was not from Queen Casine’s Academy. From what he remembered of Eva’s heated complaints, the sister school to Valmont Brothers would never be able to contain a magician quite like this one.
“You attacked us,” Judge Bouquet countered, red-faced and unamused. “You disregarded your one object. And on top of that, you cannot simply use a man for a prop.”
“Well, why not?” The girl paced in her showgirl’s outfit with all the might of wearing steel-forged armor. “You have your assistants in sparkly attire like this, yes? I don’t know about them, but my assistant entered into this arrangement willingly. And decently dressed, at least.”
The man next to her nodded rather smugly, while the judge’s nostrils flared as he sat back down. The whole room was drenched in the same frigid uneasiness across all the men. With the exception of a beaming Erasmus.
“Wonderful, my dear! And so very curious,” he praised, clapping slowly. “After days of all these dreadful auditions, you finally give me light. You give me a show—”
“Rayne, you’re not seriously considering this.” Mayor Eilin sighed heavily. “I thought we had an understanding. Remember that odd girl we turned away the other day? At your insistence?”
Daron cringed at the memory. A dark-skinned girl with ruby-red hair had taken to the stage, determined and hungry-eyed. But before she could deliver a trick, Erasmus had ordered her away without delay. No explanation, only a cruel dismissal.
“She was one of my circus girls, and according to their contracts, they have a job,” Erasmus said flatly, before gesturing to the magician on stage. As though she were a new toy. A weapon. “But she is something else. What we’ve been missing!”
“She cannot be permitted to enter.” Mayor Eilin’s voice tightened. “Female magicians are not meant for the stage, it’s unorthodox—”
“All the more reason to have her!”
“You don’t get it. Magic like this—” He waved a hand at her, grimacing. “—doesn’t belong in Glorian. It’s too risky. And indecent.”
“What, me? Indecent?” The girl gasped, a trembling hand over her heart. Daron nearly choked as she chuckled and twirled the skirt of deceptively sweet pink sequins about her, flashing even more of her legs. “Your flyer never specifically stated anything about women or anyone else not being allowed to enter, so I really don’t see what you’re concerned about.”
“How about how you clearly don’t listen to the rules?” The mayor pointed to the dismantled box abandoned on the stage. “Besides, acts like yours would be far too dangerous for the audience size we’re expecting.”
“Trust me, that was only for today. I guess I was wrong to think you would be up for some real magic.” She shrugged. “Apologies if you were intimidated.”
The men grumbled in reply, echoing vague agreements on why her performance posed a threat to Spectaculore. Funny how they couldn’t keep their eyes off her when she entered the room—only to now regard her as a sort of demon sent to haunt them.
Nevertheless, the girl appeared unfazed. Not shivering in her dress even a little.
“You fools, this is my show!” Erasmus cried out.
“Well, this is my city, Rayne,” Mayor Eilin countered in a low growl. “I don’t care how different things are on the outside nowadays, but a show can’t go on without a venue.”
“Please. My investment and this show are the only things that could save your city from disappearing into ice altogether,” Erasmus scoffed. “Don’t forget that you need me a lot more than I need you. I have no problems finding business elsewhere.”
The mayor blanched. There could only be one reason why such a straitlaced place would open itself up to a spider like Erasmus Rayne. Daron had read enough on the proprietor to know that each time he and his circus preyed on a new location, they left their mark. The city of New Crown had been a mere labor town before the Conquering Circus blew through its gates and turned it into a show magician’s paradise. Now it seemed Erasmus had found his next target: Glorian, the lost city in the cursed Woods. The appeal of such a stage was undeniable. Though it was clear who between the two held all the cards in this game.
“Apologies, my dear, for dragging out this nonsense,” Erasmus said, fighting to get his most charming word in. “Merely a spat between old dogs. Suffice to say, I’m not investing anything into this madness if you’re not in it.”
When the girl didn’t giggle at his attentions this time, the proprietor gazed impatiently at