Page 84 of Kingdom of Spirits
“You’ll do what?” Fara asked, fists bunching.
Marius looked to the ceiling. “I will request an extra plate of crystal cakes for the both of you while you are preparing for the ceremony.”
“One thing that is, um, less conducive to our more settled state of mind here…” Albus tilted his head and studied Tahlia.
“What is it?” she asked.
“The Druid can’t help Lija.”
The breath went out of Tahlia, and Marius took her arm. If Lija never flew again, she would die. Tahlia knew it as surely as she knew her own name.
Albus continued, “Her wound has a strange lacing of dark magic. But he is wondering if the humans’ Witch might be able to do something.”
“Really?” Fara asked.
Tahlia chewed her lip. “Would she?”
Shrugging, Albus worried the edge of his cloak. “The Druid said he will ask.”
“I can make a request of King Lysanael and Queen Revna myself,” Marius said.
“Thank you,” Tahlia said. “All of you.”
They thanked Albus again for the information about Ophelia, and he left, wishing them well.
Fara linked her arm in Tahlia’s. “Sorry, Commander Marius, but I need to steal your promised mate. It is time to fancy her up!”
The Witch would heal Lija. She had to.
Tahlia laughed with Fara and shook her head. “I’m already dreading what type of corsetry you have decided on.”
Marius kissed Tahlia, his lips warm and firm. “My heart beats solely for our upcoming bonding.”
Fara let out a dreamy sigh as Marius left the corridor. “He is still scary even though he’s in love.”
“More scary, really. You should have seen the protective threads humming around him while Albus was talking.” Tahlia let out a breath, her shoulders finally relaxing. At last, they knew what Ophelia had done, they’d lived through it, and it was time to move forward.
“I wish I could see them. Do they look like wool?”
“Sort of.”
They chitchatted happily and entered the bedchamber to prepare for the wedding.
“You look perfect,”Maiwenn said as she finished cramming another mountain bluewing blossom into Tahlia’s complicated braids. “You don’t need more nature shoved into your hair. Not that anyone is asking me for beauty tips.”
Fara shooed Maiwenn back and adjusted the blooms as well as the circlet of golden laurel leaves Tahlia wore. Fara’s fingers were light and quick, unlike Maiwenn’s. “They’re the commander’s favorite.”
Maiwenn covered her mouth and her shoulders shook. “Commander Marius has a favorite flower?”
Fara whirled, glaring. “I know you can murder me with one move, but I will land at least one hit before death if you keep teasing them.”
“Calm yourself, Lady Fara. I’ll back off. I don’t want you to stop making my evening tonic. That stuff works miracles.” Maiwenn faced Tahlia. “Why are you so quiet?”
Tahlia’s lips pulled into a wide grin. “I was just thinking about what Lija told me this morning.”
All the riders could now speak with their dragons because Fara had made it her mission over the last fortnight to travel and retrieve an entire basket ofsalvia scarletta, the plant with blood-red leaves that connected the minds of dragons and their bonded riders.
“What did she say?” Maiwenn asked. “I’m still surprised Donan has a northern accent.”