“Tasted odd, wanted to spare you,” said the bear.
At least, Demelza thought that’s what it said.
“Ursula, must you talk with your mouth full?” said an unfamiliar voice.
Demelza peered around the bear and saw a beautifully appointed sitting room. Squashy, emerald-green couches were positioned around a great fireplace. There was a basket of fruit on the side table, and stacks of blank paper and pens on another. On the main table was a small service of fragrant herbal teas that made the room smell of chamomile and chrysanthemum. On the far end were a large window and a reading nook where a young woman sat with her back to the window.
“I’m Talvi,” she said, sliding off the cushion and coming toward Demelza. “That’s Ursula.”
When Demelza looked back at the bear, she now saw a golden-haired girl standing in her place. The girl was tall and muscular, with broad shoulders and an even broader smile. She wore a kitchen smock and appeared dusted in flour.
“The room listens!” she said, excitedly. “I asked it for a practice kitchen for tomorrow’s talent display and it knew exactly what sort of wooden spoon I was looking for. Honestly, that’s reason enough to stay in the tournament for me!”
Ursula was clearly from the Ulva Wylds and the fact that she took the form of a bear was formidable. Normally, anyone who could shift into such an imposing form was immediately recruited for the royal army. Demelza wished to ask more, but she knew she had to tread carefully.
Ursula leaned forward and snuffled her. “There’s a bath in each chamber too.”
“Ursula!” scolded Talvi.
“What!”
Talvi was exquisite and her features were like those of a doll. She was shorter than Demelza. Her hair looked like snowfall and was braided down her back. Her eyes were not the typical blue of an Aatos Mountain girl, but dark as a moonless night in winter. A pair of spectacles hung around her neck, and when she smiled, Demelza was reminded of her mother.
“We were going to wait for you before we picked our rooms, but then we weren’t sure if we would have a third—”
“I got delayed,” said Demelza. In truth, she had paused on every landing to observe all the contestants she could before her meeting with Arris at midnight.
“That one’s yours,” said Talvi, pointing at the bedroom beside the fireplace. “Have you asked someone else to bring your belongings?”
Demelza shook her head. “They… they got lost, I’m afraid.” She pointed at her muddied hair. “Ran into a bit of an accident.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” said Talvi.
“Does it wash off?” asked Ursula, wrinkling her nose.
Talvi glared at her.
“Already tried,” said Demelza. “It’s enchanted to stay put for the next week, I’m afraid.”
“That’s disgusting!” said Ursula cheerfully. “I love rolling around in the mud, but it does get itchy when it’s dried.”
“So!” said Talvi. “What are you doing for tomorrow’s talent?”
“I’m cooking them a feast,” said Ursula. “If they have a single taste bud between them, they shall swoon at my creations.”
Demelza hadn’t thought this far. She felt as though she hadn’t sat down in years and all of a sudden, the world had gotten too overwhelming.
“I don’t know,” she said. “Perhaps singing?”
“Oh I’d love to hear a song!” said Talvi. “Would you sing for us? Please?”
Demelza froze. She looked back and forth between Ursula and Talvi. Unable to think of a reason to say no, Demelzarocked on her heels and tried to summon the sweetest voice she could imagine. The moment she began to hum, Ursula recoiled. Talvi’s eyebrows shot up her forehead.
“How thoughtless of us to ask you to sing when you must be exhausted!” said Talvi.
Demelza stopped humming and Ursula breathed a sigh of relief.
“Very exhausted,” said Demelza.
