The tall tiger female was wearing a flowing purple gown. Her face was long and gentle, her dark black hair were going past her waist. She had sparkly brown eyes and a sharp elegant nose. She looked very refined. She looked into Sienna's eyes and smiled. "Welcome queen Sienna. My name is Rossella. I will be your dance teacher."
"Nice to meet you," Sienna smiled.
"It looked like you had a hard day today," Rossella noted. She could sense Sienna's tense mood and her relief when the door closed.
"Yes, I really need some distraction right now."Sienna sighed.
"The males can be really overbearing sometimes. It is our duty to keep them in check."Rossella looked at her with a curious expression.
"I'm happy for any advice, please."Sienna replied with a faint smile." How to tame a snake, who can wipe out this city?"
Rossella nodded," I know you don't have it easy. I saw you at the Forum before and also at the fights. Maybe you should let them both die."
"I do love them, how could I?" Sienna replied in horror. Rossella was too cold.
"Life is easier with not so strong males," Rossella said.
"I'm glad they are strong. I like it and I do need their protection."Sienna smiled at her.
"Whoever from?" Rosella asked.
"For now from Ape prince, Lynx King and Panther prince. And I'm in this land only a few weeks literally."Sienna said.
"Aren't you lucky indeed?"Rosella chuckled."It must be because of your pretty face and blue eyes. You have really rare beauty. But imagine if you have mates who will be listening to your every order. Wouldn't be that nice?"
"Not really. I do not wish to order anyone around. And I do not want to be ordered eighter. I want to be equal with my mates. Besides city need strong males like them, who will fight off the beasts in the spring? I heard they are pretty horrid, everyone is scared of them apart from Sharchan, Tyrell and Lord Ziran. They are actually excited because they want to compete who kills more beasts. "
"Probably you right," said Rossella, " I do despise those beasts. We always hoped that King Tyrell will subdue them. He use to be our only hope. Now our city has 3 warriors who can do that, so we could rest assured. She smiled. I think is thanks to you. But come now. I will introduce you to the other girls who will be joining us for the lesson."Rossella showed Sienna the way with her hand.
She led Sienna into a small room. It had colourful carpets and cushions on the floors, wooden carved chests around the walls, beautiful silvery mirrors and was lit by pretty bluish flames. The walls were decorated in crystals. There were women holding dresses for dancing and chatting together.
"You can change into this dancing dress."Rossella smiled and gave Sienna a silk wide skirt, a short top and a scarf with little coins. It was decorated with pearls and seashells. Nefari got it for you. She will be here shortly. "
Then she led Sienna to other women."And this is Zeldya, Amara and Twidalli, they are also learning to dance."Now go change everyone, I see you soon, " said Rosella and left.
Sienna turned to the women. "Hi, everyone, nice to meet you. I'm Sienna."
"We know," Amara smiled, "Whoever doesn't recognize the queen."She smiled a bit bitterly. Amara was very petite, she got tanned skin, beautiful long brown hair and long eyelashes. She reminded Sienna of gazelle.
"Be nice Amara," said Zeldya. She had black hair till her waist, tanned skin and full red painted lips. Her face had a bit of a wild expression. She looked a bit like a leopard.
"Come on girls, let's just get ready!" said Twidalli, she was also very petite and had an innocent face and long ginger curly hair. Her eyes were a bit flicked, she looked like a fox.
"Let us look at the queen a bit," Amara said and narrowed he eyes."You do not look like any tribe I know."
"You are right, I'm not from here."Sienna nodded.
"I really like your blue eyes, you are so pretty as a mermaid. I can see why the king Sharchan took you," said Zeldya.
"Well, he kind of tried to save me from Ape prince," Sienna blushed.
"I hear that Ape prince is pretty handsome," said Amara. "I don't understand why you would not like him."
"Mostly because of his personality, " said Sienna uncomfortably.
"Did he force you to mate with him?"Amara asked coldly.
"Who?"Asked Sienna.
"The Snake King of course? We all heard stories about a huge nest..."Asked Amara with a bit of malice in her eyes.
"No, nobody forced me to do anything..."Sienna reply hurriedly.
"How is that so? Your males look so dangerous. They are scary and fierce. You must have a strong stomach then."Amara said with disdain.
"Maybe, she did not have a choice," Zeldya added.
"I think they do not have a piece of heart in them," Amara said.
"I do love my mates," Sienna said, "If you decide to love somebody you don't need them to show you their heart on the plate," she said satirically." Also, I did hear they have a literal heart in their chest, it was thumping, you know"Sienna replied with a little dumb accent.
"Let's just go dance!" Sienna waved her dancing dress in front of her. She turned around and start changing. She knew they are watching her, so she slip in very fast.
"You are so white..."Twidalli said to Sienna."Your skin is like milk.
"Yes, I know...When I was a baby, my mam was told off by physicians, because they thought she did not take me outside for a walk...Even they could not believe I was so white."Sienna laughed and sighed in her mind. She did not saw her mam for ages.
When she was done, she turned around and saw everyone else was changed too. she followed the girls to the big hall, with a wooden floor, the walls were painted light gold and there were huge mirrors on the sides. A young woman in a long green dress was sitting on the little chair and was drumming a drum. She looked immersed in her tones. She had long black hair and a serene smile.
Then the door opened and Nefari came in in her dance dress already.
"Nefari," Sienna smiled at her.
Nefari came to her and embraced her. "Sienna so nice to see you again. I always wear the bracelet from you," she waved her wrist in front of Sienna's eyes. "I'm so glad to see you. But let's go dance now."
Rossella came inside and stood in front of them." Welcome my dear students, let's start with a stretch first. "Sienna watched with happiness in her heart and tried to stretch like the others, but she was not very good at it and was losing her balance often. The girls were laughing at her, but she didn't mind. She had to laugh at herself too. She was quite clumsy there. She will just practice till she is good at it. Later they practise the dance movements, Sienna could do some of them but had problems with left and right, which resulted in almost bumping into Amara and Zeldya.
"You are not that good at dancing," Amara noted loudly.
"I know, that is why I'm here and want to practise," Sienna smiled kindly. Rossella noded."Practice will make the master." You should practise at home as well my queen. At least hour a day, to catch up with us."
"But I do not have music at home," Sienna replied.
"I'm sure king Sharchan or Tyrell can call a musician for you once a day," Rosella said," I will send a note to the castle."
"But they will want to watch me."Sienna froze.
"Then you will have to try harder here if you feel shy."Rosella smiled. It is one of the queen's duties to know how to dance."
"I prefer to come here.." Sienna nodded, she needed to get out of the castle for her sanity and this was a great excuse, why to get out.
After class Sienna went to chat with Nefari a bit.
"How long are you staying here Nefari?"
Two months," Nefari said, "Then I need to go back to sea," she said with a sad face.
"Why are you so sad? Sienna asked.
"I will be never able to come here again."Nefari sighted, but she did not want to tell Sienna more.
"Do you think I can visit you in the sea sometimes?"Sienna asked hopefully, she was not ready not to see her again.
"That be also not possible. You will be not able to find me there."Nefari sighted.
"Then we must catch up often till you are here," Sienna hugged her.
Meanwhile, Sharchan was instructing the blacksmith. "I want the cage to be decorated with snakes and roses in the gold coating.
"How big do you like the cage, my king?" The blacksmith asked.
"2x2meters.I want my queen to be comfortable." he smiled wickedly. The blacksmith's face went pale." My king you should not treat queen like this. It will affect you badly." he said.
"Just do it!" said Sharchan and throw him a full bag of gold."I will come to check on it when the construction is done. Will give you more gold for the coating by then."
The blacksmith felt wrong. He did not want to make the cage for the queen. He saw her at the Forum before and she looked so beautiful and brave. He needed to inform king Tyrell, but he knew he is out of the city. They all at the mercy of that rude snake. Blacksmith sighted and started to design the cage. Is up to the queen to stay out of it. Sharchan was satisfied. He will have a golden cage for Sienna. Nobody will be able to get to her when he goes hunt. His mood lifted and he went to the market. Sharchan noticed how other males doted on the few females which passed him on the market and start feeling weird. Maybe he went overboard with Sienna today. He decided to make her like him better.
"Dear king, get nice flowers for your queen, it is the sign of love!" The merchant offered him a beautiful bouquet."Female's hearts will melt when they receive flowers." Merchant said smiling." Ok, I take it," said Sharchan ."He was imagining Sienna all over him...He really wanted to mate with her tonight..he took the flowers and went to pick up Sienna after her dancing lessons.
Lord Ziran saw him and stand up. The other males waiting for dancers stared at him. It was a mixture of tigers, leopards, and lynxes. One burly lynx started to talk loudly." Look at the Snake King...coming with flowers like a fool. The queen must have him under her little finger, hahaha" they all laughed. Ziran looked at them but stayed quiet, he is not here to protect Sharchan's reputation. His interest is with Sienna only. Sharchan gave them a killer look. He will not be mocked. "I'm the master of my queen!" he said. "She will do what I say." he hissed.
"You love her too much..everyone knows it..." lynx male smirked. You are the first snake ever who shared the female with other male. "
"You will never try to cross her because you are scared she will run away again..." the burly tiger mocked him too.
"Watch for the eagles, mightly king...hahaha," said the fox male.
"Does anyone have a death wish here...?" Sharchan hissed.
"No, we are just talking, but you can prove to us you are not a slave." the tiger smirked at him." Yes prove it!" fox and lynx called too. This will be exciting to watch.
Ziran looked at Sharchan coldly."Just ignore them king Sharchan, they are drunk."
"Just watch me!"...said Sharchan...." I will show you who is the master of the queen."
"Oh no," Ziran." shook his head. He was getting fed up with Sharchan drama.
Rossella came in to call Sienna."Queen Sienna, get ready King Sharchan is waiting for you outside." Sienna said her goodbyes and went out with a happy smile. Sienna really enjoyed the class, it was fun. This dancing lesson and chat with Nefari made her feel happy again.