Chapter 31
“Girls don’t get to fight at any of the other temples,” Rayda said. “That’s what I heard.”
Bradamante passed Rayda the platter of grilled onions and potatoes. The central chamber buzzed with chatter, and Bradamante suspected that much of it was focused on her confrontation with Ferrau.
“Why can’t they fight?”
“The priests don’t like it,” Rayda answered. “They think it’s not—I don’t know, dignified. But Samual—Master, sorry—you should always call him that—he says all of us should be strong—even the girls. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t fight—if I just had to cook and mend and—I don’t know, do whatever women do. Look at Manat—can you imagine her not fighting?”
“Never.”
Rayda reached for a slice of venison pie. Between mouthfuls she said, “If the king let women fight
