A/N: This was written for the prompt "study." Iselle learns something more important than Darthacan grammar.
"If we have to go over the fourth Darthacan declension one more time, I'm going to strangle him."
"At least the Darthacan doesn't make it feel like you have a dozen small rocks in your mouth like Roknari does." Betriz moved her mouth exaggeratedly and spoke one of the very rude words that Cazaril had taught them as a reward for expanding their Roknari vocabulary. Iselle laughed and agreed. They continued reading and quizzing each other for a short space of time.
They finally felt that they were completely familiar with all the forms. Betriz was running through them all under her breath once more, and Iselle regarded her curiously. When she noticed the look, Betriz looked up. "Do I have something on my face, Iselle?"
"No, I just realized something, and I feel a fool for not having seen it before."
"What?"
"I know why you're always a little more eager to review our lessons than I am."
"I'm hardly eager to study Darthacan grammar in the evenings."
Iselle grinned in triumph, though Betriz couldn't fathom why. "You're getting defensive. I didn't say you were; I just said you were a little more diligent than I."
Even knowing her question was dangerous, she asked, "And what do you think you've discovered about that?"
"You want to impress Cazaril."
Her first thought was to exclaim that the notion was ridiculous, but she knew that would only make Iselle more convinced. She said calmly, "I only study to ensure that I can serve you well lest you get married off to some Darthacan lord." She wouldn't even entertain the thought of the royesse being sent off to a Roknari princeling.
"That was a good answer, but I don't believe you."
"You may believe whatever you wish. It's still the truth."
Iselle dropped the subject. But she had a new area of study that was far more interesting than geography or foreign languages. She began to observe Betriz and Cazaril closely when they were together. She noticed that Betriz had a special smile just for Cazaril; it was smaller than her usual grin. And she saw Cazaril watch her surreptitiously when he thought no one was looking. She rarely saw them alone together, aside from brief conversations in corridors, but they always seemed to pay more attention to each other in group settings than was strictly necessary.
She knew that there was the potential for them to have much more than mere flirtation. She only hoped that she would have that one day.