Remembering that the knights had their first dance lesson that evening, despite her offer to delay so that they could fully recover from the tourney, Anne left the doors and windows open to the increasingly soft, sweet night air. Spring was well and truly upon them, the days were growing longer and flowers were bursting into bloom. She'd been delighted to discover daffodils and tulips coming up around the dance studio's foundation, blooming in soft yellow and dancing white and pink. A tangling vine of night-blooming jasmine was just coming into flower, sending out an evocative perfume to drift through the classroom as well. The lamps were lit as she made sure everything was ready for their arrival, still wearing her practice dress of a soft, filmy material that alternately clung and floated around her bare legs and feet. Humming to herself, she repinned the auburn hair as she waited.

Dinner was done and settled as he ate with Aiden this evening so they could head down to the dance hall and see if Anne was free. If not they could watch he was sure. Hopefully she had eaten too as the time was left somewhat opened to evening. He had a back pack tossed over a shoulder. The evening air warm with a light breeze that had the hint of ocean to it. He only had a few bruises but nothing major at all that would prevent him from dancing this night. He had been lucky considering a few others that got hurt. They reached the square as the setting sun reflected off the water spouts filling into the basin of the fountain. It looked like glittering gold from that angle as he noted the dance hall was indeed open. A few greetings exchanged with those they knew in passing before they were heading up the steps and onward within the building. "Evening," called out to let her know of their arrival.

An early meal had been enjoyed so they weren't feeling weighted or extra full.  He was still a little stiff from his fall but was certain whatever they did tonight would work the kinks out.  Pausing to look back over the square, he smiled slightly then turned back to the doorway and followed Gabriel inside.  It would take a moment or two for his eyes to adjust after looking at the glittering water.  Just a tad bright.

"Good evening." Straightening to hear the familiar voices, Anne's smile was warmly welcoming to the two as she emerged from the classroom she intended to use tonight. "You're both right on time. How are you feeling after the past two days?"A little concerned, though neither had been seriously hurt, fortunately, the blue eyes looked them both over assessingly. "And Sir Calhoun? He's feeling better, I hope?"

Smile touched before fading with thoughts on both Niklas and Calhoun. "Calhoun is sore still but is mending as well Niklas although his hit may take longer. Perhaps Cara is giving Cal some tender loving care." Something in those dark eyes had the touch of that dark blue overlay a moment before gone again. His attire was comfortable consisting of cotton baggy pants in brown much like the sailors wore and a poet's shirt of an off-white. Leather sandals on his feet so he didn't have to be bothered taking boots off and on. In the pack were the necessities if he should end up in a demonstration dance of how he had danced once before. The just in case but not expected. "You are not worn out from a long day of dancing already?" Curious question as he set the pack aside to a vacant chair.

"A little stiff but manageable."  He nodded at Gabriel's assessment of the two men.  "I'm sure they'll both be up and about in no time.  Did you enjoy yourself otherwise, Anne?"  Dark eyes shifted from her to Gabriel a moment as he placed the pack on a chair then moved back to the dancer, awaiting an answer with a hint of a smile.  It had been good to see the ladies out and about,  offering their support.

Her eyes softened as her smile grew, nodding. "I did, very much. The ladies were very kind, and the jousts themselves were so exciting to watch. And you all did so well!" The blue eyes were sparkling like diamonds as she turned to answer Gabriel's question. "Oh no, not at all. With Odile here as well, I'm not doing everything myself, and I had some time to rest with dinner, but thank you for asking. You're both ready for this? We will start slow, since your bodies have taken some abuse in the name of honor and chivalry."

"I was pleased to hear Calhoun took second place in spite of his injury and of course for Cole to take first." Smile touched once more as they certainly had done well overall. A strong showing in fact. "It is good that you have her to help. I gather you knew each other a long time?" Then nodded, "aye, been ready." Something in dark eyes attested to more. He would wait for her instructions as he glanced from her to Aiden to see if he too was ready.

"Aye, it was a good showing." He was pleased as well with it all.  He gave a nod as he answered. "Aye, I'm ready."  Off came the low boots he had been wearing. Baggy pants worn were more reminiscent of  the baggy pants worn in the desert lands, full and gather at the ankles.  His were black of course.

"We trained together from childhood." Her answer given, she smiled to watch the two prepare as she stretched out her hands to both. "You've both been to practice as usual today? So your muscles should still be somewhat warm. Just walk in a circle for a few minutes to make sure of it - I don't want you to hurt yourselves for want of a little caution."

"We could go although more lax than usual." Slipping out of the sandals so his feet were completely uninhibited. He took up her hand then Aiden's so they formed a circle to move around in for the few minutes. "Well, we could and did go," chuckling as he kept the pace she set.

"Sort of like us." Aiden chuckled then nodded. "I was afraid if I missed, I'd stiffen up." He chuckled as they started to move around in a circle.  It put him in mind of children's games, which wasn't to say that was a bad thing.  Just different. "I'm curious about how we'll feel tomorrow.  Will muscles hurt that hadn't before?"  Anne didn't have to answer, of course. He was really just thinking out loud.

 "You might, but it's unlikely, as accustomed as you both are to rigorous physical training." She smiled encouragingly as she led them in a circle, then glanced at Gabriel. "You said you've done something like the sword dance before? Or did I mishear?"

"I don't think I have any muscles left to hurt that would be new," well maybe but if he made that comment he'd probably get slapped or a 'look', which would be deserving. "Aye, I have if there is time I could show you it and you could tell me what it was." Figuring she could put a name to it. Possibly. All he basically remembered were the drums in his head calling and his body answered in a way he could remember, remember the drums too.

"You might be surprised."  Aiden laughed as he answered.  "I'd like to see it some eve if you don't get to demonstrate tonight."  He was curious about this dance that seemed to have caught Gabriel's fancy, so to speak.  "I might be able to do drumming for it." He did remember mention of drums.

"If you were to show me, if you don't mind, I can better understand what you're wanting to learn. Do you mind, Sir Aiden, if Sir Gabriel shows us first?" The blue eyes went from one knight to the other, halting them in mid-step.

"If you have any drums here, Aiden could play, something very primal like distant thunder but had the feel of ages long past to it. I will go get a bucket of water then a room to change in?" He was curious himself to know what kind of dancing he not only learned but called to him, called to his spirit which had his body following. He was out to the trough outside to fill a bucket with some of the water to bring back in, only gone the few moments as he set it aside near where his pack was left. Taking the pack up he would wait for the answer to both questions, even if Aiden couldn't play he knew he could dance to the memory of those drums imprinted in his mind.

"I don't mind at all." He stepped back, glancing at Gabriel with his questions.  Dark eyes shifted to Anne again as he waited to see if she did have any drums. If she didn't, he'd just sit down and watch!

"I have hand drums. Will those do?" She met Aiden's gaze curiously as she nodded to Gabriel, already moving to show him one of the dressing rooms. "In here, there should be plenty of room for you to change." The water was a mystery, one she was eager to discover the nature of. Anne had a fairly precise idea of where the dance came from, but would be sure when she saw it.

He was on his way to the dressing room, which he entered before closing over the door. He was in there about twelve minutes before he called out, "if you could douse most of the candles as this dance was done at night." Good reasons as would be presented once they were ready. Aiden might find himself following that calling to fit the dance of something new for his playing.

"Hand drums would be fine."  He smiled at Anne then watched as Gabriel walked away, brow furrowing slightly.  He should be able to make a similar sound to thunder on those though not precisely.  He chuckled when he heard Gabriel, looking at Anne again.  "I believe this is going to be interesting."  He said as he moved to help put out some of the candles. He'd help light them again once Gabriel was finished.

Once she'd found and brought out the hand drums, placing them on the floor with a mat for Aiden to sit on, she went to help him with the candles. A smile appeared to his words and she nodded. "I'm looking forward to it. Sir Gabriel is, I'm discovering, a man of unique and interesting talents, each one more fascinating than the last." She stopped, realizing how it sounded, and cleared her throat. "As I'm sure all of you are, in your own ways. I had no idea you were a musician, for instance."

He stepped out into the shadows as it was darker down where he was. Silent in stealth he moved bare foot upon the floor boards. One torch lit came to blazing life before the second followed. The light had a way of playing over his features, making his eyes intense like some entity coming down the halls of time with the blazing trail of torch light. They were moving above his head in a circular motion, forming that eternal 8 pattern that had no beginning nor end. Chest was bared as the light played over well contoured masculine muscles that moved in a fluid rolling way with the effort. Pants were of a thicker silver silk that laid low on his hips. Some of the tattoo could be seen as those tips curved around as if someone hugging him from behind, the one sliding around his shoulder and up to where the tip normally could be seen on his neck and more clearly the other on the right shoulder whose tip ran along the collar bone.

He just smiled at Anne and nodded as he sat on the mat.  "Well, it's been a while. I just started to practice again."  He had found it returned easily enough, once he went out into the meadow behind the practice hall.  He had been too concerned about disturbing others to practice in his room.  He didn't start until Gabriel came out of the room, then he started low, hoping it was close enough to the drumming that Gabe had spoken of.   It was easy to get lost in the beat as he watched the movement of the torches.

"Some things always stay with you, Sir Aiden." Returning the smile, she saw the flicker of light and stepped out of the room in time to see Gabriel coming down with the torches in his hands. A quiet study was taken of him as she ducked back in, then settled beside Aiden to watch with no little fascination for the dance about to happen. He cut a striking figure, all the more so for the torches' flickering, casting shadows across his face and body. The eyes caught her attention then as well as the tattoo, the hint of blue starting to overlay the black. Distracted from staring with the low rumble, she shook her head to clear it, focusing on the movements instead of the man.

There was a torch in each hand which crossed over without ever hitting the other but made the pattern, his walk more a rolling of hip even if not the way a woman's moved it had that masculine appeal. He came to the center of the room as the torches came down from overhead, hips moving as they became a blaze around him, one rolling around his neck only to have the other go the opposite, both being caught in turn before the pace picked up even more. Fire had a sound to it on the move, whoosh type that added to the drums. Feet in place as the trail of fire moved out and away from his body, moving in circles at his side as his stomach muscles rolled like waves coming in from the sea, that was held for a few minutes before a sliding step to the right then to the left before turning about. The display of those lines in their full glory as they riddled his back spiraling out from his spine, leaving skin down that tract without marking. Shorter ones up by his shoulders with a few marked in red either side while longer ones ran down and around. The way the fire played and the movement of his upper torso muscles, they seemed to lift at times that had to be a trick of the torch light.

Aiden glanced at Anne as she sat but the drumming never stopped.  As the movement of the torches became faster, so did the beat of the drums.  They could have been on some far away island for the way the hall seemed to recede.  The trick of the light had him narrowing his eyes slightly.  Not thinking it was from the lights at all!

She felt Aiden's gaze on her but kept her eyes locked on Gabriel, watching how the torches flew and flickered, seeing the effect of shadow and light. Or so she thought, though she could have sworn she saw wings protruding from his shoulders. Furrowing her brow, she intensified her focus and continued to watch in  combined fascination and absorption. The dance was mesmerizing, to say the least.

Head was filled with those distant drums as well memories and one could swear there was another dancing with him, a female in compliment for the way he turned circling, bicycling steps with the movement of his hips in a primal drawing, an ancient calling. The torches up over his head showing the breadth of muscular chest and arms as stomach muscles came in slower ripples like the movement of  a snake. Next he was spinning around and away into a larger circle that had other males from that memory, the frenzy being built as well the thrumming of drums to encourage a heightened heart rate. At the climax of light and movement he stopped as the two torches were drawn down in front touching together about a foot above the floor. His head dipped as the light played over his features in a mystical way and a touch near ominous before the lift of eyes came in a flash, blue as a summer's day, or so maybe the torch light at that angle had them seem, straight at Anne and held for a suspended moment then away as he was over to douse the torches out in the bucket. When he was back his eyes were the usual dark brown again.

Aiden watched as the dance built into a frenzy, his focus on what couldn't be there as well as on Gabriel.  He felt as if he were in someone else's body, smelling tropical flowers and feeling the heat of an island evening.  As the torches were doused, he came back to himself in a jarring way, the drumbeats stopping.  Blinking, he gave a slight shake of his head, clearing his vision.

When the brief flash of blue crossed his eyes, meeting hers, Anne jolted as if Aiden poked her in the ribs, still staring openly until the torches were doused, plunging the room into near-darkness as the drums fell silent. Drawing a slow, deep breath, she sat unmoving for a moment, letting her mind wander unchecked for a minute, not certain what to say. Finally rising, she went to light one of the lamps, wondering if when she turned, Gabriel would be back to the man she knew, or would he still look like the man who danced? They were two separate entities in her mind currently.

Everyone had another side at least, some had a few, made one more multi facet with deeper levels to be explored. The dance brought this one out in him that was connected to the 'blessing' and tattoo over most of his back. He set the torches aside as he could see well enough without much light, wrapping them up in cloth he brought before splashing the cool water over his skin. The torches tended to singe the fine hair along arms as he had not much on his chest that didn't blend in with the darker tone of his skin. "You play like you were there Aiden," not looking his way as he finished up, toweling himself off before he was back over. "If you will excuse me a moment, I can get the other clothes back on." With his chest bared, that other side seemed still alive as if those tendrils would lift and his eyes turn blue again. The dance just brought it out more. "Is there a name for it then?" Aiden was close in the tropics as it was summer and a heated night with mists rising in high grass as well around the outlaying trees about this meadow. The scent of flowers mingling with the scents burning in special bowls set around on stumps placed forming an invisible circle around the gathering. Only light came from the torches used for the dance under a darken sky filled with stars so bright you felt like you could pluck one down just by reaching up.

He was up without a word to help Anne with the lamps, thoughts racing in different directions.  He just grunted in answer to Gabriel, shaking his head.  It had been an odd feeling and one he'd have to think about over the course of the next few days.  Once the lamps were lit, he picked up the drums and put them back and rolled up the mat.

Anne's movements were studied and careful as she touched the spill to the wick, watching the flame grow. Replacing the chimney on the lamp, she heard Gabriel's question and turned to face him. Not sure what she'd see, he seemed the knight, rather than the dancing warrior occupying the room's space a scant few minutes ago. A brief glance at Aiden confirmed she wasn't the only one feeling odd after the dance, but she nodded to Gabriel. "There is, and if you want to change, I will tell you of it when you return."

"Of course," bowing his head slightly in respect as he was to the room on silent footing. Getting changed only took those twelve minutes again before he was out in what he arrived in, the rest folded and put back into the pack he brought as well the two torches. He picked up the bucket to bring outside and dump back into the trough before leaving it where it was found.

He smiled at Anne as he rejoined her.  "I'm curious as to your impression of the dance." He wasn't going to say he saw anything and make her uncomfortable but he was curious about a woman's perspective.  "Unless you want to wait for Gabriel to join us before you say anything."  If she wanted to wait, he'd stand in companionable silence until his comrade's return.

"I meant what I said about his... unique talents." Anne knew she was taking a risk here, but asked Aiden, glancing over her shoulder to be sure Gabriel was still out of the room, "Has anything... happened to him recently? Anything that might qualify as odd or not quite real?" Blue eyes met Aiden's cautiously, not wanting to offend the knight, but she was going to be honest. "Your friend's been marked by one of the Clans. It's not just the marks on his body, it's his eyes too."

Aiden ran a hand through his hair, not quite sure how much to say.  "Yes, there was but I can't say what. I don't have that right.  What Clans are you talking about?"   There was far more to this than what he had been told it seemed things Gabriel didn't know himself. 

Looking away, she needed to do something, picking up a piece of lint from the floor before she answered. "We used to travel with the ballet. France, Austria, Germany... into the Russias. While we were there, I used to leave my quarters at night, led by the sounds of drumming. It brought me into the woods outside the cities, to where the Russian gypsy clans made their camps. Once, even into a camp of Cossacks. They welcomed me, though I don't know why, taught me their language, taught me their dances... and one old woman blessed me before we returned to France. They choose certain men to bear marks like Gabriel has." The blue eyes rose to meet his solemnly, not aware she'd dropped the formal 'Sir' when speaking of the knight. "They're chosen to serve as vessels for certain spirits. Avatar, is what these men were called. Possessed, consumed by the spirit at certain moments, manifested in physical changes. The marks coming to life, changing the body. The eyes shifting colors to something not quite human. That's what I see in him."

"So, what he becomes is not human but a spirit?"  He glanced to the room where Gabriel was, eyes narrowing.  He had said to Gabriel about speaking to Peter.  Now it would be a necessity.

"That would be how I'd define it, yes. A housing, an anchor for a spirit in this world." She nodded, following his look.

By that time he was back inside as he ran his fingers through dark curling hair. Lowering it while he approached as he knew they had been talking. Had an idea for acute hearing but not so much the words he picked up. Questioning eyes turned on each.

Facing him, Anne maintained the solemn look as she met his gaze. "Do you remember where you were when you were marked, Gabriel?" The time for formality was long over now.

Aiden didn't say anything as Gabriel returned but nodded slightly.  He looked at Anne when she asked her question then looked at Gabriel.  His expression was stoic, unreadable.

"Lands north of here but I cannot say where exactly because I had wandered for so long the towns melted into one another." Weary and bone tired by then. "I came upon this old woman being taunted by men instead of helping her. Her wagon overturned and she couldn't get up, her leg broken. I put it in a splint, got her wagon turned back and she offered me food and a place to sleep the night. She made a tea, different tasting. I was so tired. I just remember parts as she moved around even with her leg hurt, talking. I didn't recognize most of the words, thought it was me being so tired but I remember her saying about a blessing, said it a few times. She was gone the next day like she hadn't been there but there was food in my saddlebag along with an onyx stone. I left from there through the deep woods where her place had been only to come upon this small village. Houses were made of rough bark wood, roofs of grass, they were scattered on this mountain side on leveled off spots. Mists seem to shroud it in a musky moist scent, the people friendly towards me so I stayed a bit, got some nourishment in me and sleep without worry." Obviously this ritual had been during that time.

Anne looked at Aiden, then back at Gabriel as she nodded. "It sounds like you've been touched by the Rom to me. I can't be one hundred percent sure, but the marks bear it out, and so does your..." Here she had to grope for words... "behavior."

"Anne wishes to know if something odd has happened to you lately. I told her yes, but not what." He looked at him a long moment. "I didn't feel I had the right to explain."

Her words were an inner confirmation he'd been ignoring. Words came low in a roughen hew, "here I thought it was just getting into the dance," perhaps hoping that was all it was. "Aye, something very odd happened,"he was hesitating as eyes shifted to the darken windows and back. Words kept low again as he decided he could trust her, that was in his eyes that riveted back to hers. "A redwing blackbird landed on my bassoon as I was playing with my eyes closed atop a boulder. Startled me enough that I shot up and lost my footing. Thing looked me right in the eyes and it was like looking into the mysteries of the universe. Unsettling when unexpected and as if there were voices calling to discover. I lost my footing and started to fall as Aiden had come. Next I was being lifted into the air, thought the bird grew to an enormous size but it wasn't the bird at all, the markings lifted from my skin turning into feathers much like the redwing blackbird. I was flying, not very well though," which had him chuckle trying to add some humor into it to keep it sane.

Nodding as she listened, the blue eyes went to Aiden in confirmation of what she'd said. "Then it's exactly what I thought it was. You've become host to an avatar, Gabriel. One that manifests as a redwinged blackbird."

Aiden had been listening but was staring at one of the lamps.  He rubbed his temples before speaking again.  "He caught me and lifted me before I fell off the boulder myself. I was so startled.  Landings leave a lot to be desired as well.  I need some air, if you'll both excuse me." He smiled slightly at Anne. "Perhaps we can continue the lesson another night."

"If I have, I remember everything as firsthand." If that was a way to explain it other than that one night when the old woman spoke in tongues. That was what it was he realized. "You are leaving back to the castle or just out for some air, Aiden?" He was going to suggest they learn some steps and set this other aside for now.

"I'm not sure.  I have a headache that is threatening to become a severe one.  I may go back to the castle and try to sleep it off."

"Of course. There's a great deal to be considered." Anne could understand Aiden's feelings on the matter, as well as Gabriel's; she had her own secrets that didn't need airing just yet. "I'm sorry you're not feeling well. Perhaps next week would be better?"

"I will catch up with you in the knight's hall if you're still up." He was just as much concerned on Aiden because he was not acting normally either. He wasn't sure if anyone else picked up on it but he had.

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