Page 14 of Wild Flame

“Ugh, please call me Zara. I hate formalities.” Mesmera moved to curl up in her lap, and Zara absently began stroking her back.

A familiar pang of longing filled me at seeing their closeness. Clearing my throat, I replied, “I would like that. Please call me Leida.”

Zara beamed at my ready agreement, and I couldn’t help but be a little surprised at myself. It wasn’t like me to be so . . . agreeable. But something about this girl made me feel like I didn’t have to be quite so guarded around her.

“You remind me of Helene a bit, actually,” I found myself admitting. They had the same boundless energy and unending enthusiasm that bowled you over.

Zara’s face lit up even more. “Really?”

“You mean she talks too much and is as stubborn as a mule?” another voice interjected.

I turned my head to see the dragon rider in sandstone leathers I had noticed earlier had moved to stand before us. Her build was stocky but fit, and I was surprised to see she now carried a baby on her hip. The little girl couldn’t have been more than a year old.

Zara glared at the woman. “Maybe I wouldn’t talk so much if your husband would actually say something once in a while, other than to give me orders. I’m starved for conversation.”

The woman gave Zara an exasperated look, but I relaxed a little when I glimpsed the genuine affection there. “He is there to teach you, Zara. Not gossip.”

Zara reached out her hands for the little one, and the woman gave the child over without hesitation. Mesmera moved out ofZara’s lap without a fuss and settled at her side as her rider cuddled the little girl close.

Zara noticed me watching and finally remembered herself. “Oh, I’m sorry.” She motioned to the woman who was now regarding me. “Leida, this is Sura, one of my brother’s Fangdar. Her husband, Ramin, is also a member of the Fangdar, and one of my trainers. And this,” Zara nuzzled the babe’s neck until she giggled uncontrollably, “is Nalia. And she is the sweetest girl in the Nine Realms! Aren’t you?”

Sura looked to the heavens with a sigh. “If only that were true. She was giving her nursemaid fits, which is why she brought her to me.” The rider met my eyes and bowed her head. “A pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”

I nodded. “You as well.” I studied the woman and couldn’t help but ask, “Are you really a member of the prince’s Fangdar?”

Sura’s brows furrowed. “Yes, I am.”

“Remarkable,” I murmured.

“Why is that remarkable?” Her tone was slightly guarded.

Zara was now giving me an odd look as well. Quickly realizing how the women might perceive my remark, I clarified, “In Halmar, a woman would never be allowed to hold such a prominent position.”

The two women shared a glance. “Not even your female riders?” Sura asked.

Something in my stomach rolled at the look they shared. Feeling slightly defensive now for some reason, I shrugged. “Female riders are the exception. Outside of that, women do not hold political or military positions. Not that many want to.” Though admittedly that could be because they were not given the opportunity to try.

“That’s horrible,” Zara said. “Why should they be treated any differently? Men and women are different from each other, yes. But why should that be a negative thing? It does not make onelesser. Those differences should be celebrated, and they should be given the same opportunities.”

“If only it were that simple,” I said. My reply probably came out more stiffly than I had meant it to, but the truth in her words made me feel slightly uncomfortable.

Zara hastily backtracked. “My apologies, Leida, I did not mean to offend. I—ah—”

“It’s fine,” I interrupted her, putting her out of her misery. “Our societies are different, that’s all.”

“That is true enough,” Sura agreed, her dark eyes contemplating me closely.

“What about your sister?” Zara asked, more hesitantly this time. “Is she not a part of your father’s inner circle? She is his heir.”

“Zara!” Sura admonished her sharply.

I held up a hand before Zara could apologize. “It’s fine.” I shifted and the scars on my back pulled, making the skin there feel too tight. I might have to finally cave tonight and ask Hilde to rub the healing salve into them. She hadn’t done it since before we’d arrived, but I hated asking her to, especially when I could feel her distaste for the task the whole time she was doing it. But if I let it go too long, the discomfort became unbearable.

Realizing I had been quiet for too long, I answered, “Helene is his heir, but only because my father had no sons. And because he squelched any dissent or grumblings about her being a female a long time ago.” I still didn’t know what my father had done to threaten the nobles who had spoken out against Helene being named heir. I had been too young at the time. All I knew was that everyone in our court was still too terrified of him to speak of it or voice further protest. “Now they are all too focused on trying to become her king consort to care,” I told them. Helene loved the attention and played them all against each other like she was conducting a symphony.

The babe began to fuss, and Zara handed her back to her mother. I used the interruption and stood.

“If you will excuse me, I think I will retire for the afternoon.” My smile was only slightly forced as I looked to both of them. “It was nice speaking with you.”

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