Page 48 of Song of the Dragon Rider
“Yes,” he interrupted. “But this is not the place nor the time to discuss it. But I am aware of what happened, Lady Arya.” He placed a hand on my shoulder and gently squeezed. “Don’t fret, my lady. Everything will be okay.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
I felt stupid responding with a simpleokay, but if the thousand-year-old dragon said everything would be okay, then I guess everything was under control. Maybe it was naïve to think that way, but it provided much-needed solace.
“Care for a dance?” Royal Prince Bai motioned to the dance floor where the string quartet was playing again. This time, without a singer.
I chuckled awkwardly. “Uh… me? Dance? I don’t know, Your Highness. I’m more of a salsa and merengue sort of gal, or possibly a bachata here and there. But this?” I pointed to the musicians. “This isn’t really my jam.”
He frowned. “Pardon; what did you say? Mereng—what?”
By the confused look on his face, I realized I was quite literally talking in a foreign language. I waved off his confusion. “Ignore me, Your Highness. I tend to ramble nonsense when I’m nervous,” I said quickly. “But sure, let’s dance. But fair warning … if I step on your toes, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“I wouldn’t dare, my lady.” He chuckled and extended his elbow for me to take.
I hooked my hand in the crook of his elbow and let him lead me to the dance floor. As the crowd parted for us, I heard the rising whispers and saw fingers pointing at us. From what Maeve had told me, Royal Prince Bai was generally a private person, so I could imagine this little spectacle was quite shocking to those who knew him.
He grasped one hand and gently placed his other hand around my waist. Taking his cue, I placed my free hand on his shoulder and we glided across the dance floor to the gentle rhythm.
At first, I avoided his gaze. His steely eyes appeared unsettlingly all-knowing, and his shrewdness was accentuated by his shoulder-length, salt-and-pepper hair and bushy white eyebrows. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and laugh lines spoke of countless years of experience, but he stood tall and refined. His posture was straight and his presence commanding, exuding an air of wisdom that could only come from centuries of life.
“Are you nervous around me, my lady?” he asked with a knowing look.
I rolled my eyes to offset my obvious nerves. “Pfft,” I scoffed. “No.”
He nodded and barely restrained a grin. “My mistake.”
I cleared my throat. “I’m just a terrible dancer. I’m concentrating.”
He laughed softly, the sound barely audible over the music. “Well, you are doing admirably for someone who claims to be a terrible dancer.”
The music swelled around us, an instrumental piece that was both elegant and stirring. I tried to match my steps to his, focusing intently on the movement of his feet and taking cuesfrom the guiding pressure of his hand on my waist. “You're a good teacher,” I admitted after a particularly smooth turn that left me slightly dizzy but exhilarated.
“Thank you, but I think you give me far too much credit,” he responded, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “You are gifted with natural grace. It just needs a little... coaxing to come to the surface.”
As we continued to dance, the initial awkwardness I felt began to dissipate. The whispers around us faded into the background, drowned out by the intoxicating blend of strings and woodwinds. His steps were sure and gentle, guiding me through the dance with an ease that spoke of years of practice. As the complex melody filled the grand ballroom with rich tones, Royal Prince Bai skillfully led me through the steps, his movements seamlessly blending tradition with effortless charm.
“You seem to handle the spotlight well,” I commented, finally meeting his gaze with a more relaxed smile.
“Years of practice, my lady,” he replied. “One learns to either embrace the attention or be swallowed by it. I chose the former.”
“And yet you remain somewhat of an enigma,” I observed, curious about the man who seemed both a part of and purposely distant from courtly intrigues.
“That, I believe, is the safest way to behave in places such as this,” Royal Prince Bai admitted, his voice lowering slightly. “But tonight, it seems I am less enigmatic, thanks to you.”
“You know, I must confess,” I began, easing into the comfort of our dance, “I'm more accustomed to music where you can drop it like it’s hot, not where you politely nod to it.”
He raised an eyebrow, the corners of his lips quirking with amusement but also with a touch of confusion. “Drop it like it’s hot? Is that another term from your... extensive vernacular? Or more of your so-called nonsense?”
I nodded and laughed. “Yeah, it's what we do when the music’s good. Youdrop it like it’s hotand let loose. None of this tiptoeing around like we’re afraid to crack the marble.”
“Ah, I see,” he chuckled, his grip gentle but firm as he executed a flawless spin, bringing me back into his embrace. “Perhaps one day you’ll have to demonstrate these... less restrained dance moves.”
With a snort, I quipped, “I’d have to seriously question the palace's sound system first.” I scanned the opulent surroundings with a mock-critical eye. “Do you think these old walls could handle a bass drop?”
“I don’t know what abass dropis, but given their age, these walls have likely withstood far worse,” he replied dryly. “Though I'd wager they've never encountered someone quite like you.”
Our banter seemed to draw more attention from the surrounding guests, their curious glances turning into overt stares. But under Royal Prince Bai's composed escort, I found the scrutiny less daunting than expected.
