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| Inside they were met by a young man who introduced himself as Ataf whom Mikael was apparently familiar with. Mikael suggested Kitty wait in a large room full of books just to the right of the entrance while he went off with Ataf to consult with Viarmo upstairs. | | | She looked around for something interesting, but the only book to catch her eye was one called A Dance in Fire V4. But as far as she could tell, it didn't seem to be about dancing at all. It did mention Khajiits, but as she scanned it, it soon became obvious that the Khajiit were once again portrayed negatively. She sighed as she closed the book and then noticed a stunning Nord woman approaching her. | | | "Hello, friend Khajiit. I am Illdi. And you must be the dancer with Mikael?"

Kitty rose and shook the hand that the beautiful girl offered, taking care to keep her claws retracted.

"Yes, my name is Kitty.You've heard about me already?"

"Oh, you're the talk of Solitude, Kitty! But that's a good thing. What brings you to the College?"

"We're here to see the head master. Are you a student here?"

Illdi sighed, "Yes. Though sometimes I think I'll always just be a student. Are you applying? We don't get many Khajiit here."

Kitty considered that. "I suppose, in a way I am. But... well, it's complicated. Maybe not. I... don't sing or tell stories. I just dance." | | | "And very well, so I hear. And of course that explains the outfit! You've quite the body, for a Khajiit."

Kitty decided to ignore the qualifier. She was sure this gorgeous girl meant no offense, and to be perfectly honest, she was pretty well-endowed. "Well, thank you Illdi."

Illdi glanced at the book Kitty had just been looking through. "Oh, that. No, not exactly about dancing is it? Here... Here's one that's much more interesting!"

Kitty accepted the small book Illdi had pulled from her bag and scanned the title. Lorna the Bard - Book 1. "Well thank you Illdi! I'll read it as soon as I get a chance." | | | Illdi put her head down conspiratorially. "You might want to read it in private. I put a little star in the margins at the best parts. If you like it, I've got the other three volumes too. It gets pretty lonely at the college, but I've read them all hundreds of times over by now."

"Oh! It's that kind of book! Well then, I really thank you!" Kitty smiled conspiratorially as she put the little book away.

The two started laughing when Mikael came in. "I see you've met Illdi. Sorry to interrupt, but we're needed outside Kitty. Viarmo is gathering Giraud, Inge and Pantea Ateia in the theater for our demonstration." | | | "Oh, can I come too Mikael?" Illdi asked.

"I'm sorry, Illdi. This is a private demonstration for the masters only. Perhaps another time."

"Well, thanks again Illdi!" Kitty said as she followed Mikael. "I hope to see you again soon. We're staying at the Winking Skeever if I don't see you again today."

"Thanks Kitty, I'll do that! Things get awfully dull around here. See you tonight!" | | | Kitty followed Mikael back outside a little area surrounded by steps where obviously various performances were held by the Bards College - to potentially sizable crowds based on the seating area around it. Kitty was immediately drawn to the open portals that looked out on a magnificent view far below.

"Oh, Mikael, the view is beautiful!"

"And so it is from here as well! But we have no time for that now, Viarmo has arrived with the three Masters."

Kitty turned back to where Viarmo and three other masters of the College were entering the theater. Viarmo came on and shook hands with Kitty. "And this, I presume, is the Khajiit you've told me about Mikael?"

"Yes indeed! Viarmo, this is Kitty. She dances for me at the Bannered Mare in Whiterun and is the reason we're here today." | | | "Kitty, you should be proud. Mikael holds you in extremely high regard for your skill at dancing. Please understand that no matter what comes of today's interview, you already have my most sincere admiration. But now, let me introduce you to the others and we shall see what we shall see."

"Thank you, sir!" Kitty responded gracefully. | | | "And now," Viarmo said raising his voice for the other seated Masters, "you all know Mikael. One of our most celebrated graduates and envoy of the Bards College to Whiterun. Today he brings with him Kitty, a Khajiit he has been working with for some time in that legendary town. He has a proposal which he would like us to consider.

Kitty, before you is Dean of History, Giraud Gemane. Next to him is Dean of Lutes, Inge Six Fingers. And finally, Pantea Ateia, our Master Vocalist."

Kitty bowed respectfully to each in turn as she was introduced. | | | The three nodded politely to Kitty before Viarmo joined them to hear what Mikael had to say. While their ears were listening to Mikael, it was obvious their attention was really on her. Others might feel uncomfortable with that scrutiny, but Kitty was not one to be ashamed of her body. It dawned on her then that perhaps that might be one aspect of becoming a dancer that was paramount. The whole point of a dance, besides the thrill of the movements themselves, was to become the focus of attention, and anyone ashamed of showing their body was certainly not going to ever be a successful dancer! That would be something to consider if she was ever going to teach dance professionally. But now she turned to Mikael to listen to what he was saying. | | | "...in fact, the whole purpose of the Bard's College is to educate and entertain the masses is it not? For generations we have striven to do that using Music, Stories and Song. You three represent the masters of those three genres. And in that goal we have been at least moderately successful."

"...given the talent we have to work with," muttered Pantea under her breath.

Mikael continued, ignoring the interruption. "We have kept the memory of the past alive with songs of the heroes of past ages, of battles and romances. The tales we weave are both memorable and entertaining. Yet I submit to you today that we have been ignoring another genre that may be even older and more memorable than the catchiest songs or the most evocative of stories. For those require the audience to understand the language of the lyrics and the nuances of the words. But Dance does not hold this requirement. It is a universal language to all sentient races in Tamriel. Today I would like to demonstrate that for you... to demonstrate what Dance can be." | | | "What you say is undoubtedly true, Mikael, but what do you aim to prove here?" asked Giraud.

"Nothing less than the admittance of a fourth genre to the Bard's College. I propose to introduce Dance as a teachable medium for communication and the conveying of history, ideas and stories. I believe it to be an art form every bit as nuanced and precise as music or singing. Kitty here and her talent has made that abundantly clear to me!"

"But Mikael... begging your pardon Miss Kitty, I don't mean to disparage you - I'm sure your skill at Dance is extremely masterful... but how can you compare the lumbering gyrations of some backwater cretin to the lofty works we at the College train in? Why, there's not even any WORDS!" protested the Master Vocalist. | | | "Indeed. But I don't really compare the skill of Miss Kitty to any lyrical or prose form, but I_do_ compare it to the universality of music itself. Master Inge, your skill with the lute certainly a worthy pursuit of any Bard worth his salt. Music alone has no defined words without lyric, yet it still is a medium evocative and meaningful even without a vocalist would you not agree?"

The Dean of Lutes smiled and nodded, accepting the point.

"Then, in the same way that music combines with lyrics to make song, I submit that music and lyric may also combine with dance to raise the experience to yet a higher level. Let us demonstrate..."

And with that, Kitty began to dance... | |