Brom glanced away. He knew he’d crossed the line in mentioning her. “My apologies, milady.”
Outside the thick stone of the castle, the Myria bells rang. Two, three, four, five times. The Royals from the West had arrived.
…
At breakfast, I met with Tulia and Minnow. My two friends didn’t say a word to me about Kellian’s condition, which I appreciated. They knew how hard it was to lose a partner, especially Tulia. Tulia’s partner, before Edric, had stumbled into a nest of dark vipers on patrol, and the poison had been too strong for her Kiss to save him.
After I was done pushing the shassa herb eggs and biscuits around my plate, Tulia, Minnow, and I headed for the Hall of Ancestors to greet the reinforcements. The corridors leading to the Hall of Ancestors were strung with garlands of gardenia, giving the air a sweet, intoxicating scent. I brushed my finger against a white petal and smiled appreciatively. It was a thoughtful gesture to have them here today. Gardenia was the name of Saevall’s infamous Queen Gardenia Myriana, who had defeated a gray-horned dragon with the power of her Kiss and saved Saevall’s Crown City. The servants must have spent all night stringing her namesake up to welcome the western Royals.
Tulia nudged me. “Looks like everyone’s excited to see the new Saevallans,” she said as we followed a group of whispering and giggling younger princesses wearing lighter gray cloaks, which indicated their Royal-in-training status.
“Well, it has been a long time since we’ve had visitors.” Minnow twirled a long piece of her blond hair. “Not to mention, we’re all eager to see…you know…that swordsman everyone’s talking about.”
At the mention of my new potential partner, a trill of excitement went through me, and I remembered the rumors about him. There had to be some basis of truth to them, otherwise how would they have begun? He must be an excellent swordsman. At the same time, though, a smidge of guilt itched me. How long will this partner last? I twisted the fabric of my cloak in a futile attempt to wring out my guilt.
Uncurling my fingers, I forced the insecurity down. Master Gelloren believed in me. So did the rest of the Council, otherwise they would not be giving me a new partner. That knowledge should be enough to ease my mind.
We passed through the marble arches into the Hall of Ancestors, where Royals lined the sides, making three neat rows along the walls. I was perfectly happy to stay next to my two friends, but when Master Gelloren entered through the main doors with the other Master Mages, and his gaze flickered toward me, I knew he wanted me up front with him.
For the most part I was treated as every other Royal in the Legion. I was given the same living quarters, ate the same food, took the same classes, risked my life the same as they did. Except for the times when my bloodline was played up. Mages, Council members, and Royals from other kingdoms were all impressed to see a direct descendant of the first true Royals, Queen Myriana and her partner, King Raed.
I gave a swift smile to Tulia and Minnow then broke from the row, following the Master Mages to the head of the Hall. I took my place behind and to the right of Master Gelloren just as the doors opened and distant trumpets sounded.
The thump of boots and the clink of armor filled the Hall of Ancestors as our visitors strode forward. At the head of the Saevall Royals was a tall man with shiny armor and a long scarlet cloak, indicating his Commander rank. He looked to be maybe twenty-five or so, and had a scar down his cheek and startling light eyes.
This must be him. It would make sense that a talented fighter would rank as Commander so young.
Master Gelloren stepped forward, arms wide. “Welcome, Royals of Saevall, to the Crown City of Myria. I am Master Mage Gelloren. We are overwhelmed with gratitude at your presence.”
Gelloren bowed deeply, and every Myrian Royal followed suit. Even as I bent low, I couldn’t take my eyes off the Commander, the legendary swordsman.
How many battles had he seen? How many dark creatures had he slain? With the power of my Kiss, how many would he yet slay? Together, how vast would our power be?
Surely this man was strong enough to deserve my Kiss. To bear the Mark of Myriana and accept the target on his back.
The Commander stepped forward. “Master Gelloren, thank you for the warm welcome. We are eager to help your Royal Legion any way we can. We happily give our lives to protect the kingdoms from the Forces.” His voice was deep and thunderous. It sent bumps of awe crawling across my skin.
Master Gelloren nodded. “Your aid could not come at a more desperate time. Recently, we lost one of our pure Royals, Prince Kellian from the House of Elhein, to an unbreakable curse. Now, Princess Ivy from the grand House of Myriana is without a suitable partner.”
I stepped forward, and murmurs rippled through the group of western Royals. The Commander’s light eyes jumped to me then back to the Master Mage.
“Princess Ivy is our most powerful princess, and her partner must have the strength of a hundred men. We have heard of the great swordsman from your kingdom, Prince Zachariah, and we are eager to see if their two awesome powers could be combined.”
Something like amusement flittered across the Commander’s face. “Zach!” he roared.
Strange. Why is he calling his own name? Wait…is he not Zachariah?
There were hurried steps, and Saevallans moved to the side to make way for someone in the very back.
“Oops! Stepped on a cloak—sorry, Fran. Oh, pardon me.”
Master Gelloren and I raised our brows at each other.
“Excuse me, Kendra—move, please.”
Finally, a young man stepped out from behind the Commander. He was lean and tall-ish, but not impressively so. Under an old traveling cloak, his clothes appeared soft and well-worn. He had dark hair, nearly black, but brunette strands shone in the beams of sunlight. I took him to be maybe a couple years older than me. Everything about his appearance, from his drab clothes to his leather armor, said…common. Everything except the fine silver sword attached at his waist, the kind of sword only a Royal would own.
He held up his hand in a small wave, and the kaleidoscope in his hazel eyes danced as if laughing at a joke only he found funny. “Pleased to meet you, I’m Zach.”
Chapter
Five
Rumors and History
His introduction was met with silence. I didn’t know what to say. This couldn’t possibly be right. This simple-looking commoner couldn’t be a prince. Such a clumsy fellow couldn’t be the skilled swordsman rumored to have taken down a troll’s lair by himself. Could he even unsheathe his sword without fumbling, let alone wield it?
The young man faced us with a big grin. Then his gaze landed on me and, for a split second, his smile faltered. “So, what did you call me for?” He scratched the back of his neck. “My apologies, but I was distracted. Collin had told me this really funny joke. Would you like to hear it? A dwarf, goblin, and troll walk into a tavern and—”
“Zach,” the Commander interrupted through gritted teeth, “we were discussing your possible partnership with Princess Ivy.”
“Oh.” Zachariah blinked then glanced at me. “That’s happening now? Here?”
Master Gelloren, whom I had never seen surprised, seemed to snap out of his astonishment, blinking a few times. “Prince Zachar—”
“Zach.” Oh Holy Queen, he interrupted a Master Mage. “Just Zach.”
Gelloren recovered and mustered a smile in return. “Of course. Zach,” he said as he turned back to me and held out his hand. “This is Her Royal Highness, Princess Ivy Myriana.”
I took Gelloren’s hand and stepped up next to him, giving Zach another long look. Where were his “muscles for days”?