Then suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a glare that pricked her eyes. A reflective surface, that shined like a jewel and had glinted in her way. Something that was near her eye level. It could have only been Lord Dalbus's bare shining head! She turned around joyously searching for the glare that had so kindly pricked her eyes in a manner of helping her so wonderfully. There! There it was! It danced in the light that came from the huge floating chandelier, blinking as if beckoning her to come closer. yes of course little glare! She thought as she made her way nearer.

As Lord Dalbus came in to view, she noticed he was desperately arguing with someone, shaking his head quite forcefully often. ah. so that is why you danced so much little glare! She thought as she walked closer. She had a vague idea who the other man was. She had seen him on the ship Atil and heard he was one of Fallon's uncle. As she walked closer she realised she couldn't hear their conversation no matter how close they were. They had to have some barrier to prevent being overheard.

To an outsider it might seem like they were just passionately talking. However she wondered what was the so important issue that they were arguing in the middle of ballroom. A discerning observer could see there was some problem. However as she neared them, they suddenly relaxed, and turned to her.

"Ah Your Highness! It is a pleasure to be bestowed your company." Lord Dalbus bowed. The tall man-though almost everyone looked tall next to lord Dalbus, so Kashara couldn't be sure - also bowed and nodded at her.

"How has the ball been so far, Your highness?" The tall man asked.

"Great! Um... I had such fun discussing um... the extensive undertone of the oscre shade of pink and the...twelve uses of tea cosies of course!" She replied in squeaky tone.

"Yes, I am sure that must have been fun." The man had a barely concealed smirk as if he understood exactly how fun the ball had been so far for her. It was then that she truly registered how closely the man before her and Fallon were related. Their eyes met and she had for a second, a feeling that someone had the same opinion on the ball and simpering crowd of court ladies. She had a odd moment of gratification that someone understood her exactly.

"Ah yes! Tea cosies!! How exciting!! Oh the wonder of youth!!!" Lord Dalbus exclaimed exuberantly. She and the man turned away from each other, both trying to conceal the sudden smirk that had threatened to break out at Lord Dalbus's pronouncement.

"It is a sad thing that one always has to exchange youth for wisdom. What is more sad is my tired feet are going to drop off any second. Aaaah, but this is the price of wisdom," Lord Dalbus trailed off. Kashara thought, perhaps rather cruelly, that Lord Dalbus was probably not closer to wisdom now than he was in his youth, but then again one couldn't really censure their thoughts could they?

"Aah your Highness, by the way, how did you find us?" Lord Dalbus asked.

"Oh it was your head! Lord Dalbus!" She exclaimed then bit her tongue, her tongue was probably black and blue now. "I meant I recognised the back of your head Lord Dalbus!". Was it just her imagination or were they listening a bit too intently to her answer...

The moment passed and she soon she found herself discussing, god forbid it, those damn tea cosies again! Lord Dalbus apparently had not been joking when he had exclaimed they were exciting. Though Kashara was inclined to disagree - if she were a slope, she be inclined 90 degrees. That was how inclined she was. (Lame joke I know :P) Fallon's uncle, that sneaky devil, had slunk off as soon as Lord Dalbus had brought up the topic, and now she was stuck discussing the 423 different types of tea cosy ashes that was produced when different wools and cloths were burned. She just realised she didn't even know his name, that uncle of Fallon's.

She sighed again and tried to nod at Lord Dalbus's excited chattering. She couldn't even escape like she had done before. It seemed like all she had done today was talk about tea cosies. She wished she could stake that infernal guy who even thought of creating tea cosies. Why did one even need a useless piece of cloth below a tea saucer. She would not have thought it physically possible that someone could talk about them for a hour. Not for the first time, she wondered why the bloody heck were Demitytan people so obsessed with them.

Which is what Lord Dalbus had done, she was sure. Suddenly, Lord Dalbus paused and stared at something behind her. He then quickly turned to her and asked, perhaps just slightly rushed, "Say Your Highness, how does retiring for the night sound?". Kashara could have kissed him.

Could have, but she restrained herself, imagining that Fallon would have quite a bit to say on that, and also stopped herself from squealing and merely nodded.Ha. I bet I looked very regal and austere just now. I'll show Fallon how ice Queenly I can be! She reminded herelf once again of her decision to stay aloof.

Lord Dalbus accompanied her out of the ball and to her-Fallon's room. She had to work to keep up with his long strides. For such short legs, he sure walks fast. She thought, slightly out of breath, though she would never admit to it. Just as they made it to the rooms, a loud bang, a huge explosion echoed from the direction of the ballroom.The force of it actually shook the floor beneath her feet, and disrupted the glass door she stood before.

Lord Dalbus swore loudly and Kashara stared at him in shock. The man had seemed so cheerful and childlike it was quite something hearing a swear word from him. Like your grandpa swearing.

Also, it seemed he knew what the bang was about and Kashara's suspicion grew. "What was that?" She asked him coldly. Lord Dalbus's eyes widened and he mumbled something, however Kashara wanted answers. She knew without a doubt, she had been evacuated from a explosion or fight with prior knowledge. The guards, Lord Dalbus and Fallon's uncle arguing it was all related. She wanted to know why this threat or whatever had been allowed to happen when there were so many important people in there.

"Tell me!" She said harshly.

"He won't say it"

Kashara turned around to the sound of the voice and was met with the bane of her existence. The friendly neighbourhood sociopath who had probably killed everyone in there.

She glared at him. "Then you will tell me."

"Alright" He acquiesced surprising her. "This whole ball was a hoax. To draw out the rebel fighters and their sympathisers among my ranks. I knew, when I brought you here, the rebels who fight against me, and the kingdom would try to kill you. I had an inside information that there was an attack planned against me today lead by one of the key leaders, who was apparently in my employment. I have to get rid of traitors haven't I?

"So you planted a bomb? To kill off numerous innocent people? " A pang went through Kashara as she thought of Lady Affola's daughter who had been surprisingly tolerable and quiet for having Lady Affola as her mother. She was probably dead now.

"My dear poor confused Kashara , you are not living in a fairytale!" Fallon began scornfully.

He grabbed hold of her upper arms and shook her, continuing angrily " Wake up my dear sleeping beauty! Have you seen my planet? It's decaying! On the brink of extinction! This is war! You are in a warzone! I told you before you stepped foot here, not to get any romantic ideas about Demitytes. You may be a Queen, a princess overnight, but this not a fairytale. If you persist in thinking so, be assured at least, that I am not your idea of a prince."

He paused now and silently added in a deadly tone, "After all, every fairytale needs a good old fashioned villain doesn't it?".

Kashara was horrified. To murder people who were attacking you was one thing. To purposely do away with so many innocent people just to kill a few traitors... She didn't know if Fallon was even human. Planting a bomb just to catch the traitor...She couldn't even imagine how many loyal people had died today. So many soldiers, courtiers, young nobles who had come to the ball with hopes and dreams. Workers and servants. All dead.

She felt sick. She pushed away his hands that were burning into her arms and turned into her-their room. She somehow felt guilty and used at the same time. She sank into the bed, unaware of the tears rolling down her face, waiting for the mistress of the night to claim her.

The mistress of the night was a cruel mistress indeed. Kashara was plagued with nightmare of burning people reaching out for her as she sat in a blood covered throne on Fallon's lap, surrounded by the charred corpses of guards who protected them.

----------------------
Taaaadaaaa
See i can be awezomely punctual tooo:):):)
Did anyone get why the title is a sweltering ball?
Anyone anyone?
Its because it has an explosion. Woaaaahhh. How deep is that?

Btww.... anyone liking Fallon still guys? ****Falllon fan clubbb is stilll accepting members**** just forward ur applications to 221b baker street, our resident sociopath will look thru ur applications and probably reject everyone.

Anyway!!!! Plss vote and comment atleast for this damnnn cute emoji .

*puppy eyes*
Love
Inkonparchment