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Chapter 1

Tahlia

A t twenty-one, Tahlia still had plenty of time to change her fate. She would do anything, sacrifice all, work until her fingers bled to make it happen. Even though she was a half-breed and didn’t have the right blood or the proper ancestors, she was determined to become a Mist Knight and ride dragons into battle.

Rubbing her cold hands together, she smiled and imagined the feel of the high-altitude wind on her face, the way it would clean the filth from her cheeks. She’d heard people say rank and money weren't the keys to happiness, but those folks had never had to go without food for days on end or been trapped inside the house with the pigs all winter long.

Somehow, she would fly her way out of the life of a lowly squire who picked up after others and away from the poverty she’d lived in since she was a child.

Failure was not an option.

Her friend Fara held their lady knight’s mare, Daffodil, by the reins. She raised a dark eyebrow and set one purple hand on a hip.

“Tahlia, I don’t like that look. That’s the look that says you’re about to drag me into trouble.”

A cold breeze blew through the snow-laced pines and pulled a strand of Fara’s hair from behind her dramatically pointed ear. Fara was a full Fae—unlike Tahlia, who was half-human and half-Fae.

The horse stomped the ground, nostrils flaring, as if she could sense Fara’s disapproval. Tahlia brushed the mount’s right flank, removing the dried mud the mare had picked up during the journey through the mucky pass into the lower reaches of the Shrouded Mountains.

“Oh, you love trouble. Don’t try to deny it.” Frustration itched under Tahlia’s skin. She longed to move this fate of hers forward more quickly. But so far, no opportunities had shown themselves.

“I like fun trouble,” Fara said, “and Tahlia-style schemes are less joyful and more we nearly died .”

“Well, you have time to prep yourself because I don’t have the plan quite figured out yet.”

She snorted. “That has never once stopped you.”

Tahlia chuckled as Fara looked down the trail toward the town gate, where their lady had gone an hour ago.

“What’s taking her so long?” Fara asked.

Tahlia brushed a cluster of burrs from Daffodil’s back leg. “You don’t think she could be seeing him, do you?”

Their lady had a former lover in this small mountain town. They’d had an affair when she was much younger, before her father arranged an engagement to a male of his choice. The moment that fellow died from a fever that ravaged their town, their lady informed her father that she would be taking part in the dragon tournament. The lady wanted to become a dragon rider and to be free of her father’s machinations. Tahlia didn’t blame her one bit, and she only hoped the lady’s rise would make her own dream come true that much faster.

Fara glared at the town walls as if she could see through them with enough concentrated effort. Neither she nor Tahlia possessed such magic, so all of this was guesswork.

Fara groaned. “I think maybe so. She’s never taken this long at market.”

“Did you get a glimpse of that message?” A dove had dropped a note at their camp two days ago.

“No, but her flushed cheeks pointed to some naughty contents. Stones, do you think she’s left us for good? I can’t handle another day without a meal. I’m not built for this!”

Tahlia blew out a breath. “Eh, it’s all right. We will figure this out.”

But if their lady decided against heading to the Shrouded Mountains for the event, Tahlia, too, would be stuck in this small dull town for as long as it pleased her ladyship.

Tahlia put the mare’s brush in a saddlebag. “I’m going to find out.”

“You can’t just walk in there and start asking where she is,” Fara said.

“Why not?” At the end of the right fork in the road, two guards stood at the city gate.

“Because it could take you hours if not days to find her.”

“I doubt that. How hard can it be to locate a female who’s six feet tall and dressed in tourney leathers?” This place would be abuzz with the appearance of a lady knight. Not only was she a noble, but she was female and most knights were male.

Fara looked to the sky, her face flushing. “I’m going to kill her if we find her alive.”

“I will be back in an hour.”

“No, you won’t. Not a chance.” Fara muttered angrily at the ground, lost in her usual spiral of worrying thoughts.

There was one way to get her friend’s head out of the spiral. She had a weakness for gambling. “I bet you half my rations.”

Fara lifted her head. “You’re on.”

Two hours and three inns later, Tahlia had found their lady locked in a chamber with her former lover.

She knocked for the second time. “But, my lady, if you don’t go to the tournament, won’t your father find out and come after you?” The door at this particularly cheap inn was thin enough to allow sounds of their kissing and more to carry to her ears.

“I don’t care!” the lady shouted. “Be gone! You’re free to do as you like. I am a lady no longer. I am now the smithy’s wife, and I care not for anything my father says.”

Pressing her forehead against the door, Tahlia exhaled. This was a problem. A big problem. Without their lady, she and Fara were out of a job. They maybe had one tiny sack of coins between them. Not nearly enough to live on while seeking new employment. Especially since it seemed highly unlikely their lady would be doling out references as to their skills and character.

But the lady would not change her mind. Tahlia knew her well enough to be certain of that sad fact. Running her hands through her tangled black waves, Tahlia left the lady and her lover to their new life path.

Now to figure out hers.

As she maneuvered through the crowded market, Tahlia’s past rose up in her mind. She’d lived with her family in a crumbling merchant’s home for a few years when her father tried out another of his grow rich quickly schemes. That idea had failed like his others. Her father ended up drinking their savings away while Tahlia and her mother worked extra jobs at a nearby pig farm just so they could eat once in a while. She remembered her older brother coming home frustrated from his job, eyes bloodshot and his fists coiled and prepared to hit someone. He never actually raised a hand against Tahlia or their mother, but Tahlia had kept her distance anyway. She knew an animal ready to fight when she saw one. It had been the worst time in her life, spent dodging her brother and suffering the pangs of an empty stomach. Her mother was kind, but Tahlia never connected with her in the way that some did with their mothers. Tahlia had spent the majority of her life thus far hungry and lonely.

But she was finished with that life. As Tahlia made her way toward the gate, dodging a gorgeous family of silver-skinned full Fae with ram horns and a lovely couple with pale skin and tails, she permitted herself to dream big. If you didn’t let it all go and just wish hard once in a while, how could you know what might actually be possible?

By the time she reached Fara, she was determined that her time had come.

“Our lady will not be returning.”

Fara began stammering, her fangs showing and her lavender lips pulling into a grimace. “Then why are you grinning?”

Tahlia held up a hand. “This is a golden opportunity.”

“Please, can’t we just head into the town and wait? She might change her mind.” But even as she said it, Tahlia shook her head and Fara began nodding, knowing their lady had loved this fellow for years and wouldn’t be leaving. “Do you think she had this planned? That the message was from him?”

“It had to be.”

Turning the exact shade of a ripe aubergine, Fara handed Tahlia Daffodil’s reins and started kicking the bags they had carried on their backs during the journey up to this point. She let loose a string of curses that would have made even Tahlia’s horrible brother blush.

“Don’t attack our only belongings, Fara. We’ll need every bit of bread and dried meat in those bags to survive the rest of the trip to the tournament.”

Fara whirled. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that I am going to compete in her place.”

“No. We are not going. They’ll put you to death.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re half-Fae. Because your blood isn’t gold enough, Tahlia. You know I personally believe that is a stupid measure of ability, but I’m not one of the judges.”

“I can use your blood for the testing if they demand a sample.”

“And when they catch us, we both die,” Fara said.

“If you don’t want to risk it, I understand. You can go with my good wishes.”

“Well, thanks for that, but you’re all I have in the world.” Fara’s throat moved in a swallow.

Tahlia’s chest ached. She took Fara’s hands. “You’re all I have too, sweet friend, and I want more for us. So much more.”

Fara started to pull away, but Tahlia held her friend’s fingers and locked eyes with her. Fara’s eyes were more slitted than Tahlia’s but not by much. Since high Fae skin tones, features, and ears varied so much, no one could tell Tahlia was only half-Fae. But those Fae whose ancestors rode dragons from the beginning of time had a bright gold shimmer to their blood—a byproduct of dragon power seen when a Bloodworker applied certain chemicals. That particular Fae blood was called Mistgold.

“We can do this. I’ll be Lady Tahlia of… Lady Tahlia of Northwoods. We can use the isolation of the Mist Knights as a tool. They don’t know of far-off small estates. They will believe it if we show confidence.”

“You have too much confidence.”

Tahlia’s grin was untamable. “Maybe, but I can use it to fill our bellies and clothe our backs.”

“I don’t know…”

“Dragons are just larger horses.”

“Ha!” Fara pulled away. “Sure, they’re just horses as large as castle stables who breathe fire.”

“Who is the best rider you’ve ever met?”

“You, you arrogant arse.”

“Exactly. I was born for this, Fara, even though I have only the slightest hints of Mistgold in my blood. We will be a part of the most glorious culture. The Mist Knights.” The name of the group who guarded the Realm of Lights’ coastline practically sparkled in her mind’s eye. “Once I make my way into the order, you’ll have the coin to do exactly as you wish. Stay, leave. Continue to help me or take on a different position. Whatever makes you happy. You can’t find that kind of freedom without gold and silver to your name.”

“I hate to admit it, but you’re right, of course.”

“I am, and we can do this.”

“Where will you get tourney leathers?”

“I don’t know, but I bet you already have an idea.”

“They sell sets at the base of the Mist Road,” Fara answered begrudgingly.

“Do we have enough to buy one?”

“If our lady doesn’t come after that sack.” Her gaze flew to the brown bag tied to the horse’s saddle.

“She’s too busy to worry about coming back. To her, that sack is nothing. She has a full purse with her already and a smithy who will make enough to please her.” Their lady had never been materialistic like the rest of her family. Tahlia had always respected her for that.

“Fine. But if there is even a hint of the judges being onto you, we leave immediately.”

“They won’t find out,” Tahlia said.

Fara’s neck went red, a sure sign of her notorious temper rising. She lifted a finger and shook it under Tahlia’s nose. “But if they do…”

Tahlia took her hand and gently lowered her finger. “I was born for this. My blood has gold in it.”

“Not enough to pass the Bloodworkers’ test.”

“Like I said, I can use yours. We’re clever. We can get around that. If you’re up for it.”

Exhaling and breaking away, Fara spun.

She had to agree. Tahlia didn’t want to admit it, but she truly wanted Fara at her side. With Fara’s support and her blood, this wild plan was actually plausible. Without her, it would be lonely and far more dangerous.

“Please, Fara. Consider it. Let’s change our fates. We can do this.”

Grasping clusters of her hair and muttering, Fara stared at the sky. “I never should have given you that apple.”

Tahlia laughed, remembering the day they’d met when Tahlia had been a slip of a thing—fourteen, half-starved, and desperate. Fara had given up her breakfast so Tahlia could make it to their lady’s military event in Seelie King Lysanael’s city.

“You know you want to do this with me just a little bit .”

Fara growled and waved a fisted hand at the gathering clouds. “Fine. Let’s go before a storm rolls in and makes me even more irritated. But stop smiling.”

“You didn’t even look at my face.”

“I don’t need to. I can sense that smile. You’re not allowed to have fun doing this. I’m still against it.”

“What’s life without some risk?”

“Comfortable. And it usually includes cats, which I approve of.”

“Dragons beat cats any day.”

“Not in my book.”

Tahlia chuckled. “Have it your way. No fun on this adventure. Zero. Got it.”

But she couldn’t help but feel more alive than ever. This was a real chance to grab the life she wanted, to snag her fate from the greedy hands of the Old Ones. A thrill zipped through her blood and she grinned at the sun shining through the breaks in the clouds.