CLAIRE’S NIGHT OUT

  “Tanner first thing is you need new clothing. So first we meet with the best tailor in the city.” Tolbur explains.

  A short time later, Tanner, Claire, and Tolbur find themselves outside of Master Tailor Reynolds’s shop. In the noble district of the city. With some trepidation, Tanner steps in for his appointment. Tolbur claps him on the back for encouragement. “It won’t be that bad Tanner.” As the trio walk in, the woman slouched behind the front counter sniffs and informs them that the tailor sees clients by appointment only. Tolbur, not liking the woman's attitude, proclaims in a loud voice. “Presenting Her Imperial Highness Princess Claire Penelope Contigo and Imperial Baron, Tanner James Wilson-Alexander. Arise and kneel.”

  Claire assumes a lofty look on her face, Tanner, catching on imitates her. The woman stands, then kneels. Claire sniffs and raises her head higher. “You may rise.”

  “My Lords and Lady, sorry for the mix-up. I received the wrong time for the appointment,” the tailor apologizes as he rushes into the room. “Otherwise I would have been here to greet you.” the man says in a high nasal voice. The trio follow the tailor to his fitting area, and the pompous man shows Tanner gaudy materials and outlandish clothing, assuring him, this is what all the nobles are wearing. Tanner having seen the outlandish styles some nobles are wearing. Believes the man, giving him a polite refusal. Tanner stands to leave. The merchant claims a twenty gold consulting fee.

  With narrowed eyes, Tolbur speaks up, “You meant to say two gold, Right? The guild sets this at two coppers to two gold.”

  Tthe merchant caught trying to extort gold agrees and assures them he misspoke.

  On the street, Tanner observes the shops and the nobles walking. He realizes he will receive only more of the same offerings here in the wealthy quarter. “Come on we are not going to find anything I will wear around here.” He says, leading his companions away. Claire and Tolbur follow him into a less effluent quarter. Tanner enters a shop in better condition than the others on the street. Claire follows him in just as Tanner bellows, “Maggie. I need new clothes.”

  Maggie emerges, laughing, from the back room. “Tanner what the hell are you wearing, you look ridiculous.”

  “I am a prince now Maggie I have to dress like one. I refuse to look like one of those useless birds all the nobles have in their yards.”

  Maggie laughs even harder, slapping her knee. “Boy you play the best pranks.”

  Tolbur, smiling, says, “I would like to introduce you to Princess Claire Contigo and the new minted Prince Tanner Wilson-Alexander.”

  “Your serious Tanner, Oh Goddess.” The older woman grabs Tanner into a tight hug, sniffling, “Life is turning around for you boy. Damn me if you don’t deserve it.” Maggie becomes all business. “Alright, I know you, so all that peacock crap is out the window. Your look will be something understated and classy, with excellent workmanship.”

  Claire interrupts, “Peacock crap?”

  Maggie laughs and tells her, “Those useless birds the nobles have in their yards.”

  Consulting with Maggie, turns into a fun event. Tolbur gives her the list of clothing Tanner needs. Maggie and Tanner agree on several sets of clothing in various colors with input from Claire about the events Tanner will have to attend. Claire also orders several things after looking at Maggie’s work. Upon leaving Maggie’s shop, the trio find the late afternoon sun low in the sky.

  “We have been in there for hours, I had so much fun it just flew by.” Claire exclaims.

  “Yeah Maggie’s one of the better ones, she donates a lot of clothes to the orphans. Her clothes last longer and wear better than any others we get. Come on we need to eat, I know just the place.” Tanner says, smiling.

  “Tanner we don’t have reservations we can not get a seat.” Claire says.

  Laughing, Tanner just says, “Follow me.” Tanner walks up to a vendor's cart and asks for nine meat skewers and three large pies. After receiving the food, Tanner leads them to a fountain basin. Tanner dusts off the edge and gestures at Claire. “Your seat my princess. Reserved just for you.” After Claire sits, Tanner hands her food portion over. Then gives Tolbur his.

  Claire looking at the skewers, unsure how to eat them. Tolbur smiles at her, while Tanner shows her how to bite the meat off the sticks and eat the deep fried fruit pie. Claire’s eyes light up at the taste and soon devours her three skewers, making a mess of her face and dress. The pie follows soon after. Laughing, Tanner pulls out a cloth and wipes Claire's face. Both blushing as he wipes her mouth, cheeks, and chin. Tanner tells her the dress is all hers to take care of handing her the cloth. With a look at her dress, Claire gasps in astonishment.

  Tolbur laughs at her. “I’ve seen wolf packs eat live prey neater than the way you attacked that food.”

  “Have you never had street food?” Tanner asks.

  “I was never allowed to do much outside the palace. I just went to attend supervised events and back to the palace.”

  Tolbur’s smile dies, and he sighs, shoulders slumping. “I never agreed with not letting you experience a few little things. Your parents mean well, but both Rory and Cyn had a couple of close calls when they were younger. So they have erred on the cautious side with you and Richard.”

  “So why am I allowed now?”

  “Your mother has not confided in me, so I can only speculate. One reason is you are almost a legal adult. You are going to live life. Another you are surrounded by bodyguards, you may not see them, but trust me they are present. Also Tanner, your mother sees a future with you and Tanner together, so she wants you both to see where the other comes from. It's clear that there is a potent attraction between the two of you.”

  Claire looks at Tanner, nodding her head in agreement. “I have been since I saw you laying out on the docks that morning.”

  Tanner purses his lips, thinking, also nodding his head. “You know, I have noticed we hold hands and touch each other with out thinking. I just reached over and wiped your face, like it was a natural thing to do.” They share small smiles while locking eyes. Chuckling, Tolbur tells them they look like Penny and Rhys. The three sit at the fountain while Claire attempts to remove some of the food stains from her dress.

  A young boy runs up to her blushing and hands a leaflet out, “Live music at the Dockside tonight miss.” The lad runs off when Claire accepts the handout.

  “What is the Dockside?” Claire asks reading the pamphlet.

  “A tavern just down the street from here.” Tanner answers.

  “Can we go?” Claire asks, bouncing in place.

  “We need to clear that with your mother and father. Come along, we can ask them.” Tolbur says.

  The trio arrive at the manor house. Claire rushes into the office space shared by her parents, bursting with excitement, and hands the now wrinkled pamphlet to her mother, asking, “Can I go? Please?” Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she continues, “The Dockside is a Tavern, close to the meat skewer vendor we stopped at for a late lunch. Please I want to go.”

  Harold stands from his desk and reaches for the pamphlet. After reading it over, he says, “Dockside seems an odd choice of name for a tavern in the noble quarter of the city. I am also surprised they would have a street vendor in that area.”

  Tolbur snickers. “The so called best tailor in the city wanted to dress poor Tanner here,” Clapping him on the shoulder. “Like a peacock. Frankly, the noble fashions are garish. They are also gaudy, Tanner stood his ground and refused to be dressed in such a manner.”

  “I took us to a friend of mine in another quarter. She is the best in the city. The only thing that guys is, is expensive.”

  “We will revisit that in a moment. The Dockside is in the poor quarter? Why is the best tailor in town located there? Claire, what have you done to that dress? And what is a peacock?” Bree asks.

  Claire gives a sigh of exasperation and flounces on to the couch. Tanner sits with her and takes her hand. Tolbur sits with the two and motions his friends to take a seat. Tanner clears his throat to explain. “Okay first off peacocks are those useless birds the nobles all have in their yards. The colorful ones with the big tails, you have seen them?”

  Harold nods his head and agrees, “We have, they seem nice.”

  “They are noisy, they shit everywhere, and you can’t even eat them. They taste horrible.”

  “I see,” Harold replies with a slight grin. “And Claire’s dress?”

  “Claire liked Billy’s food. She got messy eating the skewers. I had to show her how to eat them off the stick. The fried pie was the same. You should have seen her gobble them down.” Claire’s ears turn pink.

  Bree shaking her head a little in dismay at her daughter’s manners, “I am not sure if we can get that all out but I will have the servants try dear.”

  “No!” Claire exclaims. “I want to keep it as is.”

  Puzzled and not understanding, Bree nods her head, “Then we will preserve it as is as a keepsake.”

  Tanner continues his explanation. “Maggie’s shop is not in the poor quarter, although I guess it would be, compared to what you are used to. She is sending my clothes here when she gets them completed. I should have a suit and small clothes arriving soon. The area is more of a worker’s district, shops and businesses with a few homes for the folks that work in the area.”

  Bree nods her head in understanding. “So this Dockside is a tavern in this area? How are the accommodations?”

  Tanner laughs at her phrasing. “The Dockside is a converted warehouse. The place is enormous. They serve food in the balcony section that runs around the inside. There is a round bar in the center they serve drinks from. The dance floor surrounds the bar. All the seating is in the balcony. The stage is on the other side from the entry doors.”

  Tolbur speaks up. “I like it, I have checked the place out earlier. I was planing to take my wife tomorrow night.”

  Harold proposes a family night out. Bree, watching Claire's expression fall, tells Claire to go clean up for now and they can discuss the matter further. Claire leaves the room, head hanging low with disappointment. Bree looks at her husband. “Enough is enough. We can not shelter her any longer. Or do you think you can keep her under lock and key after her Attunement Ceremony? I know we had some close calls with Rory’s assassination attempt and Cyn’s kidnapping attempt. We can not keep her and Richard from enjoying life. Harold, she has to go, and with Tanner, just her and him, a date.” Harold sighs.

  Tolbur, looking thoughtful, “Why don’t we have the shadow guard detail accompany them and Penny and Rhys can follow at a discrete distance?” He says. Turning to Tanner, Tolbur explains. “We have several of the Imperial bodyguard trained as assassins. They can just blend in while you two have a night out. They have followed usall day. How about you go check on Claire and send Penny and Rhys here?”

  “Oh I see how it is you all gang up on the over protective parents?” Harold says, snorting in amusement.

  Tanner nods his head and leaves the room. Escape plans forming as he walks. Tanner finds a page and sends her off for the Brightstars. Outside Claire’s room Tanner pauses, thinking, hesitant about his plan. Tanner steels his resolve and knocks, hearing Claire invite him in. Lost in thought, Tanner enters the room and gazes at Claire, frozen in shock as he sees her without her dress.

  Claire wide eyed gasps, “I thought you were the maid.” Claire snatches a robe off the bed and throws it around herself.

  “I’m sorry Claire, I keep forgetting to announce myself. I’ll come back later.”

  “Wait I have my robe on, we will call that an outer garment for proprieties sake. What did you want?”

  Tanner, turning back around, sees his friend sitting on her bed with a look of mild disappointment. Not thinking, Tanner sits next to her, putting his arm around her shoulders. Claire leans in and rests her head on his chest. The couple sit, enjoying each other's company. Tanner breaks the silence, “So you want to go tonight.”

  “I did, I should have known better. Today was so much fun, I didn't want it to end, so I got my hopes up.”

  “I think your mom is giving in, and your dad may also, Tolbur sent for Penny and Rhys. I don’t want to get your hopes up too high. You had a good time today? We didn’t do anything special, just shopping, and food.”

  Claire sniffles. “You may think I am a dumb, spoiled princess, but today meant so much to me. I experienced normal activities outside the palace. They schedule my life down to the minute. The fact is today was my first taste of doing as I please. You don’t understand this, do you?”

  “Not really, no. I haven’t had to live your life. Then again you haven’t lived mine either so I am sure there are things you would not understand. I am going to take you out, even if I have to sneak you out of the house.”

  Hugging him tight, “That is a nice thought but we have a lot of guards, pretty sure we would not get far. Now you need to get out of my room I am not dressed.”

  Tanner standing laughs at the now smiling Claire, “First off you are wearing more clothes than any commoner in the empire even without the robe. So I didn’t see anything good.”

  Tanner's hand on the doorknob pauses as Claire asksblushimg, “Wait, you think you would see something good?”

  With a serious look, Tanner tells her, “Of course I would, you’re beautiful.” He walks out the door, leaving an open-mouthed Claire staring at the closed door. Headed for Harold and Bree’s office. Determined to get Claire out for a night in the city, Tanner rushes into the room and declares, “You are making a mistake she is going out with me even if I have to…” Tanner stops dead in his tracks gazing at the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Dumbstruck and wide eyed, he can only stare at her in amazement. A short, and slim, pale-skinned woman stands with grace in the middle of the room. Her long black hair, simmering with natural blue highlights, lays styled around a beautiful, heart-shaped face. Soft violet twinkling eyes crown her full, smiling red lips and dimpled cheeks. Her delicate eyebrows arched with a hint of mischief. Star struck, Tanner continues staring, thinking to himself, ‘How can she be standing still and be graceful?’ He realizes he is still staring and then bows to introduce himself. “Tanner Wilson-Alexander, at your service ma’am.”

  Bree, shaking her head, “Tanner, you are the worst student ever. I swear, for as smart as you are, you just do not seem to pick up on your etiquette lessons.”

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  “It may be my fault Bree, let me take care of this first.” The newcomer said.

  Tanner feels energies swirl around his head and seep in, then fade. “What the hells?” He asks. “I can think again, you’re still gorgeous. But what was that?”

  Tolbur, laughing, introduces her to the tune of Penny’s loud guffaws in the background. “Tanner, this is Eunice Green, party member of the Imps, and the Voice of the Goddess.”

  “Way to go, Slugger.” Penny cat calls, while Tanner stands looking at everybody in shock.

  “Sorry, I’m not sure what to do here.” Tanner stammers.

  Bree, taking pity on him, strides forward and hugs him, then says. “First off the Imps are all friends, so we greet each other with hugs.”

  Eunice nods her head at this, and with an understanding tone, explains. “I am sorry Tanner, I’ve always been a beautiful girl, then became a beautiful woman. When I received the goddess’s Blessing, my Soul Attribute was 63 at Level ‘0’. The average starting out for each of the Mind, Body, and Soul Attributes are 30, so anything higher puts you above average for that attribute. My Charisma has only increased over the years. There are other factors on how my abilities affect others, which we will not go into. Just know when the Goddess chose me to become her Voice, she doubled it. Charisma affects how others interact and perceive me. Tanner, you were smitten with a love crush, for lack of a better term.” She smiles at him. “I am sorry. I subdue the effect as much as possible. I cannot always control it when I get emotional, like seeing my friends and family for the first time in several weeks. When that happens, we get some spillage. Some men and women are very susceptible when they first meet me.”

  “Okay slugger, you barged in her ready to fight the world about something, care to finish your statement? I believe you were saying something like ‘You are making a mistake Claire is going out with me even if I have to...” But paused for some strange reason." Penny teases.

  Tanner takes a moment and collects his thoughts. Then, standing straight, “I am taking Claire out. She needs this more than anyone realizes. Today she got more joy and happiness for just going shopping and grabbing food from a street vendor than should be normal. You have gone way too far in protecting her. If this means I am no longer welcome here. I accept the consequences of my statement and will sneak her out somehow, regardless.”

  “That is a lot to unpack. Let us all sit down and find out why Tanner is so adamant about this.” Eunice says. The Imps and Tanner sit. Eunice takes in the faces of everyone present. Tanner’s stubborn, Penny, Rhys, and Tolbur’s neutral. Harold’s worried stubborn, and Bree’s constrained. “Tanner, can you explain to us why you feel so strong about this?”

  Tanner takes the time to look at each person, “Do any of you know what Claire is doing right now?” Tanner continues without waiting for an answer. “She is hanging a food stained dress on her wall along with the folding cloth I used to wipe her face, to commemorate one of the best days of her life. What made this day so special you ask? We went clothes shopping and had food on the street. That’s it. Nothing else, she ate food from a street vendor. That is her high.” Tanner looks around at the faces of the adults to gauge their reactions. Tanner looks around the room, taking in Eunice’s shock, Tolbur's slight anger. Rhys and Penny’s eyes closed in pain. Harold's stricken figure recoiled in shock and Bree’s sad eyes, tears leaking down her face. “A normal day for anyone else in the empire is the best day of her sixteen-year-old life. Think about that for a minute.”

  Tolbur stands. “The issues with Royce and Cyndia were over a hundred years ago when you first ascended to the throne. The political climate is much different now, your reign is secure. The uncertainty surrounding the new rule is gone. It is pastime you eased up. I acknowledge and concur with most of the reasons, but she'll be an adult soon. You can no longer hold her back in the name of protecting her. It is a testament to your daughter's character that she has not rebelled. She is a good, dutiful daughter despite the circumstance of her over protected upbringing. Not once can I remember her ever asking for anything, but today she has, and I was with her today at the fountain. She came alive. I am sorry, but you have to let her go, Harry. Bree, I know you have wanted to ease up and have, but she needs this more than you realize.”

  Harry nods, and with regret in every line of his posture, takes a deep breath. “I did not know things were that bad for her, she never complained. I believed she was content because she requested nothing.”

  Penny clears her throat. “She is happy. It is just that she is a few weeks from becoming a grown woman and her worldview is getting larger. She is still your little girl, Harry, just like Cyn is still.”

  Bree clears her throat. “Okay, we will let her go to this, but I insist we deploy the special teams.”

  Tolbur gives a devious smile and says, “How about this? You give permission to go under those conditions, but if Tanner can sneak her out of the house, out to the street. Instead of the bodyguard, we all follow at a discrete distance. You’ll never know we are there, Tanner, I promise.”

  Tanner nods his head and leaves.

  Eunice observes the others and remarks, “He's an intriguing young man. I need to get freshened up from my trip. I will see everyone later.”

  Tolbur stands and offers his arm and the couple leave the room.

  Rhys stands and offering Penny his hand. Penny grabs it, he pulls her up into a tight embrace. “We need to get ready for a night on the town.”

  Penny laughs and asks, “What do you want me to wear? Demure and sexy or just flat out sexy?”

  “Anything you wear is going to be sexy.” Rhys says to her.

  Penny gives an exaggerated sigh of contentment, “Such a well trained man.” The two walk out hand in hand.

  Alone, Bree and Harry look at each other, then snuggle, “My deepest fear has been losing my children to outside forces. Not once did I ever consider the effects of my own actions. I feel I must apologize to Claire and Richard.” He says.

  Bree snuggles into her husband's chest, “We will tomorrow morning. Tolbur is brilliant, forcing us to watch Claire blossom tonight.” Bree says.

  Harry pulls back from Bree’s embrace. “You don’t think Tanner can sneak her out of the house, do you?”

  “Have you met your ward?”

  Harry opens his mouth to reply, then stops. “We need to get ready.” Harry, upset at himself, gives her a sad smile and asks, “So should I dress sexy but demure or just plain sexy?” With subdued laughter, they hurry to get ready for a night in the city.

  Tanner knocks on Claire’s door once again, this time remembering to announce himself. Tanner enters the room and examines Claire’s appearance. “You can not go out dressed like this.”

  Claire looks at him wide eyed and squeals, “We can go?”

  “Yes we can, we have two options. The first we dress and go out the front door, a special team of guards will accompany us. We will not even notice them. Or I can sneak us out of the house and the Imps follow us around. Tolbur promised we will not know they are there.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “I think he wants to show your mother and father how much you need to be left alone to walk your own path.”

  “What does that mean? ‘Walk my path’?”

  “Sorry it’s a Menoct saying, ‘A warrior can only walk their own path. A warrior that walks a path set by others is no warrior.’ Does that make sense?”

  “Kind of yes, My parents are setting my path but I should set my own path to walk. He wants to use tonight as an example to show my parents I can own the woman I aspire to be.”

  “Correct,”

  Claire paces the length of her room. “How do we get past the guards?”

  Tanner explains while Claire nods. Tanner sends a page off to find Richard, while Claire moves to another room dresses in a more informal dress.

  Richard arrives after a brief talk. He then leaves Claire’s room with a concerned look on his face and heads to off to find the duty captain. After a brief wait, the couple leave Claire's room in search of a particular servant. Tanner and Claire find the young woman and talk in private with her. The guards, having been put on alert, all shake their heads. The servant is the same size and general build as the princess. The guards, watching the servant, follow her around while she goes about her duties. She goes to her room and comes back out a short time later with a kerchief wrapped around her head. The young woman pushes a laundry cart toward Tanner’s room, she knocks, only to find him leaving, dressed for his martial arts training, Prince Richard at his side as usual. Tanner thanks the woman for collecting his laundry. She nods and enters his room, coming out a short time later with Tanner's clothes. The guard stops her and goes through the cart, finding only bundles of dirty clothes. She then continues along the family wing, collecting dirty clothes. Once she reaches Claire's room, she knocks and Claire lets her in. The servant comes out a few minutes later, keeping her head down, hair now loose, hiding her face. She pushes the laundry cart away, the guards smirking follow her. The servant crosses the courtyard, the sound of Tanner and Richard clacking sticks while practicing accompanies her steps. She approaches the side gate, used by servants. The guards surround her, “That is far enough princess”

  The young woman stops, keeping her head down. A female guard gently lifts the servant girl's head. Only to find the servant not the princess as expected. The guards curse while emptying the laundry cart, not finding the princess,they run off shouting. Two other servants help the young woman clean up the mess from the guards and then help her empty the cart in the receptacle outside the gate for pick up in the morning. The three individuals walk to the other side of the street to the sound of clapping. The trio look over to see the six Imps grinning at them. Tanner bows with a flourish and Claire curtsies, both grinning, and point to their accomplice. Blushing, the young servant also curtsies.

  Smiling Bree asks the servant girl, “Will you be at the Dockside later?”

  “My boyfriend and I were thinking of going tonight,”

  Handing her a gold, “Your night is on me tonight. Thank you, you were fantastic. Driver, take her where she needs to go the rest of tonight, please?” Bree asks one of the coachmen stationed nearby.

  “Yes your Majesty.” He says with a bow.

  After helping the woman into the carriage and watching it leave, Tanner puts his arm out for Claire to take. The young couple walk down the street arm in arm, to another carriage.

  When they arrive at the Dockside, Tanner explains it is a little early for the band, but they can get an enjoyable meal before the band sets up. Leading Claire into her first ever tavern, watching her face light up when she looks the place over. “Well what do you think?”

  “It is wonderful, Tanner thank you, thank you so much.”

  The hostess comes up, “Hey Tanner, Quincy know you are here?”

  “Hey yourself Karen. I haven’t seen him yet.”

  “Okay, I’ll let him know you are here. You want to sit at your usual table in back or somewhere else since you have a hot date.” She says to Claire with a wink.

  “Can we get a view of the dance floor?” Claire asks.

  “Of course follow me.” While the couple is seated, Karen fills their water glasses. After making sure they have menus. She goes off the speak to Quincy. After looking over the menus, Claire asks Tanner what she should get.

  An older man, overhearing her, walks up, “Everything on the menu is fresh, from the fish to the steaks, and we cook it all to perfection.”

  “Quincy,” Tanner stands to greet the man, shaking his hand. “Claire this is Quincy, Maggie’s husband. Quincy this is Claire.”

  Quincy takes Claire’s hand and bows over it, giving her a wink. “Princess, your secret is safe with me.” he tells her in a low tone. “May I join you?” Tanner tells him to sit as Quincy pulls out a chair. Claire asks what she should order.

  Quincy asks her, “Is there anything on the menu you are in the mood for? What do you like to eat, we can make a special order.” Claire asks if it would be okay to order crab legs and a steak. “Of course, my dear, how would you like the steak cooked? Medium comes out nice and tender and will melt in your mouth.” Quincy motions for a server to take their order. Tanner asks for the same as Claire, only he wants tatoe wedges.

  “What are tatoe wedges?”

  Tanner explains to Quincy this is Claire’s first tavern. Eyes lighting up in delight, Quincy laughs and says, “You dear boy, you brought her to me for her first visit. Your money is no good here tonight. Either of you. Beth, bring one of everything on the menu here, please. We are going to send off Tanner in style tonight.

  Beth stops, “Tanner your leaving?”

  Tanner explains about his adoption and going to Madison for his Attunement, and then he will attend Darton Academy in the Imperial Capital. Beth jumps to hug and congratulate him. Then she rushes off to fill the order. Claire delights in tasting everything brought before her. Soon, other diners fill the loft area. Most come by the table to wish Tanner luck, when word spreads about his change in fortune.

  Claire, pointing down to the stage, “Is that the band setting up? Can we dance? Please I want to dance.”

  “Once they set up they will do sound checks then they will start playing.” Tanner replies, “And yes we will dance. I don’t know if you will know any of the dances but I can show you.”

  Clair bounces in her chair, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Tanner smiles at her.

  The band plays, Tanner waits for the dance floor to fill, then brings Claire. She learns a dance called a two-step dance, where the dancers move side to side with two steps in a soft glide. She also learns a box dance that has similar moves, but the steps are in a square pattern. After two hours or so, the older couples depart, and a younger crowd takes over the tavern. The music transitions as the drum beat shifts from keeping time, to driving the melody, with the bass line becoming more prominent in the mix. The dancers no longer follow set steps and sway, shimmy, shake, or outright bounce up and down, their feet pounding with the drumbeat. Claire, watching the other women on the floor, imitates them. Hesitant at first. Then, gaining more confidence once she realizes no one cares how she moves and no one is watching her but Tanner. Claire, feeling free for the first time in her life, lets go of the crushing weight of expected perfection, perfect manners, perfect speech, perfect behavior, perfect princess, and last of all, she lets go of the perfect daughter. Tanner, watching her release, grabs her hand and leads her off the dance floor to Quincy’s office.

  Claire finding herself in a private setting allows herself to breakdown in tears. Body racking sobs tear through her. She can feel Tanner’s roughened hands and fingers caress her shaking body. Rubbing her neck, shoulders, and back soothing her. Most of all, she feels his presence, his care, his compassion, his acceptance, his love, all for her. At that moment, she understands they love each other. Both waiting to admit it. Claire quiets, a knock on the door sounds. After a silent inquiry of Tanner looking at Claire and Claire’s nod, Tanner opens the door, and to the surprise of both, Samantha pokes her head in. “You alright girl? I saw your face when Tanner took you from the dance floor.”

  Claire, wiping her eyes, “I am okay, just stupid rich girl problems.” Tears still falling.

  Sam enters the room. Looking Claire over, “Tanner, this is girl time, you need to go and do something manly.” Claire gives off a strange sound halfway between a sob and giggle. Tanner leaves the room to talk to Quincy.

  “So are you really okay? You weren’t just being brave for Tanner?”

  “I am just being silly, like I said, rich girl problems.”

  “Princess...”

  “No, call me Claire.” Claire interrupts.

  “Okay, Claire, rich, or poor or anything in between, we all have problems and all of them are valid problems. If they make us feel like crap, we need to address them. It doesn’t matter what others think, we are the ones that have to deal with them.”

  “I am just feeling sorry for myself, I have no right to. I have so many blessing in my life.”

  “Claire if you do not stop that bullshit, I will slap you.”

  Shocked, Claire looks are Sam in surprise. Sam continues, “Do I have your attention? Now tell me what is wrong.”

  “Okay this will sound stupid. I am prefect.” Sam snorts and sits down, “Well hat’s better, now explain.”

  “I have a charmed life and I can not be anything other than prefect.”

  Sam nods her head in understanding. “You mean you are not allowed to be anything other than perfect.”

  “How? How do you what I am feeling?”

  Samantha sighs, “I’ve had a barge load of therapy after everything happened.”

  “After you were attacked you mean.”

  “Claire, I was not attacked. I was kidnapped and maimed by seven men. The man that cut my face was murdered in front of me for ruining my face. Then I was raped and beaten by the other men. They imprisoned me for sale. I am not saying this to shock you. Confront your problems, identify the root causes, and take action, only then can you heal.”

  Claire nods her head. “I think I see what you're saying. Dancing like that on the dance floor. I felt everything let go. I was free of my parents, free from having to be perfect. Free of my expectations for myself. I got overwhelmed. I’m having a night to myself for the first time. My first time in a tavern, I had food from a street vendor today for the first time. This is even my first date with a boy. Tanner is my first friend.”

  Sam smiles, “Damn girl that’s a lot of firsts.” Sam frowns and continues, “Seems like you haven't had the chance to live much. So Doc Sam’s advice is tomorrow we get help. Tonight we party, so more stomp and shake and get some slow dances in with that yummy date of yours.”

  Claire, smiling for the first time since coming off the dance floor, “What is stomp and shake?”

  “That is the dancing you were doing out there. You stomp to the drum beat and shake what the Goddess gave you.” Sam says, shimmying her butt a little. “Now let’s get that pretty face cleaned up and shake it some more.” A laughing Claire follows her to Quincy’s restroom.

  Two smiling girls exit the private hallway arm in arm. To find Tanner, a young man Claire does not recognize and Eunice. Before anyone can speak, Eunice raises her hand, “I know you where not supposed to see us, I am here to make sure you are okay.”

  “I am,” Claire replies.

  With a nod of her head, Eunice vanishes into the crowd.

  “Claire, this is Brenton. He is a fellow orphan and attends the Imperial Academy here in Volks Harbor.”

  With a look of longing at Samantha, Brent says, “See you later Tanner luck to you.”

  Brent walks away, Tanner turns to Sam and says, “You know Sam, I thought you were just being a bitch but you don’t see it do you?”

  Samantha, pulling herself up and raising her head in a mock superior manner, replies, “I’ll have you know, young man, I am whatever I need to be. Uh see what?”

  “Brent.” Tanner answers.

  “What about Brent?”

  “He is in love with you. He will treat you like a princess or any other way you want him to. That’s what.”

  “Damn and I was too busy giving my all to that lower than fish shit Aden to notice.”

  “I take it Aden is out of the picture?” Claire asks.

  “His true colors were displayed this morning. He just wanted me to hike up my skirts. He said many unkind things and I beat the shit out of him. Some men think what happened makes me a slut. I want to wait till I am married, so it means something with a man I love and that loves me.”

  Claire pulls herself up with indignation, “That is not unreasonable, we should be in love when we make that choice, or anything we decide. It is our body.”

  “Funny thing is, I am not upset we broke up. That tells me everything about that relationship. Well, I would love to chat about this and more, but I got a man to hunt down. The slow dances will start soon.” Sam says as she pushes Claire and Tanner together, facing each other. Taking Claire’s hands, she puts them on Tanner’s shoulders and grabs Tanner’s hands and puts them on Claire’s waist. Pushing them together like that so their bodies touch. “Now you can dance at arms' length but close like this is much more fun. Byyyeee.” She tells them as she runs off.

  The slow music starts, and the couple sway to the music. The pair dance, fast and slow, until closing time. Claire wants to walk to the manor once they enter the noble district. Tanner escorts her to her room and hugs her. Claire inhales, pulling his scent deep into her lungs, smiling she pulls away and tells him this was the best night of her life. She opens her door a little clumsily, still facing him and looking into his eyes. She backs into her room and closes her door, never losing eye contact.

  With a dopey smile on his face, Tanner retreats to his room, undressing and getting ready for bed. He falls asleep with a smile still on his face.