The Dark Glory War Read Online Free PDF Page B

clear of the floor, freeing their trapped feet—and keeping them out from under my feet, as well.
    Leigh, to his credit, realized he’d been overmatched from the start, so kept to the center of the floor and let the rest of us circle him and Nolda. He led her through a version of the dance that was more stately than frenetic. His turns let her long hair sweep out in a wondrous display, and his frequent bows in her direction made her the center of attention. He showed her off to her benefit before all, while the rest of us became fast-moving fish in an ocean of white.
    I admired him for thinking that quickly. I also pitied him because Nay, Rounce, and I were having great fun in the dance. Somewhere in it, as the music took hold, all the anxiety I had been feeling about the night and its import drained away. I let my laughter mingle with everyone else’s, then drew it all back in and let it live in my heart.
    The song ended all too fast as far as I was concerned. May had weathered well my clumsy leading through the dance, and even gave me a smile when I bowed to her. Nay and I both nodded to the twins as they curtsied to us, then we let the Lamburn sisters return to the coterie from which we had drawn them. Other girls surrounded them, insulating them from music with a cacophony of giggles which, for some reason, started a bit of a blush creeping up my cheeks.
    Nay slapped me on the back. “Not a bad stepper, that Maud.“
    “Thanks for helping me keep the peace there.”
    “That was it then, not dancing?” Nay grinned ever so slightly, then rubbed a hand across his chin. “If you like, there are two other girls, my master’s daughter and friend, we could give a whirl.”
    “A fair trade, I think.”
    We turned and started toward the group of girls Nay had looked at before, but Rounce caught up with us and Leigh cut us off. “Where are you going?”
    I fixed Leigh with a gimlet eye. “Thisis a gala, so we’re off to enjoy ourselves.”
    “Ah, Tarrant, I had such high hopes for you.” Leigh shook his head mournfully. “This is not a gala, this is a livestock auction. They watch, they choose.”
    I wrinkled my nose. “I’m not sure I like the sound of ‘livestock auction.’ ”
    “Neither do I, dear boy, but at least we have a bid.” Leigh held up a folded slip of paper. “I was given this just now.”
    I took it from him and unfolded it. Rather than chance Nay’s not being able to read, I read it aloud in a hoarse whisper. “Your demeanor and spirit impress us. Midnight, in the west garden, by the north gate.”
    Nay ran a hand through his red hair. “Invite to an alley bashing, sounds like.”
    “Hardly, my big friend.” Leigh took the note back from me. “We’re being invited to glimpse the future. And I think, for us, it will be a most pleasant one indeed.”
    The full moon stared down dispassionately at the four of us as we waited at the garden’s north gate. Moonlight glowed off Leigh’s outfit, making him look like an overdressed ghost. Rounce kept glancing back at the dark edifice of the Senate Palace, silently lamenting that the plans he’d had for ending the evening with Lindsey Cotter would not come to fruition. I sat myself down on one of the carved granite benches and sniffed night-bloomingyismyn flowers.
    Nay shuffled his feet and paced nervously along the gentle curve of the crushed marble walkway near the gate. He’d get as far as Leigh, then turn on his heel and march back toward the gate. Leigh, Rounce, and I had assured him that he was included in the message Leigh had received.
    Nay had countered, “A trident only has three tines.”
    “But it also has a haft, which is bigger than any of the tines, and that describes you, Nay.” I patted him on the arm and was a bit amazed at just how hard his muscles were. “You really are meant to be with us.”
    Leigh had agreed. “Come now, dear fellow, do you think I would be wrong about such things? The invitation was for my companions, and you are one of them. You’ve danced with one