Chapter 231 - 232: Blood on Velvet
Noel walked a few steps behind Balthor, careful not to brush against the shoulders of the masked guests crowding the hall. The space was filled with round tables covered in crimson velvet, golden candelabras casting flickering light across crystal glasses and overflowing platters of food.
Every person wore a mask. Some simple, others extravagant—bejeweled, feathered, or carved from dark metal. The air smelled of incense, wine, and something faintly spiced.
Waitresses moved through the crowd with trays in hand, dressed in minimal, elegant clothing that drew the eyes of many. Laughter, clinking glasses, and murmured conversation blended into a background hum.
Balthor stopped by a table near the edge of the room and poured himself a dark amber drink from a crystal decanter.
"Well, kid, what exactly do you want to do here?" he asked, swirling the drink lazily in his glass.
Noel didn’t answer immediately. His gaze scanned the room.
"Don’t you think your brother should be here?" he said at last. "Noniel told us he’s the director of the Tharvaldur Institute and that some of these fights are rigged. If he’s involved in the betting, this seems like the perfect place to make deals, that’s why I asked you to bring me."
Balthor raised an eyebrow, then nodded slightly.
"You’ve got a point. He probably is around. But as you can see, there are a lot of dwarves here... and if he’s wearing a proper suit, the tattoo would be hidden. Might be hard to spot him."
Noel leaned a little closer, voice low. "Not really. If he’s the one handling the bets, wouldn’t that make him the center of attention? I doubt someone like that could blend in—even here."
"Hah," Balthor chuckled. "You’re right again. When he shows up, there’ll probably be some kind of shift in the room. People will flock to him."
"For now, we wait?" Noel asked.