Chapter 60 Silver Is Yours.

“The problem is that you have to lead.” Lenna told him when they decided to start practicing the sword dance that she had learned as a girl.

Isaac nodded. “How many moves is it? If I need to have the entire thing memorized before next weekend I need to know how much of our days I need to dedicate to this.” He asked.

“One hundred and twenty eight for the easiest version.” She told him.

“What is the difference between the versions?” Isaac wondered.

“The first is simply going through the motions normally. That is most likely what we will be doing.” Lenna began. “Up from there, we switch places and go again. Up from that, we go forwards, switch places, then start from the top only in reverse.” She explained.

“What do you mean ‘in reverse’?” Isaac asked with some concern.

“As if you were turning back time.” Lenna replied with a grin. “It requires true mastery of the combat form it is based on or perfect memory of the dance.”

“Okay… anything else I need to know?” Isaac questioned.

“Our blades can never actually hit each other.” Lenna explained. “It is a dance not true combat so it should be done in almost total silence, save for the music, of course.”

Isaac paled. “Can we cheat?” He already had an idea on how to make it easier on himself.

“How?” Lenna asked.

“If my sword blade is coated in a thin layer of shadows it should nullify any sound from them actually making contact.” He replied.

Lenna looked thoughtful for a moment. “Anyone watching closely would be able to tell.” She told him.

Isaac nodded. “Yes but at least they wouldn’t clang.” He countered.

“As a safety net.” She replied.

“As a safety net.” Isaac agreed with a nod. The pair had decided to practice it in street clothes on Celeste’s roof so no one would be able to watch them. Isaac pulled his sword out of his Inventory and Lenna drew her’s from its scabbard on her hip. “Ready.”

The sword dance was difficult. Each move had to be in time with the music from a waltz meaning it was done at a speed near real combat. Two moves a second for just over a minute for just the first part. They practiced an hour everyday before they left and again when they returned from hunting spiders. By the fifth morning Isaac had the first part down near perfectly. In the entire practice they only touched swords once during the sixty four exchanges. Isaac wasn’t about to try to go in reverse but he was confident enough that he could learn the other half.

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By the morning of the ball Isaac had the other half down enough that Lenna was confident in leading him through it. They were as ready as they were going to be. The only thing left to do was get dressed and walk to Arbencroft estate. Apparently they had a ball room in the back. It had been added on as an afterthought to the original building, because the first duke to command the region had to be very resource efficient in starting the city.

Celeste showed up an hour before they needed to leave to help Lenna into her dress and do her hair. Isaac only had to add a vest and tailcoat over his normal formal wear. He had stopped by the jeweler and had all of his silver buttons replaced with platinum ones but that was as far as he was going to go when it came to extravagance. They were effectively broke until the drider silk was processed and sold.

—

Isaac got up and stretched. It was almost time to leave and he had just finished reading a chapter in the latest book that he was tackling. He grabbed his tailcoat from the bed and turned to stare at the folding wall separating him from Lenna and Celeste. “Almost ready?” He asked.

“I think we are done.” Celeste replied while giving Lenna her third once over. She nodded. “Yes. Perfect as far as I can see, dear.” Her voice dropped to a whisper that Isaac still heard. “Ready to show him?” She asked.

Isaac didn’t hear Lenna’s reply but a moment later she walked out from behind the wall and their eyes met. Isaac wasn’t sure exactly how to feel about her attire at that very moment. Somehow the silver, shoulderless, layered, and frilly ballgown managed to defuse some of the air of power that normally surrounded Lenna. It was replaced with an air of elegance and authority. Her amethyst necklace caught the light and sparkled. She was magnificently gorgeous in the gown but the usual image of Lenna V’Nova had been flipped like the other side of a coin.

“Are you just going to stare?” Lenna asked. There was less confidence in her voice than usual and it startled Isaac out of his admiration.

“Yes.” He replied with a grin. “From ancient warrior to powerful princess in an hour.” He commented. “From strength to authority. From righteousness to elegance.” He shook his head to help clear it. “You look…” The light caused her dress to sparkle as she turned slightly, small hidden bits of silver caught the magical light of the glow stone and scattered it across the room. “Radiant.” He said in a quiet awe.

Lenna felt her face heat up and she returned a smile. “Thank you.” She told him. “I wasn’t sure where you were going at the beginning.”

Isaac shook his head slowly while continuing to stare at her. “I wasn’t either.” He replied honestly. “I wasn’t really thinking about what was coming out of my mouth.”

Lenna chuckled and covered her mouth with the back of her hand. The light scattered again with the motion. It was then that Isaac noticed the silver silk gloves that matched the dress, her hair, and her eyes. Her hair was up in a high ponytail that was held together by two smaller braids that looped around its base and all of it was pinned in place by her silver throwing spikes. “I could tell.” She told him honestly.

The more of her that he noticed and more speechless he became. It took them far too long to move to leave their room because of his staring. Eventually Celeste cleared her throat. “You don’t want to be late. It’ll look bad.” She told them to get them moving. She had been watching the pair with a motherly grin that was caring, proud, and smug at having called their relationship the day she met them. If her son was going to take forever to make a move on the waitress then at least she could help her adopted foreign children along. Maybe that way she would get some grandchildren before she died of old age.

“Yes.” Isaac agreed, completely unaware of the direction Celeste’s thoughts had gone after her comment. He crossed the room and got the door for the ladies. He closed and locked it as normal and the key vanished with a flick of his wrist. He offered Lenna his arm. “Shall we, Lady V’Nova?”

She put her arm through his and nodded gracefully with a smile. “Yes, Lord Wexler, let’s.”

The only thing Isaac could think about was the woman on his arm. He didn’t notice the stares both good and bad they received nor did he hear any comments. He only wished he could see her properly as the lights hit her dress from all directions. He could see what looked like stars flash across the ground as they walked from the lights reflecting off of all the little mirrors Jessica had managed to hide in the gown.

“Jessica really outdid herself with that one.” Isaac said after a while.

Lenna had to agree. “Yes, you finally look like a nobleman.” She replied.

Isaac chuckled and shook his head. “I meant with your dress.”

Lenna smiled. “I know.” She glanced at him. “I would say black really is your color but…” She really wished she could see more than just blacks and grays. She hadn’t really minded before but the more time she spent in human territory the more she longed for color.

Isaac nodded. “It is.” He looked over at her and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her face. “And silver is yours.”