Mai tied a veil behind her ears. "Are you certain Meng won't rat us out?" she asked Ty Lee, who sat in front of the mirror while Katara painted her face with white makeup.
Katara dipped her cosmetic brush into a jar. Poor Meng. Her heart went out to the unfortunate girl.
Meng was the Ty family's ward. At thirteen, she was too young to come to court and was only there because Lord Ty owed her father, the powerful head of the Grain Broker's Syndicate, a favor, and being scrawny and awkward, she was still very much a child. Her age prevented her from going to evening parties and having suitors. All the other things that made court life's homesickness and rigid formality worthwhile. Things everyone else was allowed to do. Meng was a sweet girl but resented being left out and could very well tattle on them out of spite if they didn't appease her.
"Don't worry," said Ty Lee, dabbing rouge onto cheeks. "I promised her I'd do her chores for a month. Did you get a pass from On-Ji?"
If the girls from the Lotus Villa wanted to be out past Curfew, they needed written permission with an official stamp. While young ladies sewed slippers and embroidered handkerchiefs to get extra cash, On-Ji, the daughter of Foreign Minister Tanaka, forged permission slips and sold them at exorbitant prices.
Mai produced one of these documents from her sleeve. "If you see that extortionist wearing my pearl brooch, this is why."
Katara shook her head. You had to admire On-Ji, who would have made an excellent government minister had she been born a man.
"Katara," said Ty Lee. Katara put down the brush she used to line Ty Lee's eyes in burnt cork so she wouldn't accidentally blind her friend. "Did you find us an escort?"
Katara chuckled. "I certainly did." They weren't allowed to leave the palace complex at night unless accompanied by a guard, and which guard to employ for tonight's excursions had needed careful consideration. Who could they trust not to get them in trouble when he realized where they were really going? Katara whispered the name Kei-Lo into Ty Lee's ear, and Ty Lee burst out laughing.
Kei-Lo, who made sheep's eyes at Mai whenever he held her parasol or helped her out of a palanquin, would be honor-bound to protect his beloved and safeguard her reputation.
"What's so funny?" Mai said, putting a hand on her hip.
Katara and Ty Lee looked at each other. "Nothing."
While finishing Ty Lee's makeup, Katara checked her hair in the mirror. She'd coiled her braid around the back of her head and held it in place with three pins: one of jade, one of silver, and one of gold. Her money pouch, which contained two silver coins, all Katara had to her name, was tucked into her sash.

Kei-Lo wasn't suspicious when Mai told him they were meeting her parents at the opera. Katara congratulated Mai on coming up with such a brilliant alibi. After all, what could be more above-board than the venerable Caldera Royal Opera House? Poor Kei-Lo only realized he'd been had when, instead of mounting the Opera House's steps, Ty Lee hailed one of the rickshaws that gathered like moths under the portico.
Katara squeezed in between Mai and Ty Lee, and they set off for the Entertainment District, giving Kei-Lo no choice but to jog after them. The rickshaw puller was kind enough to slow his pace so Kei-Lo could keep up.
Though Curfew, when most shops and businesses closed for the night, and most people went home, had been an hour ago, the Entertainment District glowed with life. The rickshaw zigzagged around restaurant proprietors hanging red and yellow lanterns outside their businesses, ragged adolescent girls selling flowers, and revealers with their identities hidden behind masks that made them look like beasts and demons.
Katara shuttered. Some of the masks were awfully lifelike.
The rickshaw puller turned right at Kashi Street, which would take them to the riverside docks, but a crowd watching a procession blocked the way.
"What's going on?" said Mai when the vehicle came to a screeching halt.
Katara craned her neck to see over the crowd. A woman in flowing pine green robes glided, one foot in front of the other, down Kashi Street on platform shoes so high that several attendants had to hold her train and keep her from stumbling.
"It's Lady Jin from The Cave of the Two Lovers and her entourage," said the rickshaw puller. "They're on their way to tonight's engagement."
"A courtesan," Ty Lee whispered to Katara and Mai.
Katara was transfixed. So this was what she was up against? Lady June had warned her that courtesans were the enemies of all wives, and when Katara married, her full-time job would be to keep her husband from running off to the pleasure houses. Katara lowered her eyes to Lady Jin's feet. If she had to compete with a woman who could move so gracefully, she was screwed.
Lady Jin stopped in front of a fountain dedicated to the Luck Goddess, who was depicted as a bare-breasted half woman, half fish with water trickling from her nipples, and rubbed the Luck Goddess' gleaming bronze tits.
"For good fortune," explained the rickshaw puller.
The street eventually cleared, and they finally reached the docks, where Kei-Lo hired a boat to take them out to one of the floating casinos on the river.
Katara settled into the bow of the boat. "Why do we need to take a boat to the casino?" she asked Kei-Lo. An evening boat ride sounded lovely, but why couldn't they have just taken a rickshaw?
"Gambling is illegal on land," said Kei-Lo, leaning against the starboard side. "But not on water, so that's why all the officially licensed casinos in Caldera are on board ships." He lowered his voice. "Though, there are a few dives in the Entertainment District that run underground dice games..."
The young man met with raised eyebrows from his three charges.
"...or so I've heard."
The boatman rowed them past fishing boats and floating market gardens till they reached a vast pleasure ship with a gilded dragon running from bow to stern. Red lanterns hung from the eaves of its elegant pavilions, which burst with music and laughter.
Katara leaned over the side of the boat. She'd found the right place if she was looking for a good time.
"Here we are," said the boatman. He threw a line to one of the crew members on board the ship, who moored the boat for him.
The gallant Kei-Lo helped the three girls out of the boat and onto the ship's deck. A chipper hostess stepped out from behind the beaded curtain that served as the casino's entrance and greeted them. She handed each of them a flower made from folded paper.
"What is this?" Katara asked the hostess. The paper flower contained floral-scented powder.
The hostess gave Katara an indulgent smile and laughed at her naivety. If Katara was too innocent, perhaps she shouldn't be there. "It's powdered lotus root and petals," said the hostess. "When dissolved in wine, it helps one float like the lotus itself."
Katara accepted a glass of wine from a waiter and followed the hostess' instructions. She took a sip. The lotus powder gave the plum wine an extra sweetness. After a few more sips, a gentle wave swept Katara away. She drifted into a pleasant stupor, where she lost all her money and two of her hairpins at the baccarat table, hoping she'd win it all back plus some on the next hand of cards, and didn't snap out of it until Mai put a hand on her arm and said, "maybe you should stop."
Mai was right. Katara's money pouch was empty, and the only piece of jewelry she had left was her gold hairpin. So Katara threw up her hands. "I'm done," she said. It would be best to quit then and tighten her purse strings until the next time she received her pay.
"I don't understand," said Ty Lee, flushed from yet another winning hand, as Katara left the baccarat table. "Can't you just ask Lord Ukano for more money tomorrow?"
Katara shook her head. Ty Lee, who didn't have a debt to pay, could run to her father whenever she needed more cash, and had an uncommon streak of good luck at the baccarat table that evening, wouldn't get it. "I just can't," said Katara.
Across the way hung a nearly life-sized painting of the Luck Goddess, presented more respectfully this time as an elegant lady in a flowing gown holding a lute. Other casino patrons had left paper flowers on the altar at the Luck Goddess' feet, similar to the one Katara in which received the lotus powder and planned to keep as a souvenir. The Goddess gave Katara a haughty sniff for not adding her own paper flower to the pile.
Katara laughed. Perhaps this slight was the reason for her run of misfortune earlier? She produced the flower from where she'd hidden it in her sash and placed it on the altar with the others. I guess, better luck next time.
She then sat down on the nearby sofa, where Kei-Lo had stationed himself so he could keep an eye on Mai and Ty Lee at the baccarat table.
Mai leaned toward Ty Lee after placing her next bet. "I bet you your enameled pipe case that the banker's hand wins this round."
"And if the player's hand wins," said Ty Lee. "You have to kiss Kei-Lo."
Mai glanced at Kei-Lo, and her face blanched. Kei-Lo looked up at the ceiling, imploring the heavens to strike him dead.
"But I've never kissed anyone before," said Mai.
A wicked grin crossed Ty Lee's face. "Well, there's a first time for everything."
Katara folded her arms. While the spiked plum wine had transformed her into a floating lotus, Ty Lee had become a mischievous demon.
The player's hand won the next round. Mai sighed and went over to Kei-Lo. She grabbed him by the front of his tunic, raised her veil, and kissed him. Katara moved over to give them more room. Poor Mai. This probably wasn't how she'd imagined her first kiss.
"Tongue and groping or it doesn't count," said Ty Lee.
Mai put a petrified Kei-Lo's hands on her breasts, then glared at Ty Lee. "I hate you." She dove in for another kiss. When they came back up for air, Kei-Lo broke away from Mai, got up, and left. He used his sleeve to wipe Mai's makeup off his face.
Katara didn't blame him. Kei-Lo would be a dead man if Mai's father found out about this.
Mai started crying, and Katara put an arm around her. "Those kisses don't have to count if you don't want them to," said Katara. She shot Ty Lee a dirty look. I hope you're happy.
Ty Lee lowered her eyes and turned away.
Gambling wasn't the only entertainment the casino had on offer. That evening, two singers from the Royal Opera performed a duet, and Lady Jin, the courtesan from the Cave of the Two Lovers, who the rickshaw puller had pointed out, delighted everyone with a risqué dance.
Katara couldn't take her eyes off Lady Jin's twirling fans.
Poor Lady Jin looked exhausted after her performance. Admirers swarmed her with flowers and other gifts, but she walked right past them to join a young man wearing a blue and white demon mask who offered her a glass of water.
Ty Lee, who'd left the gaming table to watch the show, nudged Katara. "I wonder who he is?" she said.
Katara looked Lady Jin's companion over. His clothing was simple but impeccably tailored and made of the highest quality silk. He wasn't tall but carried himself like someone important to whom deference was due, with a command and confidence that made up for his lack of height. Probably, he was the son of a wealthy and powerful lord.
"I bet," said Ty Lee. "He's terribly handsome under that mask." She reached for Katara's gold hairpin.
Katara pulled away. "He probably isn't any better or worse-looking than the other men here." Ty Lee wouldn't bait her into a trap like she did poor Mai.
"You there," Ty Lee shouted at the young man in the demon mask. He turned around to face them. "My friend here says you must be terribly handsome under that mask." Ty Lee put her arm around Katara's neck. "Your gold hairpin against all my winnings."
Ty Lee had already won a small fortune. Enough for Katara to breathe easy about money for a while. How could a girl resist? "Fine."
The young man laughed and removed his mask. Handsome was an understatement. He was as gorgeous as a shining prince of legend. The only thing that marred his perfect beauty was a hand-shaped burn scar that covered half his face. He bowed to Katara before putting his mask back on.  To impress Lady Jin, he lit all the votive candles on the Luck Goddess altar with his fire bending.
The Luck Goddess continued to give Katara the cold shoulder.
"Hand it over," said Ty Lee, with a grin that demanded to be smacked off her face.
Katara removed her gold hairpin and her braid tumbled down her back. No one could ever say she wasn't a gracious loser.