IX—Dante Lorintos of Florencia

Sensing the dire implication should he not respond to his emperor’s summons, Lord Duke Dante Lorintos of Florencia had sailed home to attend the parley spoken of in the personalized letter he had received from Emperor Justin.

Dante cared not.

He left the animosities of the past and the lust to kill Lucians in the future to other members of the Florencia nobility and royalty.

Dante was an adventurer. He preferred to sail the high seas while commanding his ship, the Darkwater Reaver. Part of him did not want to ever return to Florencia.

Life was too boring at home, and he suspected that his brother would inherit the official title of Duke once their father passed away.

Old and frail, he had received a pardon from attending this parley, and so it fell to Dante to come in his stead.

And now he was here, avoiding contact with many of the vapid greedy nobles of his country. He found himself striding out into one of the many courtyards the House of Gates had.

Even here, there were nobles. There were gentlemen-at-arms, knights, barons, earls, dukes, and even the emperor was here—somewhere in the House.

Scurrying about were the many servants and hangers-on that belonged within the courts of the nobles who had come to attend the parley.

By and large, Dante had left most of his crew behind, all except for his First, who was somewhere enjoying the party—eating the food no doubt.

“Ah! Dante.”

Turning, his eyes landed on Leonardo Gracian.

Lord Womanizer.

With a nod, he asked, “How goes it, Lord Gracian?”

The younger man sauntered over, his hand on his sword hilt. “Just swell, my friend. It seems it has been years since I saw you last.”

“I do not recall.”

With a large smile, Leonardo said, “I’ve always liked you. Your adventuring is quite the romance. They talk about you, you know?”

“Do they?”

He wasn’t entirely certain who “they” was.

“Oh, indeed,” Leonardo said. “The ladies especially. I think they’re more taken with your deep mystery than anything else.”

Vapid fool.

“Indeed,” Dante said, feeling a mild sense of irritation. “I am looking for Lord Maximilian. Do you know where he is?”

Leonardo looked at him, a hidden grin just below the surface. With a lazy wave of his hand, he said, “Oh, I might have seen him hereabouts. I don’t know where exactly. You might try asking the servants.”

“And so I shall,” Dante said. He turned to go, but the other man spoke.

“When would you like to test your metal with me, Lord Duke?”

Late in addressing him by his proper title, Leonardo seemed to be treating Dante like they were long lost friends. Best friends in fact.

He didn’t know the lesser lord well, but still wondered if his cavalier attitude toward his betters was something he always projected.

Normally Dante didn’t care for his title, or even thought about weather who was speaking to him was of a lesser or greater stature. On the ship, he was captain, and everyone else was below him, but noble rank didn’t come into it.

“And why would I cross swords with you?”

“For fun, of course. Come on, Dante. Why not?”

“You wish to boast of how you bested Duke Dante Lorintos in a duel,” Dante said. “Folly. You are but a child on the flat with me.”

Leonardo laughed.

“Then prove it, Dante.”

“I have no need.” He turned and started stalking off. He would go to the servants, ask if—

“Are you afraid?” Leonardo asked loudly.

Dante turned his head, his body only slightly, as he regarded the other man. Just now he noticed a gaggle of young ladies on the other side of the courtyard.

“I have nothing to prove to you.”

Then he turned and left Leonardo Gracian standing there like the self-important fool that he was.

Leonardo narrowed his eyes and gripped his sword hilt tighter. “Tch!’

Now what was he to do? Lorintos had made him look like a complete idiot! In front of everyone! That bastard!