[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
combinations of the dance steps and she really had to keep her attention on
her feet and following his lead. Maybe it was him being a Holder's son.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
'Maybe it's being a runner,' and his remark startled her, it being near what
Page 32
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
she'd just been thinking, 'but you're the lightest thing on your feet.' He
reset his hands more firmly about her, drawing her as close as he could.
They were both silent, each concentrating on the complexities of the dance. It
ended all too soon for Tenna. She didn't really wish to release him. Nor he,
her. So they stood on the dance floor, arms at their sides but not with much
distance between them. The music began again: a faster dance and before she
could say a word, Haligon had swung her into his arms and moved off in the
rhythm of this tune. This time they had to concentrate not only on the steps
but also to avoid collisions with more erratic dancers whirling about the
floor.
Three dances to a set and Haligon whisked her off the floor during the change
of musicians on the pretext of needing a drink. With glasses of chilled white
wine, he guided her into the shadow of a deserted stall.
She smiled to herself, rehearsing a number of deft rejections if she needed
them.
'I don't think you're at all lame, Tenna,' he said conversationally.
'Especially if the station master let you take a run down to the Port. Care to
have a go at the first Toss dance after all?'
His expression dared her.
'We'll see.'
Pause.
'So, will you run on tomorrow?'
'I'll be careful with the wine in case I do,' she said, half-warning him as
she lifted the glass.
'Will you make it to the sea from here in one run?'
'Quite likely. It's spring and there'd be no snow on the Pass trace.'
'Would you still go if there were?'
'No one said anything about snow on the Pass trace at the station.'
'Keep your ears open, don't you?'
'A runner always needs to know conditions on the trace.' She gave him a stern
look.
'All right, I've got the message.'
'Fair enough.'
Pause.
'You're not at all what I expected, you know,' Haligon said respectfully.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
'I can quite candidly say the same of you, Haligon,' she replied.
The new musicians played the first bar of the next song, to acquaint people
with a sample of the dance to come.
So, when Tenna felt his arm about her shoulders, she did not resist the
pressure. Nor did she when both arms enfolded her and his mouth found hers. It
was a nice kiss, not sloppy as others had been, but well placed on her lips,
as if he knew what he was about in kissing. His arms about her were sure, too,
not crushing her needlessly against him. Respectful, she thought . . . and
then, as the kiss deepened with her cooperation, she didn't think of anything
but enjoying the experience.
Haligon monopolized her all evening, rather deftly, she realized. Always
whisking her off the dance floor before any one else could find her. They
kissed quite a bit between dances. He was far more respectful of her person
than she expected. And she said so.
'With the punch you can deliver, my girl,' he answered, 'you can bet your last
mark I'm not about to risk my brother's fate.'
He also found other chilled drinks for her to drink instead of more wine. She
appreciated that even more. Especially when the music of the Toss dance began.
The floor cleared of all save a few hardy couples.
'Shall we?' and Haligon's grin was all the challenge she needed.
The ache in her right shin was really minor and her confidence in his
Page 33
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
partnering had grown throughout the evening otherwise she would not have taken
his dare.
During the pattern of the dance, the female partner was to be swung as high as
possible, and if she was very clever, she would twirl midair before being
caught by the male. It would be a dangerous dance, but it was ever so much
fun. Tenna's older brother had taught her and given her enough practice so
that she was well able to make the turns. It had ensured her partners at any
Gather in the east once it was known how light she was and what a good dancer.
From the very first toss, she knew that Haligon was the best partner she'd
ever had. There was great cheering for them when she managed a full two turns
in the air before he caught her. In one of the rare close movements of the
dance, he whispered swift instructions so that she was prepared for the final
Toss. And able to execute it, sure he would be there to keep her from crashing
on the floor. She was close enough to being missed so that the spectators [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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combinations of the dance steps and she really had to keep her attention on
her feet and following his lead. Maybe it was him being a Holder's son.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
'Maybe it's being a runner,' and his remark startled her, it being near what
Page 32
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
she'd just been thinking, 'but you're the lightest thing on your feet.' He
reset his hands more firmly about her, drawing her as close as he could.
They were both silent, each concentrating on the complexities of the dance. It
ended all too soon for Tenna. She didn't really wish to release him. Nor he,
her. So they stood on the dance floor, arms at their sides but not with much
distance between them. The music began again: a faster dance and before she
could say a word, Haligon had swung her into his arms and moved off in the
rhythm of this tune. This time they had to concentrate not only on the steps
but also to avoid collisions with more erratic dancers whirling about the
floor.
Three dances to a set and Haligon whisked her off the floor during the change
of musicians on the pretext of needing a drink. With glasses of chilled white
wine, he guided her into the shadow of a deserted stall.
She smiled to herself, rehearsing a number of deft rejections if she needed
them.
'I don't think you're at all lame, Tenna,' he said conversationally.
'Especially if the station master let you take a run down to the Port. Care to
have a go at the first Toss dance after all?'
His expression dared her.
'We'll see.'
Pause.
'So, will you run on tomorrow?'
'I'll be careful with the wine in case I do,' she said, half-warning him as
she lifted the glass.
'Will you make it to the sea from here in one run?'
'Quite likely. It's spring and there'd be no snow on the Pass trace.'
'Would you still go if there were?'
'No one said anything about snow on the Pass trace at the station.'
'Keep your ears open, don't you?'
'A runner always needs to know conditions on the trace.' She gave him a stern
look.
'All right, I've got the message.'
'Fair enough.'
Pause.
'You're not at all what I expected, you know,' Haligon said respectfully.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
'I can quite candidly say the same of you, Haligon,' she replied.
The new musicians played the first bar of the next song, to acquaint people
with a sample of the dance to come.
So, when Tenna felt his arm about her shoulders, she did not resist the
pressure. Nor did she when both arms enfolded her and his mouth found hers. It
was a nice kiss, not sloppy as others had been, but well placed on her lips,
as if he knew what he was about in kissing. His arms about her were sure, too,
not crushing her needlessly against him. Respectful, she thought . . . and
then, as the kiss deepened with her cooperation, she didn't think of anything
but enjoying the experience.
Haligon monopolized her all evening, rather deftly, she realized. Always
whisking her off the dance floor before any one else could find her. They
kissed quite a bit between dances. He was far more respectful of her person
than she expected. And she said so.
'With the punch you can deliver, my girl,' he answered, 'you can bet your last
mark I'm not about to risk my brother's fate.'
He also found other chilled drinks for her to drink instead of more wine. She
appreciated that even more. Especially when the music of the Toss dance began.
The floor cleared of all save a few hardy couples.
'Shall we?' and Haligon's grin was all the challenge she needed.
The ache in her right shin was really minor and her confidence in his
Page 33
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
partnering had grown throughout the evening otherwise she would not have taken
his dare.
During the pattern of the dance, the female partner was to be swung as high as
possible, and if she was very clever, she would twirl midair before being
caught by the male. It would be a dangerous dance, but it was ever so much
fun. Tenna's older brother had taught her and given her enough practice so
that she was well able to make the turns. It had ensured her partners at any
Gather in the east once it was known how light she was and what a good dancer.
From the very first toss, she knew that Haligon was the best partner she'd
ever had. There was great cheering for them when she managed a full two turns
in the air before he caught her. In one of the rare close movements of the
dance, he whispered swift instructions so that she was prepared for the final
Toss. And able to execute it, sure he would be there to keep her from crashing
on the floor. She was close enough to being missed so that the spectators [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]