Royal Airs Read Online Free

at him. “Are you going to finish the game or not?” he demanded.
    “I’ll be there in a minute,” Rafe said, unfolding himself from the bench. He was at least four inches taller than the elay man, and much less ethereal; Edwin backed off fast. Rafe took a moment to rifle in his pockets and tossed a few quint-silvers on the table. “I’m going to send a kitchen boy over. Tell him your message and give him two coins. Use the rest to buy yourself something to eat.”
    “I have money,” she said instantly.
    “No, you don’t.”
    She stared at him mutinously for a moment, then dropped her gaze. “I’ll pay you back.”
    “You certainly will.” He started to move away, then stepped back. “I’ll be right over there if you need me. As soon as I’ve finished the game, I’ll come and sit with you until your sister—or whoever—shows up. Everything will be all right.”
    “I hope so,” she said in a low voice. He nodded and turned away again, but her voice drew him back. “Rafe!”
    He was surprised she remembered his name. But then, she was full of surprises. “Yes?”
    “Thank you.”
    “I haven’t done very much.”
    “Yes, you have.” She hesitated a moment, then said, “I’m Cora.”
    Sure you are, he thought. “It’s been interesting to meet you, Cora.”
    Her expressive face showed a faint hint of laughter. “It’s going to get more interesting, I’m afraid.”
    He lifted his eyebrows. Now that was an intriguing thing to say. “I can’t wait.”

TWO
    R afe had resigned himself to the notion that Cora’s dramatic introduction into his life would ruin his concentration enough to make him lose the next three hands, but, in fact, luck ran fairly evenly among the four players. By the time they were all ready to quit, even the jacked-up sweela woman admitting to exhaustion, Rafe was neither as far ahead as he’d have liked or as far behind as he’d feared. Could have been worse ways to end this night.
    “A pleasure playing with you,” Rafe told the others as he pocketed his cards and his coins. “I’m here most nights if you ever want to try your luck again.”
    Sad Boy shrugged and the Loser looked disdainful, but Sweela Woman said, “I just might be back later this nineday.”
    “Be glad to see you,” he answered.
    He was even gladder to see them all gone, ducking out through the door into the gray light of very early morning. He left a few coppers on the table for the serving boys, stood up and stretched, and shook his head to clear it. Normally this was the time he’d head upstairs for a few hours of sleep. But today, of course, he had a runaway with an assumed name to look after until help arrived. He grinned, shook his head again, and made his way through the mostly empty bar to the booth where Cora waited.
    She was sitting sideways on the bench, her head against the wall, her legs stretched out before her, and she was fast asleep. From the plates arrayed before her, he could see she’d made short work of a hearty meal. He also guessed she’d secured another knife for herself, because he didn’t see one on the table. He grinned. Heiress of the Five Families or not, this one had no doubt been a holy terror from the day she came squalling into the world. This might not have been the first time she’d run away. Probably wouldn’t be the last.
    He caught the attention of a passing servant who was taking advantage of the thin crowd to wipe down tables and sweep up debris. “Could you bring me one of those meat pies and a glass of beer?” he asked. “Thanks. And bring it to me quietly.”
    That last admonition had been in vain because as soon as he slid into the booth, Cora woke up. It only took her a moment to blink her eyes and remember where she was, and then she sat upright and dropped her feet to the floor. He saw her wince with pain when she jarred her ankle.
    “Unless your sister brings a conveyance of some sort with her, you won’t be leaving this bar today,” Rafe