Ceres held up two dresses. "Which do you think suits me best, Waithe?"

He shook his head. "I be hardly one to give advice on high fashion. Your friend would be much wiser of such things."

Sharm pointed. "The blue one. It matches your eyes."

Ceres bounded behind the partition to try it on. He smiled at her glee. What young woman would not want to wear such an elegant gown to a party in her honor?

She emerged and swung around with a broad smile, causing the skirt to flare out and her long blonde hair to shimmer down her back. As protector, Waithe had but two requirements, that it hides the tau mark on her shoulder and that it be not too immodest. The first to shield her from the eyes of those who might hunt the tau. And the other to shield her from the eyes of those who might try to take advantage of such a young maiden, someone much like himself when as a young man.

Sharm put her hands to her face. "Ceres, you are so beautiful! You shall turn the eye of every man."

Waithe nodded and sighed. Modest dress or not, she was going to attract attention. A twang of grief rose within him, would he feel this way if it were his lost daughter that dressed for a ball?

At the appropriate time, Eudus, with his wife Sharm on his arm, arrived to escort Ceres and Waithe to the dinner. He wore a long black silk jacket and she wore a long red gown that accented her curves.

Eudus' eyebrows shot up at the appearance of Ceres. "My Lady Ceres. You be truly a treasure for the eyes." He took her hand and kissed it. "Had my heart not been already taken, I would be smitten with you."

Ceres dipped her head slightly and color came to her cheeks. "Thank you."

Sharm laughed. "My dear husband, do not torture my friend with your endless charm. Forgive me Ceres, but it was my fortune to have already possessed this man's heart well before your arrival." She placed a kiss on her husband's cheek. "Our guests await."

Waithe, wearing a borrowed black jacket similar to that of Eudus, offered his arm to Ceres. They followed their hosts.

Ceres dropped her jaw as they entered the ballroom. Ornately carved wooden columns supported an arched blue ceiling that matched the color of her dress. The setting sun cast colors across the room through stained glass windows. Candles flickered behind cut glass globes, waiting their turn to light the room. The work of many artists adorned the walls. A collection of white cloth-covered tables formed an open-end rectangle that covered much of the room. Servants scurried about the perimeter making last-minute preparations.

Waithe surmised that Ceres had never before seen such opulence. That all this was done in her honor had to be overwhelming to this modest young woman.

Lord Eudus and Lady Sharm were truly in their element. There were perhaps forty guests, and they wandered about the room greeting each personally by name as they introduced Lady Ceres. Waithe chose to stand away and observe the interactions.

Eudus came up to a certain handsome young man and offered one hand for a handshake while patting him on the back with the other. The man stood tall with curly dark hair, a gentle face, and a mischievous smile. A dark fine tailored suit completed the look. Waithe moved closer as Eudus introduced him to Ceres, Cassio was his name. Her mouth parted as her eyes locked on to this dashing man.

The young man bowed deeply and took up Ceres' hand to kiss it. "I was intrigued that Lord Eudus hosts a Lady of the Order, but I never realized she would be so beautiful. If I may, my Lady, I would be honored to later have the pleasure of a dance."

She stammered, her eyes again on his. "Umm, yes... I would be happy to."

Still holding her hand and with a gleam in his eyes, he said, "I look forward to it, my Lady."

Waithe made an audible groan and dipped his head. This Cassio was going to be trouble.

A ringing bell announced that dinner was ready and the crowd took their seats. Lord Eudus, his wife, Ceres, and Waithe sat at the head of the table. The meal started with a spicy gumbo over rice that made Ceres purse her lips. Selections of local foods followed, both from the land and the water, each accented with unique and rich sauces. She tried small portions of them all but seemed most fascinated with the boiled crawfish. A rich rum-infused bread pudding finished the fine meal.

The wine flowed freely and the laughter more so. These people indeed did know how to throw a celebration, and from the smile on her face, Waithe knew Ceres enjoyed every bit of it. And why would she not? Twice he caught her casting her eyes toward the young man she met earlier, who winked back at her.

Once the meal was done, servants pushed the chairs and tables to the side of the room. Delectable treats and more bottles of wine appeared. Musicians assembled at one end and began to play their version of an up-tempo waltz. The fiddle and accordion players danced as they played, in time to the beat of the percussionist. Soon the floor gyrated with swinging dancers.

Ceres came up to Waithe and grasped his arm, a frantic look on her face. "I don't know how to dance!"

"Well then, my dear Ceres, dance with me and I will show you the basics."

He took her loosely into his arms and demonstrated a simple waltz box step. She looked down at his feet and tried to follow his lead. Awkward at first, she became more graceful in her motion. With the next song, he showed her basic two-step moves.

She said, "You dance well, my protector. Thank you."

"It be part of my duties, if but only to protect your toes from being stepped on." He paused. "Does this have something to do with that dashing young man you met before dinner? You seemed to be quite taken by him."

She smirked. "And what of it? Would you have me not dance with him? You are not my father, my dear Waithe."

"Aye, just a protector. Like a father, but without the authority. Just be careful, Ceres. There be some men that mask selfish hearts with a warm smile. I know this to be true."

Ceres broke from the dance. "Very well, I shall be heedful of your caution."

She whisked away and found Cassio at the other end of the room. He bowed, led her on to the floor, and they began to dance. She seemed enchanted with him. Waithe watched, begrudgingly admiring the young man's charm.

To a tap on his shoulder, Waithe turned toward a gray uniformed man with a sword at his side. His large frame and strong jaw, shrouded with a full red beard, projected authority. "Mister Rand, I am Horris, Captain of the Guard. Lord Eudus asked me to meet with you."

Waithe shook his hand. "A pleasure, Captain. I need to speak with you. There be those about who would take away Lady Ceres."

"I offer my assistance to your duty. My men are about on watch." He paused. "If I may ask, your face is familiar, did you serve during the Kust campaign years ago?"

"Aye, as a young officer in the Woest army. I believe I do remember your face, sir, although it was topped with much more hair at the time."

When Horris chuckled, he did not seem so imposing. "Aye. But then grass does not grow on a busy road."

Waithe chuckled in return. "Well said, sir. But back to the subject at hand. Have you knowledge of any foreign mercenaries about that may have designs on Lady Ceres?"

"There be always unsavory characters about the docks, they come and go. But I hear of no specific threat."

Waithe shook his head. "Perhaps I be too suspicious. The only threat to her may well be the intentions of the charming young man who dances there with her."

"Where, sir?"

Waithe spun about. Ceres was nowhere to be seen. He silently chastised himself for letting her escape his sight. His eyes scanned the floor, then focused on an open side door to an outside garden. Waithe strode over to the door and stepped out onto the porch. Horris stood behind him. Across the garden and in the moonlight, Ceres and Cassio sat together on a bench facing each other, her hands in his.

Waithe asked, "Do you know of this young man?"

"Aye. The son of a merchant. Ambitious, but lazy. She seems to be taken by him, perhaps an enchantment of the full moon?"

Cassio leaned forward to kiss her fully on the lips. She reciprocated.

Waithe sighed. "I fear it more than the moon. I should allow her this, but it feels wrong."

The Captain grinned, patting Waithe on the back. "That I understand. I have daughters." He turned to walk inside, leaving Waithe standing there.

Cassio stepped away from Ceres. Waithe's eyes widened in shock as two shadowy figures appeared beside her, each forcefully grabbing an arm. A wad of cloth stuffed into her mouth silenced a scream, held in place with a black sash tied around her head.