Richan came back in his carriage dressed in such finery Nikolas could barely recognize him.

"You're fit for a lady of the court," his father said, beaming. It must have been the first genuine smile Nikolas had seen on his father's face in years.

Then again, that was Richan, he was everything Nikolas wasn't, handsome and witty and charming. He could talk like Brytha and make everyone just listen, because he was the sort of person that had things to say. Not like Nikolas. But it was hard to be upset at Richan when he broke away from their sisters' embrace to throw his arms around Nikolas.

"Nikolas! It's so great to see you again! And you've gotten taller as well!"

Nikolas rubbed his neck, "Not that tall, you're still taller, Richan."

"Did you know that the lady Prina wrote to me?" Richan said in a rush, "Prina!"

She visited their house precisely one time and turned up her nose at a crying Ada. Well, as long as Richan liked her, he must have found something charming about her. Apparently this was not news to Brytha or their father, for he called for the cook and the maids to serve up a spontaneous party. It was enough to make Nikolas's head spin. Lady Prina must really be a catch.

But as it always happened he stepped away from the bustle and excitement of the party. Not that he hated his family, it was nice to see his father so relaxed, and Brytha was really laughing at whatever Richan said. Even Guigo and Diasa joined the party, and wasn't that a surprise, they never liked big gatherings. Sanna and Viola and Lianne were all taking turns telling Richan what things they had gotten up to while he was away all the while Felie and Ada competed to see who could braid more ribbons into his hair. Richan was like some exotic flower surrounded by butterflies. Everyone seemed to have a place to be. Everyone but him. Nikolas sighed deeply, and glanced to where the Masteritsa was sitting with Jozin and her men. After a quick glance, to make sure he wouldn't be missed, he made his way over. Jozin caught his gaze, and gestured for him to sit at an empty table where he was quickly joined by Surio, to Nikolas's disappointment.

He knew Richan would be bunking with Brytha, no doubt to catch up what she couldn't write to him in her letters so he smiled through gritted teeth and asked if Jozin would like to join him tonight, along with Surio, out of politeness than Nikolas actually wanting him to be there. It was turned down, as he had expected, Surio turning to Jozin to hiss angrily.

"He's just a stupid regular boy, Jo, what do you even see in him? He can barely hold his sword or read his letters, " another scoff, "join us in our rooms! We can play cards with the others and Valdi has got these really nice sweets from the market. "

Surio sometimes called Jozin Jo, Nikolas recognized that particular nickname, but the rest he could only guess from Surio's surly expression and insistent pulling on Jozin's hand. Nothing Surio said about him was flattering or kind, he concluded.

"Why can't he decide?" he snapped, slapping Surio's hand away, "he said he wanted to come."

Surio's cheeks flushed, and he said to Jozin, a stubborn tilt to his chin, "He's only wanting to be your friend because he wants to get married to you! "

"What? "

"Why do you think the people 'round here are so nice? They all want what you have! Same as the ones in Skapina."

He wasn't sure what Surio said to Jozin, but from the tremble of his lip and the furtive glance he gave at Nikolas and then at Nikolas's family, celebrating Richan's return and impending marriage, whatever it was wasn't good. He pushed past Nikolas, opening and closing the door silently after himself, only now Nikolas knew it was deliberately silent, the door didn't close that way normally when his sisters did it.

"What did you even say to him?" Nikolas rounded on Surio, pulling himself up to his full height, which wasn't much.

"The truth!" Surio snarled back, all teeth. "You merchants, you all think people are like gold you can count and store! Well, you're wrong! And Jozin isn't a thing you throw off when you're done getting your coins counted!"

"I'm not a merchant!"

Surio raised an eyebrow. "You act like one, all shut in with your books you can't read and counting, all the time counting with your father. I see you! You look at people and see what things you can count from them!"

There was an eagerness in Surio's eyes as he too pulled himself up to his full height. It was almost comical, like how the mongoose does its swaying dance before going in for the kill, but Nikolas didn't like it at all, "I don't!"

This made Surio laugh, "You're so stupid and boring," he said between chuckles, and Nikolas hated that he couldn't understand the words being thrown at him, "you think that all there is to life is to get married and then count coins! What horrible boring people you Icfeldians are." He spun on his heels and made to go after Jozin, leaving Nikolas feeling very lost.

He unclenched his fists and realized he'd gouged the palms of his hands.