A Dance of Lies

The first installment in the Dance of Life series is set in a fantasy world where the northern continent is governed by the Crowns' Syndicate, an alliance of nations that convenes every three years at a diplomatic conclave called the Crowns' Gathering. The kingdom of Miridran, once ruled by a single monarch, was divided twelve years ago among three brothers: Illian governs the west, Estienne the center, and Anton the east.

Vasalie Moran, a dancer, narrates from a prison cell in West Miridran, where she has spent two years shackled in isolation. Once celebrated as King Illian's prized performer, his "Jewel," she was framed for the murder of Lord Sarden, one of Illian's advisers. Her muscles have atrophied, her heart rate is erratic, and nerve damage limits her movement. Illian offers a deal: travel to the Isle of Anell, perform at the upcoming Gathering, and serve as his spy. In exchange, he promises exoneration and freedom. Vasalie accepts, knowing the alternative is a return to darkness.

A physician diagnoses chronic conditions that may never heal. Brigitte, Illian's chief attendant, shares the story of her daughter Marian, who survived horrific burns and built a career refining millen, a common grain, into fine flour. Flashbacks reveal Vasalie's past: her father, General Maksim Stova of Brisendale, the north's largest military power, was violent and controlling. When Vasalie was thirteen, he arranged to sell her into marriage. Emilia, her stepmother and closest protector, helped Vasalie flee. The general discovered them, beat Emilia, and threw her from a balcony to her death. Vasalie escaped to Miridran and taught herself to dance at a theater called the Melune, where Illian discovered her.

Inspired by Marian's flour, Vasalie uses millen powder during performances, releasing it in controlled bursts that create visual spectacles masking her limited mobility. She impresses Illian and travels to Anell, where she auditions before Copelan, who oversees the Gathering's performances as its Master of Revels. A talented dancer himself, Copelan initially refuses her, but her millen-powered illusion of wings wins him over. He admits her as a soloist and proposes they collaborate on six signature performances. Vasalie also befriends Laurent, the Head of Staff, fulfilling Illian's first assignment but deepening her guilt.

Illian's orders escalate. During the Welcoming performance, Vasalie defies protocol by pulling King Anton into a dance. Anton smooths over the offense with King Rurik of Brisendale and invites Vasalie to his private banquet, where she meets Gustav Bayard, Anton's closest friend, and Queen Sadira of Razam. Vasalie spots her father at the Gathering and hides in terror, confiding partially in Copelan. Illian's next order: poison Gustav using bellamira, a lethal poison. Unable to kill the kind nobleman, Vasalie pours the poison into her own glass and switches it with Gustav's so both consume a partial dose and collapse.

Illian reveals the poison was diluted; Gustav was never meant to die. The poisoning was a distraction. Illian discloses that Sarden's death was never made public, giving him leverage to frame Vasalie at any time. Laurent confides that Illian intercepted prophets carrying an urgent prophecy and suspects Illian is funding a Brisendali war against Razam through Princess Aesir of Brisendale. Illian orders Vasalie to smuggle Annais, a silent and seemingly traumatized woman who will prove to be King Estienne's biological mother, into the palace. Laurent reveals secret tunnels beneath the palace, known only to Anton's inner circle, and Vasalie brings Annais through them, unknowingly delivering Illian's next weapon.

Exploring the tunnels, Vasalie discovers that Anton's sea-glass mosaics are translucent from behind and observes Illian sealing letters with a ring that is not his own. When her father assaults Marian in the kitchen, the violence triggers a flashback to Emilia's murder and hardens Vasalie's resolve to expose him. A signature dance with Copelan culminates in him kissing Vasalie onstage; she pushes him away, fearing Illian's retaliation. Illian then forces Vasalie to publicly betray Laurent by revealing forged staff documents. Laurent and Marian are arrested. Devastated, Vasalie confesses everything to Anton through the tunnels. Anton reveals he already knew about her imprisonment and has arranged Laurent and Marian's rescue.

Anton shares the intercepted prophecy, which warns that "through one of three sons" a destructive figure aligned with the Fate of Morta, the divine keeper of the dead, will appear, wielding "a jewel in His palm." Vasalie recognizes the jewel as herself and agrees to work with Anton. As their partnership deepens into romance, Anton reveals his Glory Court is a refuge for people escaping danger and that Illian has tried to kill him repeatedly since pushing him off Mount Carapet when Anton was sixteen. Vasalie deduces that Illian's servant duplicated Anton's signet seal during the poisoning and that Illian has been forging letters in Anton's name. In Philam, a nearby town, she and Anton overhear Illian and Stova plotting: Aesir will marry Stova and help assassinate Rurik, making Stova king of Brisendale while Illian consolidates Miridran.

Illian uses Annais, revealed to be King Estienne's biological mother, to expose Estienne's illegitimate birth. Estienne is banished. Illian captures Anton through the tunnels, presents forged letters bearing Anton's duplicated seal as evidence of conspiracy with Razam, and maneuvers the Syndicate into naming him sole king of Miridran. He forces Vasalie to assassinate King Rurik with a Razami weapon, threatening Anton's life. With Illian present to ensure compliance, Vasalie slits Rurik's throat. Illian then pushes her off the balcony into the sea.

Held captive, Vasalie is paraded at the wedding of Aesir and Stova. Her father reveals that Vasalie was promised to Illian in a marriage agreement when she was thirteen, the arrangement Emilia died trying to prevent. Illian slides a ring onto Vasalie's finger and claims her as his fiancée. When Illian parades her before the chained Anton, Vasalie blinds him with millen powder. Copelan and Gustav lead a rescue that frees Anton's court, but Illian drops a glass chandelier onto Anton. Anton survives, revealing he genuinely died on Mount Carapet and returned to life; having never loved anyone, he is immune to the Fate of Morta's power over the dead. Vasalie hooks her arms around Illian and throws them both off a balcony. Both die on impact.

Vasalie's soul enters Morta's Lair, the realm of the dead ruled by Moranya, the Fate of Morta. Anton carries her corpse there and bargains with Moranya, producing a lens that allows its wearer to see through Moranya's disguises and threatening to mass-produce it. Moranya agrees to release Vasalie, but her price is a piece of Anton's soul: his goodness, warmth, and the part of himself connected to Vasalie. Anton accepts.

Vasalie wakes a week later in Razam. Laurent, Gustav, Copelan, and Prince Sundar, one of Queen Sadira's adopted sons, are safe. Gustav has been named King Regent of Miridran, and photographic images Anton and Gustav developed prove the conspiracy. But Anton has been fundamentally altered: he cannot recognize Vasalie or recall what she meant to him. When she visits, a kiss summons a momentary flicker of recognition before his eyes darken and he turns hostile. Vasalie steals the lens pendant and vows to enter Morta's Lair to undo the bargain. General Stova, now king of Brisendale, mobilizes for war. An excerpt from the sequel shows Vasalie, Sundar, and Copelan traveling to Brisendale to present the evidence and publicly accuse her father of murder.