If there was one thing Fenris hated, it was attending the elaborate social gatherings that the Tevinter elite seemed to feel compelled to host. They were always too crowded and too loud; with too many people staring at or trying to touch him. His master, Danarius, didn't appreciate them any more than he did; the things he said about his so-called peers before and after such events were vicious. However, it was beneficial to his power and importance to see and be seen, so he went whenever a worthy invitation offered.
Wherever Danarius went, Fenris went also; showing off his prize possession and greatest accomplishment was one of Danarius' few enjoyments at these events. Fenris was always referred to as the magister's body guard; though weapons were forbidden at these events, and Danarius' magic kept him safer than weapons ever could. No, the "body guard" title was nothing more than an excuse to show off his slave and the power he had gained by the lyrium brands burned into Fenris' skin.
If there was one thing that worried Fenris, it was when Danarius started acting out of character. His master had now made several trips to visit a newcomer to Tevinter, Magister Ritune. The new magister was rich and powerful, and Danarius had been paying the most courteous attention to him since his arrival.
Tonight combined both these factors; he and master Danarius were on their way to a party thrown by magister Ritune, and Danarius didn't have a word to say against it. Fenris kept his gaze focused on his hands folded in his lap, and tried not to worry about what the evening held.
...
For a night that had started with such trepidation, it was actually shaping up quite well. Magister Danarius' coach had gotten them to the party in good time, the receiving line had moved quickly. Danarius had spent several moments talking to magister Ritune and his wife before being introduced to the man's children, two girls and a boy, though he only paid attention to the older of the two young ladies. It was shortly after a conversation with her that he did something so unexpected that Fenris nearly said something that would have brought Danarius' rage down on himself.
Danarius dismissed Fenris from his presence. Saying that he had no need for a body guard while a guest of such friends as these, he told Fenris to make himself scarce until it was time to leave. Just barely managing to keep his confusion to himself, Fenris gave a short bow, and left, his mind spinning with questions.
Why was he suddenly not wanted? Was Danarius' act simply an overt display of trust, or was there some other motive? Was this a test, to see if Fenris followed the immediate order, or stayed to follow the more basic order of protecting his master? If so, there was no correct answer. With no indication of what he should do, Fenris decided that he would follow orders, and stay away from the party.
He looked around the entry hall warily; where should he go? The party was likely to last into the early hours of the morning, and it was the middle of winter; he couldn't wait outside or in the carriage. The Ritunes kept no slaves, and he wouldn't be welcome in the servant's quarters. He'd been here before, but only knew a few of the public rooms.
Suddenly, Fenris had an idea. Following his memory of the mansion's layout, he moved quickly towards his goal.
...
Fenris looked around the deserted library with satisfaction. He'd been right, this room was perfect. Completely empty due to the party downstairs, but used regularly enough that comfortable fire burned in the fireplace, even now. It was a large room, well filled with shelves upon shelves of leather-bound books; comfortably appointed with a pair of large wingback chairs drawn up in front of the sizable fireplace, and well provided with expensive (though unlit) candles.
He took a moment to indulge himself, walking slowly around the perimeter of the room, allowing himself to trail a single fingertip along the spines of the books sitting neatly on their shelves. For that moment, he wished that he could read the words printed in those books. Shaking off the though with a sneer, he turned and walked briskly to the chairs, and settled himself in one of them. It should be enough that he had this time - all unexpected - to himself. Several hours of privacy, with no responsibilities, was a nearly unheard of luxury, and he ought to be content with it.
...
He didn't know how long he'd been sitting there, half dozing, half hypnotized by the dancing flames, when the sound of footsteps approaching in the hallway startled him into full alertness. He sat completely still, hoping whoever it was would continue along the hallway. The quick steps stopped in front of the library door, though, and to his dismay, the door was eased quietly open.
Fenris looked around quickly. There weren't and other ways out of the library, and no place he could be concealed completely. With only a few seconds to decide, he crouched in the shadows under the short library ladder that was sitting in a corner, and hoped the general dimness of the firelit room would conceal him. Maybe whoever it was wouldn't stay long.
...
Grace made her way down the hallway as quickly as she could while still be quiet and managing the large basket Cook had filled for her. When she reached her goal, she sighed with relief. Turning the doorknob slowly and silently was a habit; the quick glance she sent up and down the hallway was mostly a formality - now that she was safely away, she was unlikely to be stopped.
Still, there was a good reason for caution, so she looked into the library before slipping through the smallest opening she could manage. The room looked deserted, but the fire was burning cheerfully to keep the chill away. She thought she caught the faintest hint of movement from the corner of her eye, but when to looked in that direction, there was nothing. Dancing shadows then, she thought with a sigh, enhanced by her own guilty conscience.
She closed the door behind her with the same caution that she'd opened it with, making sure there wasn't even a click to give her away if anyone happened to be coming along the hallway. Then, she turned back into the room and made her way over to the fire and the warm rug laid out in front of it. Setting the basket down, she turned towards one wall and a pile of large cushions that rested there. Selecting several, she settled them in front of the fireplace as well, and went back to the shelves to get some books.
With her books firmly in hand, Grace was grinning as she made her way back to the fire. Sitting on one of her cushions, she pulled the basket over to her. Just as she was lifting the lid, someone sneezed.
Startled, she jumped to her feet, cursing the long skirts that twisted around her legs as she spun to face the corner the sound had come from. It wasn't the graceful motion she should have managed, but she did end up standing, facing the correct direction, with a small knife held ready in her hand, as her wide eyes scanned the shadows.
