***

The inn Rishe sat in was near the imperial palace. She’d asked the innkeeper to clear out everyone who’d passed out. The onlookers of the drinking game were gathered around excitedly.

“Ya sure can hold your liquor, missy! I couldn’t challenge ya since I don’t drink, but lemme treat you anyway for putting on such a good show.”

“Why, thank you,” Rishe said.

“Here, try this! The chicken with melted cheese goes great paired with wine.”

“This is delicious!” Rishe said. “Thank you.”

Rishe looked with satisfaction at the food and drink piled on the table. She wished she could relish her victory, but her adversary sat across from her, watching her coolly.

When their eyes met, Tully offered a crooked smile. “Well, I certainly wouldn’t have anticipated that you’d drink my men under the table while you waited. What a fool I was.”

“Oh, they were your employees?” Rishe asked, her voice airy. “We were havingsucha good time, though I admit we got rather carried away.”

Naturally, Rishe knew who they were. During her time working with the Aria Trading Company, Rishe had beaten all of her coworkers at a drinking game at their very first banquet. The ones she’d competed against tonight were the very same people.

Tully wore the same look then too.

Rishe had been brought up at court—she had a high tolerance for spirits. “Drink?”

Tully accepted the glass she pushed toward him, eyeing her. “You did a fair job with your hair.”

“Thank you. The color does stand out—I figured this would be easiest.” She’d dyed her hair chestnut brown with the herbs the knights picked on their journey to Galkhein. It would wash out easily with hot water—very useful for temporary disguises. “I’ll trade the recipe for the chance to do business.”

Tully laughed. “Nice try.” He leaned forward on his elbows, eyes glinting. “You can do better than that. And I suspect you will.”

Rishe let that wash over her. His surety made her nervous. What did he know?

“Shall we open negotiations, my lady? First, a toast.”

“Please address me as you would anyone, the disguise is worthless if you keep ‘my lady-ing’ me. Besides…” A pause. “Hearing it from you is odd.”

Tully gave her a quizzical look. “Well, okay. If that’s what you’d prefer.” He raised his mug, and Rishe clinked hers against it. Tully drained half of his in one go, letting out a long breath.

“Just ‘miss,’ then. Anyway, stop with the charade. I know this isn’t about a dress.”

“Yes, tricks don’t work on you, it seems.”

“Glad that’s been established.” Tully drained the rest of his drink. “My instincts tell me you aren’t a customer. You’re a potential partner.”

So hehadlured her out here. Once again, Rishe felt how truly out of her depth she was. But she had no choice but to get him on her side. He had once been her boss and her ally, but now things were different.

“Tell me every little detail about whatever moneymaking scheme you’ve concocted.”

“Mr. Tully.”

“I’m not agreeing to anything until I know exactly what you’re doing. Despite how I look, I’m very good at my job. Whatever you hope to bring in, I can double it.”

“Mr. Tully.”

“I’ll come up with the perfect strategy. Now, tell me—”

“I cannot.”

He gave her a sharp look. “What?”

“I cannot disclose my plan. Nevertheless, I want to be able to depend on the Aria Trading Company when the time comes.”

His mouth twisted into a grin. “That’s quite a bold ask, miss. You want a handshake deal based on…what? Promises and starshine? I don’t do that sort of business.”

“You’ll be well compensated, of course.”

“You’re expecting me to go in with you for thepotentialof profit?”

Rishe wished she could blurt everything out—tell him that in the next few years, her husband-to-be would kill his father and throw the world into turmoil. Obviously, she held her tongue.

“Listen, miss. When I decide whether to go into business with a person, I mostly go off my instincts. But I also emphasize—”

“Previous results and track record, correct?”

Tully looked stunned. She had completely caught him off guard. “How do you…?”

“I’ll sell something in the city. If it is well received, and you judge me worthy of your time, can we talk?”

Tully stared at Rishe a moment before he burst out laughing. “Oh, go on. A gamble? Nowthat’show I like to do things!”

Believe me, I know. Next you’ll tell me to hit a profit goal in a specified time frame.

“You’ve got one week. I look forward to seeing what you come up with, miss.”

Rishe smiled, emptied her glass, and then stood up. “We have an agreement, then. Thank you for your time. Ah, and when your people wake tomorrow, give them this.”

Tully held up one of the little packets of herbs. “Oh? What’s this?”

“They’ll find out,” Rishe said and made her exit.