Alessa wasn’t the only one who stole a glance at the line of portraits on the wall, centuries of Duo Divino captured in oil paints, staring solemnly back at them. At first glance the people in the portraits seemed to have little in common, ranging in size, shape, skin color, and gender. But one thing they did all have in common was that every single Finestra was paired with a Fonte.
Well, at least Mastro Pasquale, who’d been Alessa’s art tutor in the early years of her time as Finestra, was talented enough to add a Fonte later and make it look as though they’d posed together. Wouldn’t that be a fun story for tour guides to share with future visitors to the Cittadella. Assuming, of course, that Alessa managed to find a Fonte and together they triumphed over Divorando so the Cittadella was even standing in a month.
Renata rubbed her forehead. “Might as well get half of it finished now. I suppose you may all take a day of rest.” It seemed to pain her to grant it. “But I expect everyone an hour early the following day, prepared to give one hundred percent. And I hope you all make good choices about how to spend your day off.”
With a hostile glare at the portraits, Renata stood in a swirl of burgundy skirts and helped Tomo to his feet as he waved off a round of thanks.
“Well,” Saida breathed when they’d gone. “This definitely deserves a celebration. I’m glad I splurged for the deluxe assortment with the chocolate-dipped cannoli.”
A pastry box appeared from under Saida’s chair like a magic trick, and the Fontes eagerly dove in.
Josef, Nina, and Kamaria took their desserts to go. Kaleb ate his in one bite and snagged a second from the box before it made it to the head of the table.
“They’re from Il Diletto,” Saida said. “That’s your family’s pasticceria, right?”
Alessa blinked at the familiar logo obscured by her thumb.
“The Finestra doesn’t have a family,” she said softly.
“Right,” Saida stuttered. “Of course. I know that. I just thought—”
“Wait,” Kaleb said around a mouthful of pastry. “Your brother’s Adrick Paladino?”
Alessa’s throat tightened. “Like I said, the Finestra doesn’t have—”
“Yeah, yeah.” Kaleb waved a hand in annoyance. “The Finestra springs, untouched, from Dea’s holy loins. Got it.” He licked a smudge of powdered sugar from one manicured fingernail, squinting at her. “You don’t look anything like him. Well, maybe the eyes.”
There was no point clinging to her divine origin story if they refused to play along. “I wasn’t aware you even knew Adrick, much less his eye color.”
Kaleb went slightly red. “He’s everywhere. Can’t avoid him.”
Saida looked like she’d start whistling if she could. She handed the box to Dante. “You two can share the rest. Come on, Kaleb. There’s bound to be a battle for the shower before cards, and I’m not going last this time.”
“Pssht,” Kaleb scoffed. “If we aren’t training tomorrow, I’m leaving now.”
Saida chased him out the door. “We’re in the middle of Chiamata!”
Kaleb’s voice echoed down the corridor. “Switch to Scopa, then. Josef and Nina are practically sewn together, they can play as a pair.”
Dante picked up the box of sweets and held it out, but Alessa demurred, toying with her necklace, a small silver pendant on a delicate chain. “You can go, too, if you want. I know you didn’t plan on being stuck with me for so long when you took this job.”
Dante gave her a funny look. “It’s not a big deal.”
Like probing a sore tooth to see if it still hurt, she couldn’t resist pressing him. “You sure? I bet parties get pretty wild this close to Divorando.”
“Do I seem like a party guy?”
“I have no idea what kind of guy you are. All I know is Dante isn’t your real name, and that you read a lot of books, punch strangers for money, memorize proverbs in the old language, and claim to be a terrible person without providing a lick of evidence to back it up. You, NotDante NoLastName, are a complete mystery to me.”
He sat forward. “And you can’t stand mysteries, can you?”
“Not at all.”
“Well, here’s a truth for you. I don’t enjoy most people, so I don’t enjoy most parties.”
“Shocking. I used to love parties. And people. When they weren’t scared of me.”
On second thought, a mouthful of sugar was exactly what she needed.