Page 17 of Scalebound

She darted her eyes to one side of the ballroom and then to the other, signaling us to split up. I nodded and made my way to the front of the room. The band played light, serenading melodies, the tender notes seeming to float effortlessly through the air.

People slowly danced with their partners along the floor, swaying to each sound that vibrated from the marble floor and walls. I surveyed the room one last time, looking for anyone holding any sort of parchment or any sign of its presence.

Nothing.

I slowly walked, holding up the side of my dress with one hand and my drink in the other as I watched the people dancingand chatting along the sides of the large ballroom. My eyes were flashed with glitter and sparkling fabric with the movement of the dresses and the worn flashy uniforms, signaling each person’s status.

My gaze locked with a figure across the room, leaning against the expansive floor to ceiling window. His dark green mask made the silver tints in his eyes pop, complementing the platinum strands of his hair, the tendrils playing a part to cover even more of what his mask didn’t. Though appearing slightly older than myself, the difference in age seemed minimal. Eagerly, I made my way in his direction.

“Not a dancer?” I assumed as I approached him. He eyed me again, checking me out, up and down, as if tracing my body like a map. Taking a slight sip of his cup of wine, his mouth barely touched the brim. My skin heated from his gaze. His suit was the same black color as his wine, making me wonder who he was. I noticed his silver nails that grasped the cup tighter after I spoke to him.

“Not tonight.” He spoke with a deep, burly and mysterious voice. He took another sip from his glass, and I saw black tattoos rising along his hand, hidden by the sleeve of his suit jacket.

“What brings you here, then?” I asked, realizing after the words left my mouth that he was obviously here for the celebration.

“I could ask the same of you,” he said with a snicker. I was wondering what his thoughts were. I didn’t know what else to ask that would help give away if he knew anything about a map or if he had it himself. A realization occurred to me that I was much worse at socializing than I had thought.

“Know anything about a map?” I almost threw my hands up to cover my mouth to hide what I had just boldly said. Was I crazy? Why did I ask about it so fast?

Eyeing me, his deep silver eyes emanated a chilly gaze cloaked in ice.

“You should be careful what you say around here. You could have yourself killed.” I gulped at the implied threat. He then drank the rest of his black wine, leaving the glass on the windowsill, and strode away abruptly.

What did he mean? What did he mean by I needed to be careful about what I said? What did he mean that I could have myself killed? Was he talking about me being a Scaleborne? Or did it have to do with the map? Maybe getting the map was more dangerous than I thought.

Scanning the room again, I swept my gaze to find anyone suitable for a conversation. Fear rose in my stomach about what the man said. However, I pushed his comment aside, even if it cost me my life. I had to make it to the dragon’s egg to stop whatever the Deathlies were starting. The plagued war in our kingdom was beginning–one that was relying on me to stop it.

Before I could make my first step to talk to someone else, the music changed to a more upbeat song. Everyone started to break out, tapping their feet and raising their arms to the tune simultaneously. I was never allowed to be taught how to dance in the castle. It wasn’t important enough for me to leave my tower. A smile slipped on my face as a man with velvet blue hair and a circle spectacle covering his eye grabbed me randomly, pulling me into the wave of people following along to the dance steps. We all linked arms and started to spin in circles, and I couldn’t help but laugh joyously as we just went around and around in circles, alternating directions every so often.

As I watched the jostling of suits as everyone danced, something clicked in my mind, and I realized I had my opportunity to find the map with everyone dancing in the circle. When my arms were linked to men on both sides of me, I slowly inched my hands up to their chest to feel their suit coats andpockets. I mainly tried to feel for any lumps or indications that they had a scroll hidden beneath their clothes.

Everyone was so involved with the song and the dancing that they overlooked when my arms felt up the sides of their garments. Or they were too drunk to care.

In the middle of the song, the man I was currently dancing with released me, and then I was picked up by a new man, continuing to sway me to the tune of the music. I liked this dance as it gave me more opportunities to link arms with more people–more opportunities to find the map.

I did the same to the man currently linking arms with me and slowly tried to feel the sides of his pockets. My hands trembled with fear of being caught, and my heart rate had risen in panic.

Nothing.

Sighing, I swung around my partner, feeling defeated. I wondered if the map was even here at all.

Switching several times, I attempted to feel more pockets, but nothing was successful. I didn’t feel anything bigger than a napkin.

The fast-paced song ended, and I was panting in exhaustion. Dancing all over the marble floor caused me to feel sick and dizzy. Others around me erupted in conversation during the break until the next song, not a single drop of sweat gleaming on their faces, showing that I was the only one feeling utterly lethargic.

Noticing my throat was scratchy and parched, I sauntered toward the bar. The bartender, who still awaited there, served drinks to others utilizing his services.“The same?” he asked me. Shocked that he remembered exactly what I got, I nodded, placing my elbows on the cold granite countertop, my hands finding their places on the sides of my cheeks. The smiling was killing me. I rubbed the soreness out, kneading with myknuckles. He returned with a purple, sparkling drink in hand with the same exotic fruit as before.

“Wait!” I exclaimed as he moved to work on something else within the bar. He turned and looked at me, curious about what I would say next.

“Have you heard any talk of a…” I leaned in and whispered the last word, “map?”

He looked from one side to the next to see if anyone was paying attention. No one was.

“Yes. I did hear some talk of one. Why do you ask?” He leaned in more, his eyes sparkling with gossip.

“I am looking for a stolen map. I heard that it was here tonight. Do you have any clue as to who may have it?” He put his elbows on the bar counter and put one finger to his chin.

“Hmmm,” he mumbled. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to remember who said something about it or if he was thinking about telling me. “What would you give me in return for this secret?” he asked, his coral eyebrows moving upward.

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