The Skin Thief

Chapter 88

Kiora

"Lady Kiora, is it true that there was a dragon attack on the city yesterday?"

Kiora chuckles and shakes her head.

"Yes, there was a dragon yesterday, but it wasn't an attack, Isabeau," she replies. "Now, no more gossiping. I'm here to teach you to dance, not to talk about exaggerations and drama."

"Sorry, my lady," Isabeau blushes and steps back in line with the other concubines.

"It's okay," Kiora says, smiling gracefully. "Dragons are exciting, and this one was beautiful."

The concubines smile and giggle, whispering to each other about dragons and wondering who the mysterious rider was.

Kiora's mind drifts back to yesterday afternoon and the way Athan had charged toward her as the smell of smoke filled the air. Then, she remembered his anger as he seemed to recognise the dragon. In a huff, he ordered everyone into the cathedral and then gave instructions to some of the guards to meet the rider and escort them back to the palace.

Kiora couldn't look away as the dragon, with its spectacular sapphire scales, slowly climbed down into the nest, its rider a speck on its back. Athan had pushed her ahead before she could look further.

Despite a whole day having passed, Kiora and the rest of the wives still have no idea who this rider is. She assumed that Athan was the only one who could ride dragons. But then again, he gifted a dragon to Illyria, so maybe he's gifted other dragons to people he likes. Kiora sighs, realising how little she knows about how Athan's connections to dragons work.

"Okay, we're ready, Lady Kiora," Isabeau says, snapping Kiora out of her daydreams. Just as she's about to teach, the door opens, and Illyria and Alethia walk in. Kiora resists sighing in frustration. She'd done a few weeks' worth of dance lessons with the concubines and still, those two women couldn't just leave her to it.

Kiora forces on a smile and curtseys. "High Lady, Princess. I am glad you could join us," she says. "Today, I am teaching a dance from the Fourth Realm."

"By all means, don't let us interrupt," Alethia says through tight lips. Illyria just smiles smugly.

Kiora nods her head and turns back to the concubines.

"Alright, let's begin," she says.

For the next hour, she teaches them simple dance moves and steps. The concubines laugh and giggle as they dance with each other, joking around. Now and then, Alethia tries to stop their laughter or she tells Kiora that the dance moves are too provocative and un-ladylike. Kiora bites through her frustration and agrees with Alethia, despite the dance moves being nothing but elegant and graceful.

By the end of the hour, wide smiles rest on the concubine's faces.

"Thank you, Lady Kiora," Mirlina says, approaching her.

"It was my pleasure," Kiora replies, smiling widely. "Be sure to practice over this next week so we can work on the harder steps next week."

They nod their heads enthusiastically. Kiora spends another few minutes chatting to them, getting to know them and laughing alongside them. Upon seeing her having a pleasant, human interaction, Alethia steps forward.

"Alright, that's enough. Lady Kiora has duties to perform," she instructs.

The concubines sigh in disappointment but don't argue. Out of sight of Alethia, Isabeau rolls her eyes and giggles. Kiora bites back her smile.

"Goodbye, ladies, I'll see you all next week," she says. They curtsy to her, then leave the room quickly. Kiora turns to Alethia and Illyria.

"I shall be having words about these supposed 'dance' classes with the emperor. They are crude and unbecoming for ladies of this court."