Page 7 of The Princess and The Warrior

Lifting my goblet higher, I said, “To my beautiful new bride. I hope to both serve the kingdom and make you happy until the end of my years.”

The massive room erupted in cheers and applause as I sat back down.

“That was perfect,” Althea said, gripping my hand tightly. “How on earth did you know that I’ve always wanted to travel to a small town?”

Leaning in, I murmured, “If you don’t like people staring at you, I figured we should be in a place with fewer eyes. Also, country people won’t care as much who you are. They might not even realize. We could live simply, and you won’t have to pretend to have affection for me every time someone passes by.”

The expression in her eyes confused me. Then she nodded. “That is very kind and thoughtful. Thank you.”

After the dinner, we were guided to the newlywed bedchamber in the north tower, again with an escort of seven guards. As we went in, they took up posts outside the door.

“Thank you, men, but I am the most decorated warrior of the land, and this is a time of peace,” I said. “We do not require armed guards to sleep.”

As I stared at the Captain, his mouth twitched quickly on the left side. “But you’ll be defenseless when you…sleep, your highness.”

A strange thrill went through me. If I was royalty now, did that mean I could make people obey me? If Althea didn’t like being watched, I could assume she wouldn’t want to be surrounded by guards who might be trying to eavesdrop, either.

“I command you all to leave,” I said firmly in my most authoritative tone. “This door shall not be opened. If there is an attack on the castle, you will knock loudly.”

They all nodded at once, snapping their boots together before marching away.

We went inside and I mar veled at the incredible luxury of the enormous space, with beautiful oil lamps, fine linens, and exquisite tapestries on the walls. I’d never been so close to such finery in my life.

“Your highness,” I began, but she placed a finger on my lips.

“You may call me Althea,” she smiled. “Trax, we’re equals now.”

“Far from equals,” I chuckled. “You were born royalty. I stumbled ass-backward into it.”

My hand clapped over my mouth as I realized how coarsely I had just spoken in front of the Princess. Yet she only laughed. Then she stepped closer, taking my left wrist gently to examine my bandages. “You’ll need to have this properly cleaned.”

“I’m fine.”

She shook her head, a few tendrils of silky hair waving around her beautiful face. “You have access to the finest healers now.”

A tiny tap at the door startled me, but she simply called out, “Come in.”

Two servants stepped in with bowed heads. “Relax, he’s not one of the fussy ones,” Althea said to them with a laugh. “Trax, these are Faresha and Lani, my two ladies-in-waiting.”

“Honored to meet you, Prince Trax,” they both murmured.

Althea insisted that Lani run to fetch a healer, then Faresha followed her to the end of the room behind a giant decorative screen. I heard them fussing and giggling as I pulled off my boots, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Well, isn’t he a looker,” I heard the other woman murmur. “And I must say, your highness, it’s much easier to dress you now that I don’t have to worry about accidentally touching you.”

A few moments later I heard a gasp. “Don’t you worry, your highness, I’ll get that bloodstain out by morning. And, well...congratulations.”

They giggled together, then there was another tap at the door. “Come in,” I called out.

An old woman dressed entirely in black stepped in and headed straight toward me as Lani darted behind her to join the other women at the end of the room.

“Good evening, your highness,” she rasped, setting a large basket on the bed beside me.

How strange to be addressed as royalty when just this morning I’d woken up in a military tent with Bryson’s feet in my face, an hour before I had to slaughter dozens of rampaging enemy warriors. This day felt like it had been a week long.

In moments she’d removed the bandages on my hand and arm, cleansing everything thoroughly and wrapping me in clean strips of linen.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” she asked.

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