"Don't."
The voice came from behind Kael, and it was not Jolthar's.
Andrion had spoken, who wore formality like a punishment, who tucked his napkin into his sash, who argued about musical keys — was looking at Kael with an expression that was, for the first time all evening, entirely serious.
"I've seen him fight," Andrion said quietly.
"You won't even know what's happened to you and you will be on the ground."
"You're a good swordsman, Suryanath. Everyone says so. But this isn't a matter of good. This is a matter of category. You are not in his category. No one at those back tables is in his category. If you draw that sword, you won't get first blood. You'll get a funeral."
Silence.
Kael's hand trembled on his hilt.
And then, from the back tables, Vikram Deshani stood.
"He won't fight," Vikram called, loud enough for the hall.
