“You want a straight, uninterrupted line of five of the right kind of person on the right kind of street,” he said. “You try to build your lines and interrupt my lines. Merchants, sailors, society people, and students can be shopping. House staff, foxes, and Parliament reps can go anywhere. Professors, students, and—”

“I remember all that,” said Lovisa.

“If one of us manages a line of five,” said Mari, “that person wins. But if you’re certain you’re losing, then it’s better to let me win, because if no one wins, then we’re not taking care of the earth and the Keeper rises up and crushes us all.”

“I never got that part,” said Lovisa. “If I’m going to lose, why shouldn’t you be crushed?”

“Cavenda family motto?” said Mari.

Lovisa tried hard for an amused expression. She didn’t think she succeeded, and she was pretty sure Mari noticed. But he said nothing, just divided the figurines between them. The foxes were plain wooden carvings with no fur or clothing, but tiny yellow gemstones made their eyes. One had a downturned nose and a quizzical expression and was stained darker than the others. Lovisa had always liked that one best in Mari’s set. She also favored one of the sailors who wore a bright pink shirt with a red scarf and one of the wealthy ladies who had a perfect tiny amethyst at her throat. But she wasn’t going to ask Mari for them. She wasn’t six anymore.

He remembered and gave them to her anyway.

“You want to start?” he asked.

“This is a weird alternative to sex.”

“Let’s just play, okay? And tell me why you’re so stressed out. Is it about Pari? I heard a rumor.”

Lovisa took a breath. “What rumor?”

“That he’s left for the Royal Continent,” said Mari. “He was failing a couple of his classes and decided he’d rather leave than fail out. A spontaneous adventure.”

“Without saying goodbye to anyone?” Lovisa said, because it seemed like what she would say, were this news to her.

“Yeah. Did he mention any of this last night?”

Lovisa focused on placing her pieces on the board. “There wasn’t a lot of talking.”

“Ew,” said Mari. “And again, you came here to seduce me? Your technique needs work.”

“I wouldn’t try to seduce you, Mari,” she said sharply. “If we have sex, it won’t be because I lie.”

“Seduction doesn’t necessitate lying, you know.”

“Whatever. Do you really like Pari?”

“He’s had a hard go of it. You know that. His mother is dead, his father is always abroad, and when he’s not abroad he isn’t a nice person.”

“Pari is a spoiled, rich, arrogant Ledra boy,” Lovisa said.

“So am I,” said Mari, with a small smile.

“But he’s mean.”

“Maybe I would be mean, if I had an unkind father.”