Garnet and Silver by L.T. Getty

Author:L.T. Getty
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Unicorn Books

11

To Dance no More

Chloe tried to remember everyone’s names but she couldn’t even get that right. Yssa was her principal teacher, but another served as her principal dance instructor, another excelled at telling her to fix her posture, another taught her how to eat with courtly grace

“You are learning too slowly,” Yssa said, “Practice until you get it perfect, Chloe. Hyralie will play for you until you can master it.”

Hyralie was easily gorgeous enough to be Miss Universe, but the other princesses tended to dump whatever they could on her, and their chores were few. The others went back to what they considered important: their paintings, their own dancing, the composing of music and song. One of the princesses seemed to always be designing and making outfits for the others, and had pixies bring in beautiful fabrics, the likes of which Chloe had never seen before.

Chloe wondered why he princess made their clothing, so she asked Hyralie. Hyralie explained as they left the room to find a quiet spot, away from the others. “Bryne she is our most skilled seamstress, and it pleases the prince to see his princesses so finely adorned.”

“I thought the prince would forbid the princesses such labour,” Chloe said. Yvara, the pixie she’d been shown back on her world, buzzed by, and nestled in her hair. “I was wondering where you’d gotten to.”

“The others say Bryne was picked not as a princess, but because she was so skilled at her craft. The prince does truly love us, and he will not take away her love of the craft,” Hyralie said. “You are so lucky if you are the one.”

Hyralie began to play her harp and did not criticize Chloe when she obviously messed up dancing. Even Yvara flew off in frustration, but returned half an hour later to sleep in a bed of scrap fabric from Bryne’s latest creation.

Hyralie had a bit of calm and kindness that Chloe found genuine. “The others say you are learning slowly,” she said after Chloe stopped to massage her aching toes, “but you must take heart. You are learning much faster than I did when was brought here.”

“I think my feet are going to bleed,” Chloe said.

“It is best not to think about the pain,” Hyralie said. “After all, it is only after the caterpillar sheds the cocoon that it may be a butterfly.”

“I’ve not seen any butterflies here,” Chloe said. “Are there many in the garden outside?”

“I never go to the gardens without the prince,” Hyralie said.

“Does the prince take you to the gardens often?” Chloe asked.

“Sometimes,” Hyralie said, “but I am not one of his favourites.”

“Who are his favourites?” Chloe asked. “Besides Yssa, of course.”

“Yssa is not one of his favourites. She is his guard dog,” Hyralie said. “She keeps us in line, and he pretends like she’s one of his favourites. You will see later, at the ball tonight. You will always see Yashiako on his arm, and Ariella at the foot of his throne. We are all favoured in different ways.

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