Chapter 69
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Across the table, Usoa watched her mother put on false smiles as visitors came to pay respects to her. They stopped at the first wife's table first, wishing her daughter good fortune and praising the honor they would bring and the continued peace between the two realms. After lavishing praise on the first family, they would come to second, moving between dancers and servers where they spent a few moments thanking her mother for sending Usoa to watch over the realm's treasure of Esti.
Usoa had known her mother her entire life and could tell when she chocked on her own anger.
She simply smiled as they passed the table, bowing their heads to her and she wondered if all the effort she had put into her dress was wasted. Porras had insisted she wear black so she had donned the sheer gown. Black with beads sewn on that twinkled like stars as she moved. Her hair she had left uncovered and Porras had pinned it back with a metal comb, letting the curls cascade down her back. She looked much different than her own family, who wore blood red, her brothers in pants with open vests, her mother and sister in gowns that mimicked fire when they moved in part from the fabric but also by the way they toyed with light in every step, a small trick that she could not duplicate.
Around her the wide dining hall filled with similar tricks. An animal that could not exist there, sparks of flowers, twinkles of shapes and parts that mingled with jugglers and dancers.
Edur sits with his mother, she thought noting the first family, dressed in a cool blue, Esti's most flattering color, were all present at the single table save the new wives. The two women with their nearly white hair would have stood out in the room but they were no where to be found. But Edur is married, he should be at his own table, she frowned, confused before shaking the idea away. The wedding will not be until after we leave, she reminded herself. But shouldn't they still be here?
She swept her eyes up to the main table, searching for her dark counterparts, where her father sat with his advisers and the visitors from the Dark Realm. There, next to Prince Guifre sat Lloren, in fine black robes. We match, she thought with a frown, just as Porras wanted. She watched him for a moment, feeling for the brush of shadow but his threads seemed to be leaving her free for the evening. The girls were missing.
A feeling in her belly that she could not place pulled a frown from her lips as she turned back to the table.
"Treasure, bah," the woman cursed under her breath. My daughter is the treasure."
"Mother," Ochoa mumbled, a smile on his lips. "Someone will hear you."
"And what? Everyone should know how precious my child is. And look, I gave the Emperor many strong children. Light-wielders! Two dreamweavers! And all of them beautiful."
Usoa frowned and wondered if her mother had had too much to drink already but the night had just begun. Her younger siblings were grabbing at breads and meats while they chatted with the each other. She glanced down at the table of the third wife to see Iztar fidgeting, clearly itching to join their family. Her mother's face held a frown, the woman clearly uncomfortable. No one visited her table and she seemed lost, as she always did outside of her rooms.
Mama, Usoa signed, why don't you bring Dosar to sit with us? Everyone will praise you for being so generous and welcoming to the third family.
Her mother's eyebrows shot up and a slow smile stretched along her lips, light in her eyes. "Oh yes, what a good idea! See how smart your sister is. Mixtel!"
The boy jumped at his name. He looked handsome, dressed as a younger version of his brother in reds, his boy chest showing through his shirt. "Yes, mama?"
"Go and fetch Dosar and your siblings. Tell them to come sit with us so they are not lonely."
He nodded and crossed the small distance, bending to speak to the woman. A warm smile came over her face and she stood, gracefully and followed him back, the baby on her hip, Izar beating them to their seats. The child clamored into Ochoa's lap.
"You look nice tonight," he said to the girl. She wore a formal gown in pressed, green linen. Her usually untamed tresses were pulled high onto her head and combed so they fell in soft curls around her shoulders.
"Thank you, Sister," Dosar said softly. Everything about the third wife was soft and Usoa wondered if that was why her father had chosen the woman. As a soft place. "I am sorry that you are leaving us, Usoa. Izar will miss you."
"She says that is very kind of you," Mixtel said a moment after Usoa moved her hands. Dosar did not speak the hand language, her family had come from further out in the realm and she had no cause to learn before Usoa's father caught sight of her in the market and decided to bring her to the palace as a bride.
The third family wore green, a soft color for the softest all of all Emperor's wives. Dosar could not speak to her but Usoa had always liked the young woman, she was sweet and kind and she adored her feisty daughter who acted more like her older siblings despite only sharing half their blood. It warmed her heart that her mother treated the mousy woman with gentleness and, when needed, took her under her wing.
Her father's laugh and strong voice filled the air. He regaled his guests with tales of their lands and the visiting prince smiled and clapped with them, clearly enjoying things. Ferran's interruption seemed to be all but forgotten in the mirth of the room.
"Porras! Come sing for our guests!" the man barked and Usoa watched as her oldest sister rose from her seat at the table. The musicians stopped their song at once while the crowd hushed. A song from Porras' lips was a rare treat and even Usoa's mother respected the beautiful sound that came from her the oldest child of the Kingdom.
She looked stunning in her blue gown that rippled and flowed like water all around her. Guifre's eyes latched on to her with a peculiar intensity and Usoa felt her stomach roll. The man's eyes matched the ones she had seen at the game and before that in the Veil. Something dangerous lurked there. I'll tell her to be careful when I can, she thought before her her sister began to sing.
Her voice poured from her, strong and clear. She sang an old song in their tongue that told the tale of a girl who found a magic jewel that granted wishes. Usoa knew it well, the wishes turn to curses in the end. Why such a sad song, sister, she thought remembering how wet her eyes had been over her lost lover.
As the song finished Guifre stood, clapping at the performance. Porras bowed slightly. "You honor me," she said in her sultry voice before turning her attention to her father.
"Thank you, beauty," her father said, holding his hands out to his daughter who took them with a smile before returning to her own table and settling next to her siblings.
Esti's face held a frown. So she saw, Usoa realized before she turned back to Guifre, who still stood.
"Allow us to entertain you for a moment. Your people do not see much of water, I understand?" Guifre asked, a sly smile on his face.
Her father laughed, "This is a desert land. If we wanted water, we would have begged the Powers to birth us in the Water Realm!"
The gathered crowd laughed but Guifre was not put off by the reaction. Lloren stood next to him and Usoa's hands twitched. She felt the air change.
"Even so, there are wonders there that I would like to share," he sat, rising his hands in a signal.
The world shimmered and around them the light turned a strange, rippling dark blue. Usoa held her hand in front of face to see the color repeated there. The crowd made small sounds of curiosity at the change but any light user could bend colors just as easily.
Then came the creatures.
Silently they swam through the air. Huge fish swam above them, dipping here and there where children, bold in their youth, reached fingers upwards to be met with the sold bodies that only the darkness could create. Tentacled creatures like the type she had seen in the fountain and things that looked like tortoises but had flat, fin like feet joined them. Fat creatures that had puppy eyes and sleek bodies twisted along with them as floating plants rose from the ground around them.
They glowed with a light that was not light, a blue color that Usoa couldn't describe. Her mouth felt full and she opened it, just slightly to let air pass through, to ease the pressure that built in her. Something tugged at her, reached into her chest and tickled something there.
She looked down to find the plants swirling around her, tugging at her fingers. A tiny school of fish swam around her. She looked up, back at her family but everyone's attention remained on the large creatures that floated above their heads. The fish changed their colors, golds and reds as they rose and disappeared into her hair.
She looked back up, at the table where Lloren the conductor of the miraculous play stood. His eyes rested on her, his lips holding a soft, secret smile and she blushed, the tug stronger on her. I want, she thought for a moment before she pulled her eyes away, glancing at the rest of the table.
Esti glared at her, the girl's features twisted in anger. Usoa's face dropped and she looked away. At her legs, the strange water plants wrapped around her once before dropping away with the tugging in her chest.
The blue not light of darkness lifted and the room thundered into applause. Lloren bowed briefly. Is he alright, Usoa frowned as he stumbled slightly before catching himself. If anyone else saw, they did not mention it.
"What a talented shadow-wielder you have, Prince Guifre," her father said, smiling wide.
"I am nothing in light of my lord's power," Lloren replied quickly.
Does his voice sound different, Usoa frowned fighting the urge that had risen in her like one of his shadows to go to him. She settled in her seat, folding her hands in her palms. Around her, her siblings claps and chants for more filled her ears as they begged their father to ask the shadow-wielder to spin up the watery beasts again for their play.
"You'll exhaust him," Ochoa laughed as he pulled Izar and Zorion into his lap, wrangling the younger two in hopes of calming the older children who should know better.
Usoa nodded in agreement and turned to her mother for support but the woman's focus was on the shadow-wielder, her eyes locked on Lloren's form until she turned, as if she felt Usoa's gaze, back to her oldest daughter, her lips pulled down at the corners.
"What a lovely show he gave us," she said slowly. "And what a lovely new comb you wear in your hair."
Confused she reached up to her hair. Her hands brushed over hard, smooth gems that had not been there before. Tugging gently she pulled the comb free. In her hand sat a hair decoration made from fine gold and stunning red jewels in the shape of a flower. She looked back at Lloren but he had turned his eyes away from her. In his place, Guifre's hungry stare found her.
She looked away, the comb still in her hand.
"Well, it's a gift, child, wear it!" her mother said.
She nodded and replaced it back in her hair.
"It's very pretty," Dosar said, breaking the tension. "Maybe it was a thank you, for serving him tea."
Usoa nodded, agreeing with the woman in order to dispel any suspicions form her mother.
Finally she sighed, throwing up her hands, "These children!" She snapped for the server who nodding, scurried off to bring more meat to the table.
The musicians began to play again and the dancers sprung out to entertain with the jugglers and light-wielders.
Usoa looked back at the main table to see Esti had moved. Now she sat near their father and her intended, the three of them in conversation that she could not hear over the crowd, a translator speaking for Esti. The prince cannot read hands, she frowned as she turned to find Lloren but his seat sat empty.
His trick completed, he had slipped away.
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Across the table, Usoa watched her mother put on false smiles as visitors came to pay respects to her. They stopped at the first wife's table first, wishing her daughter good fortune and praising the honor they would bring and the continued peace between the two realms. After lavishing praise on the first family, they would come to second, moving between dancers and servers where they spent a few moments thanking her mother for sending Usoa to watch over the realm's treasure of Esti.
Usoa had known her mother her entire life and could tell when she chocked on her own anger.
She simply smiled as they passed the table, bowing their heads to her and she wondered if all the effort she had put into her dress was wasted. Porras had insisted she wear black so she had donned the sheer gown. Black with beads sewn on that twinkled like stars as she moved. Her hair she had left uncovered and Porras had pinned it back with a metal comb, letting the curls cascade down her back. She looked much different than her own family, who wore blood red, her brothers in pants with open vests, her mother and sister in gowns that mimicked fire when they moved in part from the fabric but also by the way they toyed with light in every step, a small trick that she could not duplicate.
Around her the wide dining hall filled with similar tricks. An animal that could not exist there, sparks of flowers, twinkles of shapes and parts that mingled with jugglers and dancers.
Edur sits with his mother, she thought noting the first family, dressed in a cool blue, Esti's most flattering color, were all present at the single table save the new wives. The two women with their nearly white hair would have stood out in the room but they were no where to be found. But Edur is married, he should be at his own table, she frowned, confused before shaking the idea away. The wedding will not be until after we leave, she reminded herself. But shouldn't they still be here?
She swept her eyes up to the main table, searching for her dark counterparts, where her father sat with his advisers and the visitors from the Dark Realm. There, next to Prince Guifre sat Lloren, in fine black robes. We match, she thought with a frown, just as Porras wanted. She watched him for a moment, feeling for the brush of shadow but his threads seemed to be leaving her free for the evening. The girls were missing.
A feeling in her belly that she could not place pulled a frown from her lips as she turned back to the table.
"Treasure, bah," the woman cursed under her breath. My daughter is the treasure."
"Mother," Ochoa mumbled, a smile on his lips. "Someone will hear you."
"And what? Everyone should know how precious my child is. And look, I gave the Emperor many strong children. Light-wielders! Two dreamweavers! And all of them beautiful."
Usoa frowned and wondered if her mother had had too much to drink already but the night had just begun. Her younger siblings were grabbing at breads and meats while they chatted with the each other. She glanced down at the table of the third wife to see Iztar fidgeting, clearly itching to join their family. Her mother's face held a frown, the woman clearly uncomfortable. No one visited her table and she seemed lost, as she always did outside of her rooms.
Mama, Usoa signed, why don't you bring Dosar to sit with us? Everyone will praise you for being so generous and welcoming to the third family.
Her mother's eyebrows shot up and a slow smile stretched along her lips, light in her eyes. "Oh yes, what a good idea! See how smart your sister is. Mixtel!"
The boy jumped at his name. He looked handsome, dressed as a younger version of his brother in reds, his boy chest showing through his shirt. "Yes, mama?"
"Go and fetch Dosar and your siblings. Tell them to come sit with us so they are not lonely."
He nodded and crossed the small distance, bending to speak to the woman. A warm smile came over her face and she stood, gracefully and followed him back, the baby on her hip, Izar beating them to their seats. The child clamored into Ochoa's lap.
"You look nice tonight," he said to the girl. She wore a formal gown in pressed, green linen. Her usually untamed tresses were pulled high onto her head and combed so they fell in soft curls around her shoulders.
"Thank you, Sister," Dosar said softly. Everything about the third wife was soft and Usoa wondered if that was why her father had chosen the woman. As a soft place. "I am sorry that you are leaving us, Usoa. Izar will miss you."
"She says that is very kind of you," Mixtel said a moment after Usoa moved her hands. Dosar did not speak the hand language, her family had come from further out in the realm and she had no cause to learn before Usoa's father caught sight of her in the market and decided to bring her to the palace as a bride.
The third family wore green, a soft color for the softest all of all Emperor's wives. Dosar could not speak to her but Usoa had always liked the young woman, she was sweet and kind and she adored her feisty daughter who acted more like her older siblings despite only sharing half their blood. It warmed her heart that her mother treated the mousy woman with gentleness and, when needed, took her under her wing.
Her father's laugh and strong voice filled the air. He regaled his guests with tales of their lands and the visiting prince smiled and clapped with them, clearly enjoying things. Ferran's interruption seemed to be all but forgotten in the mirth of the room.
"Porras! Come sing for our guests!" the man barked and Usoa watched as her oldest sister rose from her seat at the table. The musicians stopped their song at once while the crowd hushed. A song from Porras' lips was a rare treat and even Usoa's mother respected the beautiful sound that came from her the oldest child of the Kingdom.
She looked stunning in her blue gown that rippled and flowed like water all around her. Guifre's eyes latched on to her with a peculiar intensity and Usoa felt her stomach roll. The man's eyes matched the ones she had seen at the game and before that in the Veil. Something dangerous lurked there. I'll tell her to be careful when I can, she thought before her her sister began to sing.
Her voice poured from her, strong and clear. She sang an old song in their tongue that told the tale of a girl who found a magic jewel that granted wishes. Usoa knew it well, the wishes turn to curses in the end. Why such a sad song, sister, she thought remembering how wet her eyes had been over her lost lover.
As the song finished Guifre stood, clapping at the performance. Porras bowed slightly. "You honor me," she said in her sultry voice before turning her attention to her father.
"Thank you, beauty," her father said, holding his hands out to his daughter who took them with a smile before returning to her own table and settling next to her siblings.
Esti's face held a frown. So she saw, Usoa realized before she turned back to Guifre, who still stood.
"Allow us to entertain you for a moment. Your people do not see much of water, I understand?" Guifre asked, a sly smile on his face.
Her father laughed, "This is a desert land. If we wanted water, we would have begged the Powers to birth us in the Water Realm!"
The gathered crowd laughed but Guifre was not put off by the reaction. Lloren stood next to him and Usoa's hands twitched. She felt the air change.
"Even so, there are wonders there that I would like to share," he sat, rising his hands in a signal.
The world shimmered and around them the light turned a strange, rippling dark blue. Usoa held her hand in front of face to see the color repeated there. The crowd made small sounds of curiosity at the change but any light user could bend colors just as easily.
Then came the creatures.
Silently they swam through the air. Huge fish swam above them, dipping here and there where children, bold in their youth, reached fingers upwards to be met with the sold bodies that only the darkness could create. Tentacled creatures like the type she had seen in the fountain and things that looked like tortoises but had flat, fin like feet joined them. Fat creatures that had puppy eyes and sleek bodies twisted along with them as floating plants rose from the ground around them.
They glowed with a light that was not light, a blue color that Usoa couldn't describe. Her mouth felt full and she opened it, just slightly to let air pass through, to ease the pressure that built in her. Something tugged at her, reached into her chest and tickled something there.
She looked down to find the plants swirling around her, tugging at her fingers. A tiny school of fish swam around her. She looked up, back at her family but everyone's attention remained on the large creatures that floated above their heads. The fish changed their colors, golds and reds as they rose and disappeared into her hair.
She looked back up, at the table where Lloren the conductor of the miraculous play stood. His eyes rested on her, his lips holding a soft, secret smile and she blushed, the tug stronger on her. I want, she thought for a moment before she pulled her eyes away, glancing at the rest of the table.
Esti glared at her, the girl's features twisted in anger. Usoa's face dropped and she looked away. At her legs, the strange water plants wrapped around her once before dropping away with the tugging in her chest.
The blue not light of darkness lifted and the room thundered into applause. Lloren bowed briefly. Is he alright, Usoa frowned as he stumbled slightly before catching himself. If anyone else saw, they did not mention it.
"What a talented shadow-wielder you have, Prince Guifre," her father said, smiling wide.
"I am nothing in light of my lord's power," Lloren replied quickly.
Does his voice sound different, Usoa frowned fighting the urge that had risen in her like one of his shadows to go to him. She settled in her seat, folding her hands in her palms. Around her, her siblings claps and chants for more filled her ears as they begged their father to ask the shadow-wielder to spin up the watery beasts again for their play.
"You'll exhaust him," Ochoa laughed as he pulled Izar and Zorion into his lap, wrangling the younger two in hopes of calming the older children who should know better.
Usoa nodded in agreement and turned to her mother for support but the woman's focus was on the shadow-wielder, her eyes locked on Lloren's form until she turned, as if she felt Usoa's gaze, back to her oldest daughter, her lips pulled down at the corners.
"What a lovely show he gave us," she said slowly. "And what a lovely new comb you wear in your hair."
Confused she reached up to her hair. Her hands brushed over hard, smooth gems that had not been there before. Tugging gently she pulled the comb free. In her hand sat a hair decoration made from fine gold and stunning red jewels in the shape of a flower. She looked back at Lloren but he had turned his eyes away from her. In his place, Guifre's hungry stare found her.
She looked away, the comb still in her hand.
"Well, it's a gift, child, wear it!" her mother said.
She nodded and replaced it back in her hair.
"It's very pretty," Dosar said, breaking the tension. "Maybe it was a thank you, for serving him tea."
Usoa nodded, agreeing with the woman in order to dispel any suspicions form her mother.
Finally she sighed, throwing up her hands, "These children!" She snapped for the server who nodding, scurried off to bring more meat to the table.
The musicians began to play again and the dancers sprung out to entertain with the jugglers and light-wielders.
Usoa looked back at the main table to see Esti had moved. Now she sat near their father and her intended, the three of them in conversation that she could not hear over the crowd, a translator speaking for Esti. The prince cannot read hands, she frowned as she turned to find Lloren but his seat sat empty.
His trick completed, he had slipped away.
Across the table, Usoa watched her mother put on false smiles as visitors came to pay respects to her. They stopped at the first wife's table first, wishing her daughter good fortune and praising the honor they would bring and the continued peace between the two realms. After lavishing praise on the first family, they would come to second, moving between dancers and servers where they spent a few moments thanking her mother for sending Usoa to watch over the realm's treasure of Esti.Usoa had known her mother her entire life and could tell when she chocked on her own anger.She simply smiled as they passed the table, bowing their heads to her and she wondered if all the effort she had put into her dress was wasted. Porras had insisted she wear black so she had donned the sheer gown. Black with beads sewn on that twinkled like stars as she moved. Her hair she had left uncovered and Porras had pinned it back with a metal comb, letting the curls cascade down her back. She looked much different than her own family, who wore blood red, her brothers in pants with open vests, her mother and sister in gowns that mimicked fire when they moved in part from the fabric but also by the way they toyed with light in every step, a small trick that she could not duplicate.Around her the wide dining hall filled with similar tricks. An animal that could not exist there, sparks of flowers, twinkles of shapes and parts that mingled with jugglers and dancers.Edur sits with his mother, she thought noting the first family, dressed in a cool blue, Esti's most flattering color, were all present at the single table save the new wives. The two women with their nearly white hair would have stood out in the room but they were no where to be found. But Edur is married, he should be at his own table, she frowned, confused before shaking the idea away. The wedding will not be until after we leave, she reminded herself. But shouldn't they still be here?She swept her eyes up to the main table, searching for her dark counterparts, where her father sat with his advisers and the visitors from the Dark Realm. There, next to Prince Guifre sat Lloren, in fine black robes. We match, she thought with a frown, just as Porras wanted. She watched him for a moment, feeling for the brush of shadow but his threads seemed to be leaving her free for the evening. The girls were missing.A feeling in her belly that she could not place pulled a frown from her lips as she turned back to the table."Treasure, bah," the woman cursed under her breath. My daughter is the treasure.""Mother," Ochoa mumbled, a smile on his lips. "Someone will hear you.""And what? Everyone should know how precious my child is. And look, I gave the Emperor many strong children. Light-wielders! Two dreamweavers! And all of them beautiful."Usoa frowned and wondered if her mother had had too much to drink already but the night had just begun. Her younger siblings were grabbing at breads and meats while they chatted with the each other. She glanced down at the table of the third wife to see Iztar fidgeting, clearly itching to join their family. Her mother's face held a frown, the woman clearly uncomfortable. No one visited her table and she seemed lost, as she always did outside of her rooms.Mama, Usoa signed, why don't you bring Dosar to sit with us? Everyone will praise you for being so generous and welcoming to the third family.Her mother's eyebrows shot up and a slow smile stretched along her lips, light in her eyes. "Oh yes, what a good idea! See how smart your sister is. Mixtel!"The boy jumped at his name. He looked handsome, dressed as a younger version of his brother in reds, his boy chest showing through his shirt. "Yes, mama?""Go and fetch Dosar and your siblings. Tell them to come sit with us so they are not lonely."He nodded and crossed the small distance, bending to speak to the woman. A warm smile came over her face and she stood, gracefully and followed him back, the baby on her hip, Izar beating them to their seats. The child clamored into Ochoa's lap."You look nice tonight," he said to the girl. She wore a formal gown in pressed, green linen. Her usually untamed tresses were pulled high onto her head and combed so they fell in soft curls around her shoulders."Thank you, Sister," Dosar said softly. Everything about the third wife was soft and Usoa wondered if that was why her father had chosen the woman. As a soft place. "I am sorry that you are leaving us, Usoa. Izar will miss you.""She says that is very kind of you," Mixtel said a moment after Usoa moved her hands. Dosar did not speak the hand language, her family had come from further out in the realm and she had no cause to learn before Usoa's father caught sight of her in the market and decided to bring her to the palace as a bride.The third family wore green, a soft color for the softest all of all Emperor's wives. Dosar could not speak to her but Usoa had always liked the young woman, she was sweet and kind and she adored her feisty daughter who acted more like her older siblings despite only sharing half their blood. It warmed her heart that her mother treated the mousy woman with gentleness and, when needed, took her under her wing.Her father's laugh and strong voice filled the air. He regaled his guests with tales of their lands and the visiting prince smiled and clapped with them, clearly enjoying things. Ferran's interruption seemed to be all but forgotten in the mirth of the room."Porras! Come sing for our guests!" the man barked and Usoa watched as her oldest sister rose from her seat at the table. The musicians stopped their song at once while the crowd hushed. A song from Porras' lips was a rare treat and even Usoa's mother respected the beautiful sound that came from her the oldest child of the Kingdom.She looked stunning in her blue gown that rippled and flowed like water all around her. Guifre's eyes latched on to her with a peculiar intensity and Usoa felt her stomach roll. The man's eyes matched the ones she had seen at the game and before that in the Veil. Something dangerous lurked there. I'll tell her to be careful when I can, she thought before her her sister began to sing.Her voice poured from her, strong and clear. She sang an old song in their tongue that told the tale of a girl who found a magic jewel that granted wishes. Usoa knew it well, the wishes turn to curses in the end. Why such a sad song, sister, she thought remembering how wet her eyes had been over her lost lover.As the song finished Guifre stood, clapping at the performance. Porras bowed slightly. "You honor me," she said in her sultry voice before turning her attention to her father."Thank you, beauty," her father said, holding his hands out to his daughter who took them with a smile before returning to her own table and settling next to her siblings.Esti's face held a frown. So she saw, Usoa realized before she turned back to Guifre, who still stood."Allow us to entertain you for a moment. Your people do not see much of water, I understand?" Guifre asked, a sly smile on his face.Her father laughed, "This is a desert land. If we wanted water, we would have begged the Powers to birth us in the Water Realm!"The gathered crowd laughed but Guifre was not put off by the reaction. Lloren stood next to him and Usoa's hands twitched. She felt the air change."Even so, there are wonders there that I would like to share," he sat, rising his hands in a signal.The world shimmered and around them the light turned a strange, rippling dark blue. Usoa held her hand in front of face to see the color repeated there. The crowd made small sounds of curiosity at the change but any light user could bend colors just as easily.Then came the creatures.Silently they swam through the air. Huge fish swam above them, dipping here and there where children, bold in their youth, reached fingers upwards to be met with the sold bodies that only the darkness could create. Tentacled creatures like the type she had seen in the fountain and things that looked like tortoises but had flat, fin like feet joined them. Fat creatures that had puppy eyes and sleek bodies twisted along with them as floating plants rose from the ground around them.They glowed with a light that was not light, a blue color that Usoa couldn't describe. Her mouth felt full and she opened it, just slightly to let air pass through, to ease the pressure that built in her. Something tugged at her, reached into her chest and tickled something there.She looked down to find the plants swirling around her, tugging at her fingers. A tiny school of fish swam around her. She looked up, back at her family but everyone's attention remained on the large creatures that floated above their heads. The fish changed their colors, golds and reds as they rose and disappeared into her hair.She looked back up, at the table where Lloren the conductor of the miraculous play stood. His eyes rested on her, his lips holding a soft, secret smile and she blushed, the tug stronger on her. I want, she thought for a moment before she pulled her eyes away, glancing at the rest of the table.Esti glared at her, the girl's features twisted in anger. Usoa's face dropped and she looked away. At her legs, the strange water plants wrapped around her once before dropping away with the tugging in her chest.The blue not light of darkness lifted and the room thundered into applause. Lloren bowed briefly. Is he alright, Usoa frowned as he stumbled slightly before catching himself. If anyone else saw, they did not mention it."What a talented shadow-wielder you have, Prince Guifre," her father said, smiling wide."I am nothing in light of my lord's power," Lloren replied quickly.Does his voice sound different, Usoa frowned fighting the urge that had risen in her like one of his shadows to go to him. She settled in her seat, folding her hands in her palms. Around her, her siblings claps and chants for more filled her ears as they begged their father to ask the shadow-wielder to spin up the watery beasts again for their play."You'll exhaust him," Ochoa laughed as he pulled Izar and Zorion into his lap, wrangling the younger two in hopes of calming the older children who should know better.Usoa nodded in agreement and turned to her mother for support but the woman's focus was on the shadow-wielder, her eyes locked on Lloren's form until she turned, as if she felt Usoa's gaze, back to her oldest daughter, her lips pulled down at the corners."What a lovely show he gave us," she said slowly. "And what a lovely new comb you wear in your hair."Confused she reached up to her hair. Her hands brushed over hard, smooth gems that had not been there before. Tugging gently she pulled the comb free. In her hand sat a hair decoration made from fine gold and stunning red jewels in the shape of a flower. She looked back at Lloren but he had turned his eyes away from her. In his place, Guifre's hungry stare found her.She looked away, the comb still in her hand."Well, it's a gift, child, wear it!" her mother said.She nodded and replaced it back in her hair."It's very pretty," Dosar said, breaking the tension. "Maybe it was a thank you, for serving him tea."Usoa nodded, agreeing with the woman in order to dispel any suspicions form her mother.Finally she sighed, throwing up her hands, "These children!" She snapped for the server who nodding, scurried off to bring more meat to the table.The musicians began to play again and the dancers sprung out to entertain with the jugglers and light-wielders.Usoa looked back at the main table to see Esti had moved. Now she sat near their father and her intended, the three of them in conversation that she could not hear over the crowd, a translator speaking for Esti. The prince cannot read hands, she frowned as she turned to find Lloren but his seat sat empty.His trick completed, he had slipped away.
