by Morgana Shee
Part 9
The coachman slowed and Gallura clapped his hands together, "Ah, here we are!"
Morgana leaned forward in her seat and looked out. The entrance to the great hall was blocked by myriads of Florentine nobles in their best wear. The hall leading to the other rooms was bright gold from all the candles lining the walls. Guards stood at attention up and down the halls as well.
Aurin tugged on Morgana's arm a bit and Morgana took it as a sign to get out of the carriage. A footmen put down a stool and Aurin took Morgana by the hand to help her out. When she was safe on the ground, Morgana looked up at the hall again.
It was even bigger than it was in the carriage. She could feel Aurin's excitement at her side. Gallura appeared beside them and motioned for them to follow.
Gallura strode up to a messenger and stated their names. The messenger ran over to the announcer. In a few minutes, Morgana heard her name announced loudly through the crowd.
Heads turned to stare as she and Aurin entered the huge ballroom, most of them women. Morgana could tell that Aurin was going to break a few hearts that evening.
Behind her, Cadal and Celeste were being presented. A few young girls ran up to Celeste and began to chat with her, fawning over Cadal as they did. Cadal only smiled and tugged on Celeste's arm.
Finally, Signor Gallura was announced and applause went up in the ballroom. Gallura nodded at various people and made his way over to his party. Aurin and Cadal went off to find drinks for Morgana and Celeste. Gallura seemed like he was having the time of his life. He laughed and slapped other noblemen on the back. They all seemed to know him.
"Morgana!" Gallura shouted, "Come over here for a moment. I would like you to meet someone!" He was standing by a man with salt and pepper hair. It was very glossy. His eyes were the color of almonds.
When she finally made her way over to them, Gallura said, "Morgana, I would like to present Antonio Pacelli. He is my best friend and is also educated in the art of science."
The man took Morgana's hand and kissed it, "Charmed, signora. I have invited Signor Gallura to my mansion tomorrow evening for dinner. I hope you will be able to attend."
"Of course, signor," said Morgana shyly, "I would be honored."
Pacelli smiled at her and released her hand, "A blossom, Signor Gallura! She is as beautiful as you described her."
"She is at that, Signor Pacelli!" said Gallura, smiling at Morgana.
Morgana smiled back and heard a call from behind her. Celeste was beckoning her over. Morgana excused herself from the two men.
Celeste had two glasses in her hand and was holding one out for Morgana. She took it adding her thanks. Aurin and Cadal had returned.
"Are you having a nice time?" asked Celeste.
"Oh, yes," said Morgana, although she hadn't been there long enough to form a good opinion, "The flowers on the tables are beautiful and the music is lovely."
Actually, Morgana had just started to hear the music. She hadn't had time to hear it. The music was drifting over to them from across the room where a string quartet was playing a waltz. Morgana hoped no one would ask her to dance. She didn't know how!
But it was too late. Signor Gallura was coming back to his party and he was looking straight at Morgana. She flushed. She knew what he was going to do.
"If you would do be the honor," Gallura said, smiling, "I would like you to dance with me."
Morgana looked around for someone to save her, but Aurin and Cadal were trying not to laugh. They knew she didn't know how to dance, but they weren't about to say anything. Morgana would get them later.
There was nothing for Morgana to do but accept. She nodded and Gallura led her out onto the dance floor. Other couples were swirling around them. Gallura seemed to notice that Morgana was rather tense.
"Just relax, my dear," he said, laughing, "No harm will come to you by dancing. Just follow me." With that he swirled her into the fray.
It was easier than Morgana had thought. But she knew it was partly because Gallura was an excellent dancer. He held her as if he had been dancing since he was quite young. Morgana commented on this and he bellowed.
"Yes," he said, "I've been dancing for quite some time, but when you are of noble blood, it is expected that you know how."
Thankfully, the music came to an end soon after that. Morgana was exhausted and the night wasn't even half over. Gallura led her back to the others laughing lightly.
"Morgana, you dance divinely," Gallura said holding out her chair for her.
"Thank you, signor, but you are the one who is the better dancer."
He smiled at her again and left the table once more.
Morgana put her hand against her head and shut her eyes for a couple of second. Cadal and Celeste had gone to dance for the next waltz and Aurin was no doubt dancing with some starry-eyed Florentine girl. Morgana smiled to herself. Anything to take his mind off of me, thought Morgana.
She was watching the dancing when she noticed a tall, slim girl entering the ballroom. Her dress was pale blue and her blonde hair was done up much like the other Florentine women. Morgana could hardly contain her excitement. She leapt from her chair and lady-like, made her way over to the frightened girl.
"Terzian!" Morgana cried, "What are you doing here?!"
Terzian turned and, looking relieved, smiled at Morgana, "Oh, Morgana, I knew I would find you here. I told the guards I was a friend of the Gallura's just so I could get in, but I didn't think they would believe me!"
"Oh, Terzian, you look flustered. Let's go sit down." She took the tall girl by the arm and led her to the table. Terzian clung to Morgana's arm as if she was going to perish if she let go. Morgana smiled.
Once at the table, Morgana held out a chair for Terzian and then took her own, "Now, what brings you here, Terzian?"
"Oh, nothing really. I heard that you and Aurin had come here and I was lonely in Findahl so I decided to come and visit. I hope that's not wrong."
"Oh, no, dear," said Morgana laughing, "The Gallura's are very warm and they will be happy to have you. If you're a friend of Cadal's, you're a friend of the Gallura's."
"Well, I'm Cadal's cousin, so I'll probably be treated like family," Terzian laughed nervously. Morgana couldn't help laughing at Terzian. She was always so shy and unsure, but she was the best friend anyone could ever have.
The waltz had ended as Morgana and Terzian were talking and Cadal and the others were coming back to the table. When Cadal saw Terzian, he rushed over and gave a her a huge hug. Terzian looked even more flustered.
"Terzian! When did you arrive?" Cadal seemed excited to see his cousin.
Since Terzian was again flushed, Morgana answered for her, "She just arrived. She was growing bored in...Germany and wanted to come and visit."
Cadal turned to Celeste, "This is my cousin, Terzian Logren. Terzian, this is Celeste Gallura." The two girls nodded at each other.
Just then, Gallura came back to the table with a young man in tow. The young man had jet black hair that seemed to radiate rainbow colors when light danced on it. His eyes were as black as his hair and he seemed to be amused my Gallura.
Gallura was laughing when he arrived at the table, "Hello, friends. Are you enjoying yourselves?" Everyone nodded. "Wonderful!" He was about to go on when he noticed Terzian.
"And who might this lovely creature be?" Terzian flushed again.
Cadal spoke, "This is my cousin, Terzian Logren. She has come to Florence to visit me."
Gallura clapped his hands together, "Wonderful! Another guest. Well, signora, you will come home with us this evening and we will find you a room. I'm sure Suzette will have one ready." That made Terzian smile.
Gallura turned to the young man beside him, "I would like to present to you all Damon Salvatore. He is the son of Giuseppe Salvatore, one of the noblest of Florence." The young man nodded at everyone. Cadal and Aurin sort of glared at him.
Gallura went on, "Signor Salvatore would like the honor of dancing with Morgana." He looked at Morgana for acceptance. Morgana nodded and took Damon's hand. Aurin and Cadal mumbled something under their breath and Celeste gasped.
The young man's hand was cool against hers. Morgana looked up into his face as they assumed their dancing position. He was beautiful. Not handsome. Not gorgeous. Beautiful in an almost unearthly way. Sort of like a Quislai.
He held her precisely in his arms as if he'd done it a million times before with a million different women. Morgana looked into his eyes. They were so black. She could see herself reflected in them.
Damon held her a bit closer and whispered in her ear, "I know about you, Morgana of the sidhe."
Morgana gasped and her breath quickened. He knows, he knows, he knows, her mind fired at her. But that's not all she gasped at. His voice was like a soft caressing wind. it wrapped itself around you and wouldn't let go. Morgana thought it sounded like Aurin's, but Aurin's was full of light and this young man's was pure darkness.
"What do you know?" Morgana whispered, frightened.
"Don't worry," Damon caressed, "I'm not here to reveal you. I'm here to warn you and your other companions."
Morgana glanced back at Cadal, Aurin, and Terzian. Terzian was smiling at her and the others were glaring at Damon.
"What's happening?" asked Morgana.
"The Inquisition is happening," said Damon in her ear, "You and your friends are not of this world. Signor Forge is already suspected of practicing sorcery. Yes, Morgana, I know he really is a sorcerer. And that you are also. You two are very powerful, I know. Just don't flaunt your power around here." He pulled back and smiled at her.
"Thank you, signor," said Morgana sincerely, "But how do you know about us?"
"I know many things," Damon said enigmatically, "And I won't reveal how."
He swirled her about the dance floor. Morgana didn't know what to think of Damon. He was very mysterious, but Morgana seemed to trust him, "Why do you want to protect us?"
Damon flashed another smile that chilled her to the bone, "The Inquisition is a bunch of wind-bags full of hot air. They prosecute what they don't understand. I don't want you to be one of those things."
The music ended and Damon released her. Morgana was speechless, "Thank you, signor. You don't know how much."
"I think I do," Damon said, kissing her hand, "I just hope that you and your friends will take my advice and return to Findahl soon." With that, he was gone.
Morgana was flustered herself now. She was confused. She wanted to ask Damon more questions, but she couldn't see him anywhere. Maybe she would take his advice. It wouldn't be hard for her to return to Findahl after that. But convincing Cadal to return was another story.
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