Page 64 of A Dagger in the Ivy

Nadya blinks but otherwise keeps her composure. “I will try to keep that in mind.”

“Thank you.” Indira curtseys for me once more. “Your Highness.”

As Indira continues on her way, I pull Nadya’s arm, bringing her closer to me. “You might not want to piss off our maidservant. We rely on her for so much.”

“I think she’s simply jealous.”

I nudge her. “You’re incorrigible.”

Nadya and I walk down the dimly lit corridor, our footfalls echoing softly against the polished, stone floor. The faint hum of conversation and the clink of glass draw us toward the lounge. As we enter, the warmth of the fire welcomes us, its flickering light casting dancing shadows on the walls. The room is adorned with plush armchairs, a long couch, and a large, ornate fireplace, its mantel adorned with intricately carved ivy motifs.

In front of the fire, Dante and Torbin sit comfortably, each with a glass of brandy in hand. The amber liquid glows in the firelight, matching the warmth in their brotherly banter. I notice Torbin’s sabre and Dante’s falchion leaning against the hearth. Torbin spots us first, his eyes lighting up with mischief.

“Well, well, if it isn’t our charming commander and her loyal shadow,” Torbin calls out, a grin spreading across his face. “Come, join us. We were just discussing our younger years. You don’t mind some feminine company, do you, Dante?”

Dante looks up, his expression shifting from mild annoyance to polite indifference. “If it’s your wish, Brother, who am I to deny you?” He gestures at the empty couch.

I hesitate, feeling Dante’s eyes on me, but Nadya strides forward with a confident smile. I’ve been avoiding Dante since the night at the pub, but I haven’t spent a lot of time with Torbin, so this is the perfect opportunity. “Don’t mind if we do. It’s not every day we catch you two sharing a civilized drink.”

Torbin chuckles, standing to retrieve two glasses from the side table. “I hope you like your drinks as stiff as we do.”

Nadya plops down on the couch and smooths out the skirt of her dress. “The stiffer the better, I always say.”

I take a seat next to Nadya, who takes the glass Torbin hands her.

Torbin bows slightly as he hands me mine, a twinkling in his eyes as he smiles. “It’s good to see you. I trust your lessons aren’t boring you to death.”

I study him for a moment, making sure to keep the pleasant expression on my face. Even though he claimed that the incident with Lord Alistair was an accident, I refuse to let my guard down. Just in case. “They’re fine. Ez… I mean, Magister Kadmiel is a wise man, and some of the subjects are intriguing.”

“Well, I’m sure you won’t have to continue the lessons for long.” Torbin returns to his armchair with a sigh. “Once we’re married, the rules will change to our favor.”

I’m not exactly sure what he means, but I offer him a nod and a smile.

Nadya casts me a knowing glance. Like me, she is wary of him. She takes a sip of her drink and then leans forward. “So, what grand secrets of the universe were you two unraveling?”

Torbin swirls his brandy thoughtfully. “Oh, just reminiscing about our glorious youth. Like the time Dante here tried to impress a girl by jumping off the stable roof and nearly killed himself.”

Dante shifts in his seat, but there’s a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “I landed just fine, thank you.”

“Landed in a pile of manure,” Torbin adds, laughing.

Nadya bursts out laughing, and I can’t help but smile. “I would have paid to see that,” she says.

Dante shakes his head, a fond look in his eyes as he gazes at Torbin. “You forget to mention that it was you who dared me to do it in the first place.”

Torbin raises his glass. “But that’s what brothers are for, isn’t it? To challenge each other, to push boundaries.”

“To try to kill each other and clean up the mess afterward,” Dante adds dryly, taking a sip of his brandy.

Nadya places a hand on my arm but regards Torbin. “Have you told Dante about your daring escapades with Celeste? Like the time youthought it would be a grand idea to sneak into the stables at night and take the horses for a midnight ride?”

I can’t help but laugh at the memory, and I relax a bit. “Oh, right. I remember now. You convinced me it was the perfect way to prove our bravery.”

Nadya giggles, looking at Dante. “Celeste was always the more cautious one, but Torbin’s charm never failed to get the better of her.”

Torbin chuckles, taking a sip of his brandy. “It wasn’t a problem getting the horses saddled without waking the stablehands. But once we were out in the fields, we decided—”

I cut in. “Youdecided.”

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