Inyuin Celestara's Arc

Chapter 5 of 6

Inyuin stood at the edge of the hall. The old families filled the room in shining gowns. Some of them had turned her away twice. She lifted her chin and walked in. The starlight in her dress moved as she moved. Heads turned. One by one, the low talk stopped. A hush spread across the floor. An old woman in silver stared at the hem of Inyuin's gown, where real stars glowed inside the thread. Nobody spoke against her. Nobody said a word about her blue skin or her horns. The proof was in the cloth, and they could all see it. Then the crowd shifted near the doors. Thora Ironheart walked in from the outer post. She wore her armor still, the red cape pinned at her shoulder. She had guarded the east gate for six years, kept out of the inner halls because of her orc blood. Now she crossed the marble floor toward Inyuin, and the old families drew back from her. "You're inside," Thora said. "So am I. Nobody stopped me this time." "You came in," Inyuin said. She was smiling before she knew it. "I decided I'd earned a look." Thora glanced at the staring nobles. "Let them stare." Music started. Inyuin held out her hand. Thora looked at it, then at the room full of powerful eyes. Her jaw shifted, the way it did at the gate. "I don't dance," Thora said. "Then follow me." Thora took her hand. They stepped into the center of the floor. Inyuin led, slow at first. The starlight thread lit their faces from below. Thora was stiff, then less stiff. The old families watched the outsider in the star gown dance with the half-orc guard, and none of them dared say it was wrong. When the music ended, the silver-gowned woman gave a small, careful nod. It was the first sign of respect Inyuin had ever gotten from the old families. She had proven she belonged, at least for one night. The crowd broke into talk again. Inyuin pulled Thora away, out through a side arch, into the cool air of the grounds. A gazebo stood there, dark iron worked into the shape of a heart along its rail. Purple cloth hung from its roof and stirred in the wind. They stopped under it. Thora's breath came fast. "That was a mistake in front of all of them," she said. But she did not let go of Inyuin's hand. "It wasn't," Inyuin said. She stepped close. Thora leaned down. They kissed under the dark roof, and the light from the gown glowed soft between them. When they parted, Thora's face was open in a way Inyuin had never seen. "The captain will hear I left my post," Thora said quietly. "By morning. He's been waiting for a reason." Inyuin's smile faded. She had won the room. But she had pulled Thora into the light, and now the guard had something to lose.