Happy Rook Appreciation Week!! Know you've been writing a fun ongoing thing for Rook week already but if youre interested in another writing prompt:
Isadora and Gemma have to infiltrate a party together to eavesdrop for information. How do they do it and what are they wearing?
It's Viago de Riva's birthday. What do Isadora and Gemma plan together for him?
Happy Rook Appreciation Week (we all make it last all year!!)
(sorry this took so long!)
Isadora and Gemma Infiltrate a Party
Viago de Riva glared at the third patron of his event that dared to think he would shake hands. Beside him, Teia jumped in, upping the sweetness in her voice and grasping both of the man’s hands between hers.
It was not an improvement.
“We need these alliances,” Teia hissed. “Try to frown slightly less.”
It was the kind of party he despised: held in his own home and because he needed something. In this case, the Crows needed something, mainly allies for the rumored and imminent invasion by the Antaam.
Resigned to his torment for the betterment of the Crows, once the receiving line was complete he walked the room, stopping to chat with those who deserved his time and nodding at those who did not.
On one side of the room were tables overflowing with food. Not his choice. Teia insisted. Crows moved to and from, back and forth, taking their lives in their hands with every bite.
A perfectly decorated, yellow frosted cupcake disappeared off the back of the table.
Even for Viago, that was an unusual event.
Someone caught his attention and began talking. Over the woman’s shoulder, he watched the food table.
As soon as no one was standing in front of the dessert table, a slice of tiramisu inched its way from the front of the table to the back where it dropped out of sight.
With a sigh and without an apology to his companion, he strolled purposefully toward the buffet, approaching the desserts from the side. There was no one in the walkway behind the table between the wall behind it. Crouching, he lifted the tablecloth.
Two sets of eyes stared at him: one green wide-eyed halla set and one crystal blue narrowed set. Both attached sets of mouths were covered in yellow cupcake frosting. A lecture grew in his chest until his eyes dropped again. The twelve-year-old girls were dressed in matching pink frilly nightgowns covered ruffles. The ruffles, covered in tiny hearts and smiling nugs. were so fluffy and so great in number that both girls looked three times their small sizes.
Teia had said she would handle reigning in Isadora and Gemma. The two girls had become fast friends. Too fast. These pink monstrosities had to be Teia’s fault, a way to make the girls instantly noticeable should they infiltrate the party. The fact they had made it under the table unseen was a feat that promised bright Crow futures for them both.
However, that wasn’t what stopped the lecture. Between the two girls, next to the plate of tiramisu, and among several other discarded plates and a pile of crumbs, was a wooden box with a set of vials.
It was one of his poison testing kits.
He would never admit to the burst of fondness and pride that exploded in his chest.
“Carry on,” he intoned and let the tablecloth fall to muffle the burst of relieved giggles. He headed back to the party, trying to suppress the smile that refused to fade.
