She found a chair and took a glass of wine from a tray.
“You’re quite a dancer,” said a deep familiar voice.
Cin turned to see the old charlatan wizard sitting a couple of chairs down from her. The dark-haired wizard with prominent gray streaks in his slicked back hair stared at her with emerald eyes. His jewel-tone robes set him apart from everyone else in the room.
“Ah, Wizard Esh,” said Cin amused. “Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they go.”
Cin took a sip of her wine. She wondered if he would believe her and leave or if he was the kind to fight back. Neither was a disagreeable option.
“We did not make a successful first impression on each other,” he said. “Perhaps, we should try again.”
“If at first, you don’t succeed, redefine success, is that it?” asked Cin.
“No, how about if at first, you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you even tried,” he replied.
Cin raised an eyebrow with a smirk.
“Alright then.” She held out her gloved hand to him. “I am Miss Cinnamon. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance Mr. Esh. Now, we can be friends and say no more to each other for the rest of the night.”
Wizard Esh stood up and walked over to take her hand. He shook it as he sat in the chair next to her.
“People tend to make rules for others and exceptions for themselves,” he replied.
“Then, you think that I want to talk with you?” said Cin. “You’re quite mistaken.”
Wizard Esh put his arm behind her chair and moved closer as though he was going to tell her a secret.
“Oh, but I think you do. I can help you and the prince if you will let me.”
Cin studied the old man and his permanent smirk. He had eyes that danced with both humor and cold calculation. She frowned.
“We have the capacity to learn from our mistakes, and it seems I will learn a lot today,” she answered.
His smirk turned into a sly smile.
“The pearl on your necklace has drawn the eye of that man over there.” He indicated an elderly man on the other side of the room who was staring at her with a glass of wine in his hand. “He has casually asked a few in the room, including myself, if they knew how you got it. Since I don’t know, I’ve said nothing, but…”
He waited as he studied Cin’s face. Cin looked at him and narrowed her eyes.
“Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” she asked.
“You know the rest well,” he said. “I’ve endured your rudeness because you’re clever, my dear. Far more clever than anyone else I have ever met your age.”
“What’s his name?” she asked and then took a sip of her wine.
“Cicero,” said Wizard Esh as they both looked at the man across the room. “He’s a fisherman who owns his own boat. He’s here with his wife.”
“Why do you think I would care that he is interested in my necklace?” Cin asked as she studied Wizard Esh again.
“Because you are,” said the Wizard. “I know people, my dear. You and the prince are not here to enjoy the weather. It took me most of the night, and Mr. Cicero’s interest to figure out what you two were at.”
“I see,” she said. “And this is for your own amusement?”
“Everything I like is either illegal, immoral, or fattening,” said Wizard Esh sitting back and folding his hands in his lap. “I’ll let you chose the reward for my good deed; I just hope that it jingles in my pocket.”
Cin smirked. She couldn’t help it. The sly fox amused her.
“I suppose the best helping hand one can give is a good, firm push. Tell him that I received the necklace very recently as a gift from a friend. As a reward for your good deed, I can give you a dance. If you want more, then you will have to sell your wit to His Highness, and I can tell you from experience, he doesn’t buy it.”
The wizard snorted.
“I’ll pass on the dance. I can’t stand the exertion. I prefer monetary rewards to cover the cost of living.”
“Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?” said Cin. “If you don’t want to relay the message, then I lose nothing. If you do, then you have the favor of a powerful person. I suspect that favor might be useful when people learn not to trust you.”
“You’re a hard negotiator,” he replied with a broad smile.
It was almost like he enjoyed Cin’s tartness. She found him baffling but hid the emotion inside.
“It’s easy when I don’t care about the outcome,” said Cin going back to sipping her wine.
He studied her, obviously amused.
“I have no idea why, but I will convey your message. You should try the magic business, Miss Cin. You would be good at it.”
He stood up and meandered around the room casually. Cin watched Wizard Esh work the crowd with charisma, receiving bows and curtsy more gracefully than a duke.
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