Page 95 of Hearts on Fire
“Of course you do,” Amber cooed, kissing the boy’s soft golden-red curls. “We all want to see Na-da dance, don’t we?”
The musicians spread their wings, taking off into the air with their instruments. A moment later, energetic music filled the room.
Almost the entire court of the Bozyr Peak gathered here this morning after Zenada had announced she was performing today. Amber had told him Zenada had been practicing a new routine for months. Today, she was finally ready to share her gift with all of them.
“Na-da.” The baby fussed, stretching his arms to his mother.
“Shhh.” Amber bounced him on her knee again, but there wasn’t much space left in her lap because of her eight-month pregnant belly.
“Give him to me.” Elex smiled, taking the boy from her. “Come here, little guy. I have a better view. And a toy, look.” He dangled the thick golden chain that hung around his neck, making the royal seal on it jump up and down.
The seal got Ahrit’s attention. He grabbed the onyx disk and stuck it into his mouth, immediately calming down.
Amber gasped. “Is that thing clean enough for a baby?”
Elex laughed. “Of course it is. I make sure not to seal any dirty deals with it.”
She rolled her eyes at him, hiding a smile, but said nothing as Zenada lit the ball on her chain on fire. She dangled it side to side slowly, as if testing its weight and trajectory.
As the music surged higher, Zenada jerked the chain, sending the ball up. The fire left a wide arc of light in its wake— star-bright in the dim lighting of the room.
It was a cloudy day outside. All the stained-glass windows were closed. Pale daylight filtered into the Throne Room in glowing patches of color that failed to fully illuminate the large space. There were no torches inside. The fireplace wasn’t lit either. The brightest light came from the fireball at the end of Zenada’s chain.
She spun faster, the ball spinning in a circle over her head. Flicking the other end of the chain, she made the other ball catch fire. Now, she wielded them both over and all around her.
The tension in her expression eased, giving way to a smile. The dance seemed effortless to her. She spun and twirled, making the two fireballs bounce and zip by her as if they were alive.
He remembered the dance Zenada had performed for King Edkhar. Back then, she looked nervous and scared. Rightfully so, as the king had hurt her.
It didn’t surprise Elex that it took her this long to start dancing again. But he was glad she finally did. The joy from doing what she loved shone through her expression without fear.
Zenada finished the first part of her dance, dipped the chain into a bucket of water to put the fire out, then went to the trunk to grab a different prop.
The room erupted into applause. She jerked, looking up.
“Beautiful!” people screamed.
“Amazing!” Amber clapped her hands.
A huge smile spread across Zenada’s face. She rolled back her shoulders and sank into a gracious bow for the crowd.
“Magical!” a deep voice boomed to Elex’s left. Gabrik clapped his big hands so hard, his wrists would surely be sore tomorrow.
“She’s magnificent, isn’t she?” Amber gushed from her seat on the right.
Elex moved his attention from Gabrik to his wife.
“She is,” he agreed.
Amber glanced at Gabrik, who wouldn’t tear his eyes from the dark-haired fire dancer.
Elex chuckled. “I wish Gabrik would do something more than just stare at her with forlorn eyes like that.”
Amber gave him a sly grin. “I think he already has.”
“What do you mean?”
She leaned over the armrest of her throne to him and lowered her voice. “Zenada let it slip recently that Gabrik is an amazing kisser. And I have every reason to believe she learned that from experience, not from some court gossip.”