Ribbons, all the colours of the rainbow, flutter from houses and straw wreaths adorn the doors. Some enterprising householders have set up impromptu bars selling beverages and food from their homes. I grab a drink from one of these and lean against the wall. Hmm, shall I continue to lay low or go and meet the others?

With my height, I can see across the heads of the crowd, there is one person in particular that I do not wish to meet.

Across the square I spot a beauty in a green dress; the sun glints off the burnished red of her hair. Her eyes flash with anger when she spots me. Taking a lazy sip from my drink, I lick my lips and watch as she makes her way through the throng to me.

"Three solars!" she yells and slaps me across the face.

Rubbing my stinging cheek, I have to admit that I probably deserved that. Instinct has me sending her a smouldering look. "Have you missed me?"

She raises her hand again, but I capture her wrist before it can inflict any more damage. Undeterred, she raises her other hand, but I grab that too. "I can think of better use for those hands of yours."

Turning our bodies, I press her flush against the wall. Instead of struggling, she arches her body against mine and I feel my inner flames stir, like the wind stoking hot coals to life.

"It has been too long, Zane. Why did you not come back sooner?"

"Your brother banished me from your island," I remind her.

Releasing my grip, I slide my hands down over her curves. Now free, her hands make their way into my hair, pulling my face to hers. Our lips meet, hungry and consuming.

Pulling apart to catch her breath, she moans, "I need you now."

"Right here against this wall?" My lips and words purposely tease her ear. "My lady, I fear what that would do to your reputation."

"I was on my way to see my brother competing." She grins and grabs my hand. "Let us hurry to my hostelry, he will not bother us for hours."

.....

I manage to sneak out of the inn without any unwanted encounters and stroll back to the tent, whistling a cheerful tune.

"Hello stranger," Elissa greets me with a bright smile. "You missed the archery competition. Darish won second place."

"Well done, Darish. Sorry, I ran into an old friend and we, er, lost track of time."

"Friend?" Darish queries.

"Laurel," I mutter half under my breath.

Darish does not comment, but I espy a hint of a sly smile on his face and knowing the sarcastic so and so that he is, he is probably looking forward to watching the fallout.

I wander through to bathe and muse that Laurel is forbidden fruit, but I could not resist another taste. I will probably pay for it tonight.

Thinking of tonight, I call through to the others, "I've been invited to a party at the palace this evening. Do you fancy coming?"

"Oh yes!" Elissa squeals excitedly. "Wait! Is it a posh party?"

There is silence from Darish so I imagine that he just shrugged.

Growing up, I always felt that I was in my elder brother's shadow and wished for a younger sibling. I did not understand at the time that my parents were lucky to have two children, many couples struggle to have even one.

Now that I have taken Elissa under my wing, she has become the little sister I never had and I cannot resist occasionally spoiling her.

Our wing, Roth corrects.

I wander out into the main area of the tent with a towel around my waist. Neither of them pay me much heed, which is oddly refreshing given the covetous glances I usually attract.

I pull out a package and hand it to Elissa. "I brought you a dress while I was on the Lapis Isle." I add, "Roth helped me choose it."

She carefully unfolds the silk dress from layers of tissue paper and shakes it out before holding it against her. The design is simple and elegant, except possibly for the scarlet colour which is a close match to Roth's colouring. She does not strike me as the type of girl who likes fussy clothing,

"Thank you. It's gorgeous." She flings her arms around me and kisses my cheek. I pat her back, then she is like a willow-the-wisp and practically flying out of the tent. I feel a rumble of pleasure ripple through the bond to Roth.

When she returns, Darish announces, "I also have a gift for you."

He places a simple wooden box on the table. Inside are two large hair clips adorned with delicate metal flowers and shards of emerald, sapphire and ruby. They must have taken him a long time to make.

"Thank you Darish. They are beautiful. Absolutely perfect for tonight."

Darish gets a similar treatment to me and it is perhaps a testament to their friendship that he doesn't recoil. Then an unpleasant thought occurs to me. Could he possibly have romantic feelings towards her?

In all the solars I have known him, I have not seen him show any interest in anyone. While he is not as dashing as me, he draws plenty of female attention and yet never seems to capitalise on it. Although he could just be more discrete than me.

.....

As we walk through the teeming streets of the citadel, Elissa gazes around wide-eyed, drinking everything in. In front of us several children run about waving corn dolls fashioned from straw. We reach a chaotic square, packed with people dancing to the competing sounds of different bands. She is such an innocent that I must remain on the alert and place a guiding hand on her back.

At the palace gate, I make use of my family name. Normally I prefer to be master of my own destiny, but sometimes it pays to recognise my heritage.

The atmosphere within the palace grounds is far more refined than the streets. The tinkling of fountains and pleasant strains of an orchestra waft on the breeze. All the great and the good of the Rainbow Isles are dressed in their finest and stood around making polite conversation. Yet for all their grandeur, the three of us cut the more impressive figures.

Elissa in the centre, is looking like a goddess in red, while Darish and I flank her. It is almost amusing how her focus is on the sculptures dotted around the garden and she is completely ignorant to all the attention she is garnering.

A retainer seamlessly sidles over, carrying a silver platter and furnishes us crystal glasses filled with wine the colour of bleached straw. I grab his arm, down the contents of my glass in one go and grin at his mildly horrified look before swapping my empty vessel for two more.

The music changes and we stop to watch as seven men, each carrying a decorative platter make their way through the grounds. The procession stops before the King and Queen of the Rainbow Isles, who are sat on a raised dais. The men bow deeply and one by one place their offering of a long woven loaf of bread on a table at the foot of the dais.

The king stands up and blathers on, thanking each of the seven representatives from the outer islands. Then he asks that the bread be cut and shared amongst the guests as a symbol of the unity of the Rainbow Isles. Finally, he makes a toast to the start of the grain harvest. Drinking, now that I can do.

Elissa places a hand upon her chest. "That was really moving and so far removed from the anonymous rush of life when I was in London."

She looks a little forlorn and I want to hug her but spot Laurel across the way, which must mean that her brother is around too. "Stay with Darish."

Checking that the coast is clear I stride over to Laurel. Before I get to her, she winks then walks into a quieter part of the gardens. I follow and she grabs my arm, pulling me behind a tall fancy hedge. Topiary, I believe it is called.

"Laurel. This is dangerous," I caution, trying to be sensible.

"But I like playing with fire, Zane," she counters and proves how scorching her kisses can be for a non Dragonite.

I have never been in love. Laurel is close, but not enough to make me want to settle down. I know that she wants more than I can give her and should not go there, but she is so damned hard to resist.

I have no idea how long we have been absent. "What about your brother?"

"Do not worry about him. He was going off to ask this girl in a red dress to dance."

Red dress! Elissa? I mutter an apology and rush back. The orchestra is playing a waltz to whirling couple. I easily spot Elissa dancing with a man in an emerald green velvet frock coat. It is him!

The dance finishes and anger builds inside me as he guides her, with his greasy hand on the small of her back, towards where Darish is standing. I storm over there.

.........