Space Knights: The Arrival, Gregory Samuelson [ready player one ebook .txt] 📗

The boys had gotten drinks for themselves and their partners and were making their way back across the room. As they approached Corena asked curiously and slyly, “What were you guys talking about?” She looked at Trance with her brown eyes and smiled, waiting for his answer.

“Probably the same thing you ladies were talking about,” Trance said laughing. “Would you care to dance?” he promptly asked her as he set their drinks down on the table.

“Absolutely,” she replied, taking his arm as they made their way out to the dance floor. A slow song was playing and Trance held Corena close as they swayed to the music. As they danced he also spotted his sister and her date to the dance. He chuckled and got a good view of who all was dancing. He saw one of his other friends and teammate Mandor dancing, and had to point out to Corena that her brother, Prince Mixim, and Sammy were also dancing with a couple of young girls.

To her delight Corena spotted her friend Calista and her Duke boyfriend dancing. Calista was darling in a very pretty white dress and her boyfriend was dapper in a dark blue suit. The Duke was tall with a slim build although he wasn’t the most graceful dancer. He seemed a little stiff and too proper, yet as Corena and Trance danced by them Corena saw the way he was looking at her friend and was delighted for her friend.

“Hi,” said Calista as each pair got close together.

“Hello,” said Corena graciously. “How are you two doing tonight?”

“We’re having a blast,” replied Calista joyfully. “Corena, this is my boyfriend Albert Florry. He’s from Vansay, just five miles from my home,” she said, glowing as she introduced him. Albert smiled politely and extended his hand to Trance and bowed to him as he shook hands in one quick movement. Then he took Corena’s hand and kissed it quickly and bowed also.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Albert said in a crisp official voice.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you also,” said Corena using her most polite and official voice. She had learned a long time ago about how she should meet officials from other kingdoms and planets.

They stood and talked pleasantly for a few minutes and then as the music started to play both couples swung back out onto the dance floor. Trance was really enjoying himself. As he was about to sit down he was tapped on the shoulder. He stood back up and turned slowly to come face to face with Pelleena. Her dark hair shone brightly and was beautifully styled. She was wearing a stunning black dress that had an amazing diamond pattern of sequins. The silk gown seemed to float around her. The top of the dress was rather lacey, and thankfully, thought Trance, was not see-through.

“I was wondering if I could have this dance,” Pelleena inquired.

Trance stood there for a moment, not sure what to do when Corena’s hand closed on his and she spoke, “He’s probably a little tired and needs to sit for a few minutes. I’m a bit tired too; we’ve been dancing steadily for quite a while now. Would you like to join us for a drink?” Corena felt a small pulse of jealousy, but kept her cool as she smiled as politely as possible. It had indeed crossed her mind that Pelleena would try to get Trance alone for a minute or so, and she didn’t like the idea. She absolutely trusted Trance, he had demonstrated his loyalty to her many times; however, she knew Pelleena too well to let them go off together.

Trance could tell that Corena really didn’t want him to dance with Pelleena. He had seen how they got along at the spaceport. He made up his mind to follow Corena’s lead and sat down and purposefully wiped his forehead and picked up his drink and said, “I’m getting a bit warm from all this dancing, and I really do need to sit and get a drink. I need to rest my feet for a few minutes and I’ll be ready to dance again.”

Pelleena could see what was going on. Her jealousy rose a bit higher. She smiled coyly as she said rather graciously, “Well if you need a little break, maybe I will sit with you two for a few minutes.” She sat down on Trance’s left, as Corena was on his right. They exchanged some small talk and Zam and Masey, Gracer and Catrina, and Hamon and Amanda returned to the table. Pelleena knew that the other ladies were a bit jealous of her and her very good looks and that the guys were having a hard time not noticing her, especially with their girlfriends right there. She started to sit back and enjoy sitting there more.

The tension at the table could be felt within just a few tables. More people came by and stopped to chat at the table. Trance could tell what was going on and decided to break the tension. With a look that reassured Corena, he stood up and extended his hand to Pelleena and asked her to dance. She smiled too broadly and accepted; nearly leaping up to take his hand and follow him out to the dance floor.

He held her carefully for their dance, but got a little uncomfortable as she pressed close to him and swayed to the music. In his mind he knew that if he weren’t going out with Corena, Pelleena would be well worth going out with. He squashed this thought and did his best to get through this dance and go back where he belonged and bring Corena back out to the dance floor and dance more with her. The music ended and as quickly as he could, he stepped away, thanked Pelleena for the dance and took Corena’s hand and brought her to the dance floor.

However, his enjoyment with having Corena in his arms