Voekeer pushed the door to the adventurer’s guild open, and they walked inside. The smell of roasted meat and wine filled the air, and the room was packed with adventurers all wearing their finest clothing.

“It’s a fucking sausage fest in here,” Anna said.

“It usually is when adventurers get together,” Barika replied.

“No, this is worse,” Anna said.

“It’s because most of this guild is nobles and noble women get married off when they’re young, so they don’t have to worry about finding work,” Elaine replied.

“Oh, right,” Anna said.

“Let’s go and get some food before all the good stuff gets eaten,’ Thokri added.

They headed for the feasting tables that had been set up on the left-hand side of the room. There were three of them set up. Each one was covered in a large white cloth that had the guild emblem embroidered on the side.

The feast that was laid out was one of the most impressive ones she’d ever seen, rivaling even the ones the dwarves had at the gem festival, though only in quality and variety. The gem festival put it to shame when it came to quantity.

Her friends picked up plates that had been placed in tall stacks at the end of the table and began to pile food onto them. She forewent the plate and simply tore the leg from a large roast bird that had been placed near the center of the table.

With leg in hand, she walked to the barrels of wine lined up against the lefthand wall. The guild attendants were filling cups and passing them out. The tall thin guild attendant smiled at her when she noticed her approaching.

“I haven’t seen you in a while,” she said.

“We saved up enough to make it home, so we’re taking a break,” Anna replied.

The attendant frowned.

“So, you’re going to be leaving then?” she asked.

“Yeah, the only reason my party is here is because I went missing, and they hired some mages to get me back,” Anna replied.

“Well, we’re going to miss you,” the attendant said.

“Really? I thought no one wanted us around here,” Anna replied.

“What makes you say that?” the attendant asked.

“None of the other adventurers talk to us. They also say rude things about us when they think we can’t hear. All of you are nice, but you have to be cause it’s your job.”

“Is that really what you think of us?” another attendant asked.

“Yeah,” Anna replied.

The attendants looked shocked. It was clear that they were upset.

I said too much again, didn’t I? Oh well. It’s not like it matters. This is probably going to be the last time I see any of them anyway.

She walked away taking a bite from the bird leg. The meat was tender and juicy and had a smoky flavor to it.

Not bad. Guess it was worthing coming here after all.

“Wonderful, the trash decided to join us,” a man said.

“What did you expect? Commoners will always mooch from their betters given the chance,” another replied.

Assholes.

The men were speaking to each other in hushed tones and standing a good distance from her. She knew they were talking about her by the way they were glancing in her direction, but it was also clear they hadn’t intended on her overhearing them.

I doubt even Lyreen or Voekeer could have heard them whispering.

She took a sip of her wine. It was a rather dry red wine, and while it was clearly a good vintage, she didn’t enjoy it all that much.

She made her way past the groups of adventurers to a quiet corner of the guild hall and waited for her friends. She tore another chunk of meat from the bird leg with her teeth and chewed it slowly while looking out on the crowd of people gathered there.

What’s the point of talking shit behind someone’s back like that? I mean, what do they get out of it? Does it make them feel good or something, or is it just to show the others they think like them?

She took a sip of the wine to wash down her mouthful and spotted Voekeer looking around the room. She waved the bird leg over her head until he noticed her and walked over. The rest of the party was with him, and they gathered around when they reached her.

“You were right about the feast,” Voekeer said.

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“Say what you will about nobles, but they know how to eat,” Elaine replied.

“Is that all you’re going to eat?” Lyreen asked.

“Yeah, I ate a lot on the way here,” Anna replied.

“I told you, you would spoil your appetite, child,” Barika said.

“I know, but I just couldn’t help it,” Anna replied.

“Hopefully you didn’t fill yourself up too much to dance,” Elaine said.

“I didn’t,” Anna replied.

“Good, because we’re going to be dancing the Thornvalian waltz together,” Elaine said.

“Are you up for that?” Anna asked.

“I have the world’s best dance partner, so yes,” Elaine replied.

“I’m not the best, but thanks,” Anna said.

“Wait, is she being modest?” Lyreen asked.

“It sure sounds that way,” Barika replied.

“I’m not. It’s just that Madam Clarise told me that I dance like a mimic bird, that I have no passion, and passion is what makes a good dancer,” Anna said.

“Who the fuck is Madam Clarise?” Thokri asked.

“Oh, she was one of the noble ladies that was teaching the popular dances to the younger ladies before that ball I went to with Elaine, the one her brother invited us too,” Anna replied.

Elaine furrowed her brows for a moment and then snorted.

“Oh, that old bag! Don’t worry about what she said. She was just bitter because she’s old, and no one wants her anymore,” she said.

“Really?” Anna asked.

“Yeah, she was probably just jealous of all the attention you were getting, so she found a reason to put you down,” Elaine replied.

“People do that?” Anna asked.

“All the time,” Elaine replied.

I wonder if that’s why the adventurers here talk behind our backs? But what would they have to be jealous of? I mean, we don’t do anything special around here or anything.

“So, are you going to lead like usual?” Anna asked.

“Of course, I am still taller than you,” Elaine replied.

“What does that have to do with leading a dance?” Lyreen asked.

“The Thornvalian waltz is different depending on who your partner is. Basically, if a man and a woman are dancing, then the man always leads, but if two men or two women are dancing, then it’s whoever is taller,” Elaine replied.

Lyreen laughed.

“The only way Anna’s ever going to lead is if she’s dancing with a gnome!” she said.

“Shut up, you!” Anna replied.

The rest of her friends started laughing.

“Don’t worry, child. You’re the perfect size,” Barika said.

“Yeah, to fit in your pocket!” Lyreen added.

Anna stuck her tongue out at Lyreen and then started to eat the bird leg again. The others chuckled a bit longer before they began to eat.

She finished her food and drink and went over to the table to toss the bone into one of the waste baskets that were placed on the floor at the end of each table near the wall. She then walked over to the guild attendants who were still serving wine. She held out her cup, and the tall attendant filled it after eyeing her for a moment.

“Thanks,” she said.

She walked away from the attendants and went back to her friends who were still gathered in the quiet corner of the room. She sipped her wine while the others ate their food. They joked with each other, smiling and having a good time. She smiled as well, making sure to laugh at the jokes and even made a few of her own.

Why don’t I feel better yet? It’s been weeks since I told everyone what happened, and they all still like me, so why am I nervous all the time?

The night wore on, and after several hours and everyone had eaten their fill, the attendants cleared the tables, and the adventurers, including Anna and her party, moved the tables off to the side of the room. Once that was finished, a few of the adventurers retrieved instruments and started to play.

The other adventurers congregated around the guild attendants, each one asking one to dance with them. As Anna had noticed earlier that evening, the number of men far exceeded the number of women, and while nearly all of the attendants agreed to dance, most of the other adventurers were still partnerless.

And they still don’t want to come over and ask any of us for some reason.

The men who’d managed to find a partner led them to the middle of the floor where they began to dance. The partnerless men gathered around and watched, no doubt waiting for their own turns with the women. Lyreen and Voekeer took each other’s hands and walked out to join the dance, leaving the rest of the party to look on.

“When are we going to go out there?” Anna asked.

“Later. The waltz is fifteen minutes long, so it’s best to save it for the end,” Elaine replied.

“Okay,” Anna said.

The couples danced for a few minutes before the men switched off with one of the waiting crowd, except for Lyreen and Voekeer. After a few rounds, Elaine took Anna by the hand and pulled her over to the men playing instruments.

“Would you fine gentlemen happen to know the Thornvalian waltz?” Elaine asked.

The men looked at each other, and each one nodded.

“We do,” one of them replied.

“Would be so kind as to play it for us?” Elaine asked.

She dipped down gracefully as she did so and inclined her head slightly.

“We’d love to, my lady,” the man replied warmly.

“Thank you,” Elaine said.

She led Anna to the middle of the makeshift dance floor and wrapped her arms around her. The moment the men started to play, they began their dance.

This waltz was the most complicated dance that she knew by far with every note of the accompanying music having a step or move associated with it. She, of course, knew every step by heart and was able to execute them with unnatural grace.

I really am just a mimic bird, and not only when it comes to dancing. All I ever do is follow other people around and copy them. The one time in my life I was on my own, and all I did was follow Qrixit around and do whatever he wanted, even if I knew better. So, what am I supposed to do with myself? I know I can stay with my friends for a while, but not forever, so what happens when I can’t? Do I just find new people to follow around? Is that how I spend eternity?

Despite her inner turmoil, she kept dancing and smiling. This wasn’t the first time she’d had these thoughts. They seemed to be part of the strange nervousness that had been plaguing her for months, making her question everything she did. She’d kept her feelings to herself, not wanting to worry her friends, though she was starting to wonder if that was the best option.

I’ll give it another month, and if I don’t feel better, I’ll tell them.

When the music finally stopped, the men crowded around them broke into cheers and started to clap. Elaine and Anna turned to the crowd and curtsied before walking away hand in hand. When they neared the rest of the party, Thokri handed her a full cup of wine, and Barika handed one to Elaine.

“You’re going to have to teach us that!” Lyreen said.

“I don’t mind, but Anna will have to teach Voekeer the men’s steps. I don’t remember them,” Elaine replied.

“I can,” Anna added.

Lyreen beamed at them.

“Excuse me, miss,” a man said.

Anna turned to see one of the adventurers standing next to them. He held out his hand to her and bowed slightly.

“Might I have the next dance?” he asked.

Anna turned to the others, and Elaine nodded. She turned back to the man and took his hand.

“You may,” she replied.

He led her back to the dance floor where he put his arm around her waist and took her hand.

“Do you know the upland minuet?” he asked.

“I do,” Anna replied.

“Shall we then?” he asked.

“Sure,” she replied.

They began to dance, and she saw a genuine smile on his face and smiled just a little herself.

It’s going to get better. It has too.