My parents had easily agreed to more dance lessons, since I’d needed to learn the proper dances as a lady anyway. But whenever I was good and performed aproperdance perfectly, I was able to practice the lesscourtlyroutines as well.
These days, I only ever danced through halls as I stole into and out of places. Being able to dance at the ball wasn’t even the same asthis. The dances were dramatic and acrobatic, with all sorts of flourishes I’d only ever seen the pixies bring to life. I’d lived for these dances as a child, and returning to them once more left me nearly overwhelmed.
I let my feet carry me across the floor, twisting and twirling in movements my muscles remembered like an echo through time. Just like my heart, they ached, but they remembered.
I spent hours practicing, getting the hang of the turns and twirls again, making sure my hands and feet were in the correct places, refamiliarizing myself with every flip and split, and starting over every time I made a minor mistake. But I couldn’t have cared less, it was time well spent as far as I was concerned. I didn’t even notice when Faiza eventually left.
Here, I could close my eyes and escape into the dance. The music washed over me like the ocean lapping the black sands of Jet Beach, bringing me up and down as the emotion rose and fell. The violin wailed and softened as if it felt the joy and pain consuming me, while the movements of the routine brought me into another world. A tragic one, perhaps, but I was used to that.
The magic of it all consumed me, until before I realized it, the glow of sunset was taking over the sky above me, washing the room from pink to orange.
It was enough to pull me out of the whirlwind. Panting and exhausted, my muscles screamed for rest, yet I felt wholly satisfied. Only that orange glow creeping along the pink left me frowning, thinking of the state of Pearl Court.
I didn’twantto think about that, however. It was no longer my business, so I quickly left the room, finding poor Alfrikr slumped on the ground outside.
“Were you out here the whole time?” I asked, blinking in surprise.
“Of course I was,” he grunted, standing back up. “I’m your guard. The last thing we want is one of the other competitors trying to off you while you’re distracted.”
My head reared back in shock. “Has that happened before?” His expression was grimly serious, adding more discomfort on top of my aching limbs.
“Not for a very long time,” he answered reluctantly, the words seeming to be dragged from his lips. “Now, let’s go. You’ll be late for dinner.”
“How long is a long time?” I pressed him as we began the walk back.
He groaned, shaking his head, “I shouldn’t have even mentioned that.”
“Well, too bad. You did.” I smirked at him, and Alfrikr rolled his eyes, his head tipping side to side like he was debating with himself. Until finally, he released a sigh of resignation, watching my eager expression.
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” He asked, trying to look gruff and angry, but his twitching lips gave him away.
“Nope.” I popped the ‘p’, making it very clear that,no, I would never justlet something go.
His exaggerated sigh was certainly impressive, though.
“It was several competitions ago,” He began as we walked the halls back to my room. His armor clanged softly with every step as my dance slippers whispered over the marble floors.
“The competition can get dangerous, that’s not a secret. But it used to be much more perilous than it is now. The ladies were brutal and bloodthirsty in their quest for power.” Alfrikr shook his head solemnly, his purple braids swaying with the movement. “Az’s great-grandfather’s competition was particularly bad, and one of the competitors decided to take out her competition.”
I gasped, my hand flying to cover my mouth. I knew the prior competitions had been more treacherous, but I had no idea threats of that magnitude were at risk.
“For all her effort,” he smirked slightly, “High King Alberich chose someone else. But the memory is not forgotten.” He eyed me pointedly, and my eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
“What does that mean?” I asked warily.
“The competitor who killed the other ladies was from Ruby Court,” he revealed, looking surprised at my ignorance. “It’s well known that those from Ruby will do whatever it takes to get the throne.”
“But I don’t—” I cut myself off before I could say anything incriminating. My eyes shot to Alfrikr, whose head was tilted to the side as he inspected me too closely. Panic clawed up my throat.
“But I don’t have any intention of hurting anyone,” I finished lamely, the lie tasting like poison on my tongue. I couldn’t very well tell him that the other ladies were safe from me because I only wished to hurt one specific person.
Not when he’d strike me down where I stood if he realized who my target was.
Chapter Eleven
Jacinth
“This seems a bit over the top,” I whispered, my arm threaded through Faiza’s as my wide eyes took in the craziness surrounding us.
