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Coljar grunted as he pulled himself to sit next to Valda. “Lia is my baby sister. She is super annoying and doesn’t talk much.”

“I talk!” Valda guessed it was Lia. She sounded much younger than Coljar. “I just—”she huffed, annoyed. “You talk too much! I want to paint!”

“Lia is right, Coljar. You just like to talk too much.” Another girl behind Valda said while touching Valda’s broad shoulders again. “I am Kimmi, Your Highness. I’m their cousin.”

Valda nodded and then felt another wet dot painted on her hand, this time on her wrist. “Are you guys professionals?” she asked playfully.

“Eh!” Kimmi shrugged. “I could say I am. I’ve been doing this for three years now. Coljar and Lia want to imitate me.”

“How old are you, Kimmi?”

“I am twelve. Coljar is seven and Lia is six.” The young girl said before huffing. “You don’t mind us painting you?”

Valda laughed. “Whatever you do is fine. I won’t be able to see it.”

“Others will!”

“If they don’t like it, they can just close their eyes.” Valda tutted and shrugged.

“All right then!” Coljar celebrated while Lia painted a third dot on Valda’s middle finger.

“Your Highness, are you wearing anything underneath your shirt?”

“Of course,”

“I think you would look great with some designs on your shoulders and arms,” Kimmi said as she patted Valda’s forearm.

“And face!” Coljar added.

“And hands,” Lia said, adding a fourth dot on her middle finger.

Valda snickered and shrugged. “Fine. You can use me as your canvas. I don’t mind.”

Kimmi let out an excited squeal and moved away enough to give Valda space to unbutton her blouse and slide it off her shoulders and arms, remaining with her chest wraps. Coljar and Kimmi’s paint brushes clattered as they hurriedly grabbed them while Lia pulled Valda down to the ground, so it was easier for them to reach her tall form.

Within seconds, Valda struggled to keep still from giggling and laughing at the soft paint strokes on her skin. She scrunched up her nose, her shoulders quivered under the tickling brushes tickled her skin, and the sound of happy giggling children filled the air around her.

Maris’s attention shifted from the violin she was holding to Valda’s delectable laughter. She had heard her laughing before, but never with the intensity as she was now. Warmth spread through Maris’s chest and stomach as she watched the all-mighty, growly, and scary queen sitting on the floor, surrounded by children, having her arms and face painted with bright colors. Absolutely terrifying. Maris thought before handing back the violin.

As the musicians talked to her about the different songs they were playing, Maris’s eyes drifted to Valda again. She was sitting, legs crossed underneath her, her naked arms rested on her thighs as Coljar, and two other kids ran their brushes over her muscular arms and broad shoulders.The tallest girl concentrated on the small yellow dots she painted on Valda’s face. The queen’s nose scrunched as if to suppress a laugh.

Maris let out a satisfied sigh, but her moment of admiration was cut short when a deep, feminine voice filled the night’s damp air. Surprised by the harmonic and lyrical voice, Maris turned to find no other than Eyphah, standing near the large fire, eyes closed, mouth open as she sang.

As if on cue, the musicians settled in their place and joined in Eyphah’s beautiful voice with their instruments.The booming of the drums echoed throughout the settlement and into the night sky, accompanied by the sweet melody of the violins. Maris could feel herself being swept by the rhythm as well as the people around her. Children and young couples began to clap their hands, joining in the celebration.

They all stood from the logs to dance around the fire, circling it repeatedly. The music was so different from the one played at the Patron Festivals; so distinctively Sealian. Shuddering in a breath, goosebumps on her skin, she couldn’t help but close her eyes and dive into the rich song which carried the story of a sailor and his prized treasures. Maris was pulled and lulled by the sounds of the raging sea inside of her. Her heart beat with the drums, and her hands began a slow dance of waves and raging wind.

With a content sigh, she stood from her seat and watched as the circle of her people—her people—laughed and danced around the fire. And just like that, she jumped into the ring, grabbed a youngster’s hand, and let herself be dragged into the laughter and joyful words of the song.

Her feet moved of their own accord. Her hands slipped from hand to hand as she was passed around the couples. All she could see was a sea of blue hair, all with different shades, different textures. As she closed her eyes again, letting herself be enveloped by the music, her hand was captured by a rough and callous one. She opened her eyes and stared into a cobalt gaze that looked at her adoringly. Eyphah continued her song, her voice quivering as if she was holding something back.

A spark of lust was still prevalent in Eyphah's eyes as well as longing. But Maris also saw the power and a burning need to protect which made her gasp before she was released back into the crowd.

Eyphah’s voice filled her head, and the images of the song played out in her mind as if she had lived it. As if she had traveled from island to island on large boats. She pulled back and took a step away from the joyous crowd to watch a young Sealian woman stand before the drums, her hips swaying in time with the rhythm, her feet stamping out a staccato beat, guiding the drummers in their song. Their hands flew over the skins with effortless precision. It was a conversation between the dancer and the drummers.

Her eyes traveled over the joyous crowd, some danced, some ate and engaged in conversation, some were sitting down painting another person’s arms and face, and that was where she found Valda. The queen was sitting down, eyes closed clapping with the rhythm of the music while the children that were once decorating her skin danced in front of her.

Not wasting a second, Maris walked to her before announcing, “I shall take away your canvas!” She grabbed hold of Valda’s hand and pulled her up. Valda’s eyes widened at the sudden contact, but Maris washed away all doubt when she pulled her in and whispered to her ear. “Dance with me.”