Demitytes Bride

A Sweltering ball

Then suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a glare that pricked her eyes. A reflective surface, that shined like a jewel and had glinted in her way. Something that was near her eye level. It could have only been Lord Dalbus's bare shining head! She turned around joyously searching for the glare that had so kindly pricked her eyes in a manner of helping her so wonderfully. There! There it was! It danced in the light that came from the huge floating chandelier, blinking as if beckoning her to come closer. yes of course little glare! She thought as she made her way nearer.

As Lord Dalbus came in to view, she noticed he was desperately arguing with someone, shaking his head quite forcefully often. ah. so that is why you danced so much little glare! She thought as she walked closer. She had a vague idea who the other man was. She had seen him on the ship Atil and heard he was one of Fallon's uncle. As she walked closer she realised she couldn't hear their conversation no matter how close they were. They had to have some barrier to prevent being overheard.

To an outsider it might seem like they were just passionately talking. However she wondered what was the so important issue that they were arguing in the middle of ballroom. A discerning observer could see there was some problem. However as she neared them, they suddenly relaxed, and turned to her.

"Ah Your Highness! It is a pleasure to be bestowed your company." Lord Dalbus bowed. The tall man-though almost everyone looked tall next to lord Dalbus, so Kashara couldn't be sure - also bowed and nodded at her.

"How has the ball been so far, Your highness?" The tall man asked.

"Great! Um... I had such fun discussing um... the extensive undertone of the oscre shade of pink and the...twelve uses of tea cosies of course!" She replied in squeaky tone.

"Yes, I am sure that must have been fun." The man had a barely concealed smirk as if he understood exactly how fun the ball had been so far for her. It was then that she truly registered how closely the man before her and Fallon were related. Their eyes met and she had for a second, a feeling that someone had the same opinion on the ball and simpering crowd of court ladies. She had a odd moment of gratification that someone understood her exactly.

"Ah yes! Tea cosies!! How exciting!! Oh the wonder of youth!!!" Lord Dalbus exclaimed exuberantly. She and the man turned away from each other, both trying to conceal the sudden smirk that had threatened to break out at Lord Dalbus's pronouncement.

"It is a sad thing that one always has to exchange youth for wisdom. What is more sad is my tired feet are going to drop off any second. Aaaah, but this is the price of wisdom," Lord Dalbus trailed off. Kashara thought, perhaps rather cruelly, that Lord Dalbus was probably not closer to wisdom now than he was in his youth, but then again one couldn't really censure their thoughts could they?

"Aah your Highness, by the way, how did you find us?" Lord Dalbus asked.

"Oh it was your head! Lord Dalbus!" She exclaimed then bit her tongue, her tongue was probably black and blue now. "I meant I recognised the back of your head Lord Dalbus!". Was it just her imagination or were they listening a bit too intently to her answer...

The moment passed and she soon she found herself discussing, god forbid it, those damn tea cosies again! Lord Dalbus apparently had not been joking when he had exclaimed they were exciting. Though Kashara was inclined to disagree - if she were a slope, she be inclined 90 degrees. That was how inclined she was. (Lame joke I know :P) Fallon's uncle, that sneaky devil, had slunk off as soon as Lord Dalbus had brought up the topic, and now she was stuck discussing the 423 different types of tea cosy ashes that was produced when different wools and cloths were burned. She just realised she didn't even know his name, that uncle of Fallon's.