Chapter Thirty-Three

  Dinner leasant, in that no one brought up the stabbing and Harmony got to wear a pretty dress. That Poor duelist, Steven, was a tailor by profession. Ambrosia sacrificed one of her stage es, which she was tired of. The result made her feel sparkly and gmorous, not that Night wasn't both those things, but this was something different.

  Tess, with her meical spider, worked on serving. That was more of a disaster. Two broken cups, wine spilled, thankfully not on her dress, and Maxwell's toes stepped on. Engineers rarely had physical skills, aher did her magic-based css as a diviner. Perhaps something a skill stone could fix? Managing staff was Bates's duty.

  Crash!

  Harmony winced, adding a pte to Tess's tally. “You were saying that there is already a flood of young tourists arriving in town, hoping to reach the requirements for the Asdant Games?”

  “I'm surprised you didn't know. With your position and all.” Greghed, the mert was all excited about this new opportunity.

  “That position is mostly for show. I have to focus on advang to earn it. Tell me more.”

  Max, Ambrosia, and her aff could gather this information. But this was one way to please Gregor and more importantly his gabbing would occupy the time and attention of the table as dinner was ending.

  “Rumors are that other kingdoms already have their favorites picked out, but there is always a ce for one or two more to get lucky. So everyoh a lick of potential is ing in and buying up resources, scrolls, skill stones, and things that are cheaper here. This might even be an annual thing!” He cpped excitedly at that. “Assuming not too many people die, and that the rewards are worth it.”

  Oof. Harmony hose skill stohere'll be a better picture soon of what she could acquire. [Danger Sense] would be ideal. The synergies were clear in how it could add ara yer to both defense and offense. Maybe more than a little time at dinner ent fantasizing about what she could do with it. Surely they had to have enough gold for it now?

  “But none of them will be able to pete with our best, this is after all our dungeon?“ Cedric asked snootily. Courtier, but profession only, acc to Max’s notes he wao be close to royalty but no one would have him. Harmless, but annoying. Painful to think Adric might have shared his profession.

  “If you want to bet against the evolved kingdoms. I have some bookies who’d love to meet you.” Gregor responded.

  “Gentlemen, no talk of gambling at my table.” Ma Bell insisted.

  It wasn’t polite when Harmony was one of the ohis topic covered. She’d bet against herself if it ropriate. The Games were a social obligation, not an i. It was a chore, like this dinner.

  “It's all theoretical.” Gregor protested.

  Except the man was a degee gambler. Information that made it into the bio Harmony had skimmed. He'd purchased his spot at tonight's table. There had been offhand ents about his disappoi in Harmony’s choice to not wear her armor tonight. It was doubtful that wagering was only theoretical.

  “Let people have their fun, Madam Bell. Whatever thh research Gregor has done on who is favored to win would be enlightening.” Harmony butted in.

  Not only would this keep him talking, but maybe there would be something to learn. There had beey of time hearing about bets, and odds at Coodly Manor as the houseboys loved to talk about the issio battles. She’d even paid attention, back when she’d po raise Bowe to fight in it. Gregor was now practically obligated to speak oopic with Harmony standing up for him in front of the host.

  Ma Bell’s short defeated sigh, paved that way further as it was implicit permission even if it was bridged with disappoi at the topibsp;

  The trapped look on the mert's face amused Harmony since he’d willingly wandered into the topic when it clearly wasn’t pnned.

  “All the bets from Hazeldown are going your way, Lady White. They're proud of you. Current wagers are just that you nd a title. We are all hoping for details of what exactly the Asdant Games will be?”

  “Only guild master Hemloows. If he hasn’t released the information now, I’m unsure if he will. Once I evolve, I’ll be sure to ask him. Don’t want to fill the grave before putting in the body.“

  “I have no doubt you’ll meet the requirements in time,” Gregor assured her more bluster than faith.

  “I’m sure there are wagers on that.“ Her level ublicly known bit of information. “Not that you’ve ever betted on that.”

  “What! No!”

  Harmony would have wagered that evaluatio decide if betting on her was why he was here today. “What of the evolved Kingdoms?”

  Grateful for the topic ge, Gregor expanded on the different kingdoms as. Harmony listehe Broken Isles were favored by experienced bettors as they’d usually win any multi-kingdom petition. They don’t train their youths in Hazeldown or Naewauld, so all the information was sed-hand through guild and trader resources. Most immigrants were from Calestia, so they got the most bets. But all the surrounding kingdoms did not easily allow free travel to and from them, so there wasn’t a lot of information. You had to be evolved to even be sidered for travel privileges. Gregor in all his travels admitted to being limited to the border trading hubs. At this point, Harmony lost i as it was clear this all was based on rumor, jecture, and guesses. She did let him tio talk until dinner was done.

  Gambling aside, the Asdant Games bringing so many representatives from the other kingdoms was a big deal. Only five of the twenty-five spots were going to go to locals. Only, but also generous sidering the size of the dual-city state.

  But are people from Hazeldown actually betting on her? They shouldn't waste their mohis was something she was forced to do, they couldn't actually think that she'd win something from it? And if she did they'd probably throw her a parade. Maybe make a float the shape of Hyath? That would totally make it worth it. A silly fantasy.

  Ohat lihrough dissert and up the stairs back to her room.

  Harmony forced herself to sigh it all away as Ambrosia waited with an air of impatien the middle of her suite.

  “Do my hair now! I’ve got a gig to run to!”

  The yell of her desperate friend nearly had her trigger [Stride].

  “What?”

  “News about what happe the Harvest of Talents is spreading. It wouldn’t be so bad if your body hadn't stuck around for a minute before dissipating. Really scared most of the crowd. I think that's one reasoemples were so generous with their gift.”

  A minute! She'd felt the death but imagihat other dissipated the moment she'd crossed that lihe perfect, -ha! I’m not really dead!- reveal. Leaving a body felt unseemly.

  “I see.”

  “Well get on with it. I've got songs to sing. Return of the immortal Harmony” Ew, Harmony made a face, “How about Eternal, you did say that guildie called you that?”

  “I'd prefer you not piy lyricing others to test how immortal or eternal I am. Say Adric saved me. He could use all the good press right now.”

  "That's a great idea. Now Hair!”

  Harmony did more than just her Hair. [Manipute Dead] and [Beauti] bio make her unreizable as a the Songstress. Skin-shaded and colored, hair that rivals couldn't easily emute. Shimmering tower of blue and rger than life, with goldes for her birds.

  Harmony suspected she'd be mending Ambrosia’s maid uniform back together after the stage crew cut her out of it at the venue in order to shove on the performanes while not messing with the hair. Wait. They had Steven now.

  “Done!”

  Not even a thank you and her friend was gone. Abandoned. No, that's unfair, Ambrosia deserved her passions. But it did make Harmony feel alone.

  There were books. Thibodeaux on Evolution y untouched. Maybe tonight wasn't the time to get riled up pig apart her favorite academic rival. Bates might have information on skill stones, but pressuring him to deliver it before he was ready was a waste of time. Waiting was the worst. Grabbing her journal, the least she could do was take notes on what she’d learned about her skills the st few days.