THE DANCING GIRL

Chapter 19

THE Princess was beautiful.

But beautiful in such a different way. Noor's eyes were drawn to her because of the creamy skin, pale as the moon, and eyes even more vibrant blue than the Enyan dignitaries' were. Noor was sure the ocean was that colour.

And her hair—it was the colour of the hay they fed horses, but so gold, and shone like the sun. It curled beautifully, half of it pinned up, pearls dotted in that gold, and an elegant crown on her head.

She looked away, glancing at the Rajkumars.

The tip of Rajkumar Vikram's mouth turned up, almost imperceptibly, his eyes on her. He glanced away after giving her a knowing. "A dance, in your honor," he said to the Princess in Enyan.

Out of the corner of her eye, Noor saw Haqiya glance at her, as if for translation.

Rajkumar Vikram turned back to them and waved his hand.

The music started.

Noor threw herself into the dance, smiling wide as her skirts flared around her, catching the candlelight, the shimmer on them exploding like a thousand stars.

She stepped to the side, panting, as the twins began their solos began. She looked at the Enyan Princess, whose eyes were fixed on Nazrat and Nihaal. She looked fascinated.

The dance finished, and Noor froze in her position.

"Beautiful," the Enyan Princess said, her straight teeth gleaming. She gave them an enthusiastic clap.

Noor exchanged a brief glance with Rajkumar Fayyaz.

"Thank you," Rajkumar Vikram said, giving her the most cordial, political smile Noor had ever seen.

The Princess directed a similar smile at him. "They are very talented." Her accent was so different, nasally in a pleasant way. She pronounced vowels in a slightly different way, but it was clearly heard. It wasn't unpleasant, really.

"That they are," Rajkumar Vikram said, giving Noor an imperceptible glance and smile. He turned to them fully. "Dancers, you are dismissed," he said in Al-Yauzhan with a wave of his hand.

Noor turned, taking her place in their line, and walked out. Haqiya arrested her as soon as they were out.

"What did they say?"

Noor glanced around, noticing the other dancers around them watching her as well. She scoffed, grinning. "Nothing."

Haqiya gave her a flat look.

Noor rolled her eyes, giving her a teasing grin. "The Princess said our dance was beautiful, Rajkumar Vikram thanked her, she said we were very talented, ad he said we were." She raised an eyebrow. "Happy?"

Haqiya shrugged, looking slightly unimpressed.

Noor tried to suppress her laugh. "What did you expect?"

Haqiya shrugged, the corners of her lip turning up. "I don't know. Not something that common, I suppose."

Noor shook her head, nudging Haqiya's shoulder. "Well, that's all that happened."

Haqiya grinned good-naturedly. "Alright, then. Now come on, we should change."

Noor bit her lip, glancing around. "Not now, I have to meet Amir now."

Haqiya furrowed her eyebrows. "Why?"

Noor shook her head. "Nothing important. We just have to talk about something."

Haqiya frowned, but didn't argue. "Alright. See you later, then." She turned and walked back with the other dancers, catching up to a group ahead.

Noor began walking to the dining hall, arranging her dupatta so that it was covering her torso, even though it was sheer, so it didn't really help. And it left a shoulder bare. She sighed and waited for Amir, crossing her arms over her midriff.