The stage makeup had been washed off, and her cheeks were still rosy from the bath. Her hair fell loose around her shoulders, and she wore a long, swirling skirt in varying shades of green, complimented by a loose, white peasant blouse with a wide neckline that slipped off one of her lightly tanned shoulders. She wore thin, gold tinted sandals on her feet and a bunch of gold bangles jingled on her wrist.
Everything about her was Kalo, and Alex had to physically restrain himself from running over and sweeping her up into his arms. As it was, he stood frozen at the top of the stairs like a mute idiot as she approached, his mouth agape as he stared.
“Well met, Alex. Shall we go down to dinner together?” She smiled up at him, and he tried to find words to respond, but his brain refused to cooperate. Her smile slipped at his silence, growing forced around the edges. “Alex...?”
He gave his head a slight shake, scolding himself for his idiocy. “Yes, of course, Your Highness.” He offered her his arm, and her face lightened as she slipped her hand into the crook. He trained his gaze straight ahead, following the servant as he led them out onto a large, walled-in terrace. A long table was set on one end, and several benches and potted plants lined the walls. Torches were attached to the high walls at regular intervals, ready to be lit as the sun began it's final descent.
Mr. Banri stood at the head of the table, with his son, David, alongside him. They both bowed as Josselyn came out, but she waved her hand dismissively. “Please, let's not be formal tonight. After everything that's happened, I'd much rather enjoy a simple dinner among friends.”
“As you wish, Your Highness,” Mr. Banri replied, moving to pull a chair out for her.
“I'd prefer you call me Josselyn, at least in the privacy of your home.” She took the seat he offered, and he grinned.
“Then I must insist you call me Jonathan. Ah, here comes the lovely Delaney sisters and their decrepit, old father.”
“Not nearly as decrepit as you, old man,” Hiram called out as he and his family joined them all at the table. “Now, enough of your hot air. Let's eat!”
Everyone laughed as they pulled out chairs, ignoring convention and sitting wherever they wanted. Alex felt some of the tension leave his shoulders, and he joined them. David leaned across the table, a curious smile on his face.
“You're Kalo, aren't you?” At Alex's look, David hurried to continue. “I only ask because I've spent a lot of time with the Kalo, studying their music. I find it incredibly fascinating. It's just so... alive, you know? Unlike the stiff arrangements preferred by the 'upper class'.”
“I'm Kalo by birth, but I was raised in the capital. I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with their music.”
“A Kalo with no music?” David shook his head. “Positively tragic.” His eyes lit up, his grin returning in full force. “We'll just have to enlighten you, then.” He raised his voice so that everyone at the table would hear. “Shall we have music and dancing after dinner?”
There was a round of cheers, and Jonathan raised a glass in his son's direction. “An excellent idea, David!”
“That's not necessary, really... this hardly seems like an appropriate time, given our current situation...” Alex looked around the table, searching for someone to back him up, but they were already chatting excitedly about which songs they wanted to play. Josselyn caught his eye, a playful smirk on her lips. She was clearly enjoying his discomfort.
He focused his attention on his food, ignoring the chatter that surrounded him. Before he knew it, servants were coming around and clearing away the plates. Instruments were brought out, and David led the music off with a lively jig played on his mandolin. The women moved to the center of the floor, dancing together in a loose circle, their skirts swirling around their ankles. They were all wearing similar skirts, each in a different color. Red, yellow, green, blue and purple fabrics flared out in a rainbow of spinning skirts as the women twirled around with the rhythm of the song.
They continued to play and dance, changing out musicians and singers with each song. It seemed just about everyone there was a proficient musician. Alex found himself being drawn into the music, as if it had some sort of magical hold over him. His feet tapped against the stone floor as he watched the dancing from one of the benches on the side. David came over and dropped down onto the bench beside him.
“The next dance is meant to be done with a partner. Seeing as we're a bit short on gentlemen, I'm going to have to insist you join us.”
Panic gripped Alex's chest as he looked at David askance. “I don't dance.”
“You're Kalo, of course you dance,” David protested, elbowing him in the side. “You just haven't allowed yourself the chance. Now, that princess of yours is in need of a partner. Surely, you wouldn't want to disappoint her?”
Heat shot through his body at the thought of dancing with Josselyn, but he pushed the thought away. “Then why don't you dance with her? I imagine you'd do a much better job of it than I would.”
“I would, but I've already promised the dance to Dahlia.”
Alex found Josselyn, standing beside Lily, laughing over something the girl was saying. It was just a dance, after all, and if it would make her happy... He stood, ignoring the voice in the back of his head that said he was doing it for his own pleasure as much as hers. Striding over to where she stood, he cleared his throat. She turned to face him, and her eyes widened as he held his hand out, his heart pounding against his rib cage.
“Would you care to dance, Your Highness?”
She crossed her arms as she considered his offer, and he began to sweat beneath her scrutiny.
“On one condition.”
He swallowed, waiting. She placed her hand in his, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Call me Josselyn, like
