Alanna shrugged, and they both stepped out the door. As Alanna slipped by the wall, the girl noticed the outline of a knife at her wrist, hidden under the fabric of her sleeve, and she grinned. She should have known that the knight wouldn't go without a weapon. When Alanna looked at her questioningly, Daine just shook her head, and they continued walking to the ballroom.
As they got closer, she noticed more people milling around, or arriving, or just plain socializing. Carriages pulled by stunning horses gave way to even more stunningly dressed party-goers. The gentlemen wore dark clothes, with fancy embroidery, and the ladies wore fine dresses, with swishing skirts, and lots of face paint. There was excitement in the air, and everyone was effected by it. The people looked magnificent. Daine shrank slightly, knowing she didn't look as fine as everyone else. A new dress didn't make up for years of practice wearing it.
When they finally got to the entrance, they noticed dinner was about to start. The pair quickly glanced around, and found Numair and the Baron, George, sitting together near the throne table. Alanna sat on George's far side, leaving Daine to sit next to Numair. The mage was talking to a women dressed in pale pink silk. She held a fan in her hand, and was waving it around in a manner that reminded Daine of a distressed pigeon.
"Good evening, Numair," She said as she sat, trying to place her skirt gracefully around the chair. The women broke off, giving a loud sniff, then spun to harass the dinner partner on her other side. Numair turned to her with a smile that froze when he took a good look at her. Just as she was beginning to become uncomfortable, he said," Hello magelet. I see you thought to put a dress on. It was good of you to think of it, because you would have looked very out of place in your breeches."
Daine shrugged, and George and Alanna grinned. "Alanna made me wear it, otherwise, I would have shown up in breeches. It would have been more comfortable anyway." She glanced down at herself with a rueful look.
Numair smiled. "It's not very comfortable in this black thing either", he replied, tugging on his black Mage's robe.
Daine laughed, knowing he disliked wearing the robes very often. As well as being extremely heavy, Numair didn't feel the need to announce his status by wearing the robes.
Just then, servants brought forward all the food, piling the tables with it. In few spots could you even see the tablecloths. Roasted meat of all kinds was placed in front of the guests. Daine was grateful that the meat was carefully placed out of her reach. She looked at the head of the table, towards King Jon, and smiled at the King's wink.
Daine and the rest of the guests filled their plates and started eating. After a few minutes, the great doors to the hall swung open with a clang. Surprised, they all turned to look.
A small,l reddish dragon stood in the opening, chattering loudly. She turned towards the confused guards next to the door, and whistled. The doors swung shut again. Everyone sat silently.
Daine hurried forward and snatched up the dragon, carrying her back to her seat. Around her, murmurs began and she could feel eyes on her.
"Kitten," she hissed," don't play with the doors in front of everybody! It makes them nervous and the King is probably embarrassed at the disruption.
The dragon just gave a discontented hiss before stealing a strawberry from the girl's plate.
Daine sighed. "Here, have some grapes."
The red color of her scales faded to their normal color.
Daine carefully ignored the stares around her.
She heard the King call out, "Do not worry. It is just a baby dragon. Dinner should resume."
Although people kept stealing glances at the girl and dragon, the chit chat started again.
Numair leaned over to Daine, and she noticed a bright glint in his eyes. "Is Kit fine?"
Daine nodded. "I couldn't find her when we left. I thought she'd get here before dinner, but she says she was playing with some sparrows…"
Numair nodded and went back to his food.
After dessert, which Kitten insisted on standing on Daine's lap to eat, the guests stood up, and servants cleared away the tables. Musicians started playing lively tunes. Although many went onto the floor to dance, Daine and Kit drifted away, finding a small couch to sit in at the far end of the room. The walls looked cozy in the bright torch-light, and someone had added several blood-red curtains to the windows.
The two sat down and watched everyone dancing, not caring at all to join in.
Boys in fine clothes often stole glances at her and the dragon, but it wasn't until after a few songs that any came up to talk with her.
One in dark blue clothes, with short blonde hair and blue eyes came up. He sat in a couch next to her.
"Good day, fair lady. I am Parie de Fairen the fifth. You must just call me Parie". He paused, apparently not noticing Kitten, who was currently hiding under the couch, then added," And what might your name be?"
Daine blinked but gave a slight nod as he introduced himself. "I am Daine. It is good to meet you."
Parie took her unoffered hand and kissed it softly. "I am happy to meet you too. Would you care to dance?" he asked.
Daine shook her head, giving a polite smile. "No thank you. I will stay right here and watch."
Parie smiled. "It's no fun to watch. Come and dance with me."
Again she shook her head. "No, thank you." She replied more firmly.
His smile took a sharp edge. "I really must insist", he said as he gave a pull on her hand which was still tightly held in his own.
She glared up at him. "I said no thank you. I must insist that you let go now."
His response was to pull her out of her chair and attempt to shove her toward the door that sat a few feet away.
Daine gave him an unbelieving look. Did he mean to try to rob her right here at the party? What kind of riffraff did the palace guards let in? She stood firmly, her muscles strong after years of archery. "You have one final warning to let go of me now." She said in sharp voice, trying to push away the fear that was rising up. She knew it would be hard for him to hurt her, but she did not know if he would resort to threatening her with a weapon, and unarmed against a knife, she would be in some trouble.
"You will learn not to disobey your betters." He growled, fingers tightening on her wrist.
Suddenly, Kitten, Alanna, and Numair stood by her elbow.
"Is there a problem here?" Alanna asked, her voice sharp and her violet eyes burning.
Parie blinked. "Of course not. This girl was trying to get me to go with her, and when I refused, she started to pull at me. I was only attempting to restrain her."
At this, Daine stiffened in disgust, and Kitten uttered a sharp sound, before stepping forward to nip his arm.
With a yelp, he let go of Daine and turned on Kitten with a furious look.
Before the dragon could start to defend herself, and even before Numair and Alanna could move, Paco was on his back, a confused and shocked expression on his face.
Daine stood calmly before him, a fist raised slightly from her side.
"You hit me!" he said in a squeaky voice, astonished that a mere girl, one whom he thought was an easy target, had knocked him to the ground.
Her smile was razor sharp. "Yes, I did. And if you aren't gone in the next ten seconds, I'll do it again and let Kitten at you."
With a glare, he slunk quickly through the door. Noticing a black spark in the corner of her eye, she saw Numair get the attention of a guard, and Alanna quickly signaled him to follow the boy.
When the guard was gone, her friends turned to look at her.
"Nice aim." Alanna said. Daine tried to smile in response, but she wasn't sure she quite made it.
Numair stepped forward. "Are you alright?" he asked, worry wrinkling his brow.
"Of course I'm alright." She replied, sinking relieved onto the couch again. Numair stepped to the edge of the couch and placed his hands on the armrest, squeezing until his knuckles were white.
Alanna looked at her arm, and except for the handprints on it, there was no damage.
Daine made a face and rubbed it.
"She's not hurt." Alanna reported.
Numair nodded and gave her an intense look. "What happened? We know you didn't want to go with him."
Her face took on a barely noticeable blush. "Nothing really. He wanted me to dance, and I didn't want to. So he tried to pull me to the door. Then you all came, and I suppose you know the rest."
Alanna nodded sympathetically. "He must have convinced the guards he was one of the guests, and expected to have an easy night picking off some excess jewelry and money. I doubt he was one of George's, but I'll have him look into it anyway.
Numair was angry. "You're lucky Kitten found us. There's no telling what would have happened if we hadn't shown up", he suddenly snapped at Daine.
Daine looked up at him, surprised. "I'm glad that Kit found you, but even if she hadn't, she and I can hold our own."
Alanna placed a hand on his arm. "Calm down Numair. I'm just as annoyed as you are, but we both know that Daine would have been fine. She can take care of herself. It could have happened to anyone."
Numair let out a long sigh, before releasing the couch and standing straight.
"I'm fine," Daine said, breaking the silence," go back to dancing or whatever, and don't worry about me."
When Numair blinked at her and opened his mouth to say something, Alanna shoved him back towards the dancing floor.
"Go on, I'm bored of this party already. I'll stay with Daine."
He once again started to complain, but a quick glare from the redhead stopped him, and, shaking his head, he was quickly lost among the other guests.
"So," Alanna said, taking a seat next to Daine," I suppose you want to sit on your couch for awhile?"
Daine nodded, looking down at her hands.
"Fine, I get to glare away all the handsome men. It'll be the most fun I'll have this evening, what with George busy talking to some Scandren investors."
Alanna was rewarded with a quiet giggle from Daine.
They sat easily in silence, except for the occasional shifting as Alanna would turn her fiery eyes to anyone who wanted to walk up to them.
Daine broke it, saying," Numair's gotten more protective than normal."
Alanna shrugged. "He's your teacher, isn't he? He feels responsible for you, and I know he cares about you too. We all do. I wouldn't worry about it, Daine. He's just looking out for you."
Daine nodded, and turned to watch the twirling dresses, and shiny shoes on the dance floor spin about.