Alaric counted quietly. Watched the Ashvane representative. Watched the Caldren man. Watched the group of four near the front who'd bid on nothing so far and sat with the particular stillness of people saving themselves.
For what?
Lot sixteen sold to spirited competition between two bidders he hadn't assessed yet, driving the price to nearly double the floor before one conceded.
Kaldren let the energy settle. Took a deliberate breath. His eyes moved across the room.
"And now," he said.
"Lot seventeen."
Kaldren stepped back slightly. The assistants brought the item forward.
A crystal.
Roughly fist-sized. Set on velvet-lined display case that elevated it to eye level.
Its surface was dark almost black but with something was moving inside it in form of patterns.
The kind of complexity that suggested whoever had made it had spent considerable time and skill on its construction.
