Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan Page B

father in front of a roomful of ambassadors for not eating his greens. Someone had laughed until Mary had stared at them. Her gaze could silence an emperor.
    “All right,” said Lily. “Look, I’m getting up.” She slowly rose, pushing her chair back a few inches. “See?”
    People started clapping to the rhythm. Others beat their mugs against the tables.
    When she reached him, Gabriel smiled. “You look worried. Don’t be. I’ve been taught by the best dancing masters in all of Lumina. They think I’m brilliant. I’ve invented a few special moves myself. Perhaps I’ll teach them to you.”
    Lily glanced back. Both Mary and her uncle were urging her on.
    Gabriel took her hand. “Just do as I tell you, and you’ll be fine.”
    She inhaled sharply and pulled away. “I’m afraid I can’t dance with you. I’ve already promised K’leef.”
    “Wh-what?” stuttered Gabriel.
    Uncle Pan leaped in. He cleared his throat and laughed, awkwardly. “Give us a moment, m’lord.” He pulled her aside. “What do you think you’re doing? You can’t dance with K’leef. Solar will take it as a great insult.”
    “Good.” Lily ripped herself free and swept over to the end of the table, where K’leef sat. “Come on.”
    “What?” said K’leef.
    “You and I are going to dance. Now.” She glared at him. “Remember? Like we agreed?”
    “Dance?” K’leef didn’t resist; he was too confused. “To this?”
    “Of course.” This was her favorite tune. “It’s perfect.”
    “For a funeral.”
    “Ha-ha-ha. You’re so funny,” said Lily sarcastically. She pulled him out of his chair. “Just get up.”
    Lily headed toward the steps, dragging the red-robed boy behind her. She didn’t look back, but she heard the gasps. She hurried to the open dance floor before Mary could stop her.
    The music faltered. The conductor looked uncertainly toward the high table.
    “You,” ordered Lily. “You with the baton.”
    The conductor pointed at himself. “Me, m’lady?”
    “Start again. From the beginning.”
    Lily and K’leef stood utterly alone in the center of the Great Hall. Hundreds of people watched them, not one speaking. The clapping and banging had stopped.
    Lily glared at the conductor. “Well?”
    He winced, but then he turned around to face his musicians. One or two smiled at the trouble Lily was causing.
    “I don’t know how to dance,” admitted K’leef.
    “Of course you don’t; you’re a boy.” Lily sighed. She had to make this work, somehow. “Just don’t tread on my toes or bump into any furniture. Your left hand goes in my right, and your right goes around my waist.”
    K’leef frowned. “Like this?”
    The music began.
    They danced. Or more accurately, Lily dragged K’leef across the floor, trying to make sure he didn’t step on her gown.
    “Is this right?” said K’leef after a minute of slowly moving around the dance floor. “Isn’t the man meant to lead?”
    “I don’t see why.”
    So they danced, K’leef dressed in a sweeping robe of red and orange and Lily in glistening black.
    “Stop gripping my hand so tightly,” said Lily. “Your rings are really tearing into my fingers.”
    “Sorry.”
    She looked at the rings on his hand, on every single finger. “And why are you wearing so many, anyway?”
    K’leef wore not only rings, but a necklace, bracelets, and earrings. He dripped jewelry, all of it made from amber. Even his buttons were of the orange stone.
    He scowled. “The duke wants everyone to see what a rich prize I am.”
    “If you were that rich, shouldn’t you be wearing rubies? I thought the ruby was the favorite gemstone of House Djinn.”
    He shrugged. “I’m the fourth son, so I have to wear amber. Only the eldest son, the heir apparent, wears rubies. At least I’m not the tenth. My brother, Saleem, wears jewelry made from sandstone.”
    “What’s it like living in the Prism Palace?”
    “The Solars’ home?” K’leef’s gaze darkened. “The