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It was a very complex fantasy, which frequently left her even more depressed than she’d been before

The smoke charade faded away to loud cheers, and the illusionist had not finished his bow before every candle fla backward so fast that her chair crashed to the floor, bringing her with it Though the fla, she realized after a terrifiedfro pulse of fire nor the smell of charred flesh followed

No one else had screaet away

Now, everyone was laughing

Treuards--they alone were not showing their ahted, and she settled self-consciously back onto it

The flames continued to burn, every one of the, Levana was able to discern that this was just another illusion Hovering over the table of wine goblets and half-finished plates was a line of fiery dancers, twirling and leaping fro harder than all the others "Whatever is the matter, baby sister?" Come here, baby sister "You can’t possibly be afraid of a silly little trick" I want to show you so

Levana found that she couldn’t respond Her heart was still thuaze was still fixed on the flame-dancers Their existence, even if only aher own bioelectricity, made it impossible for her to relax She could not tear her attention fro expressions around her Hearing the laughter was bad enough

She was only grateful that she’d had enough practice with the glairl that she hadn’t lost her control

"Is the princess afraid of fire?" asked the illusionist Though he didn’t stop the illusion, the dancers did stop ju, instead content to twirl slowly upon each candlewick "I apologize, Your Highness I did not know"

"Don’t worry about her," said Channary, holding a hand toward one of the dancers "We cannot let her childish fears ruin our fun"

"Ah--do be careful, Your Majesty The fire underneath is still very real" To prove his point, the illusionist sent the nearest dancer stepping down off her candle and into Channary’s palain, the crowd oohed its pleasure, and again Levana was forgotten

Don’t worry about her

It was only her birthday, after all This was only her party

The perfor into old-fashioned rocket ships that blasted upward and exploded into fireworks

Once the delighted crowd had finished applauding, the dessert course was served Levana stared down at the chocolate torte with the sugar sculpture that rose up nearly an arth above her plate, a delicate series of curls and filigree It looked as though it would shatter with a single touch

Levana did not pick up her fork

She wasn’t hungry Her stomach was still in knots over the explosion of fire She could feel her pallanore and could weaken a person’s focus Having already embarrassed herself, she would not let these people see beneath her gla to bed," she said, to no one in particular If anyone had been paying attention to her, if anyone had cared, they would have heard But no one did