"My mother taught me. We danced them on the rooftops of the Megaron. According to legend, the Thief and any partner the Thief chooses will be safe."
"You are king now," she pointed out.
"Ah, but they say if the king dances, the entire court can safely dance with him."
"Spare me," said Attolia, "and my court, from dancing on the roof."
"It probably only works in Eddis."
Holding the queen's hand, he picked his way up the tiled roof of the ceremonial hall to the peak. Attolia, accompanying, was as surefooted as the king. Once at the peak, they waited for the music master to bring his players to order, and when the musicians began to play, Eugenides and Irene danced.
He'd seen her in a pale dress dancing in the moonlight, pretending an entire troupe of dancers danced the harvest circle with her, her arms open to embrace the sisters and friends who existed only in her imagination, and he'd never seen anything so beautiful or so sad.
[T]he king released Attolia and bowed as she curtsied. Then he descended to catch Eddis by the hand. Eddis protested, he cajoled, and together they climbed up the roof. Attolia, meanwhile, had taken Sounis by the hand and led him up as well. He looked far more anxious than the other three, but as the musicians played, the four of them danced gracefully to the music, and then they descended, each to select a new partner.
Everyone was dancing on the flat guard walks--Ion and his new wife smiling a each other, Celis and Lavia laughing. Phresine danced with Trokides. Baron Anacritus danced with his wie and then with his lover, while his wife was dancing with the king. Much to my surprise, Chloe had singled out the magus, who seemed very pleased at the attention. Costis was dancing with his younger sister when I saw Kamet approach Teleus, who'd propped himself up against a crenelated wall.
*ben wyatt voice* It's about having been alone, l but now having enough companionship and family and peace to dance.