Ryland's interest piqued. Kethaias was acting quite reserved, but then, he'd hadn't been that talkative in the teahouse, either. This had a different quality, though, and Ryland thought he knew what it was: distaste.<br/><br/>At least until he was invited to speak. Whatever<i>lesson</i>Kethaias had learned, it wasn't enough to at least forbid him from being tempted, if the look to Ryland's mouth was any indication. The table waited for his wager, and Ryland bit his lip enticingly, his body turning ever so slightly into the attention being paid him.<br/><br/>Before Kethaias turned to Mel.<br/><br/>"Tease!" Ryland said, but he was grinning, obviously delighted.<br/><br/>He leaned over to touch Kethaias' forearm as though they were conspirators. From across the table, Mel had started to blush and ducked his head, suddenly shy.<br/><br/>Chelrev had fixed Kethaias with a cold stare.<br/><br/>"You don't mind, Chelrev, come now," Ryland said. "It's only a kiss, and he has to win anyway."<br/><br/>Chelrev looked down at his hand of cards. "Very well." A hand snugged around Mel's hip situated him a little better on his lap and then he returned it to hold his cards. "And you, Mel?"<br/><br/>"Fine by me," Mel said and took another sip of his drink.<br/><br/>To Kethaias, Ryland said,<i>sotto voce</i>and still grinning, "Are you trying to make me jealous? It may work, depending on your performance."<br/><br/>The others threw in their own bets--in coins--and the game started. Chelrev was an excellent player, and true to his word, Ryland did translate all of the hand gestures except for the ones of a more personal nature. When he struck out of his number of guesses, he made sure everyone's drinks were kept filled.<br/><br/>In the end, it came down to Kethaias and Chelrev. As it was Kethaias' turn, he got the first shot at the guess. He won.<br/><br/>Mel gave one nervous glance at Chelrev as he rose from his lap. Just visible over the table, Chelrev signed,<i>I'm right here.</i><br/><br/>The room had become a little smokier as the night wore on, so that Mel's dark eyes were wet and shining in the glow of the spelled lamps.<br/><br/>"Don't sit on his lap," Ryland said, and Mel startled for a second. They traded little smiles, Mel's still a little nervous but exasperated and Ryland's predatory but amused.<br/><br/>Mel waited for Kethaias to rise instead, and then simply parted his lips a little and waited.<br/><br/>Ryland watched, eyes half-lidded and unblinking. So did Chelrev. When the kiss ended, Mel said, "Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty. It was an honor," and walked back flushed and smiling to Chelrev.<br/><br/>They set up another game, and Ryland leaned in again to Kethaias' side. He lamented, briefly, that Kethaias didn't know the sign language so that he might have spoken to him under the table instead of out loud.<br/><br/>"He's a good boy, isn't he?" he said. "Did you enjoy that?"