An Endless Dance
Waves of Passion: Book 2
J.W.Roan
"Aquila, are you alright?"
Aquila startled, a few droplets of her drink falling onto her hand. The room around her began to move into focus. The ballroom was full of dancers, their skirts twirling and swishing, thrown into the air in a multitude of vibrant colours. The sound of music and chatter filled her ears and the overpowering smell of fine wines and perfumes wafted to her nostrils.
She turned to the woman beside her. Roes, her friend looked towards her, her face a mask of concern.
Aquila smiled softly towards her. "Forgive me, I was miles away."
She stood beside one of the many refreshment tables. A drink was held lightly in her hand and her stomach fluttered beneath her golden dress. It was so strange to be at a ball without her best friend, Serene, and she needed her more than ever now. She had waited for this ball eagerly, but now she could barely contain her anxiety at the guests to come.
"I'd dare say you should be," Roes declared, "that Captain Tespar and others from Souel Nantra are coming. Isn't he the Captain who helped you when you were lost from the party going to Tiak? Is that who you were thinking about?" She teased.
Aquila could feel her face flushing at the memory. Captain Tespar, the man who had taken her to her destination, shown her kindness... He had rowed her to shore privately, walking her into the trees surrounding Tiak. He had inquired about what she chose, tempted her, asked her wholeheartedly to stay. But she had left him there, crouched amongst the trees as she returned to her future with her fiancé. To the man she had betrayed, a man she did knew she did not love.
Pulling herself together Aquila held her drink in both hands, steadying the wine inside.
"Yes, Captain Tespar. It will be good to thank him once more for his service to me. And my fiancé I'm sure would like to thank him personally."
Roes smiled. "But is it true?" Her eyebrow lifted towards Aquila.
Aquila could feel her heart beginning to beat faster within her chest. Her fingers toyed with each other around the glass.
"Is what true?"
Roes giggled. "Oh come now Aquila, you can't keep the secret forever."
Sweat began to pool together upon Aquila's flesh. She could almost feel the heat of the hall enclosing upon her, the smells of perfumes and fine foods making her feel dizzy and disorientated.
"I'm not keeping any secrets."
Roes rolled her eyes. "Are you scared someone will find him and steal his heart? Come on Aquila, tell me. Is it true? Is he truly handsome? Is it true he has tattoos and scars and that he covers one eye at all times with fabric? You have to tell me, please."
Aquila breathed a heavy sigh.
"You want to know if Captain Tespar is handsome?" She repeated.
Roes nodded eagerly, scanning the hall around them to make sure no-one was within hearing distance.
"Yes, very handsome," Aquila conceded.
Roes watched her ardently, but when Aquila's pause lasted more than five seconds she groaned.
"You have to give me more details, please," she begged.
Aquila smiled a genuine smile, her first, perhaps, since she had returned three months ago.
"He has a blue eye, like a whirlpool diving deep into the sea. You fall into it, you'll be unable to look away." Warmth rose to Aquila's cheeks as she thought of Captain Leit Tespar. "Yes, he covers an eye with fabric, but I can't say what's beneath it," she lied, hoping desperately that Roes could not see her flush. "He is very private, very kind, yet commanding. When he spoke to his crew even I jumped to attention."
Roes laughed, "please, tell me more. How often did you spend time with him? Were you alone? Did anything... you know."
Aquila bit her lip. "Roes... He was a gentleman. I spent many evenings eating and speaking with him. He let me read his books and made sure I was well cared for. But I am an engaged woman, what do you think of me?"
Roes shook her head. "Just saying, once in a lifetime opportunity, to waste it would be silly."
'To waste it...' The words rang in Aquila's head. Had she wasted it? Had she made the wrong decision? No. Their countries were at war, though the war had now ended. That was partly due to her safe return, to her plotting and maneuvering. If she had gone with Leit, if she had stayed with him... 'I could've been happy, but the world would have burned.'
A loud knock at the doors reverberated around the room.
The bustling chamber stopped spinning, voices hushed and everyone turned towards the two huge doors leading into the ballroom. Aquila held a hand to her chest, afraid its flutters would burst forth into the room. A servant stood, staff in hand as he addressed the hall of awaiting eyes.
"My Lords and Ladies. I am here to introduce our guests of honour. The Prince and Captains of our new ally, Souel Nantra. May I present, his highness Prince Urai, Captain Leit Tespar and Captain Brak Dragonai."
The two huge doors behind the servant creaked open; time seemed to slow around Aquila as she watched the three figures approaching from the darkness. The Prince stood tall and magnificent in a black tailed jacket. His brown hair slicked back, large brown eyes jumping from his pale face. Beside him, Captain Dragonai strode in. His black and red hair hung lazily to one side, his burgundy shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows revealing intricate tattoos not unlike Leit's. His burgundy eyes scanned the room as a side smile lit his stubbled face.
Aquila could only glance over them as her eyes were taken by the third figure to walk into the room. His navy jacket matched his waistcoat, a dagger hilt poking out from his black belt. He still wore the fabric over his right eye, the scar still tantalisingly peeking from beneath. His face was tanned from his months at sea, his hair curled and tangled upon his head. His eye burst from his face as glowing blue algae against his dark skin. He seemed to be scanning the hall as he stood before the crowd of eyes. Aquila braced herself as his gaze settled upon her. She grasped the table beside her, leaning heavily upon it.
He studied her, that intelligent, genuine face. His lips parted as if to smile, as if to speak.
"It is a great honour to be invited to your great city," the Prince proclaimed before bowing to the hall.
Leit turned away from her and bowed towards the awaiting Lords and Ladies. The room erupted with cheers as the three men walked down the stairs to join the main hall. The three foreigners were swallowed up into a crowd of curiosity, questions and ideas. Aquila lost sight of him. She once more could not see his face, nor dream of even a hint of his touch, his smell, his voice.
"Well, handsome barely cuts it huh? How do those men ever get out of bed? They must be swamped with suitors and beautiful woman galore!" Roes professed, fanning herself with her free hand.
"Yes, truly," Aquila mumbled as she twiddled her fingers in agitation.
She turned towards the table, lifting her glass to her lips she took comfort in the elegant wine as it dripped down her throat, releasing the muscles, which had begun to strangle her. She inhaled deeply and breathed out for as long as she could, until her chest felt empty, before repeating the process.
