Page 87 of Kingdom of Embers and Ruin

Maude’s fingertips danced with her fire.

The dances, the savagely polite conversation, the gowns, the excess in everything from jewels to food.

Maude missed the small rooftops of Logi, where she had felt free and watched only by the moon and the stars every night. Going through the breathing exercises Gunnar had taught her when they had been traveling, Maude tried to imagine she was still just a pit fighter.

Breathing in through her nose, she went through all the phases of grounding herself. Choosing the music to grasp onto, Maude centered herself on the melody and how it made her feel. The pianist was gently moving through a slow composition; the rapid and leisurely notes brought to life by each hand blending into a heartbreaking tragedy that allowed Maude to slip back into herself. Feeling her fire dim, Maude looked out to where the dancers were and felt the music move through her as the melody ended.

The last of the dancers had begun preparing for the final dance of the night, causing Maude to feel a tiny spark of jealousy ignite in her. The last dance was always a fast-paced movement that she had loved to be a part of; the group moving in time with each other like a live beating heart. She had declined every offer to dance tonight, uncomfortable with the thought of a stranger's hands on her body in this foreign kingdom. The memory of solid and callused hands running over her waist and under her thighs flashed in her mind quickly before she banished the thoughts. Continuing her slow advance through the guests, her eyes returned to the dancers.

Maybe she was a little disappointed that she hadn’t gotten to dance once tonight. Her gown looked best when she was spinning, as the Royal Seamstress had explained to her, having made her spin in place, much to Maude’s annoyance. She had helped the Royal Seamstress design her gown, wanting it to be as strong as she was but also show a more feminine side she never got to reveal anymore. The tight leather bodice fit her perfectly, accenting the flames on her arms in a tasteful way, while the skirts flowed around her like she was wreathed in starlight.

The slit up her leg had been her idea, allowing her long legs to occasionally be on display while also allowing her to strap her dagger to her thigh in a way that was easy to reach. The slit also allowed her full range of motion should she need to move quickly tonight or fight. In her case, the latter was possible only because she tended to aggravate most people just by being herself. Herrick could attest to that.

The air stirred behind her, Maude sensing him before he spoke. His scent of rain-soaked earth hovered behind her shoulder. Strong hands reached out and brushed her long hair aside, revealing the long oval-shaped slit that started at the back of her neck and ended at the small of her back.

Gyda had wanted to pin Maude’s hair behind her head to expose the back of the gown, but Maude had been a coward and told them to leave her hair down instead.

Herrick's fingers traced the phases of the moon inked on her spine. His touch was soft as he followed their path down to where the opening in the back of the bodice met again.

He spoke quietly in her ear, “Dance with me.”

Maude swallowed and controlled her voice before answering. “No.”

“Because it’s me?” he asked, moving to stand at her side.

“I don’t have to give you a reason,” Maude said, keeping her voice even.

“Of course not, but you’re staring at the dancers with such yearning, I can’t allow you to stay put any longer,” Herrick said, his charming smile sliding into place as he faced her.

“I don’t yearn to dance,” Maude grumbled.

“I disagree. I know you,minn eldr,” Herrick said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the last dance of the night.

Herrick placed his hand on her waist, pulling her close as he adjusted his grip on her hand. Maude gripped his shoulder as he began leading them into dance, a chaotic and sensual number requiring close contact and fast movement.

Having always had trouble with allowing her partner to lead, Maude often stepped on Herrick’s feet in her unconscious attempt to control their movements. To Maude’s great surprise, Herrick adjusted to her pace and allowed her to steer their movements. The complex plucking of the musicians' strings moved the dancers into a frenzy, the overlying passionate melody providing freedom in movement that kindled a fire inside Maude as she moved with Herrick. They were beginning to circle toward the gardens the ballroom opened into.

“You don’t really know me, though, Herrick,” Maude said, keeping her eyes facing forward.

She could feel the corner of his mouth brush hers with how close they were required to stand for this dance.

The couples circling each other in the dance all stopped moving at once as the music halted for a moment. Maude, forgetting the next part in her distraction, almost yelped when Herrick moved his hand down her side to grip her thigh that was exposed by the slit in her dress. In one fluid movement, he brought her knee up around his hip and gripped her tighter to lift her slightly off the ground.

As one, the dancers spun with their partners held in their grip.

Herrick completed the turn, gently placing Maude back on the floor before he grasped her hand once more. Remembering the next steps now, Maude raised her arm, which was in Herrick's grip, and allowed him to spin her once before putting her back to his front. Herrick’s hands wound their way around Maude, and they began to move in time again to the rhythm that had become impossibly faster than before.

“I think I know you better than you realize,” he responded, his breath grazing her ear. “I know you pretend to have a disdain for events like this but enjoyed dressing yourself as calculated as you would have for a battle.”

Maude allowed herself to be spun once by Herrick, facing him again, his expert timing taking over her control.

She let it slip from her grasp.

Along with the other dancers, they weaved through the ballroom to the fast-paced music.

“I know that you are armed at this moment,” Herrick continued.

Herrick began to lead their movement as he dipped her. Maude’s hair spilled out from underneath her, creating a waterfall the color of deep red wine. Instinct had her kick her knee up again to brace herself against Herrick. He ran his hand down her side again and down her thigh, moving upward when his calloused palms met skin. She was about to protest when he reached for her dagger strapped to her thigh, running his thumb under the band that kept her knife in place toward her center. Maude shivered.

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