The Fall of Ventaris by Neil McGarry, Daniel Ravipinto, Amy Houser Page B

and they’d convinced me to try my luck before Rosamile had me by the purse-strings.” He smiled sheepishly and Duchess blinked; Antony’s face was not made for such expressions. “I started out winning again and again, and then something just changed.” He sighed and his fists tightened until his joints popped. “A dozen rolls later, I was out of sou and well...the boys were looking at me and the ring was in my pocket, so...” Duchess could fill in the rest. Julius was on the Grey, and when Antony entered the game, he was tacitly submitting to the rules. For a member of the Red to pick a fight with the Grey over an honestly incurred gambling debt...it was a tricky situation, not unlike the one the Uncle himself had been in over that dagger. The Grey had fairly stolen the thing, but when the baron had demanded his friend the Uncle get it back, Cornelius had found himself caught between colors. Odd that the Uncle’s lieutenant should so quickly find himself in the same straits.
    She knew little about the Color War — even Minette refused to say much about it — but from what little she’d heard the conflict had begun over a dispute about the respective rights of the Red and the Grey. That fight had ended over fifteen years ago, but even today any member of the Grey who felt that the Red had overstepped could “call the color” and summon his cloaked brothers (and sisters) to his aid. Such a conflict would result in a loss of coin and life, and could possibly invite imperial attention, which would be disastrous, so the members of both sides took pains not to tread on any toes. That explained why Julius dared to tweak the nose of a redcap, and why it was dangerous for her to intervene. “I’m sorry to hear of your...misfortune,” Duchess said carefully. “I could find a jeweler who could quietly make you another ring...”
    Antony shook his head.”I need that ring and no other. Rosamile was with me when we took it to be engraved. She’ll know the difference. Besides, Julius has been blabbing about how he’s gotten the better of me, so sooner or later she’ll hear about it.”  
    Duchess was amused that Antony was so fearful of his fiance, and more so that he seemed certain Duchess could save him from her wrath. “Julius still has this ring?” she said, refilling his cup.
    He nodded curtly. “He won’t sell it back for any price. Normally I’d have cut his throat for him,” he said as if talking about the weather, “but there’s enough trouble in the Deeps without making more in the Shallows.”
    “Trouble?” She wanted to buy time to think, and in any case Lysander would never forgive her for passing up the chance to winkle some news out of a redcap. “The Deeps gangs are always trouble, I’m sure.”
    Antony shrugged, taking another drink. “They are, but now they’re working together...and bearing steel, although Mayu knows where they’re getting it. Haven’t seen anything like it since the damned War of the Quills.” Duchess perked up. The last time Deeps gangs had been armed and organized had been at the instigation of her father, in his struggle against the nobles. In the end the guildsmen he’d led had gotten representation on the imperial council, but the cost was his life and his House. It was disturbing that so similar a situation should arise. Conflicts between the Colors and weapons in the Deeps...too many cases of history repeating for comfort, it seemed.
    “I could pay you,” he went on before she could pursue the topic. “I offered Julius twenty florin, more than the damned thing is worth. I could give that to you to give to him.” He looked at her, his expression of desperate hope so out of place on a face normally so blunt and threatening.  
    She thought quickly. If Julius were willing to anger a redcap over a gambling debt he was unlikely to be open to persuasion from her. She was also reluctant to risk her fledgling status on the Grey by developing a reputation for