The Pillars Of The World

wasn’t going to be comfortable. When Aiden set his chair at the other end of the table and sat down, she was glad she hadn’t been the first to offer. At least she wouldn’t be the one who would have to keep meeting the anger in Lucian’s eyes—and if anyone could stand equal to the Lightbringer in a battle of wills, it was the Bard.
    “We are well met,” Dianna said, raising her glass.
    “We are well met,” Lucian echoed, following her example.
    “May friendship warm us all the days of our lives,” Ari added, smiling.
    There was nothing to add to that, and, somehow, for Dianna, those words made her deception over the past few weeks a difficult meal to swallow.
    Deception might be a hard meal to swallow, but, Dianna reasoned, honesty would have been harder, and a little more deception wouldn’t hurt at this point. She pulled Ari aside as soon as she could after the meal ended, and whispered, “Is he the one?”

    “Yes,” Ari whispered back.
    “He’s certainly handsome.”
    “Yes, he is.” Then Ari added with a touch of annoyance, “But he’s usually more polite.”
    Dianna gave Ari a woman-to-woman smile. “I expect he was hoping to spend time with you alone.”
    Ari grabbed Dianna’s hand, squeezed lightly, then let go. “I’m glad you came tonight,” she said abruptly.
    Pushing up her sleeves, she pumped water into the basin to wash the dishes.
    Not sure what to make of that statement, but certain that it didn’t bode well, Dianna hurried back into the main room to help Lyrra finish clearing the table.
    “We scraped through dinner all right,” Lyrra said quietly. “Aiden can hold his own with Lucian, but Falco looks like he’s going to try to change shape and fly away at any moment.”
    “Why don’t you go outside with the men and try to keep things calm?”
    “I’d rather stay inside and help Ari with these chores. Why don’t you go out there?”
    “I met her first. I get to stay inside. Besides, Lucian isn’t angry with you .”
    “Oh, I think Lucian is angry enough right now for it to spill over on all of us. But nothing will happen until we get back to Tir Alainn.” Lyrra picked up the wineglasses. “I must admit, tonight I don’t look forward to going home.”
    Neither do I , Dianna thought, unless Lucian stays here tonight. And I don’t think he will .
    “How about a little music?” Aiden asked, taking his harp out of its case.
    “Dance music,” Dianna said brightly. “We have two fine gentlemen here who will sacrifice their toes in the spirit of a pleasant entertainment.” To avoid seeing what Lucian might think of this, she turned to Ari. “
    Come on, Ari.”
    “Oh, I— I don’t know how to dance,” Ari said quickly.
    “You don’t dance?” Lyrra sounded scandalized.
    “Not that kind of dance.”
    Dianna could feel curiosity swell the air around them, but none of them felt quite brazen enough to ask what kind of dances witches did know. “Well then, it’s time you learned. Just a simple country dance.
    The steps aren’t difficult. I’ll show you.” She grabbed Ari’s arm and pulled until the girl was standing beside her. Then she looked expectantly at Lucian and Falco.
    Falco gave Ari one hopeful look before wisely taking his place facing Dianna. Lucian took his place more slowly, his eyes watchful.
    “It truly isn’t difficult,” Lucian said softly.
    Lyrra set the beat with her drum.

    Good, Dianna thought as Aiden and Lyrra began to sing. The dance had simple, repetitive steps. Even so, Ari was too self-conscious to relax into the music and follow its rhythm. Or maybe too conscious of Lucian. He did look wonderful when he danced. If only that was the reason Ari kept missing the cues in the music of what to do next.
    The next dance was a little better, even if it wasn’t a dance any of them knew.
    Deciding to give Falco a warning that he was coming too close to acting like a fool, Dianna trod on his foot. Falco, exaggerating shamelessly, began hopping in a circle on one foot. Ari, thinking this was the next step, imitated him. There really wasn’t anything for Lucian and Dianna to do but go along with it.
    Lyrra abandoned the words of the song and began singing silly dance steps.
    By the time the tune was done, Ari was laughing, and Lucian almost looked as if he would forgive them for coming to Brightwood that evening.
    “No more,” Ari gasped, collapsing in one of the chairs that they had brought outside. She fanned her face with her