Page 13 of Wild Flame

Setting said cup down, I contemplated the offer. The invitation wasn’t unexpected, but I was surprised at its swiftness. Meetingthe servant’s eye, I nodded. “Tell Her Majesty I would be delighted to accept the invitation.”

The woman smiled, her teeth bright against her copper skin. “I shall tell my queen.” With another small bow, she turned and left.

“My lady, might you want to change beforehand?” Hilde suggested with a pointed look at my gown.

Though the dress I wore was, in my mind at least, perfectly acceptable for tea, she clearly thought otherwise, and it wouldn’t be worth the fight if I refused. Forcing down my annoyance with my old maid, I nodded.

It was close to an hour later when I entered the small, private courtyard with a tinkling fountain at its center. Of course, small was a relative term in this place. Stone tables and benches littered the grassy expanse surrounded by delicate trees. I caught sight of a monkey climbing in one, its large eyes staring curiously out at me. Even a few birds wandered the space, one a long-legged white crane, and another I had never seen before with a fan of emerald and turquoise feathers.

Women filled the courtyard, all of them talking or laughing or helping themselves to a small service of tea and fruit laid out on a side table. I had to assume most of them were Zehvitian nobility. Though I did catch sight of Councilor Zadeth, a member of the Baldorian delegation sent here for the celebrations. I didn’t know much about her except that she was one of the three leaders of the Dragon Rider Council of Baldor. The older woman stood off to the side, her gray dragon on her shoulder as she discussed something with another dragon rider wearing sandstone riding leathers.

My eyes scanned the crowd and immediately found Queen Vashti holding court at one of the tables, surrounded by other women. They looked like a dazzling rainbow in their brightly colored finery next to the queen’s stark mourning white, though some of the ladies had worn a white sash or bracelet in honor of their late king.

The subdued blue color of my own gown felt dull in comparison as I began walking toward them. Now was as good a time as any to pay my respects. Shalla, who stood just behind the queen, saw me coming and bent down and said something in her mistress’s ear. The queen’s eyes came to me and a smile lit her face as I paused before her.

“Princess Leida, welcome. And welcome to our court.” The other ladies around us fell quiet as she spoke. “How was your journey here?”

“Uneventful, Your Majesty,” I lied, though it wasmostlytrue. “Thank you for the invitation.” I was sure the queen had only invited me here out of courtesy for my position, but then she nodded and smiled again, and I was struck by how genuine and warm it seemed. So maybe I was wrong. I found myself wondering, much like I had with Malik last night, if the queen truly mourned her husband. Had she loved him? Or had their marriage been more for political purposes like my own parents? She had been King Nazeem’s second wife, after all. His first had died giving birth to Prince Malik.

“This all must be very different from what you are used to,” Queen Vashti said, “but I hope you enjoy your time with us.”

I inclined my head slightly. “I’m sure I will, Your Majesty.”

Stepping back so another lady could greet the queen, I moved toward the refreshment table. The sun bore down on me, and I sighed. At least there was a light breeze today to alleviate some of the heat.

I nodded to a few of the other ladies whom I vaguely recognized from the banquet last night as I took the proffered cup of tea from a servant. I then moved to a shaded spot in the corner of the courtyard and sat on the stone lip of a small clear fountain. I would stay for half an hour so as not to be rude and then I would discreetly make my exit. And if I could survive this event without having to speak to anyone else, that would be ideal.

Taking a sip of my tea, I let myself enjoy the burbling sound of the water and the soft breeze as my eyes traveled over the rest of those gathered. Priya sat amongst a group of other young women close to where the queen herself held court. She looked just as beautiful as before and appeared to be telling a story to those around her, though I couldn’t hear what was said. Princess Zara sat beside her, and it was clear the younger girl felt out of sorts, eager to be included in the conversation but not quite sure how. I recognized the look.

A fresh wave of guilt washed over me once more as I watched her. At the thought of what I had almost done to her . . .

Princess Zara looked over. The girl’s expression turned all too curious when she found me staring. I glanced away quickly. I took a sip of my tea and wasn’t at all surprised when, a few moments later, a voice interrupted me.

“May I sit with you, Your Highness?”

I looked up. Zara stood there, her expression hopeful and somehow wary all at once, as if she thought I would reject her request.

“Of course,” I replied, gesturing to the seat next to me, knowing there was no way I could politely refuse.

Zara’s smile brightened as she sat down immediately. “I’m so glad we finally get a chance to speak. I’ve been dying to meet you ever since your introduction.”

I blinked in surprise. “You have?” I couldn’t remember the last time someone other than Helene had sought out my company specifically.

“Yes! I’ve always wanted to meet you. So mysterious. No one knows anything about you, and of course you are from Halmar, and I’ve always wanted to travel there. Actually, I’d love to go anywhere that isn’t here. I’ve never been outside of Zehvi, and I’ve honestly barely left Taveran. My mother and Malik are paranoid because . . .” She shook her head. “Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s really because they just don’t think I’m old enough.” She rolled her eyes. “But I’m seventeen. Malik and Amir were fighting in a war when they were my age. It’s hardly fair.” She finally paused her tirade and looked at me expectantly.

Realms!Did she expect me to respond?The girl had barely taken a breath. “Uh,” I began, really not sure what to say. All I could think was that she was older than I had first thought.

Thankfully, at that moment, a small violet dragon the size of a large kitten popped its head out from the curtain of Zara’s dark hair and crawled down from her shoulder. Then she climbed right into my lap and stared up at me with curious yellow eyes.

I froze, startled. It was considered the height of rudeness to touch a rider’s dragon without permission, but I wasn’t sure what the protocol was for a dragon touching me. My only real interaction with dragons was with Nova—but that was different. She was my sister’s dragon.

“Mesmera!” Zara scolded in exasperation, pulling the dragon from my lap. “I’m sorry. I’ve been curious about you, so naturally she is, too.”

“It’s all right,” I assured her. “Dragons don’t bother me.” Their painful, fiery breath, however . . . but she didn’t need to know that. “My twin is a dragon rider, after all.”

Zara’s eyes widened. “Oh, I know!” she exclaimed, her voice once again bubbling with excitement. “Is she really as fierce as they say?”

“More so, Your Highness.”

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