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Moving through the crowd felt like floating, silk trailing out behind her in a blue and purple train that never touched the ground. Carina found that people made way for her without a conscious effort on her part, an unspoken acknowledgement of her place here. It was not the first party she had attended since her return to Antiva, but it was still unsettling how different it felt. Crows from almost every house crowded the Villa Dellamorte, scheming, lying, plotting, poisoning, in addition to any manner of chicanery they could manage with the right amount of style to make the risk worth it. Ostensibly, they were all gathered to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of the family matriarch and former First Talon, Caterina Dellamorte, but no one in attendance was naive enough to take that at face value.
Carina had attended Crow functions with Viago as a fledgling and young Crow, but she had been barely worth notice. Only interesting as others assessed how she was functioning as yet another weapon in her Talon's arsenal. Certainly never as the focus of attention, someone whose favor could change fortunes. Viago's endless lessons had prepared his protege well for what to expect, how to prepare, what conversation to make, who to kill, and how to make a graceful exit. They had not, however, included anything to help prepare her for one of the most terrifying assignments of her life. Arranging a truly worthy present for the formidable woman whose grandson she loved more than she ever thought possible.
Lucanis, sensing her approach, turned to give her a smile. He stood with Andarateia Cantori, resplendent in a gown of liquid bronze with teal accents. It had the effect of making her look like a statue with a very flattering patina; a goddess from a bygone era gracing them with her favor. As usual, Lucanis had chosen a darker palette, with accents of silver laced among the midnight and purple, tracing a pattern reminiscent of the currents in swiftly flowing water. Her own gown had been chosen to match, with flashes of the brighter purple she associated with Spite. They were visible when only she walked or moved quickly, much to the demon's delight when she had revealed the dress earlier in the evening.
"I am ready to be done with this part," Lucanis slipped his arm around her waist, letting his hand rest gently at her hip. He kept his face carefully neutral, but Carina could tell that he was starting to feel the strain of interacting with this many people in an enclosed space. "Caterina seems quite pleased with our gift, only a few guests have been poisoned, and I am done waiting for the customary late appearance and excuses from House Cordova."
"Oh? Teia winked, and took a sip of her drink, holding out a spare glass for Carina. "Viago seemed to think there may yet be some festivities to enjoy. And besides, Illario hasn't made his entrance yet, and you know that will cause a delightful stir."
"You are.. incorrigible," Lucanis shook his head and smiled at the woman, and turned a questioning look to Carina. "Did you have something planned?"
"Yes," she took the glass from Teia and drank it in one go, earning a chuckle from the Seventh Talon and a bemused look from Lucanis. "I wanted to give her something … personal. Something only I could."
Lucanis took her empty glass and passed it to a nearby server and took both of her hands in his own, giving them a gentle squeeze. "You didn't need to bring anything else, you have done more than enough. But if you have already gone to the trouble, just let me know if there's anything you need."
Carina felt the knot in her stomach untangle itself as she let herself fall into the dark pools of his eyes for just a moment. She sighed and gave Lucanis a smile buoyed by his affection and the alcohol spreading a nice warmth through her torso.
"No, it should all be in hand," she turned to Teia, removing her hands reluctantly. "Can you keep an eye out? I'm going to go find Caterina."
"Of course dear," Teia drank another sip of her drink and scanned the room. "I'm waiting on Vi, anyway. Anything to do with you?"
"Not that I know of," Carina blinked, wondering whether he had caught wind of anything afoot. If so, he'd given no indication earlier in the evening which was possibly a good sign. He'd been pretty clear with his expectations when she had insisted to him that her relationship with Lucanis needed to become public several weeks ago.
"You want to be with Lucanis, knowing the danger? Knowing how much it will disrupt the balance of power?" Viago had glared at her in his makeshift office in the Diamond, arms crossed. "There are a lot of pieces arrayed against you, and you don't even have Caterina fully on your side. You need to either start clearing the board, change the game, or both."
"Great, chess metaphors," Carina had rolled her eyes in frustration and confusion. "What are you suggesting I do? Kill a couple more gods?"
"A woman going by 'Rook' in public has no standing to critique my choice of metaphors," Viago had raised an eyebrow with the slightest twitch of amusement at the corner of his mouth. The damnable man had definitely set her up for that joke at her expense. She still wondered how long he'd been waiting for the opportunity. Months? "You need to demonstrate that you bring enough value to bear that Caterina is willing to risk the current detente."
"Oh, is that all? Gods would have been easier."
"Yes," Viago had stated flatly, leaning back against his desk. "Work out what you need, don't show any weakness, and don't screw it up. Give me some kind of leverage, little bird."
"Knowing Viago, he's even more done with this party than I am," Lucanis groused, and Carina suspected Spite echoed the sentiment given the slightest edge in his voice. She gave him a quick kiss on his cheek, relishing the slightest brush of his beard against her nose, then quickly strode off into the crowd with a backward wave at Teia.
It didn't take long to find Caterina, perched in her chair overlooking the canal leading out to the bay. Early formalities dispensed with, the older woman was holding court in her favorite spot for anyone brave enough to approach. The view was spectacular, with the only bridge that allowed carriages to approach the grounds from the city spanning across the canal, creating a perfect circle with the moon in reflection on the still water. Carina double checked the time, took a deep breath, and approached with her head held high.
"Carina, join me," a wizened hand gestured with a heavy walking stick to a place next to the high wingback chair as Caterina acknowledged her approach. A fleeting thought for later asked how she had known, but it was not important this evening.
"It is a beautiful night, Doña," Carina placed a hand lightly on the wing of the chair, standing slightly to the left, and looking down at the older woman who nodded in return. It did not feel like a rejection, and the two looked out at the water for a moment in companionable silence. The sound of carriages approaching floated in on the breeze, just at the edge of hearing.
"Has my younger grandson not arrived yet," Caterina asked neutrally after a moment, her lips thinning as she finished what was not really a question.
"My apologies," she pitched her voice carefully, less of an apology than statement. "I am to blame."
Caterina snorted, and turned her face to consider Carina with a sweep of her eyes. "How exactly are you responsible for the actions of my feckless grandson?"
"He offered to assist me with your gift," Carina smiled, a brief flicker of surprise and annoyance flickering across Caterina's face. "He and it should be arriving shortly."
"That is not expected of you," Caterina's gaze shifted back across the water, the sounds of carriages in the distance getting closer. "And I fear you may find that your timing is unfortunate."
Finally visible, the horses for the carriages drew them along at a leisurely pace as they approached the bridge. Under the moonlight, they seemed to stretch backwards as if reluctant to arrive at their destination any faster than they needed to. Lamps swung at the sides of each, winking out towards the revelry they so slowly approached. The flame on the lead carriage changed from a warm orange to a dull blue as they made the last turn.
"But your gift is arriving perfectly on time," Carina grinned crouching down slightly to draw even with Caterina. The older woman was leveling a sneer at the group arriving across the water, but spared a sideways glance for her before looking back. Behind them, the large clock in the villa's entryway began to chime the quarter hour, a stark reminder that any guests arriving now were far more than fashionably late, past mere rudeness, and beginning to stink of deliberate insult.
With a start, the lead carriage pulled up short as it reached the apex of the bridge, the horses pulled back by the driver. He and the footman both jumped down and circled to the main door, pulling it open quickly, and then immediately recoiling. A horrible retching sound floated across the water as the footman lost his lunch over the side of the bridge, only audible where they stood because of the shape of the balcony. Inside the carriage some sort of chaos was unfolding, with shrieks and howls of discomfort echoing out far more strongly.
"Maker's Breath, what nonsense are they up to now?" Caterina leaned forward, pressing both hands on her cane as she watched a similar scene start to play out at both of the other carriages, though no one joined the original footman in being ill.
"Am I too late to join in the festivities?" Illario appeared smoothly at his grandmother's side with a bow, perfectly composed. Only the slightest sheen of sweat at his temple betrayed the effort that it had taken to bring him here.
A muffled shriek and barely contained bellow from the lead carriage pulled their attention back as a tall, broad shouldered man was ejected violently. He staggered backwards, clutching his stomach and cursing, hitting the parapet and bouncing back with a loud grunt. From within, a hose-clad leg kicked out, catching him in the temple, and sending the man toppling over and down in to the canal.
"Was that Julio Cordova?" Caterina rose from her chair and walked to the railing for a better view of the man now flailing in the water below. Carina and Illario joined her, watching a farce unfold as people in varying states of pain began to pour out of the vehicles, some running towards the water, and others collapsing on the pavement. Inside the first, a woman's voice could be heard shrilly cursing the Maker, her husband, and anyone fool enough to try and check on her.
"Every year, on your birthday, House Cordova is late. They take your patronage and, in return, insult your hospitality. There is always some excuse, their House has consistently repaid your forbearance with disrespect," Carina stared across the water with a grim satisfaction as Caterina turned towards her, then turned to meet her gaze. "I may not be a part of this House, but I would like to call you family. And no one treats my family that way."
"You decimated their House for an insult to me," Caterina narrowed her eyes, but did not look displeased. "I would not have dared."
"You should not need to, and I would do much more if I had to. But, decimated? No," Carina shook her head, with a smile that was all teeth and sharp edges. "I just made sure that they'd all start shitting themselves uncontrollably right as they were about to make their late entrance. If they'd just bothered to show up on time, they'd have already consumed the antidote. Instead, they've fouled themselves, their carriages and their public reputation."
"And how did you manage that? With the help of my tardy grandson, I presume?" Caterina flicked a glance to Illario, who was watching the activity on the bridge with open, smug amusement.
"Julio hosted a lavish dinner tonight for anyone who was willing to join his little act of defiance," Carina tipped her head towards Illario, who raised his wine glass in salute. "They fed themselves on goods lifted from our own stores, including a rather delicate variety of tangerine Lucanis had imported specifically for the occasion of your birthday. Illario made sure that they were an absolutely irresistible part of their dinner tonight. It's amazing how well citrus hides the taste of felandaris and amrita vein."
Caterina stared at her for a moment in open surprise, her eyes widening briefly. An awkward silence stretched out as the sounds of distress across the water continued to punctuate the night air and Carina was held in her unflinching gaze. Abruptly, Caterina closed her eyes, placed one hand on her stomach and started to laugh. It was the kind of laugh that starts deep in the belly, and as she doubled over in mirth, the sound carried out along the balcony and out onto the water. The kind of laughter that lives in the bottom of the soles of your feet until it finally breaks free at the right moment and brings tears to your eyes and invites everyone around you to join in.
People inside who had been attracted by the noise started looking in confusion between the chaos on the bridge and the matriarch of House Dellamorte laughing uncontrollably and patting Carina's arm. More and more filtered out on to the surrounding balconies and terraces, laughing and pointing themselves as even more distressed members of House Cordova ended up in the canal, making a full spectacle of House Cordova's distress.
"Does anyone know if Julio Cordova can swim?" Illario pitched his voice to carry, and a murmur started up in the crowd, with people pointing at the man clearly struggling in the water.
"The footman may be able to reach him," Viago said, and Carina turned to see him leaning his back nonchalantly against the balcony railing as if he had been there for some time. He gestured with the wine glass he was holding towards the water where the servant in question was struggling out towards him with little success. He quirked an eyebrow at Carina, but remained otherwise expressionless, which was about as high an approval as he would ever give in mixed company. She returned a wink that she knew he would find entirely exasperating.
"If you would like, we can send someone," Carina started to say turning back, but Caterina cut her off with a final pat to the arm.
"No need, child," Caterina wiped an errant tear from under her eyes, amusement still coloring her tone. There was a clear twinkle in those eyes as she addressed the younger woman, tapping her cane briefly on the tile. "House Cordova can take care of their own tonight. For my part, I would like for you and Illario to sit with me and tell me every detail of tonight's show. I would like to properly enjoy my gift."