Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles #3) - T.A. White Page 0,141

if answering an unseen signal, three Haldeel stepped out of the crowd. They lined up at the base of the pyramid before facing the rest of the banquet.

“You sly man, you expected this,” Kira said softly.

This was what Graydon had meant last night when he said to win their favor and impress them.

Graydon’s eyes gleamed in answer.

"I present three of our most talented masters,” Alexander said. “They will be your opponents for today. Each will select one individual whose performance has impressed them over the past week. Be warned—while this is a great honor offering you an opportunity to ascend to the heights, it also holds the potential to dash you into the rocks. Accept their challenge at your own risk."

Murmurs from the crowd announced the rising tide of excitement. Whatever anyone claimed, this was the true prize of the quorum.

"Three. That's an interesting number," Graydon said. “Usually it would be two.”

One for humans and the other for Tuann.

The Haldeel on the far right stepped off the stairs. He made his way toward the clump of Tuann in the center of the banquet, stopping in front of Yukina.

He folded his hands in front of his chest in a gesture of inquiry. "The Haldeel challenge the Tuann. Please choose a representative."

Yukina moved forward with a serene look on her face. "Very well. I will answer your call."

The Haldeel dipped his head and led Yukina to a section of the room that had been kept conspicuously empty. The floor rose, transitioning into a hovering platform as they stepped onto it.

When it was several feet off the ground, it stopped. Its height allowed those standing in the back of the room an unobstructed view.

The Haldeel extended a hand in summons. The golden sphere in the middle shot forward, stopping over their heads.

The Haldeel inclined his chin. "I look forward to your performance."

The Haldeel moved to the edge of the stage, where he clasped his hands at his waist, his sleeves falling forward to cover them.

The sphere sent out blasts of golden light. One after the other, the speed and frequency picking up, until, with an audible crack, the sphere shattered.

Golden specks rained down, catching the light and glittering like stardust.

They froze in midair around Yukina.

From all around, the sound of a solo flute began to rise. Its cry was lonely and poignant, echoing somberly throughout the room.

Yukina lifted a hand, holding a golden fan the length of her forearm. There was elegance in the simple motion.

Before long, Yukina began to dance within the shattered flecks of the sphere, careful not to disturb them as she moved.

"Not bad," Kira said, impressed.

The puzzle was much more difficult than it looked.

The person had to dance as they deciphered the pattern of the specks while determining a course out of the middle. Misjudge even a little and you would find your path forward cut off.

To complicate things further, falter or hesitate and the puzzle would fail.

In essence, you had to be decisive and also perceptive.

"There's a reason Yukina is a Face," Graydon said. "She is one of the emperor's most accomplished Faces."

Kira regarded Graydon with some surprise. That had almost sounded like a compliment.

He picked up on her thoughts. "You should be careful not to rile her too much. She's the oldest of us."

"Is that the only reason you want me to be cautious?" Kira asked, glancing at Yukina's oshota.

He stood on the right side of the stage. Despite his face once again being concealed by the disrupter field in his hood, Kira couldn't shake the feeling he was watching them rather than his Face.

Graydon's expression didn't change. "Sometimes it’s better not to ask questions."

On the stage, Yukina slid into a low lunge before extending her arm and the closed fan out before her.

The fan snapped open. Yukina leaned back before leaning forward again and sweeping the fan before her.

This set off a chain reaction as it collided with the flecks, sending them dancing in a hundred different directions.

They revolved around her as she straightened.

Her dress swirled as she gracefully turned, her arms coming up and around as she bent and dipped, advancing in a steady fashion.

Every once in a while, the fan snapped open as she spun, snapping closed again in the next instant.

The tempo of the music picked up, several string instruments joining the flute.

Yukina never hesitated, one movement flowing into the next until she stood before the Haldeel.

Behind her, the specks of light rotated in several different directions, creating a pattern in a pattern.