Shadowkill

10

The stirring for the first Break woke Kikun.

The Players moved to the tables, filled plates with finger-food, handing these to the nearest Dasuttra to hold for them, pointing out what they chose to drink and waiting while Dasuttras poured these liquids into the special glasses juhFeyn provided, delicate flutes with angled glass straws so they could drink through the mouth slits of their cowls.

Kikun got to his feet, slid around to the eighth wall and collected a glass of wine, retreated to his corner where he sat sipping and watching the Players circle round each other trying to find some way to pry information out of the others without revealing anything about themselves. The idea of that snoopdance was mildly amusing, the actuality was boring.

Direwolf wandered over to Rose. “Autumn Rose,” he said, sucking on his straw. “It’s a name that resonates.”

“Oh?”

“There was a game on Cazarit some decades ago. A woman who was also Autumn Rose played in the Prime seat. Blonde woman. Attractive. Very. Good player. Very good. Stylish.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Stylish. Had a way with the cards. Never forgot it.”

“Ah.”

“Going to be an interesting game, once it gets started.”

“Ah.”

He raised his glass to her, the straw tinkling against the sides, then went strolling off.