The Autumn Dances were upon them before they knew it. Hallidoria's anxiety over the event bringing strange men in the area rivaled her mother's when the village started to become a bustling hub of visitors from the Reserves and aristos from all over with Shalador roots coming home for the celebration. Strange men meant risk to the entire coven if something went wrong, and her mother being unable to control her emotions with the upheaval meant the strange men would notice them more than others. Talia offered to stay in while Hallidoria enjoyed the evening festivities, but Hallidoria declined. Her mother may not take kindly to the noise of drums and it wouldn't be fair to subject someone to her mother's possible fit.
"There is another wagon full of people coming into the square," Talia told her while peeking out of the lacy curtains. "You should go out and greet them with the others."
"And watch the new arriving women fawn all over them, no thank you," Hallidoria snorted as she tossed another log onto the fire. She may have enough money for a male servant to do the work in the household and do the basic labor she knew the males took pride in, but her mother would never trust a male in the home. Besides, she liked watching the fire.
"As members of the First Circle, we should be there to greet them," Talia sighed with a flick of her hand, closing the curtain and turned to Hallidoria with a smirk. "Or at least one of us should be."
"I vote you since Mama hasn't woken from her nap yet," Hallidoria replied, gesturing to the closed door off the parlor. The close proximity to the parlor didn't appeal to Hallidoria at first, but the room having its own bathroom made the decision for her mother. The room also contained enough room for a small couch and table, which came in handy when her mother refused to come out of her room for the first four days in their new home.
"I vote you because you are younger and you haven't been out of this house in the last two weeks except to go to market because you refuse to hire any servants," Talia insisted while taking a seat on the long couch near the fire with a grin. "Which I haven't heard the end of every time I go over to the Queen's Residence to help Mirana with something. Do you have any idea how much I get fussed at for not having servants to take care of us?"
"Prince Alec can fuck himself," Hallidoria grumbled with another toss of the log on the fire.
"Oh, it isn't him," Talia chuckled as she lay back and put her feet up. "Burle and Mrs. Burle inform me daily what a disgrace it would be for them if other servants found out they allowed for members of the Territory Queen's First Circle to not have at least three staff members to take care of the basics. At least you allow the staff at the Queen's Residence to do our laundry."
"See, scandal avoided," Hallidoria replied, sitting in the large upright and putting her feet on the footstool while crossing her arms over her stomach with a smile. "However, since my mother doesn't like to wake up without me in the home I am here in the house. You get to go greet the males while I get to stay warm by the fire." A knock on the front door caused both women to grumble as they got back on their feet and went to answer it. The two stood side by side as Hallidoria used Craft to open the flimsy door she swore she was going to replace if she decided to stay in this home after the winter season, effectively creating a wall of power against anything behind the door. Hallidoria let out a breath she didn't know she was holding when she saw Luc and Prothvar standing there. They had a strange male behind them with auburn hair, Shalador green eyes, and came to just barely over Prothvar's shoulder.
"Hello gentlemen," Talia smiled while stepping forward with her hands held out in greeting. "We were just talking about Hallidoria going out to greet all the new guests arriving."
"And we decided it would be Talia who would represent us again today," Hallidoria replied with a smirk as she took a step back. "It is so good of you to come and fetch her now. We didn't even have to call for an escort."
"Oh no little witchling," Luc barked, grinning as he and Prothvar stepped into the small entry way. "Today, both of you will be attending. If you aren't in what you wish to wear to greet the ladies and gentlemen coming to our fine town, I will give you a few moments to dress before dragging you out the door. Mirana is requesting the both of you today, and I would rather not tell her the two of you are fighting over who has to go out."
"Mama needs me to be here when she wakes," Hallidoria insisted as she backed into the parlor. "If she wakes and I am not here, she will inconsolable." The door of her mother's room opened as soon as the last word was out of her mouth, and the woman in question drifted out of the room. Hallidoria took in the limp dark hair and watery blue eyes, wistfully wishing her mama still had the bouncing dark curls and robin egg blue eyes from before her Craft was ripped from her, and watched her mama freeze at the sight of Luc and Prothvar walking into the room.
"Why are there males here?" she screeched, clutching the fabric of her shirt to her chest while backing against the wall.
"I am here to play cards," Prothvar explained while stepping forward and calling in a wooden board with a grin. "Cradle to be specific."
"Males only want to have wagers on game and not for fun," Hallidoria's mother whimpered as she inched her way toward her room. "The stakes are always high when males want to play."
"I mean, I was going to use these as wagers," Prothvar replied, calling in a large jar of candy Hallidoria noticed her mother look at the one time Hallidoria managed to get her out of the house. The owner of the candy shop offered to give it to them as a welcome present to a member of the First Circle, but Hallidoria's mother chose that moment to have an attack and the two of them left the store with a written apology to the owner the next day delivered by Prothvar while Hallidoria spent the day pouring tonics down her mother's throat.
"Sweets?" her mother whispered with another step towards the door. "Men always wants the sweets, especially the one between the thighs. I won't buy it. I don't want to give you my sweets."
"But these are mine, Lady Carol," Prothvar soothed while using Craft to float the board and jar of candy to the large coffee table near the fire. "You have to take my sweets from me. Win them really. I heard you were a real card shark back in the day. Come on, just a few games?" Hallidoria watched her mother battle against herself, and wanted to cheerfully throttle the Eyrien for his bold as brass attitude in assuming he could just waltz in and-
"Do I get first turn?" Lady Carol finally said as she inched forward with trepidation.
"Oh, but of course," Prothvar insisted, calling in a pack of cards and using craft to shuffle them. "I wouldn't dream of depriving you the privilege of going first." Hallidoria stared in shocked as her mother took the high back seat with wary eyes as a box appeared on the table. Luc tugged on Hallidoria's arm as Lady Carol opened the box and started to set the pieces on the board. Talia helped Luc maneuver the young woman out of the parlor and up the stairs to her rooms. Hallidoria could barely keep her wits about her as Talia helped her pick out an outfit and helped her do her hair in a simple braid and circle it around the crown of her head. Long hair had the advantages for wonderful hairstyles, but didn't have a great advantage of being a handhold for men who thought it would be easy to take advantage of her. After one incident while visiting a Queen's court who no longer walked the realms which ended up with a blast of her Sapphire Jewel to his genitals and a long investigation into the type of court the Queen ran since the man served in the First Circle, Hallidoria preferred to have her hair up when around strange males to prevent an incident like it happening again.
"One day, I will make you wear your hair down to make all the men drool," Talia chuckled with a pat of her hands on the finished braid crown.
"Not likely," Hallidoria snorted as she stood and walked of the room to a smiling Luc.
"Give me a few moments," Talia told the two while walking past into her own room.
"We will wait for you outside," Luc replied, wrapping his hand around Hallidoria's upper arm and dragging her back down the stairs.
"I need-"
"Prothvar has your mother suitably distracted for the rest of the day," Luc interrupted while shoving her out the front door.
"And if he does not do well, there are a few Healers from the mountains who have been made aware of her condition and will come help with her," the green-eyed, red headed man explained with a nod to a crowd of women outside of The Healing House. "There will be three Healers on stand by in the house at all times, along with several men serving as patrol throughout the night so if your mother does have any issues there will be help."
"Males handling her will upset her," Hallidoria protested as Luc dragged her off the porch.
"Darling, we understand you want to take care of your mother, but enjoy yourself for one day without worrying about her," Luc sighed, stopping at the edge of main street with a nod to the red headed man. "This is Robert. Do me a favor and not murder my cousin for going along with me on this. I will go back inside and check on Talia." Luc disappeared back into the house without waiting for an answer.
"I'd make excuses for my cousin, but there really isn't any excuse for him," Robert chuckled while jerking a thumb to the house. "My wife isn't too fond of his bossiness either. Been a while since you have been around a Warlord Prince for a long period I take it?"
"The only male I have had in my life since my father walked out the door is the merchant who delivered our supplies until recently," Hallidoria muttered as she looked at the people milling about the streets and greeting each other with familiarity. Her heart ached at the sight of the women walking without fear of the men and how they allowed the males to approach without a care. Memories of the times before, when her mother had her Craft and didn't panic at the sight of strange males, turned over in her head as another carriage of people pulled into the square. "Though I am sure more males will come into our lives I am sure once this weekend if over and the contracts for the last few males for the First Circle are found."
"Mirana doubts she will find anyone else to serve in order for her to have a First Circle so soon," Robert sighed while waving over a young woman with auburn hair and gold eyes.
"Sure," Hallidoria snorted with a glance back to the house to make sure Luc wasn't around to hear. "Let's try to all fool ourselves she won't find the ones she needs to complete her circle this celebration. We have Winsol in a few weeks, and with all the parties and events she must attend as "potential" Territory Queen will be enough interaction with males unable to attend today's festivities to help finish up her choices, which might even include a Consort."
"Lady Hallidoria, may I introduce my eldest Lady Nadine," Robert said, gesturing to the young woman at his side.
"A pleasure to meet you," the young woman replied with palm-up outstretched hands toward Hallidoria and a smile.
"Well met," Hallidoria told Nadine as she placed her hands over the young woman's, taking note of the Tiger's Eye Jewel around Nadine's neck.
"Now we are all here," Luc boomed from behind Hallidoria, pulling the group's attention to the closing door with Talia and Luc now standing on the stoop. "How about we head over to the park for the picnic lunch?"
"This is going to be so much fun," Nadine giggled as she latched her hand around Hallidoria's wrist and pulled her toward the square. "This is the first year Papa is allowing me to stay for the Fire Dance, and I am super excited to see what all the fuss is about."
"I'm not," Robert snarled from behind Hallidoria, which sent all the females in the group into peals of laughter and relaxed Hallidoria enough to enjoy the walk to the park without thoughts of her mother's condition dominating her mind.
Jolin stumbled out onto the terrace, grateful for the cool air on her skin and lack of people milling about to gather her thoughts. It seemed to be a good idea at the time to schedule a gathering to have the Queens, Warlord Princes, and other aristos from Shalador Nehele and Dena Nehele who did not receive an invite to the Autumn Dances to gain favor with them to replace Mirana the Bitch as the Territory Queen. Unther insisted she invite some of the more local rulers and aristos to keep favor in the District, which she grudgingly did when she saw how many of the Matrons had friends on the guest list. The Matrons had been her best allies over the last couple of weeks when she wanted to have backing for an idea she came up with or found something she wanted to do. She learned quick if she had a couple of the older women in her corner Unther would let her idea have at least a trial stage to placate her and the others who thought the idea had merit. Those women would be her biggest ally in the coming weeks when Winsol came around and she wanted to travel to visit her brother, which would put her in Shalador Nehele and in Prince Grayhaven's sights.
Leaning against the stone railing and looking over the bare garden with a huff, she lamented how she could not pull her brother from Mirana the Bitch's clutches for her own court. The men in her circle now were decent enough fellows, more than decent if she wanted to be fair about it. Jeremy and his wife made her afternoon's full of joy since the two of them were closer to her age and knew the same rules for the card games she enjoyed. Their three children also made great companions for Lavender, whose Grandfather avoid Jolin at every event and didn't come to her for any reason since the moment he moved into Moonbright Manor. The other men took suites near hers, their children who were nursery age put into the nursery while the older children were given conjoining suites with their parents. Her shock at the amount of children in the nursery didn't compare to the shock of suddenly having to hire more staff to cover the sudden influx of people into the the manor. She didn't know the children would need their own staff, but the amount of money her skirt creations along with the sudden find of a large vein of silver in the mines made the hiring much easier on the court purse.
The amount of money coming into the court didn't make being a District Queen any less hurtful than not being a Territory Queen. None of the letters she sent to the Elders Council in Shalador Nehele with questions as to when she might take over as Territory Queen have been answered, nor did any of the letters she sent to her brother. Her "friends" from back home wanted answers, and without any she could kiss any chances of keeping what littler aristo lifestyle she had back home when she finally left here. She had toyed with staying when she saw how many aristos and rulers came to the party, but after spending time with them the thought didn't have much appeal. The Queens who approached her made polite comments with unspoken insults underneath about how unseasoned she was to be a Queen of a whole District, the Warlord Princes seemed more interested in when she would be choosing her Consort and what his compensation might be, and the aristos…
Jolin snorted in disgust when she thought of the aristos she had a "pleasure" of meeting seemed to only care about one thing: when she would start lowering the tithes on them and raising them on the Landens and lower class. "After all," a male aristo she forgot the name of thankfully and would never be having back at the manor again if she had anything to do with it laughed while sipping on wine, "why should we have to pay so much in tithes when they could be paying the same percentage as us and cut our share down? It would give us more to spend on their goods and we would have more pleasure in life." The thought process he had seemed to be a good idea in theory, but how could it help the lower class if the money they earned would be tithed at a much higher rate? It didn't seem to make much sense the more Jolin thought about it, but didn't have much time to think about it further before she was pulled away by Lady Nell to meet some other males. Lady Nell was one of the few women Jolin wanted to have back at the manor for Winsol, especially when Nell told Jolin about how she had been passed over for the Territory Queen position despite having several years experience ruling in Shalador Nehele. Jolin wanted to rule Shalador Nehele herself, but she could respect the position going to another woman with more experience, especially if Jolin could be part of the First Circle and become the Territory Queen herself once Prince Grayhaven took her as a lover and convinced the others to give the title of Queen of Shalador Nehele.
Another song started up in the ballroom, which rose her ire again at the thought of how she should be at the Autumn Dances by invitation as a relation of a member of the First Circle. The cut would be obvious to the aristos and other rulers in the area. Why should they allow a ruler who did not carry favor with her brother rule anything more important than a District? Her entire term here as Queen would now be spent trying to assure them she would be a great Queen, as well as try to repair the relationship with her brother the rift of being so far apart has caused.
"I see another person has taken refuge from the hot house the ballroom has become," an older woman gasped as she waved her hand at her face and walked over to the stone railing, red-faced and beads of sweat on her forehead. "I always loved the ballroom here, but Mother Night I had forgotten how hot it became with so many people in the room."
"I will have to make sure to have modifications for more ventilation," Jolin replied with a glance back at the ballroom. She could not keep the sneer from her lips as one of the "Ladies" who asked when she would allow for the other Queens to sample the "pleasure" of her court once it was officially hers. "Or maybe perhaps less people."
"There are quite a few Ladies who are usually not invited to events here tonight," the older woman sighed, leaning on the stone railing and pressing her forehead to the cool stone. "And while I commend you for being kind enough to look past their more sinister qualities to garner favor with them as a new District Queen by having them for the large public meet and greet, might I suggest not inviting them to your more intimate gatherings? Unther could probably tell you the ones, or I know one of the younger Queens who I love having around can help if you like."
"I'm sorry, I have met so many people this evening I have completely forgotten your name," Jolin asked while turning to the woman with a smile.
"There is no need to apologize," the woman replied with a smile as she straightened up and turned to Jolin. "With as many people here, I wouldn't remember my own name if I hadn't met a most of the women present. I am Lady Phillipa, Providence Queen of Gold Spring."
"Oh Hell's Fire," Jolin huffed as she slapped a hand to her forehead. "Your the Queen of my Providence and I couldn't remember you name. Great first impression."
"Like I told you, there are a lot of people here," Lady Phillipa chuckled, patting Jolin's arm and shaking her head. "I am impressed you made it as long as you did in that room before coming out to escape. Your males have been hovering over you like a child and not even giving you a chance to breath or eat. Combine all of that with the heat in the room, and it makes for a terrible experience for anyone. My first Court did the same, so I can tell you a few pointers to tactfully get the Hell out of your face and give you some peace."
"I would most appreciate it," Jolin sighed while tipping her head back to enjoy the breeze washing over the terrace. "I will also take you up on your offer to help me pair down the list to keep the ball room at a more tolerable temperature."
"Back in the day, the fashion to carry a fan to help keep your face cool while hiding your face helped some, but they fell out of fashion centuries ago," Lady Phillipa told Jolin as she turned into the breeze and tipped her head back as well. "They also had the side benefit of keeping your mouth hidden so enterprising men or scheming rival women can't read your lips to use something you want kept private against you."
"Those sound useful," Jolin replied with a deep inhale through her nose. She blinked when she remembered something she found sorting through the attics a few weeks ago, and lowered her head to study Lady Phillipa with a thought sent to Frank, the young footman she promoted to her personal butler when she noticed how efficient the young man worked as well as how much the rest of the staff respected him and came to him when they needed something. Jolin also appreciated the tact the young man had when approaching her with delicate information Jolin needed to know about household staff. "Lady Phillipa, did you say you were a guest here at Moonbright when you were younger?"
"Only until Unther's grandmother allowed the creeping vines of Dorthea's poison to take over the land," Lady Phillipa informed Jolin as she leaned her hip against the terrace railing with a smirk. "You should ask Unther about his sister, the piece of work who would have a been an amazing Queen if the bitches under Dorthea's thumb didn't poison her like they did." A box appeared on the railing next to Jolin, and Jolin looked over at the ballroom to see Frank blending back into the crowd.
"I found these while looking through the attics," Jolin explained while using Craft to float the box in mid-air and her hand to open the lid. "I couldn't figure out why they were-"
"This one is mine!" Lady Phillipa laughed, reaching in the box and taking out a fan of black metal with rubies dotting the slats of the fan. Lady Phillipa flicked her wrist and the fan opened to expose the picture of a red bird on the pink background with various gemstones accenting the features. She gave the fan a test wave, causing the little tag on the string to wiggle in the air enough to catch Jolin's eye to see Phillipa's name along with a date on the little white card. "I lost this in a card game to Unther's sister."
"Yours isn't the only one in the box with a label," Jolin informed the older woman as she picked out another fan, this one with dark wood slats and white stones on the fabric, and looked at the label. "Is Lady Zelphia here this evening?"
"I am afraid she died in the Purge," Lady Phillipa sighed with a peak in the box. "There might be some more in here for the women present tonight though. Unther's sister had a particular fetish for collecting personal objects, and often cheated at cards to get a fan or hair pin, among other things a woman cared for."
"I see," Jolin replied while giving the terrace doors a glance out of the corner of her eye and seeing Stephen passing by the doorway with a pointed look in her direction.
"They have all been doing that for the past ten minutes," Lady Phillipa mused, closing the fan with another flick of her wrist and a sniff. "They really should learn to be more discreet. Then again, it has been a while since they have had a Queen they care about enough to watch. The last District Queen ended up being more of a formality than a Queen. She often complained to me at the quarterly meetings about how the men did things without her permission or fulfilled promises she didn't remember making. I didn't have the heart to tell her the men found out she already had another contract lined up for a Providence once the five years was up and they felt her dedication to their people wasn't genuine. You know, the one decent Queen they did have in Stargrove after the Purge ended up serving seventy-five years. She is the reason they started to try having Queens again and why they attend the Presentation every year when they don't have a Queen. Sometimes when they don't for a Healer or Black Widow too, but I heard those stumbled into the court for you. Do you have any idea how impressive it is to have a Healer and Black Widow from Shalador Nehele? Many of my friends who wanted to attend this evening who didn't get an invitation are salivating over the chance to meet you."
"Maybe I can have an informal gathering before Winsol, to help me go through the decorations to see what I do and don't want to use," Jolin said as Constantine passed by the doorway.
"How about the two of us go inside before they drag us in?" Lady Phillipa sniffed.
"Or they send Prince Krakel out to fetch me," Jolin muttered while putting the hand fan back in the box. She had the lid halfway closed when something clicked in her head. "Lady Phillipa, would you like to help me pass out these fans to the women present? They will do no good sitting around in the storage rooms, and I am sure with that many people in the ballroom the hand fans would be appreciated."
"And we can pass out the hand fans who no longer have any owners," Lady Phillipa smiled with a flick of her wrist to open her fan once more, putting the fan in front of her mouth and smirking. "It will also make your males irritated they can't read your lips and give pay back for them being over protective." Jolin took the box in her hands and walked side by side with Lady Phillipa, thinking over all the ways gifting these antiques could benefit her and her chances at becoming Shalador Nehele's Territory Queen.
"The dances are about to begin," Lord Blade shouted over the screaming children running away from Scelties. Mirana didn't understand exactly the point of the game Cows and sheep, though by the looks of the children and their flagging energy it was a game intended to wear the children out before dinner so they would sleep through the night. With the excitement of the day Mirana didn't doubt a mother suggested the game to help the children be easier to put down after they were dismissed from the dances after their portion was done. Tatiana, the woman who ran The Lady's Pleasure, said the children and young adults who were too young for the final dance would be sent to her place with sight shields around the area to protect their young sensibilities. The entire female population of Shalador Nehele hinted at how the Fire Dance had to be seen to be believed, and every time Mirana questioned someone about Fire Dance she was given a wink or a gentle shove out the door of whatever shop she was visiting.
"Just prepare yourself for a show unlike any other," Lady Rhina chortled over the mixing table the day before as all the healers from various Providences created herbal mixtures to combat the hungover people following tonight's festivities. Marilyn and Mirana looked at each other with confusion, which only made the other women laugh harder. Mirana tried to ask Jared about the Fire Dance, but his furious blush and quick excuse told her the other men wouldn't give her a hint about the Fire Dance either.
"Come along Lady," Lord Blade chuckled while taking her hand and putting it in the crook of his arm. "I shall escort you to The Dance myself. After all, we don't want our Lady missing her first Autumn Dance."
"I am very excited to see what everyone has been talking about," Mirana replied as she allowed him to lead her toward The Dance.
"I heard you have been asking a lot of questions about our dances," Lord Blade informed with a side-eyed look. "Jared came to me and drank a whole canter of wine to get get over the embarrassment of you asking him to explain the Fire Dance."
"No one else would fucking tell me," Mirana muttered under her breath, sending Lord Blade into a fit of laughter so hard he had to hand Mirana off to Yarek when he came by Mirana had a sneaking suspicion it wasn't a coincidence Yarek was so close, but she took his arm and allowed him to lead her the rest of the way to The Dance. Once seated, Marilyn came over with Paulina and sat on Mirana's right while a couple Providence Queens came to sit on her left, along with a group of young women Mirana hadn't had the chance to meet with the events and festivities packing her days. It came to no surprise when the Providence Queen next to her introduced the group as young Queens, Black Widows, and Healers in training, thought the information the young women wanted to apply to train in her Third Circle when it became open did surprise Mirana since she didn't even have a First Circle at this point. Lord Richard had mentioned in passing several applicants for possible Second Circle had come to him, it never occurred to Mirana the interest in serving a first time Queen would be this significant even with her Jewel strength.
"And now, we shall begin the dances!" Lord Blade boomed over the large crowd, who cheered in response and called in their instruments of choice. Mirana called in the drum she was gifted this morning by the local Landens. Luc explained the Landens were welcome to the celebration, and even participated in a few of the dances created especially for them to celebrate with the Blood.
"The Rose Queen saw the gift the Landens were to the Blood, and she always made sure to include them in the building of what is now Shalador Nehele," Luc told Mirana over her weekly tea with the males in what she assumed would be her First Circle if she could somehow manage to scrounge up the other four she needed to complete it. "It took nearly a decade to build the trust to invite them to the Autumn Dances, then another couple of decades to create the dances they performed with us as well as allowed the youngsters in the Boy's Dance since boys from both sides didn't understand why they couldn't dance together. The benefit of them coming to the dances as well as the trust built by the Rose Queen laid the foundation of the community we have today."
"Remember to keep with the very basic rhythm you were taught," Paulina shouted over the cheers. *And don't try to impress others by doing a more complex rhythm I know you have been trying the past week. No one will think less of you if you aren't able to keep up with the others.* Mirana sent a vicious poke on the distaff thread, causing Paulina to snort and break the connection. Between Paulina, Marilyn, and herself, the three of them could have handle a more complex rhythm, but because they didn't have the experience some of the other women had they were regulated to the basic rhythm laying down the base for the harder parts of the songs. Mirana didn't want to admit it hurt when Lady Flora of the Nightwood Providence gave Mirana the smuggest look while rehearsing yesterday, her hands flying over the drum with ease while Mirana struggled to keep in time with the most basic rhythm. Rumor had it Lady Flora also had her eye on Prince Luc Grayhaven, and the two of them had a brief liaison over a summer right after she had her Virgin Night. Thoughts of the two of them being official made Mirana's stomach churn, so she focused on the opening rituals. Her hands drummed the more simple rhythm, and noted the Providence Queen beside her also kept with the simple, basic rhythm.
"Figured you three might need a guide," she laughed, her hands flying across the drum with ease as the Priestess spread the blood given by the women present from the silver chalice in the circle. Once the Priestess had every male in the circle, other instruments besides the drums started to play, and the Wisdom Dance began. The Elder males turned and spun, showing the grace of older age while still exuding power. Mirana could feel their power washing over her, entrancing her senses and drawing her focus to the circle. The focus got lost completely with the first steps of The Boys' Dance.
"Oh Mother Night," Marilyn barked as she fell off her stool into a fit of laughter not thirty seconds into the "dance", if one could call the jumping and running around the boys were doing a dance. Mirana laughed along with everyone else and drummed the rhythm for the few boys who actually were doing the steps of the dance while the rest of the boys did what they thought was a dance, much to the embarrassment and amusement of parents of both sex present. The older men managed to corral the boys off to the side with the help of a few Scelties so the Youths' Dance could begin. Mirana didn't know the name of the young men in the dance, but the way they performed the dance ended up being quite brilliant. There were a few of the young men who took the steps with serious focus, while a few of the others in strategically placed areas through out the circle did an added step here, a flourish of their hands there, and even made faces at some of the moves. The young women present giggled while the women around Mirana's age and older gave each other knowing looks.
*It is a tradition of the young men to help set the young women at ease, to protect them from foolish mistakes* the Providence Queen beside her sent along a Green thread. *One of the Rose Queen's young men she trained found it helped put everyones' mind at ease if a little bit of a joke ended up in the dance, which the Elder approved of as long as they didn't get carried away and destroy the dance entirely.*
*A very smart choice* Mirana sent back while watching the young men leave the circle. The crowd started to move, young men and women not old enough to have made their Offering or through their Virgin Night if they were female grabbing the hands of children as smaller drums were vanished and replaced with bigger drums. Mirana leaned over to the Providence Queen with an apologetic smile. "I have forgotten your name. What is it again?"
"We haven't met officially yet," the woman laughed.
"I remember you being introduced as a Providence Queen," Mirana admitted sheepishly with a shrug.
"My contract ends in a month, so I am not their Queen for much longer," the women sighed as she called in her own large drum. "I am Lady Germaine of Nightwood. My granddaughter Flora is slotted to take my place." A loud thump sounded before Mirana could reply, drawing her attention to the circle of men. Her eyes widened at the sight of naked males in the circle, and widened even more at the fierce look in Luc's eyes as he stared her down from across the circle. Her hands shook while trying to drum the simple rhythm with the rest of the group as she watched the spinning and grinding Fire Dance. Sweaty skin glistened in the fire light as the Jewels glittered around the males necks while they showed the people present the fire inside of their souls. Mirana understood why the women and men wouldn't tell her what the Fire Dance was, because you did have to see it to believe it. The grinding, sexual power couldn't be told in just words. Her heart skipped a beat every time she saw Luc's face, who managed to lock eyes with her on every spin and whirl. The music stopped without warning and Mirana's drum dropped to the ground as she shot to her feet. Luc stood on the other side of the circle, his shoulders rising with every breath he took. One by one, the men exited the circle to be welcomed into a woman's open arms. Mirana debated in her head what would happen if Luc walked toward her, if he made it know he wanted to be invited into her bed. Her heart pounded as she watched Luc walk towards her, his eyes glittering with emotion and staring her down. Men moved out of his path when he got close, and even stopped their walk toward the woman they wanted when Luc crossed their path. Mirana admired the restraint of the males for a brief moment as Luc made it to the edge of the circle, watching the other males move around him and avoid interrupting Luc's gaze on her.
"Mine," Lady Flora hissed in Mirana's ear, stepping in front of her just as Luc stepped out of the circle. Lady Flora embraced Luc when he reached her, pressing her lips to his and threading her hands in his hair. Mirana swallowed hard when Luc began to kiss Lady Flora back, and turn away when his hands gripped Lady Flora's hips.
"Come along dear," Lady Germaine soothed while wrapping an arm around Mirana's shoulders. "Let's you and I go have a nice strong drink."
"I don't-"
"Trust me," Lady Germaine insisted as she pulled Mirana away from everyone. "You and I will go have a strong drinks with a few other women who I think you should meet." Mirana didn't protest further, allowing Lady Germaine to guide her toward The Queen's Residence without looking back.
Unther looked on as Jolin conversed with a large group of women he had hoped she would associate with instead of some of the others who she wanted to have, and found pleasure in the occasional glance over the purple fan with orange gemstones she was using to keep cool. The accessory added some mystery to his lady's face, and also added a level of flirting from what he could see around the ballroom when a woman who Jolin gifted a fan was approach by a male. From the reception of the gift his lady handed out to the women present, he wondered why the hand fans fell out of fashion.
"Unther," Lady Phillipa scolded with a sharp rap on his knuckles. He hissed and shook out his hand as he looked over to see one of his oldest friends flicking open a hand fan, and remembered now why the probably fell out of fashion. The amount of times one of those fans slapped an arm and hand probably made the males influence them out of fashion as self-preservation. The sting of his knuckles turned into a solid throbbing as Lady Phillipa's lips curled into a coy smile. "You are so busy watching your young Queen you haven't heard a word I have said."
"Apologies," Unther sighed while rubbing his hand and glaring at the fan. "Do I want to know where she found those?"
"Nope," Lady Phillipa smirked as she nodded in Jolin's direction. "If you had paid attention, you would have heard me singing the praises of her character and how lovely she is. Much better than some of the other Queen's you have brought in."
"She is on her best behavior today," Unther grumbled, sending Lady Phillipa into a fit of giggles.
"Oh, I would say so, but you and I know how well you can handle a young Queen on her worst behavior," Lady Phillipa gasped after a moment. "Remember Bitch Queen Nigella?" Oh how he remembered Bitch Queen Nigella. She was a crafty little minx. Her behavior fooled even the oldest Elder and Matrons, putting the entire District behind her when it came time for her to have a contract renewal and everyone agreed to a five-year term. The ink wasn't even dry when she demanded Rings of Obedience be made for her First Circle. His shock over that demand didn't compare to the shock she wanted to have all Black Widows brought to her and watch as a male broke each Black Widow until "his satisfaction" was reached.
When he handed her over to the High Council in Hayll, the relief he and the others felt almost rivaled the feeling of joy after everyone realized The Purge destroyed the tainted Blood.
"Tell me, do you think she is a good Queen?" Unther asked while Jolin maneuvered through the crowd with a few words to each person she passed by.
"If she wasn't, I wouldn't have take her up on the invitation to come by next week for afternoon tea," Lady Phillipa replied as Jolin approached with a smile on her face.
"Lord Unther," Jolin chirped from behind her fan with fluttering eyelashes. "I have just had the most wonderful idea."
"Oh, do tell Lady Jolin, for I am sure I want to know as well," Lady Phillipa said, stepping to stand beside Jolin and looping her arm through the young Queen's arm while Unther braced himself for the "suggestion" his Queen would be making. He learned quickly the words "I have just had the most wonderful idea" were a slippery slope into another money making scheme his darling witchling would want to do. It wouldn't be so problematic for him if her ideas didn't work, because he could just fob her off and explain they didn't have the resources to continue to try and make her more money for her purse. However, her ideas ended up being successes, spectacular successes to the point the village treasury now had almost double the amount of money it had before in just a short time thanks to her skirts, the new play she insisted the children perform written by an amateur playwright which turned into an overnight success, and the reselling of antiques and furniture the court no longer had a need or want for.
"You told me how there were several gemstones not usable for jewelry due to flaws and color," Jolin continued with a grin. "However, instead of just tossing them what if we used them to make more of these fans instead? I could gift a few to some of the other Queens, but we could also sell them and if we got quite a few of them made before Winsol they could go into shops for the holiday season."
"I love this idea," Lady Phillipa gasped as she waved her fan in Unther's direction. "You must work out all the details and make this happen. I know several of my friends who will want one, several in fact, and I would like to place an order for gifts as soon as possible."
"Consider it done," Unther sputtered while grabbing a drink off a passing serving tray and draining it in one gulp.
"Excellent!" Lady Phillipa proclaimed as she turned Jolin around and proceeded to lead her away from Unther with the words, "There is someone I must introduce you to my dear. He is all the rage in Chaillot in certain circles for his painting. Perhaps we can convince him to do some work on the silk for the fans." Unther took the entire tray from the server and set it nearby, removing a glass once the tray was settled and turning to watch his lady and Phillipa talk with a young man. They soon presented what seemed to be another fan Jolin must have hidden somewhere as two women nodded enthusiastically at the young man's responses.
"Our lady seems to be enjoying herself this evening," Prince Xavier sighed, coming up to Unther with a smirk and a jerk of his finger. "Unfortunately, we have another lady who is having a not so wholesome bit of fun, and I was told you were the one to help me take care of it."
"Coming," Unther sighed with a tip of the glass in his hand, swallowing the contents with a grimace. He set the empty glass on the tray and picked up another full one before following Xavier through the crowd and out the ballroom doors. He had a feeling he was going to need it.
Author's Note: I promised myself I would try to do more on Mirana than I have been in this chapter, but other people have been calling to me for a long time in this part of the story. I am just letting my muse write itself out while trying to gently shape the ideas I have to the conclusion I have been writing towards over the past few years.
Once again, I thank you for the support all of you have shown me and continue to show with every chapter I have up. Every encouragement and word of praise helps me think I am a good writer and I am glad to entertain all of you. Please let me know how you feel about the chapter and happy reading!