Dorothy Must Die Novella #7 Read Free Page B

concealing the way her shoulders were shaking as sobs racked her still-malnourished body. What was this tough, confident warrior going to think of a girl who cried at the drop of a hat? But instead of mocking her, Melindra threw her arms around her.
    â€œOh, wizard’s balloons, I’m so sorry! Me and my giantmouth,” Melindra babbled. “I don’t even think before I start talking. Don’t pay any attention to me at all.”
    â€œIt’s fine,” Lanadel mumbled into a mouthful of Melindra’s wet, sweet-smelling hair. Melindra’s embrace was the closest she’d gotten to another human being in weeks. Unless you counted getting punched in the face by Nox. She relaxed into the other girl’s arms, relishing in the comfort of her warm, damp skin.
    â€œIt’s not fine. I’m an idiot.” Melindra laughed harshly and let her go, and Lanadel did her best to recover—although she wasn’t sure whether she was more flustered by crying in front of Melindra or by the other girl’s embrace. It was almost as if she was still in Melindra’s arms for a few more seconds. It reminded Lanadel of the way her heart kept beating fast for a few seconds after she stopped running. Only she hadn’t moved a single step. Melindra kept on talking, unaware of her effect on Lanadel. “They didn’t waste much time giving me etiquette lessons, I’ll tell you that much. One day with Glamora and”—she snapped her fingers—“that was it. ‘We need you in the field,’ was what Nox said, but I knew what that really meant. ‘You’re such a buffoon we’re not even going to try and teach you to pass as a courtier.’ Like I said, undercover is not my strong suit.”
    â€œEtiquette lessons?” Lanadel asked, surreptitiously wiping her eyes.
    â€œThey haven’t foisted Glamora on you yet? Girl, you better pray they keep that witch away from you.” Melindra held her hands out of the water, waggling her fingers at Lanadel. She hadnever been as animated about anything as Melindra seemed to be about everything. Lanadel’s brothers had been the boisterous ones. She missed the way they took up space. She had only known Melindra for the span of a few minutes, and she already knew that Melindra, too, was larger than life. “Anyway, I’m turning into a straight-up prune and Nox’ll be on my ass in a minute if I don’t get out of here and back to the training caves. Plus, I’ve just about yammered your ear off.”
    â€œNox will come here ?” Lanadel squeaked in horror.
    â€œThere’s nowhere he won’t go if he thinks you’re slacking,” Melindra warned with a grin. “And I mean nowhere . Of course, if that’s what you’re into . . .”
    Lanadel was out of the water so fast that Melindra burst out laughing. “You better watch out, or I’ll tell him that’s how to motivate you!” she called out as Lanadel threw on her dirty training uniform. She already knew a fresh set of training clothes would be waiting for her on the threshold of her sleeping cave in the morning. Melindra pulled herself out of the healing pool, and Lanadel couldn’t help but notice the way the muscles rippled in her arms as she heaved herself out of the water. “See you in the dining hall later?”
    â€œWhat dining hall?”
    Melindra rolled her eyes. “Oh, they pulled the solitary thing on you, too? Apparently it’s supposed to teach you initiative. You have to find the dining hall on your own if you don’t want to go completely nuts in your room alone. But yeah, there’s a dining hall. You know that bell that rings every evening?”
    Lanadel nodded.
    â€œThat’s dinner. Just wander around when the bell rings. It’ll find you.” With that and a cheery wave, Melindra trotted out of the cavern before Lanadel could even thank