Naamah's Blessing

either. But I did wonder what they were after, and what I’d gotten myself into. The other diners were curious, too, most especially, the Marquise de Perigord’s table.
    “Everyone is looking at us,” Gamaliel murmured in my ear, leaning in closer than I liked.
    “Do you enjoy that?” I inquired.
    He chuckled. “I suppose I do.”
    “Do you, my lady?” I asked, looking past him at his wife. Mariette Shahrizai flushed, and did not answer.
    Gamaliel laid a possessive hand over his wife’s. “She enjoys it for my sake, don’t you, love?”
    Her flush deepened. “As you say, my lord.”
    I glanced at Bao, who shrugged.
    At last, the dessert courses were served: apple tarts spiced with clove, a creamy flan custard, sweet jams, and tart cheeses, accompanied by perry brandy. One by one, the other tables began to depart. The last to leave save ours was that of the Marquise de Perigord. She approached our table, trailing her retinue of suitors.
    “Balthasar Shahrizai!” she said in a light, teasing tone. “You’ve been keeping secrets. Do introduce us, will you?”
    “But of course, lovely one.” Balthasar rose, bowing to her. “You know my uncle and aunt, of course; my cousin Josephine, and my great-aunt Celestine. I am pleased to present Lady Moirin mac Fainche and Messire Bao.”
    All of us rose and exchanged polite greetings.
    “How very… interesting,” the Marquise said thoughtfully. “You Shahrizai do like to defy expectations, don’t you?”
    “It seems we do,” Balthasar agreed with a lazy smile. “But we always have our reasons for it.”
    “And the rest of us can but wonder at them, you gorgeous, secretive creature,” she said in turn, kissing his cheek. “Anon, then!” I watched her sweep out of the supper-club, suitors in tow. Marc de Thibideau cast an uncertain look over his shoulder at me as they went.
    It left our table alone in the dining room.
    “Mayhap we should depart, too,” I suggested. “The hour must be passing late, and the servants weary.”
    The members of House Shahrizai glanced at one another; and then at their matriarch, Celestine.
    She gave a decisive nod. “I like them.” She patted Bao’s hand. “Especially this one.”
    “So be it,” Balthasar agreed. Fishing in a velvet purse at his waist, he drew forth an ornate iron key, placing it on the damask-covered table before me. “Here. This is for you.”
    I stared at the key, uncomprehending. “I don’t understand.”
    He took a deep breath. “Not so long ago, we spoke of ancestors, reviled ancestors, did we not? This is the key to the front gates of a modest domicile on the outskirts of the City of Elua that once belonged to
our
most reviled ancestress.” He glanced around the table, receiving reassuring nods. “We understand that you are in need of suitable lodgings. We would offer this to you as a gift, if you are willing to accept it. For so long as you wish to remain in residence, it is yours.”
    “Why?” Bao asked succinctly.
    “We are not ungrateful,” I added. “But… aye.
Why
?”
    Celestine Shahrizai beckoned impatiently to the hovering servants. “Come, come! Let us have the final course.”
    I rubbed my overfull belly. “I am not sure it is necessary, my lady.”
    She bent her gimlet gaze on me. “Trust me, child, you will find it worthwhile.”
    The white-aproned attendants brought forth silver trays containing goblets and various accoutrements. They poured boiling water into the goblets, frothing the contents with whisks, judiciously adding honey and spices, grating a sprinkling of cinnamon into each cup, and then scraping out the tiny seeds of a long, slender pod I didn’t recognize. One by one, a frothy, foaming goblet was set before each of us.
    I tasted mine.
    Heaven.
    Ah, gods help me! It was heaven in a cup. It sang on my tongue, all at once bitter and sweet. Dark and divine; light and scrumptious and filled with promise. The spices in it warmed my belly, and set Naamah’s gift to stirring within me.
    I made an involuntary sound.
    “
Chocolatl
,” Balthasar said. “It’s made from a bean that comes from Terra Nova. It’s good, isn’t it?”
    “Gods!” Bao uttered in a reverent whisper. “It’s
very
good!”
    “And very, very costly.” Gamaliel steepled his fingers. “We went to considerable lengths to purchase
chocolatl
beans from Aragonia.”
    “But oh, so worthwhile,” Josephine said in a sultry tone. “We Shahrizai do savor life’s rarest