Looming up before them was a huge house. Surrounded by a high wall that was pierced by a massive gate, the mansion looked big enough for Serali to fit in it in her dragon form several dozen times over. It was lighted by dozens of lamps, torches, and mage lights, and in and out of the gate streamed a parade of vehicles, all filled with nobles. Their own coach pulled up behind a line of other similar coaches going in. As they entered the grounds, Serali noticed the garden. The front of the house was mostly even grass with a few ornamental bushes, but she could see where around the sides and back there was an elaborate garden, planted with dozens of flowers, many of which were blooming, even after sunset. She inhaled, smelling sweet and unfamiliar scents on the cool evening breeze.

Their coach reached the front of he house, and Janus climbed down first, handing her down after him. Serali looked at the coach behind them but somewhere along the way, they had lost Lady Valerie.

Janus noticed the direction of her gaze. "Don't worry, she'll come. Now let's go in and impress all of these foppish city folk, shall we?"

Serali nodded and took his arm. They proceeded to the main door of the mansion. Serali felt out of place, conspicuous among the mass of ruffles and lace in her simple gown. The sense of being beautiful abruptly deserted her in the face of dozens of perfectly painted and coiffed ladies who were all surely far more beautiful and elegant than she could possibly be. She saw people staring at her and blushed.

Janus leaned over and whispered into her ear. "They watch you because you are the most beautiful one here, Serali. They're used to girls who have to paint their faces and stuff themselves into corsets to look half as good as you do."

Serali blushed again, not knowing what to say. She still wasn't completely certain she could believe it.

They continued into the house, moving through a long hallway hung with banners into a brightly lit room full of music and people dancing. Serali had studied the more common formal dances of course, as part of Lady Valerie's curriculum, but she felt suddenly intimidated by the thought of having to actually go out there in front of all these people and dance. But Janus didn't head out on the dance floor immediately. Instead, he made his way through the chattering throng that stood around the fringes of the room, gossiping and drinking wine out of long stemmed crystal glasses.

They moved through the crowd, Serali still drawing looks from those around her, until the reached a bearish man clad in bright green doublet and hose. At sighting Janus, he broke off what he was saying to a slender lady dressed in yellow and came over.

"Janus!" he roared, and slapped the much smaller man on the back.

"James! it's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Indeed. I thought that you would never come out of that tower of yours." Then he looked over at Serali. "And this must be the apprentice I've been hearing about. You told me she was talented, Janus, but you didn't warn me she was beautiful." He took Serali's hand and bowed over it. "James Mortigen at your service, m'lady."

Serali curtsied, hoping that she had gotten it right and said, "My lord is too kind."

"Nonsense. You, my dear, will cut a swath through the young noblemen tonight, and leave many a broken heart behind you, I'm sure."

"Yes she will," agreed Janus. "But as I'm her teacher, I think I've got first claim on her, so I'll have the first dance. Speaking of which, this one is nearly done, so shall we be off to the dance floor, my lady?" He bowed with a flourish and led Serali out towards where the dancers were indeed finishing the dance.

Serali's nervousness proved to be unfounded as she didn't step on Janus's feet once during the entire time. After the final note, Janus bowed to her and then, releasing her hand, he said, "I believe I will go and mingle now. From the look of that young man over there though, I think you will be dancing for some time, so I'll leave you to it." And with that, he walked off into the crowd.