So I settled on a double-update for you guys, since both chapter six and seven are very short. The cliffe shall be quelled soon, and don't forget to review!

Chapter Seven
The rest of the night passed in a blur. Everything seeming to happen so fast it is harden even now to relate what went on. I had made my speech, and after Evelyn and her dancers performed their patterns I took the stage once again and performed the dance that my muscles had committed to memory over the past two months. I prayed to our sun god that I would make my people proud, and that I would not disgrace Evelyn if I made a mistake.

After I had finished, my face was flushed and my skirts clung to my legs from sweat. The dance had lasted only five minutes, but it had felt like a lifetime to me. But that was the point wasn't it? Our Avian dancers devoted their entire lives to learning the craft of dancing. It was more to them than just exercise and a way to connect with others through movements. It was their life, it was what they lived for.

I was their Queen, but at the same time I felt compelled to bow down to them for committing to such a destiny. I had been able to have a small taste of it that night at the Festival.

But I had soon learned Evelyn had decided against telling me the origin of the dance, which I nearly cursed after I realized what the meaning was.

"I was surprised to see you performing the dance of Kismet," Cavan said to me after I stepped down off of the dais. The crowd had already begun seating themselves, with large helpings of steaming food. Musicians now occupied the stage, playing songs that filled the atmosphere with a feeling of celebration.

"Kismet…" I trailed off, not sure what the dancer meant.

He smiled at me, a genuine 'I know something you don't know' smile and glanced at Evelyn who was a few feet from us. The leader was dancing around her pair bond with flowing scarves. Cavan replied, "Kismet means destiny, my Lady," Cavan answered, his eyes shadowing amusement though he did his best to hide it. "It is a dance one performs normally for a perspective mate," he finished. "Or the search for one."

And yet again, the blush rose to my face before I could stop it—was that to be a mandate with young Avian monarchs now? Evelyn had taught me a dance of love. Why? To choose a mate? I was only fourteen! And though matches were generally made at birth so the pair would grow up together and learn to love each other, I had never had one chosen for me.

"Evelyn didn't tell you, did she?" He asked, slight surprise and amusement in his question.

I shook my head, forcing my face to cool. Why had none of the other dancers said anything while I had been training? Because I had taken private lessons with Evelyn, that was why. The others had probably been just as surprised watching me tonight as I had been when Cavan had related the true meaning of the dance to me. But, had Evelyn wanted me to learn the dance so I would choose a mate…did she think I needed one? That I needed help ruling the Avians?

These new thoughts spread uncertainty through me as I excused myself from Cavan and made my way towards one of the exits lining the Market Square. I inclined my head in greeting to those I passed along the way, confident that my people wouldn't have any trouble continuing the feast without me. And if they did notice I was gone…I would just have to hope they didn't view it as a weakness. Which it wasn't. I was only running from the embarrassment of performing a dance of love without knowledge of it in front of all my people, including eight foreign Serpiente.

I was in the privacy of our first floor hallways before I stopped to rest. The stone wall was cool against my tepid bodice.

The light-headed feeling from dancing had dissipated. But something else lingered and I had a strong feeling Evelyn knew the dance would have this affect on me. I didn't feel different, just eager…restless, as if the five minutes of exercise was not enough for me, I needed to do something more.

Kismet, all right, I foresee a destiny of a sleepless night tonight, I mused wryly.

A sharp rap of a voice cutting through the dulled Festival noise made me realize I had let my eyes close. I walked towards the noise and to a hall that leeched off of the main entrance to the Market Square. The voices were just down the way, and I pressed my side up against the corner of the wall, straining my hearing to catch the conversation, all the while aware that I was dropping eaves just as Landon had a few hours earlier.