31st Trial of Vhalar, 718
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The hands were up in the air poised with fingers artfully splayed and arched with the elbows slightly curved out as her head turned towards the musicians as the violin joined the light, yet slow, melody. The flute trilled and echoed over the noise still, just as beautiful as it had been when it started the music with a solo piece. Two dancers, paid for by the audience’s deep pockets, moved together to start a more traditional dance. Like everyone else in the room, Virikai was captivated by their movements, so in tune with the music.
Dance was not a novelty to the Talius scion: he had been trained in the art, mostly by his mother, who believed that a sure way to a woman’s heart was through the art of dancing. Slow waltzes were her forte - she did not believe in the quickstep, claiming is was much too exuberant for a formal occasion. One wouldn’t want to work up a sweat after all.
But, as a child, Kai had never had much interest in the dancing, preferring more scientific pursuits. Now that he was engaged to be married in the next season, and with a number of other impending nuptials expected to follow, Kai regretted his choice to not pay more attention to his mother’s teachings. It was for this reason that he had secured the time of the dancers after their show, to re-educate him in the art.
They belonged to the troupe that had taken up winter refuge in Viden, as various travelling groups decided to do each arc. It was unfair, really, to call it a refuge, given the inhospitable winds and precipitation that limited everyone who stayed in the city during the Cold Cycle. But they were guaranteed a good income for the period in which travel to or from the city was impossible, which made it a popular option. The previous trial he had arranged to meet them after their show in order to pick up or learn different dance moves, and now that the show was drawing to an end, the lordling watched as the audience filed out of the auditorium, some other patrons lingering behind to offer their personal thanks to the group.
Eventually, when the room was empty, the violinist approached the seated aristocrat with a kind smile. He introduced himself as Garrett, and proceeded to shake his hand before running through the names of the rest of the troupe. His dance partner and primary teacher for the night was the female dancer called Leah. It turned out his lesson would be a trial by fire, no preamble, just straight into a slow dance, partnered up as if they had been familiar with each other their whole lives.
One of them noticed his turns were out of balance. It would be nice if he could get those turns right, but he was more worried about coordinating the spins and twirls of his dance partner better, though it wasn’t a disaster and was one of the few things he was praised on. The dance was over as quickly as it had begun, and the pair broke apart. “Now that we know what you can do, we can help you to correct it,” the female dancer explained.
