We had spoken to General Rontor about my idea to rebuild Fress and Xae's idea that the Wraith Lords help. After the General approved it, we spoke to the adults from Fress to see how they felt about it. They were grateful and eager to get started. All we were waiting for were the supplies.
“What do you mean?” Nex instantly looked upset. “We're not sending all the children to Fress. Only the families are going once their new homes are built. The kids without parents are staying here for now. With Evina.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing and shared a look with Keltyr.
Kel, of course, couldn't let it slide. “No, they're not. We're building a big house for Evina and the kids.”
“That's a lie!” Nex roared.
The room went silent.
Nex cleared his throat. “Sorry about that, everyone. Keltyr's being . . . Keltyr.”
That got him a round of laughter.
Over the din, Keltyr shouted, “You know you love me!”
As soon as the hall settled, one of the acrobats called out, “Ladies and gentlemen!”
Everyone focused on the center of the room. The tumbling mats were gone, and the acrobats were in formation. Liael stood at the front, chin lifted. He glanced at me, grinned, then focused forward.
“Well, that didn't last long,” Xae said. “Looks as if he needs a bit more discouragement.”
“Xaedren!” I hissed.
“Thank you all for welcoming us to your great citadel,” the lead acrobat went on. “It is such an honor to perform for the honorable Wraith Lords and their guests. This will be the first of two performances. The second shall begin at six o'clock tonight. We hope all of you will join us then as well.”
“Nex,” someone whispered.
“Evina!” Nex brushed off the bench beside him. “Please, sit down.”
“Thank you.” Evina slid onto the seat beside him. “I thought I'd watch the performance with you. If you don't mind.”
“Of course not. Have you eaten?” He pushed his plate toward her.
I widened my eyes at Rath. He widened his back at me. Nex never shared food. He was known to snarl at anyone who even looked at his plate for too long.
“Oh, how sweet you are! Thank you.” She picked a tart off his plate and nibbled.
Nex's chest expanded as if he'd just saved her from starvation.
Meanwhile, music began, heavy on the drumming. The troupe had a flutist, a lute player (did that make him a lutist?), and a drummer with them. The first row of acrobats bent over as the back row jumped over their heads a good four feet off the ground, earning an appreciative gasp from the room. They came up in teams of three and instantly flowed into a pyramid. And that was just the beginning.
Working their way up and down the center of the room so that everyone had a good view, the acrobats tumbled, jumped, and twirled, catching each other only to toss their friends into the air. They formed intricate patterns and complicated constructions with their bodies. A tower of them formed, and the woman on top leapt even higher. Air Magic swirled around her, slowing her descent, as Varraen on the ground created spirals of water droplets for her to fall through. We oohed and ahhed as they tumbled into a line, then came up and over themselves, the back acrobats rolling over the front and continuing down the room like that until they were at the door.
With a cry, they split apart, men and women shooting up into the air, their lithe bodies twisting before landing on their feet. Again, they piled up, forming a ramp smoothly. The final man ran up it as flames erupted from hands held aloft along the sidelines. As he ran, a circle of fire formed at the top of the ramp. Everyone held their breath. The circle was too small. Even a child couldn't get through it.
With impressive dexterity, the acrobat jumped and dove for the circle, his body shifting in seconds, so fast that I didn't catch the transformation. His clothes fluttered behind the circle of fire while a fox came out the other side. Everyone launched to their feet to applaud, especially the shapeshifters. To shift so quickly was a feat in itself. But it wasn't over yet.
From all sides, they came together, flowing upward like water, merging until we couldn't tell one from another. Higher and higher they went, bodies reaching out, fingers stretching. Earth Magic burst from shivering fingertips and leaves grew instantaneously. The acrobats settled into place, a tree coming to life, and gently swayed as if in a breeze. No one cheered. It was too beautiful to sully with cheering. We just stared, wide-eyed at the wondrous display.
The fox shifter, posing on one of the branches, leapt to the ground. The rest of them followed gracefully, leaves falling from fingers as if in honor of autumn, and formed more complicated patterns on the floor. The music added to the composition, their bodies moving in undulating waves to the rhythm. Drumbeats punctuated jumps or the culmination of a configuration. It was hypnotic. I lost sight of Liael, seeing the performers as a whole instead of individuals. Their talent was awe-inspiring.
When they came to a rest at last and executed a bow together, everyone in the room launched to their feet once more and applauded while hooting and calling out their approval. The acrobats grinned and bowed over and over, turning to face different parts of the room.
When the applause finally died down, General Rontor went over to shake each of their hands. Then he addressed the room, “I'd like to thank the Allarian Dance Troupe for that fantastic performance! I dare say we have never seen its like.”
We cheered again.
