Page 12

Chapter 12

Tahlia

T he giant male’s sword crashed toward Tahlia’s head. But where she’d thought maybe he’d be a bit lumbering due to his impressive size, he was sadly quite quick. She lunged sideways and a lock of her hair fell to the sandy earth.

“Thanks for that,” she said, panting. “It was getting in my eyes. I thought we were supposed to be using the flat of our blades.” She glanced at Marius. “High Captain, isn’t that the rule here?”

She spun and thrust her gladius toward the giant male’s kidney, turning the sword so it would just smack him and not pierce the leather vest.

“Flats, yes,” Marius said, his arms crossed and his stormy gaze locked on her opponent.

Though he agreed, he didn’t seem overly concerned with the giant male nearly slicing her in two.

They fought on, her going low mostly and him high. Once she had him lulled into a rhythm, she threw her blade at his chest, timing it so it would hit hilt first. The hilt bumped the male and he stumbled back a step.

Marius cocked his head, then looked toward the three scribes jotting down points. “Death hit. Lady Tahlia of Northwoods is the winner.”

The scribes agreed, and Tahlia was announced as moving on to the next round. Fara jogged up and handed Tahlia a small bucket and a ladle. Tahlia tucked her gladius into its sheath and scooped a serving of mint-scented water. It tasted divine.

“Thanks, squire.”

“Of course, my lady.”

“You still look green around the gills.”

“I feel like death, but I’m not going to fail you.”

Tahlia returned the small bucket. “You’re the best squire in the world, Fara.”

“I’m really not.”

“You put mint in my water.” Tahlia exhaled, enjoying the fresh feel on her tongue. “That’s fabulous.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“But it smells like mint,” Tahlia said.

Marius lunged forward and grabbed her arm. “What did you say?”

“I said it smells minty. How is that bad?”

Swallowing, Marius held her in place. He shouted a question, but he sounded like he was underwater.

“What did you say?” The arena began to spin. “I can’t hear you.”

Tahlia rubbed her face with numb hands.

“Tahlia?” Fara’s voice was pitched too high.

What was happening?

“Sit down, competitor,” Marius said. At least that’s what it sounded like.

“I don’t feel quite right.”

The arena tilted sideways and night fell.

Tahlia woke in Marius’s arms. Very strong arms. His hand cradled her head as she blinked and dots swam in front of her eyes. What was happening? He was shouting at someone.

“…and I said immediately and don’t bother with Felix. Only bring me Albus! I swear, if you don’t get back here in one minute, I will—” His warning broke off as he looked down at her. “You’re awake. Thank the Old Ones.” His thumb stroked the top edge of her cheek and part of her ear. “Can you hear me? Sometimes ghostmint steals your hearing for a day.”

“I can hear you.” Her throat felt like it was made of sand.

His eyes pressed shut, then he opened them again to study her face and body. “Does your stomach cramp?”

“No, I just feel… I’m a little beat up but that’s probably more from the giant sword-wielder than from… What happened? What is ghostmint?”

The scrabbling sound of feet on the ground and the raging torrent of Fara cursing like a pirate covered whatever Marius tried to say in answer. Tahlia attempted to sit up, but the arena spun and Marius urged her back down.

“Who is Fara destroying?”

“She tried to take Remus’s arms.”

“Who is Remus?”

“He is my squire and not guilty of this crime. Someone poisoned you and we have yet to find out who. I guess the why is the favor I showed you by gifting you those leathers. Yes, the Leatherworker didn’t keep his tongue and now all know that I did you a kindness.”

“Another competitor wanted me out of the tournament?”

“Yes, so they poisoned you. Or had someone else do the deed. We will find the culprit and I will see them weep on their knees before you.”

“Fara is just trying to annihilate Remus because she needs to murder someone.”

“Seems so.”

“That’s her typical response. Attack and ask questions later.”

“So when you say you’ve been around dragons for a long time…” He studied Fara.

Tahlia chuckled and pain lanced through her throat.

“Just be still,” Marius said. “Our best healer is on his way. He has a tonic that will help.”

“I won the first bout.”

“Yes, and you lived through a poisoning.”

“I didn’t miss my second match, did I?”

“No, I called a stop to the tournament for the moment.”

A male with deep wrinkles and a nose like a crow’s beak hustled over and knelt. He pulled a vial from his cloak and gave it to Marius. “Drink that, Lady Tahlia. It will drive the rest of the poison from your pores and set you to rights. You did quite well considering you smelled the ghostmint before drinking. The High Captain told the messenger that you could scent the mint odor.”

“What do you mean?” Tahlia imbibed the bitter contents of the vial. The fluid made her lips pucker but cooled her throat nicely.

“I am Healer Albus. I have had experience with ghostmint plenty of times. The herb possesses a very subtle scent. There had to be a rather daunting dose in your water bucket for you to smell it.”

A thought about the poison touched Tahlia’s mind, then slipped away before she could actually pay attention to it. Hmm…

“Now,” Albus said taking her forearm firmly, “hold still.”

He flashed something small and gold across her skin and she felt as if she had been bitten.

“What was that?” she asked.

Albus and Marius traded a look full of narrowed eyes and male know-it-all-ness.

Marius helped Albus smear a dab of something sticky over her forearm. “Albus is just taking care of you. Don’t worry.”

“I’ll test it to be sure the dose isn’t hiding,” Albus said quietly.

Marius raised both eyebrows. “Like it did with Honorus?”

They whispered on, and Tahlia shook her head to try to hear better. Her vision cleared further and she moved her jaw to pop her ears. The strange feeling the ghostmint had caused passed.

“Can I get up now?” Tahlia asked. “I feel all right.”

Fara broke from the two squires who had been holding her away from Remus and his blackened eye. She ran to Tahlia and practically snarled at Marius.

“What happened? Do you know what happened to her?”

“A poison.” Tahlia really needed Fara to stop shouting at the High Captain in such an accusatory tone. “But I’m fine.”

Albus nodded. “She is remarkably strong, this one.”

“My lady is the strongest!” Fara said, taking Tahlia’s arm and helping her up.

“Maybe you should rest for a while longer,” Marius said.

Tahlia frowned. “I can’t hold up the tournament.”

The severe female who had snapped at Tahlia in the baths and had stood beside Marius at the presentation walked up. The wind lifted the braided ends of her blue-green hair. “No, you can’t. High Captain, it is past time we continue.”

“Lady Ophelia, we will resume the tournament when I see fit.”

Ophelia’s eyebrow twitched and she stared at Tahlia like she was a bug about to be squashed beneath her boot. “The commander says we must begin now.”

Was Commander Gaius this female’s father? They had the same color hair, so it wouldn’t have been surprising.

Marius glanced at the royal box and the commander gave him a quick nod. “Indeed,” Marius said with an unreadable look at Tahlia. “Prepare for your next sword fight, competitor.”

Everyone but Fara left Tahlia’s side of the fighting ring. “You’re well enough to do this now?”

“I am,” Tahlia said. “I have to be.”

Fara handed her sword over. She must have picked it up when Tahlia fell. “Your opponent isn’t quite as big this time. That’s one small mercy. I swear, when I find out who poisoned you, I’m going to disembowel them right in front of that Ophelia hag.”

Tahlia had to laugh. “Calm down. We knew this tournament would be dangerous. I survived and now I’ll be extra careful about what I take in and who is around.”

Chest puffing in a deep inhale, Fara shook her head. “I wish you had more time to recover.”

Tahlia clapped a hand on Fara’s shoulder. “I’m fine.” She lifted her gladius and faced her second opponent.

Her vision was still foggy, but she could see well enough to fight and her muscles were moving like normal.

The male across the ring from her also fought with a shorter sword and his grin said he knew very well how to use it.

Tahlia widened her stance and waited for him to attack.