Airam stood upright.
So did Ulrich.
And only then did both of them notice the silence.
The hall had gone still around them.
Not completely still. The musicians had faltered rather than fully stopped, leaving one string whining out of place before dying under awe perhaps.
The pairs nearest them had frozen in place. Others, who should have still been moving through the next pattern, had already broken apart without realizing it.
In truth, they had stopped following the proper rhythm some time ago.
Once Ulrich and Airam had turned the dance into a contest, the surrounding pairs had been forced to give way. At first it had only been practical. They needed space. Ulrich and Airam were moving too fast, cutting across the floor with a pace and complexity the other nobles could not match without colliding with them.
Then the reason changed.
People made room because they wanted to watch.
