Page 28 of Wild Flame

Later that afternoon, Zara arrived to invite me to visit the Healing Pools with her. I readily accepted, though I had no idea what a healing pool was.

Astrid offered to come with me, and I shot her a questioning look. “You will need someone to attend you,” she said by way of explanation as she draped my robe over her arm.

The Healing Pools turned out to be a collection of heated stone pools that resembled the bathhouses I was familiar with in Halmar. Though these were much larger. Zara explained that different potions and ointments had been added to each pool. Some were meant to relax the mind and heal the body, while others were beneficial for the hair or skin.

When we arrived, our guards stood watch outside, and I saw we weren’t alone. Sura, Priya, and a few other women were already present. I smiled at all of them when they greeted me, and if Priya’s smile was a little forced, that was for me to know.

“There is a screen just there where you can get changed.” Zara motioned to it as she spoke. “Join us when you’re ready.”

I was touched she had thought to do that out of consideration for me. For I knew it was not due to her or any of the other women’s desire for privacy. My guess was proven correct when she immediately disrobed and climbed into the pools completely nude. I fought not to blush as I went behind the screen and removed everything but my shift.

There was no way I would ever be comfortable enough to disrobe completely, especially not when they would see my scars. As it was, it felt odd to even have my lower legs and arms bare. Handing my gown to Astrid, I stepped out from behind the screen and was grateful when no one commented on my choice of attire.

When I finally sank below the warm water, I sighed, sitting on the stone seat carved along one side and leaning back against the stone.

I noticed that none of the riders’ dragons were present, and when I asked, Zara explained that their sensitive noses didn’t like the many competing scents surrounding us.

Attendants came to wash our hair in a milk and honey mixture as we soaked, massaging our scalps and shoulders as well. It felt odd to take out my braids entirely, but since it was only women here, I told myself it was fine. All the while we talked and laughed, and I drank it all in. Though, admittedly, they did most of the talking and laughing while I listened.

Was this what it was like to have female friends? I wasn’t sure. I had little experience with friendship other than Helene . . . and Leif when I was younger.

The other women in my father’s court mostly avoided me. They weren’t rude to me since I was their princess, but most people gravitated towards Helene. I didn’t begrudge her that, either. I loved her, and she included me whenever possible, but I didn’t exactly make it easy for her. I much preferred observing people and the conversations around me than taking part inthem. This, combined with the fact that people were naturally more cautious around me because of my reclusive reputation, all made it hard for me to find common ground with any of the women at court.

“If I may ask,” I started, addressing Sura when there was a natural lull in the conversation, “is there any significance to the marking on your wrist?” She had a tree of some kind running along the inner wrist of her left arm. She bore no other tattoos save for her rider mark, a tattoo that all riders received on their upper arm when they passed the trials and were no longer trainees. I hadn’t noticed the tree marking when I met her, probably because it was covered by the wrist braces of her riding leathers, and I was curious. I had seen several other people—all Zehvitian—with similar markings, noble and commoner alike, though each was slightly different. However, none of the other women in the pool had one.

Sura glanced down at her wrist, and her stern features softened ever so slightly before she answered. “It is my binding mark. When we choose someone to be bonded to, someone we wish to spend our lives with, there is a ceremony where we take on the other’s mark. The marks are unique to each couple.” She turned and pulled back the wet hair covering one ear so I could see a small hoop pierced into her ear made of shining black stone. “It’s also traditional for women to receive a piece of jewelry, usually obsidian, to mark the occasion.”

“That is lovely,” I murmured, meaning it. In Halmar, couples participated in a simple handfasting ceremony, nothing so permanent as a tattoo.

She smiled. “It is.”

We soon changed into soft, silk robes and sat on cushions that had been set up beside the pool, while we snacked on fruit and small, meat-filled pastries. Astrid braided my wet hair back while other attendants massaged our hands and feetwith luscious smelling lotions, nearly making me want to fall asleep. It felt so good. I found myself very much enjoying our ‘pampering’, as Zara called it, and wondered why we had nothing like it in Halmar.

I leaned forward to reach for another slice of fruit when my eye caught on one of the attendants as she approached us with a fresh tray of tea. There was nothing in particular about her that should have snagged my attention, except—did her copper skin have an almost fake tint to it? Like it had been rubbed on. Then I caught sight of her eyes. They were blue. I stiffened. Zehvitians did not have blue eyes.

The servant leaned over Zara’s shoulder to place the tray down and I nearly dismissed the instinct. But as she rose up, she reached for something in her sleeve, and I reacted before I even saw the glint of the knife.

I launched myself forward and gripped the woman’s wrist just as she slashed it downward towards Zara. The tray crashed to the floor. Those blue eyes widened in shock as they met mine for a split second before she jerked the blade towards me. I still had a grip on her wrist and used my strength to keep it away.

She spun and broke my hold in a practiced move that I recognized.

Realms!She was one of The Order.

Others have been sent.

Silvanus had followed through on his threat as I had feared he would, likely long before he had even sent me the scroll. I didn’t recognize this assassin, but I wouldn’t. Other than during our initial training, we rarely interacted with one another. And if she was a member of The Order, that also meant her blade was tipped with poison.

And I no longer wore any protection. I had given mine to Zara.

The assassin made to jab the knife into my gut, but I shifted away at the last moment and brought my elbow down hard on her outstretched arm.

She dropped the knife, and we both lunged for it. She got there first. I stepped hastily back, anticipating her next strike, but it never came.

Instead, the woman hissed and yanked her arm back. It was the first sound she had made. We both took in the blood on the knife that lay on the ground. The blood that was now dripping from her finger. Our eyes locked for a single suspended moment before she swayed and fell to the ground.

Sura, who up until now had placed herself protectively in front of Zara, made to approach, but I held up a hand. “There’s no need. She’s as good as dead already.” I moved to pick up the knife. “It’s poisoned.”

Sura’s shrewd gaze narrowed. “You are certain?”

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