"Dun nuh nuh, nuh na. Dun nuh nuh, nuh na. Dun dun da, dun dala, nuh na~ya." The soft lilting tune was nearly quiet, haunting, timed perfectly with the twist of blades through the air. The last note was voiced as he came down out of a high arc, a turn that brought blade around from shoulder down to knees in a flash of silver. His blade-tip rested on the ground far out to the side, with his slender, emerald bangled arm facing palm down with blade in hand.
The ending pose was a kneel, head bowed, long hair hiding his face as a gesture of respect. The dark blue and blood red of the silk paneling of his top was fanned out, the open long vest just a dark splash of color against pale, barely tanned skin. The silk hid none of the muscles of his body, and by that same coin hid none of the softness. A solitary claw caged amethyst rested against his chest, low on the golden rope of chain. It had been bestowed on him when he'd accepted this life.
That was the extent of the adornments, but it was enough for the barefooted dancer with his live steel, something none of the others were allowed in the king's presence. He knew it, and their lord master knew it. Lifting his head just enough that the shorter dark strands were out of the way, he met the feline green, waiting and patient for some signal that he was permitted to rise, to speak, to do anything other than what he'd already done.
"I've been told by my advisers that I shouldn't let you dance for me." He watched the man push to his feet, dark velvets and silks hiding the true figure and making their leader look so much softer than he was. He knew the silver haired man wasn't weak, and the muscles that lay under the cloth, but their allies didn't. He'd sat at his feet for enough conferences to know that few were perceptive enough to catch the trick. "That I shouldn't keep such an obviously favored pet that some other lord might try and kidnap for a ransom they say would be above your worth."
He watched the man come down the steps of the dais to the open area, lifting his head into the palm that was rested against his hair. He didn't speak, having learned early that the man sometimes paused, but that wasn't meaning that it was his turn to speak. He just liked to pace his words, that was all. He didn't lift his blades, aware of how fortunate he was to even be allowed to touch live steel in the same room, let alone while the man was in striking range of him and unarmed.
"But then I've be depriving myself of one of my most beautiful possessions. The very idea of giving up one of my gems is... foolish at best, isn't it?" He let his eyes flutter half shut as the elegant fingers, callused though few ever knew that, tipped his chin up, revealing his violet eyes fully to the searching gaze. "I don't keep unloyal slaves. And I know that any of you would tell me if one of your number did not hold me highest in their heart." Petting now, which felt wonderful, leaving him lidded eyed. "Wouldn't you my sweet one?"
Now was his turn. Now he could speak. "I would. I know they would be sent away, but you're good to us. Fair. There isn't better." He shivered and turned his head, just a little to nuzzle the palm. "I wouldn't take freedom over serving you. Ever."
He smiled, one of those rare rare smiles that let him know that had been the right answer, the good answer. "I know. That is why you're one of my lovely gems. They don't understand how I could have any slaves willing to die for me, live for me, let alone four of you. They scoff the notion of a prince under my hand, the idea of a prized warrior setting down his weapons. They think my beauties aren't here by their own choice, but here you are, given more than adequate time to kill me and be on your way."
He closed his eyes then, turning his face into the touch. "I would never kill you my liege. I would never even try."
"I know. In all things, that I do know." Another stroke of the fingers, and then his lord walked away, the whisper of clothes brushing him by before he opened his eyes. The closing of a door far behind him signaled that he could rise to his feet.
From there, he went to return to the others on silent feet. It was their place to keep the advisors from causing their lord unrest, and they weren't to slack in those unknown duties.