Page 7

Chapter 7

Tahlia

F ara paced the chamber the Mist Knight’s servant had given them for lodging during the two-day tournament. “I hope Daffodil isn’t stabled beside a dragon.”

Tahlia gave her a look from where she lounged on the bed by the door. “They know we didn’t bring her as a midnight snack.”

A strangled noise came from Fara. “I can’t believe you’re going to jump onto a dragon tomorrow! Are you certain about this? Can’t we just set up a nice little table here and sell arts and crafts?”

“You’ve never made anything crafty in your entire life.”

“That’s beside the point.”

“It isn’t.”

“No, but Mist Knights can be cruel. They test you when you’re up there,” Fara said, pointing at the ceiling but presumably meaning the sky, “and if you fall, they will just let you die. Ack! I’d forgotten! You met the High Captain! Tell me everything. Was he covered in blood?”

“Stars, Fara, no, he wasn’t coming back from war.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I doubt they’d be holding a tournament if we were suddenly at war.”

“Fine. Now, how did he act?”

“Polite. His dragon was amazing. And his dragon’s nephew made an appearance. Cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Did he scold you for being in the arena without permission?”

“The dragon?”

Fara’s nostrils flared, so Tahlia ceased the teasing.

“He was a touch grouchy looking but he didn’t say anything negative,” Tahlia said, the High Captain’s storm-gray eyes and deep, stony voice flashing through her mind. “Maybe his face is just like that.”

Fara lifted the blanket on the bed and examined the sheets underneath. It was her usual spider check.

“He said if I pass the interview,” Tahlia continued, “he would find me some better riding leathers.”

Dropping her bag on the bed, Fara spun. “He what?”

“And the fact that he is the one assigned to give me the interview, I bet I’ll have a brand-new set by tomorrow morning.”

“You actually feel good about him interviewing you? I’d be a puddle of fear on the floor. Plus, you didn’t recognize him at first, right? He has to be irritated.”

“There’s more chance he is annoyed with the way I slipped between his dragon and the youngling dragon.”

“What?” Fara looked ready to keel over.

“It’s okay. I put myself between his dragon and the youngling because I was afraid the big guy was going to attack him. The youngling was running straight at the High Captain.”

“You did what?”

“Your voice is doing that squealy thing again.”

Making claws of her fingers, Fara glared.

“I was trying to help and the High Captain didn’t think that was a good idea. But he knew the youngling was his dragon’s nephew and I didn’t. An honest mistake.”

“You got between the dragons? Seriously? That wasn’t some sort of slang idiom I am not aware of? Like ‘oh, today I was between the dragons. It was a hellish afternoon.'”

“No. Not an idiom.”

Fara covered her face with her hands. “We are doomed.”

“I choose to believe he isn’t mad at me. He isn’t that horrible. He was gentle with his dragon and I think he’s a good person. Truly. Maybe everyone just believes he is cruel because of his grouchy face.”

“But what about the high number of foes he has killed and the great number of knights-in-training that he has kicked out of the castle?” Fara asked.

Tahlia shrugged. “We don’t know what stories are true.”

“I wonder if that one about him chasing a stable hand off the mountain with his whip is true.”

“I doubt that. He could probably have scared the fellow away with just his glare.”

Fara laughed, her shoulders relaxing away from her ears a bit. “What are you going to wear to the interview?”

“Not this?” Tahlia patted her leathers.

“You are supposed to wear civilian clothing, I believe.”

“I’ll see what I can do with our lady’s green trousers and that scarlet tunic of hers.”

Nodding, Fara pulled them from the saddlebag. “I’ll shake them out and smooth them as best I can while you go to the baths.”

“Ooooh, the baths.”

“I’ve heard they are the best in the land besides King Lysanael’s.”

Thoughts of hot steam and lavender-scented soaps were already making Tahlia swoon.

Fara grabbed her arm before she could leave. “But be careful. You must go to the trainees’ bathing area, not the knights’ area.”

“Or I’ll be in hot water?” Tahlia wiggled her eyebrows.

Fara rolled her eyes. “Go on.”

Tahlia whistled as she left the chamber and headed down the corridor. There was only one way to go, as the corridor dead-ended the other direction. At a fork, a chalked sign hung from the ceiling. One arrow was marked GREAT HALL and the other said BATHING CHAMBERS. Simple enough.

The bathing area’s high ceiling let in the sunset’s orange glow. A few males and females walked this way and that, mostly wrapped in bathing sheets and carrying folded stacks of clothing. Some had tall cups of something that smelled like mint. Multiple rooms branched off of the main area, and without signs, she had to guess which one was for her.

Tahlia ended up in a smaller room with a deep circular pool of steaming water and a set of shelves stocked with sheets as well as a pitcher and three of those tall cups. Had there been a sign as to who was supposed to use this bathing room and she had just missed it? She went back to the arch she’d passed through but didn’t see a sign anywhere.

Well, no one was here anyway, so it had to be fine. She set to peeling off her road-stained clothing and boots. Three steps led into the water, and the feel of its heat was dream-worthy. Sinking all the way in, she let the water cover her head. It was incredible. She was in good shape and could handle a lot, but that climb up the mountain had made her muscles sore. The hot water loosened them up and helped her relax.

Everything was going to be wonderful. She’d be clean and ready to meet the High Captain after this. In fact, she’d be so nicely tidied up that he probably wouldn’t remember seeing her covered in road dust in the arena. Yes, she would get a chance at a better first impression.

Rising up out of the water, she ran her hands over her hair to slick the moisture out. She opened her eyes and lost the ability to move.

High Captain Marius stood at the far end of the bath.

His hair was fully wet as if he too had been underwater. Droplets fell from his strong brow to black and gold inkings that curled across his large chest muscles. The inking snaked down his wet side to his hipbone and further, though the water obscured the rest. Inkings were for those who had suffered a great loss. Who had he lost?

Her heart was a ringing bell in her ears. She lifted her gaze, cheeks blazing like a thousand dragons aimed their fire right at her. A lovely heat gathered low in her belly. “I’m guessing I’m the one in the wrong chamber.”

The corner of his lips twitched as if he almost wanted to laugh but his eyes said he was too irritated to give in. His gaze never strayed from her face. “You certainly are.”

“I…” She swam toward the stairs and he stepped fully into the deeper center of the pool, avoiding her. “I’m sorry. I’ll go now.” A laugh bubbled inside her, but she fought it back as she glanced at his scowl once more. “Feel free to enjoy the show,” she joked, “but if you want to turn around, I’ll grab my clothes.”

Facing the shelving, she heard the water moving around him. Was he turning around? Why wasn’t he saying anything? Had she really upset him that badly?

Quickly, she dried and dressed. Heading for the archway, she looked his way. He stared at the wall opposite the shelves, his gorgeously muscled back to her.

“Sorry again!” A chuckle bounced out of her before she could exit the area. As soon as she was in the main bathing chamber, her snickering turned into a full belly laugh. Only she would end up naked with the legendary dragon rider within hours of arriving in the Shrouded Mountains.

“Control yourself, competitor.” A female with blue-green hair and blue eyes glared down at Tahlia. Her thin but strong-looking arms were crossed and she wore the full regalia of a high-ranking dragon rider, just as the High Captain had in the arena. Small purple tassels hung from the shoulders of her white leathers, and a wreath of golden laurel leaves wove through her tightly braided hair.

“Laughing is not allowed?” Tahlia twisted her hair and squeezed water from the ends.

The female’s nose wrinkled and she stepped back. “Buffoonery isn’t a characteristic of a Mist Knight. You’ll learn soon enough who does and who does not belong.” Her gaze cut Tahlia before she marched away and joined a group of three half-dressed females standing in front of another steaming chamber.

Tahlia smiled at the female’s retreating figure. “I belong. Don’t worry.” She said it more to herself than anyone.

The female whirled and glared for a moment before going back to her associates.

“Could you maybe tell me which chamber I am supposed to use?”

The females continued their chat and ignored her question. Shrugging them off, Tahlia strode past the group and entered the chamber they seemed to be claiming. Several females bathed in the pool and a few were dressing by a torch-lit alcove. They had riding leathers, but no fancy tassels or wreaths of honor.

“Are you my fellow competitors?”

“We are.” One of the females in the water nodded.

There was no more talk as Tahlia finished the washing she’d started in the high-ranking male chamber. Guess that’s another rule. The list in her head was getting quite long…