the Third Kingdom godscarf from her head—her Halfsies costume, naturally, to complement Charm’s—and insisted Ianta’s squire and her lover Nova help her wrap her breasts tight. Charm had said in his booming voice that in his homeland, the prince would spar as naked as her wizard, and Hal joked that they weren’t even married yet for him to already offer his wife’s breasts to the sight of strangers. The humor hit home with most of those present, but Hal intended it for Nova, who’d yet to forgive the prince for her behavior at Tenne-Tiras.
The wizard, upon presentation three nights ago, had lit all the candles in the Quick Sunrise with only a whisper and snap, then refused to perform further—therefore nearly everyone agreed he had to be quite powerful. Charlatans and witch-priests from the Rusrike or Ispania begged opportunities to prove whatever meager prowess they claimed.
It entertained Hal that everyone called him the wizard, or simply wizard. Ianta called him a fox once, clever and guessing, but his response had been too bland to offer any confirmation.
The wizard’s wiry arm curled like an oak root around her neck, holding her chokingly tight to his chest. She twisted and hooked her leg back around his knee, pulling them both down again hard. He grunted, turned, and flipped onto his back, dragging her with him so despite her being on top, he still held control.
Hal relaxed into the hold as if he were a bed, and she grinned, moaning as if with immense satisfaction. She felt the wizard’s stomach and arms stiffen, but they were surrounded by uproarious laughter.
Blue sky stretched overhead, a dome of perfect autumnal light, but soon it would dim purple, torches would light, and Hal would be late for her mother’s festival feast. She hoped she could convince Charm to skip with her and thereby avoid Celeda’s censure.
“You’ve lost interest?” the wizard said in her ear.
Hal turned her head and kissed the corner of his mouth.
Sighing at her antics, the wizard released her. She rolled onto her knees, sparing a glance to check that her chest remained bound. The wizard snapped up into a crouch, still coiled and ready.
Hal stood, held out her hand, and blessedly a cup of sack was thrust into it. She drank, then lifted it. “To my wizard, who now must teach me his moves!” Wiggling her hips to change the meaning of the words, Hal tipped the cup at him. He slowly stood, all controlled energy, and took the cup from her. They both knew the flirting was performance, and truly he did not seem to mind.
The wizard drank and handed the cup back to her, then bowed as a servant to a prince. He went to collect his long shirt from the woman who’d begged to hold it for him. Shrugging it back on, he said, “You have too much to learn for a lifetime of teaching, Prince.”
“I’ll teach you, Hal,” Nova said, and kissed her.
Glad for the touch, the casual flirt after a week’s tension, Hal kissed back and smiled against Nova’s cheek, adding a peck that was no act, only a glad gesture for a lover. She took Nova’s hand. “Sit with me, and let’s see who else will perform.”
“If only,” called Ianta Oldcastle from the well, “we had someone present who could challenge this handsome beast with his Sun and Moon swords!”
It was Charm to whom the knight looked, and despite his Aremore attire, he’d not left off the harness that crossed his chest and secured his two curved swords to his back.
“Charm has promised to instruct my little sisters with those swords,” Hal said. “So, one day we’ll have Tigir come and show us.”
“Not Vatta?”
Hal pulled herself straight, put on an overly serious face, and raised her chin. “Lady Vatta does not perform like a clown,” she said, stretching her voice a tad higher.
Charm said, “It should be admired that she takes swordwork very seriously.”
“Oh, Charm.” Hal smiled like a villain. “I will take your sword as seriously as I must, for the good of Aremoria.”
Nova groaned and Ianta smacked her own forehead, and half the crowd shrieked laughing. Hal flung out her arms and bowed with a smirk. Such jokes were all too easy to come by.
The Third Kingdom prince met her twinkling gaze and shook his head slightly. But the corner of his wide mouth twitched. He bore her teasing so well, Hal was forced to like him. She still did not know what she would