C16 Sixteen

The wide outdoor patio was awash with clean breeze and vibrant greenery. The skies were clear, the weather mild. At a secluded corner, a pianist played the piano, producing soft, relaxing tunes.

My court were all on their feet, waiting. As I strode down the concrete, some turned and looked at me expectantly, some puzzlingly, while others, with thinly concealed malice