Page 44 of The Last Syphon

“Too much teeth?” Princess Phaedra threw a frown Felix’s way. “I think you’re kissing wrong.”

Felix winked. “Or am I?”

“You are.” Inara placed the corset dress back and picked up another, holding it to her body. “I’m still traumatised. What do you think about this one?”

Felix’s nose scrunched up. “Orange isn’t your colour. Washes you out. Stick to the darker colours. I’m going to go scan the rest of the room,” he said, heading out of the closet and giving Kronan a two-finger salute as he walked past.

The man did nothing but glare.

Inara shrugged, putting it back. She couldn’t wait to start wearing the clothes.

“Scan?” the princess asked with a tilt of her head.

“For anything of value to sell. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he puts it back.”

“Matters not to me. Anything in this room is yours to do with what you will. I would, however, refrain from stealing from any of the royals. That is an offence that will have you locked up in the dungeon.”

“A place, perhaps, he deserves to be.” Kronan grunted under his breath.

Inara gasped. “He speaks.”

The man glared. “Of course I do.”

“My apologies. I thought all you did was glare. Like that.”

Princess Phaedra laughed, which prompted him to shift his glare from Inara to her. “What? That was funny.”

Kronan grunted.

“Inara! Come check this out!” Felix called from the other room.

She didn’t want to. If Inara could have, she would have chosen to remain there all day, in a room full of beauty she never thought she would be able to see.

Sounds echoed in through the open balcony door as she walked back into the main living space, catching her attention. Felix stood outside, peering over the railing. Inara’s room overlooked an outside area of some kind. She joined him. Several people were clustered on the dirt field, staring up at the sky as a range of different projectiles launched in their direction. Bright, golden shields blinked into existence, blocking the attacks.

Inara’s interest was instantly piqued. “What’s going on down there?” she asked intently. Other Shielders made her curious. Intrigued about what they could do. What she could learn from them. Inara always aimed to improve her skills and better herself in any way she could.

Princess Phaedra came up to her side. “It’s a training session in preparation for the Shielder Trials on the morrow.”

“What are the Shielder Trials?” Felix’s coat clinked and clanked with each tiny movement he made. It wouldn’t have surprised Inara if he’d taken everything not nailed down and hidden it in his coat.

“Once a year, Arelia holds a tournament. Shielders from all across the realm come to compete. As a Shielder yourself, I am surprised you have never heard of it before?”

Inara shrugged, her gaze firmly locked on the other Shielders. Part of her was dying to go down there so she could watch and assess them from a closer vantage point. “I’ve spent my whole life avoiding the major cities of the kingdoms. The only time we venture out of the Borderlands is either for food or a job, both of which require stealth, so we’re not exactly talking to the locals. Traders come to the village once a season, but unless it’s about coin, they don’t talk. They’re too busy trying to rob you blind.”

“How fascinating.” The princess hummed, interest in her eyes. “What kind of jobs do you do?”

She hesitated in answering her question. Inara was unsure of how much she should divulge. Princess Phaedra was a royal, after all. Any crimes she admitted to could be used against her. “A little bit of this, a little bit of that,” she replied evasively.

Princess Phaedra wasn’t offended by her lack of a response. If anything, she found it humourous. “A woman with secrets. I like it. Maybe one day, I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

A secret from the princess of Arelia? Something like that would be worth a small fortune.

Princess Phaedra looked back to the half a dozen or so people practicing. “The competitors of the trials are put through numerous grilling exercises to test their abilities and how proficient they are in protecting their Charges. They are each then scored, and how well they score determines which Charge they are assigned, if one at all.”

Inara smiled. “Really? I love competitions.”

She laughed. “I wouldn’t get your hopes up. As a Chosen, I doubt you will be eligible to compete.”