6. ROYAL DANCE

Meanwhile, in the county, Florian was seething with ire, having lost Esthela and her brothers. He recounted the day's events to his father.

"And you're quite certain she possessed eyes of green? Are you sure of this?" his father probed.

"Indeed, Father. She was the most exquisite woman I've ever beheld, and her eyes were of the greenest hue. All of them had such eyes! 'Twas a colour I'd never before encountered. In church, I found myself utterly transfixed by her, but Lotha barred my approach," Florian recounted.

"You ought to have informed me at once! Do you comprehend how many years I've spent in pursuit of her? Her presence is essential to me! We must not squander this chance. What of her parents? What action did you take against them?" his father pressed.

"My men... they slew them," Florian confessed.

"Their bodies—fetch me their remains at once!" his father commanded.

"They were consumed by fire along with all their possessions! Why would you desire the corpses of those decrepit souls?" Florian queried, perplexed.

"Are you certain they were incinerated? Go forthwith and verify the truth of it. If they are not ash, retrieve them and deliver them unto me. Moreover, keep vigil over the house. I am convinced they will return for their kin," his father instructed sternly.

"They are no more, I assure you! Something unseen in the wastelands seized them from our grasp and bore them away!" Florian protested vehemently.

"You witnessed their demise? And pray, what is this talk of an invisible force?" his father interrogated further.

"We discerned not the assailant. 'Twas but a colossal, unseen force that assailed us, and in terror, we fled," Florian elucidated.

"An invisible force, you say? Impossible. It must be them! Those very beings I've been scouring the earth for, concealed beneath my very nose! How could their presence have eluded me?" his father exclaimed in a sudden epiphany.

"Pray tell, Father, who are they?" Florian pressed.

"Without delay, seek out the elders' remains! I charge you to uncover their bodies. I suspect they will not be found," his father commanded with authority.

"Father, I've told you—they were engulfed in flames!" Florian protested.

"Florian, for once in your life, heed my words without contention. And should you happen upon Esthela, you are to refrain from harming her. Deliver her directly to me, and ensure you do not lay so much as a finger upon her," his father instructed with a grave tone.

"No! I refuse to surrender her to you. She belongs to me!" Florian retorted with defiance.

"Florian...! Cross me not in this matter, nor harm her, lest you invite your own demise!" his father threatened, his voice laden with fury and portent.

Prince Erick was beset by a sense of urgency. Esthela had become reclusive, venturing from the hut only to draw water every three days. It seemed her fear had taken hold ever since she glimpsed his crimson gaze. Though he and Oryun spent their days idly grazing before the hut across the river, time marched on, turning weeks to months, yet she persisted in her solitary routine. At times, she would gaze upon them from afar, perched upon a stone before her dwelling, but she dared not draw nearer.

Periodically, they would activate the barrier to monitor the three humans' condition. To their bewilderment, the humans were shrouded in a verdant aura, their very skin slowly adopting the hue. The prince had induced a profound slumber within them and had withheld further energy, heeding his grandfather's counsel. Concurrently, they observed Leoric and his father in a relentless quest for something elusive.

"What, pray tell, do you suppose those two are in search of?" inquired Oryun, eyeing their dogged pursuit to locate the boys from their erstwhile place of suffering. "Could there be a connection to the verdant men and your human? Their scent bears resemblance. Ought we not present them to her?"

"We are yet to discern whether they are allies or adversaries; hence, it is advisable to avoid an encounter for the present. Let us first ascertain their identities prior to taking any action, in the event they have not already succumbed to the wilderness," the prince replied, his reluctance to introduce them to his human evident.

"No, I am convinced they bear resemblance to the humans with whom we have previously crossed paths," Oryun retorted.

"And what prompts you to assert such a thing?" the prince questioned, his curiosity aroused.

"My prince, are you blind to the green energy that shrouds them? These humans, in proximity to your human pet, are distinctly unusual," Oryun remarked.

"Oryun, I must insist you cease referring to her as 'that'," the prince admonished.

"Very well, then we must assign her a name. What of 'Beth'?" Oryun proposed.

"No, in time her true name shall reveal itself. For now, let us not squander any further moments. We ought to procure sustenance and ascertain if she demonstrates any inclination to depart the hut this day," the prince resolved.

Throughout this period, Esthela remained ensconced within her hut. They had managed to supply her with fruits and provisions procured from other humans. It was solely on these occasions that she would unlatch the door, and they would even collect water for her as she slumbered. Notwithstanding these adaptations, she persisted in her state of fear and reluctance.

She waited anxiously for her brothers, though hope was ebbing away. Many a time, she contemplated gathering her courage to explore the situation, but the sight of two deer, vigilant in their observation, would strike fear into her heart, driving her back to the refuge of the hut.

When six hours had elapsed, equating to six human months, the dragons were obliged to ascend for the ball. Prince Erick uttered an incantation, and they materialised in their respective chambers to convene later in the grand hall, now teeming with guests. They had taken the measure of secreting Esthela's siblings in a more secluded cavern and bolstering her protective barrier.

"Do you reckon we've left ample sustenance for her? We shall be absent for nigh on a year without returning," Prince Erick inquired of Oryun.

"Fret not, I shall descend betimes to oversee her welfare. My presence is not mandated as an official guest, hence my absence from the festivities will scarcely be noted. I shall attend to your human companion and ensure she is provisioned," Oryun offered his assurance.

"Would you render me such a service?" Erick asked, his countenance brightening with gratitude.

"Yes, but do alter your countenance, lest you betray yourself," his best friend counselled. "Look there, is that not Princess Azulita? Pray, what was her name again?"

"Luddie. Would you care for an introduction?" Erick proffered, perceiving the spark of interest in his friend's eyes at the sight of the resplendent princess from the water kingdom.

"No! You are well aware that I am here solely as your confidant; otherwise, I daresay I wouldn't stand a chance of approaching. Oh...," he trailed off with a sigh, "you shan't be pleased with who is resolute in her intent to claim you for a dance." He whispered the words, nodding subtly towards Princess Elgida.

"Let's get on with it then; I haven't the stamina to parry with her this eve."

Without further delay, the prince made his way towards a bevy of princesses who, upon his approach, curtsied with reverence. They were all thoroughly charmed that the heir apparent had chosen to grace them with his presence and engaged him in eager conversation. Yet their chatter ceased abruptly as they discerned Princess Elgida's approach.

"Good eve, my prince," Elgida intoned with a curtsy before Erick, who responded with a mere nod. "Shall the dance commence anon, Your Majesty?"

"I am cognisant of that, Elgida. Indeed, I am present precisely because I wish to extend an invitation to Princess Luddie to grace me with her company in this dance," Erick declared.

"Me...?" Princess Luddie enquired, taken aback by the unforeseen offer.

"Erick!" Elgida uttered in a venomous whisper. "You cannot be serious. It is incumbent upon you to commence the dance with me!"

"Why so? Given that you are my foster sister, there exists no obligation on my part. I suggest you seek a different partner." He then addressed the assembly of princesses, having turned his back to Elgida, "Ladies," he said with a bow, "pray determine amongst yourselves the sequence of your dances with me. I vow to share a dance with each of you ere the night is through. Now, if you would, Princess Luddie."

To the astonishment of all present, Erick, without a moment's hesitation, took Luddie by the hand and escorted her to the centre of the hall. At a cue from the emperor, they commenced their dance, leaving the assemblage to ponder why the prince had selected one of the less favoured princesses as his consort for the opening dance.

The Water Dragon Clan held not a prominent position within the empire's hierarchy. While this status would not outright preclude Prince Erick from seeking Princess Luddie's hand in marriage, it was widely anticipated that he would align himself with a daughter from a more formidable alliance.

"Remember your pledge," Emperor Kendrick suddenly heard from his father, the erstwhile emperor.

"Dad, I hadn't anticipated your presence," the emperor expressed his astonishment.

"I came to ascertain whether, perchance, they had arrived," the former emperor replied, his gaze sweeping across the hall.

"Whom are you referring to?" inquired his son, the emperor, puzzled by his father's enigmatic remark.

"My invitees. They are nowhere to be seen. Your foster daughter appears to be in quite the turmoil over the prince. You must tread carefully with that dragon, lest she precipitate considerable strife. Owing to her insubordination and her defiance in heeding my edict to eschew contact with the humans, they faced annihilation," the former emperor cautioned.

Emperor Kendrick's eyes briefly met those of his adopted daughter as he offered reassurance: "Elgida? She is benign and guileless. She will not be a source of vexation for Erick. She is aware of her station."

"Are you entirely persuaded of that?" the former emperor probed, his gaze lingering on his son. "I am not convinced she regards him solely as a sibling."

Kendrick's attention drifted back to Princess Elgida before he replied. "Do not perceive that which does not exist, Father. She simply has Prince Erick's best interests at heart."

The former emperor considered his son's words, then turned his attention towards his grandson and responded, "I should hope so, sincerely so. Now, I shall seek an audience with the king of Gytuss. It has been an age since our last congress."