"Here they are," he said. It came out almost jovial. He reached for his wine with one hand and gestured with the other. "Here they finally are."
Mara stepped smoothly into the space between the performers and the watching lounge. She turned to face the three of them, and made a small gesture toward the pool.
Obediently, Thomas, Sarah, and Helena moved. They crossed the chamber and stood silently at the pool's edge, facing the sofas. Thomas still had Sarah's hand. Helena stood slightly apart from them, her eyes now lowered.
The lamplight fell over all three of them evenly.
Mara joined her hands together and turned slightly.
"My lords," she said, "allow me to have our performers introduce themselves." She paused, letting that sit for a moment, then turned her attention fully to the three at the pool's edge. "Please introduce yourselves. Your names—" a slight pause, "—and your relation to one another."
Silence.
