"To the Empress," he agreed, lifting his glass back from the table, his attention never leaving Tepin Arisu to find the courtesan or follow the jade deposited on the table. Then, "And to House Sesus, the general, and Lady Mnemon. To those who have earned our loyalty rather than the hollow, cheap obligations purchased through wealth," with a passing gesture of his free hand to the coins, "or intimidation."<br/><br/><em>My friend here has decided to put an end to his troubles.</em><br/>That boded poorly. It also left awfully little reason for him not to go for broke before she could finish excusing herself.<br/><br/>Once he'd drained his glass again and set it back on the table, the hand that had attended the flute fell firmly over the jade obols meant for the courtesan, delaying any attempt at collection that might otherwise have been made in the quiet wake of the toast. The magistrate's attention hadn't fallen on<em>She Who Served the Radiance</em>since she'd approached the table, and that didn't change, his eyes still locked on the woman who'd called her over.<br/><br/>"Your other duties have waited this long. I'm confident they can wait longer." His head tilted faintly as he regarded her, his body still and somehow distantly cool despite the wine and the recent heat of the fire aspect's company. "You should join us. Or come alone. Either way, you should take this chance to be with someone you can't break." His tone was no less level for the challenge he issued, but the edges of his mouth pulled up slightly. "I'd rather have you than a servant that doesn't need the lesson."<br/><br/>There was no tremendous burst of essence-infused charisma accompanying the offer, but that was the way of Crimson Dragons, not Ivory. Daga's challenge was steady, with nothing in it to force her hand aside from the knowledge that the challenge, like a great stone, would endure if she turned from it, standing as an unshakable monument to what it positioned as the most meaningful implication of refusal.<br/><em>You can leave,</em>the challenge said,<em>but then you and I will always know who the frightened rabbit was, between us.</em>