Page 8 of Kingdom of Spirits

The barkeep hurried over, his face sweating, but his smile genuine. “Greetings, knights! We will arrange the seating as you see fit and I’ll have my best server right over to take your orders.”

Marius thanked the man and the group settled on chairs, stools, and benches near two tables drawn together. Soon, they had meads all around, a plate of olives and cheese, and three large loaves of fresh bread.

Tahlia was grateful that her whole unit had come, even if it had been because of Marius’s request. She wished all the knights were here, but at least they had the unit two and three captains. She had to get Maiwenn on her side.

“I haven’t forgotten about the cliff climb training tomorrow at noon,” Tahlia said, leaning past Titus to speak to Maiwenn.

Maiwenn’s eyes were ice. “Good.”

“How is the training going?” Marius asked Maiwenn.

Turning away from Tahlia, Maiwenn set her jaw. She took a breath. “Very good, despite my misgivings, High Captain.”

“And what misgivings are those?”

Maiwenn picked at a flaw in her mug’s handle. “I’d rather not say at the moment.”

“We can’t clear away problems by ignoring them, Lady Maiwenn.”

Tahlia wiped her sweaty palms on her trousers. “Just tell me. I’m not afraid of constructive criticism.”

“I thought you’d be worthless in the feats of strength and endurance, human.”

Everyone froze, Titus with his mug halfway to his mouth and Marius’s hand hovering over the olives.

Maiwenn’s nostrils flared. “I only speak the truth. She is human. Though she has done well flying and in many of our training scenarios, there is no way she will be as useful as a full Fae when it comes time to fly north.”

“You believe Queen Revna and King Lysanael made a mistake in pushing for her survival?”

“No, of course not. But that doesn’t prove she belongs in the order. Humans are weak. Selfish. They are not dragon riders.”

The silence at the tables rang in Tahlia’s ears. Gods, she hadn’t thought the female’s attitude toward her was that terrible. How wrong she had been…

“I agree with Lady Maiwenn,” Claudia said, looking into her mead. “She can lie.”

Tahlia struggled to take a breath. “That doesn’t mean I will. I can prove to you all that I am worthy.”

Marius flattened his palm on the table, then curled his fingers into a tight fist. “You don’t have to. You already have. Once you are a knight, you are a knight.”

“Unless you defy orders,” Maiwenn said.

Claudia nodded. “Or betray another knight.”

Maiwenn stared her down. “Both things that Lady Tahlia, with her human blood, could do without batting an eye.”

Tahlia stood, pushing away from the table and looking at each of them in turn. “All I have wanted my entire life is to be here, riding dragons. Ask Fara. She has more Mistgold blood than most of you and can’t lie. She can tell you. Why would I ever risk losing my place? Can you believe I would endanger the bond with my dragon?”

“You aren’t completely bonded yet,” Justus said. At least he had the heart to look sorry for bringing it up.

Enora and Atticus arrived during the tense silence.

Enora’s freckles stood out on her fair skin. She glanced from Marius to Maiwenn, who was her unit captain. Atticus bent his head in greeting, his silver horns reflecting the light of the oil lamps.

“What did we miss?” he said, crossing his silver arms.

Breathing out slowly and giving Enora and Atticus a nod to say hello, Tahlia reclaimed her seat. “Listen, if you still feel this way at the end of the season. Any of you. If you want me to leave then, I will.”

Enora grimaced, her pale red eyebrows bunching. She squeezed in near Ewan on the bench, and Atticus leaned on the half wall beside her.

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