Orn stood in a corner of the large room and tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Dozens of boys his age were, prancing. Prancing, is the only way I can describe it.

The boys stood in lines and attempted to follow the motions of a red haired boy on the far end of the room. They had not paid any attention when Orn entered the room because of their focus on the boy in front. The boy leading the group noticed Orn, but his attention was pulled away by one of the noble boys asking a question.

This left Orn standing in a corner trying to remain unnoticed. Kao naturally took this as a challenge to make him laugh. The strange movements of the group made maters worse by giving her too much to work with.

Kao tugged quickly on his sleeve and pointed as the group hopped in a strange pantomime of a rabbit. “What is that?” Kao’s words trailed off as she struggled to catch her breath. “They. Just. HOPPED!”

She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “I wish I knew about this sooner. A room full of the heirs of powerful families, acting like complete buffoons.”

Orn struggled to keep from laughing at their antics. He could not agree more, at first he had cringed, but now every bizarre thing they did seemed hilariously funny.

He felt Kao’s hand on his shoulder and she pulled herself close to whisper in his ear. “The best part of this is waiting for your turn. How high will you hop?”

Orn’s blood ran cold at the thought and her slowly turned toward Kao. Seeing his expression she laughed more. Orn quickly whispered at her. “Wait, you do not think they would make me do that too?”

Kao grinned and opened her mouth to respond only for a commotion across the room to draw her attention. Grinning mischievously she skipped toward the source of the commotion. Half way to the other boys she spun and yelled back, “you will find out soon.”

From the other side of the room Orn heard a loud snap and a woman's voice, “It is time to begin. Gentlemen please come over here.”

Orn tried to push Kao’s words out of his head as he crossed the room to where the other boys were gathering. There is no way they would teach us something like that. Orn swallowed. But she also forced the headmaster to hold this class because dance was important. Maybe these people are just crazy?

Orn fell in a few steps behind the others, and saw their teacher. Orn was slightly taken aback as he realized the dark haired woman was around his father’s height. He was so shocked by her height that he barely recognized she wore the simple black dress of a woman in mourning.

“Form a half circle along here,” the woman said gesturing with her fan.

Orn stepped back and walked toward one of the extremes where she had pointed. Once he made it to the end he took his place a set away from the noble boy on his right.

“If there is not enough room go to the end of the line,” the woman said pointing at a group of boys crammed tightly shoulder to shoulder, and pointed to the end opposite Orn. Clearing her throat she waited the boys run along the back to find a space at the end, before continuing. “I am Matron Bode, and I am here to teach you the arts of etiquette and dance. You will address me as ‘Madam Bode’, or ‘Matron.’”

She paused to look at a couple students, “I see several familiar faces, and have had the pleasure of seeing some of you dance. However, I must ask you all to indulge me and show me your skills. As you all know, all first years are expected to attend the king’s ball a the end of the year. There is already so little time to have you ready, and the headmaster decided to make you waste a week. Since we have so little time I will jump straight in by asking you to show me what you know. When I call your name step forward and show me the dance you are most familiar with.”

“Mr. Adles your parents are well know for their annual ball. Please show the class the latest styling of the season please,” the matron said stepping back and pointing to the open area between her and the line of boys.

The boy who had led the group earlier stepped forward and began to slowly dance. He began to step forward and back, and side to side crossing his legs to do so. Periodically, he would bend at the knees and pop up. At other times he would turn to some invisible partner a bow. It was the same dance he had shown the other boys.

Orn thought he looked ridiculous, from across the room, but this close it just seemed sad. How can he do something so silly looking with a straight face? He thought as the boy bounced again. As Orn watched, the boy sped up, his feet quickly sliding past each other. Despite how ridiculous he looked, Orn had to admit he was impressed the boy did not trip over his own feet.

After the boy began to repeat the steps Madam Bode snapped her fan closed. “Excellent Mr. Adles,” she said clapping politely. The other students murmured their agreement and followed the matron’s lead.

Orn noticed the boy seemed slightly out of breath, but was hiding it well.

“I can see the style has changed from last year. It is most gratifying to have a preview of this years biggest social event.” Smiling she gestured for Adles to return to the group.

Orn saw the boys around Adles pat him on the back, and quietly congratulate him. Adles was clearly a bit embarrassed by the praise and began to blush.

The matron called out students one by one and asked them to dance. The other students then took turns performing a similar dance. Though even Orn could tell none of them were as good at it as Adles. As each student finished the matron would point out mistakes and give words of encouragement.

A little over half way through the group Orn heard a Kao whispering. “Please. Please, tell me you are going to try that when it is your turn.”

Kao was standing next to him her eyes alight with mischief.

Orn shook his head subtly. Do not fall into her trap. The teacher said I should do the dance I know best.

“Not a chance in…” Orn whispered

“Was there a question in the class?” Orn’s mouth snapped shut. Madame Bode had heard something and assumed someone wanted to ask something.

After a moment of no one answering she turned her attention back tot the boy currently working his ways through the same steps as everyone else.

“That is fine. You just hurry up and decide which of your classmates you will be dancing with,” Kao smiled evilly and gestured to the other boys. “You only know dances that require a partner, remember?”

Oh no, Orn thought to himself. She is right. I only know dances that require a partner, to dance with.

Seeing Orn realize the awkward position he was in, Kao grinned evilly. “You do not have a lot of time to choose. If you cannot pick, can I?”