"Would you like to dance?" The man with the grey eyes had asked. Aurora opened her mouth to speak.

"She is currently engaged to dance with me. Please try again later," Sir Iorwerth said. Aurora felt a surge of energy from his hand into her back, and she lost control of her body. Sir Iorwerth smiled at her dotingly and turned them toward the middle of the dance floor. The man in the mask was undeterred. He followed them.

"You should allow the lady to speak for herself," he insisted. "Would you like to dance?" As was customary, the man in green tapped Sir Iorwerth on the shoulder to prove his intentions. A visible streak of lightning leapt from Sir Iorwerth and ran up the other man's arm. The man in the mask jerked away and cried out.

"Stay back!" Sir Iorwerth hissed, his face distorted as his eyes flashed. For a moment, Aurora felt his power over her weaken, and she found the strength to pull away from her dance partner.

The grey-eyed man saw the look on his Empress's face, a look of confusion and fear, and his own concern deepened. "Are you ok?" He asked. When she didn't answer immediately, he stepped between her and Sir Iorwerth. "I think the lady has had enough."

"But…" Sir Iorwerth reached for Aurora, and she flinched backwards. Her mind was fully hers again, and she would not surrender it.

"Thank you, Sir Iorwerth," she said calmly. "It's been a pleasure." She backed away slowly and curtsied. Sir Iorwerth realized that the couples around them had stopped dancing to watch the scene. Any move he made now would be quite public. He was forced to concede.

"Till next time," he bowed.

Aurora took the hands of the masked man. "Devrim!" She whispered, tears of joy forming in her eyes. For of course, the mysterious man in green was her best friend. "That man, Sir Iorwerth, something is very wrong about him. He needs to be caught."

The pair looked up into the balcony and caught Chief Zan's eyes. Zan had also been concerned by the scene, and when he saw the Empress motion to catch the handsome blond man, he sprang into action. Guards were dispatched to apprehend Sir Iorwerth as he exited the room.

"Chief Zan has things well in hand. Are you ok? You looked so strange." Devrim looked over his friend to make sure she was fine.

"I was so scared. I'm not even sure what happened." Aurora had no words to describe the feelings.

"You're safe now. What do you need? Do you need to go back to your room?"

Aurora shook her head. She had come to have a normal evening, and had one of the strangest ones of her life. However, the night was still young. "No, I'm not going to let Sir Iorwerth ruin my night. He's a problem for tomorrow. Just now a handsome stranger asked me for a dance, and I fully intend to accept his offer."

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

—————

Sir Iorwerth went down a side hall quickly and ducked into the shadows. Cafer was waiting for him. "Well, Gandr, what happened?!"

Sir Iorwerth's body glowed and shrank, replaced with a someone only slightly taller and wider than Cafer. "I do

not know," Gandr said, "My magic was not strong enough. Something was blocking my powers."

Cafer cursed. "You're the strongest persuader we have and the only one of us who can shape shift."

"That's because I'm a half-breed, brother, but my elf powers are not as strong as I'd like." Gandr looked defeated.

"I understand. How much magic did you use?"

"All my powers, Cafer, I'm sorry."

Cafer nodded. "Then you best be off quickly. As soon as the Fates discover what we've tried to do, they may come after you. One never knows how they'll react. I'll go release the real Sir Iorwerth. That'll keep them busy while you escape."

Nodding Gandr turned to leave, but stopped. "I'm glad you reached out, Cafer. The king thinks you've abandoned us. You've been gone so many years."

"Wait a little longer, brother. One way or another, we will regain our rightful place in this world."

——————

"You want to dance…with me?" After everything had happened, Devrim had nearly forgotten that he'd asked.

"Yes, you asked me. You can't take it back now." Aurora smiled sweetly.

Devrim offered his hand. The pair went on the floor and took their positions. The man in the mask wrapped his hand around the Empress's waist. Unlike her previous dance partner, when Devrim touched her Aurora felt safe, secure, and loved. Joy welled up in her spirit as they twirled. 'This is how dancing should feel,' she thought. Her cheeks turned crimson, which seemed to please the boy immensely.

Devrim's moves were swift and agile. They were so in tune that Aurora could barely feel him lead. "I thought you don't dance," the Empress teased.

The man in the mask seemed embarrassed, "I learned for you. Before our meeting with the Council, it was going to be your birthday present. As you once said, I only need a little practice."

"Oh," Aurora had nearly ruined her friend's surprise. "I'm so glad you decided to show me! Your dancing saved my life, and my evening. As always, you are my hero." She smiled flirtatiously and batted her eyelashes at him, a move that caused him to lose time with the music. Devrim stepped on his partner's foot.

"Sorry!" He finished out the dance flawlessly, determined not to be distracted by his alluring Empress.

When the song finished, Aurora was breathing heavily. "Could we get some fresh air?"

They walked out into a garden area where many couples were having quiet conversations or secret trysts. The pair found their own secluded spot and sat on a stone bench underneath a cherry blossom tree. Devrim removed his mask. Aurora noticed, perhaps for the first time, just how handsome he was. He would be eighteen next month, and he was a man she was proud to know. Aurora reflected again that Devrim had learned to dance merely to please her. An intense feeling of pleasure filled her soul.

She leaned against him, and he instinctively put his arm around her. Devrim realized his error—he hadn't asked if he could touch the Empress—but when Aurora didn't pull away he gained the courage to speak. "Aurora, there's something I need to tell you."

"There's something I need to tell you too." The girl stared out into the darkness pensively.

Devrim yielded, "You go first."

"I don't think I shall choose a husband just now. I will wait until the twins are older and can know the truth. I mean you are happy with the way things are now, aren't you?" She looked at him but could not read his face. If she had had more light, perhaps she would have seen his hesitation. Instead she took his silence for agreement. "You and the twins are all I need. Are you willing to play Emperor Consort just a little longer?"

"If it pleases Your Majesty, I am willing." If she had asked him to find and slay a dragon, he would have complied, but in some ways this request was more difficult. They sat in the intimate embrace for a while, soaking up the starlight and evening air.

"What did you want to tell me?" Aurora asked.

Devrim came back from his thoughts. With her in his arms, things had felt perfect. But he could not tell her how he felt just now. Devrim realized Aurora was not ready. He would wait until she was: a lifetime if he had to.

Instead he changed the subject, "That man, Sir Iorwerth, you said something was wrong with him. I noticed it too."

Aurora sighed, "He took control of me somehow."

"And he struck me with something like lightning. My whole arm went numb…. But how?" Devrim wanted to know.

"I only have one explanation." Aurora looked at her friend meaningfully.

"Magic? Are you sure?" Devrim could offer no alternative.

"I am, but we need to know more. Where can we find books on magic?"

The pair arrived at the same conclusion. Only one place contained that sort of information. "The vault!"