Kevlin stepped through the yawning main entrance to the Great Dome with hundreds of other party-goers flowing into the building like a river of living color. Once inside, he slipped out of the main current and found a place near the outer wall where he could watch without being trampled.

Tens of thousands of people, dressed in their best finery, filled the immense space and packed all seven levels of open walkways clinging to the dome's lower walls. Still more people poured in from every entrance. A thousand different perfumes filled the air with a potpourri of scents that mingled together into a unique aroma.

The windows just above the highest level of open walkways that normally let in the daylight now shone silver with their own inner brilliance. The light cast a soft glow over the dome, creating a gentle twilight.

The air vibrated with the low roar of thousands of conversations, while musical troupes from each of the Six Kingdoms struggled to be heard. The musicians were situated on the floor map on top of each capital city. Nearby dance floors were marked off in the Tamerlane Sea. Couples whirled together in some, while large groups stepped to the complex patterns of the most popular dances of the day in others.

Kevlin grimaced. On a good day he barely managed to keep from tripping his dance partner. The last time he attempted to participate in one of the intricate group dances, he had started a brawl. Today, surrounded by the upper tier of society, he wanted nothing to do with the dancing.

At least he didn't look entirely out of place. He'd discovered a pile of new clothing in his room along with a note from Marjani. The young woman was a marvel. Tonight he wore a pearl-gray cotton shirt under a charcoal vest and the finest pair of deep green trousers he'd ever owned. He felt comfortable, but remained unremarkable and anonymous in the crowd.

The nobility and wealthy merchants didn't share his restraint. The ball was an excuse to empty their jewelry vaults, and they seemed intent on out-sparkling each other. Men and women both wore jewels of every color imaginable. Some of the men wore military uniforms, but they were the minority. The others sported the most recent fashions from every corner of the empire.

Frilled shirts under bright doublets and waistcoats seemed most popular. Their owners often wore smug expressions as they mingled with those wearing somber colors and floppy, plumed hats popular a month ago. The variety of color and style overwhelmed Kevlin's ability to absorb it all.

Despite their best efforts, the men were at most a backdrop against which the women shone. Spectacular gowns that fell to the floor in pleated folds seemed most popular with women from sensible Hallvarr. Tamarri ladies sported wide hoop skirts that consumed vast amounts of space and challenged their dance partners to draw near enough to clasp hands.

Many of the Freyarri ladies with their bronzed skin wore silks that clung to their torsos and caressed their legs as they moved. The merchant women of Meinarr adopted styles from the nations they most traded with.

Hairstyles varied more than Kevlin had ever seen. From long, flowing tresses dripping with jewels, to complex patterns piled high over their heads, the variety seemed endless.

Kevlin eventually spotted tables piled high with a mouth-watering array of delicacies. They were scattered around the hall along the edges of the imperial highways marked in the floor map, and offered foods from each kingdom. He picked up a drink and a meat pie and tried to make himself useful.

He didn't want to insult any of the chefs, so tried to sample a bit of everything. He had to pace himself to avoid getting too stuffed, and was grateful the party was supposed to last all night.

A raised platform had been erected between the twin arcs of the grand staircase for the emperor and the keisara. The ambassadors and other high nobility mingled there above the crowd. Kevlin caught sight of Harafin and Leander, but enjoyed the anonymity of the lower crowd.

The entire night was orchestrated to highlight the emperor's presence. Seeing him well and enjoying the entertainment would do much to quell rumors of sickness or assassination attempts. There were sufficient imperial guards in view to maintain the peace, and Kevlin knew there were many more hidden among the crowd.

As Kevlin scanned the room, he caught sight of Jerrik descending the grand stair with a beautiful brunette on his arm. The giant Donarri soldier dressed conservatively in his best uniform and towered above the crowd. Kevlin moved to intercept him.

When Jerrik caught sight of him, he boomed out a loud hello that chased off several partygoers and cleared a space for them to talk. Jerrik's companion said something to him that Kevlin couldn't hear, and slipped away through the crowd.

"Who's your friend?" Kevlin asked his huge blood brother.

"A distant cousin." Jerrik watched the woman go. "Too bad she's engaged to a friend of mine."

Drystan stepped out of the crowd with a tall, willowy woman whose light brown hair hung in a simple braid down her back. She looked young, an image reinforced by her peach-colored dress that left her slender arms bare. A sleeping baby hung in a pack on her back.

Drystan slipped an arm around the woman's narrow waist. "Brothers, I'm thrilled to introduce you to my wife, Keelin."

Jerrik laughed and wrapped her in a hug, engulfing her in his meaty arms. When he stepped back, she grinned and her blue eyes sparkled with mirth.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Jerrik."

"Ukko's Beard, Drystan finally did something right marrying you."

She laughed and laid a hand on his arm. "We're going to get along well."

Kevlin took her hands and bowed over them. "So pleased to meet you."

"So you're the Kevlin my husband now calls brother?"

"I surely am, and indebted to him and Jerrik for welcoming me into the families."

She hugged him and said into his ear, "Then I too welcome you, Kevlin, my new brother."

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She smelled of sunshine and wild grasses, and her warm words set him at ease. He had worried what his brothers' extended families would think when they found out about the Swordbrother oath.

"I can't wait to hear the tale," Keelin said.

"There's much to tell," Jerrik said.

"Later," Drystan said. He slipped his arm around Keelin's waist again and looked like he never planned on removing it. He gazed at her with open devotion.

Kevlin wondered at his brother's ability to leave his young bride. She was tall for a woman but looked vulnerable beside the powerful warriors.

"How long have you been in the capital?" Kevlin asked.

"I just arrived today. I didn't want to miss the ball."

"Good timing," Jerrik said.

"It's been a busy day," Kevlin agreed.

Keelin ran a hand over Drystan's injured shoulder. "I heard about the fight." She touched Drystan's cheek and said in a teasing voice, "You survived pitched battle in Hallvarr, and you fall to a bunch of ruffians on your first day back in the capital. You're getting slow, dear one."

Drystan laughed and hugged her close.

Jerrik said, "The emperor was lucky we were there. His regulars would've been swarmed under."

Keelin frowned. "You didn't say anything about the emperor."

Drystan looked around to make sure no one was listening, despite the fact that they could barely hear each other. "We're not supposed to talk about it, love."

She cocked her head to one side and raised an eyebrow.

Drystan chuckled. "Well, not much."

Kevlin said, "We got lucky. The ambush was very well planned."

"Doubly lucky, I say," Jerrik said. "They should've killed you both. Fools tried dragging you away instead."

"Why would they do that?" Keelin asked.

Drystan shrugged. "The Sentinels are going to interrogate them after they break some kind of mind trap. We don't know why they tried to kill the emperor."

She shook her head. "Something doesn't add up, dear one. If they only wanted to kill the emperor, they would've killed you to get to him."

"Are you disappointed I survived?"

"Never, love, but their actions don't make sense."

"I have no idea," Drystan said. "They made a mistake, and paid the price." He took her hands in his and turned her toward the nearby troupe playing a traditional Einarri song. "I don't plan to spend my evening talking about them. I plan to spend it with you."

Together they slipped through the crowd and merged seamlessly into the group of dancers moving to the intricate steps of the song. Drystan and Keelin moved together so perfectly that Kevlin smiled as he watched them dance.

Drystan always fought as if he moved to a dance he alone heard. Now he moved to the music with his wife as if they understood its demands better than anyone. They flowed around each other with a grace unmatched by any other couple.

"Sir Kevlin, I hope you're enjoying yourself tonight."

Kevlin turned and found Marjani standing beside him. She wore a simple but elegant green and gold dress, and her curly hair was held back with a large comb.

"I am, thank you."

Jerrik asked, "Who's your friend, Kevlin?"

"This is Marjani. Marjani, this is my brother, Jerrik."

Marjani craned her neck up to look at Jerrik. "How is it possible? My lord Jerrik, you're Donarri or I'm blind. Kevlin's from Meinarr."

Jerrik grinned and took her hand. "We're brothers by blood, but not by birth."

"Well, you've got a quick tongue for a big man. If there's anything I can do for you, just ask."

Jerrik pointed toward the Donarr band. "They're playing my favorite song. Join me."

Marjani laughed. "That's a drinking song."

"Aye. My favorite."

Marjani curtsied. "I am assigned to make sure guests have a good time."

"Then come. Show me a good time."

They moved off through the crowd and Kevlin chuckled to watch them go. Jerrik was always on the lookout for a girl to chase, but Kevlin had expected him to pursue eligible noble ladies.

Kevlin forgot all about his huge brother when he caught sight of Indira and Ceren descending the grand stair. The sight of them snuffed out any thoughts but getting to Indira’s side.

He plowed through the crowd to intercept her, and drank in the sight of her. Everything else faded to gray around him. The constant roaring of the crowd dimmed to a whisper as she consumed his senses.

Indira wore a long white and black satin gown that left her graceful neck and shoulders bare. She had piled her midnight hair atop her head in a complex style similar to the one Ceren wore. Around her neck she wore a simple silver chain. Her creamy skin glowed in the soft light.

As Kevlin moved to intercept her, Ceren stepped between them. Ceren again wore a gown in emerald green that matched her eyes and complemented her smooth, olive skin.

"Kevlin, I don't think it's wise for you to get too close to Indira."

Kevlin nodded a polite greeting to Ceren without taking his eyes off Indira. He reached for Indira and she took his hand with a dazzling smile that filled him with soaring joy. They moved closer together, and Kevlin yearned to kiss her full lips.

"Indira," Ceren said in an exasperated voice. "We talked about this."

Indira shrugged. "I'm sorry, Ceren. I just don't feel it's dangerous here."

Kevlin slipped an arm around Indira's waist and breathed deep to capture a hint of her gentle perfume. Standing so close to her again, he couldn't believe he'd allowed anything to distance them.

"I've been working with Harafin," Kevlin assured Ceren. "Everything's under control."

"It's a risk you don't have to take," Ceren protested.

Kevlin led Indira toward the center of the floor. "Actually, we do."

They crossed the vast hall without speaking. Kevlin exulted in the simple pleasure of walking with her. He saw no one else, barely noticed where they were walking. Only when they stepped onto the dance floor as the Meinarr troupe began one of the few dances Kevlin actually felt confident with did he pay attention.

As they stepped to the stately, intimate dance among the other couples, Kevlin said, "I've missed you."

"Me too." Indira glanced to either side as if to make sure no one could hear them. Then she asked, "How . . . how have you been?"

Memories of the ambush, desperate struggle, and death of the Meinarr Ambassador flashed into his mind. He saw again Akillik and his burning Wheel, and felt the remembered terror of the Tai Pari.

"Doesn't matter." He forced it all away. "Right now I'm better than ever." He touched her cheek. "How about you?"

She startled him by leaning her head against his shoulder, her expression worried. His heart nearly burst with the thrill of feeling her in is arms, but he couldn't imagine what might be bothering her.

She whispered so softly he barely heard. "I tried protecting Adalia today. It didn't work."

"Is she all right? What happened?"

He was such a fool. He'd been so focused on the enemy concealed within the palace, he'd overlooked the more vulnerable targets.

Indira slid one hand down his cheek, setting his skin on fire with her touch. "We're fine. It's nothing like that. I was just trying to demonstrate how I protect others, how you taught me."

She blushed, and he didn't even bother resisting the urge to kiss her lightly on the lips. She didn't pull away.

"Tell me about it," he urged.

She did. As they danced close together and ignored the rest of the world, she poured out her concerns. She'd failed to protect Adalia. Worse, she'd caused the tiny archer pain. Even worse, she feared she might not be able to protect anyone again should the need arise.

Kevlin listened until her words trailed off. "I don't think you should worry about it so much. I know you. You'll work it out."

"You think so?"

"You're stronger than you think, Indira. You saved my life, and the lives of more people than I can count. You saved Ceren at the tower. So you had a bad day? Don't let it get you down."

She smiled. "Thank you."

"Besides," he added. "Maybe I'll finally get to save you for once."

She laughed, and he kissed her again. She kissed him back, and the feeling of her lips pressed to his set his heart singing.

In that moment, all was right with the world.

# # #

Ceren stood at the edge of the dance floor and watched Kevlin and Indira. She maintained a calm façade that revealed none of her conflicting emotions.

She loved Indira like a sister, but she'd worked too hard to arrange things here at the capital. She couldn't allow Indira and Kevlin to destroy everything before she could reap the fruits of her work. Some things were too important for any distractions to interrupt. The stakes were far too high to fail.

Ceren made up her mind and moved purposefully away through the crowd. It was time to act.