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Book 2: Chapter : 24 Ah, Fork.

The last checkpoint was the strictest. The guard looked over Arthur and then, pointedly, behind him. "And your... retinue, you grace?"

"I have none. I've always been independently minded," he said smoothly.

The guard’s face remained professionally blank as he handed back the invitation. "Very good, sir."

Arthur walked on and double checked his deck. Gentleman's Charm card for extra charisma was in full effect. He kept his Return to Start card nullified right now as he was certain there would be intrusive scans. Perhaps even duels. But that could be changed at a moment's notice, and he had preemptively dropped a pebble he used as an anchor point outside the hive in an alleyway close to Barlow's restaurant. That card was a useful escape hatch.

Adjusting the cuffs on his new shirt one last time, Arthur strode in.

The room itself was much changed since the last Rare promenade. Every inch of the floors and walls had been scrubbed. Someone had affixed a massive chandelier to the ceiling. It had been enchanted with card illusions. the ghostly images of dragons flew in mock battles around the flickering candle lights. It made for an impressive sight.

But that paled in comparison to the people.

Cressida might have had a point about being seen with this crowd. The dress was a few steps above than the people who'd vied for a Rare. Most of the men wore long tails and stiff-necked collars that looked incredibly uncomfortable. The woman had full on ball gowns.

The room wasn't as crowded as it had been before. Made sense considering there were far fewer Legendary cards in the world than Rare. However, there were many more servants running around with platters of small snacks and fluted drinks on trays. Above it all, the stage sat empty, with the egg nowhere in sight.

Making his way in, Arthur tried to get a feel for the crowd. Had he grown up as a proper noble, he likely would have known these people by sight if not by reputation. Most of the crowd were gathered around a few individuals. One bearded man was holding this biggest court. The crowd around him laughed whenever he did, and every female eye was fixed his way as if he were the light in a dark room. Some of the males, too.

Arthur found himself... drawn to that crowd. He took a few steps closer just to hear what everyone found so interesting. Catching himself, he shook his head and stepped back, deliberately focusing up on the chandelier to drown out the noise.

New skill Level: Basic Empathic Resistance (Shield Class)

Level 5

He started in alarm, then checked to see if anyone had noticed. They hadn't. All attention around him was focused on the bearded speaker.

Arthur had originally gained that skill when Kenzie had used her aura manipulation cards on him. That meant… whatever that guy was doing, he was messing with emotions.

He didn't know if this was the same thing -- surely the leaders wouldn't allow a Legendary rank mind-mage in the recruits -- but he decided to step away.

The other side of the room was quieter, darker, and sparce of people.

A few sat at tables, talking. Arthur spotted one where a lone boy about his age sat, reading a book. The fact he seemed set on ignoring everyone else was the most interesting thing about him. Nicely, though not extravagantly dressed with mid-brown hair and an average face, he seemed harmless enough.

Arthur took the empty chair, ignoring the pointed looks from the servants. He didn't plan on interrupting the boy's book. He just wanted a moment to regather himself.

But the moment he sat, the boy said, "Ah, finally. Someone with conviction."

"Excuse me?" Arthur asked.

The boy didn't look up from his book. "Just an accident, then. Well, you're stuck here now. Look at your invitation."

Arthur had carried the card in his hand and automatically set it on the table as he'd sat. Glancing at it, he saw the card had sunk into the table. A stone place setting with the name "Earnest Kane" had risen in its place.

Arthur reached out to see if he could wiggle it free.

"Don't bother," the boy said, still not looking up. "It's immovable by design. It's to keep people from jockeying for position all night. You see?"

"Oh." Arthur decided to make the best of it. At least his tablemate seemed willing to talk. He eyed the thick book. There was no title on the cover. "What are you--"

"It's a series of essays on the evolving relationship between the monarchy and the hives. Terribly boring, but necessary."

As far as Arthur could tell, the boy had still not lifted his eyes from the page.

He started to get a bad feeling. "How do you--"

"Know what I'm going to say?" the boy finished. He flipped the page. "You really don't know?"

In shock, Arthur started to ask, "You're not a--"

"Mind reader? Of course not. Huh." Finally, the boy lifted his eyes and studied Arthur. After a moment, he shrugged and came to a decision, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a card.

One of the attendants stepped forward. "You must not--"

"I'm in public. Yes, yes. Save it. I know the risks. Besides, you’re here to save me, aren’t you?" Then the boy slipped the card into an elaborate anchor tattoo on his left wrist.

He blinked and some underlying tension seemed to drain away from his face. "What’s your name?"

"Ernest Kane," he said slowly, expecting to be interrupted at any moment. But the other boy let him go on. "I go by Arthur."

"Well, Arthur, you happen to have chosen a seat by Marion Amberlion." He paused for effect.

An effect that was completely lost on Arthur.

"Prince Marion Amberlion," one of the attendants snapped, offended at Arthur's lack of reaction.

"Prince?" Arthur glanced from the two attendants to Marion and back again. None of them looked like they were joking, though Marion's lips were curled in a smile.

"If that was the case," Arthur continued, "Why aren't you surrounded by, ah..."

"Sycophants?" Marion filled in. Not like he had done before where he'd blurted out the words a moment before Arthur had said them. Now it was an actual guess. He even nodded to the adoring crowd around the bearded man. "Like my brother's group?"

Arthur's voice was a bit weak. "Brother...?" There were two princes in this room? He was competing for the egg against actual royalty?

For the first time, he wasn't certain of his chances. Subconsciously, Arthur had assumed that he was meant for that egg, but who knew what amazing cards the sons of the king hand in their heart deck.

Marion waved a hand. "He's not that great. It's just his Charisma card at work. As for me, I'm seventh in line to the throne and my card annoys people." He flashed a grin at Arthur, but it was brittle at the edges. "Usually I get the sycophants."

Arthur straightened. "I'm not -- only unlucky."

The servant’s eyes widened. Marion barked out a startled laugh. It seemed he wasn't used to people taking jabs at him.

He regarded Arthur for a moment. "I'm not familiar with the Kane family, and you don't have the look of a wealthy merchant..."

"Minor noble," Arthur filled in. "My father has a barony out at the border."

"And now you've dived right into the deep end." Marion chuckled.

The other boy seemed to be in a good mood, so Arthur decided to press his luck. "You said your brother has a Charisma card?"

"That's right."

"Most people keep that information to themselves," Arthur observed. You never revealed information about heart deck cards if you could possibly help it.

Marion waved his concern away. "We're royalty. The cards we're bequeathed are public knowledge, but what you really want to know -- and are two polite to ask -- is about my card."

"The card you should not have blocked," one of the servants cut in. "My prince, I must insist..."

Marion heaved a great sigh but with a flick, removed the card from his anchor. He flashed it to the servants as if to prove he had done so before he slipped it back in his pocket.

When he turned back to Arthur, that subtle strain was back on his face. It made him look older.

"The answer is time. I see several seconds ahead, which is great for avoiding assassinations. But tedious for everything else. And before you ask, yes, I can turn it off in my card anchor, but my minders insist on proof."

That sounded like it had a story to it. Arthur leaned forward, interested. How often did he get to speak to a chatty prince?

Suddenly, Marion's eyebrows shot up. "This should be fun."

Before Arthur could respond, he heard a voice.

"Kane? What are you doing here?"

Arthur turned and his blood went cold as he spotted the speaker. Pennrow Rowantree. His cousin. Though, of course, Penn didn’t know that.

Their gazes locked and Arthur saw a cascade of emotions cross Penn’s face. Shock, disbelief, realization that Arthur had a Legendary card.

Then, of course, rage.

Penn’s family had just had a Legendary card stolen from him. And here was “Ernest Kane”, a baron’s son who by all rights shouldn’t have a Legendary card, here among the group.

He was, of course, right. Arthur had stolen the card. And he suspected Penn had a Legendary of his own.

Without another word, Penn grabbed a fork off the nearby table and lunged straight at Arthur’s face.

Arthur mentally retreated into his timeless Personal Space.