Page 10

Chapter 10

Tahlia

“ A re you sure I don’t look fully ridiculous?” Tahlia examined her reflection in the mirror. The new leather armor had arrived before sunup. “I had no idea they would fit so much more tightly in the legs.”

Fara lay on her bed, one arm slung over her forehead. “And they work so much better with your up top assets. You look amazing.”

“I look naked.”

“It’s just that you have more curves than most riders. These fine leathers were literally made for your shape.”

“I feel a bit exposed though.” Tahlia turned and grimaced at her arse in the reflection. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her body, but she’d never worn anything so revealing in the way it fit every line and angle of her body. It was making her uncharacteristically shy.

Sitting up and rubbing her temples, Fara let out a groan. “Why did you let me drink that terrifying crystal wine? I forgot how strong they make it for the Mist Fae.”

“I wasn’t even around when you were enthusiastically imbibing.”

Fara spread her purple arms wide. “I was just worried about your interview.”

“You didn’t need to worry. I told you. It went well…I think.” Tahlia knew she could be overly optimistic. Was she wrong? No, he had approved her admission to the tournament and he had sent her this armor.

“Well, now I’m telling you to stop fretting for once,” Fara said. “The Leatherworker assured me this was proper and ordered by the High Captain himself.”

Tahlia pulled at the bottom of the vest. The armor was actually incredibly comfortable, far less stiff than the set she’d used to gain entrance to the mountain as a potential competitor. But she felt like her body was being exposed as sensual rather than tough.

“I can be attractive and tough, right? Even though I’m shorter than I’d like?”

“You definitely are. Attractive and tough, I mean, not short. But you are that too. Stop fussing. You look astoundingly glorious, like a war goddess come down to the mountain.”

Tahlia laughed. “Thanks, friend.”

“You’re going to drop jaws and then you’ll awe them with your riding skills. If they don’t find out about your blood and put you to death by dragon fire.”

“You were doing so well there for a moment.”

Fara collapsed back on the bed and shut her eyes. “I hate to tell you this, but you’re going to have to attend the Presentation of the Competitors without me. Unless you like a whining vomiter at your back.”

Tahlia dampened a washing cloth in the basin sitting on the small table between their beds, set it on her friend’s forehead, and let it fall over her eyes. Fara let out a sigh of relief.

“You sure?”

“Am I sure I don’t want to heave last night’s dinner all over your fancy new outfit? Yes, I’m quite positive about that. You won’t fire me for this, will you, boss?”

Tahlia chuckled. “It’s only your first offense. I’ll allow at least two mistakes.”

“Gee, you are kind.” Fara smacked her leg lightly. “Now, go. Or you’ll be late and they might not let you into the hall. I heard the king and queen were already seated and taking supplicants’ questions.”

“Heal up quickly. I’ll need you in an hour. I can’t go out there alone.”

“You could, but you won’t have to.” Fara moved the cloth to wink.

With a deep breath, Tahlia nodded and stood. She picked up her new helmet with its red plumage.

It was tournament time.

Light from the long windows sparkled across the dragon-sized crystals that adorned the great hall’s ceiling and walls. Rosy pink, ocean-toned blue, and deep indigo spread over the gathering crowd of Mist Knights in their pale leathers and red-tufted helmets, velvet-wrapped nobles of the Shrouded Mountains region talking animatedly, and a good number of common folk in homespun wool looking on with wide eyes.

Holding her helmet under her arm, Tahlia took a spot near the front of the crowd, beside the other Mist Knights and competitors, with the nobles to their right and the common folk to the left of the room.

On the dais, Seelie King Lysanael, and his mate, Queen Revna of Isernwyrd, sat on tall black-stained wooden thrones. Beside Queen Revna, a shadow materialized and became a forest dragon. Like all forest dragons, he was much smaller than mountain dragons and the power of invisibility ran through his veins. The dragon—Arkyn, Tahlia thought she’d heard him called—currently had his snout in a large copper bowl of something that was staining his snout a dark blue.

Beside Arkyn, a man in a helmet with blue tuffs rather than red stood stiffly, the ends of his blue-green hair showing. Commander Gaius. He honestly scared Tahlia more than any dragon could. Hands clasped, he leaned toward the king and queen. King Lysanael’s dark crown glittered atop his head of obsidian-dark hair as he nodded at something the commander had said. Queen Revna eyed the crowd like she was measuring each person up for a fight. Her hand went to her dragon and she slid her palm down his neck. Arkyn shuffled his wings and settled himself on the ground beside the queen with his tail extended behind the commander. It reached all the way to the steps on the side where two more Mist Knights approached. Ah, it was Marius and that foul, high-ranking female from the baths. Marius held his helmet and searched the room with his stormy eyes.

His gaze stopped on Tahlia. He tripped and swore loudly, glancing backward at Arkyn’s tail, which was slapping the dais like a happy dog’s might. Was Marius all right? Maybe he was hungover like Fara. Marius looked up and his focus locked onto Tahlia. A flush darkened his cheeks and she bit her lip to keep from chuckling.

He spoke in the female’s ear and she turned a glare on Tahlia. What were they saying? Had they found out about the feigned blood sample?