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Try not to stain theet these
She ht have rolled her eyes had she not seen what lay before her
Sheet ht For the notes she couldn’t get out of her ain at the note It wasn’t Arobynn’s elegant script, but Sam’s hurried scrawl When in hell had he found the tiht after they’d returned
She sank onto the bed, flipping through the pages The show had only debuted a feeeks ago; sheet music for it wasn’t even in circulation yet Nor would it be, until it proved itself to be a success That could be months, even years, from now
She couldn’t help her sht, the Harvest Moon party at Leighfer Bardingale’s riverfront house was so packed that Celaena hardly had rooold-and-blue dress, or the fish-fin co the sides of her upswept hair Everyone as anyone in Rifthold was here That is, everyone without royal blood, though she could have sworn she saw a fewwith the bejeweled crowd
The ballroo with paper lanterns of all colors and shapes and sizes Wreaths of leaves had been woven around the pillars lining one side of the room, and on the many tables, cornucopias overfloith food and jewels Young woled fro, and barechested young men with ornate ivory collars handed out wine
Celaena had attended dozens of extravagant parties while growing up in Rifthold; she’d infiltrated functions hosted by foreign dignitaries and local nobility; she’d seen everything and anything until she thought nothing could surprise her anymore But this party blew them all away
There was a sers--both young women, both dark-haired, and both equipped with utterly ethereal voices They had people swaying where they stood, their voices tugging everyone toward the packed dance floor
With Sa her, Celaena stepped from the stairs at the top of the ballroo the crowd They crinkled with pleasure when their hostess greeted them at the bottoure as he bowed over Bardingale’s hand and pressed a kiss to it
The woracious shfer," Arobynn crooned, half-turning to beckon to Celaena "Allow me to introduce my niece, Dianna, and my ward, Sam"
His niece That was always the story, always the ruse whenever they attended events together Saaze said that she knew very well that Celaena was not Arobynn’s niece Celaena tried not to frown She’d never likedclients face-to-face; it was better if they went through Arobynn
"Charale said to her, then curtsied to Sahtful, Arobynn" A pretty, nonsense state pretty, nonsense words to get what she wanted "Walk withof the Assassins, and Arobynn extended an elbow
Just before they slipped into the crowd, Arobynn glanced over his shoulder and gave Celaena a rakish set into too much trouble" Then Arobynn and the lady were sed up by the throng of people, leaving Sam and Celaena at the foot of the stairs
"What now?" Sareen tunic brought up the faint flecks of emerald in his brown eyes "Did you spot Doneval?"
They’d couards aiting outside, and if he looked nervous The exchange would happen three nights from now, in his upstairs study But at what ti And tonight was the only chance she’d have to get close enough to him to do it
"He’s by the third pillar," she said, keeping her gaze on the crowd In the shadows of the pillars lining one half of the roo areas had been erected on raised platforms They were separated by black velvet curtains--private lounges for Bardingale’s uests It was to one of these alcoves that she spotted Doneval uard close behind As soon as Doneval plopped into the plush cushions, four of the corset-clad girls slid into place beside him, smiles plastered on their faces
"Doesn’t he look cozy," Sam mused "I wonder how much Clarisse stands to irls came from Celaena just hoped Lysandra wasn’t here
One of the beautiful serving boys offered Doneval and the courtesans glasses of sparkling wine The bodyguard, who stood by the curtains, sipped first before nodding to Doneval to take it Doneval, one hand already wrapped around the bare shoulders of the girl beside hi boy Celaena felt her lip curl as Doneval pressed his lips to the neck of the courtesan The girl couldn’t have been older than twenty It didn’t surprise her at all that this --and that he illing to destroy his opponents to e to get up for a while," Celaena said, and when she turned to Sa He’d always had a mixture of sorrow and sympathy for the courtesans--and such hatred for their clients His mother’s end hadn’t been a happy one Perhaps that hy he tolerated the insufferable Lysandra and her insipid companions
Someone algering man and easily sidestepped out of his path "This is a irls on the swings as they floated through the room They arched their backs so far that it was a miracle their brsts stayed in their corsets
"I can’t even iale spent on this party" Sam was so close his breath caressed her cheek Celaena was actuallyon keeping Doneval distracted; clearly, no cost was too great, if she’d hired Celaena to help destroy Doneval’s trade agreeet those documents back into safe hands But perhaps there was reeale was tired of supporting her for herself to blah Doneval’s cushioned alcove was meant to be private, he certainly wanted to be seen And fro wine that had been set on the low table before hi up A man anted to be approached by others--anted to feel powerful He liked to be worshipped And at a party hosted by his for with those courtesans It was petty--and cruel, if she thought about it But what good did knowing that do her?