Chapter 4
Dinner and DancingNian
Dinner was the usually elaborate affair the king preferred. Elainya sat to Nian's left near the front of the carefully arranged U-shape of tables. The king and queen sat in the center with Reif and his cohort arranged to the right of the queen. Nian sat to the king's left with other courtiers arranged down the table with them. Across the room, separate tables held the younger nobility and those visiting from the king's lands.
Elainya had been at court barely a day, but Nian noted the matchmaker's watchful eyes turned upon the youth. She would be noting who made eye contact with whom, and cataloging each marriageable person in the room.
"Shall I begin with the ladies?" he asked innocently.
She looked at him, her eyes wide.
"I guessed you were eager to
