Free Dawn by Marcus LaGrone

you’ll thank me later. No worries there,” May laughed evilly.
    “ You knew him already? He mostly knew you…”
    “ I know him in passing. We grew up here after all.”
    “ I’m not even sure I know how to dance,” she groused.
    May brightened again, “Then we know what you will be practicing this afternoon!”
    Was there no escape?
     

Chapter 11
     
     
    The great market hall had been transformed for the night’s festivities. The long canvas roof offered shelter from the elements, but no such protection was needed tonight. It was a bright clear night with a small chill in the air, but the mood more than made up for the mountain air. Mantled oiled lamps alternating with the pure white synthetic glow panels bathed the room with a festive glow. Food and drinks were laid out on long benches to the side for those taking a break or just choosing the sidelines, while the center of the hall was filled with the ebb and flow of dancers enjoying the night away.
    April and May stood on a small platform at one end of the hall playing to the eager crowd. Lute and violin gave way to nyckelharpa and mandolin as the songs changed to suit the dancers’ whims. Once again, the strange girl Gwen came and went. Often joining the twins to play a song, she would just wander off as soon as the song was over.
    Dawn got swept up into a few of the longer formal dances. Four lines of ladies formed with a single line of males in the middle. Short a few spots, many other younger girls joined to fill in the empty spaces, and Dawn soon found herself having fun in spite of herself. But fun or not, dancing could be a serious work out, and she soon retired to the benches at the far side and enjoyed a fresh drink.
    “ One round of Trenchmore by twos and then all the singles for the Ghillie’s Lament,” called one of the twins, too far away for Dawn to tell which. The crowd cheered at the plan, but Dawn was quite happy to stay out of it. Last thing she wanted to do was get drafted into a singles’ dance!
     
     
    April and May
     
    Gwen caught Dawn’s eye as she once again climbed up on the stage and picked up a guitar. Without missing a beat, she joined in with the twins filling the air with dance music. Her precision and speed were easily on par with that of the twins and Dawn swore she actually could see Gwen smile. As the song hit its halfway point, she suddenly stopped and climbed off the stage and started walking over to the refreshment table. One of the twins made a sharp whistle in time with the music and tossed a small bag at Gwen. Gwen spun and plucked the bag from the air nonchalantly and the music continued without missing a beat.
    Dawn laughed and was curious what that was all about.
    Gwen weaved her way through the crowd, her movements fluid and in time with the music, until Dawn found herself face to face with her. Gwen opened the bag and dumped out a series of bells into her hand and smirked at Dawn.
    “ Oh, no, thank you. I’m fine,” blurted Dawn nervously. Girls wore bells on ribbons at dances when they were old enough to start to date and shop around, as it were. Bells on rings were generally reserved for girls with steady serious boyfriends. Ribbons or rings were immaterial; Dawn had no intention of further dances, much less starting to date!
    Gwen paid her no mind and physically picked up Dawn and sat her on the table. With remarkable dexterity she quickly wrapped a series of bells around Dawn’s ankles. Half a heartbeat later she found herself standing again. A quick look down revealed not only were there bells on her ankles but her toes too!
    Gwen smiled and gave the confused Dawn a quick hug.
    “ Why waste silver bells on such a drab girl?” murmured a girl of about fifteen behind them.
    That caught Dawn flat footed. Everyone else had been so nice the last week or so. She could almost hear her late sisters after her again.
    Gwen quickly spun around and got right into the other girl’s face. She grinned widely,