Page 3 of Kingdom of Spirits

Fara tended to shift from interest to disinterest in a subject very easily. This was likely just another fleeting moment of curiosity.

“Where are you headed?” Fara asked. “I thought it was an eat-in-your-room night.”

Most nights, they dined in the great hall with everyone in the keep. Some days, the staff took time for their families, and the knights and squires made do in their chambers with a tray left by the castle cooks.

“The Brass Lantern. The knights are going to celebrate our day of training. I won the last feat, by the way.”

Fara nodded, smiling. “Of course you did. Did it tick off Ophelia?”

“She wasn’t in practice again today.” Marius had ordered her to take some time to reevaluate her relationship with her dragon because she’d been using these awful spiked gloves on the poor beast.

“Ah, too bad. I would have liked to have a good story about her rage.”

“Her rage is pretty legendary from what I’ve heard.”

“Has Marius found out anything else about your poisoner?”

Tahlia chewed her lip, thinking of that day during the tournament. A shudder rippled through her. “He agrees that Ophelia would make a good suspect, but there is no proof. We can’t accuse her unless we find some. I’m trying to let it go. Ineed to focus on training and getting the other knights to feel good about me being here.”

“You’re just going to let murder go?” Fara raised an eyebrow.

“Sure,” Tahlia said, pulling her tunic off. “I’m not dead. Whoever it was failed and now I’m a knight, not just a competitor. They won’t try it again.” She went to the second bowl of water on their shared table and splashed her face.

“I wish I was as delusionally optimistic as you.”

Tahlia dried her face and moved on to her underarms. “Is delusionally a word?”

Fara took Tahlia’s second pair of boots from the corner and set them down in front of her. “It is now.”

“All right, then. Will you help me with this?” She pointed to her tangled mess of hair.

Fara drew an invisible circle, indicating that Tahlia should turn around. Tahlia did so and Fara went to work on a new braid.

“You need to grow it out so we can have more fun with styles,” Fara said, her fingers moving quickly over Tahlia’s head.

“I might have black hair like you, but when mine grows past this point, it’s a nightmare. Not all of us have silky locks, my friend.” Tahlia’s hair brushed her shoulders at this length, but it was long enough to tie back.

Fara made a humming sound and sectioned the front of Tahlia’s tresses. “I could help you with that.”

“Thanks,” Tahlia said, “but I like it short.”

“Fine. But you could catch an ague up in the cold air without a heavy braid wrapping that head of yours.”

Tahlia tried to turn and give Fara a look, but her friend tugged gently on her hair to keep her head straight.

“I don’t think that’s a real threat, Fara.”

Fara’s hands paused in their work. “I know dozens of people who have died of an ague!”

“Dozens?”

“Well, all right, just one. My cousin’s great aunt.”

“You’re comparing my ability to fight off sickness with a random great aunt’s.”

A “humph” came from Fara. “If you are fine with dying, then so be it.”

Tahlia rolled her eyes. “If I promise to grow it for the winter, will you stop pestering me?”

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