Chapter 1, part II

   Ione sat and watched as her friends danced. Beside her, Raphael blushed.
   "I really am sorry, Io," he said.
   "It's fine, Raph, really. You don't step on my feet that hard. Besides, I've gotten used to it."
   The little lord blushed harder at that. He trod on her feet at least twice at every dancing lesson.
   "Shall I get you a drink?" he asked hesitantly.
   "That would be lovely, thanks." She smiled sweetly at him and he hurried off to the table laden with food and drink.
   Ione turned her attention back to the dancers. Queen Rochelle had invited every young person with suitable rank to the Mountain Court for her son's 10th birthday. Mostly eligible young girls, Ione noted. Hamish spun the Lady Oswyn Hawthorne of Widow's Fall in the Gray Hills. Malachi lifted the Duchess Adelina Swan of the Golden Bay in Stonewater. Gregor dipped the Lady Leandra Lothers of Shrieking Pass in Stonewater. At the center of it all was Decca, trying to decide which of the girls vying for his attention to dance with.
   "Pathetic isn't it?"
   Ione looked up in surprise. Princess Olivie Fuer of the Sandlands stood beside her.
   "What's pathetic?"
   "This." Olivie gestured to the dancers. "All of them, trying to win his favor, hoping to become his bride. They should all know by now that I'm the future queen of the Weeping Mountains."
   "I thought Decca was still not betrothed," Ione said as politely she could manage. She knew for a fact that Decca was unbetrothed. This Sand girl was stirring up trouble.
   "Oh, he's unbetrothed. However, I am the Sand Princess. King Conri has control of his Weeping Mountains and the Ashlands, but it's not enough. He wants more, but before he can conquer, he must stop the invaders at his doorstep."
   Ione nodded. The Sandlands bordered the Weeping Mountains to the south. They were a nomadic people and all trained in the art of war. The tribes moved around so there were always at least two beating at the Mountain people while the others moved further south to recover from their last attack.
   "The Mountain people can hold off the Sand tribes, but not beat them," Olivie said smugly. "My father will only ally with the Weeping Mountains through a marriage alliance. Your King cannot refuse."