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"We're not playing Maiden's Kiss," Faile scoffed. "Just because you saw the Aiel women playing it doesn't mean we have to. It wouldn't be proper, anyway."
Berelain shrugged, flipping her dark hair over her shoulder. It was about the same shade as Faile's, but shinier somehow, like a raven's wing.
"It just looks fun," she said, blinking. Her eyes were dark like Faile's, but larger and more striking, and next to her, Faile felt desperately inadequate. "You sure you don't want to play? I'm sure the Aiel have spare spears somewhere. And if not, we can use swords."
Faile shook her head, firmly.
"No," she said. "This is a stupid game. But if you want to, we can do some sparring instead. A bit of hand-to-hand combat, and if you want, we can do some sword training. Seeing as you're so desperate to do something dangerous."
Berelain pouted, but after Faile looked at her pointedly, she agreed. It wouldn't do much good for Berelain to get her way too often, and she could've used the training, anyway. Both of them.
"Hand combat first," Faile said firmly, once both of them had gotten to their feet. "Just to warm up. We'll go soft, and then harder. But I do have to warn you, I'm strong."
Berelain sighed, but within seconds, they were well into their practice. Faile had to admit that the other woman was surprisingly good. She was in a dress, the skirts divided for riding, but Faile could see some muscles on her arms whenever she hit out. For some reason, it was incredibly distracting.
"That'll do," she said. "Come on. Swords?"
"I still think we should play Maiden's Kiss," Berelain said. "As in the two of us, I mean. You haven't properly lived until you've played it, anyway."
Faile ground her teeth. She would not budge.
"Swords first," she said.
Berelain narrowed her eyes, huge and framed with thick lashes.
"Fine," she said. "But then we play."
Faile sighed. That infuriating woman clearly wasn't going to let up, was she? It wasn't that she had anything against the game, but more the fact that it was Berelain who was insisting they play. The impossibly perfect Berelain, who was beautiful and knew the fact perfectly well, and how to use it to her advantage.
"One round of Maiden's kiss, then," she said. "One, mind you. No more after."
Berelain's full lips lifted up at the corners, the look of someone who always got what she wanted, every time. But when Faile looked at her, all her earlier annoyance faded.
"Two rounds," Berelain said. When Faile raised an eyebrow, she said, "So we each get a turn holding the spears. Or sword, whichever you want. Maybe we could even try arrows."
Faile sighed again, but it was easier than arguing. She enjoyed a good argument, usually, but she knew that whatever she tried, Berelain would win.
"Swords, then two rounds of Maiden's Kiss," she said. "Then that's it."
Berelain smiled. "You have yourself a deal."
Faile bit down yet another sigh, before hunting about for some practise swords. If this woman going to be sticking around, it'd be easier not to have to deal with any conflict.
Though if this was what was going to come out of it, she supposed, it mightn't be too bad. She could almost get used to it.