Satchel’s train of thought was interrupted by the sound of nearby footsteps. He sat up and saw Addie approaching him.

  “There you are,” she said.

  “Oh, hello,” Satchel replied.

  “I wondered where you’d gone. Are you all right?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” he lied, and shift his gaze to the garden.

  “Are you sure? You didn’t look it when you left the ballroom.”

  “I’m surprised you noticed. You seemed busy.”

  Addie seemed taken aback. “Are you…jealous, Satchel?”

  “Why should I be?”

  She stepped closer. “Listen, I didn’t mean to ignore you. Please don’t be mad with me.”

  “I’m not mad.”

  Addie sighed and said nothing for a few minutes.

  “Actually,” she began, “I came out here to see if you’d care to dance with me.”

  Satchel stared at her and worked to keep his jaw from dropping.

  She continued, “But if you want to be left alone, I understand. I’ll go back inside.”

  “No, I’ll dance with you.” The words leaped from his mouth before he even knew he had said them.

  Addie smiled. “Good.” She gave him a sly look. “I’ve been curious to see how well you handle yourself.”

  Satchel returned the smile. “By the way, you look beautiful in that dress.”

  Even in the dim light, Satchel could tell her cheeks turned red.

  “Thank you,” she replied. “It’s a side-project the seamstress happened to have on hand.”

  She took his hand and started back toward the ballroom. Satchel mentally thanked Lady Montague for the lessons. As they entered the room, he caught a glance from Basco who grinned and gave him a wink. They waited for a new song before stepping out to dance. Satchel put his right hand on Addie’s waist and took her right hand in his left. They began slowly and then picked up in time with the music.

  Dancing with Addie felt different from his dance lessons with the Lady. It felt natural, as if he were back in Ire alongside Addie, racing across the rooftops and in the alleys, and evading the city watch after robbing merchants in Ledion Square. The look in Addie’s eyes indicated she felt the same.

  He had no idea how they looked from the outside, but he didn’t care. They smiled brightly throughout the dance and, when it ended, cheers rang throughout the room, startling them.

  Other dancers had stopped to watch the two thieves move across the ballroom and admired them for their performance. Satchel was about to ask Addie if she wanted to dance again when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

  A voice, smooth and steady, said, “Quite the performance, young man.”

  Satchel turned to face the stranger. He was tall with a pale complexion and long white hair. His clothes, expensive by the look, were also white. The face, perfect and smooth, had a spry youthfulness to it. A light seemed to surround him, giving him an almost angelic quality. Almost. Then Satchel looked into his eyes. The iron coldness of those gray eyes sent chills down the boy’s spine and frightened him. Never had a simple glance sent such fear into Satchel. Involuntarily, he took a step back.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “I apologize if I startled you,” said the man without dropping his smile. The coldness drifted into his voice.

  Satchel managed to say, “It-it’s all right.”

  “Would it trouble you much if I asked the young lady for the next dance? You may have her back right away, I promise.”

  Before Satchel could answer, Addie said, “I’d love to.”

  Satchel gave her an incredulous look. Were they looking at the same man?

  “Splendid,” the man replied and took Addie’s hand. His smile was like ice.

  Satchel wanted to speak up, but he stopped himself. Instead, he moved to the edge of the room. He thought about going back outside, but curiosity got the better of him. He decided to watch Addie dance with the man who had instilled such fear in him.

  They were brilliant together from the first note. The gracefulness of his movements and his perfect rhythm made everyone in the room stop and watch. Soon, they were the only couple dancing. Their movements were precise. Every foot change, every pivot, and every turn. Perfect.

  When they finished, no one said anything for a couple of breaths. Then the room erupted into applause. Addie’s cheeks flushed, and the smile on her face was wider than Satchel had ever seen. She giggled as the man leaned in close and spoke into her ear. Satchel set his jaw and turned to leave but stopped when something strange happened.

  Addie’s expression changed from a smile to worry, then tosheer terror. She mouthed the word, “You.”

  Suddenly she screamed and fainted onto the floor. It created a stir as people rushed to help her, Satchel included. Basco cleared everyone away with his voice and ordered his servants to take Addie to her room. He also grabbed one of the guests, a local doctor, and they rushed her out of the ballroom.

  Satchel searched for the pale man in white. Seeing no sign of him, he followed Basco and the servants. As they crossed the main hall, Basco ordered Satchel to get Jarek. When he reached the study, the door was locked. He pounded on the door and shouted Jarek’s name until he heard a click, and the door opened.

  “What’s with the racket?” Jarek said, annoyed. “I’m in the middle of—”

  “Addie fainted during a dance.”

  Jarek glowered at him. “Her corset was probably too tight. Nothing to bother me with.”

  “I-I think she was dancing with the White Knight.”

  It took a second for the statement to register with Jarek. “What?!”

  Satchel quickly relayed the encounter with the man in white.

  A hard expression came across Jarek’s face. “Let’s go,” he said.

  They found the doctor leaning over Addie, checking her pulse and her breathing.

  Satchel noticed something on her right hand. “Look!” he shouted.

  A ring on the middle finger pulsed a fiery white glow.

  “I knew she should have sold that thing,” said Jarek.

  “What?” said Basco.

  The old thief shook his head. “Later.”

  Basco pursed his lips, stepped close to Jarek and said, “This girl just collapsed screaming in the middle of my party in my home, and in front of many of my friends. If there’s something you know and aren’t telling me...”

  “I’m not sure what it is, and that’s the truth. She got it as a retainer for a job in Ire. Whatever it is, we should take it off her finger.”

  Jarek picked up Addie’s hand. As soon as his fingers touched the silver ring, an arc of lightning shot through his finger and attacked his chest. Basco and the doctor grabbed Jarek, forcing him away. The old thief collapsed to the ground.

  Leaning over him, Basco said, “What happened?”

  Jarek blinked a few times. “I don’t know.” He rubbed his chest. “Help me up.”

  “Will you be all right?” asked the doctor.

  Jarek nodded. “I’m fine. Worry about the girl.”

  Basco stood and said, “I must deal with my guests. No one else is to touch that ring.” He regarded Satchel and Jarek. “Both of you go back to the study and wait for me. When I return, we will discuss this in full.”

  ~*~

  Hastiand lay his bruised and aching body down on the mattress. Everything hurt, but it had been a good day. He had managed a perfect ball of compressed air in his palm for a full two minutes. Amon was ecstatic at the progress.

  “You’re picking things up quickly,” he had said. “Normally, I wouldn’t push someone this hard, but you’re learning it so well I think you can take it. Tomorrow we’ll start with other elements. Don’t worry. They won’t strain your body as much.”

  Seeing the elf in such a good mood put Hastiand at ease. The day had been productive, and the bard was glad to finally get some sleep. As he slipped out of consciousness, he thought again of Catherine.

  Soon, my dear. Soon.

  In the far corner of the room, a thin yellow line appeared in the dark sound hole of the mandolin.