Chapter 180: The Masquerade
In a different part of the palace, performers lined the road leading up to the entrance of the great hall where the masquerade would be held. Some juggled fire while others danced with long flowing pieces of silk that caught the light in brilliant flashes like the scales of fish beneath the water. Near the statues of heroic figures, a few musicians could even be heard, singing songs about ancient glories and great victories.
A long line of elegant and decorated carriages stretched all the way to the palace gates as more and more notable people arrived at the grand event. The palace itself blazed with light as every available lamp seemed to have been lit for the occasion. Large iron firepits ringed the statues and fountains in the grand plaza, burning with bonfires that cast a flickering golden glow over the entire square.
From one carriage, a powerfully muscled member of the scaled clan emerged with one beautiful woman on each of his arms. All of them wore brilliantly polished masks made to resemble helmets worn by gladiators in the arena and their outfits glittered with jewels like drops of sweat on a warrior’s skin when they made their way toward the great hall.
From another carriage, a distinguished gentleman from the Clan of Painted Masks emerged in an elegantly tailored ensemble. A long black coat with tails fluttered in the breeze and in his hand he clutched a walking stick carved to resemble an assortment of wild animals marching in a spiraling line up to the fist-sized piece of polished obsidian at the top of the cane. On his face, a dark mask shaped to resemble an eagle covered the markings of his own ’mask’ completely leaving onlookers guessing about who he might be.
Inside the great hall, the formal space had been transformed even more dramatically than the spectacle occurring outside. Massive crystal chandeliers hung from the towering arched ceiling, each one scattering hundreds of motes of bright light across the floor below.
Elsewhere, the giant marble columns supporting the ceiling had been wrapped in flowering vines that gave off a subtle, intoxicating perfume. Some attendees who recognized the scent avoided the columns lest the fragrance lower their inhibitions more than they heady alcohol would while others sought it out as if to find extra ’courage’ to let loose during the masquerade.
The hall itself had been divided into distinct spaces that flowed naturally into one another. At its heart, the main dance floor spread out beneath the largest chandelier. The polished stone surface reflected light like the surface of a midnight lake giving the illusion that dancers were floating on water as they swept across its surface.
Around this central space, several intimate alcoves had been created using artfully arranged silk curtains and living, potted plants, offering guests places for quiet conversation away from the press of the crowd.
Musicians had been arranged on several elevated platforms throughout the hall, allowing the music to flow seamlessly as guests moved from one area to another. Some performers played music that was slow and even a touch somber at the edges of the hall while others were more boisterous or lively.
It could easily have resulted in a cacophony of discordant sound, but instead, the careful use of dividing curtains muffled both music and conversation enough to allow each space to develop its own mood as guests found their way to places that suited them.