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<blockquote data-quote="havenstone" data-source="post: 4440905" data-attributes="member: 61094"><p><strong>The Grand Ball</strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 10px"><strong>THE FOLLOWING DAY </strong>passes quickly. Meeshak works with Eliduc and the other priests to prepare the Great Hall of the Patriarchs with wardspells for the Grand Ball. As the afternoon shadows lengthen, both the blue moons, Yulynis and Tenesgar, become clearly visible in the sky. “We’ll have true moonlight tonight,” says Chancellor Eliduc with satisfaction. (Senallines and other Northerners believe the world was created by Ain with the blue moons as the strongest light in the night sky. The white moon Casander was added later, by necessity, to ward off nocturnal demons. While the white moon’s “hallowlight” is accordingly held in reverence, blue moonlight is considered more natural and comfortable).</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">The gentry and wealthy classes of Lynar begin arriving in their finery to wait at the main gate, while the Families gather with their personal friends and retainers at the five private portals to the Great Hall. At sunset, the assembled priests sing a prayer for light (Meeshak in a slightly raspy bass), and the vast chamber glows as though a small sun had appeared in its upper reaches. Chamberlain Gall calls for the five portals to be opened, and the Families make their entrance. Atrix, Carwyn, Darren, and Kyla enter with the d’Loriads; Ontaya enters with Ellikard, Emerath, and her d’Orbis cousins; Ash accompanies the d’Syrnon knights; and Nina strides in at Agerain d’Aramant’s right hand.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">The Patriarchs’ college of musicians has provided its finest performers for the Ball, and as the music rises, the dancers move out into the center of the hall. Carwyn and Alan are among the first on the floor. To her delight, Carwyn finds Alan to be as good a dancer as she is, and she revels in the looks of admiration and envy they’re attracting from other couples. A small part of her feels uncomfortably out of place, though, and she finds Alan just a little full of himself. And despite herself, she finds that once or twice her mind drifts from the glorious ballroom to the dingy tavern where she gambled with Lune.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">Kyla feels her gloved hand taken by Gareth d’Loriad. The quiet young man lifts her veil, saying, “You won’t need this tonight,” with a smile as he swings her into their first dance. Kyla doesn’t protest, even though she hears the gasps and disdainful murmurs from all around -- <em>An Arawai at the Ball? At </em>this <em>Ball? What is that d’Loriad boy playing at?</em> She does her best to let go of her weary anxiety and just enjoy the feeling of proximity to Gareth. To her surprise, when the first dance is over, Adgar and the other young d’Loriads back their cousin up by clamoring for the next one, and it’s half an hour before she works her way back to Gareth again.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px"><strong>AGERAIN DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY </strong>join the dancing, instead slowly circling the hall to regard his rivals, with Nina and Avric in tow. He scowls when he sees Atrix bow to Sarele and lead her out onto the floor. “She must not marry that d’Loriad ass. What is her father thinking, with all of his obligations to us?”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">“Herena tells me that Sarele doesn’t want it, but her father is determined,” Avric offers.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">“Well, I suppose we’ll have to dispose of the d’Loriad, then,” frowns Agerain. “The timing is all wrong.” His face creases into a mirthless smile again as he sees Gareth and Kyla. “The d’Loriads always were dirty barbarian-lovers. That makes our job easier.”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">Nina shrugs casually. “They’re not as strong as they think they are. So... they’re trying to win over the d’Nereins. What about the d’Syrnons?” He isn’t sure whether Agerain would know much about any d’Aramant plot against Marcor, but information has got to start somewhere.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">“They’re cautious. Always cautious.” Agerain glances over to Nina sharply. “And we want them to stay cautious, and the d’Orbis who think they can make common cause with d’Loriads to be frightened. Your sword can help with that, Anseron. We don’t need them to love us. But we do need to keep the d’Nereins in tow.”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">Eventually Avric goes off to dance with his betrothed, Herena, daughter of High General Athriam d’Aramant. With a crooked smile on his face, Agerain beckons Nina across the crowded hall and points to Atrix and Alan. “Take them in one... two... three...” He cuts in during a second when Sarele is standing finger-to-finger with Atrix and sweeps her away, leaving Atrix standing alone on the floor. Acting on instinct, Nina does the same and finds himself dancing with an annoyed Carwyn. “It’s me,” he whispers. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">Using her best gambling face, Carwyn manages to show no sign of surprise. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">“Infiltrating the d’Aramants,” Nina replies dryly. “My name is Anseron, lovely lady.”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">Carwyn smiles and says, “We’ll talk later,” through her teeth, twirling back toward Alan. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px"><strong>ATRIX ADROITLY STEALS </strong>Sarele back from Agerain, who steals her back again... at which point Atrix notices his cousin Kay in the crowd of gentry who have just entered through the main gate. She’s wearing the dress he saw last night during the dancing lesson, but with her hair unbraided and her cheeks flushed with excitement, the overall effect is rather different -- and quite new to Atrix. He looks back at Sarele, who is laughing with Agerain and seems to be deliberately ignoring him.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">“Milord,” says Kay with a curtsey, beaming as Atrix strides up to her.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">“I... am stunned,” says Atrix with a bemused grin. “Forgive me. Last night when I said you looked stunning, I hadn’t the least idea what I was talking about.”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">Kay laughs warmly. “Cousin, you can’t charm me. You’ve already told me and Jonathan all of your tricks.”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10px">“No tricks, then,” Atrix offers. “Just a dance?”</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="havenstone, post: 4440905, member: 61094"] [b]The Grand Ball[/b] [SIZE=2][B]THE FOLLOWING DAY [/B]passes quickly. Meeshak works with Eliduc and the other priests to prepare the Great Hall of the Patriarchs with wardspells for the Grand Ball. As the afternoon shadows lengthen, both the blue moons, Yulynis and Tenesgar, become clearly visible in the sky. “We’ll have true moonlight tonight,” says Chancellor Eliduc with satisfaction. (Senallines and other Northerners believe the world was created by Ain with the blue moons as the strongest light in the night sky. The white moon Casander was added later, by necessity, to ward off nocturnal demons. While the white moon’s “hallowlight” is accordingly held in reverence, blue moonlight is considered more natural and comfortable).[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]The gentry and wealthy classes of Lynar begin arriving in their finery to wait at the main gate, while the Families gather with their personal friends and retainers at the five private portals to the Great Hall. At sunset, the assembled priests sing a prayer for light (Meeshak in a slightly raspy bass), and the vast chamber glows as though a small sun had appeared in its upper reaches. Chamberlain Gall calls for the five portals to be opened, and the Families make their entrance. Atrix, Carwyn, Darren, and Kyla enter with the d’Loriads; Ontaya enters with Ellikard, Emerath, and her d’Orbis cousins; Ash accompanies the d’Syrnon knights; and Nina strides in at Agerain d’Aramant’s right hand.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]The Patriarchs’ college of musicians has provided its finest performers for the Ball, and as the music rises, the dancers move out into the center of the hall. Carwyn and Alan are among the first on the floor. To her delight, Carwyn finds Alan to be as good a dancer as she is, and she revels in the looks of admiration and envy they’re attracting from other couples. A small part of her feels uncomfortably out of place, though, and she finds Alan just a little full of himself. And despite herself, she finds that once or twice her mind drifts from the glorious ballroom to the dingy tavern where she gambled with Lune.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Kyla feels her gloved hand taken by Gareth d’Loriad. The quiet young man lifts her veil, saying, “You won’t need this tonight,” with a smile as he swings her into their first dance. Kyla doesn’t protest, even though she hears the gasps and disdainful murmurs from all around -- [I]An Arawai at the Ball? At [/I]this [I]Ball? What is that d’Loriad boy playing at?[/I] She does her best to let go of her weary anxiety and just enjoy the feeling of proximity to Gareth. To her surprise, when the first dance is over, Adgar and the other young d’Loriads back their cousin up by clamoring for the next one, and it’s half an hour before she works her way back to Gareth again.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2][B]AGERAIN DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY [/B]join the dancing, instead slowly circling the hall to regard his rivals, with Nina and Avric in tow. He scowls when he sees Atrix bow to Sarele and lead her out onto the floor. “She must not marry that d’Loriad ass. What is her father thinking, with all of his obligations to us?”[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]“Herena tells me that Sarele doesn’t want it, but her father is determined,” Avric offers.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]“Well, I suppose we’ll have to dispose of the d’Loriad, then,” frowns Agerain. “The timing is all wrong.” His face creases into a mirthless smile again as he sees Gareth and Kyla. “The d’Loriads always were dirty barbarian-lovers. That makes our job easier.”[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Nina shrugs casually. “They’re not as strong as they think they are. So... they’re trying to win over the d’Nereins. What about the d’Syrnons?” He isn’t sure whether Agerain would know much about any d’Aramant plot against Marcor, but information has got to start somewhere.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]“They’re cautious. Always cautious.” Agerain glances over to Nina sharply. “And we want them to stay cautious, and the d’Orbis who think they can make common cause with d’Loriads to be frightened. Your sword can help with that, Anseron. We don’t need them to love us. But we do need to keep the d’Nereins in tow.”[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Eventually Avric goes off to dance with his betrothed, Herena, daughter of High General Athriam d’Aramant. With a crooked smile on his face, Agerain beckons Nina across the crowded hall and points to Atrix and Alan. “Take them in one... two... three...” He cuts in during a second when Sarele is standing finger-to-finger with Atrix and sweeps her away, leaving Atrix standing alone on the floor. Acting on instinct, Nina does the same and finds himself dancing with an annoyed Carwyn. “It’s me,” he whispers. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Using her best gambling face, Carwyn manages to show no sign of surprise. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]“Infiltrating the d’Aramants,” Nina replies dryly. “My name is Anseron, lovely lady.”[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Carwyn smiles and says, “We’ll talk later,” through her teeth, twirling back toward Alan. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2][B]ATRIX ADROITLY STEALS [/B]Sarele back from Agerain, who steals her back again... at which point Atrix notices his cousin Kay in the crowd of gentry who have just entered through the main gate. She’s wearing the dress he saw last night during the dancing lesson, but with her hair unbraided and her cheeks flushed with excitement, the overall effect is rather different -- and quite new to Atrix. He looks back at Sarele, who is laughing with Agerain and seems to be deliberately ignoring him.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]“Milord,” says Kay with a curtsey, beaming as Atrix strides up to her.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]“I... am stunned,” says Atrix with a bemused grin. “Forgive me. Last night when I said you looked stunning, I hadn’t the least idea what I was talking about.”[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Kay laughs warmly. “Cousin, you can’t charm me. You’ve already told me and Jonathan all of your tricks.”[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]“No tricks, then,” Atrix offers. “Just a dance?”[/SIZE] [/QUOTE]
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