Engineer's Empire

Engineer's Empire: Aether and Abyss: Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Everyone was certain that the jester's legs were broken, falling from such a height. No one breathed for several moments. Then the Harlequin's head snapped up, flashing his trademark purple grin. Everyone roared with applause.

The Harlequin ran and was caught by his fellow jesters who vaulted him high into the air. He spun, his checkerboard covered clothing continuing to create vertigo for the eyes that tried to follow his movements. Some of the patrons looked away, others just focused on the other performers from time to time to rest their eyes and dizzy heads. He landed, somersaulted forward, and came to a halt, kneeling at the stairs leading up to the Emperor. The Emperor was standing on a stage at the far end of the room with his closest court members around him. He nodded once, holding out his glass. It was customary that the Harlequin deliver some poem, jest or prophecy for the coming year to the Lord of the party. Emperor Marcus Aurelian VII smiled as the Harlequin stood, addressing the room but looking at no one in particular.

"Long shadows dance at your feet great lord

Your footsteps echo even unto the mountains

Your records remain ever in the black

Your heroic deeds will live with you always," the Harlequin declared in his lilting voice that seemed to rise and fall in pitch at random.

He turned and ran back toward the other waiting jesters, diving forward and tumbling into their ranks as they vaulted and spun over and around each other. The clowns and jesters began retreating from the stage and the orchestra took up the dancing music once more. A beautiful young girl with red hair and bright green eyes came skipping by, looked at Xander and giggled. Jeffrey did not blink for a few moments.

"A friend of yours?" Jeffrey asked.

"My sister Elspeth. My pride and joy," Xander answered. The next song began, upbeat and playful. Elspeth pranced up, beaming.

"New friends of yours?" she asked. Her green dress rippled about her as she spun over to them. It was in the medieval fashion, much like Xander's tartan and sash. Slade could not help notice how the green in the dress matched her eyes.

"Yes indeed!" Xander replied. Elspeth grabbed Slade by the hand.

"Come. Dance with me!" she declared, and pranced off with Slade. Slade looked back in a panic. Tyler and Xander both waved with big grins. Locke was explaining the different cheeses to Jeffrey by region. Jeffrey looked even more lost than when Locke had been explaining the sausages by animal and curing process. Slade had no idea what he was doing, having never danced before. He tried to bob along with the music. He kept staring at his feet.

"No silly, you're supposed to look up at me," she said.

"But I don't know what I'm doing," Slade replied. As he looked up into her eyes, he realized he had been wrong earlier. Her eyes were a much more brilliant green than her dress. Elspeth let out a carefree laugh, playful and light. Slade had never heard another laugh like hers in his life. His nervousness faded in her laughs and smiles.

"Follow my lead," she said. Every time Slade would look at his feet, Elspeth would shake his arms to bring his attention back to her. He blushed bright red and tried not to make eye contact. After some stumbling and one instance of losing balance and almost falling, Slade started counting to himself.

One, two, three, four... no. One, two, three...one, two three...

Then he hopped along with the rhythm of the music. He looked up at Elspeth.

"It's a series of threes," he said to her, eyes bright with realization. Elspeth chuckled.

"Yes!" she replied, happy to see him enjoying the dance. After that, he even smiled. She smiled back.