Silver Dragon Codex

Books by R.D. Henham

D
EDICATED TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE EVER HAD TO JUGGLE EIGHT THINGS AT ONCE
. C
OUNT YOURSELVES LUCKY THAT THEY WEREN’T BLADED, SPINNING, AND ON FIRE
.

R.D.H
.

F
OR THE REAL
B
ELEN, WHO SPENDS A GREAT DEAL OF HER TIME IN THE SPOTLIGHT, BUT STILL MANAGES TO LOVE HER AUDIENCE AS MUCH AS THEY LOVE HER
.

R.S
.

elen sighed, staring up at the trapeze. Her silvery hair reflected a trickle of the spotlight, which glinted past the heavy, red velvet curtains. She shifted her feet in their ballet slippers, flexing her toes. She closed her eyes and listened to the applause, the shouts of eager children, the roar of a happy crowd—the sounds of home.

Opening her eyes, she reached for her tremendous fans, pulling the stiff metal handles through her fingers. Every performance was a rush and every burst of cheered applause lifted her heart, making her feel almost as if she, too, could fly like the trapeze artists now so far above the ring. But even amid all that happiness … something was missing. She never spoke of it, never told anyone—that would seem ungrateful. Belen was thankful for all that the little circus had done for her. They’d found her and given her purpose when she was lost and alone.

She loved to dance, to feel the graceful movements, the powerful spins and swift turns, the leaps that felt almost like taking flight. If anything, the performances always ended too soon, leaving her standing in a melting
puddle of spotlight to come to her senses, once more alone on the ground.

Was it the end of the dance that made her sad?

Belen shook her head, trying to rid herself of the doubt. Preshow jitters, nothing more, she told herself. There was nothing to be afraid of, no reason to be sad. She’d performed this dance a thousand times and knew every twirl and lunge by heart. Still, she knew what was coming when the music ended. Why did she always feel sad when she was finished dancing?

Jace passed by her, touched her elbow, and wished her luck in a faint whisper as the music in the ring swelled to a crescendo. The act on stage was almost finished. Belen smiled at him and looked around at the many friends who surrounded her. She knew them all by name, knew their habits and their laughter. They were almost like family.

Something in her heart twinged, and Belen shuddered from the top of her head to the tip of her toes. She managed to brush away a tear without smearing her greasepaint.

Belen lifted the feathered dancing fans, painted on her smile, and stepped out onto the stage.