talk about instead, Your Highness?” Zarif inclined his head to her as if she were royalty. “Agricultural exports to Oest Andoria? Saavedra’s latest
theories on Far World expansion?”
“How about crop rotation in the Batenza hills?” Chey added, trying to mimic Zarif’s sophisticated accent. “Or mayhap the latest remedy for potato rot?”
Tali gave a disgusted snort, though her eyes gave away her amusement. “It doesn’t have to be so serious,” she said, looking pointedly at Zarif, “or so
dull
,” she added, raising an eyebrow at Chey. “Here is what my family did as we supped each night: We told each other one thing that we had learned or observed during the
day.”
“How very spontaneous of you,” Zarif said.
“Just try it, will you? I’ll go first. Today I observed that Centurio Abelino’s mustache looked like a giant woolly caterpillar crawling across his face.”
“Ha! Good one, Tali,” Zarif said. “Today I observed that Jaden added heavy packs to our run for his own depraved amusement.”
“Oh, you poor little pledge!” Tali teased. “You know that Jaden is only trying to prepare us for battle,” she said, defending the centurio, whom she had grudgingly come
to respect. No one could deny that all three of them had grown markedly stronger and faster in the past month as a result of Jaden’s drills.
“Now, Tali, you think he is fine to look at, that is all,” Zarif said, teasing her back.
“I certainly do not, Zarif Baz Hasan,” Tali said, giving him a light elbow to the ribs. “You’re just jealous because you’re not the only man here at the Alcazar the
girls swoon over.”
Zarif smirked and brushed her comment aside, but they all knew there was truth in her words. Zarif’s good looks and manners had won him many admirers among the Alcazar’s female
population.
“Don’t worry, friend,” Chey said, laying a hand on Zarif’s shoulder. “Jaden will soon be out of the running. Didn’t you tell me that he and the future
Queen-in-Waiting have been secretly betrothed for months now?”
Tali turned her head toward Zarif in surprise. “Jaden will marry Princess Xiomara? But if she marries, she won’t be allowed to reign. One of her cousins will become Queen-in-Waiting
instead.”
“It’s just a rumor floating around Fugaza, is all,” Zarif confessed. “I admit, it makes little sense. Not only would Xiomara forfeit her reign, but I don’t see how
Jaden would benefit from such a marriage either.”
“Maybe they truly love each other,” Tali said, then frowned as both young men shook their heads. “Is the idea so far-fetched?” she continued, her voice rising with
impatience. “I’ve heard Xiomara is as beautiful as she is clever.”
Chey turned a serious face to Tali. “Jaden loves no one but himself, Tali.”
“Why do you not like him, Chey?” asked Tali, for it had become obvious in the past weeks that Chey harbored a certain wariness around Jaden, though he seemed to truly like and
respect the other centurios.
Chey looked away without answering. A wide silence perched between the friends until Zarif saved the moment by returning to their previous theme.
“Today,” Zarif began, brushing his hand through the tight curls on his head, “today I observed that the morning gruel was flavored with ground roaches, not cinnamon, as
promised.”
“I’ve never tasted cinnamon,” Chey said, clearly relieved to change the subject. “What does it taste like?”
Zarif and Tali looked at each other, wondering how to describe a taste in words.
“It tastes like home to me,” Tali finally answered. “My sister Nel makes sweets with it, little iced cakes that melt in your mouth, and you can’t help but keep eating
them long after you’re full, they’re so delicious. She serves them warm from the oven with hot chocolate and—”
“Stop! You’re torturing us!” Zarif cried. “Do you ever get the feeling we’ve met the wrong twin?” he
theories on Far World expansion?”
“How about crop rotation in the Batenza hills?” Chey added, trying to mimic Zarif’s sophisticated accent. “Or mayhap the latest remedy for potato rot?”
Tali gave a disgusted snort, though her eyes gave away her amusement. “It doesn’t have to be so serious,” she said, looking pointedly at Zarif, “or so
dull
,” she added, raising an eyebrow at Chey. “Here is what my family did as we supped each night: We told each other one thing that we had learned or observed during the
day.”
“How very spontaneous of you,” Zarif said.
“Just try it, will you? I’ll go first. Today I observed that Centurio Abelino’s mustache looked like a giant woolly caterpillar crawling across his face.”
“Ha! Good one, Tali,” Zarif said. “Today I observed that Jaden added heavy packs to our run for his own depraved amusement.”
“Oh, you poor little pledge!” Tali teased. “You know that Jaden is only trying to prepare us for battle,” she said, defending the centurio, whom she had grudgingly come
to respect. No one could deny that all three of them had grown markedly stronger and faster in the past month as a result of Jaden’s drills.
“Now, Tali, you think he is fine to look at, that is all,” Zarif said, teasing her back.
“I certainly do not, Zarif Baz Hasan,” Tali said, giving him a light elbow to the ribs. “You’re just jealous because you’re not the only man here at the Alcazar the
girls swoon over.”
Zarif smirked and brushed her comment aside, but they all knew there was truth in her words. Zarif’s good looks and manners had won him many admirers among the Alcazar’s female
population.
“Don’t worry, friend,” Chey said, laying a hand on Zarif’s shoulder. “Jaden will soon be out of the running. Didn’t you tell me that he and the future
Queen-in-Waiting have been secretly betrothed for months now?”
Tali turned her head toward Zarif in surprise. “Jaden will marry Princess Xiomara? But if she marries, she won’t be allowed to reign. One of her cousins will become Queen-in-Waiting
instead.”
“It’s just a rumor floating around Fugaza, is all,” Zarif confessed. “I admit, it makes little sense. Not only would Xiomara forfeit her reign, but I don’t see how
Jaden would benefit from such a marriage either.”
“Maybe they truly love each other,” Tali said, then frowned as both young men shook their heads. “Is the idea so far-fetched?” she continued, her voice rising with
impatience. “I’ve heard Xiomara is as beautiful as she is clever.”
Chey turned a serious face to Tali. “Jaden loves no one but himself, Tali.”
“Why do you not like him, Chey?” asked Tali, for it had become obvious in the past weeks that Chey harbored a certain wariness around Jaden, though he seemed to truly like and
respect the other centurios.
Chey looked away without answering. A wide silence perched between the friends until Zarif saved the moment by returning to their previous theme.
“Today,” Zarif began, brushing his hand through the tight curls on his head, “today I observed that the morning gruel was flavored with ground roaches, not cinnamon, as
promised.”
“I’ve never tasted cinnamon,” Chey said, clearly relieved to change the subject. “What does it taste like?”
Zarif and Tali looked at each other, wondering how to describe a taste in words.
“It tastes like home to me,” Tali finally answered. “My sister Nel makes sweets with it, little iced cakes that melt in your mouth, and you can’t help but keep eating
them long after you’re full, they’re so delicious. She serves them warm from the oven with hot chocolate and—”
“Stop! You’re torturing us!” Zarif cried. “Do you ever get the feeling we’ve met the wrong twin?” he
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