Chapter fifteen.

Tõrontõ.

I raced through the forest, briskly placing the results of my hunt in the collection circle. I was running late, the sun had already mounted the sky and the palace foods I was in charge of delivering had not been moved yet.

Frantically, I thrust my bow and arrows on my front porch, washed my hands and shoulders to rid them of animal blood before dashing to the main road where I was being awaited.

"C'mon,Tõrontõ we're past late!!" Univia waved her hand at me.

It was difficult to maintain manifold jobs and responsibilities at the same time here but there was no escaping it especially if you were a leader.

"Okay, let's go...let's go!!" I grabbed the push cart filled with vegetables from one of the boys and plunged forward.

The celebration at hand had placed our whole tribe in states of trepidation and nipping anxiety. There were many duties invoking our civility so we had to break off into groups to attend to every available calling.

Some would attend to the Temple and the Temple square, some at the Levite province and then the Ashdônite palace. This festival, I was leading the adornment of the tribe of Ashdôn; this meant bringing distinct foods and wall gild.

The women with the decorations had dozens of polished gold curtains and lamps,the best curved silverware and glassware that had been designed by Univia and her sisters. The best kind in the whole of Modëus; the only kind actually.

We came to the Temple square; the team here was half way their work. The large stage was almost lapsed, the throne of power was being varnished, Univia's other sister, Thëmbäni was supervising the completion of the garnet carpet meant for the stage.

After a brief greeting, we took a left, heading for the palace. From our perspective, I could see the royal carriage galloping swiftly down the clear lane, beating us to a great length. The other two food carts Infront of me accelerated incredibly,forcing me to run faster behind them.

By the time we arrived at the palace, my arms and shoulders were sore but as a Solorato male, there was no room for complaint or massaging the ache out.

The main entrance was held open for us as the other men and I carried the uncooked food in. The ladies followed with their pieces of cloth and cutlery etcetera.

"Orlando, take this with the others to the kitchen. I need Tõrontõ's help here," Univia precepts, earning my attention.

Without question, I meekly set the bag of meat down and let Orlando lift it and proceed. Coming back to the large hall, I stood with them wondering how in the world I was going to help them, because I knew nothing about colors and mirrors.

"...No, this linen sheet should go over the main table, don't you think?" I heard someone suggest

"Mmh, I dunno. It looks better in a much open view. I think it should go over there," Univia adjudicated, pointing at another table.

"Aren't there two pieces of these?" I asked holding out the linen cloth and spreading it out.

"Uh, yeah I think so."

"Okay, then why don't you place them on both tables. The bigger piece on the main table then the smaller on the other." I riposted

Univia rolled her eyes in speculation,exercising the idea virtually before rendering her decision.

"Yeah, it could actually work. Let's try that and see."

They brought the pieces out and laid the first on the colossal table, tucking the endings neatly and straightening the folds out.

"Nicely done, okay bring that piece over here slowly...there you go!" I smiled,waving my finger instructively

Suddenly I felt tense, like someone was watching me. My heart came vigorously alive; the feeling was strangely familiar. My eyes flew up and I could taste the rush of adrenaline reverberate on my tongue when I saw Manøvie with the princess.

The images of our previous day together flooded my mind almost instantly. With her nestled by my side and snuggled close to me, our little adventure within the volcano and the hatiffs.

I couldn't stop thinking about how her perfect lips were so close to mine, a whispered touch that I still prayed had lasted longer. I couldn't reprimand her for pulling away, she was so insecure about many things.

I had to be extra patient with her. Although when she did pull away, I took the point of her rejection too far. I was actually scared that she was perhaps mad at me for making my move abruptly but become relived when she embraced me later on.

I was pervaded by shambles of confusion even as I walked away and left for home. I didn't sleep the whole of last night just at the haunt of our 'almost' kiss.

The reminding thoughts were inevitable.

I kept staring back at her, scrutinizing for any nuance of anger or regret in her eyes but failed when Univia nudged me for my attention.

"Where d'you think this should go?" She asked, holding out a red sheet with curly patterns all through it.

My mind had been jumbled and I couldn't think straight anymore. I wanted to speak to Manøvie, to apologize for my actions. I shouldn't have tried to kiss her but she didn't seem to mind then, until our lips actually touched.

I rose my eyes up but she was gone, ascending the stairs  with the princess leading her on.

"Isn't that too bright?" I turned back to Univia

"Too bright? This a warm garnet,Tõrontõ not the Levite scarlet!" She corked an eyebrow at me

"You know I'm not good with colors," I sparred in self defense. You couldn't tell the difference between a garnet and a scarlet red, they were direct replicas of each other!

"You always have an excuse, don't you?" she rolled her eyes and selected another wrap cloth from the enormous basket.

After a few hours, I left the hall which had been fully adorned; wholly glistening in gold, red and few pearl decorations. The dissected menorah lamps were lit up for a brief experiment of how the colors would lustre as one.

The large twin stairs had been polished and carpeted in red cotted diamonds. The picture frames had been furnished as well,all through the hall of Ashdônite royalties. I checked through the kitchen, the foods had been separated into assorted sections.

Afternoon had settled into the timeline. The temperature was humid,pervading my throat with thirst and exhaustion. Everyone was engrossed in wrapping up and ready to return home when I saw Manøvie descend the stairs.

Everyone paused, depicting how visibly gripped and utterly speechless we all were by how she looked. She was clad in a thin layered royal blue Ashdônite gown that held her small bossom tightly, sealing her cleavage with a fine line diamonds that engrossed at the hem of the dress.

It folded to tiny creases like fish gills at both sides of her waist, giving her the finest shape of an hour glass.

Prince Asoùlt held her hand as they climbed down to the main hall with the princess behind them,a gleaming smirk on her face.

Manøvie slowly rose her eyes at me, I felt my body clench at how her green eyes twinkled deeply with the fringes of her red hair falling to veil her face.

"Oh, we are so fortunate that the son of Sovæ is around," I threw my gaze at Armioné when her voice broke the deafening silence. "Would you be so kind to practice the Solorato dance with Lady Manøvie?" She requested politely.

My nerves jumped instantly at her words, I looked back at Manøvie who had many emotions on her face. I was shuttered at first; should I accept? What if she doesn't want to be close to me? But she had hugged me yesterday....

"Sure, why not!" I conceded.

If she was mad at me for trying to kiss her, I would definitely find out by her reaction as we danced.

Taking at deep breath, I followed the three of them into the waltz room.

I stood at the corner after the door, leaning my weight against the wall as she first danced about with Asoult. With every chance that she got, she threw her coy gaze my way and averting the prince's.

My skin itched in anticipation for my turn to dance with her, to hold her close to me and move our bodies across the room simultaneously.

I couldn't tell if I was actually afraid or excited through the nipping adrenaline coursing through my nerves leaving my mind hazed.

Soon the slow music stopped, alerting me as my cue to replace Asoult on the floor. I watched him bow slightly, with her offering a curtsey as well at the end of the dance.

"Splendid, my lady!" Armioné clapped her hands lightly in bliss.

"Indeed, you're a natural!" the prince agreed in support of his sister, then turned to face me with a nod. "She's all yours!"

Wish it was as easy as saying it.

I took a deep sigh to ready my self for my first steps as Asoult joined his sister's side next to the musicians.

Manøvie held my gaze,her small lips falling apart when the music started. I waited for the third pitched ring before I actually advanced towards her, as part of our tribal routine.

When the pitch I was awaiting struck, I wasted no time to take four estimated steps to where she stood and held out my hand to her. Following the same choreography as well, she placed her hand over mine which I brushed under all the way to her elbow.

I lifted it and whirled her around,bringing her slim exposed back to my chest as our legs danced back and forth to the music. My right hand held hers out and my left buckled over her waist as the steps superseded as before.

At the key change, I had to whirl her back to face me,making sure her hands crossed to an X then to my arms as I held her to my body.  I braced myself for the next step; holding her right leg up to my side and lowering her down in a semi circle then back to my chest.

Her thick red hair flashed and fell to my shoulder at the impact. Our lips almost touching and gazes interlocking; Manøvie's eyes shone a sparkling green that swirled around her irises like a wild fire.

All the next steps of the dance vanished from my mind as we stood transfixed to our position, not daring to look away. I didn't know how to perceive this moment, she wasn't backing away or repulsing from my touch- she just...she just stood there staring back at me with the same intensity as I.

What did this mean? Did she have feelings for me as well?

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