Tiger Wings

Chapter 6

The ballroom had been decorated with the same enthusiasm as the bridges were. Flowered vines hung from open windows and flower petals were strewn across the floor. The potted plants had been hung with lights, winding the whole way around the room. Candles hung from the high ceiling, casting shapes across the walls and floors when they were rocked by a breeze. The refreshment tables looked like bushes with table tops. There were even petals in the punch.

The room was buzzing with activity. Many nobles and important people had been invited and they meant to make the most of it. The princes had enough work on their hands with all the people who greeted them and wanted to talk of Tain or their thoughts of Pastopia so far. Dancing or mingling was out of the question until well into the evening. By then the dancing had picked up speed and the princes were left to find their own amusement. But among a crowd of strangers, including ten princesses, it wasn't difficult to find.

Jravic nodded politely to the man as he walked away. If someone would have asked him the man's name, he wouldn't have been able to answer even though he had introduced himself less than a minute before. With all the activity, the crown prince was finding all the names and titles getting mixed in his head. Thankfully, no one else seemed to be approaching him.

He looked around for someone he knew and his eyes landed on a group of the princesses. Among them was the oldest. If he was going to save his brothers from her, perhaps a dance was in order. He walked over and greeted them. "Good evening."

The prince received nods and after a few looks from her sisters, a coolly returned, "Good evening," from Claretta.

She seemed less than welcoming, but Jravic didn't let his smile waver. "May I have this dance?" he questioned, holding out his hand.

The action tested her extremely. There was no room in it for her to refuse politely, while all she had wanted to be so far was rude anyway. What did she owe him? She felt her conscience nudge her a little, as if to say perhaps at least toleration. He hadn't done anything. Not yet.

Her hand slipped into his and she answered, "Certainly," hoping there had not appeared to be any hesitation.

Jravic led her out to the dance floor. "This is the first chance to dance I've had all night, but I feel like I've shaken enough hands for a few years."

"I should think you'll bounce back," Claretta responded. Then suddenly she was almost smiling. "But if you don't, your summer will pass very slowly, I'm afraid."

Jravic searched his mind for ways to make that smile stay. Dancing with a smaller, feminine version of his stone brother had not been his intention. "Ah, then I'll be sure to bounce back, but I doubt that any summer in such a beautiful country could pass slowly."

In spite of herself, she felt that his flattery of her country was sincere, and her smile grew. There was almost nothing she liked as much as a person who appreciated what should be appreciated. It showed intelligence. "We only wish it could," she agreed.

"Tain summers don't have the coolness of your Pastopian summers," Jravic added. "It's a welcome change."

"What else do you find better?" Claretta asked, her expression becoming a little smug. She widened her eyes, though, in a display of green innocence.

"The air feels much more fresh." Jravic was all too happy to oblige. "And your city is much cleaner than Sylver. It has a brighter feel to it."

Something in his statement or over his shoulder made the princess's face cloud. She hid it in a moment, saying, "I've heard that your streets in Sylver are made of gold. Is that true?"

Jravic laughed lightly. He had heard people comment on that before and knew people who were happy to help spread the rumour, but he doubted the crown princess actually believed it. "No. Our streets are made of stone and brick. Very short of gold."