Althea adjusted her mask with careful precision, the black feathers brushing lightly against her temple as she settled into the cushioned seat that a servant had guided her toward. The theater was vast, built in a grand circle that sloped downward, every tier of seats curving toward the stage at the far end. Heavy crimson curtains draped behind it, rich with gold embroidery, concealing whatever spectacle, or transaction, would unfold tonight.
This was no ordinary stage for plays or concerts. This was where nobles gathered, hidden behind jeweled masks and extravagant attire, for a different sort of entertainment... an open bidding night. Leisure disguised as commerce, socialization cloaked in pretense.
