Chapter Nine.
 

Xahar pouted.  He was bored.  He was really bored.  He had practiced and he had stretched and he was bored.  His clients for the last two days had canceled due to the festivities going on with the wedding and the royals in town.  He pouted at Liset as she came in.  "I'm bored."

"We all are, Xahar.  It's not going to get any better until Solstice.  You know that.  We all know that.  Go find something to do."

"I've already practiced.  I've sent that letter off to the training master.  I've done everything but go pluck the hairs out of my body one by one until I never have to shave again."

"Eww," Liset said, shuddering as she walked away.  "Don't say things like that in front of me, boss.  It's sickening.  I have a weak stomach."

"Sorry."  He waited until she was gone then grabbed some money and headed out into the really bright sunlight.  He hated summer solstice for only one reason, it was always too bright. Usually he'd be dancing in someone's garden today but not this year.  Now he was going to make himself suffer by going out into the punishing sunlight.  Not that he needed a tan or looked good with a tan, but he was too bored to care about his skin.  It would fade within a few weeks.  He sighed as he headed down into the market, stopping to get a drink of fruit juice before he went any farther.  He was already hot and sweaty.  The salesgirl smiled shyly at him. "I'm bored."

"Obviously, sire."  She giggled as he grinned and strolled off.

Xahar bypassed the scrolls.  He knew he couldn't stand to read anything else this week.  He'd been through three new scrolls in the last few days.  He browsed among the jewelry people's stalls, finding a few things for later gifts.  Liset and Ballor had demanded good presents this year and he really should try to find them something.  Liset's naming day was coming up in about two moons and Ballor's was about a moon after hers, right before the sweet fall weather started.  They usually spent his naming day on vacation or traveling to some fall festival.  He found a few small things, adding them to the bag he carried.  He ended up in the clothing section, looking for new things for himself.

"Xahar, I've got a new shipment from Numfria!" one of them called, waving him over.

That might be enough to perk up his spirits, so he walked over to browse, looking at the pants in softer colors than he usually wore.  "These don't look that good on me," he complained.  "Any darker colors?"

"A few," the shopkeeper admitted, lifting out a basket to show them off.  "Also some raw fabric so you can have something made if you wanted."  He watched as his favorite customer tested his new wares, picking out a few things.  "How about a vest?"

"It hides my manly chest as it moves," he quipped, grinning slightly.  "I can't wear one when I dance.  It gets in my way."  He looked at the raw fabrics, picking out a few pieces for his later enjoyment.  He paid for everything, getting a new rush basket as well for his purchases.  "Thank you, Timber."

"Welcome, Xahar.  Did you hear, there's another dancer in town."

"I heard, but I think it's one of the teachers.  Princess Miradin wanted to be taught and I'm hopeless at teaching so I wrote one on her behalf."

"Wonderful.  Maybe he's got a few new dances."  Xahar smiled at that. "He's at the Traveler's Rest."

"Thank you, Timber."  He paid him an extra silver in tip for the information, going to shop for a few more things, generally making his way that way.  He sighed in relief when he got into the inn, making the barkeep look at him. "It's hot out there," he complained.

"What do you need, Xahar?"

"I came to see if the other dancer has things I don't, which I would gladly learn from him, or if he's the teacher for Miradin."

"He is, and he's up in his room.  He's been asking about you as well."

"Good.  Can I drop this off?"  The barkeeper took the basket and bag, waving him on once he had gotten a mug of juice from him.  Xahar sipped his juice as he walked up the stairs, cooling himself off.  "Which one?"

"Five."

"Thank you."  He knocked on door number five, smiling at the old man standing there. "You are the one I wrote for her!" he said excitedly, clasping his hand properly.  "I'm Xahar."

"I figured as much.  Get in here."  He let him into his room, watching as he walked.  "Not dancing today?"

"I usually would but with so many royals in town for the recent wedding, everyone's amusing them instead of being amused.  My next event is Solstice."  He turned and found the man had a dagger.  "Must we?"  The teacher nodded, lunging at him and Xahar evaded it in finest fashion, not even spilling his juice as he disarmed him and then twirled to sit down in a nearby chair.  "It's hot outside."

"You're soft."

"No, not really.  I'm very kidnaped so I have bodyguards but I do a good bit of fighting.  It's just that I apparently have the week off."  He finished off his juice and looked at the older man.  "Which school trained you? Your lunge wasn't like how I was trained."

"I was trained at the palace.  You?"

"By special training arrangements after being stolen.  I was trained directly by Rivenus."

"Hmm," he said, looking a bit impressed. "You get kidnaped?"

"All the time," he said dryly, getting comfortable.  "The first real time was right after my manhood celebration.  There was one used against my father when I was eight summers old, but since my manhood celebration there's been nearly a constant threat.  For some reason people believe they can own me."

"It's how pretty you are," the trainer said dryly, looking him over.  "You are in good shape."

"I have to be.  I perform at least six months out of every year.  I spend another two on the road.  It's a good living."

"It must be.  I've been told about you and how you recently moved."

"I needed more stable room.  My stallion recently had relations with my guard's mare."

"Ah.  That is a good omen in most places."

"It is, but we had to get an extra horse so she could still travel with us."

"You have a...female guard?"

Xahar smirked.  "I have one of each actually.  They're very good.  They have to come for me all the time."

The older trainer shook his head, but he was laughing.  "A lifetime of dancing and fighting is the Dancer's way and path," he noted, "but it is never boring for those who dance truly.  I would watch you, young one."

"I would learn from you if there are new ones.  I've created some to fill in some of the gaps, but they're not in with the stories."

"Others have as well.  I'll judge yours for inclusion.  When is a good time for you to dance for me?"

"Later tonight?  Tomorrow?  Either's fine.  I'd need at least an hour to bathe, do my hair, and all that stuff."

"I noticed your hair is very long."  He looked at the braid the boy pulled around to play with.  "That's not totally traditional."

"Among my mother's people, we don't cut our hair after we go through our manhood celebration.  It's trimmed very short the day before but then never cut afterward."  He let it go.  "I spend more money on that than I do anything else."

"Interesting.  Magic?"

"Alchemist for some potions and some light magic," he admitted.  "Keeps me from shedding."  He stood up.  "Do you know where I live?"

"I'm sure I can hire a guide."

"Or ask one of the city guards.  Most of them helped me move my safe recently."  He grinned.  "Or just go down to the market and ask someone in the scroll section.  They all know us."  He shook his hand and bowed to him, then left, grabbing his bag and basket from behind the bar.  The barkeep gave him an odd look as he carried out a barrel of something.  "He's going to judge some of the new stuff I've been working on," he said happily.  "Make sure he can find me please."  He put two silver coins on the bar before leaving.  He headed back through the market, stopping to pick up some fruits for Cook and the rest of them.  He walked through their gate and paused to glance at the stables off to the side.  "Get off him," he called.  Instead of going in there, he went into the house.  "The trainer is coming to watch me dance!" he yelled.  "Either tonight or tomorrow!"

"Fine!" Ballor agreed.  "Do your hair, boss."

"I got some fruit."  He handed that bag to Cook and headed up the stairs to try on his new clothes.  They always needed fitting.  He put the bag and the basket on his bed, pulling out the new pants to look at in the light.  Two of them were put aside as practice clothes, they were thin but had small spots on the seams.   The last two were nicer and more sturdy, he tried the first on and sat, and heard a seam rip.  "Not again," he sighed.

"You should quit buying from Timber and just have yours made," Liset said as she walked in with a basket of his clothes.  "Here, Elevan said she's finished with yours.  Finally."  She put the basket on the bed and looked at the last one, sighing and shaking her head.  "It'll do as a good pattern."  He nodded, holding up the bundles of fabric.  "Even better.  Who're you going to get to sew them?"

"I was hoping for Caritis."  He wiggled out of those and found some practice pants in the basket, which he put on.  "I should go practice."

"Bathe first, boss. You can be sweaty when he shows up.  Most of you dancers are."  He grinned and headed into the bathroom, going to start some water into the tub and light the fire under it.  She shook her head, putting everything but his newly chosen outfit and one she always liked to see him in away.  That way he could practice, then change so he wouldn't be wearing really sweaty clothes.  She heard someone pound on the door and came to the top of the stairs, watching as Elevan answered it.  She looked at the merchant.  "Problems?"

"No," he said, shaking his head.  "New furniture?"

"Ah.  Let's see what it is.  I probably know where it goes."  She came down to look, motioning the moving men to put them inside, directing the traffic flow.  They stopped to watch as Xahar came bounding down the stairs and gave them all hugs before disappearing into his new conservatory.  There was a great room on the other side that he liked to practice in.  She shook her head, watching the others as they continued to stare after him.  "A trainer's in town, he's going to be showing off for him."

"Back to work," the shopkeeper ordered.  The guys got back to work, joking about what they'd like to train Xahar to do.

Ballor listened for a few minutes then stuck his head out the door.  "He can already do all that and more.  We've heard him with some ...friends in the past."  Then he shut the study door and went back to his reading.

Liset snickered, turning away and noticing someone new at the door.  "Hello."

"I'm here to watch Xahar?" he said kindly.

"He's stretching and getting sweaty.  Come on in."  She looked around.  "Xahar, he's here!" she shouted.

"Conservatory!" he called back.  "Bring juice!"

"Fine."  She nodded.  "Ballor, the trainer's here, he's doing some new things."

"Sure."  He came out, closing the study door behind him. He also closed the front door after smiling at the young boy waiting out there.  The kid would find the kitchen in a few minutes he was sure.  He followed the sound of voices, heading into the conservatory with a quick stop to get them something to drink.  Cook had opened all the doors so a good breeze was blowing.  Xahar was babbling rapidly at the trainer, who was only smiling and nodding at his CD player.  Ballor put the tray with glasses and the juice down, getting comfortable on a pile of pillows.  Liset flopped down next to him, putting her sword behind her.  The trainer gave her an odd look for it.  "It's necessary with people in the house," he offered.  "Even the locals occasionally want to steal him."

"Though most of them only dream of it.  They know they couldn't afford his upkeep," Liset teased, making Xahar stick his tongue out at her.  "Boss!  Childish action!"

"Yay," he said dryly.  He walked the trainer over, then resanded his shoes before starting off.  The music was pretty and exotic, fairly refreshing since it was new.  He was off and moving and the trainer was staring at his body.  They all knew when he transitioned into a new piece and the trainer smiled at it.  Then he got pulled up to dance with him for part of it, still smirking. "Usually I'd pick someone from the locals," he offered with a small grin, dancing with him.  He let him go and leapt off, coming back a few minutes later to start on a second new one.  The trainer gaped and stared, finally clapping at what he was doing.  Then Xahar grinned and went off into one of the more traditional sections,  segueing  into another new dance.

Liset moaned and covered her face and Ballor looked at the people staring from the doorway.  He coughed and they all continued to stare.  "Done already, guys?" he asked quietly.  They all continued to stare.  "Gentlemen," he said patiently.  "Think about how much his hair costs him a month."

"I'll do more hours," one man whimpered.  He walked in and fell to his knees.  "Come home with me?" he pleaded.

Xahar stopped and looked at him, then grinned and kissed him on the forehead.  "Your wife would get very upset with me if I did.  She doesn't like to share you."

"Yeah, but she can't move like that," he said in awe. "Please?  I'll work harder."

Xahar pulled him up and stared into his eyes.  "Even if you did, I'd still have to do this for others.  Could you stand that?"  The man shook his head quickly.  "Then you should probably go home and wear this out on your wife," he said gently.  "Name the baby after me," he said with a wink.  The man nodded quickly and ran out.  Xahar grinned at the others.  "You too!  There's got to be many little Xahars so I don't have to have any!"  Most of them left, but the single ones stayed to stare. He shrugged and went back to his dancing, hamming it up for them.  It was always nice to have an appreciative audience.

"That's why I have my sword," Liset told the trainer.  "It's necessary sometimes."

"So I can tell."  He continued to watch, nodding at the grace the young dancer showed.  Not technically perfect but he was getting old.  He had to be at least twenty summers old now.  He clapped when the dancer was done, smiling at him.  "The first is very like the one that someone else worked out.  The other three should be included. I'll tell the officials at the palace to have you sent for."  He stood up smoothly and walked over to him.  "Very well done, Xahar.  I'm impressed at how you're maintaining flexibility at your age."

Xahar blushed.  "I work really hard at it."

"I noticed, and the ways you worked around not being sixteen summers old are quite good and mostly traditional."  He clapped him on the arm.  "What of this prince?"

"Princess," he corrected.  "Miradin."

"Oooh," he sighed with a wince.  "Not many women learn this.  The dancer is a male and most women don't seem to be able to handle the masculine role."

"She's barely into her education," Xahar offered.  "She could learn the girls' dances in preparation for this style, but her mother is guard-trained so she wanted her trained as well.  There's a lot of people who don't like their family at all."

"I see.  Yes, that might be for the better.  The girls' dances would aid her flexibility and grace, which meant she could learn many styles of fighting later."  The trainer looked at Liset.  "Do you work with him with his sword?"

"Now and then.  Ballor and I both do.  He uses an axe."

"Good!" he encouraged.  "From what I've seen today, I can see that many would want him.  Yes, I will tell the officials over the dance and have them send for you to perform your new ones, Xahar.  Some of them looked quite good and interesting."

"Plus they tend to drive any village he does them for into having children," Ballor said dryly.  He looked at the remaining movers.  "Shoo!"  They scattered and he knew that most of them were taking their pay to one of the inns that had prostitutes.  "Some of the girls will be happy tonight," he noted quietly.

"Sylavin said I could come dance at her establishment anytime I wanted," Xahar reminded him.  "She thinks I'd bring her a lot of work."

"That would ruin your reputation among the Court," Liset reminded him patiently.

"I know.  That's why I only do general public performances at the Inn's Circle courtyard.  That way there's seven inns and taverns around there.  Those who want it can drink and eat.  Those who don't want it can find a girl to sleep with them, and the rest will go home to their spouses and make them sleepy."  He grinned.  "You really think it's good enough to be included in the official storyline?" he asked.

"I do," the trainer agreed, smiling at him.  He clapped him on the arm.  "I should go, make an appointment to see this princess."  He bowed to them.  "I shall see you soon."  He left, going to gather his guide.  The boy took his small pouch of dinner and waved back at Cook before leading his customer back to his inn.

Xahar waited until they were alone to let out a squeal and hug his guards.  "I'm going to be included!" he shrieked, dancing around.  He spun Liset around then tried to do it to Ballor but he wasn't quite that strong. He grinned at him.  "I'm going to be included officially!"

"I heard," Ballor agreed, giving him a squeeze.  "Go tell Cook and Elevan."  Xahar jogged out to do that, making Cook squeal when he was grabbed and spun around.  Ballor looked at Liset and shook his head.  "He's going to be bragging for weeks."

Liset nodded.  "He deserves it."  She punched him on the arm.  "Hey, Xahar, in celebration, you should go do a turn in town at the Inn's Circle."

"Okay!" he yelled, jogging up the stairs to change clothes.  They were waiting at the door when he came back down and they nearly had to run to catch up to him.

Liset looked at one of the groaning guards they passed.  "He's been told some of his new dances are good enough to be included in the official story," she told him.  "We're heading to the usual place."

The guard ran off to warn the others.  There was going to be a fight tonight and they'd have to provide security for Xahar too.  Him being happy meant that he'd put on an extra- special show.  The last time he had been this happy, there had been a riot. The guard pounded on his captain's door, panting hard.  "Xahar's happy and doing a show at the usual spot," he gasped, leaning on the door.

The captain's wife groaned.  "Dear, Xahar's happy and doing a show in town at the usual spot," she yelled, grabbing his sword for him as he rushed out.  He snatched it with a kiss.  "I'll save you some dinner," she called after them. She shook her head as she closed the door.  "That man needs a good wife.  She'd keep that one out of trouble."

The guards got there in time to see Xahar start into one of his more popular dances.  The crowd was already cheering and clapping and the guards quickly moved to advantageous spots.  It was going to be a long night.   It only took ten minutes for someone to lunge at Xahar, but he dodged and grabbed him to dance with him instead.

Liset looked at the nearest guard.  "He was bored before this," she offered.

"Oh, this is so much better," he said sarcastically.  "Can't one of you find him a permanent lover?"

"None of the ones who kidnaped him were worthy of him," she said happily.  "If we find one who is, I'll gladly agree to it."  She ducked Xahar throwing his partner at her.  "Sorry, boss, but if someone who we like and you like steals you, we might consider letting him keep you.  But only if you agreed."

"No one who's worthy of me would steal me," he quipped back, grabbing her to dance.  "Just for that, I'm finding you a *man*," he taunted, dancing off with her.  She squealed when he swatted her on the butt, but got him back by tripping him and landing on top of him, smirking down at him.  "Ooh, meany, guess I'll have to work on that new one."  He wiggled and she squealed again, getting saved by one of the guards.  So Xahar got up and grabbed one of the guards to dance with and for, making him swallow and moan.  The crowd hooted and clapped some more so he grinned at them and moved into the crowd, letting them surround him as he danced.  He dodged a grabbing hand and gave them a smirk before moving further into the crowd.  Ballor intercepted him and picked him up, carrying him back to the clear area.  Xahar grinned and danced off again, switching storylines.  The crowd moaned at this new serious one.  They knew this one.

"Do something more seductive," one woman yelled.

Xahar grinned in her direction and winked, finishing that part of the story and moving into something much more seductive.  As the sun lowered behind him, he glowed, the oil on his skin just enough to catch the lights around him.  Someone bright lit the torches around the courtyard, and it was even better now.  The shadows and flickering lights outlined him, giving him lines of definition that hadn't been there before as the torchlight caught the oil and created new shadows and planes on his body as he moved. His pants were translucent with sweat.  His hair was swaying with him, the band that usually held it had broken and the braid was coming down.  As he moved, it swung and unraveled more, some of it clinging to his back and the rest dancing in counter-point to his torso.  By the time full dark fell, the crowd had grown and was standing on anything they could to see him.  Xahar paused to get a drink, which one of the tavern maids gave him.  He gave her a grin and gulped it, then danced off again, doing something with a lot of spins and leaps.  The women in the crowd 'oooh'ed and the men groaned.  Then he moved into another of the more seductive pieces, ending there.  He stood up and panted, looking around.  "I'm wiped," he announced.  "Sorry."

The crowd cheered and stomped, and a few threw some coins, but most of them went to the nearby inns and taverns to do whatever they felt they needed to.  Ballor started to pick up the coins for Xahar, who was leaning against a stone wall.  He saw a kid helping and looked at him, getting a sweet grin and the kid taking off.  "Hey!  I'm not going to hurt you!"

"Let him go," the maid suggested dryly.  "He's new, we've only seen him a few times."  She grinned at Xahar.  "If I get pinched too many times, I'm going to make you tip me the next time you come in," she chided, pinching him on the sweaty arm.  "Go bathe, you probably smell."  She went back inside, going to serving ale.  She was pinched and propositioned, but people also tipped.  It was a nice change from the usual night.

Ballor grabbed Xahar's arm and helped him stand, walking him off slowly.  His boss had to be sore with how much he had danced.  Liset followed behind them, doing the soothing thing when Xahar had to stop to get sick from the strain. They walked him off again, going to settle him in a bath, which Elevan had started.  Ballor smiled at her and she left once she had his outfit, taking them to soak them clean. Ballor helped Xahar into the bath and Liset got down to sponge some water over him until he groaned and stopped her.  "You okay?" Ballor asked gently.

"Just tired," he said, giving him a weak grin.  "Danced too hard."

"I know, boss.  Let me go down to get you something to drink," Liset soothed.  He nodded so she got up and headed down to the kitchen.  "He danced too long."

"It was mid-afternoon when you left.  I didn't figure you'd had dinner out," Cook said, handing her a pitcher of cool water and some rolls to nibble on.  "Shoo."

"Thanks, Cook.  When are you going to tell us your name?"

"When I feel like it, child.  Shoo!"  She nodded, heading back up the stairs.  "Impertinent child," he snorted, going back to fixing dinner for the rest of them.   The boss wouldn't be eating for a few hours, so he made sure it was something that would keep.  He'd pout otherwise.

***
 

Ballor got off his horse in front of the house they were doing their annual Solstice dance at, looking up at the large and impressive manor.  They'd been here many times before and everything looked normal.  He looked back as his boss and Liset rode up.  "Looks normal, just quiet."

"Are they all inside?  Usually we'd see some of the younger women out here playing and jumping around," Xahar said thoughtfully.  "Her note said we're still on for today, right?"  Liset nodded.  "Then I wonder where everyone is."  He dismounted and walked his stallion back to the stables, looking at all the horses.  "Looks like we're full this year so I'm guessing everyone's inside.  He tied his stallion up and grabbed his bag, walking off with Ballor while Liset dealt with her mare.  She was being a bit fussy at the moment so they let her do it.  She caught up with them while Xahar was waiting on someone to answer the door.   The door opened and he stared at the woman standing there.  "Countessa Morganis.  It's good to know that you're okay.  I saw your broach and I was worried."  He walked in and kissed her on the cheek.  "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Xahar, just a bit tired," she said gently, smiling at him, then at his guards.  "Come in, dears.  It's hot outside. That's why none of the girls are out playing."

"It's cooler than it was last year," Ballor offered, walking in last so he could shut the door.  He looked at the person beside him with the crossbow, then at his boss.  "Hey, um, boss?"

Xahar turned around and found one of his biggest nightmares.  "Kozur?  Are you here by invitation or simply by right of pillaging?" he asked sweetly.
 

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