Page 36 of Esperance

The younger woman glanced over at her, surprise sparking from her.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Amryn said softly. “If you ever need to talk . . . let me know.”

Cora’s eyes watered. Her emotions were chaotic, but her words were sincere as she whispered, “Thank you.”

When the current game concluded, the winners and losers at each table rose and shuffled as needed. Cora was the winner at their table, so she moved up, and a scowling Rivard took her place.

His boot bumped Amryn’s foot under the table. He muttered an apology and slouched in the chair. His dark mood was a mixture of things, and it wasn’t easy for Amryn to sort through. He was upset at losing the game of cards, but that was superficial. His nose radiated pain. His pride was deeply wounded. His anger sharpened when the sound of Argent and Carver laughing drifted from the winning table, and his irritation flashed when he saw Tam join them.

He shot a look at Amryn. “Are you going to deal?”

She grabbed the deck and took her turn to shuffle and deal the cards.

Darrin looked across the table at Rivard. “Did you have someone look at your nose?”

“Yes.” He scowled. “It isn’t broken—just cracked.”

Darrin winced. “The year’s off to a hard start for you.”

“The Divinities are testing me.” Rivard waved his glass in the air and a servant hurried over to top it off with more brandy.

Amryn could already feel the haze of his drunkenness, and she forced her empathic sense to ease back from him. If she narrowed in on someone too much, their emotions could impact her own. Ignoring Rivard wasn’t easy, though. His emotions nearly shouted his anger, disappointment, and jealousy.

His mood didn’t improve as he lost the first two rounds. He threw back the rest of his brandy and lifted his glass for more.

“Perhaps you’ve had enough,” Amryn said.

He shot her a look. “Excuse me?”

She knew the brandy was only honing his anger, and he kept looking meanly at Tam. Amryn didn’t want her to have to deal with his anger once they were alone in their suite. So, she said more firmly, “I think you’ve drunk enough.”

His features sharpened into a glare. “Your opinion means nothing to me.”

Darrin and Sadia both stiffened with embarrassment, but Amryn ignored them. She shrugged. “Your loss.” She laid out her cards—a clear winning hand. She smiled thinly at Rivard. “Literally.”

Darrin chuckled.

Rivard threw down his cards, cursing.

Darrin swept the cards up, pushing them into a pile to shuffle. “Don’t be a poor loser.”

Rivard’s gaze narrowed on Amryn, but he said nothing more.

Amryn couldn’t stop her smile when, minutes later, she won again.

Rivard glowered as she stood and moved up to the next table, passing Jayveh as she went. As they brushed by each other, Jayveh whispered, “Good luck with Marriset.”

That stole the smile from Amryn’s face. She sat in Jayveh’s vacated seat, which put Marriset on her left. The woman was shuffling the deck.

High Cleric Zacharias was also seated at the table, and a female cleric was just leaving, advancing to the top table to take Argent’s place.

Argent sat across from Amryn, though his eyes trailed his wife as she took her seat by Rivard at the other table.

The high cleric smiled, and Amryn could feel his self-satisfaction. “Perhaps we’ll have to play a different game tomorrow night. One that keeps the couples together a bit more.”

Marriset began to deal. “I think this is fun. Though I’m pleased to have you finally lose, Your Highness.”

“Hmm?” Argent glanced at her.

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