Eldin made sure he arrived at the ball before any other members of his family. As the least important son, he had learned it was a bad idea to draw attention from his brothers or parents by arriving later with his harp in hand, causing many of the young ladies to cluster around him excitedly. So he always showed up first, impeccably dressed so his mother would have nothing to complain about, and gave people time to make their requests about what ballads they wanted to hear before anyone more important than him entered the hall. He was surrounded by the usual group of eager young women requesting the same ballads they always requested, when one member of the group let out an excited gasp and pointed toward the entrance.
“Look! It’s the Toomari princess!”
Everyone turned to stare.
Another of the young ladies drew a sharp breath. “That young man with her must be the Hoshran prince. He’s quite handsome for a southerner.”
Eldin said nothing, but in his opinion, the handsomeness of the Hoshran prince did not require qualification. He had the tan complexion of many southerners, which the pale-skinned northerners found so exotic, but more striking still were his dark eyes and thick, dark brown hair. Most Boccharans had blue or green eyes and they tended to be blonds. Eldin himself had dark hair for a Boccharan because it was more honey-colored than blond, but his eyes were the normal bright blue.
“I’m glad I didn’t wear the dress my mother insisted on,” one of the young ladies said. “It was almost the same color as the one she’s wearing. I would hate to be mistaken for her.”
“The green is an attractive shade for someone of her coloring,” Eldin said.
“Do you think so?” the young lady sniffed. “But it doesn’t match her eyes at all.”
“She would have to wear black to match her eyes!” another of the young ladies giggled.
This caused all the young ladies to titter in amusement. Boccharan ladies seldom wore black. It was considered to be a masculine color and women who wore it were often accused, rightly, of being homosexuals.
Eldin was saved from having to respond to that statement by the arrival of Morrin. He swaggered into the room, puffed up by his own importance, and immediately barged into the group surrounding Eldin.
“Ladies!” Morrin boomed. “I am sorry to have left you with no one but Eldin to entertain you. Come; let me get you some wine.” He gestured peremptorily at the nearest servant.
Eldin bowed slightly and allowed his brother to pull the group away. He turned to watch the southern prince and princess. They stood near each other, but not so close as to imply an improper relationship. The young princess carried herself gracefully, expressing a maturity beyond her years. The Hoshran prince exhibited the same regal posture, but there was something about his stance that gave Eldin the impression he was angry. When several minutes passed without anyone approaching them, Eldin walked over to them.
“Good evening,” he greeted them with a bow. “I am Eldin Korallin, the youngest son of King Ladrel. Welcome to Vacharin.”
The princess curtsied, but she allowed her companion to return Eldin’s greeting first.
“Good evening,” the prince said. “I am Soren Mallory, Crown Prince of Hoshran. This is Silvia Valendin, Princess of Toomar.”
“How do you do, your highness?” Eldin greeted Silvia. “I am honored to meet you.”
“Thank you, Prince Eldin,” Silvia answered in a low voice. “It is a pleasure to finally be received by someone of rank.”
Eldin accepted the jab as only just. He had witnessed his father’s insulting audience at their arrival. “I am sorry for the way you’ve been treated so far. In my family’s defense, I can only say that you should not take it personally. They look down their noses at everyone.”
“If they were truly superior,” Soren said, “they would have the grace to be polite to their inferiors. It goes without saying that they should treat their equals with courtesy.”
Silvia put her hand on Soren’s arm. “Soren, you should not antagonize Prince Eldin,” she murmured.
Soren bit his lip and laughed softly. “You’re quite right, Silvia. Thank you for admonishing me.” He bowed to Eldin. “Forgive me, your highness. I should not allow my dismay at our situation to inspire impolite behavior.” He smiled and Eldin’s breath caught in his throat. That smile made Soren’s already handsome face radiant.
“I take no offense,” Eldin replied. “I recognize that you are in a difficult position here.” It was hard to take his eyes off Soren’s face. Eldin had never met anyone who caught his attention so completely. They were about the same height, so when they stood face to face, he was looking directly into Soren’s dark eyes. Up close, he could see that Soren’s eyes were not black, but a very deep brown just a little bit darker than his hair. Eldin’s eyes strayed to Soren’s silky brunette waves. His hair was incredibly thick. Eldin wondered idly what it felt like: smooth and soft on the fingers or coarse? Realizing suddenly that he was staring, he turned to Silvia. “I hope your accommodations are satisfactory and that you have everything you need.”
“The palace servants have been most attentive,” Silvia answered. “The only thing we lack is permission to leave.” Her eyes dropped to the harp in his hands. “Are you a musician, Prince Eldin?”
“Yes. I will be singing later. I’m afraid I know only Boccharan ballads or I would offer to sing something from your home country.”
“I am familiar with many of your songs,” Soren said. “Before the invasion, Boccharan ballads were quite popular at court. Their romantic nature appealed to love-struck noblewomen.”
Eldin smiled. “The same is true here. The long winters give us plenty of time both to engage in love-play and then write dozens of songs about it.”
“Are the winters very cold?” Silvia’s eyes, as dark as Soren’s, grew round. “It doesn’t snow in Toomar and my sisters and I are ill-prepared to endure it, I fear.”
“No snow?” Eldin’s eyes sparkled at the thought. “Vacharin is blanketed with snow for half the year! In fact, the first flurries are expected in another month. You should ask your servants for extra blankets and woolen undergarments. And if you don’t have fur-lined cloaks and gloves already, ask for that, too. My father has promised to care for you, so you won’t need to pay for anything.”
Soren frowned. “You expect it to snow next month? But summer’s barely half over.”
“Maybe in the south.” Eldin smiled ruefully. “Up here, summer only lasts two months. We’re at the tail end of it now. And fall does little more than pass through. We’ll have a foot of snow on the ground in two months.”
Silvia clasped her hands in front of her, dismay washing over her face. “I had no idea,” she said.
“It will be fine, Silvia,” Soren said. “As Prince Eldin advises, we’ll ask for warm clothing right away.”
A sudden lull in the conversation around them made Eldin look toward the entrance. “My parents are here,” he said, even though he did not yet see anyone in the doorway. But as he spoke, those nearest the doors began to bow and curtsey, murmuring “Good evening, your majesties.” Automatically, Eldin followed suit as his parents finally made their entrance. Beside him, Soren and Silvia did the same, apparently taking their cue from him. As Idria and Ladrel entered, people stepped back, forming an aisle for them to pass through. Idria nodded regally to either side as she passed between the gathered nobles, a superior and contented smile on her face. Inwardly, Eldin heaved a sigh of relief. His mother’s mood was always easy to read on her face. If something had upset her before the ball, they would all be in for an uncomfortable time. But for the moment, she seemed in a good mood.
“Should we greet her, Prince Eldin?” Silvia asked quietly.
“Not unless she approaches you,” Eldin responded. “And if she does, let her speak first. My mother can be… prickly, so it’s good to keep your conversation on light topics.”
Silvia nodded very slightly. “I’ll remember that.”
Idria’s gaze swept over them and Eldin saw the brief flare of recognition in her eyes. But she did not change course and move toward them. She continued on her way to her cushioned throne on the dais. When she and Ladrel had taken their seats, Sir Edwick, the Seneschal, waved a hand at the orchestra sitting in a recessed alcove. As music began to play, people moved toward the walls to clear the center of the room. The conductor, standing at the front of the alcove on a small raised stand, turned and bowed toward the king and queen, and then to the room at large.
“The Fox’s Reel!” the conductor announced in a loud voice. He turned back to the orchestra and they began to play an introductory tune.
“Are you familiar with this dance, Princess?” Eldin asked Silvia.
“No,” Silvia shook her head. “At least not by that name.”
“Let’s watch,” Eldin said. “It’s not complicated.”
Couples lined up facing each other in the center of the room, with the gentlemen on one side and the ladies on the other. The gentlemen bowed and the ladies curtsied as they waited for the dance to begin. The orchestra finished the introduction and the dancers stepped toward each other as the main melody began.
After a moment, Soren spoke. “This is very similar to a dance we do called Fox and Hound.” After a few more minutes of watching, he took Silvia’s hand. “Do you want to try it?”
Eldin was not surprised Soren asked. Silvia was bobbing slightly in time with the music, a delighted smile on her face. She nodded quickly and Soren led her to the end of the line. They were not the only couple to join the dance after it began. The Fox’s Reel was a line dance, so couples could easily enter or leave at any time. The dance that Soren and Silvia knew might be slightly different, but Eldin couldn’t tell by watching them. They moved in perfect step with the other couples. He realized he was staring again, but he could not keep his eyes off Soren. The Hoshran prince flowed through the steps of the dance with natural grace. He was slender, but his effortless motion indicated his slimness was due to lean, compact muscle, not mere skinniness.
“Do you find the Toomari princess attractive?”
Eldin jumped at the sound of Laric’s slightly condescending voice. He had not noticed his brother suddenly appear at his side. “She is quite pretty,” Eldin replied as smoothly as he could, “but I was just enjoying the dance.”
“I see.” Laric lifted an eyebrow as he watched the prince and princess dance. “Do you suppose their parents had planned to wed them prior to this?”
“I doubt it. They were each heir to the throne in their home country.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Laric made a face. “The Toomari throne passes down the female line. One wonders how they managed to hold their little country together for so long.”
“If I recall my geography,” Eldin said, using the offhanded tone he adopted whenever he corrected either of his brothers, “Toomar is larger in area than Bocchar.”
Laric’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by that?”
“You referred to it as ‘their little country’,” Eldin pointed out.
“Oh,” Laric waved a hand. “I was not speaking geographically. Anyway, I saw you speaking to them. What manner of people are they?”
“Well-spoken and courteous, as one would expect of royalty.”
Laric regarded him silently for a moment. “I think you are implying that we have not demonstrated the same qualities toward them.”
Eldin blinked at his brother in surprise, hoping it did not look feigned. “Whatever gives you that impression? I was talking only about our captive guests.”
“On the face of it,” Laric retorted with a frown, “perhaps you were. But I find that I often hear more in your words than what you say. You should watch your tongue more closely, little brother.”
Eldin inclined his head slightly. He was surprised Laric had picked up on it. “I will keep that in mind, elder brother.” He looked past Laric. “I see your betrothed approaching, Laric. I am surprised you have not escorted her onto the dance floor. Isn’t the Fox’s Reel one of her favorites?” Laric turned as he spoke. Lady Niella had an irritated look on her pretty face, which grew more pronounced as the music rose to a closing crescendo. “Oh, how unfortunate!” Eldin said. “It’s over.”
Laric glared at him before turning to bow to Niella. “Forgive me, my dear! I foolishly let myself get caught up in unimportant matters when I should have been spending my time in your delightful company on the dance floor.”
Niella appeared slightly mollified by the fact that he made no effort to excuse his mistake. “Well, I suppose, as heir to the throne, you must upon occasion devote yourself to matters whose importance may not be readily apparent to me.” She regarded Eldin as she spoke, her expression indicating that she was not the least in doubt about his lack of importance.
Laric offered her his arm. “Shall we join the next reel?”
“If it’s something I like,” Niella sniffed.
“Of course.”
The conductor announced the next dance and Niella allowed Laric to guide her onto the dance floor.
Soren and Silvia returned just as the next dance began. Silvia’s eyes were sparkling and her cheeks were flushed.
“Oh, that was so much fun!” she exclaimed excitedly.
“Yes, it was,” Soren agreed. The anger finally seemed to have left him and the smile on his face was genuine. “Some of the others complimented us on our performance.”
“Dancing is serious business in Vacharin,” Eldin assured them. “Nobles who are too uncoordinated to dance well will often drink heavily and then use being too drunk as an excuse for why they can’t dance.” He chuckled. “Of course, no one actually accepts that excuse.”
“I saw you speaking with that gentleman earlier.” Soren nodded toward the dance floor, his gesture singling out Laric. “Is he important?”
“Yes. He is my eldest brother Laric and is next in line for the throne. His partner is Lady Niella Shanfors. Their engagement will be announced very soon.”
“Shanfors?” Silvia’s smile faded. “The man who took us from Toomar was called Duke Shanfors.”
“He is Lady Niella’s father.” Eldin lowered his voice. “Duke Shanfors is a very powerful man. His family is extremely wealthy and has influence over a large number of the lesser noble families. Lady Niella was chosen to be Laric’s wife in order to gain some control over him.”
“Do you know Lord Etarkan?” Soren asked.
“Not personally, but I know of him,” Eldin replied. “His family is relatively minor, but he’s working his way up. That’s why he took the commission to lead the army against Hoshran. It bought him a lot of influence. I’ve heard he’s a decent fellow.”
A page appeared at his elbow, his livery identifying him as being on the queen’s personal staff. “Your highness, Queen Idria requests the attendance of the Princess of Toomar.”
Silvia drew in a sharp breath and put a hand on her chest. She glanced quickly at Soren and then took a step toward the page. The young man immediately turned to lead her back to the dais. Soren started to follow her, but Eldin surreptitiously put a hand on his arm to stop him.
“My mother did not ask for you,” he murmured. “If you go too, she will be insulted. Don’t give her any excuses.” Soren stopped, but his brows lowered as he watched Silvia approach the queen. Silvia dropped into a low curtsy when the page presented her, holding the pose until Idria spoke to her. “Well done,” Eldin breathed. He wondered if Silvia remembered that from watching Etarkan at their original audience. From where they stood, they could not hear the conversation between Silvia and Idria, but they could see Idria’s face. Her expression remained maternal and condescending. The conversation was brief. Silvia curtsied again at the conclusion and hurried back to where they waited.
“What did she want?” Soren immediately demanded.
“She wanted to assure me that, as a young lady of breeding, my virtue was her responsibility, so if any young men behave inappropriately toward me, I am to inform her at once.” Silvia glanced back at the queen. “I’m not sure if she was warning me about Soren or you, Prince Eldin.”
Eldin almost choked trying to hold in his laugh. “I doubt my mother even considered me. My brother Morrin is the one to watch out for. He thinks he’s irresistible.” Eldin spotted Morrin chatting up a couple of young ladies. “That’s him over there,” he indicated with a slight gesture. “He probably won’t want anything to do with you unless he thinks there’s some advantage to be gained from it, though.”
“You don’t speak very well of your family,” Soren stated matter-of-factly.
Eldin shrugged. “I care for my family,” he replied, “but I am not blind to their faults.” He studied Soren’s face. “I think I would be lonely as an only child.”
It was Soren’s turn to shrug. “My mother and I are close. I have never been lonely.” A new tune started and he took Silvia’s hand. “I know this one, Silvia. Would you care to dance again?”
“Yes, please!”
The two of them returned to the dance floor. Eldin wondered if they realized that dancing was perhaps the best way to establish themselves among the Boccharan nobility. As the dancing continued, people began to speak to them. At first it was just to congratulate them on doing so well, but eventually it progressed to normal conversations. After nearly two hours of dancing, the orchestra took a break, and a number of young women immediately approached Eldin.
“Prince Eldin, will you perform now?”
“Of course.” Eldin beckoned to a servant and the man brought him a chair. Eldin sat down and balanced the harp on his knee.
“Will you sing ‘The Girl by the Waterfall’?” someone immediately requested. It was usually the first song requested. The ballad was the tragic tale of a young woman who meets her lover by a waterfall and becomes pregnant with his child, but he betrays her to marry a wealthy man’s daughter. In labor, the jilted girl climbs to the waterfall and throws herself in, falling to her death on the rocks below and killing her unborn child. The lover is punished when he discovers his new wife is barren. The song was depressing, but it was achingly beautiful and Eldin could get grown men to cry when he sang it. He strummed the first chords of the ballad and silence fell.
Into that silence, the shimmering notes of Eldin’s new harp floated like gossamer strands. When he began to sing, his voice blended seamlessly into the melody of the harp, picking up the harmony so naturally that his first notes were impossible to distinguish from the sound of the harp itself. In truth, although he complained about doing it at balls, Eldin loved to sing. Pulling the air into his chest and feeling the vibrant melody pouring out of his throat made him feel truly alive. As the last notes of the ballad faded away, several seconds followed in which all that could be heard was the sound of sniffing. Then applause swelled up. Eldin smiled as he accepted their adulation. This was the only time he was allowed to be the center of attention, and while he never craved the attention, it nevertheless felt good.
“Is there another request?” he asked when the applause ended.
The name of another ballad was called out and Eldin strummed the first notes of the requested song. As he played, he let his eyes wander over the crowd, but he paused when he saw Soren watching him. The prince’s dark eyes were fixed on him, his expression rapt. Eldin savored being the focus of that intense gaze and his heart beat faster. Soren’s eyes never left him the whole time Eldin performed. Had it been just the two of them, Eldin would have kept singing all night. But he knew the limits of his public performances. He glanced at his mother toward the end of each song and when he saw from her expression that she had had enough of singing, he did not call for another request. He stood up and bowed deeply.
“Thank you for allowing me to entertain you,” he said.
He received another round of applause and then the orchestra resumed playing.
Silvia came to his side immediately. “You have the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard, Prince Eldin!” she exclaimed breathlessly. “I could hardly believe my ears!”
“Thank you, your highness,” Eldin replied. “I enjoy performing for an appreciative audience.” His eyes slid to Soren’s face as he spoke.
“I can only echo Silvia’s words,” Soren said. “I was honored to hear you.”
“Thank you.” Eldin inclined his head. For some reason, it made him extremely happy to receive praise from Soren.
“Your harp appears to be made from blackheart wood,” Soren said.
“It is,” Eldin said. He held the harp up so Soren could see it better. “I’ve just recently starting using southern hardwoods in my harps. They produce incredible tones.”
“You made it?”
“Yes.”
Soren regarded him with sudden respect. “You are a fascinating person, Prince Eldin. I would never have expected to find a Boccharan prince with so many exceptional talents.”
Eldin’s smile widened. “Thank you, Prince Soren! I have always wanted to be valued for my talents rather than my birth. Your praise means a lot to me.”
Soren chuckled. “Desiring to be valued for something other than your birth proves yet again how exceptional you are. I shall have to rethink my opinions of Boccharans simply from your example.”
“I hope we can become friends during your stay in Vacharin, Prince Soren,” Eldin said. He knew he sounded too eager, but he couldn’t help himself.
Soren’s smile rewarded him. “I think we are already becoming friends, Prince Eldin.”
-o-o-o-o-o-
Soren surprised himself by enjoying the ball. Dancing with Silvia would have been fun all by itself, but meeting Prince Eldin was an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Soren had never expected to find someone like him here. He had always thought Boccharans were conceited and arrogant, but Eldin was nothing like that. It was all the more impressive because his phenomenal musical talent gave him every right to be conceited. But Soren had chatted with him for most of the evening and found Eldin to be genuinely friendly. Soren couldn’t help but like him. In fact, he couldn’t help but be attracted to the golden-haired prince.
Soren had not had a lover since before the invasion and he was starting to feel the frustration. He had never been promiscuous, but neither had he held himself back when he was honestly attracted to someone. But the idea of giving into desire with a Boccharan, even with someone like Eldin, dismayed him. Boccharans had stolen his kingdom and kidnapped him. Could he honestly repay them with the pleasure of his body for such crimes?
He was silent as he and Silvia walked back to their rooms after the ball, but Silvia hummed as she walked, swaying from side to side to the music she made.
“I had a good time tonight, Soren,” Silvia said suddenly.
“I did, too.”
“Prince Eldin was very nice. I didn’t expect to meet anyone like him. His voice is beautiful.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Do you think he would sing for my sisters if I asked? I think it would cheer them up.”
“I think he would. He seems like a very kind person.”
Silvia skipped a step. “Maybe it won’t be so bad here after all. I don’t mean that I’m happy to be here, but maybe they’ll start to treat us more like guests after this. I hope I hear from my mother soon. I’ll have to write to her about the ball.”
“It’s a long way from Toomar,” Soren said. “It might be awhile before letters reach us, but I’m sure she will have written to you by now. My mother said she would write every week, so I think I should get a letter from her very soon.”
“I just want to know that everything’s all right at home,” Silvia said, becoming more serious. “I know mother is worried about us, which is why I wrote to her right after we arrived to let her know we were safe. But there were still soldiers in Toomar when we left and I worry about what might have happened.”
Soren nodded. “I know what you mean. That’s why I’m hoping to hear from my mother soon as well.” They arrived at their wing of the palace and he opened the door for her. “We’ll just have to be patient.”
“I know.”
Soren’s room was first along the hallway and they stopped when they arrived at his door. “You looked every inch the princess tonight, Silvia. Your mother would be very proud.”
“Thank you!” Silvia beamed at him. “Goodnight, Soren.”
“Goodnight, Silvia.” He remained outside his door and watched until Silvia entered her room. Then he turned the handle and walked into his own.
Setus was inside turning down the bed. “How was your evening, my lord?”
“Quite pleasant, Setus, surprisingly enough.”
“I’m glad to hear that, my lord.” Setus stepped away from the bed. “Would you like me to bank the fire?”
Soren shivered. “Actually, I wouldn’t mind if you built it up. It’s a little chilly.”
“I understand, my lord. I’ve already ordered the same to be done in the rooms of the younger princes and princesses.” Setus went to the fireplace and used the tongs to lever in two more logs. “Will there be anything else this evening?”
“No, thank you.”
“Then I’ll bid you goodnight.” Setus bowed and left through the service entrance.
Soren sat on the edge of the bed and watched the fire burn, the flames licking up around the new logs while his mind filled with memories of Prince Eldin. He began to feel warm, but he knew it was not because of the fire. It was lust.