“I’m sure that tonight’s auction will have something that will interest one or both of you. I can give you passes.”
“We’re princes. We don’t need passes.”
“Just complimentary passes, that’s all.”
Gahariet knew that Olivier was ready to start flaming again. Gahariet tightened his grip on his twin’s arm.
Marc looked from one brother to the other. Gahariet didn’t like the grin that was spreading on Marc’s face.
“I have to go on my way. I have a lot of things to do before tonight. I hope that you will be there. My seers have predicted an eventful night and unexpected treasure.”
He nodded at the princes before going on his way. Gahariet and Olivier watched him go away.
“Why is everyone always overly familiar with us?”
“Our father is locked away with matters of state. We’re the face of the royal family.”
“I guess.” Olivier sighed. “Do you want to go to the auction house? We could just go home.”
“Why don’t we try it out? It can’t hurt.”
“What is it with Marc’s Yore seers? Are they real?”
Gahariet nodded. “Yeah. He searches for seers especially, and they’re paid very well to stay with him. If you can predict the future of all of your business decisions, then…”
“You?
?re always going to come out on top.”
“Marc doesn’t have a title, though.”
“I didn’t know that you were a snob.”
“It was an observation, nothing more.” Gahariet shrugged.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he married his way in. There are plenty of us who don’t have any cash, despite having holdings.”
“Not my problem. But why not check it out?”
“It might be fun. Why not?”
12
Plus One
Phuong
Phuong’s heart was beating hard in her chest when she gave her forged pass to the attendant, a Draka man.
But he barely seemed to even notice Xuan, staring instead at Phuong. She guessed that she was disarmingly beautiful tonight.
The two of them went through the door and went into the very first room.
It was dedicated to antiques. Phuong gritted her teeth. It would take them longer to find the Illinium. It wouldn’t be in one of the official rooms that were open to anybody walking through.
It would be in the underground storage part of the auction house, kept under lock and key until a buyer with ready cash was ready to claim it.
Phuong and Xuan had studied the blueprints until they knew them by heart. The access to the underground tunnels leading to the Illinium was in a secluded corner of the auction house. There was no sure way to penetrate the tunnels from outside of the auction house. If there had been, Phuong would’ve chosen that rather than entering the jaw of the dragon.