Who The Fire Favours (ONC2023) gxg

Chapter 2: Aria

Aria opened her eyes and smiled.

A well practised, well meaning, but making sure to keep everyone at arm's length kind of smile. She counted the steps with each descending movement, her eyes meeting every single one of her enemies and adversaries with the same mild interest she gave each batch of apprentices that came to fight in her war. Inevitable.

The dignitaries from Tarragon were hovering near the back in an attempt to hide their over -expenditure in less than stellar weaponry by agreeing to any trade deal that came their way. Those from Nocturus kept to the shady corners and balconies where said trade deals were being made and were rescinded quicker than she could decide who to dance with.

Only the Caldorians dared to take to the ballroom, a kaleidoscope of blues and whites in perfect harmony with her own chosen colour scheme. Her long, silver dress made her look more like a Silverwing dragon with each movement she made. Aria longed for her own preferred armour, tucked away in favour of a more regal reserved style for the Throneholder of Opalis. It didn't make the death glares any less palatable or the comparisons to an ice queen any less frequent.

"My Lady, if I may ask you to dance?"

Aria blinked.

Most attendees kept to their country's colours being shown in the masks they wore. The Tarragon kept the streaks of gold while Neridia and Caldor had conflicting shades of blue and sea green. Shuriken had decided to adopt red for their clans colours, but the one colour everyone had agreed to avoid was staring her right in the face. Only one person was wearing black-. The only colour given to demons.

"Of...of course."

They dropped into a low bow with the ease that only a tutor had conditioned into them, the cane they had chosen to use immediately moved from their dominant hand to under their arm in a matter of seconds. In that moment, their injury came from the forefront of everyone's mind to the slightest inconvenience. Yet here she was agreeing to dance with them.

"Will that...be a problem?" Aria asked, gesturing to their cane and less than prominent injury.

They smiled evenly as if being privy to a personal joke, offering the very lifeline of support they relied on with surprising ease.

The small crowd around her gasped as if she intended to crush it beneath their feet. Aria couldn't help but smile. With her reputation, she probably would have. Seeing no other option but to accept, she took the cane from them and watched it disappear.

The pommel was the only thing left in her hands.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I-"

They clicked their fingers and the cane returned to its normal height. Clicked again, and the cane disappeared. Aria faltered for a few seconds, half guessing that the ingenious item was made by the Tinker Mole's she had heard so much about. It was a well worn cane but a completely new concept.

Aria rolled the pommel in her hand and handed it back to them her with a well meaning nod, watching intently as they used their right leg to stabilise themselves and simply pocketed the device for later. Even though they clearly needed the aid for support, they had abandoned it and had chosen to approach her regardless of noble standing and..literal standing ability. But despite her bravery she couldn't help but feel a touch of sorrow and strangely, guilt for what they dealt with.

"It won't be a problem, Throneholder."

They stepped forward with a purposeful step, their left leg mocking the crowd even as they steadied themselves for a moment. It was the most blatant statement to make in such a high noble setting. This is nothing. I am different. I am not the same as you.

"Shall we?"

Aria was left stunned for a moment, even with the familiar gesture of their arm, but it still left her smiling. Composing herself for just a second, she reminded herself that she had made this a masquerade for one reason. No one could see her falter tonight. It had to be perfect.

Every movement was surprisingly effortless despite her initial concerns, falling back into the familiar steps that reminded her of the traditional festival dances she loved back home. Soon the dance floor was filled with more than just the earlier Caldorian dances, now it was a mix of every clan colliding and having fun just as she had hoped it would be.

"I don't believe we've met before, have we?" Aria asked, barely able to help herself.

She immediately regretted holding a masked ball. She wanted to see their face. Just once. Their easy smile seemed to erase all the pretence of her duties, the pace they kept far quicker than she expected. It was so easy to dance to and settle into their lead despite all the anxieties of the upcoming war. For the first time in a long time, she could just be herself.

"We have. But it was quite a long time ago."

Their even tone surprised Aria more than their response, sifting through her memories in an attempt to remember such an enigmatic character. Shaking her head, she refused to consider it and tried to match their apathetic tone for something a little kinder.

"You must be mistaken."

"No. I'm not."

They didn't respond angrily or raise their voice. It was spoken as if it was an indisputable fact. And that terrified Aria. More than that, she couldn't remember it. Flashes of dizzying spotlights blurred into images she barely recognised, attempting to focus on the clear lead her dance partner was providing her despite their...disadvantage.

"After all, it was you who gave me my injury, Ari."

Aria's heart dropped. Craning her neck upwards in an attempt to stop the bile rising from her throat. Until her gaze suddenly looked down. Aria hadn't noticed how much they were struggling. The lilting gait of the dance had disguised their prominent limp well, forcing them to clench their jaw and hide what little relief they got from the cane they leaned on. Yet Aria hadn't noticed. She hadn't cared.

"I'm surprised though. You've forgotten far more than I thought."

The overwhelming calm atmosphere made Aria's stomach lurch, her spiking anxiety of the night's events clouding over even as time seemed to stretch endlessly onwards. The violin music seemed to buzz in the background as their eyes met and the past slammed back into the present.

She tried to break away but couldn't even as that soft easy smile no longer matched their eyes...nor the face that lay hidden beneath their mask. Her breath hitched. Reaching for their mask she couldn't confirm her fears as their once gentle touch was locked tight in their grasp. Aria couldn't speak. She couldn't breathe. That nickname. She hadn't told anyone of that nickname. Not in years.

"Rider."