Page 18

Chapter 18

Tahlia

W as he going to run her through right here for all to see? Well, that was better than being roasted by a dragon, wasn’t it? Perhaps not. It would have been interesting to see the inside of dragon fire before death.

His features unreadable, Marius swallowed and stepped closer to Tahlia. Was he going to attempt to shield her from whatever was headed her way via the commander’s sword or fist?

“You are a wonder!” Commander Gaius grabbed her shoulders and gave her a shake.

Shock almost stole her voice. Almost. “I am?”

He shook her again, grinning like a madman. Her hair fell further out of the tight braids Fara had worked into her hair after the bath.

“You are.”

The assembly cheered from the stands and the king and queen addressed them as the Mist Knights and the other competitors gathered around the commander and Tahlia. Noise covered their conversation and the crowd seemed happy enough to shout well wishes to the royals, who headed toward the festivities that would begin in the outer bailey now that the tournament’s events were complete. Only the announcement of the winner had yet to happen.

“She left formation,” Ophelia said quietly, gaze on her father. Their hair was an exact match. “She lost control of her mount.”

Tahlia held out a hand toward Ophelia. “She speaks the truth. I can’t deny that.”

“Oh, yes,” Commander Gaius said, “you were terrible during most of the battle. But the stones you have, Lady Tahlia!”

“You mean breasts, maybe?”

He glanced down and frowned before waving off her words and throwing an arm around her shoulders. “The type of courage I just witnessed, well, that is what we need up there, and if I were a gambler, my gladecoin would be on you winning this thing. I am quite glad that I don’t need to make the difficult decision as to who wins the tournament. That job belongs to my future son-in-law.”

So it was true—Lady Ophelia and High Captain Marius were engaged. A strange twisting sensation ran through Tahlia’s stomach. The other Mist Knights and competitors murmured congrats awkwardly and continued complimenting one another’s flying and talking excitedly about all that had gone on up there in the misty sky.

The king and queen made their way through the bowing and curtseying crowd.

Tahlia curtseyed alongside a bowing Marius, who had joined her and Gaius.

King Lysanael’s green eyes flashed with delight. “Wonderful match.”

Marius nodded. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Ophelia strutted over, making eye contact with everyone except Tahlia. She took Marius’s arm.

Commander Gaius rubbed his hands together and raised his eyebrows. “How about we get cleaned up for the announcement feast? A great many festivities await us tonight. High Captain, do you have a winner set in your mind yet?”

“Not yet. There is much to consider.”

“Yes, of course. Always practical and stern, our Marius is,” the commander said quietly to the king and queen. He clapped Marius on the shoulder.

Marius’s squire, Remus, broke through the ragged group of riders and bowed low. “May I speak with my lord?”

Queen Revna smiled at him. “Rise and do as you see fit, squire.”

Remus whispered quickly in Marius’s ear. The High Captain’s expression went blank.

“Remus, wash down Ragewing,” he ordered quietly, his gaze distant, “and give him two scoops of the gold meal.” He pressed his eyes shut for a moment.

“Aye, sir.”

He gave Remus a nod then hurried away.

Fara slipped through the group and up to Tahlia as Albus and the other healers broke the party apart and began tending to cuts and minor burns. The dragons were being tended to behind them and the crowd had mostly dispersed.

“I’m so glad I was in the latrine during what people are calling your courageous act,” Fara whispered.

“Why were you in the latrine? Tell me you weren’t so worried that I would die that it made you sick. Tell me it was the asparagus they served during rest time.”

Fara snorted. “I would if I could, my lady, but asparagus never gave me Tahlia-level anxiety.”

“Asparagus is good like that. Eh, do you have any idea what Marius’s squire just told him?”

“No. What happened? Where is the High Captain? Maybe it’s something about the queen’s dragon, Arkyn.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Arkyn took the last hour of the tournament to invade the kitchens.”

“Oh, dear.”

“More like oh, blueberries . Even part of the great hall is tracked with dragon footprints.”

Tahlia politely declined a healer’s attention and tried to be excited for the coming pronouncement. Would it be her? Could she dare to hope?

“Do you have any cake?” she asked Fara.

“How did you know?” Fara pulled a small pink circle from her pocket. “Never mind. Dumb question.” She handed it over. “I’ve had more than enough, so eat the whole thing, Lady Tahlia. Please.”

“Oh, it’s not for me.”

Tahlia hurried to where the stable hands and healers were tending to the dragons. Her Seabreak tossed her head and snorted at Tahlia’s approach. Fara took the Seabreak’s reins from one of the hands and held the dragon loosely as Tahlia offered up the treat to the dragon.

“I promised,” Tahlia said to the Seabreak. “And I don’t break my promises.”

The dragon sniffed the cake and glanced at a stable hand, who was eyeing them judgmentally.

Tahlia rubbed the Seabreak’s cyan side. “Ignore him. You compromised up there with me and I insist you enjoy a special dessert.”

Finally, the dragon nibbled the cake from Tahlia’s palm. The beast’s lips tickled her skin and she felt as though her face might crack from grinning too much. She set her forehead against the Seabreak’s and both of them exhaled.

“Thanks again for not dropping me to my death. I know my inexperience was an issue.”

The great creature snuffled against her neck, blowing back her messy black waves.

“Wish me luck in there, all right?”

The Seabreak huffed a hot breath that smelled of fire, and that was about as good as one could get for a well-wish from a dragon.

“…and if she wanted your opinion, she would give it to you!” Fara was waving a fist at the judgmental stable hand.

“Will you bring her back to the stables?” Tahlia asked Fara. “I’ll meet you inside.”

“As you say, my lady.” Fara gave the stable hand a glare and led the Seabreak the same way Remus had already directed Ragewing to go.

Tahlia looked around as she began the short walk to the great hall. Marius was still notably absent and most of the Mist Knights and competitors had already left for the announcement. Heart beating in her mouth, Tahlia walked on, heading closer and closer to the moment that would either make or break her dreams.