shoulders and grinned at him.
“Are you ready, Your Highness?” Talon turned to see the Madame herself stepping forward. The curtain of the stage was the only thing separating him from the audience and one of the most ridiculous ventures of his life. He drew himself up, squaring his shoulders and girding his nerves against the embarrassment that he was about to endure. The woman smiled at him.
“Breathe, my Shinsei. It will be a perfectly delightful evening.” With that, she swept out onto the stage. Talon’s wings fluttered with his nervousness. He tossed one more glare at his brother as the man gave him a thumbs up. When his que to walk onto the stage was called, the curtain drew back and Talon stepped out onto the stage. The lights momentarily blinded him. It was surprisingly quiet. Talon did not know whether that was because there was a ringing in his ears or because the room had fallen completely silent. The evidence of his Siltori heritage was on full display as the witchmarks and his runes of magic shimmered softly. He strode forward as his pronouncement, his pedigree and his purpose were declared by Madame Zirnomei. The silver of both his eyes and his wings shone brilliantly beneath the lights. Talon came to stand proudly before the audience. The sound came rushing back to Talon as he exhaled a breath.
“Let the bidding begin!”
“Tell me why I am doing this again?” Talon adjusted the sash around his waist. It sat just at the crest of his hips, accentuating the tight adonis belt that had formed from years of martial practice. Talon was dressed in a pair of perfectly tailored black velvet pants tucked into knee high leather boots. He wore only a silver sash around his waist accompanied with an ankle-length open robe. The sleeves stopped at his mid-biceps. Around his forearms were a pair of black leather bracers.
“Because I have promised to pay double what you’re bought for to rebuild older parts of the Low City, improving the community? You know, what upstanding nobles do and all that.” Rien, his clever and beloved brother, grinned at him from where he stood. The man’s wings were wrapped around him like a cloak as his eyes danced with mischief. “You also lost our bet.”
Talon resisted the urge to grumble under his breath. The two of them had made a wager on whether or not their mother would demand that he attend the annual cotillion. Talon had been banking on the fact that she had still wanted him watched like a hawk. Rien was betting on the fact that their parents wanted him to start making himself more available for a suitor. Talon had lost that bet. Rien had roped him into placing himself up for auction at the Velvet Cabaret.
“You are one of Kalzasi’s most eligible bachelors.” Rien unfolded his arms, stepping up to brush at Talon’s shoulders.
“I do have partners, Rien.” His thoughts went to Rickter and Aoren. His brother’s face softened.
“You do, big brother. But you do not have a wife or a husband, yet.” Once again Talon was faced with the reality of something that had been weighing on his mind. He sighed, running his hands through his hair.
“Relax, brother. No one would dare try anything too outlandish with you.” A rather loud and exuberant round of applause drew their attention as one of the prospective auctions got underway. Talon worried his lip.
“Define, outlandish.” Talon gave his brother a sideways glance. Rien just shrugged his shoulders and grinned at him.
“Are you ready, Your Highness?” Talon turned to see the Madame herself stepping forward. The curtain of the stage was the only thing separating him from the audience and one of the most ridiculous ventures of his life. He drew himself up, squaring his shoulders and girding his nerves against the embarrassment that he was about to endure. The woman smiled at him.
“Breathe, my Shinsei. It will be a perfectly delightful evening.” With that, she swept out onto the stage. Talon’s wings fluttered with his nervousness. He tossed one more glare at his brother as the man gave him a thumbs up. When his que to walk onto the stage was called, the curtain drew back and Talon stepped out onto the stage. The lights momentarily blinded him. It was surprisingly quiet. Talon did not know whether that was because there was a ringing in his ears or because the room had fallen completely silent. The evidence of his Siltori heritage was on full display as the witchmarks and his runes of magic shimmered softly. He strode forward as his pronouncement, his pedigree and his purpose were declared by Madame Zirnomei. The silver of both his eyes and his wings shone brilliantly beneath the lights. Talon came to stand proudly before the audience. The sound came rushing back to Talon as he exhaled a breath.
“Let the bidding begin!”
