The Kingdom Of Ordonia Book 1: The Sword Of Light

Chapter Four

The sun had made it's way closer to the horizon, washing them once again in a sea of gold light as the doors opened. The crowd took note of the movement from the top of the stairs and fell into a loud roar to welcome their rulers to the celebration in their princesses' honor. After the cord digressed their cheering the royal family was led down the steps by a pair of guards, another pair taking up the rear of the small procession and threading their way through the maze of people. Finally there was an opening surrounded heavily by security. There were two long tables where the royal family would be sat. They were on top of a tiered platform, raising one table above the other.

Unlike in their dining hall the chairs didn't sit around the table but instead they all were on the same side, facing the crowd of people. Kate's father took his seat in one of the high backed chairs that sat in the center of the highest table, her mother placing herself next to him on his right. The three sisters looked between themselves and then to their parents with pleading eyes, asking to be allowed to attend the festivities. The Queen nodded her head,

"Go have fun" she said smiling at her daughters now bright and shining faces. The three didn't wait any longer before they fired their parents quick goodbyes and they were gone, disappearing into the crowd. The king gave his wife a concerned look to which she softly reassured him. "They will be fine darling, there are plenty of guards and the girls are capable of handling themselves all the same" she purred her soothing voice aleing the kings worries.

"I know...I'm just always concerned"

"I know you are, but everything will be okay. Let them have fun for one night." The king nodded his head in agreement.

Kate, Iris, and Jess made their way through the crowd arguing over where to go first when they found themselves being pulled into a circle of dancing people. Realizing what was happening the girls looked at each other and shrugged as they joined the familiar dance they had participated in at countless festivals and balls. It was a classic in their kingdom and they had become quite good. The music picked up as the people pranced around the circle clockwise in time with the beat. Then they were dropping to the floor, and bouncing back up, kicking legs and throwing out arms as they danced, performing the familiar moves like it was second nature. The hoard of dancers cheated as they all danced, girls swishing their skirts to nearby men who clapped around them. Kate looked across the dance floor and caught Cameron's gaze. The circle launched into the next wave of the dance, the circle begging to shrink and grow as the dancers pranced their feet around in a complicated patterns of taps and kicks. The music picked up again and the claps roared louder

The dancers began twisting and turning in between each other, everyone moving to find a partner. Kate found herself in Cameron's arms as she stared up at his tanned face. He smiled down at her, his smile seemed to shine brighter than the sun. Kate's heart skipped a beat, and felt her breath hitch when he moved his hand to her waist, pulling her closer to his chest. He took her right hand in his left and she moved her other hand to his shoulder, feeling his muscles flex beneath her palm.

Once everyone found a partner the pairs began to spin across the dancefloor, laughing and shouting with the music. Kate scanned the crowd for her sisters as she twirled, spotting Iris with a particularly handsome boy she recognized as the local bakery owners son. Kate couldn't however, find jess amongst the mass of people. Kate knew jess had to be somewhere close because they began the dance together, so she couldn't have gone far. Kate's mind was soon drawn away from the matter as the music pulled her back in, drawing a bubble of laughter from her chest. For the first time in a whole Kate felt a sense of freedom, all the stress and worry seemed to float away. She was genuinely having fun, for the first time in what felt like forever, and Kate didn't want it to end. The music finally came to an end, concluding the dance and Kate scanned the crowd again for her sisters, finding them just to watch them wave and giggle as they left, disappearing behind some food stands, with evil grins plastered to their faces. Kate rolled her eyes, knowing what they were up to, and turned her attention back to Cameron.