Free Zotikas: Episode 1: Clash of Heirs by Rob Storey, Tom Bruno

patterns
of the dance began to come together, “May I help you fill in the names?”
    Moshalli was thrilled. “That would help a lot !
Sure! It shouldn’t be too hard since mother already separated the groups
so there won’t be any conflicts. We just have to make sure that every other
spot around the circle is filled with a group ‘A’ dancer and that they are
across from another group ‘A’ dancer.”
    Her mind racing, Velirith dictated the names to
Moshalli who wrote them into the blanks. Spinning the circles in her head,
Velirith figured out just who would be paired with whom. And, more critical to
her mischief, she figured just which dancers needed to be taken out to alter
the results of the “random” dance.
    Giggling for different reasons, the girls had a
delightful time. Moshalli was in her element, gossiping and seemingly planning
this important event. Every tidbit of gossip, Velirith turned into a dance
couple, appearing to rearrange at random the names Moshalli blithely tossed
out.
    “So Callia and Ferdando used to be this hot
couple, but when neither Ferdando nor Callia were willing to go over to the
opposite family in marriage, you can bet the elements heated up! If I were Callia, I mean, she’s so pretty and has some of the most elegant dresses, I would never let a man as handsome as that Ferdando get away.”
    “That’s incredible, Moshalli. The stupid things people
do. Let’s move Ferdando over to this circle on the opposite side of Callia.
It’s still in his same group.”
    “Okay.” And Moshalli penned it in.
    Of course, with the rotation of the circles, and one
couple dropping out at just the right (or wrong) time… Velirith paused and looked over at her friend. This
dance was important to Moshalli, too important. She didn’t seem to realize how
superficial all this was, and that she was looking up to these puffed-up frauds
as heroes, people she wanted to impress. If Velirith could show her how ugly
these personalities really were, Moshalli might see that her own qualities, her
enthusiasm and sweetness, were actually more authentic and noble than the false
fronts of the people she looked up to.
    It might hurt her a little to see the dance she cared
about go awry, but in the long run, she further justified, Moshalli’s
self-esteem could really be elevated. And this will look completely
accidental! Moshalli can’t be blamed.
    At the end, Moshalli packed up her papers. “I have to
get these to the printers. Then I’m to hand-deliver to each family their copy
of which position they will start in. It’s going to be so exciting!”
    “No doubt,” Velirith agreed.
    “Did you know some of the dancers practice all year
just so this dance works perfectly?”
    “Really?”
    Moshalli nodded vigorously. “You probably don’t have
to because of your theater experience, but it’s true. Oh, I wish our family was
recognized for how important we really are. Then I could dance and be swept
around the floor by some handsome mystery man. This New Year’s Eve will be
glorious!”
    After Moshalli had left on the private tram that spanned
the familial towers, Velirith had sat at her window feverishly writing out the
pairings she had arranged. Then she had forged notes from one partner to the
other, marveling at how devious her own mind could be.
    Now, with the dance beginning in just a couple hours,
Velirith would execute her plans at the Executive Chair’s New Year’s gala. The
voice of Discernment in her head seemed to whisper that what she had planned
was wrong. But the louder voice of Mischief danced and laughed that this was
just what the Omeron needed, a little dramatic revelation of the hypocrisy
played out in a Family Harmony Dance. Velirith intentionally chose Mischief and
opened her eyes just as a knock at the door pulled her from the replay of
Moshalli’s visit.
    “Velirith, your father says it’s time.”
    “Thank you Anessa. Tell him that I am on my way.”
Anessa was not only her