The World Dragon's Heir

The games weren't the only attractions to the festival. As Dominic got closer to the town square, he could hear music to go with the laughter and shouting of the crowd.

Though it was still early in the day, there was a social dance going on, and Dominic smiled when he saw the maiden's ribbons being tied to a pole in the centre of the dance floor.

"What are those for?" Alexis whispered, unfamiliar with the reason for the riot of colour.

"It's a Wavemates tradition. The ribbons will be stretched out to the edge of the circle, and unmarried young ladies of the proper age for engagement will hold one ribbon while dancing. As they dance, the ribbons twist around the dancer, pulling them into the arms of the young men dancing in the middle.

It's a good excuse to get them dancing with each other, since they tend to be shy. But it's also a good way for parents to see which ones will make a good couple, and which are the attention-seeking sorts that draw the eye of all their peers.

Not many parents want to marry their daughter off to a playboy, or their son to a scheming woman, you see." Dominic explained.

Alexis nodded. "But if they're shy and just at the age to be engaged, not jaded by years in the Palace, how do you get them to actually dance?"

Dominic winked at her. "You get them drunk, of course. Just a little bit is enough to take the edge off, and then they'll start dancing.

When I was young, most engagements were set around age twelve, and then the marriage would come when they either finished school, or she got pregnant and her father couldn't wait any longer to get them married."

Alexis gave him an incredulous look, but Dominic just shrugged, and tipped his chin toward the spot where Jerome Wall, the fallen Dagos Noble, was flirting with Maisey Khalil, the young baker.

While they were both properly grown adults, they were both unmarried, and Jerome made a point of coming into town every morning after the morning rush so that they had time to talk while he picked up a loaf of bread.

Things looked like they were going well, and given another half a year, it was likely that they would end up married, even if Maisey's father didn't agree to the engagement today.

If Jerome were smart, he would have spent some time making or buying engagement gifts before the dance today, so he could make it official at the dance.

But, he had arrived with nothing, and the woodcutters generally made a modest income. He might not have enough saved yet for a proper gift.

"We should head over and say hello to the parents. The ribbon dance won't start until later tonight, but we should find out which families have children looking for partners.

This first year is bound to be more than a little imbalanced, and I don't know how many will actually be looking for a partner so soon after arriving." Dominic explained.

He made a good point. Most of the town's residents were war refugees, and many still owed debts to the Merchant's Guild either for bringing them here, or for keeping them alive before they came here.

So, they wouldn't feel like they were in a position to get the next generation married off just yet.

That likely wouldn't dim the enthusiasm of the young folks. It would just make the whole event less serious, and give them a chance to meet each other.

From the look of things, that part was already going well, and there were people dancing all over the town square. Alexis winked at Dominic and pulled him into one of the swinging dances, a favourite of guardsmen everywhere, and they twirled their way around the town square to the sound of fiddles and guitars.

Then someone arrived with a drum, followed by someone with a saxophone, and the music changed to a slower tempo tune better suited to close dancing than the fast stepping first beat.

A few of the locals noticed that the Duke and Duchess were in the crowd of dancers, but other than avoiding bumping into them, it didn't change anything. Dominic and Alexis weren't the sort who would insist on some obscure formal rule that only they would have known in advance.

After that song, Dominic and Alexis stopped at the edge of the square, where Omar Khalil was finishing the arrangements for the ribbon dance and some replacement musicians to arrive when the first group needed a break.

He was currently the wealthiest businessman in town, if you didn't count the Techno Wizards or the Artificer. Those had probably made more money, but the Khalil family Mercantile store and farms were doing very well.

"I doubt that you will need to worry too much about musicians. I saw plenty of men with pan flutes and guitars in the crowd. They'll hop in the first chance that they get so they can impress the ladies." Dominic joked.

The former Town Guard Captain smiled at Dominic. "Your Grace, good to see you today. I'm just hoping to make today as memorable as possible. Everyone is here, including the residents of both Baronies.

I hear that there will be a fireworks show tonight as well, and that should make for a great close to our first festival."

Dominic nodded, and kept Omar's attention as Alexis quietly drew the man's wife away for a private conversation.

"Indeed. I am told that the men of the Purity Sect are planning to put on a show tonight. There is a small chance that will attract unwanted visitors, but we shouldn't have many folk out and about in the middle of the night.

I will be watching for trouble with the Princess, as I've got an evening planned down by the river.

Just remind your family members that festival days are a favourite of troublemakers." Dominic informed him quietly.

"I understand, My Lord. I might not be on the town guard anymore, as I've got the family to run, but I've been working with the General on the rotations, and we will have men out in pairs tonight, the same as every other night.

We just made sure that it wasn't any of the ones with good prospects or who are already married." Omar explained.

"Perfect. Now, I should prepare for the evening's festivities."