Page 93 of The Last Syphon

“Um, Na-Ri,” she said shyly.

He smiled a big, beaming smile. His I know I’m good-looking, so take all the time you need to enjoy me smile. Na-Ri’s mouth dropped open. He picked up her hand and placed a gallant kiss on her skin. “Absolute delight to make your acquaintance, Na-Ri,” he purred.

Inara rolled her eyes. The man was a rake. She thumped him in the arm. “Leave her alone with your flirty ways. What did you just find out?”

“Oh, yes!” His attention averted to her, and Inara could have sworn there was a slight slump in Na-Ri’s shoulders. She would have to watch that. Felix liked to flirt. A lot. But she knew her best friend. It was all harmless fun to him. Nothing more. She didn’t want Na-Ri to get her hopes up. “Did you know there’s a ball coming up?!”

Inara’s mood instantly changed. Excitement slammed into her. “A ball?!” She was barely able to refrain from squealing. “Seriously?”

“Mmhmm. You gonna eat this?” He leant forward and plucked a slice of beef off Prince Walder’s plate, causing the man’s right eye to begin twitching. “Oh. Delicious. Anyway, I just ran into Princess Phaedra. Fates, she’s so hot. And she mentioned that in three days’ time, there’s going to be a Grand Ball right here. In the palace!”

Fuck holding in her excitement. Inara squealed, jumping up and down in her chair. “I’ll get to wear one of my dresses!”

“That and—” He cut himself off, eyes widening slightly before he regained composure.

“And?” Na-Ri asked.

Inara knew. And we’ll get to steal a whole bunch of crap. It was the perfect setting for him to flex his skills as a thief.

“Anddddd I’ll get to wear a nice garment too!”

Inara covered her mouth to hide her snicker. “What’s the ball for?”

“No idea.” He shrugged. “I didn’t ask. Oh, this is going to be such fun. So. Much. Fun!”

Na-Ri chuckled. “Have you ever been to a ball before? They’re kind of a dull affair. Well, for us anyway.”

“What do you mean?” Inara asked.

“A ball usually has thousands of members in attendance. Some from the neighbouring kingdoms. You’ll be required to work during it.”

“What? Nooooo,” she dragged out, body sagging.

“The working isn’t even that bad. The dancing is what I hate the most.”

Panic forced Inara’s eyes wide. “Dancing?” she repeated in a scared whisper.

Na-Ri nodded. Her spoon moved around her plate absent-mindedly. “It’s horrible. I can never get the steps right, and I always make a fool of myself. Last year, Lord Amaron was kind and didn’t mind that I’d stepped on his feet several times, but this year, I’ll be forced to dance with my current Charge, Lord Rand. He’s not very kind. Hopefully, Princess Phaedra’s lessons this year will be more successful for me.”

“Why would you be forced to dance with him?”

“You must remain at your Charge’s side for the entirety of the night, of course. That includes when they take to the floor. A ball, while beautiful and magical, can quickly become a dangerous event. People from all over the realm come to attend, and you never know what might happen. There was one year when a group of assassins infiltrated and attempted to—” Again, her words were cut off, but this time, with a strangled choke.

“Attempted to kill my father,” Prince Walder finished.

An awkward silence quickly filled the table.

Na-Ri bowed her head earnestly. “I apologise, my Prince. I did not mean⁠—”

He waved a hand, and Na-Ri snapped her mouth shut. “Nothing to apologise for. It is true. They attacked him while in the middle of a dance, and had he not been dancing with his personal Shielder at the time, he would have died.”

Inara had heard about the assassination attempt on the king several years ago. It was knowledge that had spread far and wide throughout the realm. It was all any of the traders could talk about for a time. The particulars of what happened had not been shared, but based on what Inara had just learnt, she understood why she would be required to dance at the ball.

There was just one small problem.

“I don’t know how to dance.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE